US1764836A

US1764836A - Mechanical bricklayer device

Info

Publication number: US1764836A
Application number: US222828A
Authority: US
Inventors: Annibale A Guerini
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1927-09-29
Filing date: 1927-09-29
Publication date: 1930-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 1947-06-17

Description

June 17, 1930. A. A. GUERINI MECHANICAL BRICKLAYER DEVICE Filed Sept. 29, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l J n H 11W 1 I, .F .F .7 11, I T J. IIL II:IL BUUUUUUUUUHU BUHU Q a R Q R 3 N June 17, 1930. I GUERlNl I I 1,764,836

MECHANICAL BRICKLAYER DEVICE Filed Sept. 29, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 17, 1930. A. A. GUERINI MECHANICAL BRICKLAYER DEVICE Filed Sept. 29, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 17, 1930 UNIT STATES 'ATENT rr cE ANNIBALE'A. GUEBINI, OF NEW YORK, 'N. Y;

iv ncnnnrcen BRICKLAYER nnv rcn r A p ilication filed September 29 1927. Seria1 1 'o.222,828.

My ivention consists of a mechanical de vice which may be employed for settingbricks in wall. i

v The object of the invention consists in ade vice composed of'four parts, by whichit is possible to divide the work of the'bricklayer into several specialized 'pai'ts,1and have each man perform his ownspecial' work in order to obtain inoreefiicient and perfect work.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one practical embodiment of the invention, but

the device therein shown is to be understood as illustrative, only,and not as defining the' Figures 1 2 and 7.

Figure 7 isa top View of the pattern on enlarged-scale. j i Figures 8 and 10 are detail views of the transverse bars of the pattern;

T Figure 9 is a view of the lnside longitudi 11 al bars of the pattern.

Figure 11 is-a top vlewfof a wall'showing an opening and one corner vof'the wall, with the patterns for layingfbri'cks set in position. {Figure 12 1s a front view of a flat'arch.

Figure 13 is a front view on enlarged scale showing afiat arch.

Figure 14 is a top view of the truck'for the

E bars

6 and 7, see Figure 7,"are secured the

ears

1 and 13 provided with holes forlthe v dropping hammer. v v

Figure 15' is a longitudinal section on the line 15-15 of Figure 14;. i V Figure 16 isalongitudinal'section'on the line16e16 of Figure 15.

The mechanical bricklayer which is illus v trated in the accompany drawingsis nade for building'walls with sunken joints and embodies four parts, viz; E is the fraine for l ayin g the mortar, and is formed by the two sideslarid 2 and the two heads 3 and 4. The outside faces of the'two sides are made to come flush to the face of the wall, and the sides have a thickness equalto the depth of the sunken joints. The height ofthe sides is a trifle more than the thickness of the joints, which are brought afterwards to the desired thickness, by the action of the hammer over. the layed bricks as hereinafter described. The frame is adapted to be held firnilyin;

' PQSltlOH by tongues 5, secured lllBLlCll side thereof." The lower end of the tongues flare outwardly to facilitate the setting of the frame. The two heads 3 and ihave the same outline as the heads of the patternF, and the several segments of each head are secured together by screws, so as to make the frame rigid and at the salnetirne easy to dismantle and reassemblewhen it is desired to change the outside lines.

The pattern F has the same outline as the frame E, with the difference that the inside part of the two sides6 and 7 areadaptedto be flush with the wall. The pattern is coin- V posed of the

longitudinal bars

6,7,8, 9Yand 10 and the

transverse bars

11 and 64. The number of the longitudinal and the trans verse bars will vary in acco'rdancewith the thickness of the wall andthe position which the'bricks are to'belaid.

*The thickness of the inside"longitudinal bars 8, '9 and 10 and the transverse bars 11:

and 64 is a trifle less than the joints to be) formed between bricks, and the bars are set apart in accordance with the size of the brick.

"The inside longitudinal andthe transverse bars are of slightly less height tlian the outside longitudinalbars, so that they willbe free from contact with the mortar below. At one end of the two outside longitudinal pins 14- and 15, and at the oppositeend, these bars have two holes 16*and '17s The ears,

thepins and the holes serve to connect the patterns together, when several patterns are set in position end to end in a continuous line: i i

Near the ends and in both of the outside longitudinal bars are secured the braces 18 and"19,see Figure 5. 0n the lower en'dof these

braces

18 and 19 are fixed the plates 20.

The inside faces of the plates and braces are in vertical alinement with the inside faces of the outside

longitudinal bars

6 and 7. About midway of its length each of these braces is provided with a threaded hole for a threaded pin 21. The location of this pin must be accurately fixed, by calculating the thickness of the bricks to be used and the width of the joints to be allowed. A small error in the location of this pin is bound to result in error in the height of the openings for doors and windows. Each pin 21 has an adjustable collar 22 adapted to be locked in position by a set screw so as to prevent the pins from entering into the joints more than it is desired.

In the top of the outside

longitudinal bars

6 and 7 are holes 23 for hooks 24 fixed in the

transverse bars

11 and 64. WVhenever the 4 transverse barsll and 64 are part of the heads of the pattern, these bars,beside being hung to the longitudinal bars, arealso secured to them by screws, the screws to be used for this purpose being the 7 thumb screws 25. When securing the

ears

12 and 13,, the

braces

18 and 19 and the thumb screws 25 to the bars, care should be taken that they will not interfere with the flange of the wheels of the truck for the dropping hammer, presently to be described. i

In the top of the inside longitudinal bars are also vertical holes 23, see Figures 8, 9 and 10. The top part of each hole is out to form a channel and this channel will permit the hook of the transverse bars to descend until the top surface of the transverse-bars are flush with the top surfaces of all longitudinal bars. Below the vertical holes 23 are the threaded holes 26, these holes are at the same distance from the top surface of the bars as are the holes27 of the transverse bars. The transverse bars are of two dimensions, the bars 11 are a trifle longer than the'width of the brick, and the bars 64-are a trifle longer than the length of the brick. The section of the transverse bars is the same as the inside longitudinal bars, and on their ends are fixed the hooks 24 adjacent holes27. The hooks are used for connecting the transverse bars to the longitudinal bars. The pattern is made rigid by tightening the screws 25.

i The outside line of the grouting frame G is the same as the mortarllayer frame E, and to this grouting frame are secured the teeth 29. The inside faces of the teeth are flush with the inside faceof the longitudinal bars 30. The width of the teeth is a trifle less than the width of-the joints, and each tooth a trifle less in height than the thickness of the bricks. The teeth must be. accurately positioned on the transverse bars of the pattern. The purpose of the teeth is to close the opening of the joints at the fixed depth. 7 The truck for the dropping hammer is adapted to. run n top of the outside 'l'ongir tudinal bars of the patterns. The frame of the truck is composed of the two horizontal bars 31 and 32 to which are bolted the

inclined bars

33 and 34 and the transverse bar 35. At the front of the frame is secured the casing 36 for the dropping hammer 27 To the under part of the horizontal bars are secured the bearings for the shafts 38, 39, 4O and41. .The shaft 38 is composed of three parts and these three parts are united by the couplings 42 and 43. By dividing this shaft in three parts, it is possible to use the truck for building walls of different thickness. The truck is made adjustable for this purpose by lengthening the parts of the shaft to which are secured the flanged wheels 44 and 45, and by lengthening the two shafts to which are secured the flanged wheels 46 and On the shaft 38 is fixed a gear 48 which drives a gear 49 secured on the shaft 39. On shaft 39 are fixed'the

toothed wheels

50 and 51. When rotated,the teeth 52 of these wheels will engage lugs 53 fixed to the hammer 37, and will raise the hammer, and as soon as the teeth are released from the lugs, the hammer will drop. In the opposite ends of the hammer casing are openings 54 in which move the bars 55 of the hammer. Across these openings are secured the stops 56, the purpose of which is to prevent the hammer from striking the longitudinal bars after the bricks are driven down to a point at which the top faces of the bricks are sub-v stantially flush with the top faces of the bars. In the rear of the casing are slots in which the lugs 53 operate. The truck is moved by a handle 57 which is secured to the shaft 38. v

The pattern for building the arches is composed of thin strips 58, to which are fixed channels 59 (Figures 12 and 13) The strips are laid on top and securedto the wooden form 60 below. In the channels are inserted the bars 61 which have a thickness equal to the width of the joints. If the bricks fortheconstruction of the arch are of. conventional size, the bars 61 must be narrowat the bottom and wide on top, but if the bricks are made to the radius of the arch, then the bars 61 are about of the same thickness throughout their length. The tops of the bars 61 enter in channels 62 fixed to the strips 63. The positions of the channels must,'of course, be in'accordance with the radius of the arch.

In order to get the best results through the use of the apparatus of this invention, it is necessary to have the bricks in such condition that they may be handled rapidly so as not to delay the work for the preparation of brick s. I find it desirable, in practice, to prepare anumber of bricks before starting the work. That is to say, in building some walls it is necessary to usehalf brick lengths.

A number of such half brick lengths should be provided thatithey are ready at hand. The cutting of the bricks may be accomplished by machines well known to the trade and forms no part fo this invention; 7

Ordinarily the work of building a wall is carried on by one or more men, each of wh1ch men are assigned to a particular portlon of the wall and each man places his own par- 1 ticular part of the wall.

In accordance with the present invention, in contradistinction, the several men who are engaged in building the wall with the apparatus of this invention operate conjointly upon the work to'be done and cooperate in the use of the apparatus so thatthe several courses are built up throughout the length of the wall by the use of themachine as carried on by a gang of men which manipulate it.

In practice, the apparatus may be operated with such rapidity that the highest efficiency generally demands about six men. For example, the work is started by the mortar man whose duty it is to set one or' more mortar frames E end to end along the line of the wall. For the first few courses the downward projections of the motar i0 V V sirable in practlce to use three patterns at a and fills in the confines of the frame. The

mortar is smoothed ofi at the top of the frame by the use of a straight edge and the frame may then be removed and placed at the end of the row of frames. which is being set up.

As soon as the mortar frame is removed from the mortar, the man in charge of the pattern frame sets the pattern right on top of the mortar layer being careful to note that the pins 21 enter into thepredetermined joint and these pins are then turned up tight against the collars and the four thumb screws 25 are tightened. During this work, it is detime positioned end'to' end. This minimizes errors in length and vertical and horizontal levels. At-thesame time as-the second orpattern man is setting the pattern, the first man will have laid another batch of mortar so that thepattern man can set additional patterns as he removes them from their-previous position. The consecutive patterns are, connected by the pins 14; and 15. 'If these not properly fit in the holes of ad acent patterns, it will be apparent at once that pins do the pattern is not being set correctly and appropriate correction may be made.

As the pattern man finishes setting the pat-.

tern, the brick man fills the pattern with bricks received from a hod carrier or wheel.- barrow man in order that the bricks may be quickly and expeditiously supplied to the brick layer. The hammer apparatus is preferably operated by another man whose duty it is to attend to this machine exclusively. As soon as the patterns are filled with bricks, the hammer man sets the truck carrying the hammer on the top of the pattern withthe flange wheels run on the outside longitudinal bars thereof. The truck is run back and forth until the bricks (see Figure 5) which proj ect above the patterns are depressed by blows of the reciprocating hammer until they become flush with the top faces of the bars.

After thebricks are properly tamped or hammered into place as specifiedby the hammer apparatus, this apparatus is moved on to the next pattern and immediately the pattern which has just been finished is removed and placed on the forward end of the row vwhich is being builtnp. The grouting frame is next set over the bricks just laid. A sepa= rate man preferably handles this work. He

sets the grouting frame over the hammered bricks and makes sure that the teeth 29 enter the transverse joints of the bricks so. as to give proper depth to the joints. After a grouting. frame is in position, a quantity of rout is dum ed into the frame and withthe b P help of a trowel or scraper, the grout is caused to sink into the joints between the bricks.

The grout is preferably fairly stiff so that as soon as it has been placed in position the grout frame can be removedand set into another section further along.

It will thus be apparent that when several men are working along the same course and operating the several parts of the apparatus, the work proceeds very rapidly and at the same time with mechanical uniformity. In

practice, the speed with which the bricks can be laid by thisapparatus is greatly in excess of that at which even the best brick layer can;

lay them and work is moreover more uniform than could be done by hand- Furthermore, skilled bricklayers are not required to do the work as relatively unskilled labor has been found to give thoroughly satisfactory results.

At the end of each course, it is necessary to have the patterns set for the next course sothe bricks of the next course are laid across the joints below. This operation is easily accomplished. The'transverse bars arev unbooked, the head bars areunscrewed from the longitudinal .bars, and the new compartments of the pattern will be assembled so that the transverse bars will be in the center of the bricks" below. j l Vhenever the courses are madewith-the bricks on end the inside longitudinal bars areredu'ced inquantity and the short transversebars 11 are substituted with thetransversebars 64. However, as the sets of frames andpatterns-are not veryex-pensive, it is practical to have a few sets for each different course. The set of patterns for the corners and openings are made expressly for the purpose.

In Figure 11, a wall in the making is shown and in this view a number of patterns are in position to receive the bricks. In most of these patterns, the bricks have been placed while in one of them, the bricks are omitted. The section H corresponds to a solid portion of the wall, while the section L corresponds to anopening such as a door or window opening. There are no bricks in this section, but the pattern has been incorporated in order that proper spacing of the patterns for the sections H and M may be obtained. Furthermore, certain bricks have been omitted at the adjacent ends of the sections H and M so as to form jambs at the opening. The section N shows corner construction and as here illustrated, these corner patterns are especially made for the purpose and the compartments therein are appropriatevto particular courses. It will be'ap'parent, however, that special'corner sections are not essential andthat the corners may be set by the use of the re ular wall molds.

i or the building of an arch, straight or curved, the pattern is composed of a lower strip 58 which is set on top the form 60, and the bars 61 which are inserted in the

channels

59 and 62. The bars are a trifle wider than the interior joint of the bricks, so that one bar will support the edges of two bricks. The bricks are laid over the bars, starting from the two sides toward the center. After the bricks are laid, the joints are filled with grout and when the grout has started to set, the top strip 63 is removed and the bars 61 are pulled up. The holes left by the bars are filled with grout. i

From the above descripti0n,it is evident that in building a wall with the mechanical bricklayer, it is not necessary to have skilled and experienced bricklayers, as the responsibility for accuracy rests on the architect wh -o provides the plans. By using the mechanlcalbricklayer, the walls are built more accurately than is possible when the bricks are laid by hand as heretofore. Moreover, the

joints will be all filled. Besides the above advantages, the mechanical bricklayer af-. fords a saving of labor, as there is no loss of time in plumbing or aligning as when the work is done by hand.

Having thus fully'described' the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. In a mechanical bricklayer, a pattern d1- vided into compartments shaped to receive the bricks-to be laidand suitably disposed to produce a staggered relation between the respective bricks. and means for maintaining the pattern in horizontal position on a wall and: against inadvertent movement in a di rection perpendicular to the face of the wall, said means-comprisinga lurality of supporting projections carried by the pattern and arranged to extend into the joints between previously laid courses of bricks to support the pattern in firm position directly upon an already built portion of the wall.

2. In a mechanical bricklayer, a pattern divided into compartments shaped to receive the bricks to be laid and suitably disposed to produce a staggered relation between the respective bricks, and means for supporting the pattern in horizontal position on a wall andat a predetermined distance from the next subjacent course of bricks, said means comprising a plurality of supporting projections carried by the pattern and arranged to extend into joints between previously laid courses of bricks to support the pattern in firm position directly upon an already built portion of the wall.

3. In a mechanical bricklayer, a pattern embodying a plurality of compartments adapted to receive bricks and space them apart in predetermined relation, and means for supporting the pattern in horizontal position on a wall and in desired vertical spaced relation above the next subjacent course of bricks in the wall, said means comprising a plurality of supporting projections carried by the pattern and arranged to extend into joints. between previously laid courses of bricks to support the pattern in firm position directly upon an already built portion of the wall.

v 4. In a mechanicalbricklayer, a pattern embodying a plurality of longitudinally eX- tending bars with spacing elements positioned between the bars to space said bars apart and form therewith a plurality of compartments adapted to receive bricks in predetermined spaced apart relation, means for detachably securing the longitudinal bars and transverse spacing elements rigidly to gether, and means for supporting the pattern in predetermined relation to the preceding courses of brick in a partially built wall.

5. In a mechanical bricklayer, a pattern embodying a plurality of longitudinally extending bars with spacing elements positioned between the bars to space said bars apart and form therewith a plurality of compartments adapted to receive bricks in predetermined spaced apart relation, means for detachably securing the longitudinal bars an'dtransverse spacing elements rigidly together, means for supportingthe pattern in predetermined relation to the preceding courses of brick in a partially built wall, and brick setting mechanism embodying a wheeled truckadapted to ride on the longitudinal bars of the pattern, andbrick setting means carried by said truck and operable upon bricks contamedin the compartments to set the bricks into a bed of mortar provided beneath them.

6. In a mechanical bricklayer, a pattern embodying compartments in which bricks are adapted to be positioned, means for supporting the pattern in horizontal position above a bed of mortar, and a reciprocating hammer supported on the pattern and operable upon the bricks to drive the bricks down to a proper seat in the mortar bed.

7. In a mechanical bricklayer, a pattern embodying compartments in which bricks are adapted to be positioned, means for supporting the pattern in horizontal position above a bed of mortar, a wheeled carriage mounted to traverse the top of the pattern, and hammering mechanism on said carriage to hammer the bricks contained in the pattern to a proper seat in the bed of mortar.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a pattern embodying longitudinal bars spaced apart by spacing elements which form with the bars compartments adapted to receive bricks in predetermined spaced apart relation, and means for detachably securing the spacing elements to the bars, whereby the parts may be dismantled and reassembled to vary the relation between the compartments.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a pattern embodying longitudinal bars spaced apart by spacing elements which form with the bars compartments adapted to receive bricks in predetermined spaced apart relation, means for detachably securing the spacing elements to the bars, whereby the parts may be dismantled and reassembled to vary the relation between the compartments, and means for supporting the pattern in horizontal position above a partially built wall. 1

10. In an assembly of the character described, a pattern embodying a plurality of compartments adapted to receive bricks, and means for supporting the pattern in horizontal position on a partially built wall and in predetermined spaced relation above the next preceding course of previously laid bricks, said means comprising a plurality of supporting projections carried by the pattern and arranged to extend into joints between previously laid courses of bricks to support the pattern in firm position directly upon an already built portion of the wall.

11. In an assembly of the character described, a pattern embodying a'plurality of compartments adapted to receive bricks, and supporting devices secured to the pattern for supporting the pattern on a wall in level horizontal position and at a predetermined distance above a previously laid course ofbrick and in correct, lateral adjustment to insure vertical building of the wall said means comprising a plurality of supporting projections carried by the pattern and arranged to extend into the joints between previously laid ANNIBALE A. GUERINI.