Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aug., 1887
Complete Left, 24th Sept., 1887
Complete Accepted, 4th Nov, 1887
I, WILLIAM BULL of "Fairfield" Southborough Tunbridge Wells in the County of
Kent, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the formation of tubular or hollow roofing tiles as also to
certain details of manufacture thereof.
In a previous specification 1 have described tiles formed with round or oval holes
therein, the joint between any two tiles being made by a rim approximately semi-
circular in cross section which overlapped a correspondingly reversed rim on the tile
next in order. In practice it has been found extremely difficult to dry and burn tiles
so formed and at the same time cause them to retain their proper shape. This
objection is overcome by the use of my present invention according to which the tile
is formed of eight (more or less) complete perforations, the two side ones of a stronger
section than the middle ones. This configuration may be obtained by putting the
clay through a die of suitable construction attached to any ordinary drain pipe or
perforated brick machine. To the outside of the die certain steel cutters are attached
so as to make cuts or nicks partly or wholly through the substance of the outer tubes.
The object of this is twofold, in the first place the overhanging lip on the right hand
would not retain its true shape if moulded as a joint or section and in the second
place the lips are a great source of weakness and difficult both in moulding and
drying. Both of these difficulties are obviated by forming the end perforations
complete in the first place. When the tiles are half dried, fully dried, or even in
some cases where found convenient when burnt, the superfluous piece between the
nicks can be easily detached, and a perfect jointed tile is formed.
The tiles as moulded can be automatically placed in pallets, (one for each tile) in
which they are dried to a sufficient extent to handle them. The said pallets are light
wooden frames formed of two side pieces and cross bottom bars. The bars are of
such a width as conveniently to permit of them going between the revolving rollers of
the table ordinarily attached to a drain pipe machine. Between the bars the lower

page_text: surface of the sides is to be hollowed out so that the surface of the bars is slightly
below the level of the rollers. The said pallets are to be slightly wider than the tile
to be formed and exactly the length of the same. The strip of tile section as it passes
along the rollers thus freely goes between the sides of the pallets. The tile is then
cut by means of wires in the usual way the exact length of the pallet, it can thon
be lifted away in the pallet without being otherwise touched or lifted by a fork as
would ordinarily be done. One or more holes for securing the tile in position when
laid on a roof can be made in the tiles and a convenient number of pallets with tiles
therein can be placed in a barrow and arranged in the best method for drying in
layers one upon another to any height.
If found more convenient the tiles can be cut in the usual way by wires and lifted
by means of a suitable fork to which is attached an arrangement for ensuring the holes
through the tiles (for securing them when laid in a roof) being made uniformly.
They can then be placed on a simple wooden pallet formed of a thin plank of slightly
larger area than the tiles and one deposited on another to the extent of five tiles more
or less, sand being sprinkled on the pallet in the first place and on each tile as
deposited. They dry in this way more slowly but very perfectly, the perforations
greatly assisting this. At the most convenient time as aforesaid the superfluous piece
can be sovered from the tiles by a simple but effective arrangement of a wooden or
metal rod with cutters on it being pushed through the end perforations. Ridge, hip
and curved tiles can be formed by transferring the tiles from the pallets as before
described, on to others with the supporting bars attached to strips of hoop iron. They
can then be bent to any desired curvature by means of sides formed to the curve
required.
A further improvement consists in an automatic arrangement for giving a better
surface to the upper face of the tile section as it is pushed along by the action of the
machine by means of a removable flap of wood or metal the same width as the tile
section which is attached to the die plate and lubricated by either oil or water on the
under surface. This is inclined at a very acute angle and smoothes down any slight
irregularities which would otherwise disfigure the upper or exposed surface of the
tiles when laid.
D
3
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: I, WILLIAM BULL of "Fairfield" Southborough Tunbridge Wells in the County of
Kent, 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. :—
This invention relates to the formation of tubular or hollow roofing tiles as also to
certain details of manufacture thereof.
In a previous specification 1 have described tiles formed with round or oval holes
therein, the joint between any two tiles being made by a rim approximately semi-
circular in cross section which overlapped a correspondingly reversed rim on the tile
next in order. In practice it has been found extremely difficult to dry and burn tiles
so formed and at the same time cause them to retain their proper shape.
This objection I now propose to remove and in order that my present invention inay
be clearly understood reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form
part of this specification and in which:-
Fig. 1 represents in perspective an ordinary tile making machine when adapted for
making hollow tiles according to my invention.
Fig. 2, is a side sectional elevation of the die and surrounding parts.
Fig. 3, is an end view of same.
Fig. 4, is an end view of a tile as at first formed before the superfluous pieces are.
removed.
Fig. 5, is an end view showing the joint between two tiles when laid.
Fig. 6. is a perspective view of 6 tiles when laid.
Fig. 7, is a side view of the device for removing the superfluous pieces as herein-
after described.
Fig. 8, is an end view of the same.
Fig. 9 is an enlarged front view of one of the cutters, and―
Fig. 10, is a side view of the same.
The tile A, is formed of eight (more or less) complete perforations, the two sides
ones of a stronger section than the middle ones. This configuration may be obtained
by putting the clay through a die B, of suitable construction attached to any ordinary
drain pipe or perforated brick machine. To the outside of the die, steel cutters a, a,
are attached so as to make cuts or nicks b, b, partly or wholly through the substance
of the outer tubes. The object of these cuts is twofold, in the first place the over-
hanging lip C, would not retain its true shape if moulded as shown in the section of

page_text: the joint in Fig. 5; and in the second place the lips are a great source of weakness and
difficulty both in moulding and drying. Both of these difficulties are obviated by
forming the outer perforations complete in the first place. When the tiles are half
dried, fully dried, or even in some cases where found convenient when burnt, the
superfluous piece between the nicks b, b, can be easily detached, and a perfect jointed
tile be formed.
The tiles as moulded can be automatically placed in pallets, (one for each tile) in
which they are dried to a sufficient extent to handle them. The said pallets are light
wooden frames formed of two side pieces and cross bottom bars. The bars are
of such a width as conveniently to permit of them going between the revolving
rollers D, D, of the table ordinarily attached to a drain pipe machine.
Between the bars the lower surface of the sides is to be hollowed out so that the
surface of the bars is slightly below the level of the rollers. The said pallets are to be
slightly wider than the tile to be formed and exactly the length of the same. The
strip of tile section as it passes along the rollers D, D, thus freely goes between
the sides of the pallets. The tile is then cut by means of wires in the usual way the
exact length of the pallet, it can then be lifted away in the pallet without being
otherwise touched or lifted by a fork as would ordinarily be done. One or more
holes for securing the tile in position when laid on a roof can be made in the tiles and
a convenient number of pallets with tiles therein can be placed in a barrow and.
arranged in the best method for drying in layers one upon another to any beight.
As a matter of economy it will be found more convenient to cut the tiles in the
usual way by wires and lift them by means of a suitable fork to which is attached an
arrangement for ensuring the holes through the tiles (for securing them when laid in
a roof) being made uniformly. They can then be placed on a simple wooden pallet
formed of a thin plank of slightly larger area than the tiles and one deposited on
another to the extent of five tiles more or less, sand being sprinkled on the pallet in
the first place and on each tile as deposited.
A still more economical and convenient method of drying the tiles is to deposit
them on planks equal in width to the length of the tiles. If space be left after every
second tile for placing brick or wooden supports, other planks can be placed on them
and another tier formed and so on to any convenient height. The top layer of all
being covered over with thin planks. All the tiles and planks should have dry sand
sifted over them to prevent adhesion. They dry in this way more slowly but very
perfectly, the perforations greatly assisting this. At the most convenient time as
aforesaid the superfluous piece between the nicks b, b, can be severed from the tiles by
a simple but effective arrangement of a wooden or metal rod with cutters on it being
pushed through the side perforations, or if as will generally be the case the tiles are
dried and even burnt prior to the removal of the superfluous piece, a cutter will not
be required, an oval bar E, answering every purpose if inserted in the oval hole and
then slightly turned. This I consider a preferable arrangement as it enables the
pieces to remain in position until the tile is to be laid and thus tends to protect the
lips which are to form the joints, from injury during burning or even if desired
during transport.
Ridge, hip, and curved tiles can be formed by placing the tiles on pallets with the
supporting bars attached to strips of hoop iron. They can then be bent to any
desired curvature by means of sides formed to the curve required.
A further improvement consists in an automatic arrangement for giving a better
surface to the upper face of the tile section as it is pushed along by the action of the
machine by means of a removable flap of wood or metal F, the same width as the tile
section, which is attached to the die plate or front of the machine say by hinge f, and
is lubricated by either oil or water through pipe G, said water may be allowed to drip
on the surface of board F, or upon a brick or other device which will diffuse the
water and cause it to flow evenly. The board F, is inclined at a very acute angle
and smooths down any slight irregularities which would otherwise disfigure the upper
or exposed surface of the tiles when laid.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. The improvement in the manufacture of tiles for roofing or other purposes
which consists in forming said tiles with the desired number of perforations the walls
of the side perforations being "nicked" substantially as set forth.
2nd. The improvement in the manufacture of tiles for roofing or other purposes
which consists in forming said tiles with the desired number of perforations the walls
of the side perforations being first "nicked" and the superfluous piece subsequently
removed to form a joint section substantially as set forth.
3rd. The improvement in the manufacture of tiles for roofing or other purposes
which consists in smoothing the surface of the tile substantially in the manner herein-
before described.
יב
1007
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Applicant's Agent.