Improvements in Kilns or Ovens for Firing Bricks and other Ceramic Goods
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Kilns or Ovens for Firing Bricks and other
Ceramic Goods,
I, HENRY BURRIDGE, of 41, Cauldwell Street, Bedford, in the County of Bedford-
shire, Brick Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to a class of kiln known as a semi-continuous kiln for
burning bricks, earthenware china and the like substances, whereby it may be
arranged so as to work more or less as a continuous kiln and thus effect a saving
in the amount of fuel required and enable the bricks to be burnt to a more
equable degree and of a better colour.
The ordinary semi-continuous kiln is constructed with one main fluc running
beneath the kiln floor to a chimney shaft at one end and passing under the
various chambers into which the kiln is divided on its way. The main flue is
connected with each chamber-of which there may be from two to twenty or even
more by means of smaller auxiliary flues fitted with dampers. As there is
however but one main flue, when the firing process has traversed the full length
of the kiln in one direction it must then be stopped altogether and a fresh fire
made at the starting end owing to the impossibility of getting a draught to move
in both directions along one and the same flue. In consequence of this, fuel
is wasted and the bricks are not burnt so well when smoke and steam are passing
over the green bricks from a preceding chamber as they are when the heat is
a dry heat as I arrange by my invention.
The object of my invention is to construct a kiln with a single row of chambers
preferably about eight in number but which may have any number of chambers
to suit the circumstances and to so arrange the flues that when the firing process
has reached the end of the row, the hot air, or a portion of it, from the end chamber
or from an intermediate chamber may be brought back to the starting end or to
another intermediate chamber, at the same time if necessary that the firing pro-
cess is being completed therein and while the steam and products of combustion
are passing directly to the chimney.
In order to effect this I so arrange the main flue that either by dividing it into
two separate flues or by placing a partition longitudinally in one single flue-
preferably by the former device and by connecting the main flues to the chambers
by means of dampers, with auxiliary flues if necessary I am enabled to bring hot
air from one end chamber along one of the main flues to the chamber at the
opposite end, or to any intermediate chamber, and to arrange by means of the
dampers that this hot air after passing through the said chamber shall travel
back to the chimney along the other main flue, carrying with it the steam from
any green bricks placed in the chamber or chambers through which the hot air is
nassed

page_text: I place suitable dampers in the main flues, which flues are joined into one at
the bottom of the chimney, and by this means I am enabled to utilize heat from one
or more chambers which would otherwise be wasted, and to burn the bricks to a
much better and more even colour.
This practically renders a kiln with a single row of chambers a continuous
kiln with the advantages in the shape of economy and saving in fuel as are
possessed by that type and at a far less cost to construct.
In order to reheat a chamber at either end which may have cooled too far
while waiting for other sections to be drawn & reset I construct fire grates at both
ends of the kiln and in dealing with kilns having a large number of chambers
I may also construct a chimney shaft at both ends.
Dated thin 90th of T... 1000
SYDNEY E. PAGE, Wh.Ex., Assoc. M.Inst.C.E.,
18, New Bridge Street, Blackfriars, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Kilns or Ovens for Firing Bricks and other
Ceramic Goods.
I, HENRY BURRIDGE, of 41, Cauldwell Street, Bedford, in the County of Bedford-
shire, Brick Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement;-
-
This invention relates to a class of kiln known as a semi-continuous kiln for
burning bricks, earthenware, china, and the like substances, whereby it may be
arranged so as to work more or less as a continuous kiln and thus effect a saving
in the amount of fuel required, and which will enable the bricks to be burnt
to a more equable degree and of a better colour.
The ordinary semi-continuous kiln is constructed with one main flue running
beneath the kiln floor to a chimney shaft at one end, and passing under the various
chambers into which the kiln is divided on its way.
The main flue is connected with each chamber, of which there may be from
two to twenty, or even more, by means of smaller auxiliary flues fitted with
dampers.
As there is however but one main flue, only the heat from the firing chamber
can be utilized for further drying, while that from preceding chambers already
burnt is lost, though being dry and free from steam and other impurities it is
the best for drying purposes.
Also when the firing process has reached the end chamber of the kiln in one
direction, the heat passes directly to the chimney and is wasted, and a fresh fire
has to be made at the starting end.
In consequence of this fuel is wasted and the bricks are not burnt so well when
the smoke and steam are passing over the green bricks from a preceding chamber,
as they are when the heat is a dry heat as I arrange by my invention.
The object of my invention is to construct a kiln with the flues so arranged that
dry heat may be brought from a chamber which has just been burnt, back to
one of the preceding chambers containing green bricks, and to pass this dry heat
over the green bricks without the steam and products of combustion which would
be contained in the draught from the firing chamber, if the whole of it were

page_text: passed through another chamber, or if the draught were passed over a succession
of chambers containing green bricks as is done in ordinary continuous kilns.
In order to effect this, I construct a kiln preferably with a single row of about
eight chambers, having a chimney shaft at one end, but which may have any
number of chambers arranged either in a double row, or in two separate single
rows placed longitudinally one on each side of a central chimney, or in a long
single row with a chimney at each end according as circumstances render it
suitable.
I so arrange the main flue that either by constructing two separate flues running
under the floor of the chambers, or by placing a partition longitudinally in a single
main flue in connection with auxiliary flues, preferably by the first device in which
the flues open directly into the chambers, I am enabled to bring hot air along
one flue from a chamber which has just been burnt, back to one of the preceding
chambers containing green bricks, and which after passing over the green bricks,
will pass away along the other flue carrying with it the steam from the green
bricks; along this latter flue the steam and products of combustion from the
chamber actually being fired, will also pass to the chimney at the same time,
coming either directly from the firing chamber or after having passed over
unburnt bricks in other chambers in front of the firing chamber.
When the firing process reaches the end chamber of the row, as soon as the
steam and other impurities have passed off, either the whole heat from the chamber,
or a portion of it, may be brought back to a preceding chamber containing bricks
sufficiently dry to stand it, coming up into the said chamber from one flue and
being taken away by the other, after passing over the bricks.
This practically renders a kiln with a single row of chambers a continuous kiln,
with the same advantages in the shape of fuel economy as are possessed by that
type, and at a far less cost to construct.
In the accompanying drawings—in which like letters refer to the same parts
in each view-
Fig. 1 is a ground plan of a kiln shown with five chambers.
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on the line X Y.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation, and Fig. 4 an end elevation of the kiln.
Referring first to Fig. 1, A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 are the five chambers formed
with openings O, in the dividing walls between them, so that heat may pass
from one chamber to the next and thus be utilized for drying the bricks therein.
F1 and F2 are two flues which run along underneath the floor of the chambers
with openings B thereinto and being joined into one at E.
Dampers are fitted into both flues at Q and P and into one of the flues at NKL
and M and there is a cross flue F 3 in the end chamber A 5 so as to enable each
corner to be burnt completely. Each of the openings B is fitted with a cover O
so that the flue can be opened or shut to each chamber. At each end of the kiln
fire grates G are fitted; at the starting end for commencing the firing, and at the
opposite end for use in case the chamber A 5 may have cooled so far as to render
more heat desirable. Holes D are provided in the side of each chamber for the
insertion of rods or handles for moving the covers C.
Wickets H are provided through which the chambers are filled and emptied of
bricks, and holes Pare provided in the roof of the kiln through which small coal
is inserted for the firing process. I is the chimney shaft.
Having filled each chamber with green bricks, fires are started in the grates G
of the chamber A 1 and in the chamber itself through the holes 1. The draught is
first taken down the openings B3 B4 until the steam has passed off from the
damp bricks, and then it passes into the chamber A2 and out at the openings B7 B8
and successively in the same way through each of the succeeding chambers.
When the bricks in chamber A1 are burnt, the openings O in the division wall
are closed, and the bricks in each of the succeeding chambers are likewise burnt
until the process has reached say chamber A4. By this time chamber A 1 will

page_text: have been reset with green bricks, while chamber A3 has just finished burning
and chamber A2 will also contain a certain amount of heat."
The dampers Land Q are therefore closed in the flue F1 and the covers taken off
openings B7 B5 B3 and B1 of flue F1, and of the openings B4 and B2 of the
flue F2.
The gentle heat from A2 in this way passes through the bricks in A 1 and away
to the shaft I along the flue F2 at the same time that the smoke and steam from
the firing chamber A4 are passing along to the shaft I.
As soon as the bricks in A1 are sufficiently dry, openings B7 and 135, in
chamber A 2 are closed and B11 and B9 in the chamber A3 are opened, also
damper L is opened and K shut, thus allowing the higher heat in A3 to pass
through the bricks in A1 and away to the chimney shaft.
This process is continued in all the chambers however many there may be
until the firing process has reached the end chamber as at A 5 when the whole
of the draught may be brought back down flue 12 to a chamber such as A 1
nt the starting end, or to any intermediate chamber, and there used
for further daying, or a portion only of the draught from the end
chamber A5 may be taken down flue F2 as above mentioned, the
other portion being taken through an intermediate chamber such as A2 by
closing the damper M in the flue F1 and thus causing this portion of the draught
to pass through A2 and rejoin the other portion in the flue F2 and pass with it
through A1 to the chimney.
central
When two separate rows of chambers are constructed on each side of
chimney two connecting flues, such as F4 and F5, are provided for joining the
underground flues in one row to those in the other row, and in addition a hot air
flue, F6 F7 is constructed above the ground level, corresponding to the open-
ings in the dividing walls. Through this last flue the heat taken from one
end chamber to the end chamber of the opposite row.
Instead of two separate flues some little distance apart I may construct a double
main flue running down the centre of the row of chambers, and divided into
two parts by a central partition; in this case the main flues instead of opening
directly into each chamber, are connected to openings in the same position as
with separate flues by means of short auxiliary flues. The dampers are placed in
one or both sides of the main flue as before and the action is then similar to
that above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is-
1. In a semi-continuous or continuous kilu the combination with a row of
chambers such as A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 formed with inlet and outlet openings O
in the dividing walls between them, of two or more separate longitudinal Hues
such as F1 F2 running under the floor of the said chambers, with openings into
cach, and communicating at one or both ends with a chimney shaft I substantially
as described herein and for the purpose specified.
2. In a semi-continuous or continuous kiln the combination with a row of
chambers such as A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 formed with inlet and outlet openings O
in the dividing walls between them, of two or more separate longitudinal flues
such as F1 F2 connecting each chamber to the chimney shaft I, and a series of
dampers fixed between each chamber in one or both of the flues substantially as
described.
3. In a semi-continuous or continuous kiln the combination with two separate
rows of chambers placed longitudinally one on each side of a central chimney
shaft, each row being formed with inlet and outlet openings in the dividing walls
between each chamber of two or more separate longitudinal flues connecting each
chamber to the chimney shaft, provided with a series of dampers fixed between
each chamber in one or both flues, and two or more hot air flues connecting together

page_text: the separate rows of chambers on each side of the central chimney substantially
as described.
4. In a semi-continuous or continuous kiln the combination with a row of
chambers formed with inlet and outlet openings in the dividing walls between
them, of a double main flue, with a partition along its centre running under the
floor of the said chambers, connecting each chamber to a chimney at one or both
ends and provided with a series of dampers fixed between each chamber in one
or both halves of the flue substantially as described herein.
Dated this 14th day of April 1899.
SYDNEY E. PAGE, A.M.I.C.E.,
18, New Bridge Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant..