An Improved Process for Moulding and Firing Hollow Articles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 9th July, 1891-Accepted, 15th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process for Moulding and Firing Hollow Articles.
I, CLAUDE KENNEDY MILLS of 23 Southampton Buildings in the County
of Middlesex Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention, a com-
munication to me from abroad by Jean Benoît Granjon of Chatonnay, Mechanic,
and Firmin Allemand of Vienne Architect both in the Department of Isère in the
Republic of France, to be as follows:-
The invention has for its object the manufacture of materials of all shapes and
dimensions being composed of clay or of other suitable substance or material capable
of being moulded into shape and fired.
The process consists of a general method of forming the spaces of these materials
by means of cores made of wood or of other combustible material, which burns
during the firing, and which produces the double result of firing the interior of the
material and of getting rid at the same time of the core.
•
By this method it is possible to obtain artificial stones of large dimensions
perfectly fired in the interior, much lighter and quite as solid as the ordinary
materials.
The cores not being destined to be withdrawn from the mould, they may receive
any desired form; for cylindrical openings used only for lightening the article,
ordinary firewood may be economically employed cut into pieces of the desired
length, and of which the combustion is entirely utilized in the process of firing the
interior.
The process does away with the washing and picking of the clay which may in
most cases be employed as it comes up from the pit and moulded and fired on
the spot.
The accompanying drawing shows one example of moulding a rectangular
block, of which Figure 1 is a transverse section and Figure 2 a longitudinal section.
The cores are simple billets nearly cylindrical which are placed in the clay as it
is filled into the mould; for blocks of large dimensions, these cores may be in two
pieces as indicated at Figure 2 so as to leave in the centre a solid piece which
strengthens the article. It is necessary to employ green or wet wood, in order to
prevent it from swelling which would disagregate the clay.
In order to prevent splits or clefts which might occur during the withdrawal of
the clay, on account of its adhesion to the cores, it would be convenient to surround
these latter with sand which will prevent this adhesion and which will allow of the
clay sliding on the core whilst it is being withdrawn.
In articles of a certain size it is possible to quicken the drying by forming the
core of 3 or 4 billets juxtaposed as shown at Fig. 3. leaving between them spaces
which allow the air to circulate in the interior of the article.
When the article is taken from the mould and dried it is carried to the oven
when the cores will burn and thus distribute the heat throughout the entire block
the firing of which is thus regulated.
By the same process materials of any shape or ornamentation may be moulded.
by arranging in them spaces of any form by means of cores of appropriate shape.
The wooden cores in articles of large dimensions will serve as guards for
consolidating the block and greatly facilitate its manipulation and transport before
firing.
1000

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process for Moulding and Firing Hollow Articles.
1, CLAUDE KENNEDY MILLS, of 23 Southampton Buildings, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, a com-
munication to me from Jean Benoît Granjon, of Chatonnay, Mechanic, and Firmin
Allemand, of Vienne, Architect, both in the Department of Isère in the Republic
of France, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The invention has for its object the manufacture of materials of all shapes and
dimensions, being composed of clay or of other suitable substance or material capable
of being moulded into shape and fired.
The process consists of a general method of forming the spaces of these materials
by means of cores made of wood or of other combustible material, which burns
during the firing and which produces the double result of firing the interior of the
material and of getting rid at the same time of the core.
By this method it is possible to obtain artificial stones of large dimensions
perfectly fired in the interior, much lighter and quite as solid as the ordinary
inaterials.
The cores not being destined to be withdrawn from the mould, they may receive
any desired form; for cylindrical openings used only for lightening the article,
ordinary firewood may be economically employed, cut into pieces of the desired
length, and of which the combustion is entirely utilized in the process of firing the
interior.
The process does away with the washing and picking of the clay, which may in
most cases be employed as it comes up from the pit and moulded and fired on
the spot.
The drawing accompanying my Provisional Specification shows one example of
moulding a rectangular block, of which Figure 1 is a transverse section and Figure 2
a longitudinal section.
The cores are simple billets, nearly cylindrical, which are placed in the clay as
it is filled into the mould; for blocks of large dimensions, these cores may be in
two pieces as indicated at Figure 2, so as to leave in the centre a solid piece which
strengthens the article.
It is necessary to employ green or wet wood, in order to
prevent it from swelling, which would disagregate the clay.
In order to prevent splits or clefts which might occur during the shrinkage of
the clay, on account of its adhesion to the cores, it would be convenient to surround
these latter with sand, which will prevent this adhesion, and which will allow of
the clay sliding on the core whilst it is shrinking.
In articles of a certain size it is possible to quicken the drying by forming the
core of 3 or 4 billets juxtaposed, as shown at Figure 3, leaving between them spaces
which allow the air to circulate in the interior of the article.
When the article is taken from the mould and dried it is carried to the oven
when the cores will burn and thus distribute the heat throughout the entire block,
the firing of which is thus regulated.
By the same process materials of any shape or ornamentation may be moulded
by arranging in them spaces of any form by means of cores of appropriate
shape.
The wooden cores in articles of large dimensions will serve as supports for
consolidating the block and greatly facilitate its manipulation and transport before
firing.
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:-

page_text: materials of various forms and dimensions, such process consisting in forming the
spaces in these materials by means of cores of wood or other material capable of
burning during the baking or firing, in such manner as to bake or fire the interior
of the piece and to free the spaces thereof.
Dated this sin day of July 1001.
CLAUDE K. MILLS.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.