CLAY-CRUSHERS AND GRANITLATORS.—Nachines for crushing and granulating clay embody rotary crushing-rolls, and are so constructed as automatically to separate out the stones naturally contained in the material.
The Brewer clay-Crusher, manufactured by Messrs. El. Brewer & Co., of Tecumseh. Mich., is illustrated in Pig. 1. This apparatus has two conical rolls, 2 in. in length, with diameters respectively of 14 in. and 17 in. at the ends. The stones are separated from the clay. and are discharged at one end of the rolls. The rolls are made of chilled castings. and are run at unequal speeds. the effect being to disintegrate the clay more thoroughly. Such of the elay as does not pass between the rolls moves toward the trans verse erushing-roll, which is placed near their larger ends. The unequal revo lutions of the two crush ing-rolls, taken in connec tion with the fact that the periphery of each roll has a varying speed through out its entire length—ow ing to their conical form —has proved that all the clay, except the very large lumps, will be drawn be tween t he crushing- rolls before it reaches the trans verse roll. The periphery of the transverse roll is of irregular form, and is also provided with teeth, or spurs, both of which assist in breaking up the clay. The transverse roll re volves with its upper sur face turning toward the moving clay, and any lumps or clods of clay with which it may come in contact, whether moist or dry, are readily broken up and forced between the two c•ruslting--rolls.
The Penfield Clay-Crusher, manufactured by Nessrs. J. W. Penfield & Son, of Willoughby. Ohio. is represented in Fig. 2. The peculiar construction of the crushing-rollers in this machine will be noted in Fig 3. On each there is a broad spiral corrugation, right and left hand respectively, which extends the entire length of the roll. The projection on one roll fits into the corresponding depression on the other, so that the rolls can always be set closely together, and any wear be thus taken up. When running at a moderate speed, the clay passes freely through the rollers and is crushed. while all stones too large to be at once crushed are quickly passed to one end and out of the crusher through an automat lc gate. The rollers run at different speeds ; usually one about twice as fast as the other. The mode of applying this so-called differential principle to corrugated rolls is exceedingly ingenious; the necessity of exact matching of the corrugations, and. at the same time, of driving the rolls at different speeds. resulting in a problem not easy to solve. The roll is made with a single thread or corrugation running at pitch: the has a or tion running at 3-in. pitch. twice as great ; hence, the corrugations on the former will advance
the same in two turns as the latter in one. In the machine represented in Fig. 2 the upper rollers arc cerrug.ated. and are 17 in. in diameter and 30 in. in length. Heavy ear-springs are arranged between the boxes of the adjustable roller. The lower rollers are smooth, 24 in. in diameter and 30 in. long, and are geared to run at differential motion. The height of this machine is 5 ft. 0 in„ and it crushes clay sufficient for from 40.000 to 00,000 bricks per day.
The Ports Clay Disintegrator, illustrated in Fig. 4, is especially adapted for tough. stony clay, which it pulverizes by removing successive portions from a mass thrown into the hopper; the action being similar to that of a file or grater. The mechanism consists of a cutting cylinder, revolving from 500 to 800 revolutions per minute, in combination with a cylinder of larger diameter, revolving at from 20 to 50 revolutions per minute. The clay is carried through and ground entirely by the action of the high-speed cylinder, the low-speed cylinder acting simply as a feed-roller. By the differential speed, and by the cutting action of project ing ars on the roll, the clay is finely divided.
Pug-Mills often receive clay in a crude state just as it comes from the bank, and reduce and pug it, to bring it to tempered condition. They are also employed to mix two or more kinds of clay together, or to combine it with sand, sawdust, grout, or other material. Fig. 5 represents a Penfield pug mill, capable of pugging the clay for from 40.000 to 50,000 bricks per dny. The temper ing-tub is made of heavy boil er-plate, is 5 ft. long. 29 in. in diameter at the large end, ta pering down to 25 in. at the small end, and is provided with a large hinged door. 'The main shaft is of forged steel, 41 in. in diameter where the gears are attached, and hammered square where the knives fit on.
The pugging-shaft is provided with a wrought washer and brass wear-plates at the back end, receiving the end-thrust of shaft. The journals are all long, and shafting proportionately heavy.
Tempering-Wheels are employed for mixing and tempering the clay in the pit. Raymond's wheel, illustrated in Fig. 6. has i.6 spokes and a double tire. It is operated in the pit by either steam or horse power. The clay is worked between the spokes as well as between the tires. Ity an automatic arrangement of the rod and pinion, the wheel is drawn back and forth on the shaft, changing its position with each revolution, and reversing itself both at the outer and inner edge of the pit.
Machine: see Flax Machines.
Clocks: see Watches and Clocks.