IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF POTTERY AND IN THE MACHINERY USED THEREFOR.”
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Albert Francis Wenger, of Hanley, Staffordshire,
Manufacturer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF POTTERY AND IN THE MACHINERY USED THEREFOR.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Albert Francis Wenger at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th June 1880.
ALBERT FRANCIS WENGER, of Hanley, Staffordshire, Manufacturer.
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF POTTERY AND IN THE MACHINERY USED
THEREFOR
"IMPROVE-
My Invention relates, first, to an improved blunger or vessel wherein raw clay is
made into slip by being disintegrated in water. I make the blunger round
instead of hexagonal as is usual, and instead of giving the usual rotary motion to
the blonging arms I give them a reciprocating or to and fro motion by a crank or
other suitable mechanical means. By so doing I create a greater agitation in the
water, and the clay is more rapidly reduced into slip, and with a less expenditure
of power. In constructing the arms of this blunger, and also as an improvement on
the ordinary blunger, I carry across the bottom of the blunger two or more arms of
wrought or cast iron, having thereon upward projections of the same material, and
having sockets wherein pieces of timber may be placed for the necessary agitation
of the water. The frames cut up the heavier portion of the clay, and the vertical
pieces of timber cause the agitation of the lighter particles held in suspension
above.
The second part of my Invention relates to an improved filter press used for
extracting the water from the slip and making plastic clay. I carry the chamber
on two side rods in the usual way, and in order to facilitate the working and
moving of the chambers I interpose friction rollers between the chambers and rods.
To facilitate the screwing up of the chambers I attach a toothed wheel to the hand
wheel on the central screw of the press, and have either a pinion wheel or worm
wheel so arranged that when the screw is nearly pressed up it can be thrown into
gear, and by the additional loverage so gained the press can be screwed up with the
[Price 6d1

page_text: required force. In another modification I cut upon the end of the screw a thread
of a finer pitch, and upon this end I screw a nut provided with a centre piece, which
presses against the backing plate of the chambers. This I employ to put on the
final pressure by turning it with a suitable lever.
The third part of my Invention relates to an improved method of making ceramic
ware by first casting and afterwards jolleying, instead of working by hand. By
this method china and other ware can be produced by machinery to a greater extent
than has hitherto been done.
In driving potters' jiggers it is usual to press the rope or band against the pulley
on the spindle more or less forcibly by means of a runner pulley; this causes a fore-
shortening of the rope, and the slip causes considerable wear and tear of the rope.
In my improved method of driving such machines I pass the band round a loose
pulley on the main spindle; this pulley I either raise or lower on the spindlo in
contact with a friction disc or cone keyed to the spindle, thus causing the spindle
to revolve; or I pass the rope round a runner or pulley, having attached thereto on
the same side a friction pulley; these are carried on a stud fixed to a lover, and by
pressing the friction pulley against a friction pulley on the main spindle the required
motion is thus obtained. In all the foregoing methods I have no slip of the rope
on the pulley, as is the case in present practice when the rope is merely as a tangent
to the pullies being driven. As an improvement to the present method of driving
I fix the fulerum of the lever carrying the runner on the saine axis as the main
spindle. By a slight movement of the runner to left or right the rope comes in
contact with the main pulley, and the spindle revolves. In this case there is slip
but no foreshortening of the rope, whilo only the slightest exertion in working is
required, and the contact can be on either side of the main pulloy, thus equalizing
the wear.
To the main arm or lover of a jolly, to which the profile is usually attached for
forming the ware, I attach a fulcrum, upon which works an auxiliary lover arranged
so as to work through a certain space only, being adjusted by set screws, and held
in its required position by a spring. This auxiliary arm carries the profile, and
when the main arm is brought down the auxiliary arm is kept from contact with
the clay by the spring. The profile is then forced into the clay by the auxiliary
lever, and the ware formed. The lever being released, the spring causes the with-
drawal of the profile, and the main arm can then be raised from the mould. Instead
of bringing down the profiles by hand power, I prefer to attach a foot treadle to the
main arm; thus the attendant has both hands at liberty for the manipulating and
polishing of the ware.
For jolleying oval forms or other irregularly shaped articles, I employ a vertical
shaft, having keyed thereon two levers. The upper lever carries the profile, while
the other lever is pressed by a spring or other suitable means against a crank pin
fixed to a disc, which I drive from the main spindle. By this means the upper
lever and profile receive a radial and reciprocating motion as the spindle revolves,
thus forming oval dishes as desired. By attaching to the lower lever, where in
contact with the crank pin, different forms of tappet plates, I can produce
corresponding movements in the profile, and thereby make any irregularly shaped
ware,
Another part of my Invention relates to an improved apparatus for extracting
iron or steel in the metallic state from pottery materials. 1 pass the material
through a suitable passage. Projecting across this passage I have two extractors
composed of a number of small bars of soft iron. These are respectively connected
with the north and south poles of a horseshoe magnet. The horseshoe magnet is
composed of either soft iron or steel, and is surrounded by a coil of insulated copper
wire, having an electric current passing therethrough in the usual way. The
extractors approach towards each other, so that the magnetic current passes from
one to the other. The extractors can be easily removed for washing off the
adherent metallic particles, but the magnet is stationary. By this means 1 utilizo
all the magnetism of both poles, instead of only taking magnetism from one pole

page_text: of a straight iron core as is now done. In lifting the extractors from the slip it is
found that when the slip drops from them portions of the metallic particles are
carried away with it, thus defeating the intention of the apparatus. To obviate
this I pass a small trough under each extractor; this is lifted out therewith, and
6 catches any metallic particles that may fall in the manner described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Albert Francis Wenger in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th December 1880.
ALBERT FRANCIS WENGER, of Hanley, Staffordshire, Manufacturer. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF POTTERY AND IN THE MACHINERY USED
THEREFOR."
"
My Invention relates, first, to an improved blunger or vessel wherein raw clay
is made into slip. I make the blunger A, Figure 1, round instead of hexagon as is
usual, but instead of giving the usual rotary motion to the blunging arms, I give
them a reciprocating or to and fro motion by means of a revolving crank B,
Figure 2, which gives to a crank B³ which is keyed on the shaft of the blunger,
and thereby to the blunger arms (by means of the connecting rod B³) a reciprocating
motion. I thus create a great agitation in the water, and the clay is rapidly
disintegrated and reduced to slip. In constructing the arms of this blunger, and
also as an improvement on the ordinary blunger, I carry across the bottom of the
blunger two or more arms C, C, Figure 1. Figure 3 represents an enlarged section,
and Figuro 4, a plan of one of these arms, which may be of wrought or cast iron.
Sockets D, D, are provided in these arms, wherein I fix pieces of timber for the
necessary agitation of the water, whilst the arms or frame cut up the heavier
portions of the clay which sink to the bottom. For a reciprocating blunger I
prefer five arms, and have shewn in Figure 2 five centre lines C³, but for a rotary
blunger only two arms are required.
My Invention also relates to an improved filter press used for extracting the
water from the slip and making plastic clay. I carry the chambers on two side
rods or bars E, E." Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 refer to this part of my Invention, and
in order to facilitate the moving of the chambers I interpose anti friction rollers
G, G, G, between the chambers and rods or bars, and to prevent the chambers
from rocking I employ side levers or rods H, H³, constructed in the manner shown.
These levers slide laterally upon two iron parallel rods J, J, which may be fixed
either above, as shewn, or below, or at the side of the chambers. These are kept
in position by a braced cross frame K, K. When H is drawn outwards, see
Figure 7, the connecting rod L causes H to move outwards, and vice versa. The
ends M, M, are either forked to clip the chambers or pointed to fit into suitable
recesses therein. When the rods Hand H³ are pressed against a chamber, it will be

page_text: seen that the points M, M, hold it vertically, and the braced frame K transversely,
the rods J, J, permitting a longitudinal movement only.
In screwing up the chambers I fix a spur wheel N, N, on the main screw and
gearing in therewith a pinion O; the pinion O is keyed to a shaft P which is free
to slide end wise through a suitable gland. The attendant by means of the handle Q,
which he fixes on the pin R, screws up the chambers and then slides the pinion
into gear with the spur wheel N; he then removes and fixes tho handle on tho
shaft P; he thus obtains great leverage and screws up the chambers with far less
exertion than otherwise. Upon the end of the main screw S I cut a thread of
finer pitch than that of the remaining portion of the screw," and fit thereto a long
nut T with the bearing toe end attached. This nut is, when partially withdrawn
from the screw S, fixed by friction or other suitable stop to the screw S until the
chambers are nearly scrowed up, and when released the difference of pitch acts
differentially, and greater power is thus developod. This I may apply either with
or without the spur gear, or I may apply a lever, such as a spanner, to the nut and
so put on additional pressure.
My Invention also relates to an improved method of making coramic ware by
first casting and afterwards jolleying. By this means articles of china can be
produced by unskilled labour.
I cast for the following operation in this manner :-I insert the plaster moulds
over an aperture in a receiver or suitable vessel containing slip; the mould is
pressed down upon an indiarubber joint, ring, or other equivalent to prevent
leakage by a screw or other suitable means; I then force the slip upwards through
the aperture into the mould, thus casting the article more rapidly. The pressure
in the receiver is then released and the mould is removed ready for jolleying.
Several moulds may be secured to one receiver if desired, and the pressure for a
number of receivers can be taken from a general reservoir into which the slip is
forced by a pump or other suitable means, being supplied to each receiver by pipes
with cocks for turning off and on as desired.
I may also cast in the ordinary way by forming the plaster moulds with
slightly raised edges, so that slip can be poured therein in sufficient quantity to
cast the article required; I make tho bottom of the moulds to fit the cup or chuck
of the jolley; I pour in the slip in the latter case, and when the article is cast 1
placo the mould on an ordinary jolley, and finish therewith instead of finishing by
hand; china can thus bo mado very thin and perfect in form, whereas from
plastic clay it is found impossible to jolley it successfully as earthenware is now
done.
In driving potters' jiggers and other similar machines driven by ropes I operate
as follows: Figure 11 is a plan, and Figure 12 an elevation. I pass the rope R
. round a pulley A which runs loosely on the spindle B. Keyed to the spindle I havo
a friction disc D, shewn in Figure 12, above the pulley (but it may be placed
below if preferred). By pressing the pulley against the disc D by means of the
lever E, of which F is the fulcrum, the spindle B is made to revolve. In another
method, of which Figure 13 is a plan, and Figure 14 an elevation, I pass the
rope R round a grooved friction pulley G which revolves loosely on a stud H, just
clear of a V edged pulley K koyed to the main spindle. The stud H is fixed upou
a lever P whose fulcrum is J, and is held from contact with the pulley K by the
catch M. When the end M of the catch is raised (the fulcrum of the catch being N),
the pull of the ropo draws the friction pulley G against the V edged pulley K,
thus causing the spindle O to revolve. When the friction pulloy G is withdrawn
from contact by the lever P, the catch M falls into a notch Q and retains the pulley
out of gear. In these two foregoing methods I have no slipping of the rope on the
pulley, the slip being on the friction gear.
Figures 15 and 16 are plan and elevation of an improvement upon the present
method of driving potters' jiggers, &c. I fix the fulcrum of the lever A carrying
the runner or guide pulley B concentric or nearly so with the main spindle D; the
ropo R then passes, as shewn, on each side of the main pulley C. It will thus be

page_text: seen that by moving the lever A in either direction the rope presses against the,
main pulley C and rotates the spindle. In this plan the rope slips at at present, but
is not foreshortened as in the present method, and as contact can be made on either
side of the main pulley C the wear can be equalised. In all these methods it will
be seen that I can pass the rope along close to the walls X, X, X, thus enabling the
attendant to stand in a niche in the bench and admitting of narrower buildings.
-Upon-the main arm or lever D of a jolley or monkey (see Figure 17), to which
the profile for forming the ware is usually attached, I fix an auxiliary lever E,
having the fulcrum F upon the arm D. This lever, is arranged so as to work
through a certain space only being adjusted by the set screws G, G, and held in its
position by a spring H. This auxiliary arm carries the profile, and when the main
arm D is brought down, the auxiliary arm E is still retained by the spring.
The profile is then forced into the clay by the handle K (the spring extending),
until stopped by the set screw G coming in contact with the lover D. The
handle K being released, the spring withdrawn, the profile and the main arım can
then be raised clear of any projection on the mould.
For jolleying oval or other irregularly shaped articles I employ a shaft A, Fig. 18,
which slides vertically in guides B and C. Upon this shaft I key a lever D, upon
the end of which I attach the profile, the edge of which is seen at E.. F is the (wo
will say) oval dish, upon the mould G; H is the vertical spindle or jigger, driven
in the usual way by the pulley K. Upon the shaft A I also key the lever L (sce
also Figure 19, which is a section through M, N). Upon this lever I fix a tappet
plate 0, which I make of suitable form according to the shape of the article
required. Upon the spindle H I key a spur wheel P, and gearing into the samo
wheel I have another spur wheel Q, which revolves on a central stud R. In a
suitable slot in this spur wheel I fix a stud and roller S. The wheel Q when
making oval forms is exactly half the size of the whoel P, and therefore revolves
two to one. The lever and tappet O is forcibly pressed against the roller S by a
spiral spring T, as shewn, or by other suitable mechanical means. When the
spindle H makes.one revolution it will be seen that the lever. L twice describes the
arc U, V, and tho lever D being koyed to the same shaft makos corresponding ares
with the profile, thus jolleying the form required. It will be seen that by causing
the spur wheel carrying the roller S to make four to one of the main spindle H,
square forms with rounded corners could be made, and by putting suitable projections
on the tappet O, where in contact with the roller S many irregular forms may be
jolleyed. The shaft A is lowered on to the work by the treadle W, and raised by
the spiral spring W or other suitable means; X is the fulcrum of the treadlo lever.
By means of a cord which passes round two pullies T and T, being fastened at one
end to the trendle lever and at the other to the spiral T, it will be seen that when
the treadle is raised the tension of the spiral Tis eased, and the wear and tear
reduced. Instead of using gearing and the roller S, as shewn, I may put à tappet
plate of the required form on either the spindle H or the spur wheel Q, in which
case I should use a roller on the lever L, the operation in other respects being the
same.
-
In extracting iron or steel in its metallic state from pottery materials I attach
to an ordinary trough A (see Figure 20), along which tho, material passes, an
apparatus operating as follows:-The material passes in the direction of the arrows
through a passage B, B. Projecting across the passage, as shewn, I have a number
of bars of soft iron D, D, (or steel if desired). These bars are attached to plates shown'
in detail in Figure 21, E, and in Figure 20. These plates are respectively connected
with the north and south poles of a horse-shoe shaped electro magnet, which is
composed in the usual way of a soft iron core surrounded with coils-of-insulated
copper wire having an electric current-passing-therethrough. The ends_of_the-iron
bars D, D³, it will be seen, approach towards.each-other, and the magnetism passes
from D, DS, which are the extremes-of-the poles of the magnet, thus the magnetism
in the ends of the bars D, D, is very strong. Upon the ends of the core I solder a
plate or disc of brass G, which allows the ends of the core to pass through in

page_text: "
'
contact with the plates E, E. This is fastened at the edges to the sides of tho
passage, thus allowing by the springing of the metal a little liberty to the ends of
the core, and also preventing the slip or other material from finding its way into the
magnet box H. Under these bars D, D, I have an inverted dish K, K, which will
catch any metallic particles if they chance to fall from the bars D on the removal
of the plates E, E. The plates E, E, slide vertically in guides L, L, and are lifted
out by loop handles M, Figure 21.
I may use a horseshoe magnet on each side of the passage vertically with the
plate E (see Figures 22 and 23). In that case it would be necessary to place a
piece of non conducting material between the poles at N, to prevent the passage of
the magnetism before reaching the ends of the bars D, D. I may arrange the bars
in any section or position, but I prefer them as shewn. In this arrangement I attach
tho horseshoe magnets P permanently to the plates E, E, and enclose each magnet
separately in a box R, S, which boxes are fitted to an outer box T. When required
to be cleaned I lift out the box R or S, as the case may be, by the handle U, and on
disconnecting the battery I can wash off the adherent metallic particles. In this
case the dishes under the bars D, D, are not required. I also use this arrangement
with the bars D, D, projecting downwards into the material or slip as it passes
along a trough. In that case Figure 22 reversed would represent an elevation, and
the dotted line V, V, the upper surface of the material, and W, W, the bottom of
the trough; the advantages of using a horseshoe magnet being that I lose nono
of the magnetism, and by approaching the extreme poles towards each other I can
increase the length of the bars D, D, and ensure the magnetism being strongest at
the extreme poles, which in the present system of operating the magnetism are now
the weakest points.
.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I claim,―
Firstly The improved blunger or vessel wherein raw clay is made into slip,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
Secondly. The improved filter press for extracting the water from the slip
and also for making plastic clay, substantially as herein before described and
illustrated.
..
Thirdly. The improved method. of making ceramic ware by first casting and
afterwards jolleying the same, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Fourthly. The improved method of driving potters' jiggers and other similar
machines when driven by ropes, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated.
Fifthly. The improved method of jolleying oval or other irregularly shaped
articles, substantially as herein before described and illustrated.
Sixthly. The improved method of extracting iron or steel in its metallic state
from pottery materials, substantially as herein before described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Albert Wenger, havo hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fifteenth day of December, in tho year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
.