US609547A - Machine for cleaning bricks - Google Patents

Description

Patented Aug. 23, I898. I. HOWARD.

MACHINE FOR CLEANING BRICKS.

(Application filed Apr. 11, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

Inventor.

W'ilnesses.

Attorneys No. 609,547. Patented Aug. 23, I898.

S. I. HOWARD.

MACHINE FOR CLEANING BRICKS.

(Applicafiimi filed Apr. 11, 1898.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Inventor.

6. EX. ZPGMWW Attorneys.

Witnesses.

THE NORRIS PETERS co. wumoumou WASHINGTON, 9,1:

llNrn STATES PATENT Enron.

SAMUEL I. HOWARD, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR CLEANING BRICKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 609,547, dated August 23, 1898.

Application filed April 11, 1898.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, SAMUEL I. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Machine for Cleaning Bricks, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is 110 provide a simple, efficient, and inexpensive machine for removing mortar from old bricks;

To this end my invention consists of the parts and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of amachine for cleaning old bricks constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an end view; and Figs. l'to 6, inclusive, are detail views of the relativelymovable platforms or cleaning-surfaces.

In tearing away or remodeling building constructions the bricks which have been once used are left with mortar adhering to their faces, which must be removed before the bricks can again be used. The ordinary practice in cleaning old bricks at the present time is to chip or knock off the mortar from the faces thereof by hand. This method of cleaning bricks is necessarily slow and expensive, and by careless work in removing mortar from the faces of the bricks many of the bricks which would otherwise be saved are broken, so that their value is destroyed. The greater part of the mortar which adheres to old bricks is ordinarily found adhering to the upper and lower faces thereof, the sides and ends of the bricks being comparatively clean, and I have found in practice that by scouring or rubbing the top and bottom surfaces of old bricks free from mortar such bricks will be sufliciently clean to permit them to be readily used again; and the especial object of my present invention is therefore to providea machine which will scour or clean the top and bottom surfaces of old bricks and incidentally will knock off the mortar which adheres tothe sides or ends of the bricks.

A machine for cleaning old bricks con- Serial No. 677,137. (No model) a framework of any ordinary or approved construction, two substantially parallel platforms or cleaning-surfaces, and means for producing a relative to-and-fro movement between the platforms.

, The frame of the machine is preferably formed of angle-irons,which are bolted or riveted together, so as to form a light, strong, and inexpensive construction.

The platforms are slightly inclined and are preferably supported so that they can'be adjusted to different inclinations to retain the bricks between them for longer or shorter periods, as may be necessary, on account of the different character of the mortar which is found adhering to the bricks being operated upon.

In the machine which I have illustrated adjustable cross-pieces are employed for sup- L porting the platforms, so that by changing one or both of such cross-pieces the platforms may be arranged at the desired inclination.

y The lower platform is somewhat longer.

than the upper platform, so as to extend from one end of the machine to receive the bricks which are to be operated upon, and it is preferably constructed from wooden planks having angle-irons at its side, which extend up above the top surface of the planks, so as to retain the bricks thereon while being operated upon.

The upper platform is somewhat wider than the lower platform, so as to form a coverplate therefor, and the sides of the wooden upper platform are also preferably bound with angle-irons, the end of the upper plat form being slightly curved upward to allow the ready introduction of the bricks.

To produce a relative to-andfro motion between the platforms as thus constructed, I preferably employ two upright parallel dou ble bent crank-shafts,which may be geared to turn togetherby means of a chain or may be connected by a pitman inany ordinary manner. At its lower end one of the vertical crank-shafts is provided with a crank-arm, to which power can be applied from any convenient source-as, for example, from the structed according to myinvention comprises nigger-head of a hoisting-engine, such as is ordinarily used to operate the derricks and hoists employed in constructing buildings.

Referring 'to the drawings and in detail, the framework of the machine, as illustrated, comprises four upright corner-pieces or legs 10 of angle-iron, having angle-iron side pieces 11 and cross-pieces 18.

Adj ustably secured to the uprights 10 of the framework, as most clearly shown in Fig. 3, are cross-pieces 13. As shown in the drawings, the cross-pieces 13 are secured in place by bolts which, pass through slots in the upright 10, so that the cross-pieces 13 can be secured at different elevations as desired.

Supported on the cross-pieces 13 is a lower platform 14. As shown most clearly in Fig. 5, the platform 14 comprises a wooden plank or body portion having angle-irons 15, secured on the edges thereof, so as to project above the upper surface of the plank to hold the bricks in place while being operated upon.

The upper platform 16, which rests substantially on top of the lower platform 14, is made wide enough to form a cover for the lower platform and comprises a wooden body portion, having angle-iron reinforcing side pieces 17, as shown in Fig. 4. At its end the upper platform 16 is slightly bent up, as shown in Fig. 6, so as to allow the bricks to be readily introduced between said platforms.

To produce a relative to-and-fro motion between the cleaning-platforms, I preferably employ upright parallel double- bent crankshafts 20 and 21, which are journaled in suitable boxes in cross-pieces 18 of the frame. The crank- shafts 20 and 21 are geared to turn together by means of sprocket- wheels 22 and 23,having a driving-chain 24 running thereon.

Instead of gearing the crank- shafts 20 and 21 together by a driving-chain they may be connected by a pitman-rod or otherwise geared, as may be desired.

The crank- shafts 20 and 21 pass loosely through the platforms 14 and 16, so that as said cranlcshafts are turned they will produce a relative to-and-fro motion between the platforms 14 and 16.

Springs 26 are coiled on the crank- shafts 20 and 21 to engage the upper platform 16, and are secured in place by adjustable collars 27, which may be fastened by set-screws in different positions in the ordinary manner to adjust the tension of the springs 26 to produce any desired pressure between the platforms 14 and 16.

A crank-arm 28 is secured to the lower end of the crank-shaft 21, and power can be applied to the crank-arm 28 from any desired source to operate the machine.

In using a machine as thus constructed for cleaning bricks the bricks are deposited upon the extending end of the lower platform 14, and the inclination of the platforms 14 and 16 will cause the bricks to work slowly down between said platforms, so that the mortar adhering to the top and bottom surfaces of the bricks will be completely scoured or removed therefrom, and incidentally the greater part of the mortar adhering to the ends and side pieces of the bricks will also be jarred off.

When the mortar adhering to the bricks is comparatively soft, the platforms 14 and 16 will be set at a considerable inclination, so that the bricks will work their way through the machine more rapidly than when the platforms are set more nearly horizontal.

I am aware that changes may be made in the construction of my machine for cleaning old bricks by those whoare skilled in the art without departing from the scope of my invention as expressed in the claims. I do not wish, therefore, to be limited to the form which I have shown and described; but

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a machine for cleaning old bricks, the combination of two substantially parallel platforms, and means for producing a relative to-and-fro motion between said platforms, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for cleaning old bricks, the combination of two inclined, substantially parallel platforms, means for adjusting the inclination of said platforms, and means for producing a relative to-and-fro motion between said platforms, substantially as described.

3. In a machine for cleaning old bricks, the combination of a frame, two substantially parallel platforms, and crank-shafts for producing a relative to-and-fro motion between said platforms, substantially as described.

4. In a machine for cleaning old bricks, the combination of a frame, cross-pieces adjustably secured to the said frame, a platform supported by said cross-pieces and extending beyond the end of the frame of the machine to receive the bricks to be operated upon, an upper platform, and vertical crank-shafts for producing a relative to-and-fro motion between said platforms, substantially as described.

5. In a machine for cleaning bricks, the combination of an angle-iron frame, comprising uprights, and side pieces, cross-pieces adj ustably secured in said frame, a lower plat- 7 form supported by said cross-pieces and comadj ustably secured in the frame, a lower plattension of said springs to produce the desired pressure on the bricks between said platforms, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set I5 my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL I. HOWARD.

Witnesses:

PHILIP W. SOUTHGATE, LOUIS W. SOUTHGATE.

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