IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING RETORTS AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES FROM CLAY
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Porritt Ingham and Alfred Clayton Hill, both
of Redcar, in the County of York, Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING RETORTS AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES
FROM CLAY.”
Sealed the 15th August 1876, and dated the 19th February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Porritt Ingham and
Alfred Clayton Hill at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
19th February 1876.
WILLIAM PORRITT INGHAM and ALFRED CLAYTON HILL, both of Redcar, in the
County of York, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING
RETORTS AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES FROM CLAY."
According to this Invention a steam, water, or air cylinder, by preference a steam
cylinder, is mounted vertically in suitable framework, and below this cylinder a
clay chamber or cylinder is placed and mounted upon and secured to the steam
cylinder by suitable framing. In the top or steam cylinder is a piston, attached to
which is or are a piston rod or rods, at the end of which is another piston which
works in the clay chamber or cylinder. At the bottom side of the clay chamber or
cylinder is fixed a die or mould of suitable shape to make the desired retort or
other article.
Attached to the piston in the top cylinder is another rod which is carried through
the top cover thereof in the usual way with gland and stuffing box.
This piston
rod is connected by a cross head to and actuates a lever or levers, which is or are
connected to another lever or levers by a rod or rods. One end of this or these
last-mentioned lever or levers is or are connected to a weigh bar or bars, which is
or are secured to the ground or wall of the building in which the apparatus is
placed, the other end or ends being connected to a plate or frame of suitable form
and dimensions for the reception of the retort or other article. These levers are so
arranged that by altering the position of the connecting rod or rods between them,
the plate or frame is made to travel at any relative speed to the pistons as may be
necessary or expedient for carrying or holding up the retort or other article as it is
being made.
The plate or frame is kept in and made to travel in the vertical line by one or
more suitable guide or guides which may be placed in any convenient position.
I Price 6d 1

page_text: When the desired length of retort or other article has been made it is cut off, and
the levers disconnected, and when so disconnected the retort is lowered down on-to
a bogie or carriage by means of the lever or levers which is or are connected to the
said plate or frame.
The action of the machine is as follows:-Steam, water, or air is admitted to the
top side of the piston in the upper cylinder, and the power is transmitted through
the piston rod or rods to the lower piston, which enters and works in the clay
chamber or cylinder and forces the clay contained therein through the die or mould
on to the plate or frame, the travel or speed of which is so adjusted by the
before-mentioned levers that the retort or other article is put in a state of tension,
compression, or rest as desired.
Should it be necessary to close one end of the retort or other article a piece of
clay of the proper shape and size is placed on the plate or frame which is then
secured to and against the face of the die or mould, and pressure is put on the clay
in the clay chamber or cylinder. When this has been done, the levers are adjusted
and connected and the plate or frame unfastened from the die or mould, so as to be
free to travel as before mentioned.
In order to prevent the collapse of the retort or other article from atmospheric
pressure, a hole or holes is or are made in the plate or frame, and also through the end
of the retort or other article to admit air to the inside thereof as it is being made, or
if preferred the air can be admitted through the centre die rod or through a hole
or holes made in the side of the retort or other article after it has issued a small
distance from the die or mould.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Porritt Ingham and Alfred Clayton Hill in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 17th August 1876.
WILLIAM PORRITT INGHAM and ALFRED CLAYTON HILL, both of Redcar, in
the County of York, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING
RETORTS AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES FROM CLAY."
According to our Invention a steam, air, or water cylinder, but by preference a
steam cylinder, is mounted vertically on suitable framework, and below this cylinder
a clay chamber or cylinder is placed and secured to the steam cylinder by suitable
framing. In the top or motive power cylinder is a piston, attached to which is or
are a piston rod or rods, at the end of which is another piston which works in the clay
chamber or cylinder. At the bottom side of the clay chamber or cylinder is fixed
a die or mould of suitable shape to make the desired retort or other article.
Attached to the piston in the top or motive power cylinder is another rod which
passes through the top cover thereof in the usual way with gland and stuffing box.
This piston rod is connected by a cross head to and actuates a lever or levers, which
is or are connected to another or other lever or levers by a rod or rods.
One end of
this or these lever or levers is or are connected to a weigh bar or bars, which is or
are secured to the ground or to the wall of the building in which the apparatus is
placed, the other end or ends being connected to a plate or frame of suitable form
and dimensions for the reception of the retort or other article. These levers are so
arranged that by altering the position of the connecting rod or rods between them
the plate or frame is made to travel at any relative speed to the pistons, as may
be necessary or expedient for carrying or holding up the retort or other article as it
is being made.
The plate or frame is kept in and made to travel in the vertical line by one
or more suitable guide or guides, which may be placed in any convenient position.
When the desired length of retort or other article has been made it is cut off,
and the levers disconnected, and when so disconnected the retort is lowered down

page_text: on to a bogie or carriage by means of the lever or lovers which is or are con-
nected to the said plate or frame.
We will now proceed to refer to the accompanying Drawings from which the
nature of our said Invention will be more clearly understood.
Figure 1 is a front view, and Figure 2 a side elevation of a machine constructed
according to our Invention, Figure 3 being a plan of the same.
The same letters of reference indicate like parts in the several Figures.
A is the top or motive power cylinder; B, the clay chamber or cylinder; C is the
piston rod which passes through the top cover of the cylinder A, and is attached to
the lever E by the cross head D; F is the rod connecting the levers E and E¹
which are connected to the weigh bars G; H is the plate for the reception of the
retort or other article, I, I, I, I, being the guides therefor.
The action of the machine is as follows:-Steam, water, or air is admitted to
the top side of the piston in the upper cylinder A, and the power is transmitted
through the piston rod or rods to the lower piston, which enters and works in the
clay chamber or cylinder B, and forces the clay contained therein through the die
or mould on to the plate or frame H, the travel or speed of which is so adjusted by
the before mentioned levers E and E', that the retort or other article is put in a
state of tension, compression, or rest as desired.
Should it be necessary to close one end of the retort or other article a piece of
clay of the proper shape and size is placed on the plate or frame H, which is then
secured to and against the face of the die or mould, and pressure is put on the
clay in the clay chamber or cylinder B. When this has been done the levers E.
and E¹ are adjusted and connected, and the plate or frame H unfastened from the
die or mould so as to be free to travel as before mentioned.
In order to prevent the collapse of the retort or other article from atmospheric
pressure a hole or holes is or are made in the plate or frame H, and also through
the end of the retort or other article, to admit air to the inside thereof as it is
being made, or if preferred, the air can be admitted through the centre die rod
or through a hole or holes made in the side of the retort or other article after it
has issued a small distance from the die or mould.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, we would observe in conclusion, that we
do not claim the use and arrangement of the motive power cylinder A, and the
clay chamber or cylinder B by themselves, but what we consider novel and
original, and therefore claim as constituting the Invention secured to us by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. The combination and arrangement of parts and mechanism in the manner
and for the purposes herein-before set forth and described, or any mere modifica-
tions thereof.
And, Secondly. The method of regulating the speed or "travel" of the plate or
frame H, by means of the connecting rod F, and levers E and E¹, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth and described.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Porritt Ingham and Alfred Clayton
Hill, have hereunto set our lands and seals, this Twelfth day of August, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.