US2738745A - Apparatus for laying tile - Google Patents

Description

March 20, 1956 E. D. HARPOLD APPARATUS FOR LAYING TILE 2 Sheets-Shee't l Filed Jan. 29 1951 March 20, 1956 E. D. HARPOLD APPARATUS FOR LAYING TILE Filed Jan. 29, 1951 United States Patent O APPARATUS FOR LAYING TILE Eddie D. Harpold, Huntington Beach,Calif., assigner to La Bolsa TileCo., Huntington Beach, Calif., a corpo.- ration of California Application January 29, 1951, Serial No. 208,323

4 Claims. (Cl. lll- 5) This invention relates to improvement` in tile laying apparatus and, more particularly, to an apparatus for and method of laying tiles.

The use of drainage tiles for draining sub-surface waters to prevent the surface soil from being polluted by salts or alkalis in solution in the sub-surface water is well known in the art. Various types of tiles are utilized to form the drainage systems for such sub-surface water, the most effective being clay tiles having substantially straight ends which are adapted to be placed in abutting relationship with one another so that the drainage of sub-surface Water into the tiles is accomplished between the abutting ends of the tiles. Therefore, it .is necessary when laying drainage systems constituted by a series of such tiles to maintain the tiles with their ends in abutting relationship with one another so that there is no separation between the ends of the tiles to prevent the contiguous Soil areas from being Washed into the tiles through the spaces between adjacent ends of the tiles and thus clogging the drainage system constituted thereby. To accomplish this desired end, it is necessary that the tiles be laid in a predetermined position with their ends abutting and be maintained in such position while subsequent tiles of the series of tiles are laid. Frequently, when such tiles are laid by conventional means, gaps between the ends of the tiles occur and the soil washed through such gaps by the -drainage of underground waters ultimately results in the impairment and, eventually, in the complete destruction of the drainage system. However, the ends of the tiles are so cut that when placed in abutting relationship minute interstices exist between said ends to permit drainage of water into the interiors of said tiles.

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2 is maintained in continual and abutting, end-to-end relationship with its adjacent tile and so that the others of said series of tiles are maintained .in abutting and end-toend relationship until the -ll is returned to said ditch to hold said tiles in said abutting relationship.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an apparatus of the aforementioned type in which said compressor is constituted by a plurality of rotatable members adapted to engage the periphery of the rearmost of a series of tiles at spaced points upon said periphery to urge said rearmost tile into continual and abutting engagement with the end of an adjacent tile.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an apparatus of the aforementioned type in which the compressor is constituted by a plurality of rotatable members adapted toy frictionally engage the periphery of the rearmost of a series of tiles to urge said rearmost tile into continual and abutting relationship with the end of an adjacent tile.

An additional object of my invention is the provision, in an apparatus of the aforementioned type, of a compressor which includes pivotally mounted, rotatable means adapted to engage the periphery of the rearmost of a series of tiles, said rotatable means being wedged into frictional engagement with the periphery of the rearmost tile by the rotating action of `said rotatable means to insure that said rotatable means will securely and continually engage the periphery of said tile.

An additional object of my invention is the provision, in an apparatus of the aforementioned type, of compressor means adapted to urge the rearmost of a series of tiles into abutting relationship with an adjacent tile to maintain said series in abutting and end-to-end relationship which includes a plurality of rotatable members friction ally engaging the periphery of the rearmost of said tiles and spaced at opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of said rearmost tile.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an apparatus for laying drain tiles which includes a iirst hopper adapted to deposit a layer of bedding material in a preformed ditch, said hopper being mounted in a frame which has positioned therein compressor means adapted to longitudinally urge the rearmost of a series v of tiles deposited upon said layer of bedding material It is, therefore, a primary lobject of my invention to provide an apparatus for laying drainage tilewhich includes a frame adapted to be drawn through a preformed ditch and compressor means adapted to exert a longitudinal force upon the rearmost of a series of tiles to maintain said tile and its adjacent tile in abutting relationship and, thus, to maintain the others of said series in a similar abutting relationship. t

A furher object of my invention is the provision of an apparatus for laying drainage tiles which includes a compressor adapted to engage one of a series of such tiles and to urge said tile in a linear direction toward the others of said series so as to maintain the tiles of said series in end-to-end and abutting relationship with one another. A further object of my invention is the provision of an apparatus of the aforementioned type in which the frame is adapted to be drawn through the preformed ditch at a predetermined linear velocity, the aforementioned compressor having a linear velocityv which is somewhat greater than the linear velocity `of the .frame and which is in a direction opposite to that in which said frame is traveling. t

An additional object of my invention is the prov1sxon of a tile laying apparatus of the aforementioned type in which the compressor means is adapted to maintain a constant and continuous longitudinal pressure on the rearmost of a series of tiles so that the said rearmost tile to maintain said tiles `in abutting relationship with one another.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an apparatus for laying drain tiles which includes a frame having a hopper mounted therein adapted to deposit a layer of bedding material at the bottom of a preformed ditch, a shaper adapted to form a longitudinal channel in said layer of said bedding material, a compressor adapted to maintain the drain tiles deposited in said longitudinal channel in abutting and end-toend relationship and a second hopper adapted to cover said drain tiles with a covering layer of bedding material subsequently to the Vdeposition of said drain tiles in said longuitudinal channel.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparentrfrom'the following specification and the accompanying drawings, which are for the purpose of illustration only, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical, partly sectional, partly elevational view of a drain tile laying apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention;

` Fig. 2 is a transverse, partly sectional view on a larger scale taken from the broken line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a partly sectional view,` taken on the broken line 3-3 of Fig. 2; a

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view showing the Shaper associated with the apparatus of my invention;

Pig. Sfis avertieal," sectional' view taken on the broken line -5 of Fig, l;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, partly sectional view of an alternative embodiment of myinvention;

Figi 8=isa fragmentary," sectionalI view showing 'the abutting ends of 'two tiles and the* minute interstrces therebetween.-

Referring to'the drawings, andparticularlyto Fig. l thereof, 'I show a drainy tile layingapparatus 10 constuctedin accordance withjmy invention and including al ditchingI machine`-12 vSince'the ditching machine 12 constitutes no part of the' invention, it will not be describedindet'il', it 'beingsuflicient to note that the ditching machine 12 is provided with a lcircular ditching wheel 13 havinga plurality yof buckets 14 mounted upon the 'perip'the'r'alL edgeL thereof, said buckets having arcuate blades A15 adapted to preform a ditch'16 as theditching machine 12 niove'salon'g'. `'l`h`e"til`e'laying apparatus 10 i'sconn'ec'tedito' the ditching machine 12 by horizontal beams 17 and is"provid'ed"at its'upper end with straps 18 which are connected by means of a cable 19 and suitable 'riggingto fa' mast 20 mounted on the rearward end of the ditching' machine 12. The cable 19 is used to raise and" lower'the tile laying apparatus 10. The ditching machine 12 is' adapted 'to draw the tile laying apparatus throughV the preformed ditch 16 at a predetermined and'constant speed, the linear velocity of thermachine 12'being such'that the tile -laying apparatus 10 is drawn through the ditchl 16 at a'substantiallyl constant linear velocity.

The tile laying apparatus 10, as best shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, includes a frame 22-of substantially rectangular longitudinal and vertical cross section which is formed, in large part, by built up sheet metal sections 23 reinforced with L-shaped channels 24. The side walls 26 and the rear wall 27 of the frame 22 are substantially vertical. The side walls 26 are provided with radii 29 and'their forward ends are connected by a transverse toe plate 30 which extends between the walls 26 and constitutes the forward wall of the frame. A sole plate ijoins the side walls 26 at the bottom of the frame 22, said sole plate being formedof relatively heavy gage materiall and extending rearwardly for approximately one-half of the length of the frame along its bottom, the other half of the frame 22 being left open at the bottom for a purpose which willbedescribed in greater detail below. As the ditching machine 12( draws the frame 22 through the preformed ditch 16 on the beams 17, the frame 22 rests, primarily, on the sole plate 31 which engages the bottom ofthe ditch and'whiclrtravcrses the bottom" of said ditch as the frame 22 is drawn along.Y It is contemplatedthat the frame 22 may be assembled by the use of any conventional fastening means, such as welding, and that the various component parts thereof be rigidly attached so as to sustain the hard usage incidental to the purpose for which it is designed.

Positioned adjacent the front end ofthe frame and adapted to deposit a layer of bedding material, such as gravel, upon the bottom of the preformed ditch 16 is a first, bedding material distributing means 33 which is positioned transversely of the frame'22 vhaving its various component parts rigidly 'attached between the side walls 26 to support said component parts and'frthe'r rigidity the frame 22. The rst gravel distributing means 33 includ'esa hopper 34 which projects above the top of the frame 22 and is located ata height where gravel or similar bedding material may be conveniently dumped thereinto from the vehicle carrying the bedding material. The

bottom of the hopper 34 is connected to a conduit 35 having'an angularly directed'lower portion 36, the lowermost end of which constitutes an angularly oriented bedding material discharge opening-'37. As the frame 22 is translated Valong the bottom of the preformed ditch 16 by 4 means of the ditching machine 12, a continuous stream ofv bedding material is discharged from the'v discharge opening 37 of the conduit 35 to provide a suitable bed for the drainage system which will be described in greater detail below.

Secured to the rearward side of the angularly directed lower portion 36 of the conduit 35 is a seat 39 for the operator of the tile laying apparatus 10. The remainder of the bottom portion of the frame 22 rearward of the bedding material discharge opening 37 is open and' there is disposedy acrossthis open bottom portion of the frame 22 adjacent, but spaced from, the bedding materialy discharge opening 37, a Shaper 40 which is constituted by a substantially U-shaped channel member 41 the lower portion of which is configured in a transverse arc and which is supported by means of a transverse L-shaped beam 43 having its opposite ends fastened to the side walls 26.

As the bedding material, in the present instance gravel, is discharged from 'the' discharge opening 37 as indicated at "45,' the Shaper 40 engages the gravel 'to form a longitudinal, concave depression 46 therein, as best shownl in Fig. 5 ofthe drawings, the concavity of said longitudinal depressionf46' approximating the conve'xity of the lower portion ofthe periphery of a series 48 of tiles 49. In thismanner, the layer'of gravel is formed into a bed adapted to 'receive the lowermost portions ofthe peripheriesof'the tiles 49 to'seat them firmly in operative relationship with one another and to insure that lateral deflections of the tiles will not occur duringthe laying process'. l

Secured'to`the rearward portion of the shaper 40 is a tile receiving means 50 which is constituted by a pair of spaced, elongated rods S1 attached to said shaper at opposite sides of the centerline thereof. The elongated rods 51'are'secured tothe extreme lower portion of the Shaper 40 sol that tiles 49"deposited thereupon may be urged therefrom, in amanner to be described in greater detail below,into the longitudinal depression 46 formed in the gravel by the shapcr 40. Located centrally of the frame 22 andfextending.transversely thereof is a tile shelf 52 which has its opposite ends connected to the side walls 26 of the frame. This tile shelf is adapted to receive one or more tiles 449, das best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and can be readily reached by the operator of the tile laying apparatus to permit the tiles 49 to be depositedupon the tile receiving means 50.

Disposed immediately below the tile shelf 52 is a uid motor- 54 of conventional type, said uidrnotor' being connected 'to a source of uid under pressure by lines 56 and 57. When the linear velocity of the frame 22 is changed, vthe-speed ofthe motor is proportionally changed to maintain the speed ofthe motorv at a higher'rate than the rate of the frame 22. A gear case 58 is associated with vthe-fluid motor'54 and has depending therefrom stub shafts 59 and 60- which are rotatable, respectively, f in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, saidl shafts being actuable simultaneously and at the same speed, for a-purpose which will'be described in greater detail below. Secured'to the stub shafts 59'and 60 respectively, as by means of universal joints 61 and 62,v are drive shafts 63and 64, the lowermost ends of which are connected, respectively', by'me'ans ofiuniversal joints 65 and 66 to propellor shafts67'and 68. The propellor shafts 67'and 68 are-journaled, intermediate'their ends, in bearings 69 and 70'securedto supports 71 and 72;

The/'ends of thesupports 71 and 72are, in turn, secured .to vsleeve v73f'and 74'which are disposed, respectively, be-

tween spaced ` brackets 75 and 76 and are retained therein by pivot pins 77 and 78, thus providing pivotal'attach'- ments for thefpropellor shafts67 and-68. Secured to the lowermost ends of the propellor shafts 67 and 68 are' rotatablemembers-7-and 80vwhich are constituted, in the presenteinbodiment of my invention, by means of rollers 81 and 8 2y formedfof' rubber or material having similar resilient'char'acteristics and having concave peripheries adapted to conform, substantially, to the contigui-ation of the periphery of a tile 49 at spaced points upon said periphery, as best illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The lluid motor 54, the gear case 58, the drive shafts 63 and 64, and the propellor shafts 67 and 68 with their associated rollers 81 and 82 and the pivotal mountings for said propellor shafts constitute the compressor means 85 of my invention which is adapted to maintain a series 48 of tiles 49, such as that shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings, in abutting relationship with one another so that the ends thereof are maintained in continual contact during the process of laying the tiles. The supports 71 and 72 are thus pivotally mounted to carry the rollers 81 and 82 in major orbits of rotation about the pivot pins 77 and 78. Therefore, the rollers 81 and 82 are carried inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of a tile between them on the supports 71 and 72 by the rotation of the drive shafts 63 and 64 to cause the rollers 81 and 82 to exert a compressive force on the tile transversely of the longitudinal axis of the tile.

The rollers 81 and 82 constituting the rotatable means or members 79 and 80 of the compressor means 85 are rotated, respectively, in clockwise and counterclockwise directions about minor axes of rotation, as indicated by the arrows 8 6 and S7 in Fig. 3 of the drawings, to exert a longitudinal compressive force on a tile engaged thereby. As has been previously indicated, the speed at which the frame 22 of the tile layingv apparatus 10 is translated through the preformed ditch 16 is maintained substantially constant so that it can be said that the tile laying apparatus 10 is drawn through the preformed ditch 16 at a predetermined constant linear velocity. The peripheral velocities of points on the rollers 81 and 82 are such that, if the peripheral velocities are converted into linear velocities, the linear velocities of the points on the rollers are substantially greater than the linear velocity at which the tile laying apparatus 10 is `drawn through the performed ditch 16.` Furthermore, the direction of movement of the linear velocities of said points on the rollers 81 and 82 is opposite to the direction in which the tile laying apparatus 10 is moved by the ditching machine 12. Therefore, although the rollers 81 and 82 move, respectively,"in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, the resulting movement, as imparted to a tile 49 placed betweensaid rollers, is in a direction contrary to the direction of movement of the tile laying apparatus 10.

The manner in which the compression means or compressor 85 is utilized to maintain a series 48 of tiles 49 in constant contiguity and in end-to-end abutting relationship vis illustrated graphically in Figs. 1-3 of the drawings wherein the rearmost of a series 48 of tiles 49 is shown as disposed between the rollers 81 and 82 ofthe compressor 85. In operating the tile laying apparatus 10, the operator, seated upon the seat 39 therein,'removes one of the tiles 49 from the tile shelf 52 and places it upon the longitudinal, elongated rods 51 constituting the tile receiving means 50 of the tile laying apparatus 10. The tile 49 is then slipped between the oppositely rotating rollers 81 and 82 which immediately frictionally engage the periphery of the tile 49 at spaced points upon the tile on opposite sides of the centerline of the tile laying apparatus 10. As the tile is engaged by the rollers 81 and 82 there is a tendency for the rollers to walk along the periphery of the tileuntil they achieve positions where they are wedged against the periphery of the tile to achieve an optimum frictional engagement with said periphery to insure that maximum eiectiveness of the compressor 85 will be achieved. The direction of walking movement of the rollers 81 and 82 is indicated by the arrows 89 and 90. There is, thus, no necessity for providing means for biasing the rollers 81 and 82 toward the periphery of va tile 49 once the rollers 81 and 82 have been brought into engagement with the periphery of said tile, the walking action of the rollers 81 and 82 serving to press the rollers 81 and 82 against the periphery `of the tile with such force that it is 81 and 82 to accommodate for wear and obviates the necessity for replacing the rollers after a short period of use. In this way, the rollers 81 and 82 can be utilized until practically all of the resilient material has been worn away. This is a particularly important feature of the invention since the tiles 49 have very abrasive exteriors and the wear upon the surfaces of the rollers 81 and 82 is considerable. In addition, the wedging of the rollers 81 and 82 against the periphery of a tile 49 disposed therebetween prevents slippage of the rollers 81 and 82 on the periphery of the tile and insures that an optimum frictional engagement between the rollers and the tile will be achieved.

Simultaneously with the frictional engagement of the rollers 81 and 82 upon the periphery of a tile 49 disposed therebetween, the rollers 81 and 82 exert a longitudinal force upon the tile urging it into abutting relationship with the next adjacent tile and thus maintaining the entire series of tiles of which the tile between 'the rollers 81 and 82 is the rearmost in a state of maximum compression so that the abutting ends are maintained in contact with one another during the tile laying process. rl`he tremendous force necessary to accomplish this desirable result is only possible because of the optimum frictional engagement between the rollers 81 and 82 and the periphery of the tile 49. By so longitudinally compressing the rearmost tile 49 of the series 48 toward its adjacent tile, the possibility that gaps between the ends of adjoining tiles may exist which will permit contiguous soil areas to be washed into the interiors of the tiles 49 is eliminated, thus providing a more efficient, long-lived drainage system and obviating the possibility that the drainage system will become obstructed by soil washed into the interiors of the tiles 49 through such gaps.

The minute interstices which exist between the abutting ends of individual tiles are best shown in Fig. 8 of the drawing. Sub-surface water drain into the tiles through these interstices but they are so small as to prevent the passage of soil or gravel particles.

Since the linear velocity of a point on each of the rollers 81 and 82 is greater than the linear velocity of the tile laying apparatus 10, the differential between the linear velocity of said points on the rollers 81 and 82 and the tile laying apparatus 10 is responsible for the wedging action of the rollers 81 and 82 against the periphery of a tile 49 disposed between said rollers and the longitudinal force exerted upon the rearmost of the series 48 of tiles 49 to maintain the ends of said tiles in said series in abutting relationship with one another. This is a very irnportant feature of my invention.

Positioned rearwardly of the compressor means S5 of the tile laying apparatus 16 and extending transversely thereof is a spindle 9?. the opposite ends of which are journaled in pillow blocks 93 and 94 secured to the side walls 26 of the tile laying apparatus 18. Disposed on the spindle 92 is a roll95 of tarpaper or similar material which is adapted to be drawn from the roll 95 by the forward movement of the apparatus 18 to constitute a covering web 96 for the Series 48 of tiles as it is laid. The covering web 96, as best shown in Figs. l and 5 of the drawings, acts as a membrane to prevent sub-surface waters from washing contiguous soil areas into the series 48 of drain'tiles 49 and also serves, to a certain extent, to maintain the drain tiles 49 in cooperative and contiguous relationship with one another after the compressor means has released the rearmost of the series 48 of Itiles 49. v

PositionedA rearwardly of and spaced from the spindle 92 bearing the roll: 95of tarpaper or other covering material is ya second bedding material distributing means 9S whichincludes a hopper 99-which has a substantially straight vertical conduit 101 positioned below and communicating with the lower endfthereof. The opposite edges of the hopper 99 and the conduitv 101 are,A as best shown in Figs. l and 3 of the drawings, fastened to the opposite -sides 26 of the frame 22 of the tile laying apparatus i0. Securingthe opposite edges of the hopper 99'A and the conduit 101 to the opposite side walls 26 of the frame 22 materially strengthens and rigidiiies the frame 22, and in addition simplifies the construction of the second bedding material distributing means 98. It will' be noted that, as in the case of the first bedding vmaterial distributing 'means 33, the top of the'hopper 99 is positioned so that bedding` material `mayy be easilyl depositedtherebyfrom the vehicle carrying the bedding material.

The lowermostend of the conduit- 101 constitutes va second bedding material discharge opening 102 and is longitudinally spaced from and vertically spaced above the first bedding material discharge opening^37 so that a layer of bedding material is distributed over the covering web 95 'subsequently to its being laid over-the tiles 49 of the series 48. In this manner a filter bed 103 of gravel is distributed around the peripheries ofthe tiles 49 and acts as a filter to` prevent larger particles of the contiguous soilareas from washingA into the drainage system constituted by the tiles 49. Shortly after the. second layer of bedding material has been deposited upon the covering web 96. the back fill 104 is deposited inthe ditch 16 above the second. layer of bedding material deposited by the second bedding material distributing means 98.

When the end of the series-48 of tiles 49 has been reached, a plugged tile is laid to seal off the series. Then a number of dummy tiles are fed through the compressor 85 to maintain the series 48 in compression until the plugged tile, which is the last of the series, has been covered up. The compressor 85 is then released and the ends of the tiles 49 are maintained in abuttingl relationship with one another.

Considering now= in greater detail, the method bywhich the series 48 of tiles 49 is laid, a rst layer of bedding material is deposited in the preformed ditch 16 by means of the first bedding material distributing means 33 and is subsequently shaped by means of the Shaper 40'into a configuration which conforms substantially to the configuration of the lower portions of the tiles 49. After the first layer of bedding material has been so shaped, the tiles 49 are deposited in the longitudinal depression 46 created by the Shaper 40 and the rearmost tile is engaged by the compressor means S5 to exert a longitudinal force thereupon to maintain it and concomitantly, the tiles adjacent thereto in a continual state of compression so that the ends of the tiles are maintained in abutting relationship with one another.

While the tiles 49 are maintained in such relationship, a web of paper or similar material is deposited upon the upper surfaces thereof to provide a covering which is adapted to prevent the seepage of contiguous soil into the interiors of the tiles 49. Subsequently a second layer of bedding material is deposited upon the top of the aforementioned web, said second layer and said first layer cooperating to provide a filter bed adapted to filter out the majority of soil particles from the ground water as it ows into the interiors of the drain tiles 49. The earth fill 104 is then deposited upon the upper surface 0f the lter bed 103 and, upon completion of the fill, the compressor means 85 is released from the dummy tiles, as previously described.

Shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings is an alternative embodiment of my invention, identical numerals being employedl to designate those portions of the present embodiment which are identical with portions of the previously discussedembodiment. The alternative embodiment is substantially identical with the previously vdiscussed embodiment with the exception that the present embodiment is provided with a bottom wall and said wall is arcuately shaped in a transverse direction, as shown in Fig. 7, to provide a shaper for the bottom layer of gravel. InV this way the tiles 49 are supported on the bottom'walli105 until they exit from the back of the frame 22.

I thus provide by my invention an apparatus which is adapted to perform, in sequence, all of the operations necessary in the laying of a drainage system constituted by a plurality of separate drainage tiles and which is adapted to perform these operations more effectively and more rapidly than has been possible with previous types of equipment.

In addition, I also provide by my invention a novel method of laying such tiles which insures that the tiles will be maintained in end-to-end and abutting relationship during the laying process so that the existence of unduly large gaps between the ends of individual tiles will be obviated.

I claim as my invention:

1. Inan apparatus for laying a series of tiles in endto-end relationship in a preformed ditch, the combination of: a movable supportingframe disposable in said ditch; and a uid motor mechanism mounted in said frame, said mechanism including roller means for engaging the end tile of said series of tiles to urge it longitudinally against the end of the adjacent tile and to maintain the ends of said tiles in said series in abutting relationship with one another during the movement of said frame past the tiles, said roller means being mounted for rotation on vertical axes and for horizontal movement toward and away from engagement with said end tile.

2. In an apparatus for laying a series of tiles in endto-end relationship in a preformed ditch, the combination of: a movable supporting frame disposable in said ditch, said frame having spaced side walls; and a compressor mounted in said frame, said compressor including roller means for engaging the end tile of said series of tiles, points on said roller means moving at a linear velocity which is greater than and in a direction opposite to the velocity of said frame to urge said end tile longitudinally against the end of the adjacent tile to maintain the ends of said tiles in said series in abutting relationship with one another during the movement of said frame past said tiles, each of said roller means being mounted for rotation about a minor axis of rotation to exert a longitudinal compressive force on said end tile and being mounted for movement about a major axisfofv rotation to exert a transverse compressive force on said end tile and to maintain said roller means in optimum frictional engagement with the periphery of said tile.

3. In an apparatus for laying'a series of tiles inv endto-end relationship in a preformed ditch, the combination of a movable supporting frame disposable in said ditch, said frame having side walls and an end wall having a tile-discharging opening therein; a hopper carried by said frame for depositing a layer of bedding material on the bottom of said ditch; a shaper on said frame for contouring said bedding material subsequently to its deposition by said hopper, a compressor mounted insaid frame for engaging the end tile of saidseries of tiles to urge it longitudinally against the end of the adjacent tile and to maintain the ends of said tiles in said series abutting relationship with oneanother during the movement of said frame past said tiles, said compressor including rotatable means secured to said side walls and' disposed intermediate the ends thereof below the upper edge of said tile-discharging opening; and means for depositing a covering web on said series of tiles while said tiles are maintained inabutting relationshipv by said compressor.

4. In an apparatus for layingv a series of tiles in endto-end relationship in a preformed ditch, the combination of: a frame adapted to be rigidly suspended from said apparatus and to project downwardly in :said ditch; means for supporting said apparatus with the frame maintained in definite relationship with the sides and bottom of said ditch and moving said apparatus along the axis of the ditch; a support rigidly secured to said frame `and projecting from said frame in a direction opposed to the direction of travel of said apparatus, said support being so situated that an operator can place a tile thereon with the tile in a position to be moved directly into accurate alignment vwith a previously laid tile; a pair of rollers having concave resilient peripheral surfaces which are adapted to engage the sides of a tile as the tile is slipped from the support toward the previously laid tile; a uid motor mechanism carried on said apparatus; two vertical ilexible shafts which are driven by said motor and each of which carries and drives one of said rollers in a direction of rotation suited, upon contact with the tile, to drive the tile' away from the frameta bearing for the lower end of 10 each of said shafts; and a support for each of said bearings, each support being rigidly secured at one end to its bearing, and extending diagonally with relation to the axis of the tile, the other end of said support being pivoted to said frame.

References Cited inthe ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 332,126 White Dec. 8. 1885 536,339 Hanneborg Mar. 26, 1895 1,030,283 Coda June 25, 1912 1,174,271 Perry Mar. 7, 1916 1,463,561 v Sommer July 31, 1923 1,600,701 Sommer Sept. 21, 1926 1,638,343 Knudsen Aug. 9, 1927 1,792,855 McRae Feb. 17, 1931 1,921,764 McGirr Aug. 8, 1933

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