US1911011A

US1911011A - Pottery making

Info

Publication number: US1911011A
Application number: US504826A
Authority: US
Inventors: Brotz Anton Frank
Original assignee: Kohler Co
Current assignee: Kohler Co
Priority date: 1930-12-26
Filing date: 1930-12-26
Publication date: 1933-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 1950-05-23

Description

May 23, 1933. A, F BROTZ 1,911,011

POTTERY MAKING Filed Dec. 26, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITN SSES V g (1 I, -u

ATTORNEY A. F. BROTZ POTTERY MAKING May 23, 1933.

Filed Dec. 26, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG&

INVENTOR ATTOQ N E g May 23, 1933.

A. F. BRQTZ POTTERY MAKING Filed Dec. 26, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 6

FIG. 5

FIG. 8

Lw INVENTOR EIG. 7

I I WITNESSES ATTORNE May 23, 1933. BRQTZ 1,911,011

POTTERY MAKING Filed Dec. 26, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 8 III-c1. 1O

245 INVENTOIQ WITNESSES a w V. Ii

W A-ra-R Patented May 23, 1933 UNITED STATES T ,F ICE ANTON FRANK BRO'IZ, OF KOHLER, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO .KOHLER COMPANY, OF KOHLER, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF VIISCONSIN POTTERY MAKING Application file'd December 26, 1330. :Serial No. 504,826.

This invention .has for its object to produce for the kiln, pottery plumbing ware or the like, such as bathtubs, lavatories, Water closets, and so forth, by pressure.

The present method of producing such enough to stand alone for treatment in the drier kiln and the baking kiln. This drying in the mold requires considerable time even though the mold is made up of thick plaster of Paris Walls in order to draw the Water fromthe clayand expedite the drying. Large floor space is required to accommodate the filled molds during the drying period of something like twenty-four hours.

It is the object of the present invention to avoid all of this delay and storage space for drying in the molds by squeezing the clay in metal molds under a very high degree of pressure using only sufiicient moisture in thepowderedclay with which the molds are filled to cause it to bindunder such pressure and per- .mit the article tobe immediately ejected from .the mold containing only that amount of moisture that is contained by thearticle produced by the old method. Thus the steps of .30 filling the mold, subjecting it to pressure to fornithe article, stripping it from the mold and introducing it into the drier and baking kilns follow each other successively Without loss of time andmay constitute a continuous 3 operation.

Another object of the inventionris to perfeet details of construction of the mechanism usedforcarrying out this method.

lVith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in themethod and apparatusformaking pottery as herein claimed and all equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in whiclrlike characters of reference indicate the sameparts in different views,

Fig. 1 is ageneral sectional front elevation of the apparatus used in carrying out the pottery making method of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof With parts sectioned on the plane ofline 22 of'Fig. 1;

.a sectionof thetrackQQ maybe ,rails 25 carried'on the .platformofa car 26 Fig. 3 is a side elevation .of the press with the mold ,in position to receive pressure;

Fig. AL is a side elevation-of the extractor with the mold in position therein;

Fig.5 is a detailsectional view-of the mold as itIenters ,the press, having been .filled With moist granular clay and having had :the bottonrforming die placed thereon;

Figs-6, 7 and 8 are detail sectional views of successive steps .of operation .ofqthe .press on the mold;

Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional elevations ,of the extractor before .and after removing .the outsidedie with clay article from the inside die;

Figs. 11,12 and 13 are sectionaldetailviews of successive positions of the extractor in stripping the article from the mold, and

Fig. 14 is a diagram showing the successive stepsofthe this invent-ion.

In these drawings, 20 represents Wheeled trucks, eachihavingpermanently and rigidly fastened on it aninside die 21 shaped to correspond With-.theinsideof ,the article being manufactured. The article chosen for the purpose of illustration is a flushing tank, though bathtubs, .lavatories, Water closets and the like pottery plumbingare orother articles may be made instead. The trucks 20 travel on elevated tracks 22 connecting a hyd raulic press 23 and ,ahydraulic extractor 24.

For convenience in supplying the trucks with their molds conditioned .for squeezing, formedby traveling on a track27. The assembling and filling of the molds may bedoneat a convenient distance and then the carsbearing thememay be brought into-register with the tracks 22 and the trucks run first {to the press.-andthentothe extractor and thenback to the carand then conducted away to-repeat.

Referring to Fig. 5, it will .be observed that the inside dielQl has ,ashoulder 28 entirely surrounding it and upon this shoulder rests a segmental strippingringQS). An. outside die '30-restson supporting pins, 31, which arepivotally mountedon the :baseof theinside die and which are received in'notches in pottery making method of the upper edge of the lower edge of the outside die. The stripping ring 29 just fits within the outside die 30, and shoulder 28, being of the same size and shape, is capable of doing likewise, but as long as the supporting pins 31 stand upright the outside die is prevented from telescoping the shoulder and its lower edge is at the top of the shoulder and the bottom of the stripping ring. The stripping ring serves to space the inside die from the outside die and is therefore of the thickness of the walls of the article to be produced.

hen the parts are so assembled the top of the outside die is very much higher than the top of the inside die and into this space and the mold cavity between the dies is poured the material of which the article is to be made. This material is in granular or powdered form as distinguished from the liquid or plastic condition in which it has been previously molded and consists of clay which has been ground in a tube mill or the like and to which a definite amount of moisture has been added in a mixer so that it is merely damp. To give an idea of the degree of moisture added to the clay so that it is merely damp it may be said that it contains the proper degree of moisture for the purpose when a handful, squeezed in the hand, will just form a ball, as there is just sufficient moisture present to cause it to cohere under the pressure that can be exerted by the hand. The proper degree of moisture is what is known in the art as between stiff and half stiff. Instead of adding moisture, the clay may be dried only to a point where it contains the proper amount of moisture and then ground and used without being sprayed.

The mold cavity is filled with this damp clay, a predetermined quantity thereof being used as by striking it off flush with the top of the outside die. A bottom-forming die 32 of a size and shape to just lit in the upper end of the outside die is placed thereon and constitutes a plunger for exerting pressure upon the entire body of clay.

The inside die 21, the outside die 30, to-

' gether with the stripping ring 29 for spacing them apart, and the botton'i-forming die 32,

constitute the mold and are all formed of heavy metal capable of withstanding greatpressure without distortion.

The mold prepared in this manner, as shown in Fig. 5, is conducted to the press 23, as before mentioned, where its truck is engaged by the press head and the entire truck and mold are lifted thereby, bringing first the bottom-forming die 32 against the overhead reaction member and then forcing same within the outside die until the outside die engages the reaction member of the press, as shown in Fig. 6. Pressure then released slightly, permitting the supporting pins 31 to be swung out from beneath the outside die, is shown in Fig. 7, and then pressure is again applied, causing the outside die to telescope the shoulder 28 and engage the base as shown in Fig. 8. When this position of the parts is reached the mold cavity has been contracted to the size of the finished article and the clay has been compressed at the sides as well as at the top, or what is the bottom of the article, so that it is of substantially uniform density throughout. This pressure in actual practice on articles as illustrated reaches as much fourteen hundred pounds per square inch. Having locked thestripping ring 29 by means of hand sci-e vs 51 in its new position within the outside die, to which it has been moved by the action of the press, it is then necessary to transfer the mold to the extractor 24 to extract the article therefrom, and for this purpose the press head 23 is lowered, returning the truck to the track on which it is shuttled over to the extractor 24.

On entering the extractor the truck edges pass beneath stationary hooks 34, as shown in Fig. 4, which hooks are fixed in position and serve to prevent the truck from being lifted from the rails with the lifting action e:-;erted on the outside die when stripping the article from the inside die.

Besides the stationary hooks 34 that are securely fastened to beams 35 of heavy rigid framework 36, the extractor, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, comprises a hydraulic cylinder 37 having its piston 38 carrying a rectangular lifting frame 39, which is guided by rollers 4O bearing on uprights of the frame 36. Swinging hooks 41 mounted on the upper horizontal beam of lifting frame 39 engage with lifting lugs 42 formed on the outside die 30. Also a ram 43 is slidably mounted in a vertical guide 44 on the rigid frame 36 and carries at its lower end a ram head with openings suitable for receiving a pair of upstanding lugs 45 on the bottom-forming die 32 while wedges 46 driven through transverse openings in said lugs securely lock the ram head to the bottom-forming die. A wire cable 47 suspends the ram 43 by passing around pulleys 48 and carries a counterweight 49 and a handle rod 50 by means of which the ram may be raised or lowered.

On being admitted to the extractor the truck becomes engaged by the stationary hooks 34, as explained. Then the lifting frame 39 is lowered and the lifting hooks 41 engaged with the lugs 42 of the outside die and the ram 43 is lowered and the ram-head is locked on the lugs 45 of the bottom-forming die 32 so that parts are in the position shown in Fig. 9. Now the lifting frame 39 is raised by the hydraulic cylinder and the outside die with the molded article is stripped from the inside die, as shown in Fig. 10, the stripping ring 29 compelling the article to remain with the outside die as the parts of the mold are separated. The truck with the insidedie is non removed and the hand screws 51 are then turned to unlock the stripping ring and said stripping ring is removed, as shown in Fig. 11. At this stage it is usua to cut or punch the various openings in the clay article that are required, templates being used as guides for this purpose.

A stationary table 52 then has placed upon it in a predetermined position a supporting frame comprising a light hollow core-like supporting rack 53 detachably mounted on a base 54, the rack having bail handles 55 by which it is attached to the base, and having a spring-pressed plun er 56 at its top forming a light cushioning bearing surface. In the spotted position of the supporting frame it is directly beneath the suspended mold and the latter is then lowered thereon by lowering the lifting frame 39 to a position, as shown in Fig. 12, in which the clay article is almost seated on the supporting frame. The ram 43 is now locked by inserting a pin 57 through an opening thereof, as shown in Fig. 13, so that it will prevent upward movement of the ram. The lifting frame 39 is then raised to lift the outside die 30 while the ram with the bottom-forming die 32- remains stationary, thus stripping the outside die from the work and permitting the work to drop lightly upon the spring plunger of the supporting frame without injury. A slight draft may be given the mold cavity to facilitate the stripping of the inside die and of the outside die.

The molded article may now be removed on its rack and subjected to the usual trimming and slicking operations that are performed by hand and may have the outlet opening punched in the bottom, if this has not been formed by the dies, so as to complete it for immediate admission to the drying and baking kilns. 7

It is of the same moisture content and degree of plasticity as the cured product that has been poured as a liquid clay slip and allowed to dry and harden in plaster of Paris molds, but instead of requiring the long period of drying it has been produced at once. The very high degree of pressure to which it has been subjected serves to cause the clay to cohere with only that degree of moisture that the slip product contains after drying in plaster of Paris molds. On account of the fluid nature of the granular clay material used and the fact that pressure is applied first at the larger end of the mold cavity and then at the other the material itself as well as the pressure to which it is subjected is evenly distributed throughout the body with the result that all portions of the wall of the compressed article are of the same density and of the same degree of dryness.

The article is able to stand alone and to evenbear the weight of other articles placed upon it, as is customary in kiln practice. It is immediately subjected to drier kiln action after being stripped from the mold and receiving the hand trimming and slicking, for the rack only remains within it during these hand operations as a means for moving it from place to place and for turning it while being thus handled.

It is to be understood that the pressure to which the material is subjected is not for squeezing water out of the material. No water is forced from-it during the compressing operation for there is insufficient moisture present to permit thereof. The material, as compared with the liquid slip previously used, may be considered as dry, but, as previously explained, it is dampened by an atomized spray of moisture in a mixer to uniformly dampen it so that the pressure will cause it to cohere. Vfhen stripped from the mold the surface is smooth and dry to the same extent as with articles that'have cured the full time in plaster of Paris molds.

lVhen the finished article is removed from the extractor on its rack and the supporting frame is removed from the table the truck with the inside die is returned, the stripping ring is replaced thereon, and the lifting frame 39 is lowered to lower the outside die in place on the pins 31, which have been raised for that purpose. The handle rod 50 is pulled downwardly to lift the bottom-forming die so that it can be removed and the truck is then rolled back to the car and taken to a convenient place for refilling the mold. The next mold, which in the meantime has been subjected to the action of the press 23, is then ready to be run into the extractor and the stripping operation is repeated.

The method of producing clay forms for pottery making in accordance with this invention is represented diagrammatically in Fig. 14, wherein 60 is a grinder by which clay is pulverized to powder, 62 is a mixer to agitate the fine clay powder while it is be ing homogeneously dampened or moistened by an

atomizer

63, 23 is the press for compressing it in a mold to a solid mass, 24 is the extractor for stripping the clay article from the mold as a self-sustaining form, 64 is a kiln in which the form is dried, and 65 is a kiln in which it is baked.

The press-ed molded clay articles formed in accordance with this invention are equal or superior in quality to those produced by the use of liquid clay slip in plaster of Paris molds, though they are produced within a few minutes as compared With the several days necessary for the others, with the great saving in expense incident to the avoidance of storage space necessary for drying within the molds and drying the molds themselves. This is primarily due to the avoidance of moisture in excess of that'required to cause the clay to cohere in a solid mass capable of sustaining itself during kiln drying and firing. The cost as well as the time is greatly reduced, making possible continuous quantity production.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of producing pottery which consists in pulverizing dry clay, then dampening this granular material by subjecting it to an atomized spray while being agitated until it is neither dry nor plastic but will just cohere to form a ball when compressed in the hand, then placing this damp granular clay in molds and subjecting it to pressure to cause it to cohere and form a solid body having a slippery moist surface, then stripping the clay body from the mold and baking it in a kiln.

2. The method of producing pottery ware which consists in compressing in a mold damp granular clay between stiff and half stiff until it coheres to form a solid article that is self-sustaining, and then baking the self-sustaining article in a kiln.

3. The method of producing clay pottery ware in the raw state ready for introduction to a kiln for drying and baking which consists in compressing pulverized damp granular clay material of a consistency between stiii and half stiff in a mold to a degree at which the clay coheres to form a solid self-sustaining article having a slippery moist surface.

4;. In the art of manufacturing pottery ware, the step of producing self-sustaining molded clay articles ready for treatment in the kiln, without the use of moisture-absorbing molds and the delay incident thereto, which step consists of compressing in molds granular dampened clay material containing only that degree of moisture that will cause the clay to cohere and form a ball when compressed in the hand.

5. The method of producing pottery from granular moist clay which consists in compressing the clay within a mold by applying pressure first at one end of the mold and then at the other.

6. The method of producing pottery from granular moist clay which consists in compressing the clay within a mold having a mold cavity larger at one end than at the other by applying pressure first at the larger end of the mold cavity and then at the other.

7. The method of producing hollow ware pottery having a bottom and side walls from granular moist clay, which consists in compressing the clay within a mold having a mold cavity corresponding with the bottom and side walls of the hollow ware by applying pressure first at the bottom-forming end of the mold cavity and then at the other end.

, 8. The method of producing hollow ware pottery having a bottom and side walls from granular moist clay, which consists in compressing the clay within a mold having a mold cavity corresponding with the bottom and side walls of the hollow ware by applying pressure first at the outside of the bottomfo'rming end of the mold cavity and then at the inside of the bottom-forming end of the mold cavity.

9. An independent portable mold for forming pottery by subjecting moist granular clay to pressure, comprising an outside die, and end members telescoping therewith for movement relative thereto for compressing the material from both ends when subjected to the action of a press. 7

10. An independent portable mold for forming pottery by subjecting moist granular clay to pressure, comprising an outside die. end members telescoping therewith for movement relative thereto for compressing the material from both ends when subjected to the action of a press, and means for temporarily preventing the telescopic movement of one on d member for causing the end members to act successively in compressing the material.

11. A mold for forming pottery by subjecting moist granular clay to pressure, comprising an outside. die, end members positioned for movement relative thereto for compressing the material from both ends when subjected to the action of a press, and supporting pins pivotally mounted on one of the end members and engaging the outside die'for temporarily preventing the relative movement therebetween and causing the end members to act successively in compressing the material.

12. An independent portable mold for forming hollow ware pottery by subjecting moist granular clay to pressure, comprising an outside die, and an inside die and a bottom-forming die telescoping therewith at opposite ends for compressing the material between them.

13. A mold for forming hollow ware pottery by subjecting moist granular clay to pressure, comprising an outside die, an inside die and a bottom-forming die telescoping therewith at opposite ends for compressing the material between them, there being a shoulder on the inside die to form the tele scoping fit with the outside die, a sectional stripping ring on said shoulder fitting between the inside die and the outside die, and means for locking the stripping ring to the outside die.

14. A mold for forming hollow ware pottery by subjecting moist granular clay to pressure, comprising an outside die, an inside die and a bottom-forming die telescoping therewith at opposite ends for compressing the material betweenthem, there being a shoulder on the inside die to form the telescoping fit with the outside die, a sectional stripping ring on said shoulder fitting bethe material between them, and an tween the inside die and the outside die, and supporting pins pivotally mounted on the inside die for engaging the outside die to prevent the telescoping movement between them.

15. Mechanism for forming hollow ware pottery by subjecting moist granular clay to pressure, comprising an Outside die, an 1nside die and a bottom-forming die telescoping therewith at opposite ends forming a contracting mold for compressing the material, a wheeled truck carrying the inside die, a track on which the truck travels, and a press having a plunger for lifting the truck and mold from the track and having a reaction member for engaging the bottom-forming die and the outside die.

16. Mechanism for forming hollow ware pottery by subjecting moist granular clay to pressure, comprising an outside die, an in side die and a bottonrforming die telescoping therewith at opposite ends forming a contracting mold for compressing the material, there being a shoulder on the inside die to form the telescoping fit with the outside die,

a sectional stripping ring on said shoulder fitting between the inside die and the outside die, a wheeled truck carrying the inside die, a track on which the truck travels, and a press having a plunger for lifting the truck and mold from the track and having a reaction member for engaging the bottom-forming die and the outside die.

17. Mechanism for forming hollow ware pottery by subjecting moist granular clay to pressure, comprising an outside die, an inside die and a bottom-forming die telescoping therewith at opposite ends for compressing the material between them, a wheeled truck on which the inside die is fast, a press receiving the truck for pressing the dies together to compress the material between them, and an extractor for receiving the truck from the press, comprising stationary members engaging the truck for holding the inside die against movement,a pressure-operated lifting member, means thereon for engaging the out side die for lifting it from the inside die with the compressed clay article moving therewith, a ram engaging the bottomforming die, and means for locking the ram whereby movement of the outside die ejects the compressed clay article therefrom.

18. Mechanism for forming hollow ware pottery by subjecting moist granular clay to pressure, comprising an outside die, an inside die and a bottom-forming die telescoping therewith at opposite ends for compressing the material between them, there being a shoulder on the inside die to form the telescoping fit with the outside die, a stripping ring on the shoulder, a wheeled truck on which the inside die is fast, a track on which the truck travels, a press receiving the truck and pressing the dies together to compress extractor for receiving the truck from the press comprising stationary members engaging the truck for holding the inside die against movement, a pressure-operated lifting member, means thereon for engaging the outside die for lifting it from the inside die, a ram engaging tho bottom-forming die, and means forlocking the ram whereby movement of the outside die'ejects the compressed clay article therefrom.

l9. Mechanism for forming hollow ware pot ery by subjecting moist granular clay to pressure comprising an outside die, an inside die and a bottran-forming die telescoping therewith at opposite ends for compressing the material between them, there being a shoulder on the inside die to form the telescoping fitwith the outside die, a sectional stripping ring on said shoulder fitting between the inside die and the outside die, a wheeled truck on which the inside die is fast, a track on which the truck travels, a press receiving the truck and pressing the dies together to compress the material between them, means for locking the stripping ring'in the position to which it is moved by the operation of the press, an extractor for receiving the truck from the press comprising stationary members engaging the truck for locking the inside die against movement, a pressureoperated lifting member, means thereon for engaging the outside die for lifting it from the inside die with the compressed clay article moving therewith and engaged by the stripping ring, a ram engaging the bottom-forming die, and means for locking the ram whereby movement of the outside die ejects the compressed clay article after the stripping ring is removed.

20. Mechanism for forming hollow ware pottery by subjecting moist granular clay to pressure comprising an outside die, an inside die and a bottom-forming die telescoping therewith at opposite ends for compressing the material between them, an extractor comprising stationary means for engaging the inside die to prevent movement thereof, a pressure-operated lifting member having means for engaging the outside die for lifting it from the inside die with the compressed clay article moving therewith, a ram engaging the bottom-forming die, means for locking the ram whereby movement of the outside die causes the bottom-forming die to eject the compressed clay article, and a rack substituted for the inside die for receiving the article as it is ejected.

21. Mechanism for forming hollow ware pottery by subjecting moist granular clay to pressure comprising an outside die, an inside die and a bottom-forming die telescoping therewith atopposite ends for compressing the material between them, an extractor comprising stationary means for engaging the inside die to prevent movement thereof, a

pressure-operated lifting member having means for engaging the outside die for lifting it from the inside die with the compressed clay article moving therewith, a ram engaging the bottom-forming die, means for locking the ram whereby movement of the outside die causes the bottom-forming die to eject the compressed clay article, a rack substituted for the inside die for receiving the article as it is ejected, anda spring cushion on the rack to engage the bottom of the article on the inside thereof.

22. In the art of manufacturing vitreous china plumbing ware, the method of producing articles in the raw state of the same consistency and physical characteristics as articles produced from liquid clay slip and allowed to dry to a pre-determined moisture content by having the water absorbed therefrom by plaster of Paris molds, which-consists of granulating dry clay material, adding water thereto to give such ganular clay material said pre-determined moisture content, and then subjecting such ganular clay material of pre-determined moisture content to pressure within molds.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

ANTON FRANK BROTZ.