Improvements in Brick Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 23rd Apr., 1898
Improvements in Brick Machines.
I, JOSEPH SHARPE, of 137, 12th Avenue, in the City of Paterson, County of
Passaic, and State of New Jersey, U.S.A., Maunfacturer of Drain and Sewer Pipes,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement:―
The object of my present invention is to provide a machine for making and
pressing bricks, of simple, strong and durable construction, reliable and efficient in
operation, and in which machine the feed box and the damper or valve of the
supply spout are operated automatically; a further object is to provide said machine
with a mold box, a movable mold cap and with dies, whereby the bricks manu-
factured are rough on their large or connecting surfaces and smooth on their ends
and faces.
The invention consists in the improved brick machine, in the feed box operating
mechanism, in the straining bars and the means for operating the same, in. the
mechanism for automatically operating the damper or valve of the supply spout,
and in the combination and arrangements of the various parts, substantially as
will be hereinafter more fully described and finally embodied in the clauses of the
claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts in each of the several figs. Fig. 1, is a side elevation
of my improved brick making machine the movable feed spout being broken
away; Fig. 2, a sectional view on the line of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, an elevation of
the opposite side of the machine-as illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a. detail view
of a portion of a certain spur wheel and of its externally toothed or corrugated
hub, Fig. 5 a sectional view of one of a series of cam-disks, adapted to be adjust-
ably arranged on the said toothed or corrugated hub of the spur wheel; Fig. 6, a
detail elevation of the upper portion of Fig. 3, the near frame and certain operat-
ing parts being removed the mold box and feed box being shown in section;
Fig. 7, a top plan view of the mold box, the dies, the feed box, the feed spout and
of a portion of a co-operating lever, and Fig. 8, a sectional view of the follower.
In said drawings, a represents a frame, in the rear portion of which is journaled
the main driving shaft b, on which is mounted-and on each side of the machine-
a pinion c, meshing into spur wheel d, secured on the parallel crank shaft e.
The crank of said crank shaft e is connected by a pitman g, with one end of
the lever i, the other end of which is fulcrumed on the rod , suitably supported
in the frame a and parallel with and below the main driving shaft b.
On the connecting pin is pivotally arranged one end of link h, whilst the
other end of said link is connected by a pin 23 with the upper forked portion of
the arm k, the lower end of which terminates in an elongated hub m², having its
bearings in vertical elliptical slots m³ in the frame a..
On the pin is also pivotally secured one end of arm m, the other end of which

page_text: is pivotally connected with the lower portion of the follower or reciprocating
head m³, suitably guided in the frame a as illustrated in Fig. 2.
On each spur wheel d are arranged two horizontally projecting pins or studs d¹
d², adapted to engage and operate the longer arm of a lever o, fulcrumed as at o¹-
adjacent to the hub m¹, and having its shorter curved arm 02 engaging the said
hub, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.
On the hub m¹ and at or near each end thereof is mounted a double straining
bar p, to the screw-threaded upper portions of which is adjustably secured the
mold cap p, adapted to engage and bear during certain stages of operation upon
the top of the mold box p³, which latter is suitably supported on the frame a and
above the follower or reciprocating head m³.
Within the mold box is arranged the reciprocating block p³ carrying at its upper
end the dies in the usual and well known manner.
On each side of the block is pivotally arranged-as at p-the upper portion
of a link p³, the lower portion of which is jointed with one arm of lever p6, ful-
crumed as at p7, to the frame a, and having its free end in the path of and adapted
to be operated by a cam r, arranged on a disk r¹, which latter is adjustably secured
on the hub of the spur wheel d.
Said hub is for that purpose provided with a series of elongated teeth or corru-
gations, whilst the internal bore of the disk r is provided with a series of notches
or corrugations, snugly fitting upon the said series of teeth or corrugations on
said hub.
The straining bars p are limited in their forward motion by stops a¹ and in their
rearward motion by stops a², projecting from and preferably integral with the
frame a; a spiral spring a³ is secured with one end to the upper portion of its
respective straining bar, whilst its other end is secured to the said frame a, as
clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.
Those portions of the straining bars, which are adapted to engage the stops a¹
and a², are provided with suitable elastic cushions 10 and a".
To about the central portion of one of said straining bars (that is to say to the
straining bar on one side of the machine) is pivotally secured as at 28 a bar or
arm p, having its forward end slidingly arranged in a guide bracket or bridge p10,
and adapted to be engaged by a cam arranged on a disk rt, which latter is of
similar construction to the disk r¹, and is also mounted on the hub r of the spur
wheel d.
On said hub and adjacent to the disk is mounted a disk re, provided with a
cam adapted to engage and operate the depending rod 7, pivotally connected
with the shorter arm 8 of an angle-lever-fulcrumed as at to an auxiliary
bracket a, and having its longer arm 10 bent upward, and pivotally connected
through a link rl with the feed box s, which latter is slidingly arranged on the
table sand is provided in its bottom with an opening adapted to be brought in
alignment with the mold box p³.
The feed box s is of ordinary construction and is provided with a partition 53
extending from the rear upper portion of said box to about the opening in the
bottom thereof.
On each side of the box are secured downwardly extending brackets ³ ³ hav-
ing their lower portions slidingly arranged on rods s¹, s, whereby additional
steadiness is furnished to the feed box while being moved or operated.
To the rear upper portion and on one side of said feed box s is pivotally secured
a link 2, the free end of which is jointed to the longer arm of a lever 21, fulcrumed
as at 2 on the auxiliary bracket a, and having its shorter arm in the path of and
adapted to be operated by a cam 1a, projecting from a disk 13, which latter is
mounted on the hub of the spur wheel and adjacent to the disk r¹.
A disk with cam 15 is also arranged on said hub and along side of the disk 13.
and is adapted to operate the shorter arm of the lever -fulcrumed as at 28, and
having the free end of its longer arm connected by a brace or rod vl, with the
straining bar p (on one side of the machine).
.

page_text: The reciprocating block p³ carrying the dies is limited in its downward move-
ment by stops x, adjustably arranged in brackets projecting from the side of the
frame a.
On a platform or floor y³ above the machine, is mounted the fixed feed spout y³,
to the lower portion of which is hinged as at y¹ the movable spout section y,
extending with its lower end into the feed box s.
The fixed feed spout 2 is provided with a valve or damper y, to the outwardly
projecting arm of which is jointed-as at y-one end of lever y6, fulcrumed as
at y' to a bracket and having its free arm loosely and slidingly arranged in
a bridge or bracket y', mounted on the inside of the feed box s, all as clearly illus-
trated in Figs, 3, 6 and 7 of the drawings.
On the mold cap p¹ is arranged a nose or projection p15, adapted to engage the
front portion of the feed box s, to thus start the latter in its rearward movement,
which projection may be used either alone for that purpose, or in connection with
the link q, fulcrumed lever q¹ and cam 12 of disk 13, or if desired can be dispensed
with, in which case the last mentioned link and lever connection will perform
the desired operation.
In operation, the spur wheel d is rotated in the direction of the arrow R Figs. 1
and 3. The cam 5 operates the depending rod or lever 7 and thus the fulcrumed
angle-lever 810, whereby the feed box s is moved from left to right, (Fig. 1)
that is to say, the opening in its bottom is brought in alignment with and over
the dies in the mold box p².
Simultaneously the fulcrumed lever y6 is being operated, that is to say, its lower
end comes in contact with the rear portion of the bridge or bracket yo, whereby
the upper portion of said lever is moved from left to right (Fig. 3) thus opening
the valve or damper y and allowing a certain amount of molding material to enter
-from the fixed feed spout-and through the movable spout-into the feed box s
and from there into the mold box p2 and upon the top of the dies.
The shaft e in its further rotation causes the cams 12 and 15 to engage the
shorter arms of the levers q¹ and v respectively, whilst simultaneously the project-
ing pins of the spur wheels d, depress the longer arms of the fulcrumed levers o,
thereby raising the hub m¹ and straining bars p, and thus the mold cap p¹ over
the corner or edge of the mold box p².
The straining bars are now moved backward (Fig. 3) by means of the connect-
ing brace or rod v and fulcrumed lever v, whilst simultaneously the feed box s is
returned to its original position-the damper being closed.
The mold cap p¹ is thus brought upon the mold box p³ and simultaneously the
toggle levers exert pressure upon the follower or reciprocating head m³, and thus
move the latter upward, which in turn operates the reciprocating block p³ and
the dies carried thereby thus forming the bricks, as will be manifest.
About that time the pins of the spur wheels d have again depressed the
levers o and thus raised the mold cap p¹ sufficient to allow it to return to its normal
position, which return movement is started by the cam 3 of disk r, engaging the
free end of sliding bar or arm p³, and thus swinging the straining bars p back-
ward (Fig. 1) which latter-thereafter-return gradually against the action of
the spiral springs a³ to their normal position-by gravity.
Simultaneously the cam r operates the fulcrumed lever p6, which in turn raises
the links p and thus forces the reciprocating block upward until the dies are
above the plane of the mold box, when the finished bricks can be conveniently
removed.
The heretofore described operation is then repeated.
The advantages of the double straining bars are obvious: an equal strain is
exerted over both molds and so prevent either of the bricks from having a feather
edge, or of being of unequal thickness, whilst the spiral spring a³ and elastic
cushions in conjunction with the stops a¹ and a² reduce the jar of said straining
bars when failing back to their normal position--by gravity or their own weight.
It may be remarked, that the levers o, instead of being operated by the project-

page_text: ing pins or studs d', d³, could have their free ends bent upwards closer to the
disks, in which case a series of cam projections would have to be arranged on
said disks, and which cam projections would then operate the levers o in precisely
the same manner as the projecting pins or studs d, d², as will be manifest.
I do not intend to limit myself to the precise construction shown and described,
as various alterations can be made without changing the scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and, in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1 In a brick machine, the combination with the mold box, of a slidable feed
box provided in its bottom with an opening adapted to register with said mold
box, mechanism for operating said feed box, a fixed or supply spout above the
mold box, a movable feed spout leading from said fixed spout to and within the feed
box, a damper or valve slidingly arranged in the fixed feed spout, a bridge or
bracket in the feed box, and a fulcrumed lever connected with one end to the
sliding valve or damper and engaging with its other end the said bridge or bracket
and adapted to be operated thereby, substantially as and for the purposes described.
2: In a brick machine, the combination with the frame and the main driving
shaft, of a crank shaft parallel with the main driving shaft and operated thereby,
disks mounted on said crank shaft and each provided with a cam projection, a mold
box supported by said frame, a feed box provided in its bottom with an opening
slidingly arranged on said frame and adapted to register with said mold box, an
angle-lever suitably fulcrumed on the frame, a link connecting one arm of said
angle-lever with the feed box, a rod depending from the other arm of said angle-
lever and adapted to be operated by the cam projection on one of said disks, a lever
suitably fulcrumed on the frame and having its shorter arm in the path of the
cam projection on another of said disks and adapted to be operated thereby, and
a link connecting the longer arm of said last mentioned fulcrumed lever with the
feed box, substantially as and for the purposes described.
3: In a brick machine, the combination with the frame and the main driving
shaft, of a crank shaft parallel with the main driving shaft and adapted to be
operated thereby, a spur wheel on said crank shaft and on each side of the machine
and provided with two horizontally extending studs or pins, a fulcrumed lever
adapted to be operated by said studs or pins, a hub supported by said fulcrumed
levers, double straining bars on said hub, a mold cap carried by said straining
bars, a mold box on the frame and adapted to be engaged by said mold cap, a series
of disks mounted on the crank shaft and each provided with a cam projection, a
fulcrumed vertically arranged lever adapted to be operated by the cam projection
on one of said disks, a rod or brace connecting the other arm of said vertically
arranged fulcrumed lever with one of said straining bars, an arm pivotally con-
nected to about the central portion of one of said straining bars, and having its
free end in the path of the cam projection on another of said disks and adapted
to be operated thereby, and a bridge or bracket projecting from the frame for
guiding the free end of said last mentioned pivoted arm, substantially as and for
the purposes described.
4: In a brick machine, the combination with the frame and the revolving
crank shaft mounted therein, of a mold box on said frame, a reciprocating block
carrying the dies in said mold box, a link on each side of the reciprocating block
and pivotally connected thereto, a fulcrumed lever on each side of the frame and
having one end pivotally connected with the free end of its respective link, disks
mounted on the crank shaft and each provided with a cam projection adapted to
operate the free ends of said last mentioned fulcrumed levers, a hub suitably sup-
ported in the frame, a double straining bar mounted on each side of said hub, a
mold cap on said straining bars, means for operating said straining bars to move
the cap into and out of engagement with the mold box, a reciprocating head or
follower below the reciprocating block, and a series of links, arms and levers con-

page_text: necting the crank shaft with the hub and with the follower or reciprocating head,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
arm of
5: In a brick machine, the combination with the frame and the main driving
shaft, of a crank shaft parallel with the main driving shaft and operated thereby, disks
mounted on said crank shaft, and each provided with a cam projection, a mold
box supported by said frame, a feed box provided in its bottom with an opening
slidingly arranged on said frame and adapted to register with said mold box, an
angle-lever suitably fulcrumed on the frame, a link connecting one
said angle-lever with the feed box, a rod depending from the other arm of
said angle-lever and adapted to be operated by the cam projection on one of said
disks, a lever suitably fulerumed on the frame and having its shorter arm in the
path of the cam projection on another of said disks and adapted to be operated
thereby, a link connecting the longer arm of said last mentioned fulcrumed lever
with the feed box, a feed or supply spout above the mold box, a movable feed
spout leading from said fixed spout to and within the feed box, a damper or valve
slidingly arranged in the fixed feed spout, a bridge or bracket in the feed box,
and a fulcrumed lever connected with one end to the sliding valve or damper
and engaging with its other end the said bridge or bracket and adapted to be
operated thereby, substantially as and for the purposes described.
6: In a brick machine, the combination with the frame, and the main driving
shaft, of a crank shaft parallel with the main driving shaft and operated thereby,
a spur wheel on said crank shaft and on each side of the machine and provided
with an externally toothed or corrugated hub, two pins projecting horizontally
from each spur wheel, fulcrumed levers adapted to be operated by said horizontal
pins, a hub supported by said fulcrumed levers, a double straining bar mounted
on each side of said hub, a mold box on the frame of the machine, a mold cap
adjustably arranged on said double straining bars and adapted to be moved into
and out of engagement with said mold box, a series of disks having their central
bore toothed or corrugated adjustably arranged on the toothed or corrugated hubs
of the spur wheels, each of said disks being provided with a cam projection, a ful-
crumed lever adapted to be operated by the cam projection on one of said disks,
a rod or brace connecting the other arm of said fulcrumed lever with one of said
straining bars, an arm pivotally connected to about the central portion of one of
said straining bars and having its free end in the path of the cam projection on
another of said disks and adapted to be operated thereby, a bridge or bracket pro-
jecting from the frame for guiding the free end of said last mentioned pivoted arm,
a slidable feed box provided with an opening in its bottom and adapted to register
with the mold box, and means for operating said feed box, substantially as and
for the purposes described.
Dated thia 95th day of Wahm 1000
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, London, W.
Agent for the Applicant.