Improvements in Machines for Pressing Bricks.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 27th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Pressing Bricks.
I, BRUCE CLARK WHITE, residing at No. 320 Dearborn Street, Chicago, Cook
County, Illinois, United States of America Mechanical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
A. machine embodying the invention is of that kind which embraces generally a
stationary mold or molds, upper and lower plungers sliding therein, cross-heads
carrying the plungers, a toggle for actuating the plungers in pressing the brick, of
which toggle one member is pivoted connected with the upper cross-head and the
other member is pivotally connected with the upper ends of two vertical connecting
bars which are attached at their lower ends to the lower cross-head, a crank shaft
arranged horizontally opposite the toggle and having its crank pin connected with
the central joint of the toggle, together with means for moving vertically the upper
and lower plungers and the several parts connected therewith, embracing the cross-
heads, toggle and vertical connecting bars, so as to enable the plungers to be moved
vertically within the mold to secure the discharge of the finished brick from the
mold and to secure the smoothing or polishing of the edges of the brick while being
pressed, in the same general manner that said parts are moved in the machine shown
in a prior Patent No. 11,537 granted to me July 7th 1891.
One feature of this invention concerns more especially the means for giving such
vertical movement to the plungers and connected parts and it embraces for this
purpose two lifting levers supported upon the machine frame by a fulcrum or pivot
pin located between their ends, the ends of said levers which are adjacent to the crank
shaft being adapted to engage cam-surfaces formed on the arms of the crank shaft,
and the other ends of the said levers being adapted to support the said plungers
and connected parts so that the latter will be raised and lowered through the action
of the lifting levers during the rotation of said crank shaft. The lifting levers will
commonly be engaged at their ends with the said vertical connecting bars by means
of studs secured in and projecting from the bars, beneath which studs the ends of
the levers rest while the ends of the levers which engage the cam surfaces of the
crank shaft arms will commonly be provided with anti-friction rollers preferably
mounted on a bearing pin secured at its ends in the said levers. I also provide the
studs with freely turning rings or sleeves provided with notches adapted for
engagement with narrow transverse bearing surfaces or ribs upon the ends of the
lifting levers, thereby avoiding any frictional engagement or rubbing of the studs
on the levers during the movement of the parts. The said transverse projections or
ribs of the lifting levers I form upon separate blocks secured to the levers so that
they may be renewed when worn by continued use.
As an improved construction in the central pivotal joint of the toggle I provide
overlapping parts of the toggle with bearing apertures and insert therein a
connecting pin which is loosely held and free to turn in both members of the toggle,
said pin being.held in place by plates secured to one of the toggle members over
the ends of the pin so as to hold the pin from end wise movement and at the same
time to prevent access of dust or dirt to the bearing surfaces.
As a further improvement in the middle joint of the toggle, 1 provide both
toggle members with curved bearing surfaces concentric with the connecting pin,
said surfaces being in contact with each other so as to receive or take from the said
connecting pin a part of the pressure produced in the working of the toggle.
As an improved construction in the pivotal joint connecting the lower toggle
member with the upper cross-head, I provide said lower member of the toggle with
a cylindric bearing surface extending throughout the entire width of the lower
end of the toggle member and concentric with the pin which connects the said

page_text: toggle member with said upper cross-head, while I provide the said cross-head with
a curved bearing surface fitting that of the toggle member. This construction
prevents the upper cross-head from yielding or springing upwardly in its middle
part under the great strain produced in pressing the brick.
One
This invention also includes improvements in the devices for feeding the brick to
the mold, of that class in which such feeding devices include a sliding feed box
which has a reciprocatory motion over the mold table from a point over the molds
to a point beneath the feed hopper so as to deliver the clay received from the
hopper into the molds when the upper plunger is lifted above the same.
feature of improvement relating to the feed box consists in making the front wall
of the feed box in a separate piece from the body thereof and making such piece of
wood, or, if of metal, by weakening the same by cuts or notches or otherwise, so
that in case an obstruction is met with in the movement of the feed box the said
weakened separate piece will break without injury to the feed box or other parts
of the machine.
The invention also includes improvements in actuating devices for the feed box
where the same is moved by means of an oscillating lever connected by horizontal
rods or bars with the opposite sides of the feed box. This part of the invention
relates more especially to the pivotal connection between the said connecting rod
and the arm of the actuating lever and it embraces a pivot rod passing horizontally
through said lever, split sleeves or clamp plates placed upon the ends of said rod
and provided with notches arranged at right angles to the said pivot rods and
adapted to receive the ends of the connecting rods, which latter are provided at
opposite sides of the said split sleeves or clamps with nuts which may be tightened
against the said split sleeves or nuts so as to hold the connecting rods engaged with
the same and at the same time to close the split sleeves tightly upon the ends of the
said pivot rod, this construction enabling the said connecting rods to be disconnected
from the pivot rod and the latter removed from the lever arm by merely loosening
one of the nuts on each connecting rod. The notches in the said split sleeves or
clamps are arranged to open downwardly, and for convenience in assembling the
parts said split sleeves are provided with recesses adapted to receive projections on
the clamp nuts of the connecting rods, so that when said nuts are screwed up
sufficiently to bring the projections into said recesses the connecting rods will be
held up in place before the nuts are tightened to clamp the split sleeves upon the
pivot rod, thereby facilitating the adjustment of the parts.
In a machine of the character shown in said prior Patent the lower plungers are
movable vertically with relation to the lower cross-head and are supported above
the same by means of springs, devices being provided for adjusting the position of
the lower plungers relatively to the cross-head for the purpose of regulating the
depth of the mold at the time of filling the same with clay, embracing a stem
extending from the plunger downwardly to a point below the cross-head, a horizontal
lever pivoted to said stem at one end and having its opposite end engaged with a
vertically adjustable fulcrum on the machine frame, and a guide rod pivoted to
the lower cross-head and provided with a stop or shoulder adapted to engage the
lever between its ends and thereby limit the movement of the lever toward the
cross-head.
As an improved construction in adjusting devices of this character I attach the
lower end of the said stems of the lower plungers to a cross-head which is arranged
to slide in vertical guides on the machine frame, and I pivot said lever to said
cross-head, the lower main cross-head being free from contact with the said stems
so that the plungers and stems are guided and held in place solely by the sliding of
the lower plungers in the molds and the sliding of the said cross-head in said guides.
I further provide, in connection with the devices for adjusting the position of the
fulcrum to which the outer end of said adjusting lever is connected, an eccentric
pin upon the lever adapted to engage the said guide rod, which limits the approach
of the lever to the lower cross-head, said eccentric pin being adapted to be turned
in the lever to shift it vertically with reference to said lever, with the effect of

page_text: greatly increasing the range of adjustment of the lower plungers without propor-
tionally increasing the range of adjustment of the said fulcrum. For limiting the
outward movement of the lower plungers under the action of the springs which are
interposed between the same and the lower cross-head, I employ adjustable stops
upon the cross-head to which the said stems are attached, which stops are arranged
to engage opposing contact surfaces on the machine frame.
As an improved means for adjusting vertically the fulcrum of the said adjusting
lever, I provide at the front of the molds and beneath the forwardly projecting part
of the mold table on which the finished brick are delivered, a horizontal shaft
having hand wheels at both ends. This shaft is provided at its central part with a
pinion engaging a gear wheel formed upon or attached to a revolving screw-threaded
sleeve arranged vertically beneath the shaft. Said screw-threaded sleeve engages
the screw-threaded upper end of a vertical rod the lower end of which is pivoted to
the said adjusting lever and forms the fulcrum of the same.
Said sleeve is pre-
ferably mounted in a frame which is supported upon the machine frame by
trunnions so as to swing upon a pivotal axis concentrically with that of said
horizontal shaft, thereby affording lateral movement of the lower end of the said
rod without binding any of the working parts. The frame referred to is preferably
constructed to form a casing around or inclosing the gear wheels referred to, to
prevent access of dust or dirt to the same.
As an improved construction in the mold table of a brick pressing machine I
propose to construct the same of two vertical plates which are arranged parallel
with each other and attached at their ends to the main frame plates of the machine
and which extend from the level of the top of the mold table downwardly to the
ground, the upper parts of said plates being constructed to form the ends of the
molds, and the side walls of the molds being formed by means of blocks or partition
plates placed between the said main plates or castings of the mold table. The
partition plates between the molds, where several molds are employed, are made
relatively thin and are provided at their ends with integral stems which pass
through boles in the opposite plates of the mold table and are provided outside of
said plates with nuts by which the plates are held from spreading apart. The
interposed blocks or plates which are exterior to the end molds are preferably
made of considerable thickness and are perforated for the passage of a bolt or bolts
which serve to hold together the end portions of said plates constituting the mold
table. In practice it is proposed to employ lining plates for the molds, which
lining plates are so arranged that the ends of the lining plates at the ends of the
molds overlap the ends of the lining plates at the sides of the molds, so that when
the side plates forming the mold table are drawn together, in the manner hercin-
before set forth, the end lining plates will be clamped against the side lining plates
and the latter thereby held firmly in position. The plates forming the mold table
and the interposed blocks or partition plates will preferably be recessed to receive
corresponding projections on the outer surfaces of the lining plates, thereby
accurately holding the latter in position.
As an improved construction in means for heating the plungers by steam I
propose to employ a steam passage which is separate from or independent of the
lining or face plates of the said plungers but which are adapted for the transmission
of heat thereto by contact with the plates of parts of the walls of said passage or
of masses of metal which form a continuation of said walls adapted to conduct the
heat from the steam within the passage to the said plates. In one form of con-
struction embodying this feature of the invention the body of the plunger is made
with an internal recess or chamber extending to the face plate and the steam
passage extended transversely through the upper part of the plunger and is provided
with a downward extension of its wall within but free from contact with the body
of the plunger, but resting in contact with the face plate. Such extension so formed
serves to conduct the heat from the wall of the steam passage directly to the face
plate. In another construction embodying this general feature of the invention the
body of the plunger is made solid and the face plate secured to the same in contact

page_text: with the entire lower surface of the plunger, and the steam passage is arranged
between the plunger and the cross-head which is attached with its wall in immediate
contact with the body of the plunger so that the metal of the latter serves as a
means of transmitting heat from the said passage to the face plate. In still another
and preferable construction the body of the plunger is made hollow or provided
with an internal recess extending to the inner face of the lining plate and the steam
passage is deflected into said recess and has a part of its wall made flat and arranged
in immediate contact with the inner surface of the face plate. This construction
insures effective beating of the face plate while making the steam passage inde-
pendent of the plunger or the face plate thereof.
As an improvement in the driving mechanism for a brick press I propose to
employ a clutch mechanism for throwing a driving or countershaft into and out of
gear with the working parts of the machine, and in connection therewith a brake
mechanism working on a revolving part or wheel which moves with the working
parts of the machine, and I operate both of these devices, to wit, the clutch and
the brake mechanism, by a single lever so that when the working, parts of the
machine are thrown out of gear with the part of the driving mechanism which is
actuated by the prime mover the motion of said working parts of the machine will
be immediately arrested by the action of the brake. One simple form of device
embodying this part of the invention consists in a friction clutch operated by the
movement, endwise on a shaft, of a sliding collar and a lever which is actuated
with and actuates said sliding collar, which lever is provided with an arm adapted
to engage the surface of a pulley and provided with a brake shoe which acts upon
an annular surface of the pulley. In another embodiment of this part of the
invention a similarly acting clutch is actuated by a hand lever which also moves a
brake shoe which is supported upon an inclined guide in such manner that when
the clutch is released the brake shoe will be moved upon the inclined guide in a
direction to carry it toward and into contact with the pulley on which the brake
shoe is adapted to act.
Another desirable embodiment of this part of the invention embraces a similarly
arranged clutch mechanism operated by a lever through the medium of a rock
shaft having upon it a screw-thread which engages a brake shoe in such manner
that as the rock shaft is turned in moving the lever to actuate the clutch said brake
shoe will be advanced into contact with or withdrawn from the surface of a pulley
which moves with the working parts of the machine.
Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 19th day of February A.D. 1892.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Pressing Bricks.
I BRUCE CLARK WHITE, of 320 Dearborn Street in the City of Chicago and
State of Illinois United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, 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:-
This invention relates to that class of machines for making brick in which the
clay to form the bricks is compressed within a mold by means of two opposing
plungers, which are moved toward each other in compressing the brick and are
moved to accomplish the discharge of the finished brick from the mold.
In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention:
Figure 1 is a central vertical section on the line 1-1 of Figure 2, of a machine
embodying the invention.
Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof.

page_text: Figure 3 is a rear elevation thereof.
Figure 4 is an isometrical or perspective view of the pressing and lifting
mechanism, removed from the machine frame.
Figure 5 is a detail view, showing the forward ends of the lifting beams and
connected parts.
Figure 6 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 8.
Figure 8 is a detail showing the rear parts of the lifting beams.
Figure 9 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 8.
Figure 10 is a vertical section through the middle joint of the toggle lever on the
line 5-5 of Figure 11.
Figure 11 is a detail side elevation of the same.
Figures 12 and 13 are detail views showing a modified form of the toggle joint
bearings.
Figures 14 and 15 are detail views of one of the feed-box rods; Figure 14 being
a central longitudinal section of the connecting rod and connected parts, and
Figure 15 being a side elevation of the part to which the rod is attached at its rear
end, with the rod in section.
Figure 16 is a detail, longitudinal section of the feed-box.
Figure 17 is an end view thereof.
Figure 18 is a bottom view of the feed-box.
Figure 19 is a vertical section on line 1-1 of Figure 2, of the adjusting device
and mold table, with the lower plungers at their highest position.
Figure 20 is a vertical section of the same on line 6-6 of Figure 19.
Figure 21 is a sectional view similar to Figure 19, showing a changed position
of the lower plungers.
Figure 22 is a plan view of the adjusting devices for the lower plungers, taken
on line 7-7 of Figure 20.
Figures 23 and 24 are detail views of parts of the same.
Figure 25 is a vertical section on line 8-8 of Figure 19.
Figure 26 is a view in central vertical section, taken on line 26-26 of Figure 27,
of a plunger containing heating devices forming part of my invention.
Figure 27 is a view of three adjacent plungers containing the heating device
shown in Figure 26, the plunger at the left hand being shown in central vertical
section, taken on line 27-27 of the plan view in Figure 29, and the other two in
end elevation.
Figure 28 is a perspective view showing the face bearing plate of the plungers
and steam pipes of the heating device separated from the main parts or bodies of
the plungers.
Figure 29 is a plan view of the three plungers shown in Figure 27.
Figure 30 is a view in central vertical section taken on line 30-30 of Figure 31,
of a single plunger embodying another form of this part of my invention.
Figure 31 is a view of three connected plungers constructed like that shown in
Figure 30, of which the plunger at the left hand is shown in end elevation and the
remaining two in central vertical section.
Figure 32 is a view in central vertical section taken on line 32-32 of Figure 33,
of still another form of the heating device.
Figure 33 is a longitudinal section through two plungers constructed like that
shown in Figure 32.
Figure 34 is a detail view, in side elevation, of the driving gear of the press.
Figure 35 is a vertical section thereof, taken upon line 35-35 of Figure 34.
Figure 36 is a detail section showing the brake shoe and adjacent parts of the
actuating lever, taken upon line 36-36 of Figure 35.
Figure 37 is a detail section taken on line 37-37 of Figure 36, showing the
brake shoe in contact with the rim of the brake wheel.
Figure 38 is a perspective view showing a modified construction of the brake
mechanism.

page_text: Figure 39 is a perspective view showing still another possible construction of the
brake mechanism.
The main frame of the machine herein illustrated as embodying my invention,
consists of two heavy vertical frame plates A A, arranged parallel with each other
at opposite sides of the machine and having inwardly projecting parts A¹ A' at the
bottom and rear of the machine provided with internal flanges a a, through which
pass bolts a' a' by which the said frame plates are secured together at this point.
The frames are connected at the top of the machine by a horizontal cross-piece A*,
to which they are secured by bolts a. The frames A. A are provided with
internally projecting ribs a² and a³, and guide surfaces a a', and the front
plates AA2 are bolted to said frame plates and form with the ribs a² and a³
guides for the vertically movable parts.
Bolted to the outer face of one of the frames A by bolts a' is a smaller auxiliary
frame A (Fig. 3) forming bearings for driving and clutch devices through which
power is transmitted to the machine.
B is a mold table, arranged horizontally between the lower parts of the frame
plates A A to which it is secured at its ends by bolts b. Within the said mold
table are located the molds C, of which the machine shown is provided with three.
The mold table B is provided with projections 263 at its ends (Fig. 2) fitting into
-corresponding grooves in the frames A A, in order to prevent any vertical motion
of the mold table B when the machine is in action and to make a rigid connection
between the said frame plates.
B is a horizontal extension of the mold table B, which is secured to the rear
margin of the said mold table and extends inwardly therefrom, the top of said
extension being flush with the top of the mold table. Said extension is attached
to and supported at its ends by lugs which project inwardly from the frame
plates A A, and to which said extension is bolted (Fig. 1 and 3). Said extension B*
forms a support for parts pertaining to the feeding mechanism.
B is a forward extension secured to the front surface of the mold table with its
Chorizontal top surface in alignment with the top of the mold table. To the under
side of said extension B³ are secured hangers B' (Figs. 1, 2 and 25) by which the
parts of the adjusting devices for the lower plungers are supported, as will herein-
after appear.
CCC indicate the molds which are formed in the mold table; DDD upper
plungers; and E E E lower plungers, adapted to fit and slide in the said molds.
The upper plungers are attached to a horizontal, vertically movable, upper
cross-head D', and the lower plungers are attached to and supported by a lower
cross-head E¹, having a vertical movement and supported by attachment to
two heavy vertical side bars which are bolted to the ends of said lower cross-
.head and extend upwardly therefrom to points near the upper ends of the frame
plates. Said bars are held in place and guided at their upper ends by the rims and
guided-surfaces a² and a and plates A2, and at points above the mold table by said
plates and by bearing surfaces a³, arranged in a manner shown, to engage bearing
surfaces formed on the enlarged central parts of the bars, as seen in Figure 4.
The lower cross-head is shown as made without bearings in, the main frame, the
same being supported solely by attachment to the lower ends of the said side
bars FF. GG₁ are the upper and lower members of a toggle, which are pivoted
respectively, by means of pivot pins G³ and G³, to the upper ends of the side
bars FF and to the upper cross-head D'. Said upper cross-head is held in place
and guided during its vertical movement by being extended at its ends past the
front edges of the side bars F F so as to form guide projections which are located
between and in contact with the front edges of said side bars and the inner surfaces
of the plates A²
The pivot pin G³ is inserted at its ends in the end portions of the upper cross-
head and passes through a horizontal bearing aperture in the lower toggle
member G, which latter is made of such width as to extend over the greater part
of the length of the cross-head (Fig. 2) and is constructed to afford a continuous

page_text: bearing for the pivot pin throughout its entire width. The lower end of said.
toggle members is provided with an external curved surface g, said curved surface
being cylindric and concentric with the pivot pin G. The upper surface of the
cross-head D is made hollow or convexly curved to conform to the curvature of
the surface and the curved surfaces of said toggle member of the cross-head are
fitted to rest in contact with each other, so that in addition to the bearing which
the lower toggle member has upon the pin G, it has additional bearing throughout
its entire length directly upon the cross-head G¹ thus preventing any upward
deflection in the cross-head when heavy pressure is brought upon it.
The toggle members G G are pivotally connected with each other by means of
a heavy pivot pin G', inserted through the overlapped or interpenetrating forked
ends of said toggle members, as more fully shown in Figures 10 and 11. The
upper toggle member G is provided at its lower end with external curved
surfaces, concentric with the pivot pin G and adapted to bear against
corresponding concave surfaces formed on the upper end of the toggle member G¹,.
and said lower toggle member GI has formed upon its upper end similar convex
surfaces adapted to bear against corresponding convex surfaces of the upper
toggle member G. The supplementary bearing surfaces and g³ being concentric
with the pivot pin G, serve to take a part of the strain which would come entirely
upon the pin Gif said bearing surfaces were absent.
The pivot pin G is adapted to turn freely with the bearing aperture of both.
toggle members and is prevented from moving endwise by means of caps gy
which are secured over the ends of said bearing apertures, preferably by means of
screws, as shown, and adapted to turn freely in both toggle members, has the
advantage of being entirely free to rotate in both of its bearings, so that in the
continued use of the machine, wear upon the pin will be equally distributed and
the same will be prevented from becoming worn into concentric form, thus throwing
the parts out of adjustment. The caps garranged to cover the bearing apertures
of the toggle, as shown, serve to keep out grit and dust and to retain the oil within
the bearing. The said upper toggle member G is made of such width at its upper
end as to fill the space between the upper ends of the side bars F F, and the pivot
pin Ghas bearing in the said toggle member throughout the entire width of the
same and is secured at its ends within the said side bars in the manner illustrated.
I is a crank-shaft, which is mounted on the machine frame in the rear of and
horizontally opposite the central joint of the toggle. The crank-pin of the said
crank-shaft is connected with the pivot pin G by means of a split box H, which
engages the central part of said pivot pin, and a similar split box H', which engages
the crank-pin, and connecting rods HH, which unite said boxes with each other
and which at the same time serve as means of connecting the parts of the split.
boxes. The said rods are inserted at their ends through the parts of the boxes.
and are provided with nuts / h, whereby the boxes may be adjusted to compensate
for wear.
Between the boxes Hand shoulders formed on the said connecting rods.
are placed collars ² (Fig. 1) which may be removed and replaced by collars of
different thicknesses to adjust the lengths of the connecting rods.
The crank-shaft I is so placed or located relative to the toggle members G G
that the latter will be flexed when the crank-pin is at the forward part of its throw
or adjacent to the toggle, and will be straightened out when it is at the rear part.
of its throw or away from the toggle.
J is a fulcrum pin, which is supported at its ends in the frame plates, and
affords pivotal support for two heavy beams or lifting levers which extend from
near the front of the machine, where they are engaged with the side bars F F, to
points below the crank-shaft, said lifting levers being actuated through the medium
of the crank-shaft and acting to raise and lower the lower and upper plungers and
the toggle and connected parts during the operation of the machine.
The said fulcrum pin J is mounted in journal bearings JJ' (Figs. 7 and 8)
which fit into square openings in the frame plates A A and are adapted to move
or slide vertically therein for the purpose of affording vertical adjustment of

page_text: the fulcrum pin. Said journal bearings JJ are shown as adapted for vertical
adjustment by the introduction beneath them of thin strips of metal j, but other
means of adjustment may be employed if desirable. Disks or plates J J are
bolted to the frame plates to retain the bars JJ' in place, said plates being pre-
ferably arranged to cover the openings in the frame plates so as to exclude dust
from the bearing surfaces.
The lifting levers J J are secured to the fulcrum pin J adjacent to the inside
of the frame plates A A with their front ends inside of the side bars F F. Said
lifting levers are engaged with the side bars F F by means of studs J J (Figs. 5
and 6) which are inserted in the said bars F F and extend inwardly therefrom. To
avoid frictional contact between the said studs and the ends of the lifting levers
the boxes are provided with rings or sleeves J' Jo, adapted to turn freely on the
pins, said rings being held in place thereon, conveniently by plates 6 secured to
the pius and overlapping the edges of the rings as shown. The ends of the lifting
levers are provided with narrow transverse bearing surfaces or ribs adapted to
engage shallow grooves or notches extending across the face of the rollers J J³,
the said transverse bearing surfaces or notches being rounded so that they will turn
within the grooves during the movement of the parts. It will, of course, be seen
that with the parts thus constructed the rollers will turn or oscillate about the
pins J as the ends of the lifting levers rise or fall, the said rib or projection on
the end of the lifting lever being carried forward of a vertical line passing through
the center of the pin when the lever is at the center of its throw, and carried to the
rear thereof at the top and bottom limits of its throw. Each of the rollers J is
shown as provided with more than one of the grooves or recesses, so that when one
groove becomes worn the ring may be turned to bring another one of the grooves
into engagement with the lifting lever. To provide for wear in the transverse pro-
jection or rib j', the latter is shown as formed on a removable inserted strip,
which will commonly be made of hardened steel.
Near the rear ends of the lifting levers J3 J3 are mounted two rollers kk, which
are arranged beneath the crank-shaft I and at the same distance apart as the crank
arms 12 12 of said crank-shaft, so that they are adapted to rest in contact with said
crank arms, the peripheral surfaces of said rollers being made of the same width
as the crank arms the external surfaces of which constitute cams and are shaped
to give the desired movement to the lifting levers.
In the particular construction shown, the rollers kk are attached to a sleeve K,
which is mounted on a shaft K', secured at its ends in the lifting levers near the
rear ends of the latter, as clearly seen in Figures, 4, 8 and 9. This construction
has the advantage of affording a uniform pressure on the shaft K' under the heavy
strain to which the rollers are subjected, the sleeve K affording a rigid connection
between said rollers and thereby transmitting a practically equal amount of pressure
to all parts of the shaft. The rollers kk, lifting levers J³ ³ and pins J*J* are so
arranged in relation to the crank-shaft I and side bars F F that the action of the
cam-shaped arms will give oscillatory movement to the said levers and thereby
raise and lower the said bars and connected parts; the preponderance of weight at
the front ends of the lifting levers, due to the heavy parts which are supported on
the same, being sufficient to keep the rollers kk in contact with the crank arms.
The general construction of these parts is well shown in Figure 4, from which it will
be seen that the side bars F, the upper and lower cross-heads and the plungers
thereon, as well as the toggle, are sustained or supported solely by the said lifting
levers.
M is a feed-box which rests upon the mold table and is adapted to slide alter-
nately over the molds C C to the position shown in Figure 21, and under the clay
hopper M to the position showu in Figures 1' and 19. Said feed-box consists of a
frame or casting provided at its ends adjacent to the molds with rectangular
openings corresponding in number and size with the molds CCC and having at
the rear of said openings a horizontal top surface which cuts off the downward
passage of clay from the hopper when the feed-box is at the forward part of its

page_text: throw. The front wall of the feed-box- comprises a separate strip m, secured to
the ends of the partitions between the openings of the feed-box by screws m³
(Figs. 16, 17 and 18). Said strip is made of such strength or of such material, or
is so weakened by transverse cuts, that it will break if it meets an obstacle either
in its forward or rearward stroke. In the particular construction shown the strip m
forms the lower part only of the front wall of the feed-box (Fig. 16) and is pro-
vided with cuts or grooves m² m², extending nearly through the same, so that it will
easily break out between the parts in case it strikes an obstacle. Such an obstacle
usually consists of a stone, a piece of iron or some other article which passes
through the hopper to the feed-box and falling from the feed-box into one of the
molds, extends from the top of the same in such position as to be caught between
the front or rear wall of the mold and the front edge of the feed-box.
Attached
The hopper M' is movably sustained in the machine frame, so that in case any
hard object should be caught between the feed-box and the edge of the hopper,
the latter will yield upwardly and thereby prevent breakage or injury to the parts.
Devices for actuating the feed-box are constructed as follows: "N is a rock shaft.
having journals nn, (see Fig. 3) engaging bearings in the frame plates A A and
extending downwardly in the form of a wide depending arm, which is connected at
its lower end with the feed-box for the purpose of actuating the same.
to one of said journals n n is an arm, N₁ extending upwardly and provided with a.
roller which engages a cam N' on the gear wheel L, said cam being so formed as
to actuate the rock-shaft in such manner as to advance the feed-box over the molds.
when the plungers are at their highest point, and retract the feed-box before the
plungers reach the same in their descent. A rod N³ is inserted through the arm N
at its lower end (Figs. 14, 15, 16 and 18) and projects at its ends beyond the said
arm, and two split sleeves or clamp pieces N N are fitted over the projecting ends
of the said rod and are provided with vertical slits extending into the apertures.
which receive the end of the rod.
00 are two connecting rods, arranged at either side of the feed-box, for uniting
the same with the arm N. Said rods are connected at their forward ends with the
feed-box by any suitable means, as, for instance, by eyes oo on the rods, engaged
with the ends of the rod of which passes through the feed-box, as shown. At their
rear ends the connecting rods OO are adapted to enter transverse slots n² n² formed
in the split sleeves N' N, and the end portions of the rods are screw-threaded and
provided with nuts 0'01 and 020², which are placed on opposite sides of the
sleeves and are tightened against the same to hold the connecting rods in engage-
ment therewith and to clamp the sleeves on the rod N. Two nuts O'O¹ are
placed on the rods OO at the forward side of the said sleeves, one of which is a jamb
nut, said nuts being adjustable upon the rods to change the length of the rods in
adjusting the parts for operation. Each of the nuts 002 is provided on its inner
surface with an inwardly projecting cylindric part o² adapted to enter a
corresponding circular recess in the rear surface of the sleeve N (Fig. 14 and 15).
In this construction the tightening of the nut O' against the parts of the split
sleeve brings together the ends of the sleeve at opposite sides of the slit or opening
therein and the sleeve is thereby tightened upon the end of the rod N³ and firmly
held thereon. The engagement of the inwardly projecting parts o² o² of the
nuts 002 with the recesses in the sleeves prevents the rods from dropping out of
the notches NN. By the engagement of the connecting rods OO with the split
sleeves and the clamping of the latter on the rod N³ in the manner described, said
rods OO are held rigidly at right angles to the rod N³ thus preventing any lateral
movement of the feed box. When it is desired to disconnect the rods Ŏ O from the
sleeves N N', the nuts 020' are turned back sufficiently to withdraw the pro-
jecting parts
02 o from the recesses n'n' in the said sleeves, thus permitting the
rods to drop out of the notches n³n². The split sleeves being released from
the rod N3 by the loosening of the nuts 00%, said clamps and the rod N may
then be removed and the feed box M may be withdrawn from its place.
To now refer more particularly to devices illustrated for supporting and adjusting.
B

page_text: the lower plungers EEE, said plungers are yieldingly supported above the lower
cross-heads E by means of springs P P P, placed between the lower surface of the
plungers and opposing surfaces of the cross-head, the latter, in the instance shown,
being made hollow to afford space for the said springs, which are located within
the said cross-heads and extend upwardly through openings in the top of the
same.
The devices provided for adjusting the vertical position of the lower plungers
within the molds consist generally of vertical stems E3 E3 E³, affixed to the said
plungers and depending from the latter, a cross bar P" to which the said stems
are connected at their lower ends, and a horizontally arranged lever which is
engaged pivotally at one end with a vertically adjustable fulcrum on the machine
frame and at its opposite end with the stems E³ E³ E³, and is adapted for contact
between its ends with a part upon and moving with the lower cross-head, by
which the position of the plungers at the time of filling the mold is determined.
The stems E3 E3 E³ are rigidly secured to the cross-bar P by means of nuts p
on the lower ends of said stems, and said cross bar is provided with cylindric
journals which pass through bearing apertures in the forked ends of the
levers Q (Figs. 22 and 23). Said forked ends of the lever are provided with
bearing boxes having removable caps to enable the lever to be engaged with
the cross-bar between the stems E³, as shown in drawing Figure 22. The ends of
said cross-bar are extended to engage guide grooves U U₁ formed in a
casting U, which is secured to the base of the machine and extends downwardly
therefrom. The said guide grooves U₁ constitute the sole means of guiding the
lower ends of the stems E³ ³, while the upper ends of said stems are held in
place and guided by the sliding of the lower plungers within the molds, the
intermediate parts of the stems being free from contact with the lower cross head,
so that the lateral position of the lower plungers and stems attached thereto is
independent of the lower cross-head, and the lower plungers are maintained
accurately in horizontal position and the stems thereof parallel with the sides
of the mold without regard to possible lateral variations in the position of the
lower cross-head.
The upward travel of the lower plunger is limited by stop bolts P² P² (Fig. 20)
inserted through the ends of the cross-bar P¹ and adapted to come in contact with
the bottom surfaces of inwardly projecting feet 5% of the mold table B.
The stop upon the lower cross-head for limiting the upward movement of the
lower plungers when the cross-head is depressed is in this instance formed by a
forked rod R, which is pivoted at its upper end to the lower cross-head and
engages at its forked lower end with a cylindric part 2 of a pin Q' mounted in
the lever Q, which cylindric part of the pin is eccentric to the cylindric end
portions of the said pin which enter the parts of the lever Q, (Figs. 22, 23
and 24). One of the said parts of the pin Q¹ is provided with three similar key-
ways, in either one of which and in a key-way 2° formed in the lever
may be inserted a key to hold the key from turning. The said key-ways in the
pin are located so that the eccentric part thereof may be secured at the highest
or lowest limit of its throw, or at an intermediate position, as clearly seen in
Figures 23 and 24. The object of the adjustment provided by the eccentric
pin Qis to increase the range of adjustment of the lower plungers over that
obtained by vertical adjustment of the fulcrum of said lever. By this construction
sufficient range of adjustment may be afforded by the adjusting devices which
move said fulcrum without necessitating as great range of movement in the latter.
It will of course be understood that in this construction the swinging rod R and
pin Q form in effect a inovable pivot or bearing for said lever Q; the end of said
Jever which engages with the plunger stems being capable of movement only in a
straight line vertically, and the position of the plungers when at the lower limit of
their throw being dependent on the vertical position of the fulcrum which engages
the outer end of the lever, with relation of the said pin Q
The adjustable fulcrum for the outer end of the lever Q is afforded by the lower

page_text: end of a vertical rod S', which is connected with the lever Q by means of a pivot
pin and extends upwardly at the front of the machine to a point adjacent to the
inold table where it is connected with adjusting devices by which the rod may be
moved up or down to effect the adjustment of the lower plungers. Said adjusting
devices are made as follows: VV are hand wheels attached to the opposite ends
of a shaft V, which extends horizontally beneath the table 133 so as to sustain said
wheels at either side of said table. Secured to said shaft is a beveled gear
wheel V, which engages a smaller wheel V³, arranged to turn about a vertical
axis and attached to a vertical sleeve V4, the lower part of which is internally
screw-threaded to engage the external thread S on the rod S. W is a hollow
frame or gear casing, provided with trunnions WW at either side, which
engage bearing apertures in the hangers 13 B', as seen in Figure 25. Horizontal
bearing apertures w w formed in the trunnions, provide journal bearings for the
shaft V, and an aperture wo forms a journal bearing for the sleeve + Said
gear casing is provided with a bearing surface or shoulder 2 at the upper end
of the aperture w¹, to engage a corresponding shoulder on the sleeve (in the
instance shown, formed by the lower surfaces of the gear V³) and serving to
hold the said sleeve from downward movement. The rotation of the sleeve V*
through the medium of the hand-wheels and gear described, will obviously raise
or lower the rod S, the turning of the nut or sleeve V₁ accomplishing the lifting
of the rod, while its descent is produced by its own weight and that of the parts
connected with it. The upward travel of the threaded rod S' is limited by the
striking of its upper end against the shaft V, while its downward travel is
limited by means of a pin s, which projects from the opposite sides of the rod
within a space or recess formed in the upper part of the sleeve V and which is
adapted to engage a shoulder, formed at the bottom of the said recess;
apertures ²², Figure 25, formed in the sleeve V, enabling the pins to be
driven out of the rod in case it is necessary to remove the said rod from the
sleeve. The gear casing W is preferably arranged to partially surround the
gear and is provided with a removable cover W, which, when secured to
the casting, protects the gears and adjacent parts from access of grit or clay.
The employment, in connection with the vertical shaft S, of the horizontal
shaft connected by gears with the vertical shaft located beneath the pro-
jecting part of the mold table and having hand-wheels at its ends adjacent to the
sides of the said projecting part of the mold table, has the advantage of making
the adjusting devices accessible and convenient to the operator, who can easily
reach and actuate the hand wheels thus placed when standing at either side of the
mold table and in position convenient for observing the action of the plungers and
adjacent parts.
In the operation of the main parts of the machine above described, the brick is
compressed within the upper and lower plungers operating through the medium of
the cross-heads, side-bars and toggle, and rotating crank-shaft. The vertical
position of the side-bars and connected parts in the machine is controlled by the
lifting beams fulcrumed in the frame plates and actuated by the cam-shaped crank-
arms, whereby the opposite ends of the said levers connected with the side bars,
give vertical movement to the same and connected parts.
i
By the employment of the levers J³ actuated by the cam-shaped arms, the use
of stops or cushions for receiving and sustaining the heavy side-bars and connections,
or for limiting the descent of the upper cross-head, may be avoided, as the outline
of the crank-arms actuating the said parts in such that the part (Fig. 1) of the
cam nearest to and concentric with the center of the crank shaft will sustain the
side-bars at their lowest position and until the upper plungers have descended
the desired distance within the mold, thereby obviating all shock and jar in the
action of the parts. At the cam outline becomes tangent to the line i in order
to depress the roller K and lift the side-bars F F, thus lifting the lower plungers E
to produce a pressure on the brick from below while the toggle-arms G G are
straightening, the crank-pin I' having nearly reached the farthest limit of its throw

page_text: in a direction away from the said toggles. The tangent line is preferably made
sufficiently long to slightly raise the upper plungers D while the pressure from
below is being reduced, causing an upward bodily motion of the material being
pressed. The part of the cam is also concentric, thereby sustaining the lower
plungers for the time while the said toggle arms are being straightened to give full
pressure and until the crank-pin 1' has passed the farthest rearward limit of, the
throw, has commenced its forward movement and has slightly flexed the said toggle
arms in a direction away from the crank-shaft.
I preferably adjust the length of the pitman connecting the crank-pin 1 with
the pin G so that the toggle arms G and G' will be straightened before the said
crank-pin has reached the limit of its backward throw, and so that the said toggle-
arms will be slightly flexed toward the said crank when it has reached the limit of
backward throw, thereby slightly relieving the pressure on the brick. The further
motion downward and slightly forward of the said crank-pin will cause the said
toggles to again straighten and produce a second and final pressure on the brick.
As the crauk-pin I begins to flex the toggles forwardly, the surface, which
is tangent to the curved surface, engages the roller k, depressing it and causing
the lower plungers to lift the finished brick out of the molds, first slowly and power-
fully, and aferward more quickly, until as the bars F F approach their highest
position the curved part of the cam causes the upward motion to gradually cease
until the lower plungers are flush with the top of the mold-table. The crank-
pin I will then be a little forward of its lowest position and the toggles G G
will be sufficiently flexed to raise the upper plungers D to a point clear of the
feed-box M, as shown in Figure 19.
The said feed-box is now moved forward, pushing before it the finished brick,
as shown in Figure 21. Meanwhile the part of the cam engages the roller kand
by the revolution of the crank arms. allows the said roller to rise, at first gradually
and afterwards more quickly, until the point of contact between the crank-arms
and the roller nearing the concentric part of the said arms, brings the roller
gradually to rest at its highest point, thus lowering the side bars, at first slowly,
then more quickly, and then gradually retarding their downward motion until they
are at rest at their lowest point. The side bars F F reach their lowest limit of
travel when the crank-pin 1' is near its farthest forward limit of throw. The
loose clay contained in the feed box is allowed to fall into the molds by the down-
ward motion of the plungers E. The feed box M is now drawn back to the
position shown in Figure 1, while the crank-pin I¹ is commencing its forward
motion. The said feed box remains in the latter position back of the molds while the
crank pin continuing its rearward motion, straightens the toggles G G', causing
the upper plunger to enter the molds, as shown in Figure 1. During this rear-
ward motion of the crank pin the part of the crank arms bas retained the
rollers kk and the side bars F F in the position shown in Figure 1. The subse-
quent pressing of the brick then takes place as before described, and the raising of
the lower plungers thereafter lifts the brick from the molds and leaves them level
with the table, as seen in Figures 19 and 20. They are then pushed forward by
the feed box from the plungers to the front part of the table, from which they are
removed by hand.
Referring now to the construction of the plungers, my invention includes novel
devices for heating the same, which are shown in Figures 26 to 33. As illustrated
in Figures 26, 27, 28 and 29, the body or main casting of the plunger is adapted
to be secured to the lower surface of the upper cross-head by means of bolts dd,
inserted through outward extending flanges at the upper edge of the same; and is
provided with a face plate D', which is secured to the lower surface of the plunger
by means of tap bolts d, passing through outward extending flanges at the lower
end of the main part of the plunger and entering tapped holes in the upper surface
of the said face plate. The body of the plunger is cast with a central recess D³
extending therethrough from its upper to its lower surface; said recess being
closed at the bottom by the face plate when the latter is secured to the body. In

page_text: each of the side walls of the plunger, adjacent to the upper margin thereof, are
formed two notches or recesses d² d² extending downward from the top surface
The
of said body for the passage of steam pipes, as hereinafter described.
marginal flanges at the top surface of the plunger are shown as extended
downward around the notches d² ² (Fig. 27) so as to give ample strength to
the plungers at these points. Each plunger is shown as provided with two bolts
only for securing it to the cross-head; said bolts being arranged at the ends
of the plungers so that the presence of the notches does not interfere
with the said bolts, although space may be provided between the said notches for
the insertion of additional bolts if desired.
The devices for supplying steam heat to the plungers are made as follows:
D D D are hollow metal castings or steam chambers having flat bottom surfaces,
which are adapted to rest within the lower parts of the recesses of the plungers in
contact with the face plates thereof. These hollow castings D' are each provided
at their opposite ends with openings d³ d³, with which are connected the ends of
U-shaped connecting pipes D³ D', which extend from one end of the casting D of
each plunger to one end of the similar casting in the adjacent plunger; said
connecting pipes D³ each consisting of two risers d d and horizontals dd; the
risers being of sufficient length to reach from the hollow castings or boxes D' to the
upper parts of the plungers, while the horizontals d³ ³ extend across the space
between the plungers and pass through the notches d d therein. The several
chambers or boxes D D and connecting pipes D* D* constitute a continuous
steam duct or passage through which steam may pass or circulate through all of
the plungers, steam being supplied to one of the end plungers by means of a supply
pipe D and the exhaust steam passing away from the opposite plunger by an
exhaust pipe D'
The heating device constructed as described has the advantage of being entirely
independent of the plungers themselves or the working or face plates thereof; it
being obvious that the several pipes and castings may be easily removed from the
plungers by detaching the plungers from the cross-head so that new parts of the
heating device may be easily substituted or leaking joints made good; at the same
time abundant and uniform heating of the face plates is assured by reason of the
contact of the lower flat walls of the castings D4 D' with the top or inner surfaces
of said plates.
The construction described in the heating devices is not only advantageous by
reason of being easily and cheaply made, inserted and removed, but has the further
advantage that all of the parts of the steam duct or passage formed by the pipes
and castings described are free to expand under the action of heat without liability
of affecting the tightness of the joints. It is obvious, for instance, that both ends of
the castings or boxes D* D* being movable laterally, expansion of the connecting
pipes D Ď³ can bring no injurious strain on the joints.
In Figures 30, 31, 32 and 33, are shown other forms of heating devices possessing
in common with that shown in Figures 26 to 29 the features of a steam supply pipe
or passage separate from the plungers proper, and the walls of which are adapted
to communicate heat by direct contact or continuous metallic connection with the
face plates of the plungers.
As shown in Figures 30 and 31, D D indicate the main parts or bodies of the
plungers and D the face plates secured to the lower surfaces thereof by bolts d¹.
The lower parts of the said bodies D are solid while the upper portions thereof are
provided with recesses D8 D8 extending downwardly or inwardly from the top
surfaces thereof and extending transversely across the plungers and opening at the
side walls thereof.
D' is an elongated or tubular steam chamber extending transversely across the
several plungers through the recesses D8 D8 thereof and provided with steam inlet
and exhaust openings do d' at its opposite ends. Said steam chamber is made flat
on its lower surface and rests in immediate contact with the bottom surfaces of the
recesses D D. The steam chamber D is shown as made of rectangular form in

page_text: cross-section, but its particular shape is immaterial provided its lower surface is
adapted to rest in immediate contact with the bodies of the plungers. The lower
surface of the plunger in this instance is made flat and the face plate D¹ rests
against the same throughout its entire area, and it follows that the body of the
plunger being in contact with the chamber D and the plate D', forms a continuous
metallic connection between them, whereby the heat is readily and rapidly conducted
from the wall of the steam passage to the said face plate. The steam chambers D'
in this construction also are obviously independent of the plungers themselves and
may be easily detached or removed and a new one substituted without making any
changes in the said plungers.
As shown in Figures 32 and 33, D D indicate the bodies of the plungers adapted
to be secured to the cross-head by means of bolts d d in the same manner as
therein before described, and provided with face plates D' D' secured thereto by
bolts d. In this instance the bodies D of the plungers are made hollow to or
through the lower surface of the same so as to form an opening which is closed by
the face plates D¹ D', while in their upper parts they are provided with transverse
notches Do, like those shown in Figures 30 and 31. In this instance the heating is
accomplished by means of a single steam chamber D" extending transversely across
-or through the notches D10 D10 of the several plungers, but provided on its lower
wall with a plurality of integral projections dds, which are extended downwardly
through the recesses D13 D12 to the face plates D D with which their lower flat
⚫ surfaces rest in immediate contact. In a construction of this kind heat transmitted
to the wall of the steam chamber D, is conveyed through the extensions d de and
is thereby imparted to the said face plates with which said projections are in
-contact. In this construction as in those before described the heating pipes are
independent of the plungers and may be easily inserted therein when assembling the
parts and removed therefrom for renewal or repairs.
This
It will be noted that in all of the forms of heating device shown, the steam passages
or chambers are not arranged in immediate contact with the plungers or lining
plates excepting at the points where such contact is necessary for the transmission
of heat. Or, in other words, spaces are provided for lateral movement or
adjustment of the parts of the heating device relatively to the plungers and to
prevent the absorption or diffusion of the heat except where it is needed.
-construction is of great importance because in practice the plungers need to be
located or adjusted with great exactness upon the cross-head so that they may fit
smoothly and accurately within the molds, and the making of the heating devices
without lateral engagement with the plungers enables such accurate adjustment to
be effected without requiring changes in the heating devices or shifting of the parts
of the same.
A general advantage of all the forms of construction shown in the heating devices
is that the same are made separate from and independent of the plungers, thereby
greatly lessening the cost of manufacture and enabling the parts to be more easily
-constructed, assembled and repaired, while at the same time rendering them more
durable and less likely to get out of order.
My invention includes improved features of construction in the driving-gear of 4
the press, or devices by which motion is transmitted from the driving belt to the
main or crank-shaft of the machine, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.
First referring to the main parts shown of the driving gear, the crank shaft I of
the machine, which is journaled in suitable bearings formed in the frame plates AA,
is provided at one end outside of the adjacent frame plate, with a heavy gear'5
wheel L, which is rigidly affixed to the shaft and is engaged by its peripheral cogs
with a gear pinion L', which is keyed to a gear shaft L2. The said gear shaft has
affixed to it a gear wheel L³, which in turn engages with a gear pinion L' (Figs. 2
and 3). This pinion L' is keyed to a shaft L', on which is mounted a belt pulley L,
adapted for connection with the shaft by a friction clutch L', adapted for operation 5
by a hand lever . The shafts L2 and L³ referred to, are mounted in suitable
bearings formed in the auxiliary frame A³, independently of the main frame; the

page_text: bearings of the shaft L being so located as to afford proper support for the-
ends of the shaft 13, while sustaining the gear pinion L' in alignment with the gear
wheel which is supported on the main frame. This construction has the-
important advantage of enabling the auxiliary frame, which carries all of the driving.
gear except the gear wheel L on the main shaft I, to be detached from the main,
frame without disturbing any of the shafts or removing them from their bearings..
This construction of the frame and driving gear is highly advantageous in practice.
for the reason that the machine being a very heavy one, it is exceedingly difficult.
to handle in transportation and set up in condition for work. By the construction
described the machine is shipped and handled in two complete parts, which may be
easily placed and secured together in condition for operation, so that the necessity
is avoided of separating the working parts for shipment and reassembling the same.
in setting up the machine for operation.
My invention also includes an improved apparatus in the nature of a combined
clutch or brake for use in connection with the driving gear, the same embracing in,
connection with the clutch interposed between the belt pulley and driving shaft of
the press, a brake wheel connected and turning with the driving shaft, a brake shoe.
adapted to bear upon the brake wheel, and a hand lever connected with the moving
part of the clutch mechanism and also with the brake shoe, whereby both of said
parts will be actuated together by movement of the hand lever, as shown in detail
in Figures 34 to 39 of the drawings.
The clutch L, as herein shown consists of a ring 13, secured to the arms of the
pulley L and radially moving clutch jaws, engaging opposite sides of the ring
and operated from a longitudinally sliding sleeve on the shaft L' by means of
levers connected with said sleeve through the medium of links 11.
La indicates a brake wheel which is rigidly secured upon the shaft L'; said
brake wheel being provided with a cylindric rim which is located at one side of or-
overhangs the spokes of the wheel, and having an inner cylindric bearing surface
to contact with the brake shoe. The hand lever is mounted upon a horizontal
pivot in the frame A and is adapted to actuate both the brake device and the
clutch mechanism. L' is the brake shoe, which is attached to and moves with the
lever 1, the pivot of which is located adjacent to the rim of the wheel and in such
position that the swinging of the hand lever on its pivot will bring the brake shoe.
against the inner or bearing surface of the brake wheel.
The hand lever is arranged to actuate the sleeve of the clutch mechanism
through the medium of a rocking arm 1, which is pivoted at its lower end to the
base of the frame and is forked at its upper end to engage the trunnions 19 19 of a.
ring L engaging a groove in the sleeve. The rocking arm 18 is connected with.
the hand lever by means of a connecting rod 10, pivoted to a projecting arm
said hand lever.
of
The brake shoe is so located on the hand lever and the clutch device so con--
nected therewith that when the lever is actuated to carry the shoe against the rim
of the brake wheel the clutch sleeve is moved in a direction to release the clutch
from the driving pulley, and its follows that in the operation of the parts the brake.
shoe will be applied to the brake wheel for stopping the rotation of the shaft when
the shaft is disconnected from the driving wheel, the parts being preferably so.
adjusted that the clutch will be disconnected shortly before the brake is applied.
The brake shoe may be constructed in any convenient manner. As herein
shown, it consists of a plate secured at one side to the hand lever 1, as hereinbefore.
stated, and provided with a covering of leather or similar material, as clearly seen
in Figure 37.
For holding the hand lever at either limit of its movement an arm L¹ is shown.
as attached to the machine frame A and provided with notches 12112, with which
the lever may be engaged when shifted.
In Figures 38 and 39 are shown different forms of brake devices adapted for
action upon the outer face or surface of the brake wheel. As shown in Figure 38.

page_text: the shaft L' is provided with a brake wheel L³, having an external cylindric bearing
surface. In this instance the clutch mechanism is not shown, but it may be assumed
that it is of the same character as hereinbefore described; a rocking arm and
actuating ring such as herein before described, being shown as a means for actuating
the clutch device. L is a rock shaft arranged horizontally below and at right
angles to the shaft L' and provided with an upwardly extending hand lever Land
rocking crank arm 13, which is connected at its upper end with the rocking arm by
a connecting rod 14. L is a brake shoe located beneath the brake wheel and
mounted on a block L, having an oblique or inclined lower surface which rests
upon a corresponding inclined bearing surface A* of the frame A'; these parts
being so arranged that when the block L is moved in a direction longitudinally of
the shaft L, it is carried toward or from the surface of the brake wheel by the
action of the inclined bearing surface A' upon which it rests. A connecting rod (18
unites the brake shoe and block L with the arm 13 of the brake shaft, so that
when said rock shaft is actuated by movement of the lever L" the brake shoe will be
moved into contact with or away from the brake wheel. The parts are so arranged,
furthermore, that a movement of the hand lever in a direction to carry the brake
shoe against the brake wheel will release the clutch device and thereby disconnect
the shaft from the driving pulley thereon.
A notched segment L is shown as applied in position to engage the hand
lever L for holding the same in any position in which it may be placed.
In Figure 39 is shown still another form of brake adapted to act upon the outer
surface of the brake wheel. In this instance the shaft L' is provided with a
wheel L having an external bearing surface, like that shown in Figure 38, and a
rocking arm engaged at its upper end with a ring which is employed to actuate the
clutch mechanism, in the same manner as hereinbefore described.
L18 is a
horizontally arranged rock shaft located in the same plane with the brake wheel.
Attached to the shaft is an upwardly extending hand lever L" and a depending
crank arm 16, the lower end of which is connected with the rocking lever of the
clutch mechanism by means of a connecting rod 117. L20 is a brake shoe adapted
to bear against the periphery of the brake wheel and free to slide horizontally
toward and from the same; the shoe being held and guided by means of two guide
rods 18 secured therein and passing through guide apertures in the shaft bearing
nearest the brake wheel; said guide apertures being located at opposite sides of
the shaft L18. Said brake shoe L2 is provided with a central hub or boss (1,
having a screw-threaded aperture therein adapted for engagement with the screw-
threaded end of the shaft L18. In this construction the turning of the shaft L18
will obviously have the effect of moving the brake shoe towards and from the
surface of the brake wheel, while at the same time the motion will be given to the
clutch device, and these parts are so arranged that when the brake shoe is advanced
toward the brake wheel the clutch will be released, and vice versa.
All of the clutch and brake devices described have the features of a single
hand lever controlling both a clutch and brake, and this construction in connection
with the driving gear of a press has the important advantage of enabling the
operator to disconnect the driving devices from the machine and at the same time
stop the rotation of the driving shaft and parts actuated thereby by a single move-
ment of the hand lever. The same advantage is secured in again starting the
machine, a movement of the hand lever first releasing the brake and thereafter
throwing the clutch device into position to connect the driving pulley with the
driving shaft and start the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The combination, with a mold and plungers working therein, of means for
actuating the plungers, embracing a toggle connected with the opposite plungers,

page_text: and a crank shaft the crank-pin of which is connected with the middle joint of the
toggle arms, and the crank-arms of which constitute cams adapted to lift and lower
the said plungers and connected parts.
2: The combination with a mold and upper and lower plungers, of a toggle for
actuating the same, side bars connecting the lower plunger with the toggle, a crank-
shaft connected with and actuating the toggle, and lifting levers engaging the said
side bars at points between their ends and the arms of said crank-shaft, which
latter is provided with cam surfaces adapted to engage and actuate said lifting
levers, substantially as described.
3: The combination with a mold and upper and lower plungers, of a toggle for
actuating the same, side bars connecting the lower plunger with the toggle, a crank
shaft connected with and actuating the toggle, and lifting levers acting on the said
side bars at points between their ends and engaged with the arms of said crank
shafts, which latter are provided with cam surfaces adapted to actuate said lifting
levers, and studs secured in said bars and extending laterally therefrom for
engagement with the lifting levers, substantially as described.
4-The combination with a mold and upper and lower plungers, of a toggle for
actuating the same, side bars connecting the lower plunger with the toggle, a crank
shaft connected with and actuating the toggle, lifting levers acting on the said side
bars and engaging the arms of said crank shaft, which latter are provided with cam
surfaces adapted to actuate the said lifting levers, and sleeves or rings on the studs
provided with one or more grooves or notches, the said lifting levers being provided
with transverse bearing surfaces adapted for engagement with said notches or
grooves, substantially as described.
5 The combination with a mold-table and upper and lower plungers, of a
toggle for actuating the same, the central joint of which consists of interpenetrating
parts provided with cylindric bearing apertures uniform in diameter and with
convex and concave segmental bearing surfaces concentric with the bearing
apertures, and arranged in contact with each other, and a straight cylindric bearing
pin inserted through said bearing apertures, the toggle members being provided
with detachable bearing blocks upon which are formed the said concave bearing
surfaces, said bearing blocks being provided with projections or ribs arranged
parallel with the axis of the said bearing pin and engaging the main parts of the
toggle members, whereby said bearing blocks may be removed end wise. from
engagement with the toggle members, substantially as described.
6-The combination with a mold, of upper and lower plungers sliding therein,
a cross-head for supporting the lower plunger, a spring or counter-balance weight
sustaining the lower plunger yieldingly on the cross-head, a cross-bar sliding in
vertical guide-ways below the said cross-head, and a stem connecting the said lower
plunger with the said cross-bar and passing through the cross-head, said cross-head
being provided with apertures for the passage of the stem larger than the latter so
as to admit of lateral displacement of the cross-head without disturbing the position
of the lower plunger, substantially as described.
7 The combination with a mold, of upper and lower plungers sliding therein,
a cross-head for supporting the lower plunger, a spring or counter-balance weight
sustaining the lower plunger yieldingly on the cross-head, a cross-bar sliding in
vertical guide-ways below the said cross-head, a stem connecting the said lower
plunger with the said cross-bar, and a lever pivotally connected with said cross-bar
and engaged with a fulcrum upon the machine frame, said lever being adapted for
contact with a part of or upon the lower cross-head which limits the upward
movement of the lower plunger at the time of filling the mold, substantially as
described.
8 The combination with a mold, of upper and lower plungers sliding therein,
a cross-head for supporting the lower plunger, a spring or counter-balance weight
sustaining the lower plunger yieldingly on the lower cross-head, a lever connecte:
with the lower plunger and having a fulcrum upon the machine frame, a guide rod
engaging the lower cross-head and forked or slotted at its lower end, and a pin
Ր

page_text: secured in said lever and adapted to engage the forked or slotted end of said guide
rod to limit the upward movement of the plunger at the time of filling the mold,
substantially as described.
9: The combination with a mold, of upper and lower plungers sliding therein,
a cross-head supporting the lower plunger, a spring or counterbalance weight serving
to sustain the lower plunger yieldingly on the lower cross-head, a lever connected
with the lower plunger and having a fulcrum upon the machine frame, a guide rod
engaging the lower cross-head and forked or slotted at its lower end, and a pin
secured in said lever and adapted to engage the forked or slotted end of said guide-
rod to limit the upward movement of the plunger at the time of filling the mold,
the said pin being provided with an eccentric part which engages the guide rod and
being adapted to be turned in the lever for adjusting the position of its eccentric
part, substantially as described.
10 The combination with a mold, of upper and lower plungers sliding therein,
a cross-head for supporting the lower plunger, a spring or counterbalance weight
sustaining the lower plunger yicidingly on the lower cross-head, a lever connected
with the lower plunger and having a fulcrum upon the machine frame, a guide, rod
engaging the lower cross-head and forked or slotted at its lower end, and a pin
secured in said lever and adapted to engage the forked or slotted end of said guide
rod to limit the upward movement of the plunger at the time of filling the mold,
the said pin being provided with an eccentric part which engages the guide rod
and being adapted to turn in the lever, and nicans for securing the said pin in a
desired position, consisting of grooves or key-ways in the said pin and the lever, and
a key or spline adapted for insertion therein, substantially as described.
11: The combination with a mold, of upper and lower plungers sliding therein,
a cross-head for supporting the lower plunger, a spring or counterbalance weight
sustaining the lower plunger yieldingly on the lower cross-head, a cross-bar
located below the lower plunger and having sliding connection with the machine
frame, a stem passing through the lower cross-head and connecting the plunger
with the said cross-bar, a lever fulcrummed upon the machine frame and pivotally
connected with the said cross-bar, and a stop on the lower cross-head constructed
for contact with the said lever to limit the upward movement of the lower
plunger under the action of said spring or counterbalance weight, substantially as
described.
12 :—The combination with a mold, of upper and lower plungers sliding therein,
a cross-head for supporting the lower plunger, a spring or counterbalance weight
sustaining the lower plunger yieldingly on the lower cross-head, a cross-bar located
below the lower plunger and having sliding connection with the machine frame, ta
stem passing through the lower cross-head and connecting the plunger with the
said cross-bar, a lever fulcrumed upon the machine frame and pivotally connected
with the said cross-bar, and a stop on the lower cross-head constructed for contact
with said lever to limit the upward movement of the lower plunger under the action
of said spring or counterbalance weight, said lever being provided with a journal
bearing one half of which is removable, whereby the lever may engage with the
cross-bar between the said stem and guides, substantially as described.
13 The combination with a mold, of upper and lower plungers sliding therein,
a cross-head, a spring or counterbalance weight sustaining the lower plunger
yieldingly on the lower cross-head, a lever connected with the lower plunger and
adapted for contact with a part of or upon the lower cross-head, a vertically
movable screw-shaft, a pivot connecting the screw shaft with the lever, a revolving
nut mounted on the machine frame and engaging said screw-shaft, and means for
rotating said nut, substantially as described.
14: The combination with a mold, of upper and lower plungers sliding therein,
a cross-head, a spring or counterbalance weight sustaining the lower plunger
yieldingly on the lower cross-head, a lever connected with the lower plunger, a
vertically movable screw-shaft, a pivot connecting said screw-shaft with the lever,
a revolving nut mounted on the machine frame and engaging said screw-shaft, a

page_text: frame affording bearings for said nut and mounted upon pivotal supports or trun-
nions to afford freedom of lateral movement in the lower end of said screw-shaft,
substantially as described.
15 The combination with a mold, of upper and lower plungers sliding therein,
a lever for controlling the position of the lower plunger, a vertically movable
screw-shaft, a pivot connecting said screw-shaft with the lever, a revolving nut
mounted on the machine frame and engaging said screw-shaft, a frame affording
bearings for said nut and mounted upon pivotal supports or trunnions to afford
freedom of lateral movement in the lower end of said screw-shaft, a horizontal shaft
mounted upon the machine frame concentrically with the said swinging frame and
provided with a hand wheel or wheels, and intermeshing beveled gears upon the
said nut and shaft, substantially as described.
16 The combination with a mold table and feed duct or hopper, of a recipro-
cating feed box, the front wall of which consists in whole or in part of a piece or
strip which is materially weaker than the main parts of the feed-box and is
detachably secured to the latter, substantially as described.
17 The combination with a mold and feed hopper, of a reciprocating feed-box,
an oscillating arm by which the feed box is actuated, a pivot rod inserted through
said arm, split sleeves placed upon the ends of the said rod at opposite sides of the
arm and provided with notches, and connecting rods pivoted to the feed-box and
inserted in said notches and provided with nuts on opposite sides of the said split
sleeves whereby the latter may be clamped to the pivot rod and the connecting
rods secured to the sleeves, substantially as described.
18: The combination with a mold and a feed hopper, of a reciprocating feed box,
an oscillating arm by which the feed box is actuated, a pivot rod inserted through
said arm, split sleeves placed upon the ends of the pivot rod and provided with
notches, and connecting rods pivoted to the feed box and inserted in said notches
and provided with nuts on opposite sides of the split sleeves, said split sleeves being
provided with depressions or recesses which are engaged by the nuts to hold the
rods in place when the nuts are loosened, substantially as described.
19: A frame for a brick-press, comprising two parallel side plates provided
upon their inner faces with guides for the vertically movable parts of the machine,
and rigidly connected with each other, said plates extending downwardly to the
horizontal base or foundation on which the machine rests, and a separate frame for
the driving gear of the machine secured against the outer surface of one of the side
plates and also extending downwardly to the said base or foundation, substantially.
as described.
20: A brick machine, comprising upper and lower plungers, a toggle for
actuating the same, a crank-shaft for actuating said toggle, a main frame consisting
of parallel vertical side plates provided on their inner faces with bearings for the
vertically movable parts of the machine, and provided with bearings for said
crank-shaft, a gear wheel attached to the crank-shaft outside of one of the frame
plates, a driving gear embracing a gear-pinion engaged with said gear-wheel on the
crank-shaft, and a separate frame for said driving gear secured to the outer surface
of the main frame, substantially as described.
21 The combination, with the plunger of a brick press, provided with a cavity
or recess, of a heating device comprising a continuous steam pipe made separate
from the plunger and passing through the same, a part of said pipe which is located
within the recess of the plunger being in immediate contact with a part of the
plunger which extends continuously to the working face thereof, to afford direct
transmission of heat from the walls of the pipe to the working face of the plunger,
substantially as described.
:-
22 The combination, with a plunger consisting of a recessed main part or
body and a face plate attached thereto, said main part or body being provided
with a recess or cavity extending to the inner surface of the plate, of a heating
device comprising a continuous steam pipe made separate from the body and face
plate and passing through the recess of the said body, a part of said passage which

page_text: is within the body being in immediate contact with the inner surface of the said
face plate, substantially as described.
23-
:-The combination with a plunger consisting of a hollow or recessed main
part or body and a face plate secured thereto and closing the lower end of the
recess or opening in the body, said body being provided with lateral notches or
recesses in its upper edge, of a steam passage consisting of a hollow casting or box
and pipes extending through said notches and connected with opposite ends of said
hollow casting or box, substantially as described.
24 The combination, with a plurality of recessed plungers, of a heating device
for the same consisting of a continuous steam pipe made separate from the plungers
and passing through the recesses of the same parts of said pipe which are within
the plungers being in immediate contact with the inner surfaces of the plungers in
their parts opposite the working faces thereof, but being free from lateral contact
with the said inner surfaces of the plunger, whereby the said pipe. is free to move
laterally with reference to the plungers, substantially as described.
25 The combination, with a plurality of recessed plungers which are provided
with face plates and the recesses of which extend to the inner surfaces of said face
plates, of a heating device comprising a continuous steam' pipe made separate from
the plungers and passing through the recesses of the same, parts of said pipe which
are within the plungers being in immediate contact with the inner surfaces of the
face plates but being free from lateral contact with the inner surfaces of the
plungers, whereby said pipe is free to move laterally with reference to the plungers,
substantially as described.
Signed, at Chicago, Illinois, this 29th day of November A.D. 1892, :
BRUCE CLARK WHITE.
Haseltine, Lake &. Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.