Improvements in Machinery for Making Bricks, Tiles, and similar articles from Plastic Clay or other material.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 1st June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 1st Mar, 1892-Accepted, 28th May, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Making Bricks, Tiles, and similar
articles from Plastic Clay or other material.
I SAMUEL JEFFERIES of Dudbridge Hill, Stroud, in the County of Gloucester,
Engineer and Brick Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that form of machinery wherein bricks are made by
severing them from a stream of clay advanced from a die onto a cutting table, in
connection with which are arranged a number of cutting wires.
In machinery of this class, it has hitherto been customary to rely on manual
labour to set in action, at the proper moment, the mechanism for effecting the
several movements of the cutting machine, with the result that sometimes bricks
are spoiled by the men failing to keep pace with the advancing of the clay, or
making a mistake with the levers under their control.
According to my invention, 1 propose to utilize the movement of the stream of
clay for setting in action the cutting mechanism, so that the intermittent operations
of cutting off the bricks are effected automatically at the proper moment, without
attention from the men, who will have nothing to do but remove the bricks, after
being severed by the cutting wires.
In carrying my invention into effect, I employ a table onto which the stream of
clay from the die is delivered, in the same way as is already customary with the
machines of a similar class.
The clay fed from behind, continues to advance along the table until there is a
At this
sufficient length to make any desired number of bricks, say nine or ten.
point, the clay comes in contact with a stop fixed on the table, which table, being
movable longitudinally under the impulse of the advancing stream of clay, begins
to travel in the same direction.
The movement given to the table is immediately communicated to clutch
mechanism, which causes a rotatory movement from a pulley continuously rotated
by a suitable motor, to be given to a shaft mounted in bearings in the framing of
the machine.
In connection with this shaft are arranged the cutting wires, which are mounted
on the same carriage as the table, but have an independent movement transverse to
the line of travel of the stream of clay.
The rotary movement given to the shaft above mentioned at the moment the
table begins to travel under the impelling influence of the stream of clay, is
utilized, through the medium of suitably arranged gearing, to draw the cutting
wires across the line of travel of the stream of clay, which is thereby severed into
short portions or bricks. Immediately the wires are pulled through the clay, the
separated bricks and table are caused to travel longitudinally faster than the
stream of clay issuing from the die. On the return of the wires, the bricks, which
now rest upon a board advanced to receive them, are pushed to the side of the
machine, whence they are removed by the attendants.
In lieu of having the wires drawn across the stream of clay, the latter may be
thrust against the wires, which in this case have no movement transverse of the
line of travel of the clay.
After one length of clay is severed, the table has to be returned to its original
position, to take a fresh portion. This may be effected by a weight coming into
operation as soon as the outward travel of the table is completed, and the gearing
with the motor thrown out, or the motor may be made to return the table by
means of a rock lever or similar contrivance.

page_text: From the foregoing it will be seen, that with my arrangement the cutting table
and wires will remain quiescent until a sufficient length of clay is ready for
division into bricks, and then, at the proper moment, is the severing automatically
effected, and the table returned for a fresh charge. The rate of advance of the
clay is immaterial as regards the timing of the operation, as the timing depends
only upon the position of the clay.
There is no danger, therefore, of bricks being spoiled by the attendant omitting
to cut off at the right time, or otherwise improperly operating his levers his only
responsibility in the whole proceeding is the removal of the completed bricks,
which must be lifted off with the board on which they are, an operation so simple
that a mistake therein is hardly likely to occur.
Dated this 30th day of May 1891.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
3
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Making Bricks, Tiles, and similar
articles from Plastic Clay or other material.
I SAMUEL JEFFERIES of Dudbridge Hill, Stroud in the County of Gloucester,
Engineer and Brick Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this inventiou
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 to that form of machinery wherein bricks are made by
severing them from a stream of clay advanced from a die onto a cutting table,
in connection with which are arranged a number of cutting wires.
The object of my invention is to improve the capabilities and efficiency of such
machines both by increasing the working speed, and by rendering the machine
independent of the manipulations of the attendant.
In carrying out my invention, I propose to utilize the movement of the stream
of clay for setting in action the cutting mechanism, so that the intermittent opera-
tions of cutting off the bricks are effected automatically at the proper moment
without attention from the men, who will have nothing to do but remove the
bricks after being severed by the cutting wires.
According to my invention, I employ a table or carriage onto which the stream
of clay from the die is delivered, in the same way as is already customary with the
machines of a similar class.
At this
The clay fed from behind continues to advance along the table until there is a
sufficient length to make any desired number of bricks, say, nine or ten.
point the clay comes in contact with a stop or door mounted on a table, which table
being movable longitudinally under the impulse of the advancing stream of clay,
begins to travel in the same direction.
The movement given to the table is immediately communicated to clutch
mechanism, which causes a rotatory movement from a pulley, continuously rotated
by a suitable motor, to be given to a shaft mounted in bearings in the framing of
the machine.
In connection with this shaft, are arranged the cutting wires, which are mounted
on the same carriage as the table, but have an independent movement transverse to
the line of travel of the stream of clay.
The rotary movement given to the shaft above mentioned at the moment the
table begins to travel under the impelling influence of the stream of clay, is
utilized, through the medium of suitably arranged gearing, to draw the cutting
wires across the line of travel of the stream of clay, which is thereby severed
into short portions or bricks. Immediately the wires are pulled through the clay,
the separated bricks and table are caused to travel longitudinally faster than the
stream of clay issuing from the die. On the return of the wires, the bricks, which

page_text: thrust against the wires, which in this case, with the exception of bes WILS
which severs the stream near the die, have no movement transverse of the line of
travel of the clay.
After one length of clay is severed, the table has to be returned to its original
position, to take a fresh portion.
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the machine, in which the wires are drawn
through the clay.
Fig. 2 is a cross section thereof;
Fig. 3 a plan Fig. 4 a view of the main clutch gear detached.
Fig. 5 is a view of the secondary clutch gear, also detached.
Figs. 6, 7, 8 are views corresponding to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, of a modification
in which a length of clay is first severed from the stream, and then pushed through
the cutting wires.
A is a stationary frame or table carrying four wheels a, upon which rests a
longitudinally movable carriage or table B. The stream of clay issuing from the
die, first passes over the rollers mounted in the oil trough 13 attached to
the end of the carriage B, and thence to a carriage C, which is mounted upon the
carriage B, and travels therewith. This carriage C is capable of an independent
movement on guides transverse to the line of travel of the carriage B, and
provides for the operation of the strained cutting wires e¹ upon the clay. 2 c² are
supporting arms for the moveable boards placed to receive the bricks, when formed.
The cutting wires c', which, in the machine illustrated in Sheet I of the drawings,
are all movable with the carriage c across the line of advance of the clay, are
stretched vertically between a rail or bar c*, held at the extremities of the arms C¹,
bolted to brackets on the carriage C, and a rail or bar c* secured to another
portion of the same carriage. The arms C which support the bar c*, being
somewhat clastic, give an elasticity to the cutting wires which is very desirable.
D is a bridge piece extending longitudinally of the carriage (, and bolted to
the carriage B. is a stop upon the end of the carriage B furthest from the clay
die, which stop may be hinged to the bridge at d¹, so as to open and give way to
the advancing stream of clay under certain circumstances. This stop d is intended
to intercept the advance of the stream of clay, and thereby communicate the move-
ment thereof to the carriage B, and the parts supported thereby, in order to set
in motion the mechanism for cutting up the clay into bricks.
This is effected in the following manner :-E is a spur wheel mounted loosely on
a horizontal shaft F. To this wheel E, and to the ratchet wheel e in connection
therewith, rotary movement is continuously given from any suitable motor by the
pinion on the shaft e². G is a radial arm keyed on the shaft F, and provided
with a hook for engaging with the ratchet wheel e, and a pawl f* for engaging
with the ratchet wheel h, which, with the bevel wheel H fast thereto, is loose on
the shaft F. Thus, by means of the hook f¹, the spur wheel E may be locked to
the shaft F, and the rotary movement of the former communicated to the latter,
and, by means of the pawl, the pinion H may be locked to the shaft F, so that
the rotation of the shaft is imparted to the pinion. I is a bevil wheel in gear with
the bevil wheel H. J is a crank arm fast with the wheel I. ; is a link rod
connecting the crank arm J with the carriage C.
K is a cam wheel keyed on the shaft F, so as to rotate therewith. L is a lever
pivotted to the main frame or support A (see Fig. 1), and having a bowle
about midway of its length in engagement with the cams of the wheel K. L' is
a link pivotted at one end to the lever L, and at the other to the carriage B.
The machine is at rest, except for the spur wheel rotating loosely on its shaft
until the stream of clay from the die reaches the stop d. At this point the
carriage B, which carries the stop, is caused, under the pressure of the advancing

page_text: clay, to move in the direction of travel of the latter. The hook, which is
normally held clear of the ratchet wheel e by a projection * (see Fig. 4) carried
by the table B pressing on its tail, is released when the table is advanced, and,
under the influence of a spring wherewith it is provided, engages with the said
ratchet wheel e. The result of this engagement is, that the arm G (and with it
the shaft F to which it is keyed) is carried round with the continuously rotating
spur wheel E.
At the same time, the tail of the pawl is released, when the
arm G begins to move, and the pawl being provided with a spring, is pressed into
engagement with one of the two teeth of the ratchet wheel ½ fixed to the bevil
wheel H, which thereupon begins to rotate, and communicate its rotation to the
bevil wheel I and crank J. The rotation of the crank J, as before explained, has
the effect of pulling the whole of the carriage C, including the cutting wires, across
the line of travel of the stream of clay, which, being supported laterally by the
bridge D, attached to the table B, is severed into bricks, beneath which is drawn
the board supported on the arms of the carriage C.
cut up.
Immediately the severance is complete, the cam wheel k, now in rotation with
the rest of the gear, comes into action, and is so arranged as to give an advance
movement to the carriage B, through the lever L, independent of, and faster than
the advance of the stream of clay. The object of this independent and quicker
movement, is to give time for the removal of the severed bricks to one side before
they are overtaken by the clay continuously advancing at an even speed, and to
allow the parts to come back to the proper position to receive a fresh length to be
The return of the parts, and the removal of the bricks to one side, is
managed by the continued movement of the cam wheel, which returns the carriage B
as the bowle follows the cam, and by the crank J and bevel wheel I, which latter
is proportioned to make a complete revolution, so as to bring the carriage C across
and back again, before the pawl is disengaged from the ratchet wheel by a
suitable trip h, which occurs at the half rotation (see dotted position Fig. 5). The
hook remains in engagement with the ratchet e until thrown out by the stop on
the carriage B, now fully returned by the cam wheel to its position of rest, until
a fresh portion of the stream of clay has sufficiently advanced to start the machine
again.
In the drawing, the machine is shewn at the point just previous to the return
movement of the carriage B.
In the modified arrangement shewn at Sheet II, the cutting wires C¹ are held
in a frame supported by the carriage B, which has only the longitudinal movement,
as already described. The first wire c*, however, or that next the die, has a
transverse movement with the carriage C, to sever a length of clay to be cut up
into bricks. e are the guide bars for the carriage C to slide on. Dis the bridge,
which is supported in separate transverse guides *, and has an independent
movement across the machine.
When the stream of clay has started the machine by meeting the stop in the
carriage B, a length of clay is immediately severed by the single wire c*,
operated by the carriage C, under the influence of the crank J, which pulls the
carriage across the line of travel of the clay. The advance of the carriage B, at
an increased rate, by the cam K, then takes place, so as to clear the severed
portion of clay from the advancing stream, as before explained. The bridge D is.
caught by the hooks mm, pivotted to the carriage C (see Fig. 7), and drawn by
the retiring carriage C across the machine, thrusting with it the severed portion
of clay, which is thereby forced through the cutting wires. The hooks m m, on
the completion of this movement, are tripped by part of the frame of the cutting
wires, and the bridge D is released, and returned to its former position by the
counterweights R.
If, from any cause, the cutting or other gear should become inoperative, and the
carriage B, under the pressure of the advancing clay, should be too far advanced,
a check T is provided to open the stop door d, and thus allow the clay to pass,
without injury to the mechanism. S are spring bolts for retaining the boards in

page_text: position on the arms during the severing operation, but they are capable of
ready depression when it is desired to remove the boards.
From the foregoing it will be seen that, with my arrangement, the cutting table
and wires will remain quiescent until a sufficient length of clay is ready for division
into bricks, and then, at the proper moment, is the severing automatically effected,
and the table returned for a fresh charge. The rate of advance of the clay is
immaterial as regards the timing of the operation, as the timing depends only upon
the position of the clay.
There is no danger, therefore, of bricks being spoiled by the attendant omitting
to cut off at the right time, or otherwise improperly operating the machine;-his
only responsibility in the whole proceeding, is the removal of the completed bricks,
which must be lifted off with the board on which they are, an operation so simple,
that a mistake therein is hardly likely to occur.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. A machine for producing bricks and other articles from plastic clay or similar
material, by severing them from a continuously advancing stream issuing from a
die, wherein the operations are automatically effected, substantially in the manner
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. In a machine for producing bricks as hereinbefore described, the employment
of a carriage, and mechanism in connection therewith, which mechanism having
been set in action automatically by the carriage, impelled longitudinally by the
advancing stream of clay, advances the said carriage at an increased speed after
the severing of the clay has been effected, and returns the carriage to its position
of rest, substantially as explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. The arrangement of parts constituting a machine for producing bricks and
other articles from a continuously advancing stream of clay or similar material,
combined and operating substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in the
accompanying drawings.
4. In a machine for producing bricks and other articles as hereinbefore
explained, the employment of the driving mechanism arranged and operating as
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, for the purpose
set forth.
Doted this 1st day of March 1802
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.