US1191925A - Brickmaking-machine. - Google Patents

Description

F. w. BUTTERWORTH & a. HOLMES.

BRICKMAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATIVON FILED MAR.22 1916- I Patented July18, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F. W. BUTTERWORTH & HOLMES.

BRICKMAKING MACHINE.

, APPLICATION FILED MAR-22.1916.

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Patented July 18, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F. W. BUTTERWORTH & G. HOLMES. BRICKMAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 22, 1916.

Patented July is, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

1915.- 5 SHEETS-+SHEE'T 4."

'Pdtented July 18 APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1916.

F; W. BUTTERWORTH & G. HOLMES.

BRlCKMAKlNG MACHINE F. W. BUTTERWORTH & G. HOLMES.

BRICKMAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. 22. 1916.

PatentedJuiy 18, 1916 5 SHEET 3-SHEET 5.

'Z I vikialzarw pmrsn s'ra rns Parana: orrro z.

FRANK w. Bu'r'rmawoa'rrr AND GRANT HOLMES,

or DANVILLE, ILLINOIS, vassrsnons T WESTERN BRICK COMPANY, OF DANVILLE, ILLINOIS, A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP.

BRICKM AKING-MAOHINE.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1916.

Application filed. March 22, 1916. Serial No. 85,788.

To all 'u'lmm it 'm (14/ concern Be it known that we, F RANK 7. BUTTER- won'rn and (lnan'r Hermes, both citizens of the United States, and residing at Danville, in the county of Vermilion, State of lllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brickmaking-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

()ur invention relates to brick-making machines, and refers particularly to a. ma-

. chine for treating the surface of a ribbon of August 19, 1915, and 68,7 l2,

'toprovide means by which pea ra nce and are light-absorbing rather than light-reflecting. As described in said applications, the more or less hardened skin formed on the upper and side surfaces of the clay-ribbon as it is extruded from the die of the press is removed therefrom by wires, or other similar means, preferably placed near the mouth of said die, this operation also serving to roughen the upper and side surfaces of the ribbon. The stippling operation is then performed by means 0 brushes carrying steel bristles, which penetrate slightly the exposed surface of the ribbon, thereby giving the latter the desired ap pearance. The bristles are preferably made of hardened steel, and are slightly bent when brought in contact with the ribbon, so that upon disengagement therefronr small particlcs of clay are picked from the ribbon.

It is theobject of our present invention to construct a brick-making machine which shall have the function of stippling the'exposed surfaces of the moving clay-ribbon and to perform this operation in an efficient and economical manner, with the expenditure of only a small amount of power for driving the machine. 1'

It is a further object of our invention the stippling the latter which are r sake of simplicity;

brushes may be readily adjusted with respect to the clay-ribbon so thatthe bristles of these brushes will penetrate the surface of the ribbon a desired distance.

A still further object of our invention consists in the provision of meansby which a plurality of brushes adapted to be brought 1ncontact with one of the surfaces of the clay-ribbon may be maintained in proper ahnement, such means being adjustable, so that if desired the brushes as a whole may be regulated in such manner bristles of these brushes will progressively sink a greater face 'of the ribbon. By the use of such alining means, only a single cam or eccentric need be employed in the movement of a series of brushes, thus rendering the machine simpleandeconomie cal in its operation. 1

These and other advantages of our'invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan of ourimproved brickmaking machine, showing the complete machine having brushes adapted to engage both the sides and the top of a moving clayribbon; Fig. 2 is a plan of that portion of the machine which carries the brushes adapted to engage the upper surface of the clay-ribbon; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged end elevation of the portion of the machine shown in Figs. 2 and 3; Fig. 5 isa horizon: tal section taken on the line 55 of'Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the portion of the briekqnaking machine which carries the 'brushes'adapted to engage the sides'of the moving. clay-rib hen, the conveyer sheaves and-their supporting mechanism and Fig- 8 is a vertical transverse section taken 'on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7, showing the conveyor sheaves and their supporting mechanism in position.

The machine of our invention is adapted to treat the ribbon ceramic metal, after the latter leaves the brick-press and after the more or less har dened skin has been removed from the upper and side surfaces of this ribbon.'- The ma chine as a whole comprises two 20, of clay or other,

that a the f or less distance into the surorder to regulate being omitted forthe.

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portions, namely, the portion 21 for treating the upper surface of the ribbon 20 and the portion 322 for treating the sines of the ribbon. For the sake of simplicity, I will first describe the detailed construction of the portion 21. of the l'n'iclz-makiug machine, then the detailed construction of the portion 22, and finally describe the operation of the machine as a whole.

The portion 21, of the machine rests on the I-beams 23, being carried thereon by the transverse angle-irons 24, which serve to support the four angle-iron corner posts 25. Near their upper ends the corner posts 25 are engaged by'the longitudinal angleirons 26, which are, in turn, engaged by the trans--' verse angle-irons 27 which are riv ted or otherwise fastened to the longitudinal angleirons'26. 'lhe longitudinal angle irons 26 and the transverse angle-irons 27 have connected thereto at their points of junction the guss'e'ts, 28, which have vthe transversely disposed downward extensions 29, which engage the corner posts 25, the surface of each corner post 25 which is located at a right angle to the surface engaged by the extension 29 of each of the gussets 28 being engaged by a longitudinal angleriron 26." As most clearly shown in Figs and 6, each of the four corner posts 25 is engaged on its inner angular surface by the angle-piece 30, which is boltedto ore of the longitudinal angle-irons 26 and the extension 29 of one of the gussets 28. Each angle-post is, therefore, near its upper portion inclosed by a longitudinal angle-iron 26 and the extension 29 of the gusset plate 28 on its outer angular portion and the angle-piece 30 on. its inner portion.

The upper end of each corner post 53" has bolted thereto the hearing member 3i, through which passes the re ulating'shatt 32, to the upper end of which is fastened the hand-Wheel 33. The shaft 32 carries thereon the collars 34 and 35 engaging opposite ends of the bearing member 31, The lower portion of the regulating shaft 32 is threaded, and engages the correspondingly threaded block 36, the upper end of which in turn engages the lower edge of the anglepiece 30. It will be evident that on rotation of the hand-wheels the regulating blocks 36am moved upwardly or downwardly, as jzhe case may be, and thereby serve to corre- 5 spondingly move the framework, which is comprised of the longitudinal angledrons 26 and thc transverse angle-irons 27. Each of the retaining clamps 37, most clearly shown in Fig. 5, incloses the corner post 27 and the regulating block 36, and serves to prevent the latter from turning when the regulating shaft 32 is rotated, and also serves to hold the parts in adjusted position upon tightening the hand-scrcw 38 carried by each of the clamps 37.

At or near their central portions each of the longitudinal angle-irons 26 carries a bearing member 39, and through these hearing members passes the shaft l0 carrying the pu lley ll, shaft -Il0 atits central portion between the bearings 39 is provided with an eccentric portion 4a, which, in turn, engages the bearings 43 carried by theuppcr surface of the brush-carrying plate 44, so that upon rotation of the shaft the brush carrying plate is moved toward and away from the ribbon. 20 moving through the machine on the endless conveyer 45 carried b v the sheaves al which are, in turn, carried by the channels at! resting on the suppm'ts 48. The lmish-carrying plate llhas bolted to its lower surface the brushes ll), each of which. carries the bristles which are preterebly constructed of flat narrow strips of tempered steel.

Bolted to the longitudinahanglodrons 26 are the liiearing members 51, one of these bearing members being located near each end of each longitudinal angle-iron 26. Extending between each pair of bearing members 51 is a shaft and rigidly mounted on each of these shafts is a bell-crank lever To one end of each bell-crank lever 53 is pivotally connected a pair of links 54, the opposite ends of which are pivotal [y connected to one end of the rib of the brush carrying plate 4%.

To the opposite end of each bell-crank lever 53 pivotally connected the interiorly threaded member 56, and between the two members 58 extends the equalizing rod 57, one end of which, as 58, has a right-handed screw thread and the other end of which, as 59, has a lett'handod screw thread. It will be evident that on rotation of the equalizing rod 57 the upper arms of the bell-crank levers 53 are moved toward or away from each other, as the case may be. lVhen the i 7 per arms of the bell-crank levers are thus moved toward each other it will be evident that the horizontal arm of the bell-crank shown at the right-hand portion of 3, will be moved downwardly, thereby carrying that end of the ln-ush-carrying plate downwardly and moving the brushes 49 at this end of the plate nearer to the ribbonfZOt At the same time the hori- ZOIlttil arm of the bcll-cranlc lever 53, shown at the lelthand portion of l ig. will be n'loved upwardly, thereby carrying that end of the brusharrying plate 44 and the brushes H) upwardly. ()a rotation of the equalizing rod 57 in the opposite direction so that the upper vertical arms oi the bell crank lever '53 are moved away from each other, the opposite action will take place with respect to the inoven'icnt of the brushcarryingplatc 44. ln-this way it will be evident that the position of the brushes 49 may be regulated as desired, while at the lli same time upon rotation of the shaft 49 the tilt the plate 44 slightly so that the bristlesbrush-carrying plate 44 is always maintained at the same angle with respect to the clay-ribbon 20 asthe brush-carrying plate 44 and its brushes 49 are moved toward and away from the ribbon 20 by the action of the eccentric 42. As amatter of practice, we usually prefer to maintain the brush-carrying plate 44 in a position exactly parallel to the upper surface of the clay-ribbon 20, but, as. previously explained, if it is desired to 50 of the brushes 49 at one end of the plate 44 may penetrate into the upper surface of the clay-ribbon farther than the bristles of the brushes at the opposite end of the plate 44, this result may be readily accomplished.

We will now pass to a description of the portion 22 of the brick-making machine, which is, in many respects, similar to that As most '60 carry the transverse angle-irons 61, to

which are suitably fastened the four corner posts 62. To the upper endsof the corner posts '62 are riveted the longitudinal angleirons 63 and the transverse angle-irons 64,

the gussets 65 being used to strengthen the construction. A pair of angle-irons 66 is riveted or bolted to the longitudinal angleirons63 near the central portions of-the latter; The pair of angle-irons 66 at each end thereof carries an elbow piece 67, each of which is also fastened to one of the longitudinal angle-irons 68 extending between the corner posts 62. Each elbow piece 67 has a bearing 69, through which passes the regulating shaft 70 having at its outer end The shaft 70 carries thereon the collars 72 engaging opposite ends of the bearing 69. The-inner end of the regulating shaft 7.0is threaded, and em a gages the yoke 7 3, which on its lower surface is provided with the recess 74 for slidably engaging the track 7 5 of the elbow member 67 and at its upper outer portion has a crosspiece 76 engaging the upper surfaces of the angle-irons 66. The yoke '73 carries thereon the lower bearing member 77 and the upper bearing member} 7 8' located at the inner end of "the arm 79 of the yoke member. The bearing member 78 also carries a bracket 8.0 having :flanges which engage the upper surfaces of the angle-irons 66, this bracket, in

turn, carrying the bearing member 81. I The shaft 82 extends between the bearing members 77' and 78, and at its central portion' is provided with the eccentric 83, which,

in turn, engages the bearing 84 carried by the brush-carrying plate 85 near its central 'portion, this plate, in turn, carrying bib 1 brushes 86 having thereon the bristles 87, these brushes 86 andtheir bristles 87 being of the same character as the brushes 49 and their bristles heretofore described. It

The shaft 90 passes through the two bearing members 81, and also through the bearing 91 carried by the bracket 92 supported on the angle-irons 66. At its outer end the shaft 90 carries the-pulley 93 suitably driven by a belt or otherwise. By means of the clamp 94, which engages the vertical flanges of the angle-irons 66 and carries the handscrew 95 which has threaded engagement with the arm 79 of the yoke 7 3, the latter may be locked in any position to which it is moved by rotation of the hand-wheel 71 carried by the threaded shaft 70. Each of the shafts 96 has engagement at its ends with the bearing members 97 carried by the angleirons 63 and 68, and has rigidly mounted thereon a bell-crank lever 98. Each bellcrank lever carries pivotally at its outer end end of which is provided with left-handed screw threads. The links 101 are pivotally connected with the opposite ends of the bellcrank levers 98, and extend to and have pivotal connection with the rib 102 of each of the ln-ush-carrying plates 85. It will be evident that on rotation of the equalizing rod 100the brush-carrying plate 85 and its brushes 86 may be tilted with respect to the ribbon 20 in. exactly the same manner as was described in connection with the equivalent parts in the portion 21 of the machine. At the same time the'equalizing rods 100 have the function of maintaining the brushcarrying plates 85 and their brushes 86 in proper aliiiement with respect to the ribbon 20 upon movement of the brush-carrying plates 85 toward. and away from the sides of the ribbon 20 by the action of the eccentrics 83.

Having thus described the various partsv which are used in our improved brick-making machine. the operation of the same may now be readily understood: As previously explained, the ribbon 20, of clay or other ceramic material, preferably has thin layers of material removed by wires or other suit-. able means from the upper and side surfaces of the ribbon as the latter leaves the die of the brick-press, according to the well-known method. The ribbon 20 then passes through the portion 21 of ihe machine, and its up per surface is su-bjecleil to the action of the bristles 50 of the brushes l9. The brush carrying" plate ll is moved toward and away from the upper surface. of the ribbon 20 by the action of the eccentric l2, the shalt 40 being rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 23. in ihis way the, bristles 50 during' lheir period of engagement with the upper surface of the ribbon 20 are moved in the same direction as lhe movement of lhe ribbon but preferably at a. slightly dil .l'crcntrate of speed. During, their period of engagement the bristles 50 are slightly. bent so lhal' as they approach disengagement from the surface oi lhe ribbon they are straightened and remove small particla; of-

clay from the surface of the ribbon by a pic-king" action.

As n'eviously xplained. the equalizing rod 57 and i s associated mechanism keep the lunch-carrying: plate lland the brushes ll) in correclf alincment with respect to the surface of the, ribbon 20, while at the same, time. upon rotation oi" the equal-- izinn rod 5? (he lu-ush cairring' plate ll.- may be tilted as desired so that the bristles 50 of the brushes carried on one end of the plate may be caused to enter the surface of the ribbon 20 to a greater depth than those of the bruslmscarried by the other end. oi? the plate i l. The brushes l9 and the mechanism for actuating the -same may be readily adjusted by "the handovhecls 33.. After leaving: the portion .21 off/he machine the clayribbon 20 passes into the portion 22, where the sides of the clay-ribbon are subjected to the act-ion of the brisiles 8'? of the brushes 8%; in the same manner that the upper surface or the ribbon has been subjected to the action oi the bristles 50 of the brushes &9. It will be understood that the function of the equalizing rods 100 is similar to that of the equalizing rod 57, and the position of the brushes as awhole-may be regulated by means of the llflllllfilllGBlS 71.

As a result of the action or our improved ln-iclemakingr machine it will be apparent that the upper and side surfaces of the clay ribbon 20 are roughened and stippled with a large, number of minute indeniations causedby the bristles 50 and 8?. The small particles of clay which remain on the upper surface of the ribbon as a result of ihe slip-- pling action may be removed ihereirom by means of a blower, or other similar means. After the clay-ribbon has passed through our improved machine, it is out into individual bricks by any well-lmown process, and these bricks are afterward subjected to the heating action of kilns to produce the finished product.

lit will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many detailed changes in the construction of the parts which We have do ecribcd may be made Without. departing aromas from the spirit or scope of our inventien,as defined in the appended claims.

li hat We claim is: l. in a brick-making machine, the combi nation oi. a conveyor adapted to carry a ribbon ol ceramic material through said machine, a stippling brush adapted to engage the surface of said ribbon, means for carryiue' said brush, an eccentric adapted to move said brush-carrying means toward and away from the surface of said ribbon, and means in automati ally keeping said brusl1ca1'rying; means in alinemcnl; with respect to said ribbon. sa id alining means comprising mechanism for selectively changing the angular position of said ln'ush-carrying means with. relation to the surface of said ribbon.

Q. In a brick-making machine, the combination of a conveyor adapted to carry a ribbon or ceramic material throughsaid ma chine, a stippling brush adaptedto engage l'he surface of said ribbon, a plate carrying said brush, an eccentric adapted to move said plaie and brush toward and away from said ribbon, a pair of bell-crank levers having connection with said plate near the ends thereof, and an equalizing rod extending between said levers, whereby Said plate iskept in alincn'icnt with respect to said ribbon upon actuation of said plale by said. eccentric. i

3. In a brick-making machine, the combination of a conveyor adapted to carry a ribbon of ceramic material through said machine, a. stippling brushadapted to am the surface of said ribbon, a plate carrying said brush, an eccentric adapted to. move said plate and brush toward and away from said ribbon, a pair of bell-crank levers having connection 'With said plate near the ends thereof, and an equalizing rod extending between said levers, said equalizing rod being" adjustable to Selectively move the con-' niacted arms of said bell-crank levers toward or away from each other, whereby the angular alinement of said plate-with respect co said ribbon may be adjusted and said plate is automatically maintained in its adjusied alinemenl; upon actuation. of said plate by said eccentric.

ii. In a brick-making machine, :the combination a conveyor adapted to carry a rib bon of c .i-an1ic'matcrial through said ma chine, a stippling bnush adapted to engage the surface ol said ribbon, means for carrying said brush, an eccentric adaplcll to i'nove I aled eccentric with relation to the surface of said ribbon. i.

5. In a brick-making machme, the cornbr nation of a conveyor adapted to carry a ribfor rotating said shaft, whereby said brushbon of ceramic material through said macarrying means will be actuated toward and chine, a stippling brush having bristles away from said ribbon, and 'means for adapted to engage the surface of said ribmaintaining said brush-carrying means in 5 bon, means for carrying said brush, a yoke, alinement with respect to the surface of said a shaft carried by said yoke, said shaft havribbon. ing an eccentric portion thereon, a bearing In Witness whereof, We hereunto subscribe on said brush-carrying means and engaged our names this 18th day of March, A. D. by the eccentric portion of-said shaft, means 1915.

10 for adjusting the position of said yoke FRANK W. BUTTERWORTH;

toward and away from said ribbon, means GRANT HOLMES.

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