CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING BRICKS."
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Beck, of 10, Clive Street, Barrow-in-
Furness, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of “CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING BRICKS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Beck at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th December 1875.
I, WILLIAM BECK, of 10, Clive Street, Barrow-in-Furness, in the
County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING BRICKS," to
be as follows:―
This Invention relates to that class of machinery for which Letters
Patent were granted to William Beck and William Strong, dated
Frebruary 3rd, 1874, No. 424, and the present improvements mainly
consist
1st. In an improved method of equalizing or distributing the clay or

page_text: loam that passes down the breeches pipe (in Beck and Strong's Patent, Zª,
Fig. 2, is a bridge which divides the clay or loam and causes an equal
quantity, or thereabouts, to pass to each set of rotatory mould boxes).
This is found to be defective in practice, because if the centre of the
screw does not come directly over the centre of the bridge it puts more
clay or loam down one leg of the breeches pipe than the other, when it
is required to be equal; again, it is sometimes necessary to vary the
quantity of clay or loam that shall pass down each leg of the breeches
pipe, so that bricks may be made in one rotatory mould box that shall
contain more clay than the other. For this purpose I make the centre
of the bridge movable so that it may be set on one side or the other, or
centrally, at will, and fixed where desired.
2nd. The object of the second part of my Invention relates to
improvements in the adjusting, fixing, and removing the metal liners
in the rotatory mould boxes. For this purpose I make the space which
the liners occupy larger than the size of the liners themselves, which
space I groove at intervals, and I adjust the liners to their respective
positions by means of four conical pointed set screws to each liner,
passing through the ends of the rotatory mould boxes, and abutting
upon the corners of the liners, and at the point of contact I remove a
portion of the corner, so by slacking one set screw and screwing up
another, I thus adjust the liner to its proper position, in which position
it is securely held by means of the said set screws. I then fill up the
grooves in the space with either a soft metal or any suitable cement,
which further secures the liner in its place and prevents it from
bursting while the brick is being pressed. My object in thus fixing the
liner is to do away with costly labour in fitting the said liners to their
places and enable them to be more expeditiously replaced, and that
they may be conveniently and expeditiously removed from their places.
Having screwed back the conical pointed set screws I employ a cross
head to stride over the liner, and by making suitable provision in the
rotatory mould box I pass another cross head underneath the liner and
connect the two by means of a screw bolt passing through them, with
nut and lever on the top, and by screwing the bolt I withdraw the liner,
when another one may be put in its place and fixed as before.
3rd. The object of the third part of my Invention relates to improve-
ments in self-acting lubricating apparatus for the faces of the movable

page_text: bases in rotatory mould boxes, and the faces of pressers so as to prevent the
adhesion of clay or loam to them. I accomplish this in the case of the
movable bases by the following means:-On the periphery of each rotatory
mould box I make four tapered projections corresponding to the parts of
the mould box that do not require to be lubricated; I fix a vertical stud
on the centre frame of the machine, on which stud is a boss free to move
up and down. To this boss I fix a bar projecting horizontally across
and above the rotatory mould box until it meets the side frame of the
machine, where it takes into and is free to move up or down in a guide
fixed to the side of the machine. This projecting bar rests on the
projections upon the rotatory mould box while being rotated, and until
it comes opposite the mould space containing the movable base requiring
to be lubricated, and there being no projection on the rotatory mould
box at that part, it allows the cross bar to descend until the lubricating
material touches the movable base in the mould, where it remains until
the mould box is again rotated the width of the mould, and is then
raised by meeting the next tapered projection on the periphery of the
rotatory mould box. To the horizontal bar I attach several thicknesses
of flannel or other fibrous or non-fibrous substance that shall retain
and evenly distribute the lubricant across the face of the movable base;
the flannel or other fibrous or non-fibrous substance may be supplied
with the lubricating material from a cistern placed in any convenient
position above it. To lubricate the presser underneath the rotatory
mould box I employ a horizontal shaft working in bearings fixed to the
framework of the machine; on this shaft I fix a vertical arm opposite
the presser, to which is jointed another arm that projects toward the
presser, and carries on its free extremity a cross bar to which I attach
the flannel or other fibrous or non-fibrous substance, that shall retain
and evenly distribute the lubricant across the face of the presser. On
the outer extremity of the horizontal shaft I fix a vertical and a hori-
zontal arm, the vertical arm is operated by a stud fixed in the cheeks
of the notched disc, or other convenient position, and by its action
withdraws the lubricating arm from off the face of the presser while
the presser is rising. On the extremity of the outer horizontal arm I
fix a weight which keeps the vertical arm against the stud, which in
its reverse motion allows the weight to carry the lubricate arm across
the face of the presser, and so lubricating it when the presser is
descending I prevent the lubricating arm from falling too low when

page_text: it leaves the presser by means of a suitable stop, and I also provide
a suitable guide for directing it on to the face of the presser again.
4th. The object of the fourth part of my Invention relates to improve-
ments in friction boxes for instantaneous engagement or disengagement
in connection with the driving gear of brickmaking machines, and
relates more particularly to that class of friction boxes wherein two or
more segments of a circle are carried on a disc, or by arms fixed upon
a shaft, the segments being free to move farther from or nearer to the
centre, which motion is produced by changing the position of rods (con-
necting the segments with a boss called the internal boss, and made to
slide on the shaft) from an angular to a straight position, which act of
straightening causes the segments to be forced against the internal
face of a ring fixed or cast on a wheel or pulley running loose upon the
same shaft, or fixed upon a separate shaft, which act of contact causes
the shaft to revolve until any unavoidable excess of resistance is put
upon any part of the machine, when the segments will slip on the face
of the internal ring, and allow the driving power to proceed without
causing any breakage. Motion is given to the internal sliding boss
between the wheel or pulley, and the disc or arms by means of two
or more horizontal bars passing through the boss of the disc or arms, and
connected to a grooved boss made to slide on the shaft by means of a
forked lever.
The arrangement described is defective in practice, for the reasons
that when the rods connecting the segments to the internal boss are
not in a straight line with each other, when the segments are forced
with sufficient force against the internal face of the ring on the wheel
or pulley, a great amount of friction is produced upon the groove and
fork in the grooved boss, and causes a great amount of wear and tear.
Again, when the rods are brought into a straight line with each other,
which is the most desirable position, as it is the position of rest, they
either act with too much power in that unyielding position, or they very
soon loose their efficacy through the wear occasioned by the occasional
slipping required. To remedy these defects I interpose between the
rods connecting the internal sliding boss and the segments a spring of
india-rubber, or other elastic fibrous or non-fibrous material, enclosed in
a box attached to each segment, which box also contains the attach-
ment to the rod abutting upon the spring of india-rubber or other

page_text: elastic fibrous or non-fibrous material. The elasticity of the material
allowing the rods to be always brought into a straight line with each
other, and so providing a wide margin of efficacy.
I also make simple and suitable provision for renewing the margin
of efficacy by the following means:-In the sides of the box containing
the springs of india-rubber, or other elastic fibrous or non-fibrous
material, I make slots of the full width of the interior of the box,
through which slots I can insert suitable liners between the attachment
to the rod and the spring of india-rubber, or other elastic fibrous or non-
fibrous material. Again, I place the slots in such a position that it is
impossible for the liners to get out when working.
This part of my
Invention may be applied to drive any other class of machinery.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Beck in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 8th June 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BECK, of 10, Clive Street, Barrow-in-Furness, in the County of Lancaster,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Beck, Her special
licence, that I, the said William Beck, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Beck, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING BRICKS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Beck, my executors or administrators, by

page_text: an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calender months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Beck, do hereby declare
the nature of my said 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 machinery for which Letters
Patent were granted to William Beck and William Strong, dated
February Third, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, No. 424,
and the present improvements mainly consist,-
1st. In an improved method of equalizing or distributing the clay or
loam in the breeches pipe. (In Beck & Strong's Patent, a³, Fig. 2,
is a bridge which divides the clay or loam, and causes an equal quantity,
or thereabouts, to pass to each set of rotating mould boxes.) This is
found to be defective in practice, because if the centre of the screw does
not come directly over the centre of the bridge, it puts more clay or
loam down one leg of the breeches pipe than the other, when it is
required to be equal; again it is sometimes necessary to vary the
quantity of clay or loam that shall pass down each leg of the breeches
pipe, so that bricks may be made in one rotatory mould box that shall
contain more clay than the other. For this purpose I make the centre
of the bridge moveable, so that it may be set on one side or the other,
or centrally at will, and fixed where desired.
2nd. The object of the second part of my Invention relates to
improvements in the adjusting, fixing, and removal of the metal liners
in the rotatory mould boxes. For this purpose I make the space which
the liners occupy larger than the size of the liners themselves, which
space I groove at intervals, and I adjust the liners to their respective
positions by means of four conical pointed set screws to each liner,
passing through the ends of the rotory mould boxes and abutting
upon the corners of the liners, and at the point of contact I remove a
portion of the corner, so that by slacking one set screw and screwing up

page_text: another I thus adjust the liner to its proper position, in which position
it is securely held by means of the said set screws; I then fill up the
grooves in the space with either a soft metal or any suitable cement,
which further secures the liner in its place and prevents it from bursting
while the brick is being pressed. My object in thus fixing the liner is
to do away with costly labour in fitting the said liners in their places,
and enable them to be more expeditiously replaced; and that they
may be conveniently and expeditiously removed from their places,
having screwed back the conical pointed set screws, I employ a cross
head to stride over the liner, and by making suitable provision in the
rotatory mould box I pass another cross head underneath the liner,
and connect the two by means of a screw bolt passing through them
with nut and lever on the top, and by screwing the bolt I withdraw
the liner, when another one may be put in its place and fixed as
before.
3rd. The object of the third part of my Invention relates to improve-
ments in self-acting lubricating apparatus for the faces of the moveable
bases in rotatory mould boxes and the faces of pressers, so as to
prevent the adhesion of clay or loam to them; I accomplish this in the
case of the movable bases by the following means:-On the periphery
of cach rotatory mould box I make four tapered projections, corre-
sponding to the parts of the mould box that do not require to be
lubricated; I fix a vertical stud on the centre frame of the machine, on
which stud is a boss free to move up and down; to this boss I fix a bar
projecting horizontally across and above the rotatory mould box until it
meets the side frame of the machine, where it takes into and is free to
move up or down in a guide fixed to the side of the machine; this
projecting bar rests on the projections upon the rotatory mould box
while being rotated, and until it comes opposite the mould space
containing the movable base requiring to be lubricated, and there being
no projection on the rotatory mould box at that part, it allows the cross
bar to descend until the lubricating material touches the movable base
in the mould, where it remains until the mould box is again rotated the
width of the mould, and is then raised by meeting the next tapered
projection on the periphery of the rotatory mould box. To the hori-
zontal bar I attach several thicknesses of flannel or other fibrous or non
fibrous substance, that shall retain and evenly distribute the lubricant

page_text: sliding boss between the wheel or pulley and the disc or arms by means
of two or more horizontal bars passing through the boss of the disc or
arms, and connected to grooved boss made to slide on the shaft by means
of a forked lever.
The arrangement described is defective in practice, for the reasons
that when the rods connecting the segments to the internal boss are not
in a straight line with each other, when the segments are forced
with sufficient force against the internal face of the ring or pulley
a great amount of friction is produced upon the groove and fork
in the grooved boss, and causes a great amount of wear and tear.
Again, when the rods are brought into a straight line with each other,
which is the most desirable position, as it is the position of rest, they
either act with too much power in that unyielding position, or they
very soon lose their efficacy through the wear occasioned by the
occasional slipping required. To remedy these defects I interpose
between the rods connecting the internal sliding boss and the segments
a spring of india-rubber or other elastic fibrous or non-fibrous material,
enclosed in a box attached to each segment, which box also contains
the attachment to the rod abutting upon the spring of india-rubber or
other elastic fibrous or non-fibrous material, the elasticity of the
material allowing the rods to be always brought into a straight line with
each other, and so providing a wide margin of efficacy.
I also make simple and suitable provision for renewing the margin of
efficacy by the following means:-In the sides of the box containing
the springs of india-rubber or other elastic fibrous or non-fibrous
material I make slots of the full width of the interior of the box,
through which slots I can insert suitable liners between the attachment
to the rod and the spring of india-rubber, or other elastic fibrous or
non-fibrous material. Again, I place the slots in such a position that
it is impossible for the liners to get out when working. This part of
my Invention may be applied to drive any other class of machinery.

page_text: Fig. 8, plan and elevation of horizontal bar carrying material for
lubricating.
Fig. 9, end and side views of part of machinery.
Fig. 10, side elevation of notched disc with double lever.
Fig. 11, front view of friction boxes; Fig. 12, vertical section of
friction boxes.
As regards the first part of my Invention, which relates, as before
stated, to an improved method of equalizing or distributing the clay or
loam that passes down the breeches pipe, the same is more particularly
a indicates a
referred to in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, under the letter a.
moveable bridge that divides the clay or loam as it passes down the
breeches pipe a, and it may be fixed in the centre or otherwise at will,
so as to cause the requisite quantity of clay or loam to pass down each
leg of the breeches pipe.
2nd. As regards the improvements under the second part of my
Invention, which relate to the adjusting, fixing, and removing the
metal liners in the rotatory mould boxes, the same are more particularly
referred to in Figs. 2, 5, 6, and 7, under the letter b, which indicates
the mould box, in which are fixed the liners 61, 62. Figures 6 and 7
indicate the space with grooves
at intervals to be filled with soft metal
or any suitable cement; 6³, Fig. 7, indicates the conical pointed set
screws for adjusting and fixing the liners 1; 64, Figs. 6 and 7, indicate
a cross head to stride over the liner b¹; 6³, Fig. 6, indicates another
.cross head. passed underneath the liner 6' after the base h has been
removed from its place; 68, Fig. 6, is a screw bolt passing through the
cross heads 6 and 6'; b', Figs. 6 and 7, is a tapped lever taking on to
the bolt 66, and resting on the cross head 64; by turning the tapped
lever on the screw bolt it withdraws the liner b*.
:
3rd. As regards the object of the third part of my Invention, which
relates to self-acting lubricating apparatus for the faces of the moveable
bases in rotary mould boxes and the faces of pressers, so as to prevent
the adhesion of clay or loam to them, and is more particularly referred
in Figures 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, c, c, c, c, Fig. 6, are four
to

page_text: tapered projections cast or fixed on the periphery of the mould box b;
d, Figs. 2 and 5, is a vertical stud carrying a boss e (Figs. 2 and 5) to
which is attached a horizontal bar f (Figs. 2, 5, and 8), to which is
attached the fibrous or non-fibrous substance g, Fig. 8, for lubricating
the bases h, Figs. 2, 5, and 6; k, Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 9, is a shaft
carried in bearings k¹; m, Figs. 1, 2, 9, and 10, is a double lever keyed
upon the shaft k, to which is attached a weight n; o is another lever
keyed on the shaft k, and carrying a projecting arm p, on the free
extremity of which is a cross bar q, to which is attached the lubricating
material; is a stud in the cheeks 8 on the notched disc, operated upon
by the connecting rod t and the crank pin u. The stud r actuates the
double lever m, and withdraws it from off the face of the presser x,
Figs. 1 and 5; v, Fig. 10, is a lever working on a stud, and actuated by
the pin and the weight w to regulate the time for the lubricating arm
to pass across the face of the presser x, Figs. 1, 2, and 10.
4th. As regards the fourth part of my Invention, which relates to im-
provements in friction boxes for instantaneous engagement or disengage-
ment in connection with the driving gear of brickmaking machines,
and is more particularly described in Figs. 2, 11, and 12, A is a shaft,
on which is keyed the disc or arm b; c, Figs. 11 and 12, are two
segments bolted to the face of the disc b, and free to move to and from
the centre in the slots d; e is the internal sliding boss, to which is
attached one end of the rods f, the other end being attached to the
abutment block g, bearing against the spring of elastic fibrous or non-
fibrous material h, the abutment block being kept in place by the screws
and plate k; m, m, are two rods connecting the internal boss e with the
groove boss n, which being moved along the shaft a by means of any
forked lever brings the rods f into an angular position, withdrawing
the segments c from the internal face of the ring o upon the wheel or
pulley p, allowing it to revolve freely upon the shaft a; the reverse
movement of the groove boss n straightens the rods f and forces the
segments c against the internal face of the ring o, which they meet
before the rods f become straight; the spring then yields sufficiently to
enable them to be brought into a straight line, that being the most
desirable position for driving, as it is also the position of rest.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and
object of the said Invention and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed or carried out in practice, I hereby declare that I claim the
Invention of "Certain Improvements in Machinery for Making Bricks,"
substantially as same is herein-before set forth and described and illus-
trated by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Beck, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
JAMES MYERS,
63, Cavendish Street,
Barrow-in-Furness.
WILLIAM BECK. (L.S.)