IM- PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING CLAY FOR ALL KINDS OF POTTERY, EITHER IN EARTHENWARE OR CHINA
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Ford, of Bishopton, in the County of Warwick,
and Hanley, in the County of Stafford, Engineer, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING CLAY FOR ALL KINDS OF POTTERY,
EITHER IN EARTHENWARE OR CHINA."
Sealed the 23rd June 1876, and dated the 27th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Ford at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th March 1876.
CHARLES FORD, of Bishopton, in the County of Warwick, and Hanley, in the
County of Stafford, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING
CLAY FOR ALL KINDS OF POTTERY, EITHER IN EARTHENWARE OR CHINA."
The machine consists of a cylinder secured to two upright stands with boxes and
cones in the centre for packing, and to prevent the water or slip from passing from
the inside of the cylinder, a shaft passes through the boxes and cylinder, to which
are attached arms or beaters, the same being secured to that portion of the shaft
which is in the cylinder. There is a mouth piece at the top of the cylinder as a
feeder and a tap underneath to let out the slip when it is prepared for the lawns or
sifters. The shaft that passes through the cylinder and stuffing boxes has at one
end a pulley for putting it in motion by steam or other power, and at the other
end a tappet wheel that strikes upon a lever or arm which agitates the lawns or
sifters. When the slip is prepared in the cylinder it passes through the lawns into
a receiver, thence to the drying pan or kiln on an improved principle. The kiln is
surrounded by an external wrought-iron casing, within which steam from a boiler
passes under and round the internal pan that boils and completes the clay for any
use required.
corrosion.
The internal pan is lined with lead or white metal to prevent
CHARLES FORD, of Bishopton, in the County of Warwick, and Hanley, in the

page_text: County of Stafford, Engineer. IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING
CLAY FOR ALL KINDS OF POTTERY, EITHER IN EARTHENWARE OR CHINA."
This Invention has reference to improvements in the machinery above named,
and in order that the same may be clearly understood I will at once proceed to
describe the same with reference to the Drawings accompanying these presents,
that is to say, the Invention and the manner of performing the same is particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof :-
:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, sectional elevation of my improved machine; Figure 2, plan of upper
and lower lawn frames; Figure 3; plan of steam pan; Figure 4, sectional elevation
of same; Figure 5, plan of drying kiln or pan. In these Figures A is the cylinder,
made of wood or any suitable material; F, frame of machine to which cylinder A is
secured; H, hopper into which the clay is fed; R, rollers which conduct the clay into
the cylinder A, said rollers gearing together, as shewn, and driven by driving pulley »;
S, shaft which passes through the cylinder A; D, driving wheel attached at one
end of shaft S; T, tappet wheel attached to shaft S; B, beaters attached to shaft S;
V, valve which holds or discharges the clay from cylinder A; L, lawn frames on
which the clay is discharged. These frames rest on bearings c, and said frames are
agitated by means of tappet wheels acting on tappet t, which is attached to cross
shaft or lever in front of machine, and the rocking motion is conveyed to the
lawn frames L by rods attached thereto, being connected to the arms or levers l²;
E, receiving box under lawn frames L; F, boiling pan into which the pulp after
being discharged into receiving box E is conveyed; G, steam space surrounding
the boiling pang, steam inlet regulated by cock or valve; g', outlet regulated by
tap or valve to draw off condensed steam from the steam space G; K, drying kiln
or pan into which the pulp after being acted upon in pan G is thrown; M, pipes
underneath the kiln through which steam is passed to dry the pulp on the kiln.
When in operation the cylinder (A) by the feeding hopper (H) and rollers (R) upon
the top side of cylinder (A) conducts the clay inside the cylinder. And at the
bottom side of cylinder (A) the slide valve (V) lets out the pulp when prepared in
the cylinder (A), and thence upon the lawns or sieves. Each end of the cylinder
having boxes and cones with screws to keep in the packing of flax or hemp, through
which boxes and cones the shaft s passes. One end of the shaft (s) having the driving
pulley D and at the other end the tappet wheel (T.) On the centre of shaft (S) as
far as the inside of the cylinder (A) will permit the arms or beaters (B) screwed to
centre part of shaft S revolve (when put in motion) in the cylinder; these beaters
(B) with a portion of water that is conveyed by tap into cylinder (A) beat or
pulverize the clay into a liquid or slip that passes through the slide valve V under-
neath upon the lawns L. agitated by the tappet wheel T at the end of the driving
shaft S, striking an arm or lever attached to cross shaft (1) in front of the
machine. Also at each end of the machine an arın or lever connected to two rods
that are attached by screws at the end of the lawn frame (L) agitates both lawns
at once.
No. 1 is a frame surrounded with sides and ends, as a low box, which
moves upon centres underneath the cylinder upon bearings attached to side frames
where the rods connected to the arms upon the front shaft of the tappet wheel
strikes on lever. In the same box frame is a movable frame with a fine copper or
any other suitable metal that will make a fine lawn or sieve; this movable sieve
or lawn is placed underneath cylinder, receiving pulp into No. 1 sieve or lawn to
feed No. 2. No. 2 frame box is below No. 1, and is agitated by the same motion
as No. 1, both frames working together. In No. 2 frame is a very fine silk lawn,
which receives the pulp or slip that passes through the metallic sieve No. 1; it
thence passes through the silk lawn into a box or receiver E, thence along a spout
or pipe to the boiling or steam pan F. The boiling pan F consists of wrought iron
lined with lead or any suitable metal to stop corrosion. Underneath and round the
pan F is steam space G that receives the steam at any needful pressure from a

page_text: boiler by a pipe or inlet 7 and tap connected to one side of the pan chamber. On
the other side is tap to keep clear the condensed steam in the chambers, and so in
the pan Fa continuous boiling or keeping up by the steam admitted from the boiler
into the steam space G that externally surround the internal pan. After boiling
sufficiently the clay taken out of this pan and thrown upon the drying pan or
kiln K. This kiln consists of cast iron or any other suitable metal lined with lead
or any other suitable material to prevent corrosion. Round the pan or kiln K is a
surrounding at any height needful. Underneath this pan or kiln K is a projecting
portion, which receives a number of steam pipes or tubes M, made of wrought iron
or any other metal that will bear pressure and heat. These steam pipes M are put
underneath the kiln K with a metal covering screwed down, so as to retain the
heat to the upper surface of the pan or kiln K. When the clay is sufficiently dry
it is taken off this drying pan or kiln K, and same is then charged again, and so
By this process the clay will be produced for use very much better and cheaper
than heretofore.
on.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or put in practice,
I hereby declare that I claim the Invention of "Improvements in Machinery for
Preparing Clay for all Kinds of Pottery, either in Earthenware or China," sub-
stantially as the saine is herein-before set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Ford, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-third day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
WILLIAM JEFFs,
Bishopton,
Stratford-on-Avon,
Warwickshire.
CHARLES FORD. (L.S.)