IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL, AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for. the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FUEL, AND FOR OTHER
SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Jean Mathurin Paillard,
of Paris in the Republic of France, Merchant.
aled the 18th July 1876, and dated the 26th February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th February 1876.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL
FUEL AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Jean
Mathurin Paillard, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Merchant.
This Invention relating to apparatus for the manufacture of artificial fuel has
reference more particularly to the machinery for forming the blocks; also to the
arrangement of the kneader or pug mill, which according to this Invention is
placed in the centre of the machine and between two compressing apparatus,
which form the block, the machine being double acting and forming two blocks
at a time. Two conduits, by preference of sheet iron, closed by a door at their
upper part, serve to bring the mixture from the kneader or pug mill into the
moulds.
The machine for manufacturing blocks is composed of the under mentioned
principal parts..
1st. Two compressors.
2nd. A central frame carrying the kneader or pug mill and its gear.
3rd. An automatic movable circular plate or table carrying the moulds; &
4th. The devices for transmitting motion from one compressor to the other, and
whence the motion of the whole machine is derived.
Each compressor is formed of two solid cheeks of cast iron bolted together and
connected at the top. These cheeks are traversed by a shaft provided with cams,
which has a continuous rotatory motion imparted to it from the counter shaft of the
machine by the intervention of a wheel and a pinion provided with powerful teeth.
From this cam shaft are derived the motions requisite for performing the follow-
ing operations, viz. 1st. The compression of the blocks. 2nd. The intermittent
advance of the circular plate carrying the moulds (this movement is termed the
[Price 6d.]

page_text: catch motion, causing the plate carrying the moulds to revolve); and 3rd. The
lifting motion which pushes out or releases the block from the mould. The cam
shaft communicates a reciprocating up-and-down motion to a compressing piston or
plunger; its action is only effective in the manufacture of a block for that period
of time during which it is engaged in the mould, it acts at first as a compressor
during the greater part of its downward stroke, when it compresses the mixture in
the mould, then towards the end of its stroke it continues the pressure while the
mould descends suspended upon steel springs and raises a double counterweight
of suitable dimensions. This action of the counterweight may be increased or
diminished, if necessary, according to the dimensions of the block which it is desired
to manufacture. At each extremity of the cam shaft there are provided two crank
discs, the inner one of which is employed to effect the elevation of the block, or to
push it out of the mould, while the other one serves to effect the intermittent
rotatory advance of the plate or table carrying the moulds.
The catch motion causing the plate carrying the moulds to rotate is obtained in
the following manner: -The compressing piston is lifted up out of the mould so as
to clear it to a sufficient extent, and the vertical stroke is utilized (as produced) in
causing the plate carring the moulds to advance one notch or tooth, that is to say,
to cause the mould next following the one which has just been compressed to be
presented to the action of the compressing piston. The crank disc is keyed on in
such a manner that the crank stands nearly at right angles with the longest radius
of the cam.
The mechanism for imparting notion to the mould plate is composed of the
crank disc carrying a steel crank pin, to which is attached one end of a con-
necting rod made in three parts, the heads of which are cemented. The opposite
end of the connecting rod is fitted on a lower horizontal axis paralel to the axis
of the cam shaft, to which horizontal axis there is connected a crank keyed on
another shaft carrying a large lever; this lever is fitted at its upper end with
a connecting pin and rod carrying the catch, which is provided with a steel jaw
or shoe.
The three heads of the rod above-mentioned work on spherical joints; this is
rendered necessary in consequence of the axes not being parallel and the curve
described by the pin carried by the catch rod in its return, which is the effective
stroke. The lower axis of the crank and of the large lever is inclined in such a
manner in relation to the axis of the cam shaft that (considering the axis of the
pin engaged in the catch as stationary) the catch rod only deviates from a line
perpendicular to the pin to a very slight extent on either side. In order to obviate
even this very insignificant amount of play a recess is formed in the front of the
catch pin. The number of the catch pins provided is equal to the number of the
moulds employed. In order to prevent the catch rod and the jaw with which it is
provided from quitting the periphery of the plate carrying the moulds a cast-iron
flange or rim is bolted on round the latter, forming an annular trough or ledge
which holds the jaw to the side of the plate carrying the moulds and inclines the
catch rod into its various positions as required.
The lifting movement causing the blocks to rise up out of the mould is placed
within the circular mould plate; it is actuated, as before stated, by the inner crank
disc keyed upon the cam shaft.
This mechanism is composed of a connecting rod connected at one end to the
crank disc, and at its opposite end to one extremity of a lever of the first order
with equal arms, the central axis of which is suitably supported while the other
extremity acting as a cam is of cemented iron; this cam works between two steel
keys, and alternately elevates and depresses a hollow cast-iron plunger which
strikes the bottom of the mould at a given moment and drives out the block. The
action of this lifting mechanism takes place while the mould plate is stationary, and
the cam shaft is compressing a block. The hollow cast-iron plunger is steadied in
its vertical movement by two stationary collars or guides cast on the supports of
the mould plate. These supports of the mould plates are six in number, and are

page_text: all provided with rollers. The two which are in proximity to the releasing
mechanism are provided with clamps, which embrace the plate and prevent it
from being forced up with the mould under the action of the shock imparted to it
by the releasing ram. Steel tappets bolted inside the frame of the compressing
mechanism in like manner hold the mould plates above the moulds and maintain
them perfectly stationary while the contents are being discharged. Between each
mould, and at the centre of the interval there is provided an axis, serving to connect
the two plates carrying the moulds together, which also serves as an axis for steel
rods acting as springs, whose function it is to raise the moulds; these springs act
from below upon sheet metal plates, each of which is bolted to the mould itself and
cut out in the middle nearly to the size of the mould, leaving a projecting ledge
inside the mould all round. This rectangular zone within the mould serves as a
support to the bottom of the mould, and when the compressing piston approaches
the end of its stroke this rectangular zone is carried downwards drawing the mould
with it. The necessity for the intervention of this part, actuated by the springs in
a contrary direction, is obvious, for these springs push up the mould when the
compressing piston reascends.
When the bottom of the mould, the plate of sheet metal, and the ends of the
springs are depressed under the forcible action of the compressing piston, the bottom
of the mould is caused to actuate a slide working in two grooves in the frame.
The upward stroke of this slide is limited by the end of the double groove which
serves as a guide to it; this slide actuates the counterweight levers.
By means of this peculiar arrangement a pressure on the block of agglomerated
matter of a maximum duration is obtained. This methodically slow & continuous
compression prevents the blocks from swelling, & consequently cracking when
released from the mould under the action of the releasing mechanism herein-before
described. Four tappets or projections to each mould are bolted to the interior of
the plates or rings, which carry the moulds and hold by a hook the plate of sheet
metal which is bolted to the mould itself; these hooks thus limiting the ascending
motion of the mould when pushed up by the springs.
The cam shaft is of iron cemented at the bearing surfaces. The can acts down-
wards upon a key with a steel head. A lower cross piece fixed by a bolt to the
two cheeks serves as a knife edge or centre of oscillation to the counterweight
levers.
At the end of each stroke of the mechanism for actuating the plates carrying the
moulds a pawl acting inside the plates drops into a notch and thus holds the said
plates immovable during the two motions of compressing and releasing the block.
This pawl is lifted out of the notch before the commencement of the rotatory motion
of the moulds by a simple automatic motion.
The central frame is composed of two cheeks, and is fixed to the ground by good
foundations and supported by an upper cross piece which supports the pug mill
The
and the two conduits of sheet metal which feed the mixture into the moulds.
frame is also provided with two bearings or plummer blocks which support the
shaft driving the compressors.
The circular plate carrying the moulds presents them successively in the first
place to the action of the compressing ram, and afterwards to the action of the
releasing ram. This circular plate passes between the cheeks of the compressing
frames. It is composed of two rings of cylindrical form, and each formed in three
pieces, a cast-iron table with troughs, cross bars carrying the springs, the catching
pins, & the moulds with their bottoms and counter plates.
The mechanism for transmitting the motion from one compressor to the other is
composed of a shaft supported at each extremity by the frames of the compressing
mechanism, and at the centre in two points by the frame of the pug mill. This
shaft carries the two pinions provided with strong teeth for driving the compressors,
and another pinion which drives the pug mill by the intervention of a star wheel
and a pair of bevelled wheels; this shaft also carries two fly wheels or pulleys,
which cause it to rotate, being driven by the main shaft above.

page_text: It is obvious that the apparatus is applicable to the production of bricks or blocks
to be employed for other purposes than fuel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th August
1876.
-
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL
FUEL, AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES" A communication from abroad by Jean
Mathurin Paillard, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Merchant.
The said Invention relates more particularly to the forming of blocks of artificial
fuel and other substances, and consists of a peculiar construction, arrangement, and
combination of apparatus to be employed for the purpose.
In carrying out this Invention the kneader or pug mill for effecting the mixing
of the materials of which the blocks are composed is arranged in the centre of the
moulding table between two compressing, apparatus which form the blocks; the
machine being double acting and forming two blocks at a time. The moulding
table is provided with a number of moulds.into each of; which the material from
the pug mill is fed in succession by two conduits; by preference of sheet iron, each
provided with a door at the upper part for the purpose of regulating the supply of
the material from the kneader or pug inill to the moulds..
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the saine, and for that purpose shall refer to
the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the Figures.
.t
Figure of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is a sectional elvation of a
moulding machine constructed according to this Invention. Figure 2 is a corre-
sponding horizontal section of the same. Figure 3 is a sectional elevation shewing
the kneader or pug mill, and the Jacob's ladder for supplying the same with material;
and Figures 4 and 5 are details which will be herein-after referred to.
The improved apparatus for manufacturing blocks consists of the under-mentioned
principal parts.
1st. Two compressors.
2nd. A. central frame carrying the kneader or pug mill and its gear.
Ord. An automatic moveable circular plate or moulding table.
4th. The devices for transmitting motion from one compressor to the other,
and to the other parts of the machine.
Each compressor is formed of two solid checks. A of cast iron, bolted together at
or near the bottom, and connected at the top by a plate a. These cheeks are
traversed by a shaft B provided with a cam b, to which a continuous rotatory
motion is imparted from the counter shaft of the machine by the intervention of a
wheel C, and a pinion c provided with powerful teeth. From this cam shaft are
derived the motions requisite for performing the following operations, viz. :—1st.
The compression of the blocks. 2nd. The intermittent motion of the moulding
table, which motion is termed the catch motion, and is illustrated by the detail.
Figure 4 and 3rd, the lifting motion illustrated by Figure 5, which pushes out or
releases the compressed block from the mould. The cam shaft B imparts a recipro-
cating up and down motion to the compressing piston or plunger D, the action of
which plunger is only effective in the manufacture of a block for that period of
time during which it is engaged in the mould. This plunger, which is fitted with
a key having a steel head b¹ for the cam b to bear against, acts as a compressor
during the greater part of its downward stroke, compressing the mixture or material
in the mould. Towards the end, however, of its downward stroke, the, mould itself,
which is supported upon steel springs E (shewn in Figure 2) commences to. descend
;

page_text: and raises a double counterweight pand p¹, of a size or weight suited to the dimen-
sions of the blocks being moulded and the actual power of which under the com-
pressor is, say about 4 tons. By simply changing the counterweights however the
power may be increased or diminished as required according to the dimensions of
the blocks to be produced. At the extremities of each of the cam shafts B there
are respectively provided two crank discs F, F, the inner one F of which is
employed to effect the elevation or expulsion of the block from the mould, while
the outer one F¹ serves to effect, the intermittent rotatory advance of the moulding
table or plate Z carrying the moulds, which motion is obtained in the following
manner--The compressing piston D is lifted up out of the mould so as to clear it to
the extent of say about 6 inches. This distance out of the mould, and an equal
distance in the mould, making a total of 1-2 inches of vertical stroke. During the
time that this stroke is being performed the moulding table or plate carrying the
inoulds is caused to advance one notch or tooth, thereby bringing, the mould next
following the one which has just been compressed under the action of the com-
pressing piston. The crank disc is keyed on in such a manner that the crank stands
nearly at right angles with the longest radius of the cam.
This portion of the apparatus is shewn in plan in Figure 2, and in detail elevation
at Figure 4. It consists of the crank disc F¹, and a steel crank pin f, a connecting
rod G, a lower horizontal axis g parallel to the axis of the cam shaft to which axis
the lower end of the connecting rod G is attached a crank H. keyed on the shaft
h, a lever I keyed upon the other extremity of this shaft h, an upper connecting pin
i upon the lever I, and a rod J carrying a steel jaw or catch j, (see Figure 2.) The
rods G and J, and the lever I above referred to, are provided, with spherical joints,
this being rendered necessary in consequence of the axes not being parallel, and the
traverse of the pin carried by the catch rod in its return stroke being in a curved
direction. The lower axis of the crank H and of the lever I' is inclined in such a
manner in relation to the axis of the crank shaft B, that (considering the axis of the
pin engaged in the catch as stationary) the catch rod J only deviates from a line
perpendicular to the pin to a very slight extent on either side, and in order to
obviate even this very insignificant amount of play, a groove or recess is formed in
the front of the catch pin as shewn at X, Figure 2. The number of the catch pins
provided corresponds to the number of moulds employed in the moulding table, &
in order to prevent the catch rod and the jaw with which it is provided, from
quitting the periphery of the moulding table a metal flange or rim K is bolted on
round the latter, forming an annular trough as shown in Figure 1,) which serves to
hold the jaw of the catch rod J to the side of the moulding table or plate carrying
the moulds, and incline the catch rod into its various positions as required. The
mechanism (shewn in Figure 5) for forcing the compressed blocks out of the mould
is arranged within the circular moulding table, and is actuated as before stated by
the inner crank disc F keyed upon the cam shaft B. This mechanism consists of a
rod L connecting the crank disc F with a lever of the first order having equal arins,
the central axis or fulcrum of which is supported by a bracket 12. This lever is
actuated at one end by the connecting rod L, whilst the other extremity by acting
as a cam between two steel keys m alternately elevates and depresses a hollow cast
iron plunger M, which strikes the bottom of the mould at a given moment and
drives out or expels the moulded block. The action of this lifting mechanism takes
place while the mould plate is stationary and the cam shaft is compressing a block.
The hollow cast-iron plunger M is steadied in its vertical movement by two
stationary collars or guides n cast on the supports N₁ of the moulding table, which
supports together with the supports N are connected together by suitable tie rods,
and are provided with rollers, as shewn in Figure 3, for facilitating the motion of
the moulding table. The two supports N in proximity to the releasing mechanism
are provided with clamps, which embrace the moulding table or plate carrying the
moulds and prevent it from being forced up with the mould under the action of
the releasing ram, steel tappets being also provided inside the 'frame of the com-
pressing mechanism for the purpose of holding the mould plates above the moulds

page_text: and maintaining them perfectly stationary while the blocks are being discharged.
At the centre of the interval between the moulds there are provided tie rods or
spindles for connecting together the two annular plates of the moulding table,
which spindles also serve as axes for steel rods acting as springs, whose function it
is to raise the moulds. These springs marked E in the Drawing act from below upon
sheet metal plates z, each of which is bolted to the mould itself, and is cut out in
the centre nearly to the size of the mould so as to leave a projecting ledge of say
about inch within the size of the mould all round. This rectangular zone (inch
wide) within the size of the mould serves as a support to the bottom of the
mould, and also to carry down the mould when the compressing piston approaches
the end of its stroke. In order to insure the bottom of the mould returning to its
normal position the springs E herein-before referred to are provided, the pressures
of which act in a contrary direction to that of the compressing piston and forces
the mould upwards as the compressing piston reascends, lugs or projections being
provided on the moulding table to limit the ascent of the moulds when acted upon
by the springs. When the bottom of the mould, the plates of sheet metals, and
the springs E (that is to say the ends of the springs) are depressed under the
forcible action of the compressing piston D, the bottom of the mould is caused to
act upon a slide O working in two grooves in the frame A, so as to actuate the
counterweighted levers p, p, herein-before referred to, which levers work or oscillate
on knife edges formed on cross pieces a¹ fixed by means of bolts to the checks A, A.
By means of this peculiar arrangement of mechanism the substance contained in
the moulds is subjected to a methodically slow and continuous compression of
maximum duration, whereby the blocks are prevented from swelling, and conse-
quently they are less liable to crack when released from the mould by the action of
the releasing mechanism herein-before described. At the end of each stroke of the
mechanism for actuating the moulding table a pawl or detent acting inside the
latter drops into a notch and holds the table immovable during the two motions of
compressing and releasing the block, after which the pawl is lifted out of the notch
before the commencement of the rotatory motion of the moulding table by a simple
automatic motion.
The central or main frame of the machine consists of two standards P, Figures 1,
2, and 3 fixed by means of bolts to a good foundation, and connected at their
upper ends by a cross piece Q, which supports the pug inill R and the two conduits
,, which feed the substance into the moulds. This frame is also provided with
two bearings or plummer blocks y for supporting the shaft which drives the
compressors.
The moulding table is composed of two rings, each formed by preference of three
pieces, a cast-iron table with troughs, cross bars carrying the springs, the catching
pins, and the moulds with their bottoms, counter plates, and other accessories.
This moulding table travels between the cheeks of the compressing apparatus, and
presents each mould in succession first to the action of the compressing piston and
then to the action of the releasing or expelling ram.
The mechanism for transmitting the motion from one compressor to the other
consists of a shaft S, supported at each extremity by the frames of the compressing
mechanism, and at the centre at two points by the bearings y in the frame of the
pug-mill. This shaft carries two pinions c provided with strong teeth for driving
the compressors, and a pinion t which, by the intervention of the star wheel T and
a pair of bevel wheels U drives the pug mill. This shaft also carries two fly wheels
or pulleys V, which are driven from a main shaft (not shown in the Drawing)
situate above. Two fly wheels or pulleys are employed in order to avoid the
twisting strain on the shaft, and thus obtain a simultaneous action in both com-
pressors. They are, moreover, necessary to the proper working of the machine by
reason of the resistance to be overcome not being continuous, as the two compressing
motions and the two releasing motions take place at the same time and in the
interval between one compression and another; the only work to be performed by
the machine is the raising of the compressing ram, and afterwards the rotation of

page_text: the moulding table carrying the moulds. It is obvious that the apparatus herein-
before described is equally applicable for moulding bricks or blocks for building
purposes as for artificial fuel.
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 what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to inc by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is
1st. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of apparatus for
moulding and compressing blocks of artificial fuel or other substances, and for
expelling the compressed blocks from the moulds substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated by the Drawings.
2nd. The combination in machinery for the manufacture of blocks of artificial
fuel or other substances of the pug mill or kneader with the intermittently rotating
moulding table, two compressing and two expelling apparatus, the whole arranged
and operating substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Specifica-
tion set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of August, One thousand eight
lundred and seventy-six
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)