Clay Bulley[edit | edit source]



Extruder

Manufacturer
Dragon Ceramex
5 Nomis Park
Congresbury, Avon BS 19 5HB
England
Tel. [..44] 934 - 833409

Description

The Clay Bulley Extruder was introduced in 1973. It is a hand-operated clay extrusion machine, which extrudes solid or hollow clay sections up to approx. 30 cm in cross-section. It can be operated in vertical or horizontal mode with equipment to cut predetermined lengths of extrusion. A range of steel die plates is supplied to fit directly into the machine and into the two sizes of expansion box which the machine accommodates. The die plates can be made of 12 mm plywood, fired clay or perspex for the manufacture of a large number of different products ranging from pipes, self-locking (seismic) bricks, screen bricks up to tiles.

The machine, which processes about 250 kg of clay per hour, is simple to operate with relatively short training and needs very little maintenance.

(British Patent No. 1461773)

Operating the Clay Bulley Extruder

Vertical: This mode is suitable for general purpose use. The machine can be mounted against a wall (as illustrated), or on the side of a bench. Clay is fed via the hopper located on the front of the machine. Accessories are available for controlling the clay section as it emerges, and for parting off set lengths (see details overleaf). The height of the machine can be adjusted on its mounting rack to suit operating conditions.

Horizontal: This mode is convenient for the rapid production of forms with a flat side, such as squares, rectangles, bricks, tiles, etc. The roller table supplied for horizontal use (see illustration) has a built-in harp. This has two wires (extras available) which can be set to a given distance for parting off identical lengths. Sets of floor and wall mounting straps are available, so that a horizontal machine can easily be changed to vertical operation.

The die plates are simply slotted into the Clay Bulley. When an expansion box is used, which is necessary to carry the 250 mm and 330 mm die plates, the box is slotted into the place normally occupied by the 150 mm plates.

Clay is fed via a hopper either as separate lumps or continuous block. With each stroke of the handle a full charge of approximately 115 mm³ of clay is extruded. The handle is returned to the top of the stroke and a fresh charge fed via the hopper until the required length of section is obtained. This is then parted off with a harp.

The whole interior is accessible for the removal of clay on completion of work. Periodic oiling of the sliding linkage system is all the maintenance required.

Clay Bulley Extruder

Size of machine (length x width x height)

110 x 23 x 50 cm (43 x 9 x 20 in)

Weight of machine

30 kg

Size of crate for shipment

117 x 35 x 42 cm (46 x 14 x 17 in)

Weight of packed machine (incl. accessories)

50 kg

Standard brick size

23 x 10.5 x 7.5 cm (9 x 4.2 x 3 in)

Standard tile size

40 x 20 x 2 cm (16 x 8 x 0.8 m)

Maximum product size

76 x 30 x 30 cm (30 x 12 x 12 in)

Volume of clay extruded per stroke of handle

115 mm³

Energy input/transmission

manual / mechanical

No. of bricks per cycle/output rate

1 / 250 bricks per hour

Labour force required (incl. clay preparation and stacking)

1 - 4 men

Price (ex works) valid June 1991

Clay Bulley 150 D.V.R. (incl. machine on rack for vertical use, brick die plate, cutting accessories,


expansion for larger die plates)

647 £ Sterling (» 1130 US0


Roller table & legs

165 £ Sterling (» 290 US0


Pipe plate

22 £ Sterling (» 39 US0


Tile die plate

52 £ Sterling (» 90 US0


Package

25 £ Sterling (» 44 US0

  1. Expansion box
    2. Parting platform
    3. Pipe die plate
    4. Cutting harp
    5. Cutting guide
    6. Tile finisher
    7. Hooker
    8. Tile lifter
    9. Brick lifter
    10. Frame guide

Accessories

Expansion boxes: supplied in two sizes - 250 and 330 mm - to carry the larger die plates.
Cutting guide: controls a cutting harp such that sections may be squarely parted off. Where a number of sections of a given length are needed, two cutting guides may be used, set at the required distance apart.

Frame guide: performs the same function as the cutting guide with the addition of adjustable guide bars to ensure the straight run of section from the die plate, when production runs are being undertaken.

Parting platform: a useful accessory for production runs of a set length. It can be locked in position below a cutting or frame guide. The section is extruded onto the parting platform and parted off at the guide. A small lever movement on the parting platform then lowers the parted section approx. 3 mm allowing for easy removal.

Brick lifter / tile lifter: designed to carry and stack the respective sections after parting off. In this way handling of the forms can be avoided. Cutting harp: with a centre handle, so that-unlike conventional harps - it can be used with one hand, leaving the other free to support the form on a suface if necessary.

Tile finisher: used to turn up the nibs of tiles and close the channels together when required.
Hooker: for quick removal of a 100 mm die plate.

Building Products

Apart from most standard types of extruded fired clay bricks and tiles, die plates are available for:

Self-locking bricks for earthquake resistant construction: 105 mm x 75 mm cross-section, with hollow lattice structure and interlocking ribs economizing in both material and energy facilitating drying and firing. Walls of low thermal conductivity and strong, permanent bond is achieved with relatively little mortar.

Double skin tiles: 200 mm x 20 mm cross-section, with similar features as the self-locking bricks, suitable for use as floor or roof tiles. Screen bricks: 185 mm x 90 mm cross-section, for ventilation or ornamental screens.

Pipes: with collars of 100 mm bore, sections up to 750 mm, and if required formed to make a 90° turn.

Blank die plates in 10 s.w.g. mild steel are available in order that sections can be designed for special local requirements.

Other Products of Dragon Ceramex

Clay Bulley "Rapide"
Clay extruder with maximum cross-section of 5.5 cm.
Clay Bulley "100"
Clay extruder with maximum cross-section of 22 cm.

Countries of Application

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Canada, Denmark, Eire, Finland, France, Ghana, Japan, Laos, Malawi, Norway, St. Lucia, Switzerland, U.K., Zambia, Zimbabwe.

FA info icon.svg Angle down icon.svg Page data
Authors Eric Blazek
License CC-BY-SA-3.0
Language English (en)
Related 0 subpages, 17 pages link here
Aliases Clay Brick and Tile Moulding Equipment 7
Impact 285 page views
Created April 7, 2006 by Eric Blazek
Modified December 10, 2023 by Felipe Schenone
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