IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND TILES." FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND TILES
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Way Uren, of Fogginton, in the County of
Devon, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND TILES."
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND TILES."
Sealed the 27th March 1855, and dated the 7th October 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Way Uren at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th October 1854.
I, ROBERT WAY UREN, of Fogginton, in the County of Devon, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND TILES " to be as follows:-
This machinery consists of cylinders with internal machinery for pugging
clay or other plastic material. The internal machinery is to be worked with a
circular motion by a cogged wheel attached to a main shaft. Below, attached
to the same main shaft, is a segmental cogged wheel, for working the slides
and moulds in an alternate horizontal motion. The cylinders are so arranged
that the number can be varied in proportion to the quantity of bricks and
tiles required to be made. The cylinders are placed in pairs around a main
shaft and gear arrangement, one cylinder of each pair being placed on one
side of the main shaft, and the other cylinder of each pair being placed on the

page_text: opposite side of the main shaft. The cylinders are to be placed on trucks for
removal when occasion may require it. The main shaft is fixed in a cup or
socket at the bottom, and supported at the top by framework attached to the
cylinders. On the lower part of the shaft is fixed a bevilled cogged wheel,
driven by another bevilled cog wheel in connection with the motive power.
Further up on the main shaft and attached to it is a segmental cogged wheel,
for working the alternate horizontal motion-machinery-attached to the moulds
and slides. This segmental cogged wheel is of sufficient thickness to work
the required number of mould shafts, one over the other, and at different
angles. On the upper part of the main shaft and keyed to it is a large cogged
driving wheel, for driving the wheels and pugging shafts of each cylinder.
Each cylinder contains a shaft furnished with pugging knives and cleansing
Scrapers; a cog or gear wheel is keyed on the top of the shaft, to connect it with
the driving wheel on the top of the main shaft. The shaft in each cylinder is
supported by cross bars or bearers, connected to the sides of the cylinders, so
as to avoid the necessity of the shaft bearing on the bottom of the cylinder.
The cleansing scrapers are fixed to the bottom of the shaft, and in an inclined
position, so as to perform in their revolutions. with the shaft the two-fold duty
of pressing the material into the moulds, and of forming a separation between
the body of material in the cylinder and that portion which is contained in
the moulds below. The pugging knives are fixed to the shafts at such dis-
tances as to ensure the material being well tempered. At the lower edge of
each cylinder are two apertures; one of these apertures is for the moulds and
mould frames, to be worked in and out, and another aperture on the opposite
side of cylinder, for the slides and mould shafts to work to and fro. In the
cylinder at the height of the top of the mould frames is a fixed frame or
partial false bottom, with an open space of the required size to match the
moulds below. Beneath the mould frames is a final bottom or finish of cylinder.
The mould shafts of each pair of cylinders are connected together and fixed
on each side of the main shaft, and cogged on the inside, sufficient length to
ensure the required length of stroke when seized by the segmental cogged
wheel. These mould shafts have the slides and mould frames secured to each
end, so that when the mould frame and moulds are being drawn, by the action
of the segmental cogged wheel, into one cylinder to be filled with material,
then the mould frame and moulds full of material are being pressed out of the
opposite cylinder. The slides are attached to the mould shafts at the back of
the mould frames, so as to effectually close the openings in the fixed frame or
partial false bottom of the cylinders after the mould frame and moulds have
passed out. The moulds and mould frames are constructed to allow of the

page_text: formation of a varied number of bricks or tiles at each entry into the cylinder,
a quantity of moulds being connected together by framework of sufficient size
to close the openings in the fixed frame or partial false bottom of the cylinder.
A false bottom for each brick or tile is laid loosely in the bottom of the
moulds before entering the cylinder. These moulds and mould frames are
attached to the cross bar in connection with the mould shafts by means of a
grooved fastening, and drawn in and also pressed out by the alternate hori-
zontal motion of the mould shafts. Near the apertures of the cylinders are
fixed the receiving tables, either circular or horizontal, as may be required,
with slide gauges on their surface, coresponding with the sizes of the mould
frames. The circular receiving table is fixed. to a centre shaft bearing in a cup.
or socket, and supported at the top by stays attached to the cylinders. These
tables revolve, and are stopped at the apertures in the cylinders by a self-acting
catch. The horizontal receiving tables are fixed on trucks, and travel on rails
or tramways in front of the apertures in the cylinders, and take the ejected
moulds and mould frames in one of the slide gauges. The receiving table is
then relieved from the catch, and caused to travel a sufficient distance to bring
another of its slide gauges, with a set of empty moulds on it, close to the
aperture in the cylinder, when it is again stopped in a proper position by a
self-acting catch. Near the receiving tables are placed portable carriages with
raised surface, the raised portions corresponding with the openings in the
moulds. On these carriages the moulds and mould frames are deposited from.
the receiving tables. The raised portions on the surface of the carriage, acting
under the false bottoms in the moulds, raise the prepared bricks or tiles out of
the moulds a sufficient height to allow of their being removed. Over the main
shaft and driving gear a platform is erected, to receive the material to be passed
through the cylinders. From the top of each cylinder a shoot is connected
with the platform, to guide the material into each cylinder.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Way Uren in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd April 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
WAY UREN, of Fogginton, in the County of Devon, Engineer, send greeting.
...WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria; by Her Letters
5 Patent, bearing date. the Seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Robert Way Uren, Her special licence that I, the said Robert
Way Uren, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Robert Way Uren, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make.
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPЕOVZ-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND TILES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert Way Uren, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Way Uren, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings herenuto annexed
(that is to say)-
My Invention consists in constructing machinery for the manufacture of
bricks, tiles, and other like articles from clay and other plastic materials, by
the employment of cylinders or chambers provided with pugging knives and
pressing bars, in combination with connected sets of moulds, caused to move
to and fro beneath the said cylinders or chambers, so as to be filled therefrom,
and then discharge the moulded articles on to suitably disposed receiving
tables. The cylinders or chambers may be arranged in pairs, one cylinder of
each pair being placed on one side of the centre of the machine, and the other
cylinder of each pair being placed on the opposite side, and the sets of moulds
in connection with such pairs of cylinders or chambers may be so worked as
to move together, the one set being filled while the other set is being dis-
charged; or the cylinders or chambers may be otherwise arranged, and the
moulds in connection therewith may be worked independently. The receiving
tables also may be constructed so as to have a rotary motion, or they may
have a to and fro motion, for the purpose of presenting fresh portions of their
surface to receive the bricks and tiles as they are discharged from the moulds.
Figure 1 of the Drawings annexed is a plan, Figure 2 a side elevation,
and Figure 3 a vertical section, of an arrangement of machinery constructed

page_text: according to my Invention.
A, A, are a series of cylinders or chambers
arranged round the centre of the machine; B is the main shaft of the machine,
which is set in a cup or socket B' at bottom, and supported at top by the
framework C, C, which is bolted to the cylinders A, A; D is a bevil wheel,
fixed on the lower part of the main shaft B, and driven by another bevil
wheel E, mounted on the horizontal shaft E', which receives motion by any
convenient means from the prime moving power; F and G are two wheels for
giving motion to the moulds and parts in connection therewith. The wheel
F is a segmental cogged wheel, that is, it has cogs only on a segment of its
circumference, and gives motion to the moulds of those cylinders which are
arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the machine. This wheel is of sufficient
thickness to work several mould shafts, one over the other, and at different
angles. The wheel G has cogs on two opposite sides, the intervening spaces
being left blank, and gives motion to the moulds of those cylinders which are
arranged otherwise than in pairs, by means of the wheels H, H, as will be
herein-after explained. I is a large cogged wheel, keyed on the upper part of
the main shaft B, for the purpose of driving the pugging shafts of the cylin-
ders A, A, and keeping these shafts in continuous motion. The cylinders
A, A, are arranged round the main shaft B, in any convenient number, (six
are shewn in the Figures, but there may be a greater or less number, as may
be preferred.) They are supported on beds or foundations A', A', and may be
placed on trucks for removal when occasion may require it. Each cylinder
is fitted with a vertical shaft J, having pugging knives K, K, and curved or
straight pressing bars L, L, attached thereto, for the purpose of tempering the
materials under opération, and pressing it into the moulds. The shafts J, J,
are supported at bottom by cross bars or bearings M, M, and have their
bearings at top in the circular framework N, which is carried by pillars 0, 0;
P, P, are cogged wheels, keyed on the shafts J, J, by which they receive
motion from the driving wheel I. The pugging knives K, K, are fixed to
the shafts J, J, at such distances apart as to ensure the effectual tempering of
the materials under operation, and the pressing bars L, L, are fixed to the
bottom of the shafts J, J, in an inclined position, so as to perform in their
revolution with them the two-fold duty of pressing the materials into the
moulds, and forming a separation between the bulk in the cylinders and that
portion in the moulds below. Q, Q, are two apertures at the lower part of
each cylinder; one for the mould frames and moulds to work in and out, and
the other, on the opposite side of the cylinder, for the mould shafts and slides
to work to and fro. R, R, are partial false bottoms or frames, fixed in each
of the cylinders at such a height as to allow the mould frames and moulds to

page_text: pass easily under them when sliding on the real bottoms of the cylinders.
The openings in the frames R, R, correspond in size to that of the mould
frames and moulds. S, S, are the mould frames, which are formed to contain
any required number of moulds, and those in any convenient arrangement, so
as to produce the bricks on the flat, or on the side, or on end. The size of
the mould frames is such as to correspond to the openings in the frames R, R,
of the cylinders. A moveable bottom is placed in each mould, and safety
boards or pallet boards at the sides or ends, as may be required. These safety
boards may be either placed loosely in the moulds, or they may be fixed to the
bottom boards, 'or hinged thereto, as may be preferred. T, T, are mould
shafts, by which the mould frames S, S, are worked when they are connected
together in pairs. These shafts are placed one on each side of the main shaft
B, and are cogged on the inner side for a sufficient length to enable them to
receive the requisite amount of motion in either direction when actuated by
the segmental cogged wheel F, as before mentioned. U, U, are slides, secured
to the mould shafts at both ends, so that, when the mould frames are drawn
out of the cylinders, the slides come into action, and close the openings in the
partial false bottoms or frames R, R. V, V, are the mould shafts of those
mould frames which are not worked in pairs. These shafts are cogged on
both sides, to enable them to receive motion from the wheels H, H, before
mentioned, (which are full cogged on part of their circumference, and semi-
cogged on the remainder.) These wheels are placed so as to be set in
motion when either of the cogged portions of the partially cogged wheel G on
the main shaft comes in contact with them, the full cogs of one of the wheels
H, H, causing the mould frames and moulds to pass from beneath the
cylinders to the receiving tables, and the other of the wheels H, H, drawing
the mould frames and moulds back again in like manner. The mould frames
are connected to the mould shafts by means of a grooved fastening, to enable
them to be readily disconnected and replaced by others at each traverse of the
mould shafts. W, W, are the revolving receiving tables, having slide gauges
on their surfaces corresponding to the size of the mould frames; and X, X,
are the receiving tables with the to and fro motion, having also slide gauges,
similar to those of the tables W, W. The tables W, W, are supported on
centre pillars W', W', about which they are capable of turning, and rollers
Y, Y, are fitted to their surfaces, to facilitate the motion of the mould frames
thereon. The tables X, X, are fitted with rollers Z, Z, which run on tram-
ways or rails Z, Z, and they are provided with self-acting catches for stopping
them when they have been moved to a proper position to receive the mould
frames from the cylinders A, A. A platform is erected over the machine to

page_text: receive the materials to be operated on, and shoots lead from the platform to
the cylinders, so as to enable them to be supplied from time to time, as may be
required.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim as my
Invention is,--
First, the construction of machinery for the manufacture of bricks and
tiles by the employment of cylinders or chambers, provided with pugging.
knives and pressing bars, in combination with connected sets of moulds,
caused to move to and fro beneath the said cylinders or chambers, as herein-
before described.
Second, the mode of arranging the cylinders or chambers in pairs around
the centre of the machine, each one of every pair of cylinders being on
opposite sides thereof, and the mode of causing the moulds to move to and fro
beneath such pairs of cylinders, so that one set of moulds may be filled while
the other set is being discharged, as herein-before described.
Third, the mode of causing the moulds to move to and fro beneath the
cylinders or chambers when arranged otherwise than in pairs, as herein-before
described.
Fourth, the mode of constructing the cylinders or chambers with a partial
false bottom, as herein-before described.
Fifth, the employment of pressing bars in the cylinders or chambers, for the
purposes herein-before described.
Sixth, the combination of several moulds in one mould frame, as herein-
before described.
And, seventh, the modes of constructing and working the receiving tables,
as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Way Uren, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of March, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-five.
ROBERT WAY UKEN.
(L.S.)