NIEDERGESZESS PATENT LUBRICATING BRICK DIE.
This die consists of a number of parts, as shown in Fig. 25. Number 462 is the casing proper, which contains all the parts represented as spread out below. This bolts on to the mouth of the machine. On top of this casing two bolts are shown sticking out of the water reservoir, which is provided with chan nels and holes in the bottom to conduct the lubricating fluid or steam through the various channels. The bolts fasten the lettered plate, represented in the foreground, on the reservoir. The hole in the centre of the plate is to receive the connecting pipe with valve, also given in cut, which may either lead to the boiler or a water tank, or if used for re-pressing, to an oil re servoir.
On the right are shown four cast frames having channels around the edges of them. The left shows the sheet steel liners, which fit over each frame. In the immediate front, four sheet steel plates are shown. These fit into the first frame and make the sharp corners on the brick. When round corners are desired, these are replaced by a liner similar to those on the left.
The four round-edged plates in the foreground are termed the aprons, and are put in last over all the liners. The whole is held in by the frame represented on top of the frame on the right. Proper packing, cement or putty, is used to prevent
leakage.
The duties of the aprons are two-fold : to prevent the wear ing of the liners and to exclude the lubricant where not wanted, so as to insure an even flow. It is highly necessary that only clean fluid be used, as otherwise the channels will stop up and make the die inefficient. It is well to have a thin-bladed knife to put under the liners occasionally, so as to keep them open for the fluid to emerge and come in contact with the clay as it passes through. For some clays dry steam answers the pur pose better than either water or oil. Weight, 8o pounds.
With this die a much larger quantity of ware is made, and with less power, than on dies of any other construction.
This system is now applied by the Frey-Sheckler Company to other kinds of dies besides those for brick, such as dies for moulding flooring tile, grate-backs, flue-tile, and hollow-blocks.
For building-brick sharp corners are demanded, which this die forms very perfectly, while all dry dies must have the cor ners more or less rounded so as to assist the moulding of them.