IMPROVEMENTS IN ROOFING TILES AND IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SAME
Year: 1884

page_text: I, CARL SCHLICKEYSEN of Berlin, Prussia Germany, Engineer do hereby declare
the nature of said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN ROOFING TILES AND IN THE
MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SAME to be as follows:-
This invention relates mainly to apparatus by means whereof, and in the manner
known with presses for forcing out a continuous bar of clay, plates are cut off into
smooth or flanged and ready pressed pieces, the apparatus being however provided
with a small press or mechanism whereby the plate receives either before or while
being cut or afterwards, such formation at certain parts as may be desired and this
either before it leaves the table or after it has rolled off the same.
By the employment of this combination which is entirely new in the tile and
pottery ware manufacture, the manufacture of roofing tiles, ridge tiles and orna-
mented plates can be greatly simplified as it admits of the manufacture of the
plates on the press with a much better finish and at less cost and also admits of
pressing parts of the finished plate into concave or convex shape without requiring
the plate as a whole to be submitted to pressure; it more specially admits of a nose
or projection such as required on a roofing tile to be formed on a finished plate and
a small recess on the opposite end which completely encloses the raised ridge on the
next following tile so that one plate lies flush on the other. The moulds which
effect this partial alteration in the shape of the finished plate enclose the part of
the surface which is to be altered in shape on both sides completely and somewhat
beyond the part to be altered so that the part of the plate remaining free cannot be
deformed. The device for effecting this partial moulding can be adapted to any
rolling and severing apparatus and vary greatly in construction as will hereinafter
appear.
From the mouth or nozzle of the press the clay bar issues for making the ridged
tiles. The clay bar passes over a series of rollers of the cutting table. On this
table is a frame carrying the two cutting wires and which moves horizontally on
cutting carriage and in uprights fixed thereon. Within these vertical uprights
move vertically and above and below the clay bar a pair of horizontal pieces which
are held apart by a pair of springs or otherwise so that they bear by rollers against
the top and bottom cross bars of the cutting wire frame which at the inner side
carry each a nose piece or projection. Now as soon as the clay bar moves the

page_text: carriage, the cutting wires are pushed horizontally through the clay and hereby the
upper and lower transverse pieces are, by means of the projections, moved towards
one another just in the rear of the centre until the moulds enclose by their outer
edges the smooth plate of clay without leaving an impression on the outside.
All projections and depressions within the smooth edges of the moulds will
therefore be impressed on the enclosed plate of clay so far as it fills their capacity.
When the cutting and pressing are completed, the clay plate, whose shape has been
partly modified, but which is otherwise unaltered, lies on the roller-table and is
rolled off and removed in the usual manner.
Or the shaping device may be in the form of a small pair of rollers mounted on 1
the fixed table (not on the carriage or slide) and which effects the same result if,
whilst the clay bar or slip is being moved, the lower roller is brought to bear
against the clay plate by operating a hand lever until the plate bears against the
upper roller. As long therefore as the pressure continues, these rollers will impart
to the clay-slip passing through them their own shape as deeply as they enter the
surface thereof, leaving the rest of the plate unaffected. It is obvious that the
other roller might be moved alone, or both together, and that a pattern produced
otherwise than in the lathe, may be given to either or both.
When two or more plates issue simultaneously one above the other the impression
is produced as follows:-After the first length of slip has been cut off to an appro--
priate length and has been pushed forward two horizontal levers are turned against
the two cut edges until projecting parts on their fulcrum bosses have slipped in
between the several clay-plates slightly raising the latter. Then by means of
another hand lever the upper mould and the lower mould are simultaneously
pressed against the plates of clay until the plates have taken. the shape of the
plates and tongues pressing upon them the moulds and tongues being then removed
and the plates rolled away.
The nose or projection and the corresponding recess may be produced in the slip
simultaneously one behind the other the slip being in this caso severed, either
before or after the moulding between the nose and recess, this however may be
effected simultaneously with the moulding.
When the moulding has been completed the slip advances the proper distance for
being cut and is again pressed this finishes the foremost piece entirely, the one
behind it half.
The mechanism for automatically placing the finished plates from the roller-bed
upon boards is as follows:-
The roller-bed of the cutting table has an extension provided with an endless.
apron with a pulley on the spindle of the foremost roller These roller beds run on
another roller-bed beneath which is fulcrummed at one end and fixed at the other
end at a suitable height This height may however be adjusted in any suitable
manner. The boards for roofing tiles run on this roller-bed. There is also a frame
upon which roofing tiles may be placed. As soon now as the finished roofing tile
arrives upon the endless apron the latter at once carries it forward beyond the
foremost roller where its other end lies upon the board and pushes this forward
and is by degrees entirely laid upon this board. Then another board is placed into
the same spot and the next tile is laid on that. Having thus laid a certain number
of tiles upon drying boards the lower roller bed can be placed somewhat lower and
the boards each bearing a tile are again passed over it one by one placing a second
tile on the top of the first and a third may be placed on the second and so on. To
prevent injury to the shape of the tiles and also for allowing air to circulate
between them small clay pads or lumps of corresponding thickness are placed upon
each tile before again advancing it and upon these pads the straight tile will lie
flat. In this manner several tiles may be dried on each board and each will
slightly adhere at least to the pads between them so that they may be burnt when
adhering to one another and this presents the advantage that they will keep
straight in drying and burning and they may afterwards be separated by a push
from the hand,

page_text: To enable the moulds always readily to separate from the plate of clay they
may be surrounded by one or more thicknesses of thin fabric and to enable these
always to be kept wet moisture is conducted by two small passages and an aperture
in the moulds underneath the fabric.
The shape and manner of placing on the roof of the ridged tiles have yet to be
described which can be produced by this combination of a slip press with a device
for partial compression.
It is obvious that it is a great advantage to dispense with the complicated
devices used in making roofing tiles having a projection which must be cut from
the slips flanged to the full extent of the roof and by this new device a more
advantageous form can be given to the nose or projection. The ridge of the tile
projects as usual over the surface of the tile. To obtain a better appearance the
recesses may be made pointed at the top, their shape may however vary at all
events they must be deep enough and wide enough to enclose the ridge.
Suppose such a roof to be turned on a horizontal axis until it again assumes its
position the top however turned to the bottom, the projections cut off and the
downwardly projecting recesses not pointed but rectangular in all directions, then
these recesses may serve as projections and another form of ridged-tile roof is
obtained which on the surface has no projections and looks like an ordinary roof.
In this case it will be advantageous slightly to bevel the lower edge of the
projection so that the recess for its reception need not be so large.

page_text: I, CARL SCHLICKEYSEN of Berlin, German Empire, Engineer do hereby declare
the nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROOFING TILES AND IN THE
MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF THE SAME" 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 mainly to apparatus by means whereof, and in the manner
known with presses for forcing out a continuous bar of clay, plates are cut-off
into smooth or flanged and ready pressed pieces, the apparatus being however
provided with a small press or mechanism whereby the plate receives, either before
or while being cut or afterwards, such formation at certain parts as may be desired
and this either before it leaves the table or after it has rolled off the same.
By the employment of this combination, which is entirely new in the tile and
pottery ware manufacture, the manufacture of roofing tiles, ridge tiles and orna-
iented plates can be greatly simplified as it admits of the manufacture of the
plates on the press with a much better finish and at less cost and also admits of
pressing parts of the finished plate into concave or convex shape without requiring
the plate as a whole to be submitted to pressure; it more especially admits of a
nose projection such as required on a roofing tile to be formed on a finished plate
and a small recess on the opposite end which completely encloses the raised ridge
on the next following tile so that one plate lies flush on the other.
'
Figure 13 of the accompanying drawings is a plan, Figure 14 transverse section
on line a. b and Figure 15 longitudinal section on line c d through part of a roof
covered with such tiles.
The moulds which effect this partial alteration in the shape of the finished plate
enclose the part of the surface which is to be altered in shape on both sides
completely and somewhat beyond the part to be altered so that the part of the
plate remaining free cannot be deformed. For shaping the nose or projection for
instance Figures 20, 21 and 22 show in section, rear-view and plan the mould plates
and nose which of course may be varied. Figure 5 shows the nose or projection
produced by an indentation on one side of the plate furnishing the substance for
the nose thereby formed on the other side of the plate. The device for effecting
this partial moulding can be adapted to any rolling and severing apparatus and
vary greatly in construction as will hereinafter appear.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a longitudinal section of such an
apparatus Figure 2 a plan Figure 3 cross section and Figure 4 part sectional end
view. Such apparatus may in its details be constructed in many other forms.
From the mouth or nozzle A the claybar B issues for making ridged tiles. The
clay bar passes over a series of rollers C of the cutting table G. O is a series of
continuation rollers which may be fitted with a driving pulley C' and endless band.
The cutting and pressing table or carriage G is provided with a spindle O on which
is fixed a double armed lever L for effecting all the needed motions and to which
are jointed on one side two pulling rods N' and on the other side one pressing
rod N. The pulling rods N₁ are at their upper ends jointed to a cross head K
which is hollow in the middle for receiving the movable piston P generally of a
cylindrical form. Corresponding with the cross head K there is another cross
head F provided with two pistons F F. The cross heads K. and F are connected
by the two rods H' movable in vertical guides H the whole forming one strong
frame.

page_text: The piston P is recessed below and there by the joint pin N' connected with
the rod N. F¹ and K¹ are cross beams fastened to the cross heads F and K and
carrying at their ends respectively the moulds Fª F and K' K². The lower
beam K carries also at each end a bow piece D D each with a horizontal cutting
wire E and E¹ as shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5 the latter being an enlarged sectional
detail view of moulds F K with parts connected thereto showing also a longi-
tudinal section of a tile moulded thereby with part plan of recessed end of the
latter. The table or carriage G is brought up against the moulds by means of a
weight G¹ on a chain G² passing over a pulley G³ on the stationary roller path or
table C C¹.
By depressing the lever M which is provided with a counterweight M the
spindle O is partly turned and the two moulds K' pressed against the clay plate
by means of the rod N piston P and beam K¹. At the same time the pulling
rods N draw the cross head K and the cross beam F and therewith also the
moulds F F down upon the clay bar and give it the required form. Simul-
taneously the wires E E¹ cut through the clay immediately before and behind the
tile to be formed.
In the moment that the clay bar is squeezed by the moulds it carries the
carriage G with it until the moulds are released again, that is to say, until the
lever, M is let go, whereupon the counter weight M¹ throws the lever up and moves
the moulds quickly apart whereupon the weight G¹ draws the carriage back into
its original position.
The roller path Q rests on an arm or frame Q¹ which turns on a fulcrum T and
can be raised and lowered as required by the rack Q* and the spring bolt Q³ with
the handle Q. A number of tiles having been placed each on a drying board R
the roller path Q is lowered one step and the freshly moulded tiles are placed on
the top of the others, then the roller path is lowered another step or two, the tiles
placed on the previous ones, and so on, so that each drying board carries a number
of tiles. Small clay pads may be placed between the tiles.
Figures 8 and 9 show in section and elevation another shaping or moulding
device vizt a small pair of rollers mounted on the fixed table (not on the carriage
or slide) and which effects the same result if, whilst the clay bar or slip is being
moved, the lower roller Ks is brought to bear against the clay plate B by operating
a hand lever M until the plate B bears against the upper roller F³. As long
therefore as the pressure continues, these rollers will impart to the clay-slip pissing
through them their own shape as deeply as they enter the surface thereof, leaving
the rest of the plate unaffected. It is obvious that the other roller might be moved
alone, or both together, and that a pattern produced otherwise than in the lathe,
may be given to either or both.
Figures 10 and 11 show in sectional elevation and plan how the impression is
produced when two or more plates issue simultaneously one above the other-the
impression is produced as follows:-
After the first length of slip has been cut off to an appropriate length and bas
been pushed forward two horizontal levers N N which previously were in the
position shown in dotted lines, are brought into the position shown in full lines
being turned against the two cut edges until the projecting parts N' bave slipped
in between the several clay-plates slightly raising the latter. Then by means of
another hand lever M turning upon the centre O the upper mould F and the lower
mould K' are simultaneously pressed against the plates of clay until the plates
have taken the shape of the plates and tongues pressing upon them the moulds and
tongues being then removed and the plates rolled away.
Figure 12 shews in section and plan a case where the nose or projection and the
corresponding recess may be produced in the slip simultaneously one behind the
other by the moulds F and K the slip being in this case severed, either before or
after the moulding, between the nose and recess, this however may be effected
simultaneously with the moulding.

page_text: When the moulding has been completed the slip advances the proper distance for
being cut and is again pressed, this finishes the foremost piece entirely, the one
behind it half.
In order to ensure that the moulds F' and K' shall easily leave the plate of clay
they may as shown in the sectional views Figures 6 and 7-be covered with one or
more thin layers of cloth F K and ik and in order always to keep them moist the
liquid is passed under or behind them by two small pipes F³ K³ or ¹¹ and one or
more passages i³ k².
For forming the nose and the recess or mouth on ridge tiles out of the clay bar
which is of the same thickness throughout there is really not material enough and
thus the tile would become too thin in places or the surface would be imperfect
or there would be cracks formed in the nose and the recessed part. In order to avoid.
this it is advantageous to form one or more ribs in the middle as shown in cross
section and plan in two examples in Figures 23 and 24. The substance of this rib.
or these ribs on the one band supplies material for the nose so that it can be formed-
fully and the rib will be flattened down corresponding to the space on the tile which
has to rest upon it when employed for roofing, while it on the other hand supplies
material for the formation of the mouth or recess, the latter being formed either in
connection with the rib on Figure 23 or separated therefrom as in Figure 24.
-
The shape and manner of placing on the roof of the ridged tiles bave yet to be
described which can be produced by this combination of a slip press with a device
for partial compression.
It is obvious that it is a great advantage to dispense with the complicated
devices used in making roofing tiles of all kinds heretofore employed having a
projection which must be cut from the slips flanged to the full extent of the roof
and by this new device a more advantageous form can be given to the nose or
projection.
Figure 13 shows plan of a roof in which the ridge of the tile projects as usual
over the surface of the tile. Figure 14 shows horizontal section of the roof through
the superimposed ends of the roof, through line a b, and Figure 15 section from top
to bottom on line c, d. To obtain a better appearance the recesses have been made
pointed at the top, their shape may however vary, at all events they must be deep
enough and wide enough to enclose the ridge.
Suppose such a roof to be turned on a horizontal axis until it again assumes its
position the top however turned to the bottom, the projections cut off and the
downwardly projecting recesses not pointed but rectangular in all directions, then
these recesses may serve as projections and another form of ridged-tile roof is
obtained as shown in section in Figures 16 and 17 and in top and bottom view in
Figures 18 and 19 which on the surface has no projections and looks like an
ordinary roof. In this case it will be advantageous slightly to bevel the lower
edge of the projection as shown in Figure 16, so that the recess for its reception
need not be so deep.
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
First-The employment of pressure moulds arranged in pairs and placed above
and below the roller-bed of a tile-cutting table or other clay-plate machine the said
moulds being capable of being moved towards one another by any convenient
pressure-mechanism and the process of altering the shape of a plate of clay enclosed
between such moulds by pressing the moulds one against the other, but without
defacing or requiring to touch the other parts of the clay-plate substantially as set
forth.
Second: The providing of noses or projections on the body of flat or arched tiles
or of ridged tiles of all kinds by making an indentation on one side of the tile
whereby material is obtained for the projection or nose thus produced on the other
side.

page_text: Third: In ridged tiles having the usual lateral groove and ridge formation the
employment of one or more ribs at or near the middle and having nose and recess
separated from or connected with said ribs substantially as set forth.
Fourth-The process in the formation of ridged tile clay bars having the usual
lateral ridge and groove formation of forming one or more ribs at or near the middle
of the plate and utilizing the material of these ribs for the formation of the nose and
recess substantially as set forth.
Fifth-The employment of one, two or more rollers either above and below or
above and below the roller-bed of a tile cutting machine which are pressed against
and into the clay bar or slip whilst it is moving, and thus alter to the desired
extent the shape of that part of the clay-plate which is enclosed between said rollers
substantially as described.
Sixth The altering of the shape of clay plates at predetermined parts by the
insertion at such parts of suitably shaped intermediary pieces or tongues between
the plates (placed one above the other with spaces between them) the plates being
pressed against one another both from above and below whilst the said tongues are
between them and by means of a convenient pressure-device substantially as
described.
Seventh-The adaptation at the front end of a roller table of an extension
thereof with or without a pulley and endless apron, the providing below said roller
table of another roller-bed either fixed or adjustable in height and adjoining these,
of a frame upon which tile boards may be placed and be singly conducted under
the roller-bed extension for the purpose of automatically placing of a finished tile
or clay plate, or of several in succession upon each drying board or frame with or
without pads between the plates.
Eighth-The formation of ridged tiles with a projection in the usual manner,
which however extends downward, and having a downwardly opened recess at the
upper end for the purpose of receiving the rib or projection of the tile above and
also to serve as a nose or projection for suspending the tile thus forming a tile roof
on which no ridges are seen substantially as described.
Ninth The means described for readily separating the pressure moulds on the
cutting apparatus from the clay plate consisting in one or more thin layers of
canvas or other suitable light fabric for covering same and in small tubes or india-
rubber piping for admitting moisture to the fabric from within substantially as set
forth.
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