IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING UP CLAY INTO BRICKS OR TILES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Garsides and George Sewell, both of Barton on
the Humber, in the County of Lincoln, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING UP CLAY INTO BRICKS OR TILES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Garsides and Georgo
Sewell at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th April 1880.
ROBERT GARSIDES and GEORGE SEWELL, both of Barton on the Humber, in the
County of Lincoln. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING UP CLAY INTO
BRICKS OR TILES."
Our Invention relates to apparatus for cutting up a stream of plastic clay as it
flows from the die or moulding orifice into bricks or tiles, and the improvements
have for their object to enable the cutting wires to make a straight cut at right
angles across the continuously flowing stream of clay. For this purpose the bed
upon which the clay rests whilst being cut travels on horizontal ways, along which
it is propelled in one direction by the clay itself, and the frame in which the cutting
wires are stretched is mounted on the sliding bed frame, so as to travel along with
it and with the clay. The cutting bed consists of the usual rollers in a horizontal
frame provided with wheels or slides running upon ways at either side. The stream
of clay flows along the rollers onto the bed until it comes against a propelling board
that stands up in its way at the end of the sliding bed frame. The latter is then
carried along by the clay, and with it the cutting frame, the wires of which pass
between the rollers of the cutting bed. The cutting frame is then oscillated, and
since it travels along at the same speed as the clay the wires make straight parallel
cuts across the clay. When this is accomplished the propelling board, which is held
up by a spring latch or support, is released and allowed to fall down nearly level
with the cutting bed, so that the bricks can then be removed, after which the
propelling board is raised again to position. The cutting bed is now drawn back
by a weight until the clay again meets the propelling board, when the same
operations are repeated.

page_text: said frame by means of wing nuts as usual, and placed at the proper distances apart
for severing the stream of clay into bricks or tiles. The lower bar E¹ of the cutting
frame extends longitudinally beneath the centre of the cutting bed, and is mounted
in bearings at the underside of the two end cross bars of frame B, and the upper
bar is supported at one end upon an iron hoop or ring encircling both the inner and
outer frames A, B, and connected with the bar E' by a radial rod at the underside
of the frame, so as not to move across the path of the clay. At the other end the
upper bar is connected with the bar E' by a similar rod in line with the wires e.
The cutting frame oscillates on the lower bar El as a centre. A', A¹, plates
bolted on frame A, in which the first three rollers C are mounted, the plates
extending over the inner frame B, which slides beneath them. The main frame A
is shown as supported on legs at one end only, its other end being supported on the
frame of the brick making machine immediately opposite the die or moulding orifice,
so as to receive the stream of clay directly it issues therefrom. A gong may be so
arranged as to be sounded directly the cutting bed B begins to be moved along by
the clay advancing against the propelling board, to warn the attendant that the
cutting frame is in motion, and may be oscillated to sever the stream of clay.
Having described the nature of our Invention, and the manner of performing tho
same, we declare that what we claim as our Invention to be protected by the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. An apparatus for cutting up a moving stream of clay into bricks or tiles, in
which the cutting bed and oscillating cutting frame are combined and moved along
simultaneously by the advancing stream of clay, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
2nd. In an apparatus for cutting up clay into bricks or tiles, the combination
with a sliding cutting bed of a propelling board held up for the clay to press
against, and capable of being laid down flat for the cut clay to be removed,
substantially as shown and described.
3rd. The combination of the cutting bed movable along ways, the cutting frame
mounted to oscillate on the movable cutting bed, the removable propelling board,
and the counterweight for drawing back the cutting bed and cutting frame, the
whole arranged to operate in connection with a moving stream of clay, substantially
as and for the purpose shown and described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Robert Garsides and George Sewell, havo
hereunto set our hands and scals, this Twenty third day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.