Improved Means of Supporting Pottery Ware in Kilns or Ovens while being Baked or Fired.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 7th May, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Supporting Pottery Ware in Kilns or Ovens
while being Baked or Fired.
I, HENRY LEAK, of Church Street, Longton, Staffordshire, Potters' Machinist, 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 improved means to be used in supporting pottery ware in
kilns or ovens while being baked or fired, the improvements having special reference
to that class of such devices wherein a series of superposed annular enclosing parts
(hereinafter referred to as "interlocking rings") each adapted to prevent lateral
displacement of the next superposed one of the series, is used conjunctively with
a series of inner projecting ware supporting parts (hereinafter referred to as ware
supports") each, or each set of which, is supported by one of said interlocking rings
and is removably applicable thereto.
66
In such devices as hitherto used, the ware supports have consisted of separate
arms, or of dished bottoms closing across the space surrounded by the interlocking
rings, or of continuous rings formed with inner projecting arms, respectively adapted
to support the ware under the foot, or of continuous rings adapted to support the
ware under the rim.
Those of such devices wherein inner projecting arms are used to support the ware
are disadvantageous in that the arms, affording no mutual support to each other,
are very liable to be quickly broken; those wherein the ware supports consist of
continuous rings are disadvantageous in supporting the ware at the rim,
necessitating after processes for removing the marks formed on the rim ; and those
wherein the ware supports consist of dished bottoms are disadvantageous in that
they prevent free access of heat to the ware under treatment and are unduly heavy
and cumbersome.
With the object of avoiding these several disadvantages, and of attaining the
several advantages of freedom from liability of shifting of the ware supports, of
lessening the liability of damage to such parts, of the ware being supported under
the foot, and of free access of the heat to the ware during firing, the present
invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described with reference to the
accompanying drawings; in which,
Fig. 1, represents a plan, showing one of the improved interlocking rings fitted
with one of the improved ware supports;
Fig. 2, represents a sectional elevation, showing two such rings and supports in
superposed relation ;
Figs. 3, and 4, represent like views of a modification wherein the interlocking rings
are dispensed with, and a series of superposed interlocking ware supports are used
conjunctively and in such a manner as to obtain all the advantages of the superposed
nterlocking rings, but do not surround so as to enclose the ware; and
Like reference letters indicate like parts wherever repeated.
a, represents the interlocking rings, each of which is formed with upper and lower
eatings, a¹, and flanges, a², the seatings and flanges being so arranged that each one

page_text: of the superposed series of the rings will nest with the next upper and lower ones of
the series so as to prevent lateral displacement of any of the series.
At its upper face, each ring, a, is recessed at a³, at, say, three equidistant points, so
as to be adapted to receive and support a like number of arms, 61, projecting from a
bridge-piece, b, which is formed with a central base, 62, provided with radiating
ridges, 63, adapted to support the ware, c, at the foot, and from which base the
arms, 61, radiate in position to engage with said recesses, a³.
In the modification represented in Figs. 3, and 4, the ends of the arms, 61, of each
of the series of superposed bridge-pieces, b, are respectively adapted to interlock with
those of the next upper and the next lower bridge-pieces in such manner as to
prevent lateral displacement of any of the series.
To this end, the end of each arm, 61, is made with upper and under seatings, 64,
and flanges, 5, the upper seating being formed with a radial projection, be, and the
lower flange being formed with a corresponding radial recess, 67, such parts being so
arranged as to co-act with the seatings, 64, and flanges 65, in preventing any shifting
of the interlocking ware supports in relation to each other.
1
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
In means for supporting pottery ware in kilns or ovens while being baked or fired;
1. In combination, interlocking rings, a, each formed with top recesses, a³, and
bridge ware supports, b, each formed with a central base, 62, adapted to support the
ware at the foot, and with outwardly radiating arms, b¹, adapted to engage with and
to be supported by the recesses of the rings, a, substantially as herein before
described.
2. In combination, interlocking bridge ware supports, b, each formed with a
central base 62, adapted to support the ware at the foot, and with outwardly radiating
arms, b', each made with upper and under seatings, 64, and flanges, 65, and with a
radial projection, 66, on the one face and a correspondingly situated radial
recess, 7, on the other face, such parts (64, to 67,) being so arranged as to co-act in
causing a series of such superposed bridge ware supports to interlock with each
other, substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 17th day of March 1898.
DAY, DAVIES, & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents, 321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
or Her Majesty's Stationery Office, by Malcomson & Co., Ltd.-1898