Improvements in Manufacturing "Briquettes" or Blocks of Artificial Fuel, or Bricks or Blocks of other Material, and in Machinery therefor.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 22nd Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 6th Jan., 1888
Improvements in Manufacturing "Briquettes" or Blocks of Artificial
Fuel, or Bricks or Blocks of other Material, and in Machinery
therefor.
I, ROBERT AUTON, of Birtley, in the County of Durham, Mechanic, do hereby
aeclare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention specially relates to making "Briquettes" or blocks of artificial fuel
perforated with holes, whereby their combustion is facilitated, by the passage of air
through them; and to machinery for moulding and pressing and for perforating them
when required; such machinery being applicable also to moulding and pressing bricks
or blocks of other material with or without perforations.
The machine which I will now describe is one which I consider well adapted to effect
the objects required in a satisfactory manner and is, essentially, such as I propose
to use.
The mould plate, which revolves round a central axis, is made preferably with eight
moulds, each mould having a division, thus making 16 "Briquettes" or blocks at one
revolution. The material is forced into the moulds by plungers operated by levers
worked by eccentrics, cams, cranks, or other suitable mechanism, from the driving
shaft with provision for altering the stroke, thus allowing more or less material,
supplied automatically or by hand, to pass into the moulds. The mould plate, after
the moulds are charged, passes round to the pressing part of the process which is
preferably effected by a system of levers operated by suitable mechanism from the
driving shaft. At the back of the mould plate is a fixed plate and this is perforated
with holes so as to allow pins (preferably about 1" dia.) to pass through. These
pins are connected to a plunger, which I call the back plunger, and which is operated
by one of the back levers. The plate of another plunger, which I call the front
plunger, is also perforated with holes corresponding with the pins in back plunger and
when the two levers are put in motion the front plunger meets the pius of the back
plunger which punch holes through the "Briquettes" or blocks in the moulds the
material that is punched through dropping down below to be again used. The mould
plate is moved round upon its centre by suitable mechanism driven from the main
shaft and is locked in the required position by a detent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Manufacturing "Briquettes" or Blocks of Artificial
Fuel, or Bricks or Blocks of other Material, and in Machinery
therefor.
I, ROBERT AUTON of Birtley in the County of Durham Mechanic 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
My invention relates to an improved manufacture of briquettes or blocks of artificial
fuel perforated with holes for facilitating their combustion by the passage of air
through them; the machinery for moulding and pressing and for perforating them
when required, being applicable also to moulding and pressing bricks or blocks of other
material with or without perforations.
The machine which I will describe is one which I consider well adapted to effect
the objects required in a satisfactory manner and is essentially such that I propose to
use.
This machine is illustrated by the accompanying drawings of which Figure 1
is an elevation of one side of the machine, Figure 2 an elevation of the opposite side,
Figure 3 an end view at the mould wheel end, Figure 4 an end view at the driving
shaft end and Figure 5 a plan. Figure 6 is a longitudinal section on the line X-X
Figure 5. Figure 7 is a longitudinal section on line Y-Y Figure 5 showing the
means for perforating the briquettes or forms. Figure 8 is a longitudinal section on
line Z-Z Figure 5 shewing the means for pushing out the moulded forms.
The machine is constructed with a vessel or container for the material or a pugmill
such as shown at P Figure 6. This vessel is provided with an opening in the bottom
and is arranged contiguous to the mould plate B which is to be supplied with the
material. The latter is supplied from the pugmill P by means of the two sliding
plungers P Figures 5 and 6. These plungers are arranged on the left side of the
centre of the mould plate shown in the end view Figure 3. Or they may be arranged
on the right side of machine but if two machines are arranged side by side I prefer
to have the plungers on the right hand of one machine be close to the plungers on
the left of the other machine so that the attendant standing between the two machines
may conveniently attend to the feeding and other functions of both machines. The
feed plungers are operated by the rods P2 fitted with helical springs P³ so arranged
that either of the plungers would "give" or recede in case of a stone or other
obstruction or extra charge of material getting into either of the moulds b. I might
use two entirely separate plungers operated independently of each other by separate
eccentrics or the like. but I prefer the arrangement shown as being the cheaper and
simpler. The rods P² are both jointed to a lever which is reciprocated by a rod
from an eccentric Q on the shaft C. Provision is made for altering or adjusting the
stroke by the screw Q3 which passes through a square nut guided in a slot in the
lever Q. I prefer this arrangement of driving gear but I may substitute cam or
crank or equivalent gear with provision for altering or adjusting the stroke of
plungers, thus allowing more or less material, supplied automatically or by hand, to

page_text: pass into the mould. G Figure 3 is a plate at the front end of the machine opposite
the charging plungers. The mould plate B, shown most clearly in Figuros 3, 6, 7
and S revolves round a central horizontal axis B in bearings B2 Figure 5. It is
preferably and as shown in Figure 3 made with eight pairs of moulds b, b, thus making
16 briquettes or blocks at one revolution. The mould plate B is partially revolved
intermittently preferably by means of a system of levers operated from the driving
shaft A, for instance in the manner here shown, where the shaft A carries a toothí
pinion A that gears with a whecel C¹ on a shaft C which at the other end carries a
bevel wheel C2 gearing with a bevel wheel E' on a shaft E that runs along one side
of the machine and at the other end carries a disc E2 or crank to which is jointed a
connecting rod F made in two parts for length adjustment and connected to a lever F2
at the other end. This lever is mounted loosely on the boss on each side of the
mould plate B or on its fulcrum spindle B¹. To the lever F and connecting rod F2
is also jointed a weighted pawl F which catches into pawl teeth notches on the cir-
cumference of the mould plate and thus intermittently drives it round. The mould
plate is also formed with square cornered notches for a tooth on a slightly flexible
detent or stop leverf to enter the same and hold the mould plate fixed temporarily in
position while the charging pressing and perforating and discharging operations are
going on. This detent lever is by a link f¹ connected to the lever Fall being so
arranged that the tooth on the detent lever f drops into a square notch on the circum-
ference of mould plate B when the lever and the pawl tooth on the lover F¹ have
completed their forward working stroke and come into the position shown in Figure 3.
The further notion of the disc E2 in the direction of the arrow will cause the lever F
to take its return or empty stroke, during the first part of which the spring detent
lever while still holding the mould plate fixed will be slightly bent or feathered and
then, after the charging pressing and perforating and discharging plungers have
entered have its tooth pulled out of the notch. I thus obtain the necessary "dwell"
for this part of the operation and the retaining of the mould plate in position until
the pawl lever F¹ is ready for its next active operation. The detent lever facts as a
brake against the mould plate B just before its tooth enters one of the notches in the
mould plate. Its action is certain. The mould plate B after the moulds are charged
in the manner described passes round to the opposite side (the right hand side in the
end view Figure 3) where the pressing part of the process takes place. This is pre-
ferably effected by a system of levers operated by suitable mechanism from the driving
shaft. In the arrangement shown the spur-wheel C, Figures 1, 4 and 5 is fitted with
a crank pin H to which is jointed a connecting rod H' with springs H2 for affording a
yielding action to prevent breakage in case of a stone or other obstruction in the
moulds. The other end of the rod H' is jointed to the lever I on a weigh-shaft I'.
The double armed lever I is by preference made in one with the lever I and serves
for operating the pressing and perforating plungers viz.: by the connecting rods K
and L. By making the levers I and 12 in one piece united by a common boss which
works in the bearing S Figures 1, 3, 5 and 7 the twisting strain is taken off the
shaft I. Or I may omit the shaft 1' altogether thereby also saving a bearing, but 1
prefer the arrangement shewn whereby the boss obtains a bearing thereon in addition
to the bearing in the plummer block on the framing. The rod K actuates the per-
forating or back plunger K³ Figure 7 by the back lever K' and links K². The rod L
operates the pressing or front plunger L³ by the front lever L' and link L².
At the back of the mould plate B, is a fixed plate R which takes the pressure and
which is perforated with holes so as to allow pins k (preferably about in. diameter) to
pass through and to be guided. These pins are mounted on the back plunger K³. The
plate or end of the front plunger L³ is made double so as to enter two moulds and
also perforated with holes corresponding with the pins k in the back plunger and when
the two levers K and L' are put in motion the holes in the front plunger L³ meet
the pins k in the back plunger which punch holes through the briquettes or blocks
in the moulds b, the material that is punched through dropping down through
a slot L in the front plunger L³ see figure 5 in order to be used again. The rods K
and L are adjustable as to length by means of screws as shewn. On the shaft C,

page_text: Figures 4, 5 and 8 is fixed an eccentric M. for working the expelling plunger N by
the intervention of the double armed lever O and the links O'. These latter are
pivoted to the plunger by a pin. The plunger is divided at its face or end for entering
two moulds at the same time. The expelling is effected when the moulds 6 filled with
two perforated blocks come round in the motion of the mould plate to the top. The
same round of operations is then commenced again.
The framing of the machine is made suitable for the various working parts and
guides are provided for the plungers in the manner shown or in any other well known
manner.
The action of the machine is as follows. The material from the pug mill P is by
the feed plungers P₁ fed into two moulds at the left side of mould plate in Figure 3
and against the plate G. The mould plate having made four one eighth parts of a
revolution brings the two filled moulds over to the opposite or right hand side where
their contents are compressed between the plunger L³ and the plate R and simul-
taneously perforated by the two sets of pins on the plunger K³. The mould plate
having thereupon turned a two eighth parts of a revolution the said filled moulds
containing the pressed and perforated blocks arrive at the top and are there expelled
by the plunger N and discharged on to a shelf T Figures 3 and 8 or on to a travelling
hand or apron.
It will be noticed that the adjustability of the length of the various connecting
rods or parts for actuating the feeding pressing perforating and expelling plungers
admits of my using in the same machine a mould plate 1 of any suitable thickness
say from 3 to 6 inches, the plate G being shifted accordingly and the length of the
connecting rod L varied in accordance therewith or plungers L³ of different lengths
may be used to suit. By the use of this perforated plate I am enabled to produce
perfect briquettes, and without such plate they could not with certainty be withdrawn
without cracking or breaking as if this plate were not used the pins in receding would
pull away pieces of the brick.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
First-In machines for making briquettes and other plastic forms the crank disc or
pin E in combination with the connecting rod F pawl F lever F connecting rod fl
and detent substantially as described and shewn for intermittently rotating and
locking the mould plate.
Second In machines for making perforated briquettes and other plastic forms
improved method of manufacture viz. by the employment of the plate Rin combination
with a mould plate, a pressing plunger L³ and a perforating plunger K³ substantially
as described and slewn.
Third In machines for making briquettes or other plastic forms the use of double
plungers with separate springs for feeding the moulds in mould plate substantially as
described and shewn.
Fourth-The reciprocating lever I on the same boss with the lever I³ substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth-The improved construction of machine for making briquettes and other
plastic forms substantially as described and shewn.
ROBERT AUTON.
By Jensen & Son,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents.