Improvements in Brick Machines.
Year: 1887

page_text: Improvements in Brick Machines.
A communication from abroad by WILLIAM TELL DUVALL and HARRY BLUNT, both
of Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
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 :—
The aim of this invention is to provide a machine of extreme simplicity and great
durability by which brick may be formed with a small expenditure of power from
tempered clay, and the brick thus formed delivered without mutilation to an off-
bearing belt or its equivalent.
To this end the invention consists substantially in the combination of two rotary
mold wheels provided in their periphery with complementary cells, the walls of which
give form to the side faces of the brick, said walls being arranged to engage or inter-
lock one with the other, and combined with stationary side plates or cheek plates,
which close the ends of the cells and give form to the ends of the brick.
It also further consists in the combination with the mold wheel as above described of
movable plates to remove the brick, the plates being thrown into and out of contact
by means hereinafter explained.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a top plan view of this inachine.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same on the line 1-1 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section on the line 2-2 of Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-section on the line 3-3 of Figures 2 and 3.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the machine, a portion of the main frame being
broken away to show the devices for delivering the brick.
Figures 67 and 8 are vertical sections on a large scale through the adjacent faces
of the mold wheel, showing the successive forms assumed by the mold cells during
the formation and delivery of the brick.
Figures 9 and 10 are respectively a side elevation and an edge view of the delivery
mechanism in modified form.
Figure 11 is a view showing the yielding devices for driving one of the mold
wheels.
Figure 12 is a side view, and Figure 13 a vertical section on the line 5-5, showing
the delivering mechanism in still another form.
Figure 14, is a side view of another delivering mechanism.
Figure 15 is a plan view of the parts shown in the preceding figure.
Referring to the drawings,
A represents a rigid main-frame, which may be of any appropriate form, provided
with bearings to sustain the ends of two horizontal parallel shafts B and C, which
pass through and are secured to the mold wheels D and E, respectively, revolving
between vertical side plates F fixed in position. Each mold wheel is formed at the
periphery with a series of transverse pockets or indentations, a, extending in the
direction of the axis from one side to the other. In practice it has been found
desirable to form each wheel with twelve cells, as this number, for various reasons
unnecessary to explain, gives better results than are otherwise attainable.
The two wheels are made with an equal number of pockets, arranged at such
distance apart that the teeth or shoulders of one wheel will slightly overlap or engage
upon the teeth of the opposite wheel, as shown in Figures 2, 6, 7, and 8. Each cell
is constructed as above with one substantially flat wall, a', to give form to the edge
of the brick and with an outwardly curved or convex surface, a³, to give form to the
side faces of the brick.
The wheels revolve at their ends closely against the inner faces of the cheek plates F,
which are extended upwards, as shown, above the top of the wheels thus closing the
cells at their ends, and also closing the space between the upper portion of the wheels,
so that it serves as a hopper to confine the clay and direct the same downward between
the wheels.
As the wheel D revolves, one of its teeth on the inner descending side will overlap
or bear upon the edge of the corresponding teeth on the edge of wheel E, as shown
in Figures 2 and 5, leaving an open space. At this time there will be an open space
between the next succeeding teeth through which the clay will enter and fill the
opposing cells of the two wheels, and the intervening space as shown in Figure 6.
As the wheels continue their rotation the teeth first engaged will descend and finally
separate, but just previous to their separation the next succeeding teeth will engage
as shown in Figure 7, thus cutting off the charge which has already entered the cells
and separating it entirely from the mass of clay above, before the teeth separate at its
lower side, as plainly shown in Figure 7.
It will be observed that while the charge of clay is thus being carried downward
between the wheels it is at one time entirely closed between the surfaces of the two
wheels on opposite faces and the cheek plates at the end. As the movement of the
parts continues, the teeth which first encountered each other, gradually separate at
the lower side as shown in Figure 3, allowing the finished brick to escape between
them.
The brick receives its true rectangular form in cross section through the direct
action of the opposing faces a¹, and the curved surfaces a³, which opposing each other

page_text: and acting on opposite sides of the brick, move in such relation to each other that
they roll the brick outward between them, shaping it gradually from one edge to
the other.
The teeth have been given the peculiar form described and shown as a result of
long continued practical experiment, and because it has been found in practice that
thus formed they will deliver brick of soft or tempered clay with certainty, in a true
rectangular shape.
The machine may be operated by a power applied to the shaft C through a pulley
or otherwise, and motion may be communicated from the wheel D to the wheel E,
through their teeth or through connecting gears H, and I, applied to their shafts as
shewn. When these gears are employed it is recommended that the gear I, be
mounted on the shaft B and arranged to engage elastic arms J, secured to the shaft
or a hub thereon, as shown in Figure 11. This construction will ensure a close con-
tact between the teeth of the two mold wheels, prevent back-lash of the gear and
permit the parts to yield in the event of stone or refractory material entering between
the mold wheels.
In order to prevent the adhesion of the brick to the wheel and to ensure their
delivery at the desired point, it has been found advisable to apply heat to the mold
wheels. This may be effected by the introduction of steam or hot air, or in any other
suitable manner.
The shafts are commonly constructed as shown in Figure 4 of a tubular form within
the interior of the wheel so that steam may be introduced through one end and
discharged through the other.
It is proposed to employ in connection with the mold wheels appropriate feed
mechanism to deliver the clay in a downward direction thereto. An excellent means
for this purpose consists of a revolving screw L, attached to the lower end of a revolving
shaft M, provided with radial arms or agitators, and mounted in the lower part of a
hopper N, bolted to the top of the cheek plates. Plates O, extending downward at
the mouth of this hopper above the feed wheel, prevent the escape of the clay from
the top of the wheels.
In order to permit the rapid operation of the mold wheels it is necessary to provide
automatic means for carrying away the bricks as they are delivered therefrom, and
also means to prevent injury to the bricks in the course of their delivery to the off-
bearing devices. For off bearing purposes a horizontal apron P is commonly
employed, arranged directly underneath the machine as shown in Figures 2, 3
and 5. This belt will be sustained by rollers and driven by any appropriate
mechanism.
For the purpose of receiving the brick from the mold wheel and placing the same
upon the belt, two vertically revolving wheels Q are provided at opposite edges of the
machine, cach carrying a series of vertical plates R, having horizontal spindles which
are extended rearward through bearings in the wheel in position to travel against
the faces of stationary cam plates S. Springs T encircling these spindles tend to force
the plates outward. As the wheels revolve, the plates are brought successively into
position against the bricks, which are being delivered from the mold wheel, and as
each plate reaches a position directly opposite the brick it is forced and held inward
by the adjacent cam plate S, snugly against the brick, the brick being thus held
between two plates against opposite ends and carried downward thereby, until it
reaches the apron, whereupon the plates are released by the cams and immediately
retreat, allowing the brick to move off from the apron. The delivery wheels Q, as
shown in Figures 1 and 2 are mounted on independent horizontal shafts U, supported
in fixed bearings and driven through intermediate gears V, W and X, from the main
shaft C.
It is to be remarked that the path of the plates R, approximates that of the cells
containing the bricks, but that being slightly eccentric thereto, the plates carry the
bricks gradually from the mold moving them downward with sufficient rapidity to
prevent them from being mutilated by contact with the teeth. Instead of attaching

page_text: .
the delivery plates R to the sliding spindle and employing separate springs to retract
them, they may be attached, as in Figures 9 and 10, to elastic arms forming part of
the wheel Q, the arms travelling against the supporting cam S.
If the conditions are such that it is necessary to carry the brick downward a con-
siderable distance from the mold wheel the attachment of the carrier plates R, to
endless chains Z is recommended as shown in Figures 12 and 13. The plates will be
constructed with horizontal spindles and encircled by retracting springs in precisely
the same manner as in Figure 3, but the sockets in which the spindles and springs
are seated are carried by the chains instead of the wheels. In such case, the chains
will be supported at their upper and lower ends by pulleys driven by suitable gearing
from the main-shaft. Stationary cam plates S are arranged in substantially the same
manner as in the preceding examples, to act upon the rear ends of the spindles in
order to force the plates outward to grasp the brick and hold them outward until the
bricks have descended to the carrying apron. The use of these endless carrier chains
is also advantageous in that they enable my correspondents to safely deliver the brick
on edge upon the apron.
Figures 14 and 15 represent another modification of this delivering mechanism.
R represents the delivery plate secured to the end of an arm A¹ united by a transverse
pivot to a rock shaft, B¹, so that may receive both a vertical and a horizontal
vibration. This arm has a heel projection which enters a vertical slot in an arm C¹
pivoted to swing horizontally, and vibrated at suitable times by a grooved cam
wheel D', in which the rear end of the arm is seated.
The crank shaft E' attached to the rock shaft is connected by a pitman, F1, to a
second crank, G¹, on the shaft, which carries the cam wheel D'. This shaft is provided
with a driving wheel H' and driven by intermediate gear from the main shaft, or any
other appropriate part of the machine. The rocking motion of the shaft G¹ raises
and lowers the plate R, while the lever C³, controls its horizontal movement. The
parts are so timed that the plate being lifted moves inward against the end of the
brick and then swings downward, continuing its pressure against the brick until
the latter bas reached the off bearing belt or other receiver, after which the plate
moves outward and rises to its original position.
Referring again to the mold wheels it is to be remarked that the employment of the
connecting gear for transmitting motion from one to the other is not a necessity as
the action of the teeth of one wheel upon those of the other will communicate the
required movement. The clay under compression between the wheels will also assist
in transmitting this motion and thus relieve the teeth, to an extent, from the friction
and wear to which they would otherwise be subject.
One of the important advantages arising from the use of yielding gear, as repre-
sented in Figure 11, and before described, lies in the fact that the co-operating teeth
of the mold wheels are thus held constantly in intimate contact.
In order to prevent undue wear on the corners or points of the teeth of the mold
wheel it is proposed to provide them, as shown in Figure 2, with steel or other hard
metal faces a³, which may be shaped as shown to admit of their being driven into
dove-tail grooves, or be otherwise formed and secured in place.
While the particular form or curvature of the mold wheels best adapted for the
formation of brick of the ordinary size at present in general use has been shown, it
is to be understood that the curvature of the faces may be modified as may be
demanded for the formation of brick of other sizes, or by the variation in the number
of cells in the mold wheels, the only requirement in this regard being that the
opposing surfaces of the two wheels shall bear such relation to each other as to give
flat faces to the brick formed between them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by ny foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A brick molding machine consisting essentially of two side walls, and of two

page_text: rotary wheels, the peripheries of which are provided with complementary cells and
adapted to overlap or intermesh at the edge of said cells.
2. In a brick machine, the two mold wheels having the peripheral cells, each cell
having one flat and one curved wall, as described.
3. In a brick machine, two side walls in combination with two intermediate inter-
acting wheels with peripheral cells, and means for forcing the clay positively between
said wheels.
4. In combination with mold wheels substantially as herein described, a delivering
or off-bearing mechanism substantially as described for removing the brick from the
wheel.