Bricks and for other Purposes.
Year: 1885

page_text: Bricks and for other Purposes.
We WILLIAM WHITWELL of Thornaby Iron Works Stockton on Tees Ironmaster,.
JAMES EVERS SWINDELL and WILLIAM BLOW COLLIS the two latter trading with
others as Swindell and Collis at Old Hill near Dudley, Worcestershire Coalowners
and Brick Manufacturers do hereby declare the nature of our invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN KILNS OR CHAMBERS FOR BURNING AND DRYING BRICKS AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has reference to the Letters Patent filed on the 28th August,
1876, by Thomas Whitwell, of Thornaby Iron Works, Stockton-on-Tees for
Improvements in Kilns or Chambers for Burning and Drying Bricks, and for
other purposes.
We employ long tunnel kilns or chambers with a railway laid through the same,
so arranged that the bricks are caused to enter on wagons at one end of the kiln or
chamber and to pass out at the other.
We use iron wagons the top or floor of which is covered with fire-brick or other
good non-conducting material, as therein specified.
We use the iron plates built into or attached to the side of the kiln to contain
dry sand, and the flange attached to the underside of the top of the wagon
projecting into the sand to form a joint more or less air-tight, as herein mentioned.
We make use of a chimney of suitable dimensions connected with the kiln or
chamber to create a draught.
Instead of a fire grate we construct a chamber for the combustion of gas at or
near the centre of the kiln lengthwise.
Gas of suitable quality made in a furnace or Gas Producer, by preference that
known as "Wilson's," is led by underground flues into the combustion chamber
where it is mixed with air, passing into the kiln above the wagon floor from the
out-going end of the kiln which cools the burnt bricks, and in doing this becomes
itself intensely heated.
The bricks which have been burnt become therefore a natural regenerator for
heating the air for mixing with the gas in the combustion chamber, effecting a
great saving in fuel and causing an intense heat.
Smoke also is entirely prevented, the combustion of the gas being perfect.
The inlet and outlet ends of the kiln are provided with iron or other doors and
the stack with o Duane doman

page_text: Cold air is also introduced to the kiln or chamber beneath the wagons, to keep
them cool and prevent any damage to their frames and platforms, and a loose
portable shutter is provided to be placed transversely below the floor of the wagons
at the outgoing end of the kiln or chamber, to prevent the chimney drawing this
air above the wagon floor.
Apertures are provided in the sides of the kiln near the ground at suitable points
to admit this air.
Air-tight joints are made between the ends of the wagons by a luting of clay,
fire-clay, loam-sand, asbestos cord, or other incombustible material laid upon an
iron plate or shelf passing beneath one wagon and attached to the end of the next
so as to prevent the cold air ascending between the ends of the wagons into the
upper portion of the kiln and interfering with the heat necessary for burning the
bricks.
The wagons are by preference made (with the exceptions of the axles and bolts,)
of cast iron of suitable quality, the floors of the said wagons being covered with
fire bricks or slabs.
By this arrangement the whole of the available heat is utilised, that passing
from the combustion chamber towards the stack being taken up by the incoming
green bricks, whilet that given up by the out-going burnt bricks is utilised as
before mentioned, in heating the air to mix with the gas in the combustion
chamber.
The wagons are attached to and moved forward down the kiln by means of a
heavy endless chain actuated by a crab or windlass at the lower end and passing
round a wheel at the upper end, such chain forming by its friction on the ground
a break to prevent the train of wagons running away.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
The kiln or chamber consists of a long tunnel or flue A built of suitable material
and sufficiently long to contain several wagons of bricks.
Openings for ingress and egress are provided at ends of the kiln and supplied
with doors raised by balance weights as shewn on the drawings.
The wagons B run on rails laid on an incline through the whole length of
the kiln.
The wagons are made by preference of cast iron (excepting the axles and bolts)
and are protected with a flooring of fire brick or other refractory material.
On each side of the wagons is an inverted angle plate C Fig. 4. dipping into a
cast iron trough D Fig. 4 running the whole length of kiln and filled with dry
sand, making a joint more or or less air-tight.
A joint plate E Fig. 5 is attached to the fore end of each wagon and passes
under the end of the next forming a shelf upon which tempered clay, loam sand,
asbestos cord or other incombustible material is placed to form an air-tight joint
or luting.
A gas generator F by preference that known as "Wilson's" patent and a
boiler G to supply steam to same, is placed in any convenient position as shewn on
drawings.
The gas so generated is led by means of an underground flue H and vertical
flues I Ĭ into the kiln A and also the boiler firegrate K.
The kiln or tunnel A is enlarged at L L to form a combustion chamber sufficiently
long to contain two wagons of bricks. Valves M M are provided to control the
supply of gas.
A chimney N is built in a suitable position to create a current and draw off the
steam and moisture from the green bricks as they enter the kiln and the products
of the combustion of the gas from the combustion chamber and the boiler.
1 Openings OO are provided in the side of the kiln A below the sand joint C D
to admit cold air to keep the under work of the wagons cool.

page_text: A loose portable shutter P is placed against the end of the lowest wagon beneath
its floor at the outgoing end of the kiln to prevent the cold air from this end
passing underneath the wagons and force it up through the bricks to cool them
and become itself heated for mixing with the gas in the combustion chamber.
It will be seen from the foregoing description that our invention varies from that
of Thomas Whitwell
1st. In the mode of application of gas to the kiln or chamber.
2nd. The construction and position of the combustion chamber of said kiln.
3rd. The jointing between ends of wagons.
4th. The admission of cold air at the lower end of kiln to cool the burnt bricks
and heat the air for mixing with the gas.
5th. The loose shutter beneath the floor of the lowest wagon.
6th. The moving of the wagons through the kiln by means of a heavy endless
chain attached to a crab or winch.
Having thus described the nature of our invention, we would have it understood
that we do not limit ourselves to any precise shape, size or proportion of kiln, or
of combustion chamber in connection therewith, provided that the latter is of
greater sectional area than that of the kiln, which we find essential. But what wẹ
claim and desire to be secured by Letters Patent is
1st. The arrangement and construction of kilns with combustion chambers and
application thereto of gaseous and other fuel, for drying and burning bricks and
other articles substantially as herein set forth.
2nd. The arrangement and combination of, the various parts, and appliances
forming the means for drying and burning bricks and other articles by gaseous and
other fuel substantially as described.
Dated this 31st day of October 1885
WILLIAM WHITWELL.
JAMES EVERS SWINDELL.
W. B. COLLIS.