Improvements in Brick Making and Pressing Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brick Making and Pressing Machines.
I, HERBERT ALEXANDER, of Queen's Works, Water Lane, Leeds, in the County of
York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the construction of machines for making and pressing
bricks, briquettes, tiles, and the like, whether of a perfectly plain form, or of an
ornamental type such as mouldings, cornices, or other irregular shapes, and whether
made of clay or other ceramic material which is afterwards fired, or of a material or
mixture of materials which will become hard without firing.
Machines of various types are in use which make & press bricks with more or less
success, but which either by reason of wear, or by their having complicated parts
which get out of order require a large amount of attention and gradually fail to
produce thoroughly good and sound bricks, or which while producing good bricks
fail to produce a sufficient quantity in a given time.
Now the object of this invention is to construct a machine in which the wear is
reduced to a minimum and in which such wear as there is may be readily counter-
acted by suitable adjustments; which will turn out a better brick than heretofore
and a larger number in a given time; and which at the same time is simple and
strong enough to resist the enormous forces which are brought into play when
pressing bricks and such like goods in this type of machine.
My improved machine consists first of a table, preferably of a circular form,
through the centre of which and fixed to it, passes a spindle or shaft which can
revolve or oscillate in suitable bearings fixed to the framework of the machine.
Through this table I form a number of passages or recesses of a size and shape to
correspond to the brick or other goods required to be made, and which when
fitted with a plunger, form the dies in which the bricks are pressed.
Hereafter I will call these recesses the dies.
Fixed on another part of the machine I provide a mixing mill or pan usually
of a circular form and so arranged that a portion of it overlaps a portion of the
surface of the table comprising within its area one or more of the dies, as they
travel round owing to the revolution of the table upon its axis.
In the pan is placed the material to be made into bricks and in the bottom of the
pan where it overlaps the table is a hole or holes corresponding to the dies in the
table when it is in a certain position. As the table in the course of its revolution
reaches this given position, enough material to form a brick falls from the pan
into the die in the table. By means of arms revolving in the pan arrange that
fresh material is continually being brought over the holes in the bottom.
The die or dies in the table being now full of material are brought by the
revolution of the table through an arc of a circle sufficient to place one of them
under a flat surface rigidly fixed to the framework of the machine and which I
call the presshead. Working in each die in the table is a loose piece, or plunger,
free to move up or down and exactly fitting the sides of the die while itself forming
the bottom of the die. Bearing on the other end of this plunger which projects
below the table is one end of a lever pivotted on a fulcrum between this and its

page_text: other end, which is attached to a connecting rod and eccentric, driven by suitable
gearing.
By means of this lever, at the moment that the die in the table comes under the
presshead the plunger is caused to rise and compress the material in the die
between itself and the press head, thus forming a mass of great density and
sharpness of outline.
As the table again proceeds to revolve it carries the plunger away from the lever
and allows it to fall on the base of a circular incline fixed underneath, and con-
centrically with the revolving table. The die is also carried clear of the press
head, so that as the plunger travels up the incline owing to the revolution of the
table, it rises in the die and gradually pushes the brick up above the surface of
the table ready to be removed.
The means by which I revolve the die table is a variation of a motion known as
the Geneva stop motion, by which an intermittent motion is imparted to the table,
although the ratchet or pinion which drives the table by means of teeth or
projections on its edge, has a continuous motion.
The table is also locked in one position between each movement by constructing
recesses in its rim or periphery.
It is conceivable that too large an amount of material may now and then pass
into the die giving rise to very serious strains when under compression by the lever.
To obviate any danger of breakage from this cause I arrange that the bearing for
the fulcrum of the lever shall rest upon a packing composed of india rubber or
other flexible material which shall compress to some extent if the strain upon it
increases beyond a certain point.
It may also happen that whilst the machine is working, the material in the pan
may vary in its consistency, or density, and in respect to the amount of moisture
in it. This variation would cause the bricks to vary also, some receiving more
pressure than others.
To obviate this I provide an arrangement of screws and worm
gearing actuated by a hand wheel by means of which I can raise or lower that part
of the incline upon which the plungers rest when being filled. I can thus adjust
the die to suit the material without stopping the machine.
Dated this 28th day of July 1898.
SYDNEY E. PAGE, Wh. Ex., Assoc. M. Inst. C.E.,
18, New Bridge Street, Blackfriars, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.
improvements in Brick Making and Pressing Machines.
I, HERBERT ALEXANDER, of Queen's Works, Water Lane, Leeds, in the County of
York, 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 the construction of machinery for making and pressing
bricks, briquettes, tiles, and the like, whether of a perfectly plain form, or if an
ornamental type such as mouldings, cornices or other irregular shapes, and whether
made of clay or other ceramic material which is afterwards fired, or of a material
or mixture of materials which will become hard without firing.
Machines of various types are in use which make and press bricks with more or
less success,
but which either by reason of wear, or by their having complicated
parts which get out of order require a large amount of attention, and gradually
fail to produce thoroughly good and sound bricks, or which while producing good
bricks fail to produce a sufficient quantity in a given time.

page_text: Now the object of this invention is to construct a machine in which the wear is
reduced to a minimum, and in which such wear as there is may be readily counter-
acted by suitable adjustments; which will turn out a better brick than heretofore,
and a larger number in a given time; and which at the same time is simple and
strong enough to resist the enormous forces which are brought into play when
pressing bricks and such like goods in this type of machine.
My improved machine consists first of a table, preferably of a circular form,
through the centre of which and fixed to it, passes a spindle or shaft which can
revolve or oscillate in suitable bearings fixed to the framework of the machine.
Through this table I form a number of passages of a size and shape to correspond
to the brick or other goods required to be made, and which when fitted with a
plunger, form the dies in which the bricks are pressed. Hereafter I will call these
recesses the dies.
Fixed on another part of the machine I provide a mixing mill or pan usually
of a circular form and so arranged that a portion of it overlaps a portion of the
surface of the table comprising within its area one or more of the dies, as they
travel round owing to the revolution of the table upon its axis.
In the pan is placed the material to be made into bricks and in the bottom of the
pan where it overlaps the table is a hole or holes for filling the dies in the table
when they reach a certain position.
As the table in the course of its revolution comes to this given position, enough
material to form a brick falls from the pan into the die in the table.
By means of arms revolving in the pan I arrange that fresh material is con-
tinually being brought over the holes in the bottom.
The die or dies in the table being now full of material are brought by the
revolution of the table through an arc of a circle sufficient to place one of them
under a flat surface rigidly fixed to the framework of the machine and which I call
the press-head. Working in each die in the table is a loose piece or plunger, free
to move up and down and exactly fitting the sides of the die while itself forming the
bottom of the die.
Bearing on the other end of this plunger which projects below the table is one
end of a lever pivotted on a fulcrum between this and its other end, which is
attached to a connecting rod and eccentric driven by suitable gearing.
By means of this lever, at the moment that the die in the table comes under
the press-head the plunger is caused to rise and compress the material in the die
between itself and the press-head, thus forming a mass of great density and
sharpness of outline.
As the table again proceeds to revolve it carries the plunger away from the lever
and allows it to fall on a circular track or surface fixed underneath and con-
centrically with the table. The die is also carried clear of the press-head and the
plunger rises in the die and gradually pushes the brick up above the surface of
the table ready to be removed.
I revolve the die table intermittently by means of a continuously revolving
counter-shaft provided with a toothed segment or with a crank and ratchet gearing
into projections on the periphery of the table, and I may lock the table between
each movement by attaching to the counter-shaft a segment of a circular disc
fitting similar recesses on the periphery of the table.
To guard against breakage of the parts through too much material having got
into a die, I arrange that the fulcrum of the lever may be suspended from a bearing
provided with a packing composed of india-rubber or other flexible material, which
shall compress to some extent if the strain upon it, increases beyond a certain
point.
To provide for variation in the consistency of the material in the pan I construct
an arrangement of screws and worm gearing actuated by a hand-wheel by means
of which I can raise or lower the plungers in the die and thus adjust the die to suit
the material without stopping the machine.

page_text: The
ccompanying drawings show one arrangement of the above described
apparatus, the same letters referring to like parts in all the views.
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of the machine.
Fig. 2, is an end elevation with the standard u removed to show the pan and
counter shaft G more clearly.
Fig. 3, is a plan of the machine.
Figs. 4 and 5, are an elevation and plan respectively of a modification constructed
with elliptical gear.
Figs. 6 and 7, are the plan and elevation of a modification of the turning
mechanism.
Fig. 8, is a side elevation of mechanism for raising the plungers in the die.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, a is a circular table attached to the shaft c working
in vertical bearings in which it is free to revolve. At intervals in the face of this
table are passages d of the same size as the brick required to be made. Each of these
passages is fitted with a plunger e which rises and falls in it as the table revolves,
thus forming a die or mould in which the brick is made.
Fixed to the standards and is a mixing mill or pan f in which the material
is thoroughly intermixed by the revolving arms h. This pan is so fixed that a
portion of its area overlaps a portion of the revolving table as shown
at and the bottom is there cut away so that material can fill the dies of
the table as they pass by, the material being constantly brought over the dies by the
action of the revolving arms. The die having been filled in passing under the
pan is brought by the revolution of the table under the press-head at and at
the same time the bottom extremity of the plunger passes on to the end of the
lever j, which is provided with a runner or bowl or with a piston balanced by a
weight such as so that it always presents a horizontal face to the bottom of the
plunger. The table is stationary for a time at this point while the lever whose
fulcrum is at k, causes a very heavy upward pressure on the plunger owing to the
action of the eccentric gear m, l, on its opposite end. The material is therefore
compressed into a mass of great density. The table is now further revolved, and
the plunger is thus carried away from the lever, falling on to the base of the
circular incline o. The die is also carried clear of the press-head, so that as the
plunger travels up the incline o owing to the revolution of the table, it rises in
the die and gradually pushes the brick up above the surface of the table from
whence it can be removed.
I revolve the die table by means of the toothed segment g, which is rotating
continuously and gears into the corresponding teeth or projections on the edge
of the die table. Attached to this toothed segment is a circular disc s with a portion
of its edge removed.
This disc fits recesses cut out of the edge of the table so that when
it is in gear the table is locked, and the pressure is then applied to the brick.
The toothed segment moves on the table while the part of the disc which is cut
away is opposite the table and has no effect upon it therefore.
As the material in the pan may vary somewhat in consistency I provide an
adjustable base upon which the plungers rest when the dies are being filled, and
by means of a screw and worm-wheel gear arrange that this can be raised or
lowered to suit the material passing into the die; this can be done without stoppage
of the machine.
In case however too much material should by any chance get into the die I
provide the fulcrum k of the pressing lever with a flexible bearing, by inserting a
piece of rubber or other flexible packing, between the plate t, from which the
fulcrum is suspended, and the framework of the machine which carries its weight.
If therefore so much material gets into a die as to give rise to excessive strains the
packing t is compressed and no harm is done.
The whole machine is driven by the fast and loose pulleys A, A, on the shaft B
which latter is connected to the eccentric shaft n through the pinion C and spur
wheel 1)

page_text: Figs. 4 and 5 show an arrangement of elliptical gearing E, F by which the
revolution of the toothed segment q, is controlled during the time of its connection
with the table in such a manner that it moves slowly as it comes into gear, then
increases in speed, and again moves slowly as it travels out of gear.
Any shock to the table is thus prevented and a higher speed of rotation may
be used.
Figs. 6 and 7 show a method of revolving the table when high speeds are
required.
The shaft G which passes through the pan is provided with a crank H instead
of the toothed segment. To the crank is connected a ratchet or pawl I which
works in the angular recesses J of the table and is kept in contact with them by
means of a chain passing over the pulley K fixed to the standard u, and carrying a
weight at its other end. The pawl is shown in its extremé forward position and as
the crank revolves the pawl is drawn back until it catches the previous recess which
it then pushes forward.
Fig. 8 shows another construction of the means for pushing the bricks out of the
dies when pressed, the inclined plane being replaced by two horizontal planes at
different levels and provided with a lever K which raises the plunger from one
level to the other when it reaches the end of the lower plane. The lever K
is. actuated by means of the cam O which is attached to the shaft n carrying the
eccentric as shown in Fig. 1, and the plunger e is held in its raised position until
by the revolution of the table it is brought on to the plane N. This construction
has the advantage that less wear is caused on the ends of the plungers, and
consequently less power is wasted in friction.
The above described apparatus has the advantages over constructions of the kind
heretofore employed that much more solid and regular bricks are produced and more
can be made in a given time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In brick making and pressing machines the combination with a revolving
table containing a series of dies fitted with plungers, of a lever and eccentric
mechanism connected therewith for subjecting material placed in the die to a heavy
pressure between the plunger and the press-head of the machine, and a mill or pan
partially covering the table for the supply of material to the dies substantially as
described herein.
2. In brick making and pressing machines the combination with a revolving
table containing a series of dies fitted with plungers, of an inclined plane fixed
underneath the table so that the plungers when working on it are caused to rise and
fall in the die substantially as described herein.
3. In brick making and pressing machines the combination with a revolving
table containing a series of dies fitted with plungers, of an arrangement of screw
and worm gearing for adjusting the plungers in the dies to suit the consistency
of the material when being filled, substantially as described herein.
4. In brick making and pressing machines the combination with a revolving
table containing a series of dies and provided with lugs or teeth on its periphery,
of a continuously revolving toothed segment engaging with it and attached to
which is a segment of a circular disc engaging with recesses in the edge of the
table so that the table is turned and locked intermittently substantially as
described herein.
5. In brick making and pressing machines the combination with a revolving
table such as a containing a series of dies d and provided with teeth b and recesses r
on its periphery, of a continuously revolving toothed segment q, and segment of
a disc s, engaging with it, and an intermediate elliptical gear such as E, F, in
Figs. 4 and 5, so that the speed of rotation of the table is variable substantially as
herein described.

page_text: 6. In brick making and pressing machines the combination with a revolving
table containing a series of dies, and formed with angular recesses J on its
periphery, of a continuously revolving crank H and connecting pawl I substantially
as herein described with reference to Figs. 6 and 7, of the drawings.
7. In brick making and pressing machines the combination with a revolving
table containing a series of dies fitted with plungers, of two surfaces M and N fixed
underneath the table at different levels, and a lever K actuated by a cam such as O
on the shaft n substantially as described herein with reference to Fig. 8 of
the drawings.
8. In brick making and pressing machines the combination with a revolving
table containing a series of dies fitted with plungers, of a lever and eccentric
mechanism, and a flexible bearing t, to which is connected the fulcrum of the
lever substantially as described herein.
9. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete
apparatus for making and pressing bricks substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
SYDNEY E. PAGE, A.M.I.C.E.,
18, New Bridge Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.