WO1995028264A1

WO1995028264A1 - A method and a device for the shaping of brick or corresponding material

Info

Publication number: WO1995028264A1
Application number: PCT/FI1995/000208
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antti Ania
Original assignee: Antti Ania
Priority date: 1994-04-15
Filing date: 1995-04-12
Publication date: 1995-10-26
Also published as: FI941739A0; FI941739A; AU2259495A

Abstract

The invention concerns a method and device for the breaking or shaping of a brick (6) or similar object. A device according to the invention is formed from two metal slabs (1, 2), on the opposing surfaces of which are wires (3, 4) which correspond to each other in shape. The brick breaks in an attractive manner, for example by sticking the upper slab with a hammer.

Description

A method and a device for the shaping of brick or corresponding material

This invention generally concerns a method and a device for the shaping of brick or similar material. In short, the method and device relates specifically to the utilization of compressive force in a simple way.

Bricklayers split bricks or similar pieces into the desired shapes at worksites by using a bricklayer's hammer to tap a notch into one side of the brick. It is hoped that this will act as a cracking guide, along which the brick will split when it is struck on the other side. This method leads to much wastage of material, for the brick often breaks along undesired lines. This results mainly from the impossibility of directing the blow accurately enough, and also from the fact that bricks, especially burnt bricks, often contain cracks etc that affect the line of splitting.

It is naturally also possible to shape bricks to a certain extent with the above conventional method. The fact is, however, that in this case the percentage of waste grows further, for each blow weakens the brick's structure and, for example, the removal of small pieces of the brick weakens the brick at every blow. If the aim is to form round corners in the brick or similar piece, the result is often somewhat in that direction, but seldom very attractive in appearance. The situation is particularly unfavourable when it is necessary to make many curved bricks which will be laid adjacently at a rounded corner, for example. In this case, shapes achieved in different ways and with no uniformity will be conspicuously disturbing.

Bricks and similar materials have also been split and shaped by certain grinding machines or corresponding cutting tools. Shaping is possible in this way, but is extremely laborious, dusty and noisy work. Hearing protectors are necessary when working, and the resulting dust is an obvious health hazard. This method of cutting bricks can be used with both hand¬ held power tools and stationary power tools. Hand-held power tools, in particular, always involve a substantial risk of accident. Because the mechanically cut and blocked surfaces are nearly always adjacent on working surfaces, these two surface types clash with each other in a non-aesthetic way.

The purpose of this invention is to achieve an easy, cheap and simple means by which the splitting and shaping of bricks or corresponding pieces is possible very simply and reliably and with much more attractive results than with the state-of-the-art methods and equipment. In addition, the method according to the invention and the device for its application are economical, and the working method is essentially noiseless, dust-free and safe.

The above-mentioned and other advantages and benefits of the invention are achieved by a method and a device whose characteristic features are given in the attached patent claims.

The invention is described more exactly in what follows, with reference to the attached drawings in which

Figure 1 shows the simplest embodiment of a device according to the basic principle of the invention,

Figure 2 shows part of a device according to Figure 1 , turned at a 90 degree angle,

Figure 3 is a schematic presentation of a certain other embodiment of a device according to the invention,

Figure 4 presents a certain embodiment of a part belonging to a device according to the invention,

Figure 5 presents various optional cross-sections for the wire part of the invention, and Figure 6 shows one option for constructing a device according to the invention, in a more advanced form than is shown in Figure 1.

The invention is described more exactly in what follows, with reference to the attached drawings, the explanation of which will serve to clarify the method according to the invention. The invention description restricts itself to outlining the basic principles, with certain rough embodiments; there is no intention to present fully-finished applications, the development of which, on the basis of the invention's fundamental principles, is part of the normal product development work of engineers in this field.

Figure 1, therefore, shows a certain simple embodiment of the invention as a diagram in principle. In this embodiment, the invention comprises a device with two slab-like parts 1 and 2. A brick 6 or similar piece, intended for splitting along a desired line, has been placed between the slabs or jaws 1 and 2. Wire-like parts 3 and 4, shown in this embodiment to be attached at their ends to the slabs by means of screws 5, have been placed along the surfaces of slabs 1 and 2.

Wires 3 and 4 are located essentially opposite one another in the slabs, with the result that the intervening brick 6 is pressed from both sides by an essentially linear force at opposing points. Figure 1 also shows, by way of example, a point 7 which merely represents, in the simplest embodiment of the invention, the point against which a blow can be directed in order to break brick 6.

Figure 2 shows one of the slabs or jaws 1 or 2, viewed at right angles to the view presented in Figure 1. It shows by way of example how slab 2, which is made of metal plate in particular and which maintains its shape well, includes a wire-like part 3 which crosses its surface and sinks at its ends into suitable holes. The wire can be attached under the heads of fixing screws 5 which cross the holes. The screw is inserted in drill hole 8. The broken line 3' shows how the wire can form a desired curve or other shape. The second slab 1 is identical to the first, on the side facing the brick. In other words, wires 3 and 4 are a reflection of each other when the slab surfaces are turned in the same direction.

Figure 2 also shows schematically the pads 9, which allow the brick to be freely placed in position on the lower slab 2, and the breaking and shaping to be implemented without any danger of brick 6 touching the slab, an event which may cause the wrong stresses and breaking in the wrong place. A flexible pad or pillow allows the brick to settle in a suitable position without special mounting.

With the above described device, the breaking or shaping of the brick occurs as follows. Brick 6 is placed on the lower slab 2 in such a way that the desired breaking point is in line with the wire-like part 3. The upper slab 1 is placed on the brick in such a way that its wire-like part 4 is in a corresponding position to the wire-like part 3 above the brick. After this, a blow with a hammer, for example, is directed at the upper slab 1 , and the brick will split along a line determined by the wires 3 and 4. In a way typical to bricks, the breaking surface is rough, but practical experiments show it to be very clean and much superior to state-of-the-art methods.

Figure 3 shows another embodiment in which slab 2 is equipped with numerous holes 10 which can be used to position the wire-like part 3 in a suitable shape. The basic principle is that, with this multi-hole solution, it is possible to form the brick or similar into any basic design whatever..Thus a schematic example is given of how a certain cutting configuration could be formed from three separate wire-like parts 31, 32 and 33, each of which joins two holes 10 of slab 2. The reference number 34, on the other hand, marks a curving wire-like part joining two holes.

Figure 4 presents a certain embodiment of a solution according to Figure 3, expressly concerning the attachment of the wires to slab 2. The slab is shown in side view. Thus the wire has been bent as shown into a barb 35, which is pressed into hole 10. Barb 35 fits so tightly in hole 10 that the wire will remain firmly pressed into the hole. The wires can be made in different lengths and shapes so that they can be formed into any design whatever on the surface of the slab. Then the wires will be combined in consecutive order to form a cutting line for the brick. It is naturally also possible to form more than one cutting line for breaking or shaping the brick simultaneously at two or more points.

Figure 5 presents various cross-section options for the wire-like part 3, for use with a device according to the invention. The wire-like part at the left of Figure 5 is round in cross-section, i.e. an ordinary basic wire. In the centre is a wire which has been shaped so as to be somewhat "sharper" on the side facing the brick, while the wire on the right has been shaped in triangular form. With these designs it is possible to influence the linear contact surface which the wire forms in relation to the brick or similar. A triangular shape also makes it possible for the wire to stay more firmly in position during use. Practical tests have shown, however, that the round wire works extremely well.

Figure 6 shows a certain other practical embodiment of the invention. Although the Figure shows one slab only, it goes without saying that there are two slabs as described above. Near the edges of the ends of slab 1 are two screw-like parts 11, .in which a larger-diameter head part is visible, while the shaft part has been inserted in a suitable drill hole so that it can be turned with a screwdriver, for example, to the desired position. The outer edge of the head part has a hole 12, into which the bent end of wire 3 can be inserted. It is possible to lock screw 11 in position by means of screw 13 placed in a drill hole coming from the side. Roughly in the centre of slab 1 is a row of holes 14, the purpose of which is to facilitate the division of wires 3 into two lengths, with the result that these two lengths can be separately regulated.

When the screws 11 are turned, the wire 3 is either straightened or formed into curves of different radii . The shorter is the distance between the holes 12 of the screws 11, the smaller is the radius of the curve formed by wire 3. As has been mentioned, it is possible by forming the wire into two different lengths to regulate them separately. On the other hand, the holes 14 can also be used as merely an intermediate support for wire 3.

Figure 6 also shows one alternative by which it is possible to arrange the even placement of the brick or similar between the slabs for the purpose of cutting, in such a way that the brick does not touch the fixed jaw 1 , but rests only on the cutting wire 3 in a cutting situation. In this case slab 1 is penetrated by drill holes 15 containing especially a rubber piece 16, through which is placed a bolt 17. Attached to the outer end of the bolt with the aid of holes is a plate-like supporting part 18, the upper edge of which rises a little above the level of slab 1. Thus the brick is supported on the edges of the plates 18. The rubber piece 16 gives way enough so that, when splitting the brick, the plates 18 are pressed downwards and allow the wires 3 to do their work. Suitable sleeves or similar and bottom plates can be installed on the bolts 17, allowing the rubber 16 to be squeezed into a smaller space upon the turning of the bolt, whence the plates 18 are supported more rigidly.

The functions of the above-described parts 16-18 can be performed alternatively, for example, by rubber cylinders sunk vertically into drill holes in the surface of slab 1 in such a way that the surface of the cylinder rises a little above the level of the slab, but gives way in a cutting situation.

Concerning the material of the wire-like part, piano wire has been shown to serve the purpose well. It is obvious that the wire must be made of hard and durable material, mainly metal, and that it should be sufficiently hard. Steel wire suits the purpose well. If shaped wire is used, the shaping of the metal wire can be performed by normal techniques.

Practical tests have shown that piano wire withstands about 5000 breaks without substantial damage. The wire-like part may be either single or multi fibered. A wire formed from many fibers is usually twisted in a suitable way. A twisted structure may have some advantages compared with a single fiber wire in cutting certain materials.

In the embodiment presented above, a brick placed between two slabs is split by striking the back of one slab with a hammer. This force causes the brick to break or be shaped in a suitable way as determined by the shape of the wire-like parts. According to the principle of the invention, however, the exact manner in which a force is transmitted via the wire-like parts to the brick, is of little consequence. The essential thing, however, is that wire-like parts shaped somewhat in correspondence to each other are made to cut into the surface of the brick or similar piece and bring about the breaking of the brick. Breaking or blocking usually occurs fairly easily and, what is important, extremely cleanly, apparently because the linear pressure applied to the brick causes the splitting point to seek a path for itself by using the weakest points (on a small scale) in the brick as a route.

Therefore, according to the principles of the method and device according to the invention, a brick or similar may be made to split by applying a force to the brick in one of many optional ways. A blow is one option, and perhaps the simplest option. Another alternative is to use a screw press or similar mechanical clamping device. Slabs 1 and 2 can be designed in such a way, for example, that they can be easily used with a press. The slabs could be designed, for example, to be attached to the jaws of a screw press or at least to remain in place in the jaws. Then the pressure could be applied by a normal clamping screw. This kind of construction would suit household use very well.

Splitting force could also be achieved by the use of various levers to build up compressive force between the slabs. For example, it could be arranged so that the turning of a lever or possibly two levers in one direction opens the gap between slabs 1 and 2 for the insertion of the brick or similar piece, while the turning of the levers in the other direction closes the gap and leads to the breaking or shaping of the brick.

It is also possible to make a device according to the invention which works semi-automatically by means of an actuator operating with a pneumatic, hydraulic or electric motor or some other motor. For example, a device may be used which, at the press of a button, performs a splitting or shaping task and then returns to a position in which a new brick can be fed into it.

It is clear that the invention has been described above only in principle, and that numerous adaptations can be made while still remaining within the inventive concept and scope of the attached patent claims.

Claims

1. A method for the breaking or shaping of a brick or corresponding piece, by utilizing opposing, essentially similar-shaped linear forces applied to both sides of a brick (6) and which split the brick essentially along a plane between the linear forces, characterized in that the splitting force is achieved by wire-like parts which are flexible in shape and which are located on the surface of essentially rigid plate-like parts.

2. A method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the linear force is applied to the brick or corresponding piece by means of a metal wire.

3. A method according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the force is applied by a blow or by an electric, hydraulic or pneumatic actuator.

4. A device for breaking or shaping a brick (6) or corresponding piece, comprising jaws (1, 2), between which the brick or corresponding piece to be cut is placed, and cutting parts (3, 4) that apply a linear cutting force, characterized in that the jaws (1, 2) are plate-like and essentially rigid and that the cutting parts (3, 4) are wire-like, flexible in shape and located on the surface of the slabs (1 , 2) .

5. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that the wire-like parts (3, 4) are formed from metal wire and the parts (1, 2) are formed from metal slabs.

6. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that the wire-like parts (3, 4) are formed from single-fiber wire or from multi-fibered wire which has been twisted, for example.

7. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that the slabs (1, 2) include pads (9) made of flexible material and located on opposing surfaces, or separate supporting parts (17, 18) to support the brick or corresponding piece.

8. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that the slab parts (1, 2) have holes (10) in order to receive the ends of the wires (3, 4).

9. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that it includes regulating devices (11, 12 and possibly 14) in order to change the shape of the wires (3, 4).

10. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that the wire-like parts (3, 4) are round in cross-section or possibly tapered on the side facing the brick.