Brick press frame having prestressed columns

Abstract

A press is provided for forming articles from compressed refractory material such as bricks, the press including a press bed, a crown spaced from the press bed, and a plurality of prestressed support columns rigidly supporting the press bed and the crown in spaced apart relation. The support columns each include a central tie rod including one end extending through a portion of the press bed and including another end extending through a portion of the crown and rigidly engaging the crown. The support columns also include an outer hollow cylindrical member surrounding the tie rods, one end of each of the hollow cylindrical members being positioned against the upper surface of the bed and the opposite end of each of the hollow cylindrical members engaging a lower portion of the crown. The tie rods are subjected to a tensile force while the outer cylindrical members are simultaneously subjected to a compressive force thereby providing a rigid frame structure and one resistive to twisting. The outer cylindrical members also function to provide supporting columns for a mold table and provide for slidable movement of the mold table between the bed and the yoke. The outer cylindrical members also provide for slidable support of a movable crosshead and facilitate movement of the crosshead toward and away from the mold table.