IMPROVEMENTS IN BRICK AND TILE CUTTING TABLES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Howlett and William Henry Venables, both of
the Firm of Clayton, Howlett, and Venables, of the Atlas Works, Woodfield
Road, Harrow Road, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Fraucis Howlett and William
Henry Venables at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th
May 1880.
FRANCIS HOWLETT and WILLIAM HENRY VENABLES, both of the Firm of Clayton,
Howlett, and Venables, of the Atlas Works, Woodfield Road, Harrow Road, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRICK AND TILE CUTTING TABLES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in brick and tile cutting
tables.
In our improved brick cutting table we employ a stationary resistance bar, such
as is used in Burdett's machine, for which a Patent was granted in the year 1868,
No. 2762; but we employ other and more simple means to actuate the table, and
we arrange that the table may be worked by the attendant without moving from
the place in which he has to stand when using the single cutting wire to divide
the clay issuing from the die, and when passing forward to the table the block so
separated. We also arrange for the delivery of the bricks from the end of the
table on to the barrow or surface on which they are conveyed away.
The clay issuing from the die may, as heretofore, be received upon rollers which
revolve to allow it to pass freely forward, or by preference we substitute a plane
surface for these rollers. When a sufficient length is upon the rollers or plane
surface the clay is servered in front of the die by the single wire which is passed
through from side to side. The block so severed is passed forward by the
attendant on to a table like that employed in Burdett's machine, except that in
place of the moveable boards made use of in this machine to remove the cut bricks
there is a fixed receiving surface. Moveable boards may however still be employed
if desired.

page_text: To actuate the table we arrange an horizontal axis in bearings at the side of the
table behind the resistance bar, parallel to this bar and to the block of clay to be
divided into bricks. We fix upon this axis at the end nearest to the die a handle,
which at the time that the table receives the block of clay stands in a vertical
position (or it may be inclined somewhat), and for the purpose of cutting the block
into bricks the handle is drawn forward until it comes to an horizontal or nearly
horizontal position. The handle is arched or curved, so that in no case can the
clay passing forward from the die come into contact with it.
The horizontal axis is provided with arms descending from it to below the
surface of the table, and there the arms are jointed to links which pass to the table
bearers. Hence, when the handle is drawn forward the table moves transversely,
carrying the clay up to the resistance bar. When the clay is stopped against the
resistance bar the table slides beneath it, and the cutting wires which move with
the table pass through the clay. When the cut is complete the wires rest in
contact with the resistance bar, and the bricks have been passed on to the receiving
surface behind the wires. Throwing back the handle causes the table to resume
its position ready to receive another block of clay to be cut. The bricks are
slidden off from the receiving surface on to a barrow standing at the end of the
machine. The barrow is moved forward by hand as each batch of bricks is
delivered. By arranging the mechanism of the cutting table with the lever handle
at that end of the machine at which the clay passes from the die on to the table
a great saving in labour is effected. This part of our Invention is also applicable
to machines in which the table and wires are stationary, and a pusher bar drives
the clay through between the wires.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Francis Howlett and William Henry Venables in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 26th November 1880.
FRANCIS HOWLETT and WILLIAM HENRY VENABLES, both of the Firm of Clayton,
Howlett, and Venables, of the Atlas Works, Woodfield Road, Harrow Road, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRICK AND TILE CUTTING TABLES."
.
This Invention has for its object improvements in brick and tile cutting
tables.
In our improved brick cutting table we employ a stationary resistance bar, such
as is used in Burdett's machine, for which a Patent was granted in the year 1868,
No. 2762;
but we employ other and more simple means to actuate the table, and
we arrange that the table may be worked by the attendant without moving from
the place in which he has to stand when using the single cutting wire to divide
the clay issuing from the die, and when passing forward on to the table the block
so separated. We also arrange for the delivery of the bricks from the end of the
table on to the barrow or surface on which they are conveyed away.
The clay issuing from the die may, as heretofore, be received upon rollers which
revolve to allow it to pass freely forward, or by preference we substitute a plane
surface for these rollers. When a sufficient length is upon the rollers or plane
surface the clay is severed in front of the die by the single wire which is passed
through froin side to side. The block so severed is passed forward by the
attendant on to a table like that employed in Burdett's machine, except that in
place of the moveable boards made use of in that machine to receive the cut bricks
there is a fixed receiving surface. Moveable boards may however still be employed
if desired.
To actuate a table we arrange an horizontal axis in bearings at the side of the
table behind the resistance bar, parallel to this bar and to the block of clay to be
divided into bricks; we fix upon this axis at the end nearest to the die a handle,
which at the time that the table receives the block of clay stands in a vertical
position (or it may be inclined somewhat), and for the purpose of cutting the block
into bricks the handle is drawn forward until it comes to an horizontal or nearly
horizontal position. The handle is arched or curved, so that in no case can the
clay passing forward from the die come into contact with it.
The horizontal axis is provided with arms descending from it to below the
surface of the table, and there the arms are jointed to links which pass to the table
bearers. Hence, when the handle is drawn forward the table moves transversely,
carrying the clay up to the resistance bar. When the clay is stopped against the
resistance bar the table slides beneath it, and the cutting wires which move with
the table pass through the clay. When the cut is complete the wires rest in
contact with the resistance bar, and the bricks have been passed on to the
receiving surface behind the wires. Throwing back the handle causes the table to
resume its position ready to receive another block of clay to be cut. The bricks
are slidden off from the receiving surface on to a barrow standing at the end of
the machine. The barrow is moved forward by hand as each batch of bricks is
delivered. By arranging the mechanism of the cutting table with the lever handle
at that end of the machine at which clay passes from the die on to the table a
great saving in labour is effected. This part of our Invention is also applicable to
machines in which the table and wires are stationary, and a pusher bar drives the
clay through between the wires.
In order that our said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, we will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.

page_text: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a brick or tile cutting table constructed according
to our Invention.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Figure 3 is an elevation of that end of the machine at which the receiving
barrow stands.
Figure 4 is a transverse section taken through the middle of the cutting table.
The cutting table, as represented by the Figures 1, 2 and 4, is arranged with a
fixed receiving surface from which the bricks are slidden on to the barrow.
Figure 5 is a front elevation of a similar cutting table, except that the bricks
(or tiles) are delivered on a movable board or tray which is transferred with them
to the barrow.
In Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, A is the main frame; B is the resistance bar fixed to
the frame A; C is the under frame of the moveable table, it is able to slide along
the ledges o, o, formed to support it upon the frame A; D, D, are uprights springing
from C and carrying the straining bar E. The cutting wires are marked E¹; they
are strained between the bar E and pegs carried upon the under frame C of the
moveable table, as is clearly seen in Figure 4. F is the surface of the moveable
table; G is a fixed table carried upon brackets projecting from the frame A. The
die of the brick machine is close to the end of the table G, and this table receives
the bar of clay as it comes from the die; H is a bow frame in which a single
cutting wire is strained. The bow frame is moved by hand at the proper time to
divide the clay, it turns on a stud axis on the bracket frame. J, J, are rollers
over which the clay passes, they are mounted in oil troughs and serve to lubricate
the clay in order that it may slide freely along the tables; K is the receiving table
or surface also carried upon the under frame C, it receives the bricks, when by the
movement of the underframe and the parts carried upon it the wires E¹ are
brought up against the resistance bar B; L is the lever handle by which the
movement is given to the table for cutting the bricks and for bringing it back
afterwards. The position and arrangement of this handle is a great feature in the
Invention. They are such that the workman can work the handle to cut the
bricks without moving from the front of the table, where he has to be to separate
the clay with the single wire at H, also to slide the block on to the table F, and
then after the bricks are cut and the table has been brought back to slide the
bricks off the receiving surface K on to the barrow. M is the axis on which the
lever handle is fixed; N, N, are arms on the axis M, and P, P, are links by which
the arms N are connected with the underframe C of the moving table; R, R, in
Figures 1 and 2, represent the bricks as they are when the workman is in the act
of sliding them from the receiving surface K on to the barrow; R¹ shows some of
the bricks already in place upon the barrow; S is a barrow which is employed to
convey the bricks from the cutting table to the hacks.
In Figures 3 and 5 the cutting table is shown arranged for a moveable board
in place of the fixed receiving table K, shown in Figures 1 and 2. The end of the
loose board rests upon a roller T, carried by the underframe C.
In Figure 5 the hand of the workman is shown slightly raising the loose board
at one end and pushing it endwise with the bricks upon it on to the barrow.
The under surface of the loose board travels upon the roller T so that it is easily
moved.
Figure 6 is a transverse section, showing the arrangement of the receiving
surface when a moveable tray is employed; Figure 7 represents this tray in
The under
plan. It is formed with parallel bars W having spaces between.
frame C has bars V fixed upon it, so that when the moveable tray is in place a
level receiving surface is formed. The tray is lifted off with the bricks upon it.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, we would have it understood that we claim,―
First. Our improvements in brick and tile cutting tables, substantially as
described and represented in the annexed Drawings.
Second. The combination of the parts L, M, N, and P, forming the actuating
mechanism of a cutting table, substantially as described.
Third. The arrangement of the actuating mechanism of a cutting table with the
brick cutting handle L, as shown in the Drawings, within reach of the workman at
the front of the table where his other work is performed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Howlett, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
FASTATA
FRANCIS HOWLETT. (L.S.)