IMPROVEMENTS IN BRICK AND TILE WORKS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert Guthrie, of Albert Villa, Victoria Park, Manchester,
in the County of Lancashire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRICK
AND TILE WORKS."
aled the 16th March 1877, and dated the 10th January 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert Guthrie at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th January 1877.
HERBERT GUTHRIE, of Albert Villa, Victoria Park, Manchester, in the County of
Lancashire. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRICK AND TILE WORKS."
This Invention is a peculiar construction of what are known as annular or con-
tinuous kilns, and is designed more especially for burning the finer goods of a brick
and tile manufactory, such as fire-bricks, facing bricks, tiles, etc., and is peculiarly
adapted for the use of my machine for which Letters Patent have already been
granted and further improvements protected thereby.
The kiln as constructed for the aforesaid machine is of a circular form, and
consists of a number of chambers working into each other in an endless series. The
whole of the space encompassed by this series of chambers, and which is usually
occupied by the flues and chimney, I devote entirely to the aforesaid machine, and
the gearing that I will hereafter describe.
In the centre of this kiln I place a vertical shaft driven under ground by a cord
or strap. Round this shaft I place a turntable for carrying the aforesaid or any
other machine. The vertical shaft coming up through this turntable is connected
by suitable gearing to the machine and communicates the necessary motion to it.
On the cord or strap wheel at the bottom of the vertical shaft I attach a self-acting
clutch, so arranged that should any undue strain come upon the machinery above
it will at once be thrown out of gear and all breakage prevented. By the machine
being thus placed in the centre of the kiln on a turntable the manufactured goods
can be delivered in any required direction. On the top of the machine is a hopper
supplied by a travelling band coming direct from the grinding mill, and below the
machine is placed another travelling band on to which the goods are delivered and
carried direct into the chamber then being filled through a small opening in the
wall of the kiln, the goods at once being set for burning. By this arrangement the

page_text: material operated upon is not touched by hand from the time it is fed raw into
the grinding mill till it is delivered finished into the kiln, thus saving all carrying
to and from the different sheds, machines, and kilns in its raw state, and the bogies,
tramways, or barrows necessary therefore, as well as all the manual and horse
labour connected therewith.
Secondly. I improve upon the general construction of the chambers of the kiln,
and the mode of working and firing the same, having in view the following objects,
namely, economy in first cost, of allowing full scope for the expansion and contrac-
tion of the arches, of forming a cavity between an inner and outer arch to prevent
radiation and serve as a collecting chamber for the waste gases and steam, and of
economy in fuel. The form of arch I prefer is that of equilibrium or inverted
catenary curve, the form least liable to alter or become unstable by alterations of
heat; also the form requiring the least amount of backing or other support. The
abutments which in this case are the foundations in the ground are made the
thickest part of the structure, and give the whole arch the necessary stability for
resisting any unequal strain likely to come upon it. From these abutments or
foundations the thickness upwards is tapered till a point is reached about half way
to the crown which forms the springing of the independent arches. Thus far the
work is solid except some small flues which are left leading from the space between
the arches to the main flue and chimney. From this point an inner and outer arch
is formed with a space of several inches between. This space, as before named,
serves as a non-conducting medium and prevents much radiation of heat; it also
serves as a space into which the lower arch can expand without coming in contact
with the outer one and causing it to crack; but its principal use is that of serving
as a collecting chamber and Blue for the waste gases and steam from the goods
burning in the chambers below. This is done by forming a number of small
openings in the lower arch which are opened or closed at pleasure with stoppers or
tiles, openings also being left in the outer arch opposite those of the inner arch to
allow of these stoppers being worked, and to exainine the kiln when in operation;
these outer openings are also closed with plugs or tiles.
I improve upon the system of firing by forming small gas producers in the
divisions of the chambers which act partly as retorts and distil the fuel over into
the next kiln. I accomplish this by forming one or more vertical chambers, which
I will call for distinction producers, in the division walls, as before. stated. These
producers are open both top and bottom, and serve as flues at the commencement of
the operation, and gradually warm up as the firing approaches till by the time it is
necessary to commence firing they are red hot and ignite the fuel as soon as it is
charged. These producers are surrounded by a number of sinaller flues which like
the producers themselves are open at the bottom to the chamber just burnt, and at
the top to the chamber then being burnt.
The heat of the producer is maintained partly by the traversing of hot air through
it causing combustion, and partly by the hot air traversing the adjoining flues and
acting upon the producer by radiation like a retort, causing distillation. The gases
thus produced meet with the hot air at the top and both being already at a great
heat cause a very intense heat to be created in that chamber and saves much fuel.
Like the Hoffman's kiln I propose to collect the whole of the heat from the burnt
and cooling goods and carry it on to the hottest chambers, and from there distribute
it in those chambers, warming and drying.
The only dampers I use besides the stoppers above mentioned are one set placed
across the flues and producers of the chamber just set, and which can be made of a
few boards or sheet iron luted over with sand to prevent any leakage of air,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Herbert Guthrie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th March
1877.
HERBERT GUTHRIE, of Albert Villa, Victoria Park, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRICK AND TILE WORKS."
This Invention is a peculiar construction of what are known as annular or con-
tinuous kilns, and is designed more especially for burning the finer goods of a brick
and tile manufactory, such as fire-bricks, facing bricks, tiles, or such like articles,
and is peculiarly adapted for the use of my machine for which Letters Patent
have already been granted and further improvements protected..
The kiln as constructed for the aforesaid machine is of a circular form, and
consists of a number of chambers working into each other in an endless series.
The whole of the space encompassed by this series of chambers I devote entirely to
the aforesaid machine and gearing immediately connected therewith, clearing out
the usual flues and chimney occupying it, the modus operandi of which I more fully
describe in three divisions as follows:-
Firstly. In the centre of this kiln I place a vertical shaft driven underground by
a cord or strap, and round this shaft I place a turntable for carrying the aforesaid
or any other machine. The vertical shaft coming up through this turntable is con-
nected by suitable gearing to the machine, and communicates the necessary motion
to it. On the cord or strap wheel at the bottom of the vertical shaft I attach a
self-acting clutch, so arranged that should any undue strain come upon the
machinery above it will at once be thrown out of gear and all breakage prevented.
The machine being thus placed can be turned in any required direction at the
pleasure of the operator delivering its goods at any part of the kiln, it is supplied
with material by an overhead travelling band leading direct from the grinding
apparatus to the hopper, and is relieved of the goods manufactured by another
travelling band leading into the kiln through a small opening in the side wall left
for that purpose. These goods being dry, or nearly so, are at once set for burning,
neither the material nor the finished articles being touched by hand from the time
the raw stuff is fed into the grinding apparatus to the delivering of the finished
goods inside the kilns, thus saving all the manual and horse labor in carrying the
raw materials to and from the different sheds, machines, and kilns, and dispensing
with the bogies, tramways, or barrows necessary therefor, as well as reducing
breakage and distorted goods to a minimum.
Secondly. I improve upon the general construction of the chambers of the kiln
and the flues connected therewith. The form of arch I prefer is the inverted
catenary or arch of equilibrium, that being the one least liable to alter by variation
of temperature and requiring the least amount of backing or other support. The
abutments are formed in the ground and are the foundations of the kiln, they are
spread out into wide footings and give the whole structure the necessary stability
for resisting any unequal strain likely to come upon the arches; from these abut-
ments or foundations the thickness upwards is tapered till a point is reached about
half way to the crown, forming a springing from which the independent arches rise.
At one part of this work small flues are formed running from the springing to the
foundations, and formning a communication between a space above the inner arch
and a collecting flue below, otherwise the work up to this point is solid. Above
this two separate arches are formed, one above the other, a space of only a few
inches being left between them serving the purpose of a collecting flue as well as a
cavity into which the lower arch can expand without coming in contact with the
outer arch and causing it to crack, and by means of the air space preventing much
radiation of heat. The first-mentioned use of this cavity is made by forming small
apertures at or near the crown of the inner arch through which the waste gases and
steam ascend from the chamber of goods drying below, these apertures being opened
or plugged up at pleasure with tiles or stoppers, openings also being left in the

page_text: outer arch opposite to these to allow of the stoppers being attended to and for the
purpose of inspection, these outer openings being stopped in a similar manner..
Thirdly. improve upon the system of firing and working the kiln by forming
gas producers in the divisions of the chambers; these gas producers are small cavities
open at the bottom to the chambers from which the draft is coming, and at the top
to the chambers into which the draft is going, and have on one or more sides, flues,
divided only by a thin wall, and open at the top and bottom similarly to the pro-
ducers. The producers and flues serve alike at the commencement of the operation,
being mere passages through which the draft traverses on its way to the chimney,
and like the goods in the adjoining chambers collect heat from the waste gases
passing through them. The system of collecting and dispersing heat being similar
to the well known Hoffman's kiln, the gas producers and adjoining flues are brought
to a red heat before any firing is done in them, so that the fuel on being charged
immediately ignites and distils over into the next chamber. These gas producers.
are gradually filled up from the top, and are kept hot partly from their own com-
bustion working like an ordinary gas producers, and partly by radiation from the
adjoining flues working like a retort.
The flues as before stated serve to heat the gas producers by absorbing the heat
from the hot air traversing them, this hot air on reaching the top mixes with the
gas distilling from the producers, and both being already very hot combine and
burn with great intensity; thus all the advantages of the Hoffman's kiln are
retained, no heat whatever being lost except by radiation through the walls of the
chambers, and this reduced to a minimum, while the finest goods may be burnt
without fear of stain from the fuel being mixed with them as in the working of the
kiln before named. Fire-grates are not required nor are any dampers required in
hot places where they would be liable to damage or to get out of order, nor is any
cold air admitted to the fires or chambers as in the Ensor kiln.
The only dampers I use besides the stoppers referred to are one set placed across
the top of the producers and flues of the chamber just being set, and which may be
made of a few boards or sheets of iron luted over with sand to prevent any leakage
of air.
Referring to the Drawings, the view in the left-hand lower corner is a general
plan of the works, showing the annular kiln with the machine in the centre and the
grinding apparatus, engine and boiler outside. As will be seen from this Drawing
the machine M is placed opposite chamber number 1 which is supposed to be filling,
the band B 2 upon which the finished articles are transferred from the machine to
the kiln is lead right into the chamber, and if necessary right across the chamber to
any desired extent, the adjustment being made by a telescopic framework. The
draft of the kiln is worked in the direction of the arrows, number 2 chamber
being set, say yesterday, number 3 the day before, and so on throughout the series;
B, d, are the small doors through which the band is put, and which are stopped up
with large tiles or a few bricks as soon as the chamber is filled. The large doors
by which the chambers are emptied are marked D, the small doors through which
the fuel is fed are marked F, d. The gas producers are marked p and the flues f
different arrangements being shewn, any of which may be adopted according to the
goods to be burnt. The small apertures for examination are marked s, the stoppers
for which are not shewn in this view, but will be seen in the longitudinal section.
The main flue to the chimney is marked F and traverses part of the circumference
of the kiln, collecting the waste gases from the cavity between the arches by
numerous small flues in the outer wall, as shewn by the arrows, and leading them
to the large chimney C. The sectional part of this plan is taken at different levels,
chambers 1 to 6 being taken about three feet above the floor line, chamber 7 and 8
being taken at the hight of the feeding doors and above the gas producers, shewing
the surface upon which the dampers or boards are put.
The view above this is a vertical section of the plan just described taken from
S, D, to the centre, and thence on through the mill and engine house E. S1 in
this view is a section of chamber 1 through the band and discharging doors; P is
:

page_text: the inner platform raised and slightly conical with the machine in the centre over
the pit in which the driving gear is placed; B 2, the delivering band, is shewn
running through the small door formed for that purpose; the dotted lines above
shew another position of this band running through the feeding door above, and is
so placed when the chamber is nearly full so as to complete the filling at the top
with as little handling as possible, the setter coming out at that door when finished,
and bringing the dampers or boards with him to place immediately on the producers
of the next chamber, or a second set may have already been placed there.
The discharging door and the band door are both built up before the dampers are
withdrawn, the setter having only to draw the dampers and place a large tile
across the feeding door as he comes out; this done the band is placed in the next
chamber and the operation repeated. The long and short alternately dotted line
shews the cord or strap communicating motion from the engine to the machine;
B 1, being the overhead band leading the granulated material from the mill to the
hopper of the machine; S2 is a section through the gas producers between
chambers 7 and 8, and through the feeding doors, a small moving platform being
placed opposite the doors then being fired, and shifted round as the firing is changed
from one to another.
The view in the right hand top corner is a circumferencial section through the
centre of the chambers, the figures and letters indicating the same in all the views.
The division forward of chamber 3 shews a section through a flue between the gas
producers. A direct draught is not permitted to ascend from this 'flue, but is
diverted over the gas producers on either side by a covering placed a little above
the side walls as will be seen by the dotted lines in the cross section S1, thus
forcing an intimate combination of the gas and air; this covering also serves to
prevent fuel dropping down the flues and stopping the air ways. The other divisions
are sections corresponding with the numbers and figures in the other views, and do
not require further explanation, the form being slightly different, but the mode
of working the same. In the chambers 2 and 3, the apertures in the crown of the
arch are shewn open, stoppers being removed in any number of chambers as may
be found expedient.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention and described the working of the
same, wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the details given
so long as the particular character of the Invention be retained, and would observe
in conclusion that which I claim as novel and original to be,-
Firstly. The placing of the machine in the centre of the kiln so that it can turn
in any required direction, and deliver its goods by one direct travelling band
leading to the inside of the kiln, substantially as herein-before recited.
Secondly. The peculiar form of double arch with a cavity or space between, serving
the three purposes named, and the mode of communication between the space and
the chimney, substantially as herein-before recited.
Thirdly. The forming of gas producers between the chambers constructed and
worked, substantially as herein-before recited.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert Guthrie, have hereunto set my hand.
and seal, this Sixteenth day of. February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
HERBERT GUTHRIE. (L.S.)