Improved Means for the Preparation of Clay for Pug Mills.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 20th May., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 20th May, 1895-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1895
Improved Means for the Preparation of Clay for Pug Mills.
I, WILLIAM FRANCIS COOK of 125, Franklin Avenue Des Moines in the
County of Polk and State of Iowa, United States of America, Brickmaker, 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:-
The object of this invention is to provide a device adapted to receive clay from a
reducing machine or dry pan and convey it to a pug mill and to supply the proper
amount of water thereto to accurately temper the clay, automatically increasing the
water supply when a greater bulk of clay is being conveyed thereover and
diminishing the supply as the quantity of clay decreases and entirely cutting off the
water when the machine is empty, thus dispensing with one operator and rendering
the use of hot water practicable, the steam arising from which has heretofore
prevented the operator from seeing the clay and accurately supplying the proper
amount of water.
My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the
various parts to form the complete machine, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in
my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 shows the complete machine in perspective;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the protector for the inner
surface of the belt;
Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the complete machine.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, the frame is seen to be composed of the
two fixed side pieces A, having a plurality of rollers A2 extended transversely
between them to carry an endless conveyor A³. The end roller A is mounted in
horizontally adjustable bearings As to regulate the tension of the conveyor.
A belt wheel A is fixed to the axle of the roller on the opposite end of the device
whereby power may be applied to operate the conveyor.
B indicates a side piece supported above the endless conveyor and B2 an end piece
also permanently fixed above the conveyor.
B³ indicates a hopper supported by said side and end pieces over one end of the
endless conveyor and B indicates a side piece corresponding with the part B and
supported on the opposite side of the machine by the horizontally adjustable
brackets B. The part B fixed to said side piece forms one side of the hopper so
that the width of the body of clay carried by the conveyor may be accurately
adjusted.
C indicates a shaft rotatably mounted in suitable bearings above the machine
frame and near the inner end of the hopper.

page_text: Cindicates two arms fixed thereto and extended rearwardly over the conveyor
and having a shaft C³ rotatably mounted in their ends.
C indicates a roller fixed to the central portion of the said shaft and adapted to
normally rest upon the endless conveyor A, a scraper C5 having its arms pivotally
attached to the arms C2 is provided to engage the surface of the roller and keep it
clean. These arms C2 are normally pressed downwardly by the springs C wound
upon the shaft C, and shaft C is arranged to be rotated as follows:-
D indicates a pulley on the end of the shaft C³, D2 a double pulley loosely
mounted on the shaft C, and D³ a pulley wheel on the axle of the end roller.
D indicates a belt passed around said pulley in such a manner as to rotate the
roller C in the same direction and at approximately the same speed as the endless
conveyor. A belt tightening pulley D³ is also provided to engage the belt at a
suitable point.
F indicates a pipe connected with any suitable source of water supply and passed
along one side of the frame and across the end over which the clay is discharged
and provided with perforations near its end adapted to discharge water into the
clay as it enters a pug mill.
F2 indicates a valve in the pipe at the side of the machine and F³ a segmental
slotted arm fixed to said valve whereby it may be operated.
F indicates a lever fixed to the end of the shaft C, and F is a rod pivoted to the
outer end of said lever and adjustably connected with the slotted arm F³, the parts
being so arranged that upon a certain movement of the lever F4 the valve may be
opened or closed to a greater or less degree by adjusting the end of the rod relative
to the inner end of the slotted arm.
Jindicates an apron supported between the upper and lower sections of the
endless carrier and inclined downwardly at its sides to carry the dust and particles
of clay admitted between the upper and lower portions of the conveyor outwardly.
and thereby protect the under surface of the conveyor.
In practical use the clay is dropped into the hopper and carried rearwardly ove
the endless conveyor to a pug mill. The clay must pass beneath the roller and it
will be obvious that said roller must be elevated according to the depth of the
layer of clay on the conveyor. The valve is opened or closed by the relative
elevation of this roller and thus the relative quantities of water and clay delivered
into the pug mill will be accurately regulated. If it is desired to change th
proportions of the ingredients the rod F may be adjusted in the slotted arm F3.
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. An improved clay tempering machine, comprising a suitable conveyor, a rock
shaft mounted above the conveyor, one or more levers fixed thereto, a device on
the end of the levers to engage the clay on the conveyor, a pipe connected with the
machine and leading from a suitable source of water supply to discharge into the
clay as it passes from the machine, a valve in said pipe and means connected
with the said shaft for operating the valve when the shaft is rocked for the
purposes stated.
2. An improved clay tempering machine comprising a suitable conveyor, means
for placing clay on one end thereof, a roller supported above said conveyor and
adapted to be elevated or lowered in proportion to the thickness of the layer of clay
on the conveyor, a water supply pipe adapted to discharge into the clay as it passes
from the conveyor, a valve in said pipe and means for connecting said valve with sail
roller to open the valve as the roller is elevated, and vice versa, for the purposes
stated.
3. An improved clay tempering device comprising a suitable frame, an endless
Conveyor mounted thereon, means for operating the conveyor, a rock shaft mounted
in suitable bearings above the conveyor, two arms fixed thereto, a roller mounted
in their outer ends, means for rotating said roller as set forth, a pipe leading from a

page_text: suitable source of water supply to discharge into the clay as it leaves the conveyor,.
a valve in said pipe, an arm connected with said valve, a lever fixed to the aforesaid
rock shaft and a rod connecting said lever and arm for the purposes stated.
4. An improved clay tempering device comprising a suitable frame, an endless.
conveyor mounted thereon, means for operating the conveyor, a rock shaft mounted
in suitable bearings above the conveyor, two arms fixed thereto, a roller mounted
in their outer ends, means for rotating said roller as set forth, a pipe leading from
a suitable source of water supply to discharge into the clay as it leaves the conveyor,.
a valve in said pipe, a segmental slotted arm fixed to said valve, a lever fixed to-
said shaft and a rod fixed to said lever and adjustably connected with the slotte l
arm for the purposes stated.
5. An improved clay tempering device, comprising a suitable frame, an endless.
conveyor mounted thereon, means for operating the conveyor, a rock shaft mounted
in suitable bearings above the conveyor, two arms fixed thereto, a roller mounted in
their outer ends, means for rotating said roller as set forth to normally rest upon-
the conveyor, a pipe leading from a suitable source of water supply to discharge-
into the clay as it leaves the conveyor, a valve in said pipe, a segmental slotted arm
fixed to said valve, a lever fixed to said shaft and a rod fixed to said lever and
adjustably connected with the slotted arm, a hopper supported above one end of the
conveyor, side boards at the sides of the conveyor and means for adjustably
supporting one of said side pieces above the conveyor, all arranged and combined.
substantially as and for the purposes stated.
Dated this 18th day of May 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.