IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TILES, DRAIN PIPES OR TUBES, AND BRICKS
Year: 1844

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
HENRY CLAYTON, of Upper Park Place, Dorset Square, Regent's Park,
Plumber, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date at Westminster, the Thirtieth day of March, in the seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Henry Clayton, Her especial license, full power, sole
privilege and authority, that I, the said Henry Clayton, my exors,
adiñiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Clayton, my
exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within England, Wales, and the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TILES, DRAIN PIPES
OR TUBES, AND BRICKS," in which said Letters l'atent is contained a
proviso that I, the said Henry Clayton, shall cause a particular descrip-
tion of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the

page_text: date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I have
ascertained and set forth the nature of my Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be carried into effect, in and by the following
description thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
My Invention consists,-Firstly, in an improved machine for
preparing and clearing the clay used for making tiles, bricks, or similar
articles of earthenware from stones, and from indurated, rooty, or other
extraneous and injurious matter. Secondly, in an improved machine or
apparatus for expressing or forcing clay through orifices or dies, with or
without a core, in order to form pipes or tubes, and also tiles of various
shapes and dimensions. Thirdly, in an improved mode of lubricating
certain parts of tile and brick making machines. Fourthly, in certain
improved machinery for pressing or moulding clay in moulds in order
to form bricks or tiles. Fifthly, in the use of a gauging board and
cutter for reducing to one uniform length the various pipe or other
tiles which are to be burnt within one another. Sixthly, in the
employment of a certain material not hitherto used for that purpose, to
prevent the adhesion of the clay to the utensils, or of the newly made
tiles or bricks to each other.
. I now proceed to describe the manner in which the aforesaid
improvements are carried into effect, premising that where the same
letters occur in the different Figures representing any machine, they
indicate the same parts in each. Figures 1, to 13, represent my
improved machinery and apparatus for cleaning clay from stones, &c.,
preparatory to tile or brick making, also for making pipes, tubes,
and tiles, by forcing clay through orifices or dies, with or without
a core. Figure 1, is an end elevation, and Figure 2, a side elevation
of the machine. A, A, is the frame of the machine, having a cross
piece or platform K, which has an opening in the centre, over which is
placed a moveable metal plate G, which I call a base plate. This base
plate supports the cylinder G², containing the clay. When the machine
is employed for preparing clay, and cleansing it from stones, &c., I use

page_text: a base plate perforated with numerous small holes to form a grating, as
shewn in Figures 3, and 4, for the purpose of allowing the clay to pass,
and of arresting stones and other injurious matters; and when the
machine is employed for tile or pipe making I use base plates having
dies, with or without cores, for the purpose of making pipes or tiles of
various forms, as shewn in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. E, is
the piston attached to the lower end of the piston rod B, the upper
end of which rod is attached to the cross head B, which is guided
vertically by guides D, D, attached to the side posts of the frame. The
piston receives its motion thus:-On the shaft L, which is turned by a
winch handle O, is fixed a pinion M, which drives the wheel N, fixed
upon the shaft P, which shaft carries likewise two pinions Q, Q, which
give motion to the two perpendicular racks S, S, attached by the rods C, C,
to the cross head B2. R, R, are two rods attached at their lower ends.
to an axle, and having slots in their upper ends to receive two studs, to-
which a cutting wire is attached. These studs move in two horizontal
guides, so as to preserve to the wire a horizontal movement, and parallel
with the base plate throughout its course or cut.
T, is the gauge by
which the length of any pipe or tile is determined. It consists of a
horizontal step working on a pivot, and supported upon the top of an
upright stem which can be raised or lowered to suit the required length
of the pipe or tile. In order that as little time as possible may be lost
in recharging and replacing a cylinder with clay, I employ two cylinders
fitted to each machine, one on each side, as shewn at G2, and F², so
that the onc.may be filled with clay whilst the piston is discharging the
clay from the other; and for the more ready placing and removal of the
cylinders they are attached by arms I, I, to vertical spindles Iª, 1º, upon
which they turn as centres, so as to admit of their being swung round on
and off the base plate G; but to do this it is necessary first to raise them
high enough to clear the circular rim of the plate, and for this purpose
there is beneath each spindle a lever X, turning upon a pivot U, sup-
ported upon a cross piece V, and the workman by pressing upon this
lever with his foot raises the spindle and cylinder. The position of the
cylinders when removed from the base plate in order to be charged with
clay will be best understood by reference to Figure 1*, which shews the

page_text: tables used in connection with the machine. The clay is placed upon
the tables F, and G3, and the workman whose business it is to charge
the cylinders and swing them on and off the machine, &c. stands
between them. The cylinders are made of cast iron or other metal, are
When swung
of equal diameter throughout, and open at both ends.
off the machine the cylinders are let down upon the tables (by the
workman releasing his foot from the lever X,) immediately over a core
of wood G, fastened on each table, of rather smaller diameter than the
interior of the cylinders, and about one and a half inch thick. This core
both keeps the cylinder steady whilst it is filled, and causes a space of
about one and a half inch in depth to be left at its bottom free of clay,
which space or vacancy corresponds with the projecting height of the
clay left upon the upper surface of the base plate, and permits both the
lower edge of the cylinder to come down fair upon the surface of the
plate within the circular rim, and the new clay in the cylinder to be in
close contact with that remaining on the plate. When fixed for work
it is convenient to let the machine into an excavation of about eighteen
inches deep, so as to bring the ends of the levers X, nearly on a level
with the floor.
I shall now proceed to describe the action of the machine, com-
mencing with the first operation, namely, that of preparing of the clay
.for use.
For this purpose a base plate formed with a suitable grating,
as Figure 3, or 4, is placed on the platform K, and fastened by two
buttons. A cylinder, as G, charged with clay, is then placed upon the
plate in the manner already described; and the piston being brought
down by the operation of the winch, the clay is forced through the
apertures of the grating in so many thin continuous fillets or filaments,
leaving the stones and other extraneous substances which are larger than
the holes will admit above the surface of the grating; the piston is then
wound up, the cylinder G2, removed in the manner before described,
and the stones being cleared from the surface of the grating, or the foul
base plate being replaced by a clean one, the other cylinder F2, which
has been previously filled with clay, is placed upon the base plate, and
the operation of screening or cleaning clay is thus repeated until any
required or convenient quantity is prepared. The screened clay falls

page_text: down an inclined plane or spout, or on to an endless web hereafter
described, and is removed to a heap to be ready for use. In addition
to the removal of stones and other injurious matter contained in many
clays, and the presence of which prevents the manufacture of such clays
into thin light pipes or tiles, this preparing process effects an intimate
mixture and incorporation of the earth, in consequence of which, and
by reason of the great pressure exerted in subdividing the clay into
such fine shreds, strings, or filaments, its texture is greatly improved,
and rendered much superior to that obtained by the common processes
of pugging, grinding, treading, or washing. The clay when screened is
ready for immediate use, but I find it preferable to allow it to lie in a
heap for one, two, or more days, before manufacturing it into pipes, tiles,
or other articles. In dealing with the majority of clays this screening
process alone suffices as a preparation for tile making, but I use it also
as a final preparation in cases where washing or pugging may be found
to assist in bringing certain peculiar clays into a state fit for use; and
I find clays, however naturally good and free from stones or other
injurious matter, to be materially improved, and to make much better
ware, after being subjected to this preparing process. The operation of
forming clay thus prepared into tiles or pipes by this machine is per-
formed by a simple change, as follows:-A die plate suitable to the
form of the intended pipe or tile having been substituted for the grating
or base plate just described, and a cylinder charged with clean or
prepared clay being placed upon the die plate, the piston by its con-
tinued descent forces out the clay in the shape of the pipe or tile in a
continuous stream, which is cut by the workman into regular lengths
by means of the cutting wire (already described), which he works across
the pipe as its end arrives at the gauge T, which being counterbalanced
and working upon a pivot, allows the pipe to descend during the short
interval of the cutting and of removing the pipe, without its being
necessary to relax the speed or to stop the descent of the piston. It is
my custom and I prefer to employ my prepared clay in so dense or stiff
a state that the pipes or tiles issue from the dies, as I may term it,
hand-hard, that is, in so firm a state that they are cut off and received
by the workman without being requisite to use a mandril or porter. The

page_text: pipes or tiles are placed as they are cut off upon a tray, hand or wheel
barrow, or other convenient machine, and transported to the shelves of the
drying shed. In lieu of the mode of cutting the pipe into lengths above
described, I sometimes employ another arrangement for that purpose.
An endless webb a, Figure 2, passes over two rollers b, b, placed in a
slauting position beneath the dies, and receives the continuous pipe or
tile as it descends from the dies. The web is carried round partly by a
friction or brush roller c, mounted on the shaft L, and acting upon the
upper roller b, and partly by the weight of the continuous pipe. The
workman receives the pipe upon a mandril or guage rod furnished with
a cutter, and divides it into such lengths as may be desired; but I
prefer the method first described, of cutting the pipes or tiles to their
length when descending perpendicularly, and without inserting a man-
dril or gauge rod, the employment of which is necessary when the pipes
or tiles are received upon a web. The piston rod B, is hollow, and the
piston is composed of a disc of metal covered with a disc of felt pack-
ing, over which is placed a metallic packing ring, which is bolted to the
metallic disc, and forms a species of cup on the upper surface of the
piston into which the water contained in the piston rod slowly flows,
and thence passes by the packing into the cylinder for the purpose of
lubricating the cylinder, the flow being capable of regulation by tighten-
ing or loosening the screws of the packing ring and those which attach
the piston to the piston rod; or water may be simply poured into the
cup formed on the surface of the piston. Figure 11, shows an improved
arrangement for producing two or more pipe tiles at once through a
suitably formed orifice, having two or more cores inserted therein, as at
a, a. The pipes as they issue from the orifice are connected together
by a narrow rib of clay, but as they descend they are separated by a
cutting wire or wires stretched between pins, as at b, b, placed below
the die. Figure 12, shows an arrangement for splitting or dividing a
pipe into two bent tiles; a, is the die or orifice; b, the core, and c, a
wire suspended below the core. The pipe in its descent is divided
by the wire into two parts forming two bent tiles. Figure 13, re-
presents a die plate with apertures for forming six flat tiles or soles
at one operation, which number, as well as their dimensions, may be

page_text: increased or diminished. Figures 14', and 142; shew the gauging
board and cutter with a pipe upon it in its position to be cut. This little
apparatus is conveniently placed for use upon a table mounted on four
wheels for the purpose of quick travelling along the drying shed. Its
object is to cut pipes or tiles of different diameters or dimensions and
thickness, so that they shall be of an equal length when dry, and
before they are removed to the kiln, it being found that a strong
pipe of large diameter shrinks more in length by drying than a
smaller and thiner one, and different clays shrink in various proportions.
The economical filling of a kiln, and burning the goods, requires that
several pipes of different diameters should be stacked in the kiln, one
within another, as also tiles of another shape, and that all tiles should
be of as uniform a length as possible which are to be piled in the
same stage of the kiln. This object is attained by using my gauge
board and cutter at a time when the pipes or tiles are partially dry
but not hard, and by proceeding in the following manner :-The exact
amount of the shrinkage of each pipe or tile as produced from
the machine is first to be determined experimentally by thoroughly.
drying a specimen of each. A gauge stick is then to be made of such
a length for each size of the pipes or tiles that after cutting them
to that length when partially dry they shall exactly correspond when:
quite dry. To do this the workman first adjusts the distance between
the cutting wire a, and the sliding fence b, by applying the gauge
stick for the particular sized pipe to be cut; each pipe is then succes-
sively placed on the board, one of its ends abutting against the sliding.
fence b, and its side being retained by the workman's hand against the
fixed fenced c. Its excess of length is then removed by a stroke of the
cutter, and so on with other sizes, using the proper stick as the gauge:
of length for each size. If, after one trial, all the sizes do not dry to
an uniform length, the gauge sticks should be altered till uniformity
is attained. The slider of the fence b, is fastened on the under side
of the board by a fly nut d. By means of this machine pipe tiles
of a larger size may be divided into two, three, or more lengths, to be
used as socket covers or joints at the junction of every pair of smaller
pipes in drains; or they may be cut about two thirds through, so as

page_text: to be burnt of the full length, and be broken at the cuts after
burning. I have now described all the parts of my improved
machinery for the manufacture of drain tiles and pipes or tubes, and
have only to explain further, that although the machine, Figures 1, and
2, has been shewn to be equally well adapted to the cleaning and pre-
paring of clay as to the formation of pipes and tiles, I do not mean to
confine myself to the use of one machine for these two processes. When
large quantities of goods are wanted it may be advantageous to employ
separate machines, the one arranged for preparing the clay, and the
other for manufacturing the clay into tiles, pipes, &c. Nor do I mean
to limit the application of my Invention for screening and preparing
clay to the formation of tiles and bricks, as the same may be beneficial
to earthenware, pottery, and other uses. Figure 15, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4,
represent an improved mould for making pantiles, and which can be
adapted to the machine, Figures 1, and 2, by removing the cylinders and
base plate, and by attaching the lower mould to the platform K, and
the upper mould to the piston E. No. 1, is a plan of the lower mould;
No. 2, an end view of the upper and lower moulds; No. 3, a plan of the
under side of the upper mould; and No. 4, an end view of the same.
A, is a kind of shovel, which I call "the peel," consisting of a plate of
zinc attached to a wooden sole, and corresponding in form to the under
side of the tile. The clay being first formed into plates or slices in the
mould, Figure 15, No. 5, and 6, and powdered with lime, is placed upon
this peel, which has been previously oiled, and powdered or dusted with
lime, and the peel is slided upon the lower mould B, which has a groove
to receive the sole of the peel; the upper mould is then pressed forcibly
down, the surplus material escapes at the end of the mould, and is cut
away by the cutter a, attached by a rod b, to the lever c. The tile is
then removed upon the peel to the delivery board (shewn in Figure 16,
Nos. 1, and 2, the hinged clamp B, being first thrown open; the clamp
is then shut, and the peel withdrawn, the tile being retained upon the
board by the clamp. The tile may then be removed to the drying shed
upon the porter or carrier shewn in Figure 16, No. 3. Figures 17, 18,
19, 20, represent my improved machine for making bricks and tiles;
Figure 17, being a longitudinal elevation; Figure 18, a longitudinal

page_text: section; Figure 19, an end elevation; and Figure 20, a plan of the
machine. A, is the side frames to which are attached the sides of
the moulding box B, which has two apertures C2, C², in each of the
long sides for the escape of the surplus material. The top and
bottom of this mould box are both moveable; the bottom of the box
D2, is attached to the stem II, which has a shoulder E, formed on each
side of it. The shoulder on the one side is acted upon by the cam
I, fixed on the shaft D, and the shoulder on the other side is acted
upon by the lever J, which is raised by the cam I, fixed upon the same
shaft D. The top G2, of the mould box is attached to the cross head
F, which is raised and lowered by the cranks H, H3, fixed on the ends
of the shaft D, and by the connecting rods E, E. T, is a plate to
receive the clay as it is supplied to the machine. It is fixed upon an
upright stem T, which is connected by an arm T3, to the stem H. R,
is the feeder by which the clay is removed from the plate T, to the
mould box. The feeder is attached to the stem Q, which is moved
backwards and forwards in horizontal guides by the arm P, attached to
the vertical stem P. This stem has a reciprocating motion on its axis,
communicated by a cam L, on the wheel C, (fixed on the end of the
shaft. D,) which strikes alternately upon two cams N, and O, placed
upon the lower end of the shaft P. S, is a roller carrying an endless
web which conveys the clay to the plate T; and U, is a roller carrying
an endless web by which the bricks are conveyed away from the
machine. These rollers are driven by bands from the shaft D. The
operation of the machine is as follows:-In the position of the machine
shewn in the Drawings, the clay to be formed into a brick has been
placed by the feeder R, upon the bottom plate D². By the revolution
of the shaft D, the top and bottom plates are both caused to descend,
but the bottom plate at the end of its descent remains stationary
for an interval, whilst the top plate continues to descend, and presses
the clay into the mould, the surplus material escaping at the apertures
C2, C3, in the sides of the box. Shortly before the top plate has reached
its lowest point, the bottom plate ascends by the action of the cam I,
upon
the shoulder E, and gives the final compression to the brick, at
the same time closing the escape holes C2, C. The cam I, has termi-

page_text: nated its action when the top plate has reached its lowest point, and
when the top plate begins to ascend, the cam I, comes in contact with
the lever J, which raises the stem H, with the newly formed brick
thereon, to the top of the box, from whence the brick is pushed on to
the endless web by the action of the feeder in supplying a fresh portion
of clay. The clay may be supplied and the bricks removed from the
machine by hand, if preferred, instead of by the action of the machine.
In order to keep the moulding box well lubricated, there is attached
to the lower mould or bottom a metallic frame X, of the shape of the
box, and nearly as large. The sides of this frame are covered with
cloth or other absorbing material, and at each descent of the lower
mould the frame dips into a vessel W, W, placed below the mould, and
containing oil, and the absorbing material thus becomes saturated with
oil, which, on the ascent of the lower mould, is given out to the
sides of the moulding box. To protect the cams and lower portions
of the machinery from the surplus clay discharged at the escape
holes, they are covered by a shield of zinc Z, Z. The machine
represented in Figure 1, and 2, may be modified so as to produce
bricks and tiles by compressing the clay in moulds in the same way
as the machine represented in Figures 17, 18, 19, 20, by removing
the base plate and cylinders, and cutting apparatus, and then placing
the frame or sides of the moulding box on the platform K, and
attaching the top or upper mould to the piston E, and applying an
upright stem (as H, Figure 18,) to support the bottom or lower mould;
the stem to be raised by means of two cams to be fitted on the shaft P.
Figure 21, No. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, represent a mould adapted to
making square. tiles in this machine, modified as above described:
Figure No. 1, is a plan, and No. 2, an end view, and No. 3, a section
of the mould; and No. 4, is a plan, and No. 5, an elevation of the
cover of the mould to be attached to the piston E. The frame,
Figure 22, Nos. 1, and 2, is placed upon the platform K, and the
mould, Figure 21, is slided along the ledges D, D, Figure 22, till it
arrives over the springs F.. when the pressure of the piston forces it to
descend into a recess, in which it is retained in the right position to
receive the pressure of the piston, and upon the pressure being with-

page_text: drawn the mould is elevated by the action of the spring, and is then
drawn forward by the handle and removed. In order to prevent
the adhesion of clay to the utensils, and of the tiles, bricks, &c.
to each other, I employ quicklime. The lime in its caustic state
is sieved over the tables of the tile machine, and over every utensil
employed, such as the carrying trays or barrows, drying shelves,
tables, mandrils, gauging boards, &c., as well as the brick floor
on which the screened clay is heaped. Before shelving any newly
made tiles, &c., every shelf is well dusted with the lime, and as each
pipe is placed thereon it is rolled on the dust to its berth, by which
means it becomes slightly coated over with lime, and this effectually
prevents any one pipe or tile from adhering to its neighbour or to the
shelf. The use of lime also accelerates the drying of the goods by its
rapid absorption of moisture from their substance. The shelves are also
maintained in a drier state, and I find its application very useful as a
surface dressing for the inclined web. The lime dusting of the various
moulds used in the formation of pan-tiles, paving and skirting tiles,
garden walk and border tiles, cornice mouldings, as well as bricks, &c.,
which are subjected to a concentrated pressure in my machines, is
absolutely necessary, as the clay, by reason of the great pressure
employed, is disposed to adhere so firmly to the moulds as to mar oi
deform the goods.
Having thus ascertained and set forth the nature of my improve
ments, and the manner in which the same is to be carried into effect, it
is proper to state that I do not claim as my Invention the forming of
tiles and bricks by pressing machines; but what I claim is,-
First, the process, as herein-before described, of preparing clay for its
subsequent manufacture into tiles, bricks, &c., by forcing it through
strong metallic plates having numerous perforations. This process
may be employed either in conjunction with pugging and other modes
now usually practised for preparing clay, or as a substitute for such
modes.
:
Secondly, I claim the employment of a moveable metallic base plate
to receive the cylinder, the said base plate being formed as a screen for
preparing the clay as aforesaid, or having suitable orifices, with or

page_text: without cores, as the case may require, for the production of pipes,
tiles, &c.
Thirdly, I claim the mode of placing the cylinders on the base plate,
and of removing them therefrom, by means of swinging brackets or jibs.
Fourthly, I claim the mode of bringing down and raising the piston
by means of two racks placed one on each side of the cylinder, and
attached to the cross head of the piston rod.
Fifthly, I claim for the purpose of lubricating the pistons or plungers
of machines employed for pressing clay and forming it into pipes, tiles,
bricks, or similar articles, the employment of a hollow piston rod con-
taining water or other suitable fluid, which is allowed to escape in
minute quantities to the circumference of the piston or plunger.
Sixthly, I claim the application of horizontal guides to the cutting
wire.
Seventhly, I claim the construction and employment of the gauge
board and cutter herein described, for the purpose of reducing the
pipes and tiles to one uniform length before kilning them.
Eighthly, I claim the mode of forming short pipes or tiles for
junction pieces and other uses, by partially dividing a length of pipe
or tile transversely, and breaking the pieces off at the cuts after they
are burnt.
Ninthly, I claim the mode of forming two or more pipés at one
operation, by forcing clay through one orifice furnished with two or
more cores, so that the pipes issue from the orifice connected together,
and are afterwards separated by a cutting wire or wires stretched
below the die.
Tenthly, I claim the mode of forming bent tiles by slitting longitu-
dinally a pipe of suitable shape (as it issues from the die), by means of
a cutting wire or wires stretched below the die.
Eleventhly, I claim the mode of making several plain or flat tiles at
one operation, by forcing the clay through suitably formed apertures,
and cutting it to the required lengths as it issues from the die.
Twelfthly, I claim the use of an inclined endless web to receive the
screened clay or the pipes and tiles as herein described.
Thirteenthly, I claim the employment of quick lime for the purpose

page_text: of preventing the adhesion of the clay to the utensils, and also of the
manufactured goods to each other.
Fourteenthly, I claim the process of forming pantiles by the com-
pression of the material in moulds; also the construction and arrange-
ment of the mould and its accessaries, which are shewn in Figures 15,
and 16.
Fifteenthly, I claim the construction and arrangement of the moulds
shewn in Figure 21, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, and Figure 22, Nos. 1, and
2, for making paving or foot tiles, or any description of tiles requiring
compression.
Sixteenthly, I claim the general arrangement and construction of the
brick making machine represented in Figures 17, 18, 19, and 20; and
particularly the mode herein described of raising the upper and lower
plates of the mould box by means of cranks and cams, all fixed or
formed upon one revolving shaft; also the employment of the same shaft
to drive the endless webs which convey the clay to and from the mould
box; also the mode of producing the reciprocating action of the feeder.
Seventeenthly, I claim the mode herein described of lubricating the
mould box of brickmaking machines.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Clayton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-four.
HENRY (.s.) CLAYTON.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-sixth day of
September, in the year of our Lord 1844, the aforesaid Henry Clayton
came before our said Lady the Queen, in Her Chancery, and acknow-
ledged the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein
contained and specified in form above written; and also the Specifica-
tion aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made
for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twenty-sixth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-four.