US1531631A - Press for the production of bricks, briquettes, blocks, and the like - Google Patents

Description

Mmhsl. 1925. l y 1,531,631v

E. R. SUTCLIFFE PRESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BRICKS, BRIQUETTES, BLOCKS, AND THE LIKE March 3l. 1925. 1,531,631

E. R. SUTCLIFFE PRESS FOR THE PRODUCTION oFBRIcxs, BRIQUETTES, BLOCKS, AND THE LIKE F1e d June 25, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Patented Mar. 31, 1925.

UNITED gSTATES PATENT OFFICE;

EDGAR ROUSE SUTCLIFFE, OF ITEIGI-IV, ENGLAND.

PRESS FOR THE PRODUCTION O'F BRICKS, BRIQUETTESV, BLOCKS, AND THE' LIKE.

Application iled .Tune 23, 1924. Serialv'No. 721,818.

To @ZZ w from t may concern Be it known that I, EDGAR Rouen SUT- oLirrn, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 93 Church Street, Leigh, Lancashire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Presses for the Production of Bricks, Briquettes, Blocks, and the like, of which vthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to presses of the mould and plunger type for the production of bricks, briquettes, blocks and like consolidated masses from coal or like carbonaceous substances, concrete, clay or other subf stances or mixtures capable of being consolidated by pressure. f

The .invention has among its objects to provide a press in which the consolidation of the charges and the ejection of the consolidated masses may be carried out in a simple and effective manner, and to provide a press which is more especially `suitable for treating the substances to be consolidated in wet condition.

Accordingto the invention there is provided a press for the production of briquettes or consolidated masses of substances capable of being consolidatedunder pressure, wherein a single mechanism effects the compression o'i the charge of the material to be consolidated in two or more stageswithin a stationary mould and the ejection et the consolidated mass from the mould is effected by the stroke ot the plunger being` extended beyond that necessary for the comnession of a charge.

According to the invention, moreover, the

stroke of the'plunger for effecting the com-l pression of the charge of material to beV vided in suoli manner that liquid contained in the charge to be consolidated may be expressed therefrom either before or during the operation or" compression by the action ot the plunger. l

According to the invention, moreover,

the plunger effectingcompression is advantageously adapted to reciprocate within the mould through a distance corresponding to the width of several of the consolidated masses, the inner limit of travel being, for

example, at a distance equal to the width of three of the masses from the discharge end of the mould, so that three of the masses always remain within the mould during the operation of the press, and a movable crossliead or auxiliary plunger, serving as a' According to the invention, moreover, the

extension of the stroke of the plunger may be effected either by the mechanism effecting the compression stroke or by mechanism specially provided for the purpose, whilev the withdrawal of the'mould closure member may be effected byl the plungervmechanism or by a distinct mechanism,'the movements of the plunger and of the mould closure member being so determined that the pressure upon the consolidated masses within the mould during the operation of kejection is removed or reduced.

According to the invention, moreover, the4 pressure exerted by the plunger or plungers upon the material to be consolidated is advantageously maintained uniform by means of va hydraulic plungerand cylinder device connected with the plunger o-perating mechanism and communicating'with an accumu` lator iii-which the liquid is maintainedunder a determined head or pressure.

v According to the invention, moreover, the movable mould closure member or auxiliary plunger may be` mounted to operate in a cross-head connected by bolts of ample cross sectional area. with a second cross-head which conveniently carries the cylinder of thefhydraulic cylinder and plunger device before referred to. The-compressing plunger may be mounted in a lixed bearing and heads` before referred to may besupported contacting surfaces being ground.

by pivoted linls from, or be slidably mounted upon, the base plate of the press and may be adapted to receive a reciproeatory nievement whereby, after the consolidation of the charge Within the mould, the discharge may be effected bythe mloveinent of the crosslieads and the consequent movement of the plungers in rclatien to the mould chamber.V

rl`he reciprocation of the cross-heads and the bolts may conveniently be effected by means of an operating arm or lever actuated by a cani forming a part of the operating mechanisi'n of the press or actuated by independentv mechanism.

According to .the invention, moreover, in the use of a hydraulic pressure control device, meansare advantageously provided to ensure that 'when the pressure applied upon the plunge or plungers ceases, the operating` mechanism may not be immediately subjected to the full pressure exerted by the accumulator. l

'The mould may be of any suitable construction. It may, for example, `comprise a chamber of cross section corresponding to that' of the blocks or consolidated masses to be produced andV of a length suflicient to permit of the reciprocatioii therein, according to the cycle of operations, of compressing plunger of corresponding cross section andto provide space for one or more of the blocks orr consolidated masses .to be pro- Aabovefthe mould and be fitted with a feed screw or other device for effecting a doivnward feed of the substance ivith pressure into the mould. y

The Walls of the mould are advantageous- `ly formed of series of longitudinal or transverse bars disposed side by side with their lateral faces in contact vat least over a-.por-

tion! ofl the surface' lying immediately ad-V jacent the inner face of the mould bars, the lly such means under the pressure exerted upon the charge the contained liquid is expressed betiveeii the bars forming the mould Without escape of the substance of the charge. Any other construction of the mould permitting liquid to be expressed may be used. Thus, the wallsv of the mould maybe perforated Y or slotted, and be formed, for example', by

iserfoijatcd or slotted lining plates suitably a construction of the mould is required only in the consolidation of Wet substances but may be employed in the case of dry substances.

In substitution for the movable crosshead or movable closure member before referred to, a second plunger may be adapted to reciprocate Within or at the discharge end of the mould. The said plunger may be provided to be reciprocated eithermechanically or underiiuid or hydraulic pressure and the bearing or cylinder Within which 4it operates may be conveniently carried by a fixed crosshead. operated independently of the compressing plunger by distinct driving mechanism for the tvvo plungers may be so relatively mounted as to be operated by a single toggle or other mechanism.

In the provision of a hydraulic plunger and cylinder device for maintaining thepressure uniform, the plunger or the cylinder is connected to the gearing operating the compressing plunger in such manner that Such plunger lmay be adapted to bek on the forward movement of the compressanism from the accumulator. pressure, ivhen the .pressure upon the compressing plunger `is relaxed, may conveniently comprise a non-return valve disposed in a` connection y between the hydraulic cylinder and the accumulator and a bypass of small cross sectional area` permitting a restricted'floiv of liquid from the accumulator to the hydraulic cylinder when the non-return valve is closed. Such bypass: may be advantageously provided in the non-return valve. V

The material to bebi'iquetted may advantageously be reduced to a uniform condition of extreme iineness in the dry state,or in the Wet state Where the material may have been ground with Water. `And with a vieu7 to avoid the use of a binder and tosecure eifective consolidation, the method of consolidation the subject-matter of the priorl Patent No.V 1,267,711 is employed,that is toV say the material to be briquetted is subjected to compressionV in a completely closed mould spacev under such conditions that the expansion of the block or consolidated Ymass is permit-ted in a direction transverse to the line of application of the pressure applied leu under the stresses created Within the mould as the result ofthe compression. This may to taper outward towards the discharge end thereof as described in the specification of the prior patent aforesaid.

In the accompanying drawings is represented a construction of the press provided according to the invention, by way of eX- ample. 1

Figure l is a sectional elevation of one construction o-f press.

Figure 2 is a plan view corresponding to Figure l.

Figure 3 is a cross section of the mould chamber represented in Figures l and 2, to an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional elevation.

In carrying the invention into effect according to the construction of press represented in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, the vpress consists of a feed hopper and mould with the compressing mechanism at the forward end and the driving and ejecting mechanism at the rear, all

. supported upon a substantially rectangular and horizontally disposed base plate a. Pairs of links a1, (z2 pivoted respectively upon a bracket or brackets a3 and lugs formed upon the base plate a serve to support the cross-heads c before referred to which are connected by bolts Z ofl ample cross sectional area. The mould c is mo-unted in determined position upontlie body of the feed hopper f which is supported upon the base plate a. The mould is advantageously of such a form as tio taper outwardly towards the discharge end thereof as described in the specification of the prior patent aforesaid. Y

The mould comprises a tubular structure of cross section corresponding'to that of the blocks or consolidated masses to be formed and of a length corresponding, for example, to not less than the width of four .or five of such blocks. IVithin the feed hopper f there is provided in continuation of the mould a corresponding tubular structure of slide-way f1 within which the compressing plunger f/ may reciprocate and into which `the substance to be consolidated may be delivered from the feed hopper f, which may be provided with a feed'device such as avrotatable screw,'or vane mechanism serving to feed the substance into the mould u'nder pressure. The walls of the mould andof the slide-way f1, if desirable, are constructed in such manner as to permit the liquid contained in the charge to be'consolidated to be discharged under the action ofl the compressing plunger. In the construction` represented in Figure 3 of the drawings, the mould is formed of a series of kbars e1 -of suitable cross section disposed adjacent one` f. the free flow of the liquid' to the accumuanother so that their lateral faces e2 are in contact adjacent the inner Vsurface of the mould, theV said faces being ground. wards the outer surface of the mould the To-s lateral faces e2 are disposed apart so that channels for the passagev of. the liquid are provided. A trough e3, or alternatively a casing enclosing the sectional or yperforated portion of the mould, is litted to receive the liquid discharged from the Imould and lto convey it to a waste conduit. The degree of moisture or content of water in the substance ltreated may, of course, vary. Thus, in the treatment of coal the chargesV received into the mould may consist of one part coal tov one and a half to two parts lof water or may bea mixture containing say 25% of water.` Y

The compressing plunger g which reciprocates within the slide-way fland the mould e, is carried upon a slide block h disposed within a bearing 71,1 provided uponv the base plate immediately to the rear of the feed hopper f. f

VTo the rear there are provided upon the base plate two laterally disposed .pedestals or standards i1 adapted to Acarry ahorizontally `and transversely disposed operating shaft z'driven'by spur gearingor the like. The said shaft is cranked and has connected thereto a connecting rod i2, to the free end of which is connected a bell crank lever 3,

or pressure-exerting elementy of a toggle mechanism connected `to the compressing plunger by a :pivoted flink if and pivotally mounted upon the links a2 and under the action of a plunger y' adapted to reciprocate within a hydraulic cylinder jl mounted or provided in the adj acent'cross-head c. The plunger is Vthus adapted to slide into the cyli inder when the pressure on thecharge'eX- ceeds apredetermined value, the cross-head Z) serving to resist the pressure at the opposite side of the charge. The cylinder ji is advantageously provided, as 1n the construction illustrated in Figure 4, with an'in' wardly projecting port-ion orrrib 7'2 at the middle of the length for 13o-operation withl a portion of reduced diameter in the plunger j. The innermost portion of the plunger j may be adapted to reciprocate within a lining jr" mounted within the rear end of the cylinder and is advantageously fitted with means for forming a fluid tight joint. The cylinder is closed atthe rearendby a cover j* which also is provided for the formation lof a Huid tight joint. A passageis provided through thel cylinder cover communieating by way of a swivel joint j? with a pipe i6 which is connected, also by a swivel joint, with a pipe leading to an accumulator in which hydraulic pressures-is maintained by means of a pump or the'like. In the length of the said pipe or conduit there is provided a non-return valve jl ypermitting later; For the return of .the'liquid into the cylinder there is provided a by-pass passage js of small Vdiameter through the valve.`

lun

Yio

ly to the axis of the mould to close the mould dischargeopening and may co-operate with the compressing plunger in effecting the consolida-tion of the charges.

For this purpose the mould closure mem- Y ber bi is supported by a system of levers a-ndlinks Xso connected to the 'stationary feed hopper and the reciprocating cross-head b' that, on the movementrof separation of the cross-head from the mould, the closure mem,

ber b1 is lifted. The same system of levers and links or a distinct system may -serve for the operation of a striker bar and yser per by which the consolidated mass'to be ejected may be :separated from those, in the mould.

and which is pressed by springs first against. the face of Vthe mass: projecting from the mould and later against fthe face of the mould and on the return stroke' strikes: off

the mass and scrapes the face of the mould.V The striker bar is conveniently carried upon two arms pivoted upon the pivot pin of the mould closure meinbei' and having auxiliary larms or Iextensionsadapted to kengage the upper forward edge of the vcross-head or cam surfacesprovided thereon so as to be maintained ina position to carry the striker bar in front of the projecting mass on theV upward movement of the mould closure member. Alternatively, other means may be-provided 'for the removal of the consolidated masses. Thus, in a position imme- 1 diately adjacent the discharge lendv of the mould chamber there may be provided a ro- Y tatable cutter or guillotine in the form of a stai' wheel with a series of radiating blades and operatedfrom the Vpress mechanism by suitable gear. l

By reason of the manner in which the cross-headsv b, c, and the bell `crank lever i are supported'from the base plate L the ejecj tion of the consolidated masses from the mould is effected by a= movement ofthe said Y par-ts .in a manner to'secure continued forward movement of the co'i'npressing4 plunger Ag andsimilar movement of the cross-head Z). For thispurpose a spurwheel Z, mounted loosely upon the shaft 21, and driven 'by a pinion 'or Vthe like, carries a caniplate Z1 having a cam groove in which engages a roller carried upon an arm or `lever Z2 mounted upon a rocking shaft Z3 to whichy isalsa secured a pair of arms for levers Z4. A connecting rod Z5, of adpistable length,

connects the arms or levers Zwith the coverl plate 3* of the hydraulic Ycylinder rlhe adjustment fof the cam plate upon fthe shaft i is such as to ensure that the compressing plunger will have completed the stroke imparted to it bythe lto,f 'gle mechanism and will have begun the kreturn movement be! fore the cross-heads and connected parts begin vto move. Thus pressure lupon the consolidated masses is relieved and the necessary increase in the dist-ance between the mould closure member V,and the plunger se'- eured that is required to release the mould closure member and permit it to move up wardly without contacting with the adjacent consolidated mass. i

`The cycle of operations-with the press hereinbefore described is as follows Under normal conditions of Working there are two consolidated masses in the mould c at'. the time when the plunger g completes its rearwardst-roke; during this stroke the mouldV is opened and a charge of the substance to be consolidated is forced in from'the vfeed hopper f. i

y During the Working or pressure stroke the plunger moves forward, closing the mould and compressing the charge trappedtherein so that the liquid contained by it is expressed between the vbars. el forming the mould.

At theV end ofthe pressure ystroke there are three consolidated masses in the mould.

rotation of the cam Z1 has caused no move-y ment of theppressing mechanismpbut inthe early part of the ,return stroke of the plunger, the cam causes the forward Vmovementof the crossfheads Z) and c and the bolts CZ, so that the plunger g is forced yforward-and the forward mass is ejected, the other two being moved` along the n'1ould,rlsaving space for a fresh charge.

vThe movementiof 'the kcross-head vZ) llifts the closure or pressurel plate b1 and operates the striker fbar 'and scraper Ywhich strikes offV the mass and scrapes' the faceof the mould. By the-time the plunger reaches the endof-'its return stroke, *the* cam has brought' the pressing mechanism back toy its normal pos'ition'fol1 Vthe consolidation ofithe n ext charge. A

The rejection stroke-isthe resultant oflthe combine-d motions of the crank andftoggle links7 andthe cam, and .its extent vcan be varie/dif 'desired by 'delaying'the action of the latter' by sliding the driving pinion outY of mesh` with they wheel Z, rotating the latter f on the crankshaft, andl bringing-the pinion into mesh again.

The charge to be consolidated maybe -prepared under various`conditions,'for example',

byfr'educing part ofthefiaw material with Waterto avery finely dividedand substantiallyY uniform condition, V`rsoithat a great portion will'V passthrougrh a screen of 200 meshes -to the linear inch, tov produce a slip orslurry, mixing they slip or slurry With-fthe remainder of the raw material in coarser or granular, but substantiallyuniform, particles adapted' to serve as a water filtering me'diumdistributed throughout the mass and brique/[ting the wet mass under high pressure in such manner as to filter the greater part of the water therefrom, or by producing an emulsion by grinding pitch to fine condition in water, mixing the said emulsion with the substance to be briquetted and heating the mixed mass to a temperature not exceeding 9,120 F and finally compressing the mixed mass for the expulsion of the water and for the production of a solid fand coherent block without further treatment. l

Means advantageously operated from the driving mechanism may be provided to effect the discharge of the consolidated masses from the moulds of the mould table and the discharge may be effected at a point below the mould chamber. The discharge mechanism may be operated from the main gear or from independent gear.

It will be understood that the invention is no-t limited to the features of construction hereinbefore described, since this may be obviously varie'd without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

l. In a briquette press, a stationary mould; means for feeding material to saidmould; a plunger adapted to compress said material in said mould; means for moving said plunger to effect said compression; andadditional means for moving said plunger, whereby its st-roke may be extended beyond that necessary to effect said compression, to 'discharge said material from said mould, said additional means operating during a portion of the return stroke of said fiist named means. n

In a briquette press, a stationary mould; means for feeding material to said mould; a plunger adapted to compress saidy material in said mould; means for moving said plunger to effect said compression; additional means for moving said plunger, whereby its stroke may be extended beyond that necessary to effect said compression, tol discharge said material from said mould, said additional means operating during a portion of the return stroke of said rst named means; and a yieldable connection interposed between said additional meansv return stroke of said iirstfnamed means; and a yieldable fiuid pressure connection between said additional means and said plunger, whereby the pressure of the latter in said mould may be controlled.

4. Inl a briquette press,- a stationary mould; means for feeding material to said mould; a. plunger adapted to compress said material in said mould; means for moving said plunger to effect said compression; additional means for moving said plunger to extend its stroke beyond thatobtainable by said first named means, said additional means operating during a portion of the return stroke of said first named means; a yieldable fluid. pressure connection between said additional means and said plunger, whereby the pressure of the latter in said mould may be controlled; and an ejecting member normally closing one end of said mould, said member being operable by movement of said additional means to open said mould and toeject a compressed briquette therefrom.

5. In a briquet-te press, a stationary mould; means for feeding material to said mould; a plunger adapted to compress said material in said mould; means including` .a toggle connection for moving said plunger to effect said compression; a bodily ino-vable fluid pressure cylinder; a piston in said cylinder, movable relative thereto; connections between said piston and said toggle connection, whereby the pressure exerted by said plunger in said mouldmay be controlled by the fluid pressure in said cylinder; and cam ice Y means for bodily moving ,said cylinderl whereby the length of the plunger stroke may be extended to eject the compressed material from said mould.

6. In a briquette press, a stationary mould; means for feeding material to said mould; a plunger adapted to compress said material in said mould; a plurality of connected cross-heads movable in the same direction as said plunger; means for moving` said plunger; a toggle connection. between said moving means, said plunger and one of said cross heads; a bodily movable fluid pressure cylinder; a piston in said cylinder, movable relative thereto; connections between said piston and said cross-head; whereby the pressure exerted by said plunger in said mould may be controlled by the fluid pressure in said cylinder; and cam Vmeans for bodily moving said cylinder, whereby the length of the plunger stroke may be extended A to eject the compressed .material from said mould.

7. I n a briquette press, a base, a stationary mould mounted on -said base; 'means for feeding material to said mould; a plunger adapted to compress said material in said mould; a plurality of links pivotally mounted on said base; a pluralitybof connected cross-heads; Carriedby said-links and movable in the same direction as saidplung'er; means for moving `said:k plunger; a toggle oonneotionbetweensaid moving mea-ns, said plunger and one of-gsaidoross heads.; a bodily plunger insaid mould may be oontrolledby v the luidzpressure in said cylinder; and cam means for bodily moving said cylinder, whereby the length ofl the plunger 'stroke may be extendedto eject the compressed material from said mould.

8. In da; briquette press, a Stationary mould,- means for feeding material to said -mouldg a plunger adapted to compress said material in said mould; a pair of Connected cross-,heads movable in the same direction as said plunger.; a mould closure mem-ber Carried by one of said cross-heads, means for moving said plunger; a toggle connection between said moving means, said plunger, andthe other. of said cross-beads, a bodily movable fluid'pressure cylinder; a piston in said cylinder; connections.' between said piston and last mentioned cross-head; Vand means for bodily moving said cylinder.

EDGAR HOUSE SUTCLIFFE.

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