US874482A - Brickmaking-machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 874,482. Y PATENTED DEC. 24, 1907.

' J.E.BOND.

BRIGKMAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1906. RENEWED MAY 16. 1907.

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witnesses; Inventor THE NORRIS PETERS co, WkSHINGTON. n. c

PATENTED DEC. 24, 1907. J.E.BOND.

I BRIGKMAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1906. RENEWED MAY 16 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

witnesses fi /4%! 1n: uonms PEYERS can, wAsnmcmu, n, c.

P A-TENTED- DEC. 24 1907. J. E. BOND. BRIOKMAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1906. RENEWED MAY 16, 1907.

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' PATENTED DEC. 24, 1907.

J. E. BOND, BRIGKMAKINGMAGHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1906. RENEWED MAY 16, 1907.

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7 PATENTED DEC. 24, 1907f J. E. BOND. BRICKMAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1906, RENEWED Mule, 1907.

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JOSEPH E. BOND, OF MAYIVOOD, ILLINOIS.

BRIGKMAKING-MACHINE,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24., 1907.

Application filed July 271 1906. Serial No. 328.123- Renewed May 16. 1907. Serial No. 373,975-

To all whom it'may concern:

Beit known that I, Josnrn E. BOND, of Maywood, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new, useful, and Improved Brick-Making Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the art of manufacturing fire bricks and has special refer ence to improvements in machines for molding fire bricks. Heretofore it has been considered impractical to mold fire bricks by machinery. When attempts have been made to do so it has been found that the machine molded bricks could not withstand the intense heatof furnaces. Consequently it has been a custom with all fire brick manufacturers, to use the hand process in making all high grade standard bricks, and articles of special shape. The hand process consists in taking a lump of clay of the proper consistency in the hand/and after making a ball or wauk. of it, throwing it into the mold with sufficient force to cause the ball to fill out the mold and to firmly unite with the clay that has already been thrown therein. The mold is then struck off and slicked, and the wet or green brick is then turned out upon the pallet to dry, before being fired. This process involves heavy work and it requires a high degree of skill to properly throw the clay when molding the more intricate shapes.

The object of my invention is to provide a mechanical substitute for the present manual process of manufacturing fire bricks.

The special object of my invention is to provide a machine for forming and throwing balls or wauks of clay into molds with the same or greater force than is now expended in the hand process.

With these objects in view, my invention consists in a machine whereby successive quantities of clay of equal size and density may be forcibly and automatically discharged by fluid pressure into the molds with uniform force.

More specifically my invention consists in a machine of the class mentioned, comprising a clay reservoir, a passageway or barrel communicating with said reservoir, means for feeding clay through said reservoir and into said barrel, a reciprocating plunger having a duct or ducts and located in said barrel,

means for reciprocating said plunger and means for automatically connecting the duct or ducts in said plunger with a source of fluid under pressure, at a certain point in the descent of the plunger to forcibly expel the clay from the barrel and into a mold.

My invention further consists in a machine of the class mentioned, having means for automatically controlling the plunger to prevent its operation except when the clay is in condition to quickly fill the barrel when opened to the reservoir.

My invention further consists in a movable table or conveyer, whereby molds of large dimensions may be shifted in the process of filling, to properly receive the clay; and which may be utilized for quickly and easily conveying successive molds, to and from the clay throwing machine.

My invention consists further in certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, all as hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. I

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification and in which;

Figure I is a vertical section of a brick molding machine embodying my invention. Fig. II is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line IIII of Fig. I, Fig. III is an enlarged section taken on the irregular line IIIIII of Fig. I, Fig. IV is a sectional view of the main valve, on an enlarged scale, parts being broken away to better illustrate the device. Fig. V is a horizontal section taken on the line VV of Fig. IV. Fig. VI is a vertical section taken on line VIVI of Fig. V. Fig. VII is a plan view of the mold conveying mechanism. Fig. VIII is a sectional view taken on line VIIIVIII of Fig. VII. Fig. IX is a similar view taken on line IXIX of Fig. VII. Fig; X is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. I, illustrating a modification thereof in which the plunger is I actuated by a crank and connecting rod, and

ferred form, comprising a hopper, a shaft, 2

a pulley, 2, and blades, 3, carried by the shaft. The pug-mill communicates with the receiving chamber, 4, hereinafter termed the reservoir, and the shaft, 2, is extended into said reservoir, and in this case is shown as provided with a rotary screw, 5, by which the material is fed through the reservoir. The pug-mill and reservoir are supported in any suitable manner; as for example by beams, 6, shown in Figs. II & III. I do'not wish to limit myself to the screw feeding device, 5, as a steam actuated piston or other means might be employed for the same purpose.

The discharge end of the reservoir, 4', is reduced in diameter and communicates with a transverse passageway or clay barrel, 7', open at its lower end. The preferred sectional form of the said passage rectangular and elongated, as indicated in Fig. I1. air-tightly but slidably within the passageway, 7, is a plunger, 10, shown at the lower end of its stroke in Fig. I. This plunger is secured to a cros'shead, 11, mounted between guides, 12, (Fig. III) which are supported by a hollow casting, 13, forming a housing for the cr'osshead and having an opening, 14, in its top through which passes the drive-rod, 15. This rod may be reciprocated by any preferred mechanism or motive power. As shown in Fig. I it is constituted by or is connected to a piston rod, 16', of a steam engine, 17, having a valve chest, 18, valve rod, 19, rock arm 20, and other parts necessary to reciprocate the rod, 15. A belt driven mechanism for operating the rod, 16, is illustrated in Fig. X and will be hereinafter described.

When the plunger, 10, is at its uppermost position its lower end will register with the point, 21, thus permitting a portion of the plungerspace, or clay barrel, to be filled with clay by the action of the feeding device. In descending, the plunger, 10, forces this clay into the lower part, 8, of the barrel.

The plunger is formed with an interior opening or duct, 22 passing vertically there through and also through the lower portion, 11, of the crosshead, 11. Said opening or duct may be divided into two or more divisions by partitions, 23, as shown in Fig. III; but such partitions are not an essential feature of the plunger construction;

It will be observed that the lower end of the plunger is partially closed by a metal plate, 54, secured thereto, and that the plate is provided with a plurality of orifices, 55.

Two preferable arrangements of these orifices are shown in Figs. XI & XII. The majority are located at or adjacent to the ends of the plate, 54, and one or more are arranged along the central or neutral axis of the plate, and spaced farther apart than those adjacent the ends. This arrangement, I have ascertained by experiment, is desirable for preventing Fitted partial expulsion of a slug or wauk of clay: owing to the fact that, where an open plunger is used, the tendency is for the central than upon the middle of the slug. T his exer' tionof greater pressure upon the ends of the slug than upon the center thereof has the tendency to'form' the slug into one mass or ball, and in this way more closely approximates hand work. .The orifices are preferably made bell-mouthed or flaring toward the lower face of the plate, as shown; the inclinedsurfaces thus presented to the slug of clay offer greater resistance to the material so that the material will not penetrate entirely through the orifices when the plunger is forced down. I

The admission of the fluid under pressure to theupper end of the-duct, 22, may be controlled by valve mechanism of any suitable construction. A preferred form of valve mechanism for this pur ose is shown in Fig. I and in detail in Figs. II, IV & V. 24 indicates a slide valve mounted within a valve chamber, 25, upon a seat, 11, formed by the bottom of the crosshead, 11. It is provided with upward projections, 24, engaged by collars, 26, on the stem, 27, of a double piston, 28, fitted within the cylindrical ends of the valve chamber, 25. The fluid under pressure is admitted into said valve chamber through a hose or other suitable connection, 30, a flexible connection being employed owing to the fact that the valve chest, 25, reciprocates with the crosshead, 1 1. The valve, 24, is provided with a port, 31, which registers intermittently with the fluid passage, 22, of the plunger. Vhen said valve is at one end of its stroke it assumes the position shown in Fig. I. When the valve is at the opposite end of its stroke the port, 31, registers with the duct, 22, and the fluid under pressure passes from the valve chamber into the 1101- low plunger, 10, to eject the wauk from the passageway, 7. However this action is but momentary as the valve is immediately reversed, thereby cutting off the fluid from the plunger. The valve may be actuated by a purely mechanical device, or by a partly mechanical and partly fluid-operated device. The latter construction is preferred by me for the reason that it permits of a quicker movement of the valve, thus effecting a saving of the steam or compressed air used for expelling the slugs of clay into the molds. The'piston ends, 28, above referred to, are employed in order to utilize fluid pressure for actuating the valve, 24. As most clearly shown in Fig. V, the ends of the valve chamber, 25, are respectively connected by ports, 32, to a primary valve chamber, 33, in which is mounted a small slide valve, 34, having a rod, 35, which extends through a gland or stufling box. The rod, 35 is adjustably secured to a slide, 36, which is supported by brackets, 37 & 38, the latter having an integral portion, 38, by which it is secured to one end of the valve chamber, 25.

The primary valve, 34, is shown in its normal position in Fig. V. Fluid enters the valve chamber, 33, through an inlet opening (not shown) and passes through one of the ports, 32, into the right hand end of valve chamber, 25; thereby holding the piston, 28, and the main valve, 24, in a normal position. Between the ports, 32 and valve, 34, is an exhaust port, 40, which communicates with the atmosphere. If the valve stem, 35, be moved to the right it will uncover the left hand inlet port, 32, admitting the fluid into the left hand end valve chamber, 25, and-the piston, 28, and valve, 24, will thereby be moved to the right, causing the port, 31, to register as aforesaid, and the other inlet port, 32, will be connected, through valve, 34, to the exhaust port, 40. The reverse movement of valve rod, 35, restores valve, 34, and piston, 28, and valve, 24, to normal positions by similar action at the opposite end of the valve chamber, 25.

The valve stem slide, 36, is reciprocated preferably by means of mechanism shown in Figs. IV, V, & VI. The said slide, 36, carries a lateral stud, 41, which projects through a slot in a depending, swinging arm, 42, pivoted on a pin, 43, held by a standard, 44, which is shown as integral with bracket, 38. Arm, 42, carries at one side thereof a roller 45, which projects into a cam groove, 46, formed in an upright plate, 48, su ported by a bracket, 13, which is secured to tie housing, 13. The central portion of said cam groove is curved or offset as indicated at 47, topermit lateral movement of the roller, 45, as the arm, 42, descends; said arm being carried down by the downward movement of the crosshead, 11, and connected parts. As the roller, 45, reaches a certain oint in its downward movement it is move laterally into the offset portion of the groove, 46, by the action of a cam, 49, having an inclined face, 49, and pivotally mounted upon a pin, 50. The downward movement of this cam is limited by a stop shoulder, 51, but the cam is free to be moved upwardly to the position indicated in dotted lines further upward movement being prevented by an upper stop shoulder, 52. As soon as the roller, 45, has passed the pivotal cam, 49, it engages the ortion, 47, of the cam groove, which returns it and the connected parts to normal position. The lower straight portion of the groove prevents further lateral movement thereof. When the crosshead, 11, and connected parts ascend, the roller, 45, lifts the cam, 49, out of its path and is thereby permitted to complete its upward stroke in a straight line; consequently the primary valve, 34, is not actuated during the up stroke of the parts named. The devices which actuate the primary valve, 34, are so adjusted that they do not act until the plunger, 10, has descended almost to its lowermost position, as it is not necessary to admit the steam or air into the plunger previous to this time.

I wish it understood that I do not limit my invention to the forms of valves nor the particular construction herein shown, as it is obvious that the desired results may be effected by the use of any suitable valve mechanism whereby fluid pressure may be exerted upon the slug at the proper time to discharge the same from the spout.

At certain times, it may occur that the clay reservoir, 4, will be only partially filled with clay, in which case, the transverse passage or plunger space above the spout, 8, might not be completely filled with clay of proper density after every u -stroke of the plunger, 10. Therefore it is esirable to provide means by which the action of the plunger will be suspended until a sufficient quantity of clay shall have accumulated to properly fill the plunger space or barrel. A suitable means for this purpose would consist in a device controlled by the pressure of clay within the reservoir and mechanically or otherwise connected to the plunger-actuating mechanism in such a manner as to suspend the operation of said mechanism when the above-described condition occurs. .Thus, a regulating device controlled as stated may be connected to the throttle-valve of the steam engine cylinder, where the plunger is so driven. In the drawings, I have illustrated a device for the above named purpose, in connection with a modified form of plunger-driving mechanism.

I have already stated that the plunger, 10, may be actuated by a belt-driven mechanism, and in Fig. X have illustrated such a device. A shaft, 84, carried by journal brackets, 85, is provided with a crank, 86, connected by a rod, 87, to the upper end of the crosshead, 11. Abelt-driven pulley, 88, may be keyed upon the shaft, 84, but when my automatic regulating device is employed said pulley will be loosely mounted thereon. To

that end I connect the pulley, 88, by a suitvoir with a cylindrical recess, constituting a piston chamber, and preferably locate it above, or at one side of, the feed screw, 5. Mounted in this chamber or cylinder is a piston or valve, 92, which may be either weighted down or pressed upon by a spring, 93, as shown. A rod, 94, connected to this piston or valve, passes out through acentral opening in a head, 95, of the chamber, and is directly or indirectly connected to a bell crank lever, 90. Normally the piston or valve, 92, in the chamber, 91, is held up or outwardly against the pressure of spring, 93, by the normal pressure of the clay in rhe reservoir, 4. This normal clay pressure by acting through rod, 94, and lever, 90, maintains the clutch, 89, in operative position, so that the plunger, 10, is normally in action. Whenever the clay pressure or density within the reservoir, 4, is materially decreased (which may at times occur owing to the condition of the material) the opposed pressure of the spring, 93, will force the piston or valve, 92, inardly, and this movement, acting through the rod, 94, will throw the free arm of the bell cranklever inwardly into the path of a notch, 89, on the disk. This will arrest the disk, 89, against rotation, the friction connection between the disk and the pulley permitting the latter to continue to rotate. The lever, 90, and notch, 89, are so located that when the machine is stopped the plunger will be in its uppermost position. In this way the clay is permitted to accumulate within the reservoir, 4, until its pressure becomes again sufficient to throw out the valve or piston, 92, which will then permit the plunger, 10, to resume its operation. In this connection, it may be stated that a positive clutch may be substituted for the friction device described if considered preferable thereto, and I do not wish to limit myself to any particular type of clutch for the purpose named.

In Fig. I, 53 indicates a mold for a brick, tile or any similar article, arranged in position to receive material from the spout, 8. The molds to be used with this machine may be placed upon the floor, or upon elevated supports, either movable or immovable, of any preferred kind. For obvious reasons it is desirable to employ horizontally movable supports, so that each mold may be shifted with respect to the spout, 8, while being filled. The mold-supporting and conveying device illustrated in Figs. I, VII, VIII & IX is well adapted to meet the requirements of this machine. prising longitudinal bars, 56, rigidly connected by cross-bars, 56, provided with supporting rollers, 57, is mounted for transverse movement upon trackways, 58. At the ends of the carriage are two broad faced pulleys, 59, having end shafts, 60, suitably j ournaled on the members, 56, and carrying an endless belt, 62. Upon the upper run of this As shown, the carriage, combelt the molds are supported. Between the pulleys, 59, the upper run of the belt may be supported in any suitable manner, preferably by transverse rollers, 63, which may be spaced as close together as thought desirable. For actuating the belt when so desired, I provide one of the shafts, 60, with a sprocket-wheel, 64, and drive the same by a chain, 65, connecting sprocket, 64, to a drive-sprocket, 66, fixed on a transverse shaft, 67, held by bearings, 68, and provided with a crank or hand wheel, 69. For transverse movement of the carriage, the carriage may be pushed or pulled along the track ways, 58, by the operator, or the same result may be effected by operation of a hand wheel through intermediate mechanism. As shown, a second transverse shaft, 70, with bearings, 7 1 is provided at one end with a hand wheel, 72, and at the other end with a bevel gear wheel, 73, meshing with a bevel gear wheel, 74, fixed upon a shaft, 75, disposed parallel to the carriage, 56. Adjacent to its bearings, 76, shaft, 7 5, is provided with sprocket-wheels, 77, at a suitable distance from the shaft 7 5, is a parallel shaft, 78, carrying drive-sprockets, 79, which are connected to sprockets, 77, by chains, 80. One or both of the carriage bars, 56, are connected to the sprocket chains, 80; whereby movements of the chains, 80, will be communicated to the carriage. The shaft bearings, 76, are shown as supported by transverse bars, 81, which are mounted on longitudinal sills or bars, 82.

It will be noticed that the hand wheels, 69 & 72, are arranged close together so that they may be easily operated simultaneously by one person. In this way the mold resting on the belt, 62, may be moved in any direction at the will of the operator. A series of molds may be placed upon the belt, 62, in rows and be brought successively under the spout, 8, by manipulation of the hand wheels, the filled molds being removed from the belt 110 in any preferred manner.

The operation of the machine as shown in Fig. I is substantially as follows: The mold to be filled is placed upon the belt, 62, below the spout, 8, and the plunger, 10, is put into 115 action by admitting steam to the cylinder, 17. Power is applied to shaft, 2, by a belt (not shown) on the pulley, 2, and the clay or other material is tempered in the pugmill, 3, or fed into the pug-mill in its tempered state 120 as may be desired, in the usual manner, and is fed through the reservoir, 4, by the action of the screw, 5, and pressed against the inner face of the plunger, 10. Then the plunger ascends the plunger space is filled with clay. 125 The plunger descends, thereby detaching a slug of the clay from the mass, and the steam or compressed air is quickly admitted into the interior of the plunger and as quickly shut ofi. The steam or air pressure is suffi- 130 cient to forcibly discharge the slug of clay through the spout, 8, into the mold. This operation is repeated until the mold is filled; t e mold being shifted ifnecessary by the operator while being filled. Or the plunger may be stopped in its highest position, until suflicient clay has accumulated in the spout to fill the mold at one discharge, if the mold be small enough. After being removed from the conveying belt, the mold is treated in the manner usual in the hand process.

The operation of. one form of automatic clay pressure regulator has been fully described above.

My reason for preferring steam to compressed air as the medium for causing the discharge of clay into the molds is that steam condensing upon the clay moistens the edges of the wauk and causes successive wauks or quantities to more perfectly unite in the mold.

In the claims, by the word clay I wish to be understood as meaning material of any klind which is capable of being worked like c. ay.

As various modifications of my invention will suggest themselves to one skilled in the art I do not limit myself to the specific construction and arrangement of parts given herein.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a brick molding machine,a clay reservoir provided with a discharge spout or barrel; means for detaching a slug of clay from the mass within the reservoir, and means for discharging the slug from the spout by fluid pressure in said spout, substantially as described.

2. In a brick molding machine, a clay res ervoir rovided with a discharge spout, means or pressing the mass of clay Within the reservoir toward said spout, means for detaching a slug of clay from the mass, and means for discharging the slug from the spout by fluid pressure in the said spout, substantially as described.

3. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having a discharge spout; a plunger for detaching a slug of play from the mass, and means for discharging a slug from the spout by fluid pressure in the said spout, substantially as described.

4. Ina brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having a discharge spout; means for pressing the mass of clay toward said spout, a plunger for detaching a slug of clay from the mass, and means for discharging the slug from the spout by fluid pressure in the said spout, substantially as described.

' 5. In a brick molding machine, a clay res- .ervoir provided with a plunger space and a discharge spout, a hollow plunger working in said spout, means for momentarily admitting a fluid under pressure into the spout at each stroke of saidplunger, whereby a slug of clay will be suddenly and forcibly discharged through said spout, and means for feeding the clay into the plunger space, substantially as described.

6. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir provided with a plunger space and a discharge spout; a hollow plunger working in alinement with said spout, means for momentarily admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger at each stroke thereof, whereby a slug of clay will be suddenly and forcibly discharged through said spout, means for reciprocating said plunger, and means for feeding the clay into the plunger space, substantially as described.

'7 In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir provided with a plunger space and a discharge spout; a hollow plunger working in alinement with said spout, means for momentarily admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger at each stroke thereof, whereby a slug of clay will be suddenly and forcibly discharged through said spout, means for reciprocating said plunger, and means for feeding the clay into the plunger space, substantially as described.

8. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir provided with a plunger space and'a discharge spout; a pug-mill feeding. into said reservoir, meansfor pressing the clay into the plunger space, a hollow plunger working in alinement with said spout, and means for momentarily admitting a fluid under pres sure into the plunger at each stroke thereof, whereby a slug of clay will be suddenly and forcibly discharged through the spout, sub stantially as described.

9. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having'a plunger space and a discharge spout; a hollow plunger working in .said plunger space, a valve for momentarily admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger, means for actuating the valve at each reciprocation of the plunger, and means for pressing the clay in the reservoir into said plunger space, substantially as described.

7 10. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having a plunger space and a discharge spout; a hollow plunger working in the plunger space, a valve for admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger, means for momentarily opening the valve at each reciprocation of the plunger, and means for pressing the clayinto said plunger space, substantially as described.

, 11. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having a plunger space and a discharge spout; a hollow plunger working in alinement with said spout, a fluid-pressure-operated valve for momentarily admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger, a primary valve controlling the movements of the first named valve, means to actuate the primary valve at each reciprocation of the plunger, and means to force clay into said plunger space, substantially as described.

12. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir provided with a plunger space and a discharge spout; a hollow plunger reciprocatlng through the plunger space, means for momentarily admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger at the end of the operative stroke of the plunger, and means for pressing clay into the plunger spacewhen the plunger ascends, substantially as described.

13 In a brick moldingimachine, a clay reservoir provided with a plunger space and a dlscharge spout; a hollow plunger having a perforated or partially open lower end working in said plunger space, means for momentar1ly admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger at each reciprocation thereof, and means for pressing clay into the plunger space, substantially as described.

14 In a brick molding machine, a clay res ervoir provided with a plunger space and a discharge spout; ahollow plunger having. a perforated or partially open lower end workmg m said plunger space, a valve formomentar1ly admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger at each reciprocation thereof, and means for pressing clay into the plunger space, substantially as described.

15, Ina brick molding machine, a clay reservoir provided with a plunger space and a dlscharge spout; a hollow plunger having a perforated or partially open lower end worklng in said plunger space, a fluid-pressure-operated valve for momentarily admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger at each reciprocation thereof, and means for pressing clay 1nto the plunger space, substantially as described.

16 In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having a plunger space and a discharge spout; a hollow plunger having a perforated lower. end working in said plunger space, a yalve for admitting a fluid under pressure lnto the plunger, a primary valve controlling the operation of the aforesaid valve, means for momentarily opening the primary valve at each reciprocation of the plunger, and means to press clay into the plunger space, substantially as described.

17. In'a brick molding'machine, a clay reservoir means for feeding clay by pressure into said reservoir, a plunger adapted to detach a slug of clay from the mass within the reservoir, means to reciprocate the plunger, and automatic means for suspending the opera tion of the plunger when the quantity of clay within the reservoir becomes insufficient, substantially as described.

18'. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir havingaplunger space and a discharge spout, a plunger adapted to detach a slug of clay from the mass within the reservoir, means to actuate the plunger, and means to suspend the operation of said actuating means when the quantity of clay within the reservoir becomes insuflicient, substantially as described.

19. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having an extension adapted to receive a portion of clay from the reservoir, a movable spring-pressed member within said extension, said member being movable by variation of density of the clay, a plunger adapted to detach a slug of clay from the mass, plunger-actuating mechanism, and means actuated by connections with said movable member for suspending the action of the plunger when the density of the clay within the reservoir becomes insufficient, substantially as described.

20. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir an extension chamber opening thereinto, a movable spring-pressed member within said chamber, said member being movable by the variation of the density of the clay, a plunger adapted to separate a slug of clay from the mass, plungeractuating mechanism, and means operated by connections with said movable member for suspending the action of the plunger when the density or quantity of the clay within the reservoir becomes insufficient, substantially as described.

21. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir provided with a plunger space and a discharge spout; a hollow plunger working in alinement with said spout, means for momentarily admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger at each stroke thereof, whereby a slug of clay will be suddenly and forcibly discharged through said spout, and a rotating worm for feeding the clay into the plunger-space, substantially as described.

22. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir provided with a plunger space and a discharge spout; a hollow plunger working in alinement with said spout, means for momentarily admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger at each stroke thereof, whereby a slug'of clay will be suddenly and forcibly discharged through said spout, means for reciprocating the plunger, and a rotating worm for feeding the clay into the plunger space, substantially as described.

23. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having a plunger space and a discharge spout; a pug-mill feeding into said reservoir, a rotating worm for pressing the clay into the plunger space, a hollow plunger working through the plunger space, and means for momentarily admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger at each stroke thereof, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

24. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having a plunger space and a discharge spout; a hollow plunger working in. said plunger'space, a valve for momentarily admitting a fluid under pressure into the" plunger, means for actuating the valve at each reciprocation of the plunger, and a rotating worm for pressing the clay in the reservoir into said plunger space, substantially as described.

25. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having a plunger space and a dis charge spout a hollow lunger working in the plunger space, a va ve for admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger, means for momentarily opening the valve at each reciprocation of the plunger, and a rotating worm for pressing the clay into said plunger space, substantially as. described.

26. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having a plunger space and a discharge spout; a hollow plunger working in alinement with said spout, a fluid pressureoperated valve for momentarily admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger, a primary valve controlling the movements ofthe first named valve, means to actuate the primary valve at each reciprocation of the plunger, and a rotating worm to force the material into said plunger space, substantially as described.

27. In a brick reservoir provided with a plunger space and a discharge spout; a hollow plunger reciprocating through the plunger space, means for momentarily admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger at the end of the operative stroke of the plunger, and a rotating worm for pressing clay into the plunger space when the plunger ascends, substantially as described.

28. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having a plunger space and a discharge spout; a hollow plunger, having a per. forated or partially open lower end, working in said plunger space, means for momentarily admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger at each reciprocation thereof, and a rotating worm for pressing clay into the plunger space, substantially as described.

29. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir provided with a plunger space and a discharge spout a hollow plunger, having a perforated or partially open lower end, working in said plunger space, a valve for mo- .mentarily admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger at each reciprocation thereof, and a rotating worm for pressing clay into the plunger space, substantially as described.

30. In a brick molding machine, a clay res ervoir provided with a plunger space and a discharge spout; a hollow plunger, having a perforated or partially open lower end, work ing in said plunger space, a fluid-pressuremolding machine, a clay operated valve for momentarily admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger at each reciprocation thereof, and a rotating worm for pressingclay into the plunger space, substantially as described.

3 1. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having a plunger space and a discharge s out; a hollow plunger, having a perforated ower end, working in said plunger space, a valve for admitting fluid under pressure into the-plunger, a primary valve controlling the operation of the aforesaid valve,

means for momentarily opening the primary valve at each reciprocation of the plunger, and a rotating worm for pressing clay into the plunger space, substantially as described.

32. A mold conveyer comprising an elongated frame mounted upon rollers or wheels for transverse movement, two pulleys carried by said frame, a belt passing around said pulleys, manually operatedmeans for rotating one of the pulleys to move the belt longitudinally, a fixed frame, and manually operated mechanism supported by the fixed frame for causing transverse movement of the movable frame and the belt, substantially as described.

33. In a fire brick molding machine, a clay reservoir in combination with a barrel communicating therewith, a plunger operable in said barrel and adapted to close the opening between said reservoir and said barrel, and

means for admitting fluid under pressure tosaid barrel when said plunger has closed said opening, substantially as described.

34. In a fire brick molding machine having a clay admission opening at one end and 0 en at the other end for the discharge of c ay, a plunger arranged in said barrel and adapted to move the clay admitted thereto, and means for supplying fluid under ressure to said barrel when the clay therein libs been set in motion by said plunger, substantially as described.

35. In a fire brick molding machine, a clay throwing barrel provided with a clay admission opening at its upper end, in combination with a plunger provided in said barrel, means for admitting fluid under pressure to said barrel upon each downstroke of said plunger, and a mold shifting conveyer arranged beneath said barrel, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 11 day of July, 1906, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH E. BOND.

Witnesses:

JOHN R. LEFEVRE, M. SrMoN.

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