IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN MOULDING AND PRESSING BRICKS, AND IN DRYING BRICKS, TILES, AND OTHER ARTICLES MADE FROM PLASTIC EARTHS."
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Henry Morrell, of Leyland, in the County of
Lancaster, Brick and Tile Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN MOULDING AND PRESSING BRICKS, AND IN DRYING
BRICKS, TILES, AND OTHER ARTICLES MADE FROM PLASTIC EARTHS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Henry Morrell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th February 1860.
I, THOMAS HENRY MORRELL, of Leyland, in the County of Lancaster,
Brick and Tile Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN MOULDING AND PRESSING BRICKS,
AND IN DRYING BRICKS, TILES, AND OTHER ARTICLES MADE FROM PLASTIC EARTHS,"
to be as follows:-
My improvements in the apparatus for moulding solid or perforated bricks
consist in lining the inside of the mould or die with skins or hides, tanned or
untanned, and for perforated bricks in attaching to one cross bar two or more
rows of perforators or studs, which form and make the holes or perforations in
the bricks as the clay passes through the mould or die.
My improvements in apparatus for pressing perforated bricks consist in the
adaptation of two loose pallets or plates, with cores or studs attached, and so
placed upon each pallet or plate as to fit in the holes or perforations of the

page_text: brick to be pressed, each of the cores or studs having a hole completely through
it, and the plate or pallet to which they are attached, so as to allow the air
contained in the holes or perforations of the brick to escape during the process
of pressing. The cores or studs of each pallet or plate are made of such a
length, as that when they meet (in the press) the brick will be sufficiently
pressed and left the required size. The pallets or plates have handles or other
means so placed at the back of each as to enable them and the attached cores
or studs to be easily withdrawn from the brick after pressing; I prefer tho
cores or studs to be made slightly tapering from shoulders to points. These
pallets or press plates, with the cores or studs so attached, are adapted to be
used in the moulds or boxes of any brick-pressing machine, whether turned
by hand or power.
My improvements in drying sheds consist in having a hot-air chamber
arranged at one end thereof, into which is admitted, either by mechanical or
other means, a current of hot or cold air, and at the other end of the sheds a
chimney, in which several separate, flues extend partly up, and then enter a
main flue or centre shaft built from bottom to top, up which centre or main
flue the smoke from the engine or other boilers is conducted and carried away
as in ordinary chimnies. Up each side of the sheds there are two pipes, heated
by steam, hot water, or hot air, laid side by side a little above the ground, leaving
a passage up the centre of each shed. Over the heated pipes are placed two
heights of wooden frames or trays, upon which the bricks or other articles aro
placed for drying. Above these again are placed one, two, three, or more
heights of racks (forming an open shelving) which are fixed in the roofs and to
the walls of the sheds, and upon which also bricks or other articles are placed
for drying.
Out of the hot-air chamber at the one end into each shed there are two
openings, one at each side, and at the other or chimney end of each shed there
are also two openings, one at each side, which two openings are conducted by
one flue into the chimney, and thus form the various flues built in the chimney
besides the main or smoke flue. These flucs or small chimnies draw the hot
air out of the hot-air chamber along each side of the sheds through and
amongst the bricks or other articles that are drying, and at the same time
draw therewith the moisture given or thrown off from the bricks or other
articles during the drying, both of which pass up the separate flues or small
chimnies, and then enter the main flue or centre shaft of the chimney, and
'pass away with the smoke, so that continually the current of air admitted into
'the hot-air chamber is drawn out of it along the sides of each shed, and then
up the various flues leading out of the sheds into the main flue or centre shaft,

page_text: or smoke flue of the chimney, and thus each shed forms as it were a flue from
the one end to the other, working in conjunction with the hot-air chamber
and chimney or chimnies.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Henry Morrell in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 18th August 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
HENRY MORRELL, of Leyland, in the County of Lancaster, Brick and Tile
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Thomas Henry Morrell, Her special licence that I, the said
Thomas Henry Morrell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Thomas Henry Morrell, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN MOULDING AND PRESSING BRICKS, AND
IN DRYING BRICKS, TILES, AND OTHER ARTICLES MADE FROM PLASTIC EARTHS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Henry Morrell,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Henry Morrell, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention; and in what manner the' same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, and on reference to the accompanying
Drawings, that is to say:-
My improvements' in the apparatus for moulding solid or perforated bricks,
consist in lining the inside of the mould or die with skins' or hides, tanned or

page_text: untanned, and for perforated bricks in attaching to one cross bar two or more
rows of perforators or studs, which form and make the holes or perforations in
the bricks as the clay passes through the mould or die.
My improvements in apparatus for pressing perforated bricks consist in
the adaptation of two loose pallets or plates with cores or studs attached, and
so placed upon each pallet or plate as to fit in the holes or perforations of the
brick to be pressed, each of the cores or studs having a hole completely through
it and the plate or pallet to which they are attached, so as to allow the air
contained in the holes or perforations of the brick to escape during the process
of pressing. The cores or studs of each pallet or plate are made of such a
length as that when they meet (in the press) the brick will be sufficiently
pressed and left the required size. The pallets or plates have handles or
other means so placed at the back of each as to enable them and the attached
cores or studs to be easily withdrawn from the brick after pressing. I prefer
the cores or studs to be made slightly tapering from shoulders to points. These
pallets or press plates with the cores or studs so attached are adapted to be
used in the moulds or boxes of any brick-pressing machine, whether turned by
hand or power.
My improvements in drying sheds consist in having a hot-air chamber
arranged at one end thereof, into which is admitted, either by mechanical or
other means, a current of hot or cold air, and at the other end of the sheds a
chimney in which several separate flues extend partly up, and then enter a
main flue or centre shaft, built from bottom to top, up which centre or main
flue the smoke from the engine or other boilers is conducted and carried
away as in ordinary chimnies. Up each side of the sheds there are two pipes,
heated by steam, hot water, or hot air, laid side by side a little above the ground
leaving a passage up the centre of each shed. Over the heated pipes are
placed two heights of wooden frames or trays upon which the bricks or other
articles are placed for drying. Above these again are placed one, two, three or
more heights of racks (forming an open shelving), which are fixed in the roofs
and to the walls of the sheds, and upon which also bricks or other articles are
placed for drying. Out of the hot-air chamber at the one end into each shed
there are two openings one at each side; and at the other or chimney end of
each shed there are also two openings, one at each side, which two openings
are conducted by one fluo into the chimney, and thus form the various flues
built in the chimney besides the main or smoke flue. These flues or small
chimnies draw the hot air out of the hot air chamber along each side of
the sheds through and amongst the bricks or other articles that are drying,
and at the same time draw therewith the moisture given or thrown off from

page_text: the bricks or other articles during the drying, both of which pass up the
separate flues or small chimnies and then enter the main flue or centre shaft
of the chimney and pass away with the smoke, so that continually the current
of air admitted into the hot-air chamber is drawn out of it along the sides of
each shed, and then up the various flues leading out of the sheds into the main
flue or centre shaft, or smoke flue of the chimney, and thus cach shed forms
as it were a fluo from the one end to the other, working in conjunction with
the hot-air chamber and chimney or chimnies.
Such being the nature and object of the said Invention, I will proceed to
describe more in detail the manner in which the same is to be performed; and
in order that the method of carrying the Invention into practical effect may
be fully explained and perfectly understood, I bave annexed hereunto three
Sheets of illustrativo Drawings, and have marked the same with figures and
letters of reference corresponding with those in the following explanation
thereof, similar letters of reference indicating like parts in the various Figures
as far as they refer to the same parts of the Invention. The Figures upon
Sheet 1 are drawn to a geometrical scale of about half the actual size, those
upon Sheet 2, to a scale of about one-eighth of an inch to a foot, and those
upon Sheet 3, to a scale of about one inch to a foot.
'
The first part of my Invention, or that which relates to the apparatus for
moulding solid or perforated bricks, is illustrated in Sheet 1 of the Drawings,
in which Figure 1 is an elevation of the die or moulding orifice to be employed
in connection with any ordinary brick-making machine.
This part of the Invention consists in lining either the whole or a part only
of the inside of the mould or die with raw untanned skin or hide, in order to
facilitate the egress of the clay and to prevent it from sticking or adhering to
the same, and consequently to produce a more smooth and even surface than
can be obtained when using dies of the ordinary construction. I prefer to
employ for this purpose a piece of pig's skin or hide, but other skin or bide
will also answer the same end; and for making solid bricks I line the whole of
the interior of the mould or die a, b, c, d, (Figure 1,) with the said skin or hide;
but for the making of perforated bricks I line only the two sides or ends c, d, of
the mould or die with the hide or skin.
The second part of my Invention, or that which relates to the apparatus
used in moulding perforated bricks only, is shewn also in Sheet 1 of the
Drawings (Figure 2); representing an elevation of a cross bar with three rows of
perforators attached.
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This part of the Invention consists in having (instead of a separate cross bar
for each row of perforators or studs) one cross bar a, a, only; as shewn at Figure 2,

page_text: and in attaching thereto two or more rows of perforators or studs b, b, b, b,
which make the corresponding holes or perforations in the bricks as the clay
passes through the mould or die. The said cross bar a, with its attachments
b, b, b, b, being placed therein.
.
The third part of my Invention, or that which relates to the apparatus
employed in the pressing of perforated bricks, is also illustrated on Sheet 1 of
the Drawings.
This part of the Invention consists in the adaptation to such apparatus
of two loose pallets or press plates, with a pannel and cores or studs attached.
Figure 3 represents a plan view, and Figure 4 an edge view, of one of theso
pallets with its attachments. a, a, is the press plate; b, b, the pannel; and
c, c, the cores or studs. These cores c, c, are so placed on each pallet or plate
as to correspond with and fit into the holes or perforations of the brick to be
pressed, and each core has a hole pierced completely through it, and through
the pannel and press plate to which it is attached, so as to allow the air con-
tained in the holes or perforations of the brick to escape during the process of
pressing the same. The raised pannel b, b, attached to each of the press plates
impresses a sunken pannel upon the setting sides of each brick, whilst the
cores or studs c, c, ensure the pressing of the substance of the brick throughout,
each core pressing that portion of the substance round about it; and to ensure
the more gradual pressing (and also on account of their being easier of with-
drawal), I prefer the cores or studs being made of a conical or tapering form
from shoulder to point, the shoulder being that part of the core or stud which
is fixed in the pannel and plate or pallet. The cores c, c, may also be made of
such a length as that when they meet in the press the brick will be sufficiently
compressed and left the required size. The press plates a, a, have handles d, d,
(Figure 4), or other means, so placed at the back of each as to enable tliem
and the pannels and attached cores or studs to be easily withdrawn from the
bricks after pressing. These press plates with their attachments are adapted
to be used in the press boxes of ordinary hand or power brick-pressing
machines.
The fourth part of my Invention, or that which relates to improvements in
the apparatus employed for drying bricks, tiles, or other articles made from
plastic earths, preparatory to their being burned, is illustrated' on Sheets 2
and 3 of the Drawings.
In Sheet 2, Figure 5 is a general sectional plan view, shewing the arrangement
of the sheds, boiler house, hot and cold air flues, hot-air chamber, smoke flues,
steam pipes, and other appurtenances; Figure 6 is a vertical transverse section
of the chimney and flues, showing the plan of ventilation; Figure 7 is a trans-

page_text: verse section of the sheds, shewing the arrangement of the steam pipes, frames,
and racks; and Figure 8 is a vertical section taken across the hot-air chamber
and smoke flue.
In Sheet 3 of the Drawings, Figures 9 and 10 are longitudinal and trans-
verse sections through the hot-air chamber, shewing the entrance of the hot
air to the drying sheds; and Figures 11, 12, and 13 are front view, vertical
section, and transverse section of the ventilating flues.
This part of my Invention consists principally in arranging or placing along
cach side of the sheds or stoves a, a, a, a, two pipes b, b, heated by steam, hot
water, or hot air, laid side by side a short distance above the floor (as shewn
in Figure 11), having a passage c, c, up the centre. Over these heated pipes
are placed two tiers of wooden frames or trays d, d, e, e, upon which the
articles to be dried are placed. Above these again, at a suitable height, are
placed two or more other tiers of racks or frames f, f, f, f, (see Figure 7,)
fixed in the roofs g, g, and to the walls h, h, of the sheds, and upon which are
also placed bricks, tiles, or other articles for drying. The upper frame e, e, of
the two lower tiers is so fixed and arranged as to allow of its being removed
and turned up against the wall (as shewn by the dotted quadrants at the left
hand of Figure 7), so that the articles can be conveniently placed upon and
removed from the lower frame d, d. At one end of the sheds or stoves a, a, a, a,
is arranged a hot-air chamber i, i, supplied with hot air by means of steam,
hot water, or hot-air pipes k,k. The heated air from this chamber passes
through the apertures 1, 1, 1, 1, into each shed or stove (being drawn by tho
draught of the chimney), a fresh supply of cold air being admitted into the
chamber by means of the flue m, m. The heated air can be admitted into all
or excluded from any one or more of the sheds or stoves at the will of the
superintendent, by means of dampers n, n, (Figure 10,) or by other suitable
apparatus. At the opposite end of the sheds. or stoves is constructed a
chimney, having a central shaft o, o, up which the smoke from the engine,
boiler, or other fires or furnaces passes, being conducted thereto by the main
flue
p, p. Around the lower end of the chimney, and communicating with
the central shaft, is arranged a series of flues or ventilators q, q, q, q, the lower
end of each of which also communicates with one of the sheds or stoves
a, a, a, a, and is provided with a damper r,r,r, r, (see Figures 11, 12, and 13,)
for the regulation of the heat and ventilation, as may be required. These flues
or ventilators 9, 9, 9, 7, by means of the draught caused by the smoke ascending
the central shaft o, o, draw the heated air out of the hot-air chamber i, i,
through th apertures 1, 1, along each side of the sheds or stoves a, a, a, a,
(through and amongst the bricks and other articles that are drying) to the

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chimney, and at the same time carry away quickly with the current of air all
the vapour or moisture arising from the drying articles. Each shed or stove
thus forms as it were a flue from one end to the other, working in conjunction
with the hot-air chamber and chimney.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my Iuven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not
confine or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have
bad occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be made there-
from without, deviating from the principles or main features of my Invention;
but I wish it to be distinctly understood that I claim as my Invention with
reference to the apparatus for moulding bricks,―
Firstly, the lining of machine moulds or dies for making solid or perforated
bricks with raw untanned skin or hide, as herein described.
Secondly, I claim the use of one cross bar with two or more rows of
perforators or studs attached thereto, for the moulding of perforated bricks, as
herein described.
Thirdly, with reference to the apparatus for pressing perforated bricks, I
claim the adaptation or use of two press plates with pannels and cores or studs
attached, as herein described.
Fourthly, with reference to the apparatus for drying bricks, tiles, and other
articles made from plastic earths, I claim the arrangement of racks or frames
fixed to the roofs and walls of drying sheds, as herein described.
And, fifthly, the general construction and arrangement of hot-air flues or
ventilators in combination with a central shaft, sheds, and hot-air chamber,
as shewn in the Drawings, and herein described, and also the use of such or
similar flues or ventilators in combination with a chimney shaft and sheds only
for such or similar purposes.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Henry Morrell, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
THOMAS HENRY MORRELL. (L.S.)