IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS POR MAKING BRICKS OR TILES
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in
the County of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS POR MAKING BRICKS OR TILES."-A communi-
cation from Magloire Augustin Jullienne, of Paris, in the Empire of
1 France, Mechanical Engineer.
Sealed the 12th September 1854, and dated the 20th April 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the Said William Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th April 1854.
I, WILLIAM JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn. Fields, in the, County of
Liddlesex, and of Glasgow, in the County, of, Lanark, North. Britain; Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRICKS OR TILES," a communica-
tion from Magloire Augustin Jullienne, of. Paris, in the Empire of France,
Mechanical Engineer, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, to the production of bricks or tiles of any required
shape by compression, the clay being nearly dry.when forced into the mould,
and consists of the following arrangement of mechanism: The machine is
composed of a strong frame of wood or iron, forming a species of table, in
which is fitted a cast-iron frame which carries the various working parts of
the machine. This frame is composed of two longitudinal pieces, fixed to the
wooden framing of the machine by bolts and united by cross pieces, between

page_text: which the moulds are situated. These latter are composed of a double frame o
wood, forming two rectangular openings of the size and shape of the bricks o
tiles to be produced. The moulds are open both at the top and bottom, and
lined with copper plate internally. Two vertical frames beneath the table
carry two horizontal axes or shafts, which rest in suitable bearings. At the
extremity of one of the shafts is fixed, by means of a cast-iron box, a long lever,
which assists in partially turning the shaft. This same shaft carries also two
small arms or levers, which are forged upon it; to these levers are attached
two chains, the lower ends of. which are fixed by bolts to a vertical slide, which
forms two rectangular pistons of wood and copper combined, corresponding
exactly to the openings of the two rectangular moulds. Each time that this
shaft is turned, the short levers draw up the chains, and elevate thereby the
pressing pistons, causing them to enter the moulds. An adjustable stop is
fitted to the pistons to limit their descent. Above the machine is fitted a bent
lever, having at one end two flat pieces of wood, which serve to cover the tops
of the moulds; for this purpose the lever is carried by a shaft, the journals
of which work in suitable bearings, which are cast in one piece with the cast-
iron frame, before mentioned. The flat covers, before mentioned, are held over
the moulds by a catch at the opposite end of the lever which carries them, and
this catch, which works on a fixed centre, is either engaged or disengaged with
the lever by à suitable handle. When the catch is removed, the lever turns
over on its centre and removes the covers from the moulds, at the same time
the pistons enter below the moulds, and they are filled with clay, when-the
covers are brought down again, and the pistons are elevated by means of their
actuating lever. By this means the clay is, thoroughly compressed between
the covers of the boxes and the ascending pistons, thereby completing the
brick. In order to eject the compressed bricks from the moulds, the covers
are raised and the pistons elevated still further to push out the bricks. This
movement is effected either by the long compressing lever before mentioned; or
by another hand lever on a smaller shaft, which carries at its centre à short
lever, attached either by a chain or link-to the lower part of the slide which
carries the pistons. This shaft is turned by bringing down the hand lever
attached-to-it-and-engaging-it-under-a-spring-secured-to-the-side-of-the
machine; in this way the pistons are elevated and the bricks removed from
their surfaces. The retaining spring of the lever is then pressed, and the lever
being free, the pistons descend again to their original position. For moulding
bricks of other shapes or sizes, it is simply necessary to change the moulds
with their. covers and pistons.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th October 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex, and of
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters.
Patent, bearing. date the Twentieth day of April, in the year of our Lord One.
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs. and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Johnson, Her special license that I, the said William Johnson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Johnson, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRICKS OR TILES," a communication
from Magloire Augustin Jullienne, of Paris, in the Empire of France;
Mechanical Engineer, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Johnson, by an instrument in writing under hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Johnson, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
The said Invention relates to the production of bricks or tiles of any
required shape by compression, the clay being nearly dry when forced into the
moulds. The machine for effecting this operation is composed of a strong
frame of wood or iron, forming a species of table, in which table is fitted a
cast-iron frame, which carries the various working parts of the machine. This
frame is composed of two longitudinal pieces, fixed to the wooden framing of
the machine by bolts and united by cross pieces, between which the moulds

page_text: are situated. These latter are composed of a double frame of wood, forming
two rectangular openings of the size and shape of the bricks or tiles to be
produced. The moulds are open both at the top and bottom, and are
lined inside with copper plates. Two vertical frames situated beneath the
table carry two horizontal axes or shafts which rest in suitable bearings. At
the extremity of one of the. shafts is fitted. a long lever, for the purpose of
partially turning the shaft. This same shaft..carries also two small-arms.or
levers which are forged upon it; to these levers are attached two chains, the
lower ends of which are fixed by bolts to a vertical slide which forms two
rectangular pistons of wood faced with. copper, corresponding exactly to the
openings of the two rectangular moulds. Each time that this shaft is turned
the short levers draw up the chains, elevate the pressing pistons, and cause
them to enter the moulds. An adjustable stop is fitted to the pistons to limit
their descent. Above the machine is fitted. a bent lever, having at one end
two flat pieces of wood, which serve to cover the tops of the moulds; for this
purpose the lever is carried by a shaft, the journals of which work in suitable
bearings, which are cast in one piece. with the cast-iron frame before mentioned.
The flat covers of the moulds are held over the same.by a catch at the opposite
end of the lever which carries, them, and this catch, which works on a fixed
centre, is engaged or disengaged with the lever by a suitable handle... When
the catch is removed, the lever turns over. on its centre. and removes the covers
from the moulds, at the same time the pistons enter below the moulds,.,which
are then filled with clay;the covers are now brought down again, and the
pistons are elevated by means of the actuating lever herein before referred to.
By this means the clay is strongly compressed between the covers of the boxes
and the ascending pistons, thereby completing the bricks. In order to eject
the compressed bricks from the moulds, the covers are raised and the pistons
elevated still further to push out the bricks; this movement is effected either
by the long compressing lever before mentioned, or by another hand lever on a
smaller shaft, which carries at its centre a short lever, attached either by a
chain or link to the lower part of the slide which carries the pistons. This
shaft is turned, by bringing down the hand lever attached to it and engaging-it
-under-a-spring-secured to the side of the machine; in this way the pistons are
elevated and the bricks removed from their surfaces. The retaining spring of
the lever is then pressed, and the lever being free, the pistons descend again
to their original position. For moulding bricks of other shapes or sizes, it.is
simply necessary to change the moulds with their covers and pistons...
Figure 1 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings represents à longitudinal
section of the machine, taken through the centre of the moulding boxes;

page_text: Figure 2 is a corresponding section of the time; Figure 3 is a transverse
section of the machine, taken along the line 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5, in Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a transverse sectional detail of the moulds, with the bricks
ready for removal;. and Figure 5 is a horizontal section, taken along the
line 6, 7, in Figure 3. The machine is composed of a strong wooden frame
A, into which is fixed the cast-iron frame B, B, to which are attached the
various working parts of the mechanism. This frame is composed of two
longitudinal rails B, fixed to the wood work by bolts and nuts b, b, and united
by the cross rails B', B', between which are situated the two moulds. These
moulds are composed of a double frame of wood C, forming two rectangular
openings of the length and breadth of the bricks to be produced. The moulds
are open both at the top and bottom, and are lined internally with plates of
copper a, a. .D, D, are vertical supports or brackets cast upon the under side
of the rails B of the cast-iron frame. These supports or brackets serve to carry
the two horizontal spindles E & F, which which rest at their journals in the
horizontal slots or receivers e, f, formed in the sides of the brackets D, and are
retained therein by the wrought-iron caps G, G, which are bolted on to the
brackets: At the extremity of the spindle E is fixed, by means of a cast-iron
box or socket H, a long hand lever I, by the aid of which a partial rotatory or
rocking motion is communicated to the spindle E. This same spindle has
forged upon two short lever arms. K; K, to the extremities of which are
attached the two chains k, k, which are connected at their lower ends with the
vertical sliding piece L by the bolts d. The slide L is forked at its upper
extremity at 7, to form two rectangular pistons L', L'; faced with wood, which
is again faced with a sheet or plate of copper. These pistons fit accurately into
the two moulds herein-before referred to. Each time the spindle E is turned,
the action of the lever arms K, K, on the chains k, k, elevates the pistons
L', L', inside the moulds; during this vertical movement the slide Lis guided
at the upper end by the interior of the moulds themselves, and at the lower ends
by a transversé guide plate M, which has an opening formed in it, corresponding
to the shape of the slide L. This guide plate answers the purpose also of a
cross tie to the brackets D, to the lower extremities of which it is bolted, as is
clearly shewn at Figure 3 of the Drawings. A small projecting stop piece V,
cast on to the side of the slide L, serves to limit its descent, by striking against
the adjusting screw v, which is secured by jam nuts into the fixed guide plate
M. On the upper part of the machine is fitted a peculiarly formed bent
lever N which is furnished at its front end with two rectangular wooden
blocks N', N; these blocks fit accurately into the interior of the moulds, and
serve as moveable lids or covers to the top of the same.
For this purpose

page_text: the lever N is fitted on to the shaft O, which works in bearings P, P,
cast in one piece with the sides B of the metal frame. When it is required
to retain the bent lever N in the position represented in the Drawing, a
catch Q, turning upon centres q in the bearings R, R, is brought to bear
against the under side of the extremity N° of the lever N, by pushing forward
the short handle r. If, on the contrary, the catch Q be brought into the
position shewn by the rod lines in Figure 1, the-bent lever N, being set-
at liberty, turns over by its own gravity, and assumes the position indicated
also in red lines N³ in the same Figure. When the lever N is in the
position shewn by the red lines, the moulds are of course open and uncovered
at the top, and the long hand lever I, being vertical, and resting against a
stop (Figures 2 & 3), the pistons L', L', will be at the bottom of their
espective moulds, which are now filled with clay. This operation having
been accomplished, the superabundant clay is removed from the top of the
moulds by means of a scraper or small board. The lever N is then brought back
again into the position shewn by the black lines in Figure 1, thereby closing
the top of the moulds. In this position the lever is retained by the catch Q
being brought under the tail or opposite end -N2 of the same, as indicated at
Figure 1 of the Drawings. The lever I is now pulled over to the position shewn
by the red lines at I', thereby elevating the pistons L', L', as far as the red
line L, by which means the clay T contained in the moulds will be powerfully
compressed. As this compression is limited only by the resistance of the
moulded and compressed brick, it is easy to understand that the length of the
lever I, will permit of a considerable compressive force being applied to the clay.
The next operation is to force the bricks out of the moulds. For this
purpose
the tail N of the bent. lever N is released by withdrawing the catch Q; the
opposite end of the lever is then elevated, and the blocks N', N', thereby
removed from the top of the moulds. The bricks or compressed clay is now
pushed upwards by a further movement of the long lever handle I. It is pre-
ferred, however, to employ for that purpose the second shaft F, to the end of
which is fitted the hand lever S, and to the centre a small. lever arm S, to
which is attached a chain or link t, secured at its lower extremity to the bottom
of the slide L, which carries the pistons. The shaft or spindle_F_is_caused to
turn by the lever S, which is brought down sufficiently far to be caught by the
spring catch u. This movement has elevated the pistons L' to the position
indicated at Figure 4, and the bricks or tiles are consequently at liberty to be
removed by an attendant. The spring u is then pressed inwards, to release the
lever handle S, which is brought back again to a vertical position by the weight
and descent of the pistons. The machine is now in readiness for another supply

page_text: of clay. To compress and mould bricks or tiles of other sizes and shapes, it is
simply requisite to change the moulds and faces of the compressing pistons.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of the said Invention; but what
I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general construction and arrangement of machinery for making
bricks or tiles, as herein-before described.
Second, the peculiar construction and arrangement of moulds, as herein-
before described.
Third, the application and use of the bent lever, lettered N in the Drawings,
in combination with the lids or covers of the moulds, as herein-before
described.
Fourth, the peculiar construction and arrangement of compressing pistons,
and the mode of working or actuating the same, as herein-before described.
Fifth, the system or mode of removing the compressed bricks or tiles from
the moulds by a further movement of the pistons beyond that required for com-
pressing the bricks or tiles, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Johnson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twelfth day of October, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-four.