MACHINERY AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING HOLLOW BRICKS AND OTHER HOLLOW CLAY OR PLASTIC BUILDING MATTERIALS to be as follows:
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
We THOMAS FREEMAN Junior of Florence Stoke-on-Trent Colliery Agent and
CHARLES EARDLEY of 75 Adelaide Street Fenton Brickmaker both in the Country
of Staffordshire do hereby declare the nature of our invention for "MACHINERY
AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING HOLLOW BRICKS AND OTHER HOLLOW CLAY OR
PLASTIC BUILDING MATTERIALS to be as follows:-
"
Our invention has for its object the production of a hollow brick or any other
building substance or article made for the same class of work as bricks are used
for, and produces an article that has been much wanted by builders and others and
which will enable houses and other buildings to be occupied quicker after being
built than they now are it requirs very little clay compared with the ordinary sort
of brick of the same size, is more easily dried and fired, the brick being much lighter
in weight, the cost of carriage will be much less.
We take any ordinary drain pipe making machine, or a machine constructed on
the Pugging principle, or any other machine that can be adapted or made suitable;
and this is fitted up with dies to allow the clay to come out square on the outside
instead of round as would be the case if we wanted to make pipes in the ordinary
way, the said dies can of course be made to form any shape desired, our object is
simply to make the brick or other article we want hollow the dies are so con-
structed that they form by the same opperation or at the same time if desireable
material to seal up or make the ends of the brick or other article; when the correct
length is cut of these are either put on by manuel labour (a boy can do it) or by a
simple mechanical contriveance.
We have now made a hollow brick or whatever is desired we might want to
make. We then make one or more holes in the same but have found one to
answer the purpose the brick is then filled or not quite filled as may be found to be
best by water, (or gas, or steam). We claim the two latter to prevent any one
getting round our patent and thinking it is an improvement but water has been
found so far to be best suited) (or other suitable fluid) by an arrangement of taps
or an ordinary tap or the water may be injected or put into it in any other way
that may be most expeditious or cheapest and may be done mechanically or by
hand at the time the ends are put on or made to adhere or at any stage of
manufacture prior to their being pressed.

page_text: The hole or holes being filled up the brick or other article having been con-
structed in a plastic state in a hollow form charged with water or whatever fluid
or other agent may have been selected to act as a resisting power when the pressing
process should be put in force. To make the brick or other article capable of
sustaning weight and of attaining all the possible requisits as regards strength and
durability it is necessary that it should be exposed to extreme pressure and this we
secure by subjecting to the action of an ordinary lever; screw, hydraulic or other
press which has fitted to it a pipe connected to a hole made in and through the
bottom plate of the press.
The pressure now compresses and consolidates the clay by the external and
internal resisting force at the same driving a wad of clay out of the bottom of the
brick through the hole in the bottom plate and pipe attached previously as
described releases the water and drives the same through the said pipe placed at
bottom of press the brick is now ready for the kiln in the usual way.
In carrying out the process herein described a very superior article can be made
than heretofore.

page_text: We THOMAS FREEMAN Junior of Florence, Stoke-on-Trent, Colliery Agent, and
CHARLES EARDLEY of 75 Adelaide Street, Fenton, Brick Maker both in the County
of Staffordshire do hereby declare the nature of our invention for "MACHINERY
AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING HOLLOW BRICKS AND OTHER HOLLOW CLAY, OR
PLASTIC BUILDING MATERIALS" and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our Invention has for its object the production of hollow bricks or other
building substances or articles intended for the same applications as those to which
bricks are usually put
By means of our Invention we are enabled to produce an article that has long
been felt by builders and others to be a great want and desideratum. For
instance, amongst other advantages arising from the adoption of our Invention, it
may be mentioned that in the case of houses or other buildings or structures in the
construction of which bricks or like articles produced in accordance with our
Invention are used, said habitable structures may be occupied without detriment
to the inmates, much sooner after completion than in the case of buildings in
which bricks or like articles, produced as heretofore, are used.-Again, a brick or
like article produced in accordance with our said Invention requires very much leas
clay to produce it than is required for an ordinary brick of the same dimensions.
It is also more easily dried and "fired" than the latter, and of reduced weight, and
consequently the cost of transit also, is reduced.
In carrying out our Invention we take any ordinary drain pipe making machine
or a machine constructed on the "pugging" principle, or any other class of
machine that is found to be adapted for carrying out the main object of our
Invention. To such machine we fit dies, to allow of the clay issuing from the
machine to be externally of rectangular form instead of being circular as would
be the case were it required to make pipes in the ordinary manner.. Said dies
may, of course be of any desired configuration in order to produce articles of
corresponding form therewith; said articles being in any case, and in accordance
with the main object of our Invention,-formed hollow; the dies being so
constructed that they, at the one operation and at the same time if desired, seal or
close the clay shell aforesaid with ends, when the correct length has been cut
off. Or, these may at this stage of the operation be put on or applied by manual
labour.
The hollow clay shell or brick now being produced, one or more holes (we have
found in practice that one hole suffices) is, or are formed in same Water or other
fluid is then introduced there through into the interior of said hollow brick or
other clay shell. Said fluid may be either in a liquid or a gaseous form, though
we prefer the former, and it may be introduced or injected at any convenient
stage of the manufacture previously to such hollow bricks or like hollow articles
herein before referred to, undergoing the fecessary pressing process or operation.

page_text: The introduction of fluid into the interior of the brick being for the purpose of
thereby affording or presenting an efficient resisting or cushioning agent or
medium when the said brick or other like article is subjected to the necessarily
extreme pressure to allow of such brick or other article attaining the greatest
efficiency in the indispensable requisites of strength and durability. Such pressure
we apply, preferably, by means of either an ordinary lever, screw, or hydraulic
press.
A hole is formed, at the bottom by preference, of the die box and a pipe outlet
is connected therewith. Now, on the pressure being applied, the plastic clay of
which the brick under treatment is composed, becomes compressed and consolidated
by the external pressure above referred to combined with the internal resisting
force of the fluid contained within the shell of the brick. A wad of clay is at the
saine time driven out of the bottom of the brick through the hole or aperture above
mentioned (as being formed in the bottom of the die box) and the pipe connected
therewith; the fluid previously contained within the cavity of the brick being at
the same time released and makes its exit through the pipe aforesaid. The brick
(or other article under treatment) will now be ready for the drying shed, or kiln,
as is usually practised in the case of ordinary bricks and having in view also the
uses to which same are to be put.
Amongst other advantages additional to those already pointed out as arising
from the use of bricks and other like articles formed in accordance with our said
Invention may be mentioned the following: That arising from their great durability,
as said bricks are not subject to decay occasioned by the action of the atmosphere
or arising from inherent weakness-Said bricks also afford a protection from damp,
caused by rain or the humidity of the atmosphere, and, owing to their non-conducting
tendency, will ensure an equable temperature of rooms, unaffected by external
heat or cold. Further, bricks constructed in accordance with our Invention
distinguish themselves particularly by their great power of withstanding a
crushing weight or force."
We are aware that so-called hollow bricks have been made heretofore but
they have failed to accomplish nearly all the essential points which we have herein-
before described as being effected by means of our Invention. For, in the first
place such so-called hollow bricks have in reality, been parts of bricks, whereas
those according to our Invention are formed with the ends on, which has not
hitherto been accomplished. Again another great difficulty hitherto experienced
has been to make a hollow brick and at the same time to allow of any considerable
pressure being put upon same when in the plastic state this being the only really
effective way to sufficiently consolidate it and make it durable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
Firstly: The production of hollow bricks and other hollow, clay or plastic
building materials generally and substantially as herein set forth.
Secondly: The use of water or other fluid either in a liquid, or gaseous state,
introduced into the interior of the articles above referred to in our first claim,
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
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