Brick Making Machine.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 24th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 21st June,
1898
Brick Making Machine.
I, HENRY MARTIN, of No. 139, East Chestnut Street, Lancaster City, in the
County of Lancaster, and State of Pennsylvania, one of the United States of
America, Mechanician, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be
as follows:-
The object of my invention is the construction of a machine whereby clay is
tempered and pressed into a number of moulds at the same time, producing bricks
similar to those made by hand, but much more compact, and uniform in every
respect.
At
The invention consists in an upright pug mill for tempering clay, and having in
its lower portion a press-box to receive the tempered clay out of said mill.
the bottom of this press-box is a die which separates the clay as it leaves the box
and enters the moulds. The empty moulds are placed under the bottom of the
pug mill onto a table provided for that purpose. The empty moulds are brought
under this die by the machinery where they remain to be filled. The machinery
is so arranged that the empty moulds will push out the filled ones, and it is so
constructed that, should any stone or other hard substance be in the way and liable
to damage the moulds, it immediately relieves itself, free from all injury. The
clay is pressed into the moulds by an automatic device, which is so constructed that
the pressure can be instantly regulated according to the conditions of the clay.
The table under the press-box is so constructed that it can be regulated accord-
ing to the thickness of the moulds, having two adjustable devices, such as screws
with hand-wheels, on each side thereof, to give to it sufficient support to hold
the moulds in rigid and firm position under the press.
As soon as moulds are filled with clay, the empty ones pushing forward the filled
ones, a mechanical device is provided to cut off all the surplus clay from the top
of said filled moulds.
The device for pushing out the filled moulds is a rock-shaft having crank-arms
joined by connecting-rods to a carriage running back and forth on the table. This
movement is made by a vertical lever on a side of the machine and is held in
position by a rod and chain passing over the hub of a friction wheel. Around the
friction wheel is passed a band connected to a long lever by which said band is
held taut. This device holds the vertical lever in position for pushing out the
moulds and should a mould be caught or held by any obstruction, it immediately
relieves itself without damage to the machinery.
The pressing of the clay into the moulds is effected by a crank-shaft having
three bearings and it is driven by suitable gearing which is connected with the
line shafting. The double press crank has for its connection with the press box
a connecting rod joined to a pitman, plying or moving up and down in a standard
having its lower end affixed to a plunger-plate, which moves up and down in the
press-box. This standard is provided with slots, or slide recesses, in which is
placed a slide-plate onto which said pitman impinges in driving down the plunger-
plate to press the clay into the moulds. This device is so arranged that by reason

page_text: of said slide-plate the pressure can be regulated as may be desired, or it can be
instantly stopped. The standard is held in position by a yoke which is rigidly
secured to the frame-work of the machine, said standard sliding up and down in
guide-ways formed 'in said yoke.
1.
The main or pug mill shaft is held in position by a spider or yoke rigidly secured
in place in the upper portion of the frame-work, while above the spider and the
crown-gear, which is above said spider, is a plate secured to the top of the frame-
work, and so constructed as to journal the upper end of the main shaft and the
central horizontal shaft carrying the pinion which drives the crown-gear, holding
these shafts always' in true or central alignment.
Dated this 21st day of June 1897
Brick Making Machine.
I, HENRY MARTIN, of No. 139, East Chestnut Street, in the City of Lancaster,
County of Lancaster, and State of Pennsylvania, one of the United States of
America, Mechanician, 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 following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in automatic brick machines, which
temper the clay, press it into moulds, and deliver the filled moulds from the
machine at a convenient point whence an attendant, handling the moulds, removės
the bricks, to be dried and baked or burnt.
The invention has for its object the construction of a machine to mould a
number of bricks, at the same time, and from clay, as it is taken from the field,
producing them similar to those made by hand, but much more compact, more
uniform, and superior in every respect.
The invention consists in the combination or arrangements of parts, hereinafter
described, set forth in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing,
similar reference characters designating like parts throughout the several views,
in which-
Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views, in elevation, of a brick machine, embody-
ing the elements of the invention, showing them in the positions they occupy just
before beginning to press; Fig. 3 is a cross section taken through the point & in
Fig. 1, or just below the bottom of the pug mill, viewed from above and directly
placed, with portions of the front end broken away; Fig. 4 is a plan of the spider,
showing the pug mill shafts with tempering arms and wipers in place, the corner
posts appearing in section, dotted lines indicating the inner wall face of the pug
mill casing, and a dotted circle, the periphery of the crown gear wheel; Figs. 5
and 6 show in plan and side elevation, the top plate secured to the frame work,
portions of which are shown, with the upper end of the vertical shaft and a portion
of the horizontal shaft carrying the pinion driving the crown gear wheel (indicated
in part by a dotted are) in place; Fig. 7 is a front and rear vertical section, to
the left of the plunger casing of a portion through the press box, showing the
plunger casing, press-plate, die, mould and strike in place; and Figs. 8, 9 and 10
are front, rear and end elevations of the die.
The invention consists in an upright pug mill A, with the corner posts a, in
which rotates a vertical shaft A', carrying at intervals along its body cross arms

page_text: or blades a', to temper the clay, and near its lower end wipers or cam-shaped
blades A, to push the tempered clay into a press box a², opening through the front
wall in the lower portion of the mill, and near its upper end the shaft is held
rotatably in place by a spider A3, having the outer ends of its arms rigidly secured
to the corner posts a, while above the spider, is secured to the shaft a beveled
crown gear wheel G to rotate the same. At the bottom of the press box is a die A*
with open spaces a³ in its body to separate the clay on leaving said box to enter
the moulds, designated by M. These open spaces, being somewhat smaller than
the moulds, prevent the passage of larger particles, such as stones, to crush or
injure said moulds. The empty moulds are placed through a side opening a,
under the bottom of the pug mill onto a table A³, and they are automatically
brought under this die where they remain to be filled, the empty moulds pushing
forward and out the filled ones on said table. The clay is automatically pressed
into the moulds by an angle plate A6, secured, as by bolts and nuts a³, to a plunger
plate or body A' moving up and down in guide ways A8, secured to the outer face
of the front wall of the pug mill casing. The plunger plate A7, is provided with
a vertical casing or standard a, in which a pitman A9 is movable up and down
In the front face of the standard, a, are recesses a, into any of which
is inserted a hand or slide plate A10, according to the degree of pressure desired,
and upon which the pitman impinges to give the required pressure, and by means
of this plate A10, and the recesses a', the dgree of said pressure may be regulated
according to the conditions of the clay, or it may instantly and entirely removed;
while in the upper end of the casing, a, is a cross pin as, against which the upper
end of the pitman engages, lifting the plunger plate A7 the required distance,
or the angle plate, A6, to the top of the press box, said pitman being reciprocated
The standard is
or moved up and down by the mechanism hereinafter described.
firmly held in upright position by the yoke A which is rigidly secured to the
frame work of the machine, said standard sliding up and down in a guide way
formed in the back face of said yoke. In the frame work underneath the press
box, and below the table A', supporting the moulds, are four screws turned by
hand-wheels a with the upper ends of the screws against the bottom of the table,
whereby said table may be adjusted according to the thickness of the moulds,
and yielding to it sufficient support to hold the moulds in rigid and firm position.
under the press.
When moulds are filled with clay, and empty ones pushing forward the filled
ones, an automatic strike B is provided to cut off all the surplus clay from the
top of said filled moulds, confining said surplus clay to the press box. The strike
comprises a plate b, resting on. the top of the front edge of the mould being filled,
and movable up and down against the outer face of the press-box, being held
thereto by means of introverted end lips b, engaging the edges of sidewise pro-
jections from the ends of said press box. Near to the ends of the plates, b, are
rigidly secured thereto the lower ends of rack strips 662 having teeth in their
forward faces, which teeth are engaged by the teeth of pinions 63, mounted on a
shaft 6 journaled in bearings projecting from the forward face of the press-box.
An upwardly disposed lever B₁, on one end of the shaft, by a forward push or pull
thereon, is adapted to rotate the shaft and lift the strike plate from the mould, and
a rearwardly disposed lever B2, with an adjustable weight 65 thereon, on the other
end of the shaft to hold the strike in normal position, or pressed down on the
mould.
The device for pushing out the filled moulds and bringing the empty ones to the
filling point, under the press box, comprises a rock-shaft C, journaled across
the front end of the machine, having crank arms cc with their outer ends joined by
connecting rods C₁, to a carriage C³, running back and forth on the rearward
portion of the table, and on one extremity of the shaft, is an oppositely disposed
crank-arm cl, with its outer end joined by a connecting rod 3, to the lower end of
a vertical lever C, on the adjacent side of the machine. This lever is pivoted,
at a prescribed point, to a movable fulcrum-block,c³, moving in guide ways secured

page_text: to the same side of the machine. The fulcrum block is held in position by a
rod C, and a chain passing over and around the hub of a friction wheel C³,
journaled to the rearward end of the machine, the chain having a prescribed
weight c¹, on its free end. Around the friction wheel is passed a band, having
its extremities, both, secured to one end of the long lever C, fulcrumed near said
end to the body of the machine, while on the forward end of the machine is an
approved bracket-or brace-bar c6, with its upper end secured to the frame work,
and near the lower end, provided with an outwardly projecting lip or lug to engage
the upper edge of the long lever C, keeping it pressed downwardly in place,
and the band, taut on the friction wheel. Within the side opening a, is placed
a flap-plate or blade C, which is hinged at its outer end or edge to the frame work,
so as to extend slightly rearwardly into the open space of said opening, and having
its forward or inner face pivoted to the rearward end of a rod which, passing
through the adjacent corner post a, has its forward end pivoted to the prescribed
arm of an L-shaped lever or bell-crank C, pivoted at the juncture of its arms to
the frame work, and having the outer end of its other arm pivoted to the lower
end of a rod c', with its upper end pivoted to the prescribed arm of a similar lever
or bell crank Co, also pivoted at the juncture of its arms to the frame work, and
having the outer end of its other arm pivoted to the adjacent end of a rod c³, which
has its other end joined to the brace bar or strap, 6, before mentioned, and the
lever, C3, is provided at a prescribed point, with a side pulley or roller ", to engage,
during the forward or downward motion of said lever C, upon the back edge of
the lever B¹, before mentioned, pressing it down and lifting the strike when a
mould is pushed to the filling point. It will here be noted that these rods and
levers are so arranged, in their relations to the flap-hinge or blade C7, that a
forward pressure on the latter, immediately removes the lip or lug from the upper
edge of the lever, C, instantly releasing the tension of the band c5 from the
friction wheel C³, and freeing the movable fulcrum of the lever 03, relieving the
machinery from liability to injury, and from crushing the mould, indicated by
dotted lines m in Fig. 3, should one be caught by the forwardly moving carriage
or held by any other obstruction, in its passage to the filling point.
The upper end of the main or pug mill shaft, which end is above the spider
and crown gear, both before mentioned, is journaled in a cross-plate D, rigidly
secured to the top of the frame work. On the ends of this plate are bearings d,
into which is journaled a horizontal shaft 11, carrying a beveled gear pinion d',
driving the crown-gear of the pug mill. On one end of the shaft, D¹, is a spur
gear wheel D, rotating the shaft and whose teeth intermesh with those of a spur
pinion d², carried by the main line shafting, whence the power is applied. On
the other end of the shaft, D', is a spurred pinion D³, driving a spurred gear
wheel d³, mounted on the outer end of a crank-shaft 1)*, journaled in bearings d',
secured to the front face of the machine; and the wheel, d³, is provided on one
side thereof with a roller or pulley ds, mounted on a rearwardly and forwardly
adjustable pivot-pin, to engage the rearward edge, near the upper end of the
vertical lever, rolling along said edge to the end thereof, pushing said lever end
forward, to move the carriage and push out the filled moulds; while the shaft is
joined to the pitman before mentioned, by a connecting rod D³, having one en:1
pivoted to the crank of said shaft and the other end, to a side of the pitman near
its upper end. It will here be observed, that the top or cross-plate D, in journaling
the upper end of the vertical or main pug mill shaft, A, and the ends of the
horizontal shaft D¹, rigidly supports these shafts, keeping them always in true
or central alignment.
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. An automatic brick machine consisting of an upright pug mill for tempering

page_text: in the bottom of the latter to separate the clay as it enters the moulds, and having
means provided such as screws with hand wheels, to adjust and support the table
under the press box; the empty moulds placed upon a table, with a carriage
provided to push forward said empty moulds to the filling point under the die,
and to push out the filled ones; a plunger plate moving up and down in the
press box, to press the clay into the moulds, with mechanism provided to move
said plunger plate, and with means provided to regulate the pressure, or to avoid
the same; a strike resting on the forward edge of the moulds to remove all surplus
clay from their tops, with mechanism provided to raise and lower said strike, and
with means provided to hold it pressing down on the moulds; a rock shaft
journaled to the front end of the machine, having between the bearings two arms
upwardly extending, and at one end an arm oppositely disposed, with connecting
rods joining the outer ends of said former arms to the mould moving carriage,
and a connecting rod joining the outer end of said latter arm to the lower end of a
vertical lever, with mechanism provided to move the upper end of said lever
forward; a fulcrum block moving back and forth in guide-ways secured to one side
of the machine and said vertical lever pivoted to said movable fulcrum block,
and a rod having one end secured to said block, and a chain with one end attached
to the other end of said rod, and a weight suspended from the other end of said
chain; a friction wheel journaled to the rear end of the machine, with the chain
of the rod passing over its hub to suspend said weight; a band passing around the
periphery of said friction wheel, and a long lever near one end fulcrumed to said
frame work above said friction wheel, with the extremities of said band secured to
the fulcrumed end of said lever, and a brace strip secured to the front end of the
machine, said brace strip having a lug projection to engage the forward end of
the lever keeping it down to hold the friction wheel; a plate within the mould
entering opening of the frame work and hinged thereto, said plate having pivotal
connection between its forward face and the long lever strip through a line of
two bell-cranks and three connecting rods, said bell-cranks one above the other
pivoted to the frame work, one rod joining the plate and lower crank, the
second rod joining the lower crank to the upper, and the third rod joining the
upper crank to the holding strip, whereby a pressure on the plate releases the long
lever, loosens the friction wheel, and frees the fulcrum block carrying the vertical
lever means provided, such as yoke secured to the front face of the frame work,
to firmly support the plunger plate standard in its upward and downward motion;
a spider rigidly secured to the frame work to firmly hold the upper portion of
the pug mill shaft, under the crown gear wheel, in vertical position; a plate rigidly
secured to the top of the frame work, journaling the upper end of the pug mill
shaft and the outer ends of the horizontal driving shaft, to hold said shaft always
in true and central alignment; and with mechanism provided to operate and
drive the machine; all substantially as described and for the purpose hereinbefore
set forth.
2. In a brick machine—having an upright pug mill with a central vertical
rotating shaft carrying tempering blades along its body, and wipers near the
lower end thereof, with a press box opposite said wipers and opening through the
front end wall of the pug mill casing, and a plunger plate moving up and down
therein, with mechanism provided to move said plunger plate, to press the clay
out of said press box into moulds placed underneath--the die, having open spaces
in its body smaller than the moulds, placed in the bottom of the press-box to
separate the clay as it leaves said press-box and enters said moulds, substantially
as described and for the purpose herein before set forth.
3. In a brick machine-having an upright pug mill for tempering the clay,
with a press box at its bottom to receive the tempered clay, said box having a die
in its bottom with moulds underneath to separate said clay as it enters said moulds,
with means provided for supporting them at the filling point-the plunger plate
moving up and down in the press box, through its top, to press the clay therefrom
into the moulds, said plate moving in guide ways secured to the front wall of the

page_text: pug mill and having a hollow upright standard integral with its front face with
an oblong pitman moving up and down therein, said standard having a cross pin
near its upper end to be engaged by the upper end of said pitman and a slide plate
inserted through side recesses opening through the front edge of the standard to
receive the impact of its lower end and to regulate the degree of, or to instantly
stop, the pressure, and with mechanism provided to move the pitman, substantially
as described and for the purpose herein before set forth.
4. In a brick machine having an upright pug mill for tempering the clay,
a press box to receive the tempered clay, a die in the bottom of the box to separate
the clay, a reciprocating plunger plate to press the clay through said die, and
moulds underneath to receive said clay, with an opening through a side for the
insertion of empty moulds under the bottom of the pug mill, with mechanism
provided to push the empty moulds to the filling point and to push out the filled
ones the mould receiving table arranged underneath the bottom of the pug mill,
said table having its rearward end fixed in position to the frame work and adjust-
ing screws, operated by hand wheels, underneath through cross rails of the frame
work, the front end of the table resting on their upper ends, to hold said end firmly
in position to support the moulds, and whereby the height of said table end may be
adjusted to suit the thickness or depth of said moulds, substantially as described
and for the purpose herein before set forth.
5. In a brick machine having an upright pug mill with a press box at the
bottom thereof, a die in its bottom, and a plunger plate moving up and down
therein, with a mould underneath the die, and an adjustable table arranged under
the bottom of of the mill to support said moulds, with a side opening through the
frame work to pass empty moulds onto said table, with mechanism driving the
mill and plunger plate the carriage running back and forth on the rearward end
of said table, and behind said empty moulds, a rock shaft under the front end of
the table and journaled crosswise in bearings secured to the base rails of the frame
work, said rock shaft having two upwardly disposed arms, one on each side,
adjacent to and between said bearings, with connecting rods pivotally joining the
outer ends of said arms and the sides of said carriage, and a downwardly disposed
arm secured to one end of the shaft, with mechanism provided to rock said shaft,
substantially as described and for the purpose herein before set forth.
6. In a brick machine-of the character described, having a rock shaft with a
downwardly disposed arm to rock said shaft, and two upwardly disposed arms with
their ends pivotally joined by connecting rods to the sides of a carriage running
back and forth, behind empty moulds, on a mould supporting the table as shown-
the vertical lever arranged on a side of the machine, and centrally pivoted to a
movable fulcrum block moving back and forth in guide ways secured to the
front end of the machine, a rod having one end secured to said block, with a chain
secured to the other end of the rod, and a weight suspended from the free end of
said chain, with means provided to support, hold and release the chain, a connect-
ing rod pivotally joining the outer end of said downwardly disposed rock shaft
arm and the lower end of said vertical lever, with means provided, such as a
roller secured to a side of a gear wheel, to push the upper end of said lever
forwards, substantially as and for the purpose herein before set forth.
7. In a brick machine-of the character described, and having a vertical lever
with its lower end pivotally joined to the outer end of the downwardly disposed
rock shaft arm, its upper end adapted to be pushed forward by the gearing, and
at a prescribed point pivoted to a movable fulcrum block having a rod, and chain,
and weight thereto attached, as shown-the friction wheel journaled to the rear
end of the frame work, with the chain passing over the hub of said friction wheel,
and the end-suspended weight to hold said chain taut on said hub, a long lever
with its rear end above said friction wheel and near said end fulcrumed to the
frame work, a band around the periphery of the friction wheel, said band having
its extremities secured to the fulcrumed end of the long lever, and a downwardly
sloping brace-strip with a side lip to engage on the top edge of the forward end

page_text: of said long lever to hold said end down, the band taut on said friction wheel,
and through said rod and chain and weight the movable fulcrum block of the
vertical side lever in place, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set
forth.
8. In a brick machine-of the character described and having the forward end
of the long lever held down by the downwardly sloping brace strip as shown-
the flap-blade hinged into the mould receiving opening in a side of the frame
work as shown, a rod passing through a corner post, having one end pivoted to
the forward face of said flap-blade and its other end pivoted to the prescribed arm
of a bell-crank, said bell crank pivoted to the frame work, a second bell
crank also pivoted to the frame work, with a second rod pivotally joining
the prescribed arms of said bell cranks, and a third rod pivotally connecting the
free arm of said second bell crank and the long lever-holding brace strip, substan-
tially as and for the purpose herein before set forth.
9. In a brick machine of the character described, having a press box at the
forward end, with moulds under the press box, and a plunger plate pressing the
clay from said box into said moulds, and mechanism provided such as the lever C³
to push out the filled moulds the automatic strike comprising a plate resting on
the forward edge of the moulds, said plate movable up and down against the front
wall of the press box and held in place by introverted lips engaging side edges pro-
jecting from the ends of said wall, rack-strips with their lower ends secured to said
plate, pinions with teeth engaging the teeth of said rack-strips, a shaft journaled
in bearings secured to the press box and said pinions mounted on said shaft, an
upwardly disposed lever end-secured to one end of said shaft with means provided
such as a pulley on the lever C to press said lever down and lift the strike-plate
from the moulds, and a rearwardly disposed lever end-secured to the other end of
the same shaft with a slide-weight thereon to hold the lever down and press said
strike-plate onto the moulds to remove the surplus clay, substantially as described
and for the purpose herein before set forth.
11 - m ו גנוד
1000
3334
HENRY MARTIN.
W. P. Thompson & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.