Abstract: A clay column slug is efficiently and accurately notched around its entire circumference before being cut into individual bricks. The slug is pushed into a roller assembly having two opposing upper parallel rows of rollers and two lower parallel rows of corresponding rollers to form notches in upper and lower surfaces of the slug. The upper and lower rows of rollers are compressed vertically together to form partial notches in front and rear surfaces of the slug. The slug is elevated up and out of the compressed roller assembly between the two opposing upper rows of rollers which completes the notches in the front and rear slug surfaces. After notching, the slug is further elevated through a set of parallel wires aligned with and positioned directly above the upper rows of rollers. Alignment with corresponding rollers insures the wires cut the clay slug through the slug notches. The resulting bricks have smooth, beveled, and uniform edges free of lugs, burrs, and other material buildup.

Abstract: An especially adapted kiln car transfer apparatus includes a transfer carriage for supporting at least one kiln car. The transfer carriage itself is supported upon transverse tracks (i.e., relative to the longitudinal dimension of the tunnel kilns with which the transfer apparatus is associated) so as to be capable of movements between adjacent ends of a pair of tunnel kilns. A generally inverted U-shaped housing is carried by the transfer carriage and defines an interior space sized and configured to accept a kiln car. A reciprocally movable wall structure is disposed within the housing's interior space. The wall structure may thus move between the opposing open ends of the housing in response to the continual advancement of the kiln car onto the transfer carriage, and hence, into the interior space defined by the housing.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for cutting columnar articles, such as uncured ceramic (i.e., therefore plastic) web-type columns (e.g., which may typically be cured to a hardened state and coated with catalyst to form a catalytic converter), includes a cutting wire tensioned between a pair of spaced locations situated on the exterior side of the column to be cut. One of the locations (and thus one end portion of the cutting wire) is in a fixed position relative to the column, while the other location (and thus the other end portion of the cutting wire) is orbitally movable around the column. The cutting wire cuts the column along a plane established by such orbital movement while the length of the cutting wire is simultaneously continually varied so as to impart a benificial rectilinear (e.g., "saw-type") motion thereto so as to assist in the column cutting operation. A cleaning device in wiping contact with the wire cleans the same by virtue of such rectilinear motion.