IMPROVEMENTS IN BURNING OR BAKING POTTERY WARE AND THE LIKE, AND IN THE MUFFLE KILNS USED THEREIN
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Roberton, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Kiln and Furnace Builder, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BURNING OR BAKING POTTERY WARE AND THE LIKE, AND IN THE MUFFLE
KILNS USED THEREIN."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Roberton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th November 1881.
JAMES ROBERTON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Kiln
and Furnace Builder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BURNING OR BAKING POTTERY WARE
AND THE LIKE, AND IN THE MUFFLE KILNS USED THEREIN."
The said Invention relates to improvements in burning or baking pottery ware
and the like, and in the muffle kilns used therein, and has for one of its objects to
so construct the lining thereof, or that part which encloses the articles being
burned or baked, that any gases or impurity from the heating agent is prevented
from penetrating to the chamber contaning the articles being burned, and at the
same time allow of the said lining being of a thin material.
According to this part of my Invention the said lining is constructed of tiles
formed at either the top or bottom edge with a channel or shaped piece, that is
to say, a piece consisting of two members, a horizontal member projecting at right
angles from the tile, which I will call the horizontal member, and a member at
right angles to this in a plane parallel with the tile but not in line with it, which
I will call the vertical member. The opposite edges of the tiles are plain, and in
placing the tiles together to form the lining the plain edge of each tile is placed
upon or against the horizontal member of the adjacent tile, the vertical member
overlaping the side thereof, and forming a tight joint when cemented. The said
L shaped pieces form supports for the shelves employed in the kilns.
According to another part of this Invention the shelves of the kilns are made
corrugated with projecting ribs, with channels between, and are slightly curved
with the convexity upwards, so that when acted upon by heat they tend to press
firmly against the sides of the kiln.
According to another improvement I provide the kiln with means for admitting
a gas, preferably a hydrocarbon gas, into the interior of the chamber in which the
articles are burnt or baked. The gas is admitted preferably as soon as the said
chamber has attained a good red heat, and the admission is continued until the
burning or baking is complete.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Roberton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd May
1882.
JAMES ROBERTON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Kiln
and Furnace Builder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BURNING OR BAKING POTTERY-WARE
AND THE LIKE, AND IN THE MUFFLE KILNS USED THEREIN."
My said Invention relates to improvements in burning or baking pottery-ware
and the like, and in the muffi- kilns used therein, and has for one of its objects to
so construct the lining there of, or that part which encloses the articles being burned
or baked, that any gases or impurity from the heating agent is prevented from
penetrating to the chamber containing the articles being burned, and at the same
time allow of the said lining being of a thin material. According to this part of
my Invention the said lining is constructed of tiles formed at either the top or
bottom edge with a channel or L shaped piece, that is to say, a piece consisting
of two members, a horizontal member projecting at right angles from the tile,
which I will call the horizontal member, and a member at right angles to this
in a plane parallel with the tile but not in line with it, which I will call the
vertical member. The opposite edges of the tiles are plain, and in placing the tiles
together to form the lining the plain edge of each tile is placed upon or against the
horizontal member of the adjacent tile, the vertical member overlapping the side
thereof, and forming a tight joint when cemented. The said L shaped pieces form
supports for the shelves employed in the kilns. According to another part of this
Invention the shelves of the kilns are made corrugated, or with projecting ribs
with channels between, and may be slightly curved with the convexity upwards,
so that when acted upon by heat they tend to press firmly against the sides of the
kiln.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say:
Figure 1 represents a transverse section of a kiln constructed according to my
Invention.
Figure 2 represents a part longitudinal section of same taken on the line A, B.
Figure 3 represents a perspective view of a section of a kiln constructed according
to my Invention.
Figure 4 represents in perspective an underside view of a tile which I use for the
paving of the kiln.
Figure 5 represents a perspective view of a tile which I use for the lining of the
kiln, and which constitutes the chief feature of my present Invention.
Figure represents in perspective a shelf which I use to carry the ware,
preferably constructed as shewn at g, corrugated or with projecting ribs.
In Figure 5 a represents the tile; b, b', the horizontal members; c, the vertical
member herein before specified; d represents a projection formed on one of the
horizontal members b'; e represents a recess formed in the horizontal member b,
and which corresponds in form with the projection d, so that when the tiles are
placed in position the projections d fit into the recesses e of the several tiles, and so
by these means form bound joints throughout. The several flues throughout the
kiln are formed between the two horizontal members b, b', of these tiles. The
projections and recesses enable any one of the tiles to be taken out when required
11

page_text: The vertical member c is so constructed as to allow the tile placed at the back of
it a foundation on the top edge of the tile upon which this member c is fornied.
This joint when bedded in mortar affords a good air-tight joint; the top edge of
this vertical member c also serves as a support to the shelves, upon which the ware
to be fired is laid.
In Figure 4 is represented in perspective the underside view of a paving tile
formed with corrugations e¹, by which means a greater heating surface than can be
got from a plain tile is afforded. The edges of this tile are preferably bevelled, as
shewn at f, and the wedge-shaped space formed by the bevelled edges of two
tiles coming together is filled with mortar; thus but little of the mortar will be
exposed to the direct action of the furnace.
I construct the shelf as shewn at g, Figure 6, preferably corrugated, for the
purpose of affording it more heating surface, thereby strengthening it and making
it lighter. The corrugations also assist in the manufacture thereof, as several of
the tiles may be piled together, by which means the corrugated parts fitting
together they are kept always in contact, and by their weight maintained straight
whilst being burnt.
The construction of the flues below the paving is shewn at h in Figures 1, 2,
and 3, where the walls i, i, constituting the sides of the flues receive on their
upper edges a series of the tiles similar to that one shewn at Figure 4, which would
form the top of the flues h.
I preferably construct the kiln with the lower, first, and second course of tiles
sloping outwards, as shewn at Figures 1 and 3, by which means an outward
pressure is exerted against the walls, thereby keeping the lining always in its proper
position.
In Figure 1 is represented one of the furnaces at j; the heat and smoke after
passing around the kiln through the several flues formed by the hereinbefore
mentioned tiles may be led either separately direct into the chimney k, or collec-
tively from a horizontal flue 1, connecting the ends of the hereinbefore-mentioned
flues into the chimney k, as shewn in the Drawings.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or
may be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion
that what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The construction of the lining tile a, that is to say, a tile consisting of the
combination of the two members b and b¹, projecting at right angles from the tile a,
and the member c together with the projections & and recesses e, substantially as
herein before described with reference to the accompanying Sheets of Drawings.
Second. The construction of the shelf for supporting the ware with the corru-
gations, substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying
Sheets of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Roberton, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
sisht kandund and sights tuva
JAMES ROBERTON. (L.S.)