IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ENCAUSTIC AND OTHER TILES, AND IN THE MACHINERY AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, PARTS OF WHICHI IMPROVED MACHINERY ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John William Hartley, of Stoke-upon-Trent, Engineer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ENCAUSTIC
AND OTHER TILES, AND IN THE MACHINERY AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN,
PARTS OF WHICHI IMPROVED MACHINERY ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES."
Sealed the 8th September 1877, and dated the 17th March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John William Hartley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th March 1877.
JOHN WILLIAM HARTLEY, of Stoke-upon-Trent, Engineer. " IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF ENCAUSTIC AND OTHER TILES, AND IN THE MACHINERY AND
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVED MACHINERY ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention relates, firstly, to an improved arrangement for tipping marl or
clay from the waggons or lorries into the mill or where otherwise required, and refers
to that class of tipping frame which revolves ou trunnions, and in which the waggon
to be tipped is secured, and made to turn completely over end wise in order to empty
its contents. Ordinarily when such tipping frames are being turned over, as soon as
the upper surface of the waggon assumes about a perpendicular direction, the contents
fall almost bodily from the waggon. Now it is very desirable to prevent this sudden
precipitation, and to be enabled to regulate the discharge from the waggon within
the tipping frame; this I accomplish in the following manner :-I mount a guard or
fence plate loosely on suitable trunnions or bearings, and furnish it with a suitable
counterweight placed in any convenient position, so as to automatically raise and
hold such fence plate out of the way when not in use. Such guard or fence plate
is so arranged that when brought down to the level of the tram rails by the
attendant the counterweight rises, and a guard or fence is formed against the
waggon as it is being turned over in the tipping frame, which thus prevents_its
contents being emptied too precipitately, as would otherwise be the case.
upper edge of the waggon is then by a brake, or any other suitable means, allowed
gradually to pass the lower edge of the fence plate, and by this means the
The

page_text: This improved
upsetting of the contents of the waggon is regulated at will.
arrangement is also applicable to tipping any other kind of material from
waggons.
Another part of my Invention relates to improvements in the blunging of clays
or other earthen bodies into slip. For this purpose I form in the bottom and sides
of the blunger suitable spaces for the reception of steam or hot air, whereby the
contents of the blunger may be heated to any desired degree, and so rendered far
more plastic, thus enabling the operation of blunging to be effected in a far shorter
time, and with a considerable saving of power. In order to apply this part of my
Invention to ordinary blungers I carry a coil of suitable steam piping around the
interior of the bottom of the blunger, whereby I am enabled to heat the contents
thereof, as before described.
Another part of my Invention relates to improvements in slip kilns used for the
purpose of evaporating the water from the slip, which kilns have hitherto been
usually constructed either of brick work heated by flues or of wrought iron having
a steam space under the whole surface. Now I make such slip of cast iron, the
bottom thereof being composed of a series of tubes laid horizontally, and com-
municating with each other, through which tubes the steam or hot air passes. If
preferred they can be arranged so as to present a corrugated surface to the slip,
thereby considerably increasing the heating surface.
To further increase the efficiency of the kiln 1 cover the top thereof, and cause
hot air to be driven over the surface of the slip by any suitable mechanical means.
Another portion of my Invention relates to the preparation of clays by damping
and grinding for the manufacture of such tiles and other articles as are ordinarily
made from dust, and compressed in suitable moulds. Now I effect the damping and
grinding at one operation in the following manner :-I pass the clay or marl when
dried between crushing rollers into a shoot or trough having fitted therein a worm
or creeper, whereby the clay is propelled along such shoot or trough, and thence
through a disintegrator, and at the same time the damping is effected either by
discharging water over the clay as it passes along the shoot, or by a jet of water
delivered direct into the body of the disintegrator itself. Upon leaving the disin-
tegrator the clay dust is then ready for the press.
Another part of my Invention relates to preventing the unequal densities of the
dust in moulds where self-acting feeders are employed, and which has hitherto been
accomplished by making the mould shallower at the back than the front. To effect
this object I employ a thin sliding plate working under the feed slide or box. In
filling the mould the plato is carried along with the feed box (the front of such feed
box being in advance of the plate) until the plate covers the mould. Upon the
feed slide being withdrawn the plate becomes stationary until the front of the feeder
engages the sliding plate, and they are withdrawn together. The surplus dust is
thus carried back upon the sliding plate instead of being drawn back over the filled
mould, and the density of the dust in the mould remains even.
Another part of my Invention relates to the preparation of the materials for
producing the more delicate colours or bodies in which the presence of iron or steel
would be detrimental, and which have hitherto been ground dry in millstones or
wet in ordinary colour pans by revolving stones or runners. I use a specially
constructed apparatus for disintegrating the colours, and also for grinding only, or
grinding and damping them. I form the beaters of this machine of stoneware,
porcelain, glass, or any other suitable silicious body; and I also cover with a
suitable material any other part of the machine upon which the substance that is
being ground is liable to impinge. This part of my Invention is applicable to
grinding other materials wherein the presence of iron or steel would be detrimental.
Another part of my Invention relates to improvements in the apparatus employed
for lifting out the tiles from the mould of an ordinary screw press, and refers to
that method of lifting out wherein the tile is raised from the mould by a cross bar,
through which a lifting rod attached to the bottom die passes. The cross bar is
attached either to the screw of the press or to the main cross head, and rises simul-

page_text: taneously with the upward motion of the screw itself. Fixed to the lifting rod is
a collar, which is engaged by the cross bar, and the tile is thereby lifted out. Now
in this case the bottom die, when raised as described, cannot descend until the
lowering of the screw again lowers the cross bar. In order to obviate this dis-
advantage I construct the cross bar with an aperture sufficiently large for the collar
to pass through, and to have a loose piece or pieces projecting under the collar on
the lifting spindle. This piece (or pieces) is made to withdraw from under the
collar at any desired time by any suitable mechanical means, so as to drop the dic
without lowering the screw. The withdrawal of such a piece (or pieces) is effected
either automatically by adjustable inclined planes or by a lever and an adjustablo
tappet, or by the hand or foot of the attendant, as may be preferred. By dropping
the die in this manner it admits of the mould being more easily cleaned, and
allows the tile to be dropped at once into the mould, thereby effecting a considerable
saving of time.
Another part of my Invention relates to serrating the backs of tiles in such a
manner as to make them more firmly adhere to the walls, ceilings, or any other
portions of the building whereon they are placed. For this purpose I make the
die of such a shape as to make the backs of the tiles of a serrated form, and I
undercut such die upon one side of each ridge formed therein, the angles of such
undercutting being all in one direction. The tile can be easily removed from such
die in a slightly sideway direction, but when fixed upon the wall or in any other
position the adjacent tile prevents this side motion, and so it firmly retains its
position, and thoroughly avoids any risk of displacement.
For ceilings or other positions where an absolute dovetail is required, I employ,
in addition to the above, sorrated face plungers passing through the lower die.
These may be of any convenient form and angle, and may be set, if required, to
form a dovetail by themselves without the serrated face. These plungers are raised
by means of a counterbalance weight, or in any other suitable way, above the level
of the bottom die, and when the pressure is brought upon them they sink down-
wards until the indentation is of the required depth. To lift out the tile the
bottom die is raised, while the plungers remain at the bottom of the mould; the
tile can then be removed, as the plungers forming the dovetail are withdrawn by
the raising of the die, as before described. If the plungers work vertically in the
die the dovetail is formed by the vertical side of the indentation made by the
plunger and the undercut angles of the serrated face. The lowering of the plungers
gives equal density to the tile, throughout which a considerable advantage not
accomplished by any method hitherto in use, the great advantage of the serrated
faces being that the dust slips down the inclined planes of the surface of the die,
and is thus equally compressed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John William Hartley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
September 1877.
JOHN WILLIAM HARTLEY, of Stoke-upon-Trent, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF ENCAUSTIC AND OTHER TILES, AND IN THE MACHINERY AND
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVED MACHINERY ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention relates, firstly, to an improved arrangement for tipping marl or
clay from the wagons or lorries into the mill or where otherwise required, and refers
to that class of tipping frame which revolves on trunnions, and in which the wagon
to be tipped is secured, and made to turn completely over endwise, in order to
empty its contents. Ordinarily when such tipping frames are being turned over, as
soon as the upper surface of the wagon assumes a perpendicular direction, the contents

page_text: fall almost bodily from the wagon. Now it is very desirable to prevent this sudden
precipitation, and to be enabled to regulate the discharge of the clay from the
wagon within the tipping frame; this. I accomplish in the following manner :-
Figure 1 is an end view, and Figures 2 and 3 are side elevations of the arrangement.
I mount a guard or fence plate A loosely upon suitable trunnions B, and furnish it
with a suitable counterweight, as indicated at C, placed so as to automatically raise
and hold the fence plate A out of the way when not in use, see Figure 3. When
used for tipping the fence plate is brought down to the level of the train rails by
the attendant (Figure 2), and the wagon E is tipped over, as shown, in the direction
of the arrow at D. The velocity of the tipping is regulated by a brake in the usual
manner, and the fence plate A holds the contents of the wagon from falling on the
tram, or being too suddenly precipitated from the wagon.
Another part of my Invention also relates to the blunging of clays or other
earthen bodies into slip. For this purpose I form in the bottom or sides of the
blunger suitable spaces for the reception of steam or hot air, whereby the contents
of the blunger may be heated to any desired degree, and so rendered far more
plastic, thus enabling the operation of blunging to be effected in a shorter time and
with a considerable saving of power. In order to apply this part of my Invention
to ordinary blungers I use a coil or any suitable arrangement of steam piping in
the interior of the blunger, whereby I am enabled to heat the contents thereof, as
before described.
Another part of my Invention relates to improvements in slip kilns used for the
purpose of evaporating the water from the slip. I propose to make such slip kiln
of cast iron, the bottom thereof being composed of a series of tubes, see B, B,
Figure 4, laid horizontally and communicating with each other; through these tubes
or chambers the hot air passes. I may prefer to inake them with a corrugated
surface, as shown at Figure 5, or any other form, whereby the heating surface is con-
siderably enlarged. If a large kiln is required I cast the tubes or chainbers in suitable
sized segments, and bolt them together.
To further increase the efficiency of the kiln I cover the top thereof, Figures 4
and 5, A, A, and cause hot air to be driven through the space C, C, over the
surface of the slip S, S, and beneath the covers A, A, by any suitably mechanical
means.
Another portion of my Invention relates to the preparation of clays by damping
and grinding for the manufacture of such tiles, and other articles as are ordinarily
made from dust and compressed in suitable moulds. Now I effect the damping and
grinding at one operation in the following manner :-I pass the clay or marl when
dried between crushing rollers A, A, Figure 6, in the ordinary manner into a shoot
or trough B having a worm or creeper, whereby the clay is propelled along such
shoot or trough, and thence through a disintegrator E, the damping being effected at
the same time by discharging water over the clay, as shewn at F, as it passes along
the shoot, or by a jet of water delivered into the disintegrator; upon leaving the
disintegrator the clay dust is then ready for the presses.
Another part of my Invention relates to preventing the unequal densities of the
dust in moulds where self-acting feeders are employed, and which has hitherto been
accomplished by making the mould shallower on that side from which the feeder is
withdrawn. To effect this object 1 employ a thin sliding plate a, a, Figure 7,
working under the feed slide or box B. In filling the mould C the plate a is
carried along with the feed box until it completely covers the mould C; the front
of the feed box is when advancing in the direction of the arrow F, Figure 7, beyond
the edge of the plate. When the feed box is withdrawn, see Figure 8, in tho
direction of the arrow H the plate a remains stationary until the front part of the
feed box Gengages the plate, and draws it back along with it. The surplus dust D, D,
is carried back upon the plate instead of being withdrawn over the surface of the
filled mould, and the density of the dust in the mould remains even.
Another part of my Invention relates to the preparation of the materials for
producing the more delicate colours or bodies in which the presence of iron or steel

page_text: would be detrimental, and which have hitherto been ground dry in millstones, or
wet in ordinary pans by revolving stones or runners. I use a specially constructed
apparatus for disintegrating the colors, and also for grinding only, or grinding and
damping them. I form the beaters of this machine of stoneware, porcelain, glass,
or any other suitable siliceous body; and I also prefer to cover any other part
of the machine upon which the body being ground or damped is liable to impinge
with the same material. This part of my Invention applies to grinding other
materials wherein the presence of iron or steel would be detrimental.
Another part of my Invention relates to the manufacture of encaustic or inlaid
tiles in different colours. For this purpose I use any suitable number of loose pieces
or plungers of the section of the inlay required working through the bottom die.
Figure 9 is a sectional elevation of the mould when just filled with the dust. A is
the outer mould; B represents a loose piece, the top of which is level with the
surface of the dust C; D, the bottom die; G, the top die; F, the plate upon which
the loose piece or pieces are fixed; and E is the spindle by which the plate F is
raised or lowered.
Figure 10 shews the mould with the inlay ready for being lowered into the tile.
The dust is first compressed to a certain density, the loose piece or pieces sinking
with the dust; the top die is then raised, and an insertion or inlay K, Figure 10,
inade suitable in size and form, and pressed to the same density as the dust C in
smaller presses is then placed upon the loose piece, and lowered into the partially
compressed dust C by the spindle E until the surfaces of the dust and inlay are on the
same level; the whole is then subjected to a final pressure. The tile is by this
means inlaid through its entire thickness, and is suitable for heavy wear or for use
where, as in border tiles, the pattern is required to be seen from both sides.
Another part of my Invention relates to dovetailing the backs of tiles to make
them more firmly adhere to the walls or ceilings of buildings. I make the die
forming the backs of the tiles serrated, see Figure 11, being undercut upon one
side of the ridges, the angles of the undercutting being all in one direction, the
tile C can be easily removed from the bottom die A, when raised from the mould in
a slightly sideway direction towards B; but when fixed upon the wall the adjacent
tile, see dotted lines B, would prevent this side motion, and it would by means of
the projecting ridges adhere to the wall.
For ceilings, or where an absolute dovetail is required, I employ, in addition to
the above, plungers passing through the lower dic.
Figure 12 is a section of the botton die, shewing the loose plungers in position
for feeding the dust. The loose plungers A, A, are raised above the level of the
die by suitable means; the dust D is then filled in and pressed down, the plungers
sinking down until the indentation is of the required depth.
In taking out the tile, see Figure 13, the plungers A, A, are withdrawn from the
tile B by the lifting of the bottom die E, and the tile is removed, as before described,
in a sideway direction towards F. These plungers may be of any convenient form
or number, and may have serrated faces with the ridges facing in the opposite
direction to those on the surface of the die, and if set at different angles may
be used without the serrated face of the die, the plungers themselves forming
the dovetail.
A method of dovetailing the backs of tiles was registered as a useful Invention
on February 17th, 1872, the method of accomplishing this being to have dovetailed
pieces fixed to the die forming the back of the tile; these pieces are made taper, so
that the tile can be withdrawn sideways in a horizontal direction.
Now it is found in the above method that the tile grips the dovetailed pieces,
and is very difficult of removal; this does not take place in the methods above
described, as the parts forming one side of the dovetail are removed through the
bottom die.
As an improvement upon the method just described of fixed dovetail pieces, I
propose to have one portion of the projecting ridges attached to a plate, and made

page_text: to lift off with the tile either automaticaly or otherwise, the portion being replaced
before making the next tile.
Figure 14 shews at A the loose plate, and at B the fixed projections on the die;
the tile is removed in the direction of the arrow G.
The advantage of the serrated face I have described is that it locks the tile on
the wall or ceiling, and when in manufacture it prevents the dust during com-
pression in a very great degree from being of unequal density, as it is with the ribs
ordinarily formed on the backs of tiles, and by means of the inclined planes and
plungers enables the indents to be made much deeper than is at present possible.
My Invention also relates to an improvement in the apparatus employed for
lifting out the tile from the mould of an ordinary screw press, and refers to that
method of lifting out wherein the tile is raised from the mould by a cross bar,
through which a lifting rod attached to the bottom die passes. The cross bar is
attached to the screw of the press or to the main cross head, and rises simul-
taneously with the upward motion of the screw; a collar fixed to the lifting rod is
engaged by the cross bar, and the tile is thereby lifted out. Now in this case the
bottom die (being raised as described) cannot be lowered until the descent of the
screw again lowers the cross bar.
I propose to cause the lowering of the die in the following manner :-Figures 15
and 16 are elevations, and Figure 17 a plan of my improved arrangement. A is
a cross bar having a sufficiently large aperture D for the passing through of the
collar B on the spindle S, and is raised in the ordinary way by the rods R, R; B
is a collar attached to the spindle S in any suitable way; S is the spindle attached
to the bottom die; C, C, are projecting pieces sliding on the top of the cross bar,
and working on the fulcrum E, and which when the cross bar is required to lift
the die engage under the collar B. Now by withdrawing these pieces C, C, from
under the collar B by the forcing of them outwards by the wedge piece W the spindle
drops, carrying with it the bottom die. The loose pieces are withdrawn, as shewn,
by the wedge piece W, or by any other suitable mechanical means, either automati-
cally or by the hand or foot of the attendant. By the droppingi of the dic the
mould is more easily cleaned, and also admits of the tile to be pressed, being dropped
at once into the mould, thereby effecting a considerable saving of time. :
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details herein shewn and described; but what I do claim is,-
First. The fence plate placed in front of the wagon, preventing the sudden dis-
charge of the contents, as herein-before described and illustrated.
Secondly. The heating of the contents of blungers by passing steam or hot air
through suitable chambers in the sides or bottoms of such blungers, or producing
the same effect by placing suitable steam or hot-air pipes on the inside of existing
blungers, as herein-before described.
Thirdly. The construction, of slip kilns of cast iron, and in the manner herein-
before described and illustrated.
Fourthly. The damping and grinding of clays at one operation, as herein-before
described and illustrated.
Fifthly. The sliding plate for preventing the withdrawal of dust over the filled
mould, as herein-before described and illustrated.
Sixthly. The improved construction of the beaters of disintegrating machines for
colours and other delicate materials of porcelain or other suitable silicious materials,
as herein-before described.
Seventhly. The ornamentation of tiles, as described, by the .insertion of suitable
inlays into perforations previously made by loose plungers through the tile, as
herein-before described and illustrated.
Eighthly. The formation of dovetails or projections in the backs of tiles for
causing them to adhere to the wall by means of serrated faces and loose plungers,
or pieces working through the bottom die, as described, and the loose plate, as
described, to be lifted off with the tile either automatically or otherwise.

page_text: And, lastly. The method of dropping the bottom die into the mould of a screw
press, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John William Hartley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JOHN WILLIAM HARTLEY. (L.S.)