Improvements in Brick-making and other Moulding Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brick-making and other Moulding Machines.
I, DAVID BLACK, of 12, Huntly Terrace, Shettleston, in the County of Lanark,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to brick-making and other moulding machines and has for
its object, 1st. to provide a machine of improved construction whereby the output
can be increased or the motive power necessary to drive the machine reduced,
2nd. to simplify the working parts and thereby minimise the friction on the
apparatus incident to the pressing of the brick, and 3rd. to deliver the brick in the
form imparted to it by the mould without the disadvantage hitherto experienced of
damaging the edges by delivery.
The improved apparatus comprises one or more mould wheels resembling ordinary
fly wheels each having a number of pockets or moulds formed in their circum-
ference radiating towards the centre of said wheel, and being adapted to be rotated
upon a stationary shaft by means or spur or other gearing secured upon the face
of the wheel or wheels or by other means. The pockets or moulds are preferably
lined with plates capable of being withdrawn in order that others may be substituted
to suit the size of brick desired, and the outer end of these pockets or moulds are
provided with slides which are opened and closed at the proper time by the action
of a stationary race upon projections or pins on the outer sides of these slides. Each
of the pockets or moulds are provided with a plunger the inner end of which
carries a roller which is acted upon by a cam keyed upon the stationary shaft in
order to impart the necessary pressure to mould the clay into the form and size
desired. This cam is so constructed as first to impart no movement to the plunger
during the feeding of the clay into the pockets or moulds and the closing of the
slide, second, to give the necessary pressure, third, to provide a dwell during which
the brick has time to set, and fourth to relieve the brick froin the pressure imme-
diately before the ejection of the latter. When the brick is formed and the slide
has been withdrawn to permit of the brick being ejected, a second cam carried on a
shaft and geared to the toothed wheel secured upon the mould wheel is caused to
act upon a roller centred on a pivoted lever provided at its free end with a jaw piece
into which a projection on the inner end of each plunger is in turn brought at the
proper time by the rotation of the mould wheel, in order to eject the brick which
is then delivered on to a travelling band. This lever is brought back again to its
original position before the projection on the inner end of the plunger passes beyond
the jaw piece by means of a counter-balance weight or by a spring, and the plunger
is supported in its innermost position until it has been supplied with the necessary
quantity by means of a second stationary race or support. The clay may be fed by
gravitation from a hopper or by a travelling band provided with a number of pro-
D
077

page_text: jections according as the state of the clay necessitates, and the clay may or may
not be forced into the mould by a ram or screw.
Dated this 28th day of September 1897.
I, DAVID BLACK, of 12, Huntly Terrace, Shettleston, in the County of Lanark,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention 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 brickmaking and other moulding machines and has for its
object, 1st., to provide a machine of improved construction whereby the output can be
increased or the motive power necessary to drive the machine reduced, 2nd., to
simplify the working parts and thereby minimise the friction on the apparatus
incident to the pressing of the brick, and 3rd. to deliver the brick in the form
imparted to it by the mould without the disadvantage hitherto experienced of
damaging the edges by delivery.
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 being a
transverse vertical section, and Figure 2 a longitudinal elevation of the improved
machine with certain parts removed for greater clearness.
The improved apparatus comprises one or more mould wheels A (one only being
shewn on the drawings) resembling ordinary fly wheels each having a number of
pockets or moulds B formed in their circumference radiating towards the centre of
said wheel A, and being adapted to be rotated upon a stationary shaft C by means
of spur gearing D or other gearing secured upon the face of the wheel or wheels or by
other means. The pockets or moulds B are preferably lined with plates capable of
being withdrawn in order that others may be substituted to suit the size of brick
desired, and the outer ends of these pockets or moulds are provided with slides A¹
which are opened and closed at the proper time by the action of a stationary race X
upon projections or pins A² on the outer sides of these slides A¹. Each of the pockets
or moulds B is provided with a plunger E the inner end of which carries a roller E¹
which is acted upon by a cam F keyed upon the stationary shaft C in order to impart
the necessary pressure to mould the clay into the form and size desired. This cam is so
constructed as, first, to impart no movement to the plunger during the feeding of the
clay into the pockets or moulds and the closing of the slide, second, to give the
necessary pressure, third, to provide a dwell during which the brick has time to set,
and fourth, to relieve the brick from the pressure immediately before the ejection of
the latter, the portion of the cam for imparting the desired pressure and dwell being
either formed on or adjustably secured to the body of the cam as shewn. When the
brick Y is formed and the slide A¹ has been withdrawn to permit of the brick being
ejected, a second cam G carried on a shaft H geared to the toothed wheel D secured
upon the mould wheel A is caused to act upon a roller centred on a pivoted lever I
provided at its free end with a jaw piece I¹ into which a projection E2, as shewn, on
the inner end of each plunger E is in turn brought at the proper time by the rotation
of the mould wheel A, in order to eject the brick which is then delivered on to
a travelling band J. Instead of one projection E2 on the plunger E, two projections
may be provided one on either side of the plunger, a duplicate lever I being for this

page_text: purpose provided on the other side. This lever I is brought back again to its original
position, before the projection in the inner end of the plunger E passes beyond the
jaw piece I¹, by means of a counter-balance weight K or by a spring, and the plunger
is supported in its innermost position until it has been supplied with the necessary
quantity of clay by means of a secondary stationary race or support L fixed on the
shaft or otherwise. The clay may be fed by gravitation from a hopper M or by a
travelling band provided with a number of projections according as the state of the
clay necessitates, and the clay may or may not be forced into the mould by a ram or
screw.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improved machine for moulding bricks and similar articles, the parts of
which are constructed, combined and arranged substantially as described.
2. A machine for moulding bricks and similar articles consisting of a rotating
mould wheel having moulds or pockets the inner ends of which are formed by plungers
adapted to compress the clay or other substance against covers which form the outer
ends of the moulds and have a sliding movement imparted to them to close or open
them before and after the desired pressure has been imparted to the clay, substantially
as described.
3. In a machine for moulding bricks and similar articles the provision of a stationary
race constructed and arranged to act upon the covers of the mould to open and close
them on the rotation of the mould wheel substantially as described.
4. In a machine for moulding bricks and similar articles such as referred to in
Claim 2, the provision of an ejecting lever actuated by a cam geared to the mould
wheel substantially as described.
5. In a machine for moulding bricks and similar articles such as referred to in
Claim 2, the provision of a stationary race adapted to retain the plungers in their
innermost positions after the ejection of the brick or other article substantially as
described.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Of the Firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather, Chartered Patent Agents,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.