Improvements in and Connected with the Manufacture of Bricks.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 17th June, 1886.
Complete Left, 17th Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 6th May, 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with the Manufacture of Bricks.
1, PETER JOHN MILLIGAN, of Millcroft, Brickworks, Rutherglen, Lanarkshire,
Contractor Brickmaker, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as
follows:-
My invention comprises a new or improved mode of building bricks in long
clamps," stacks, or ranges, for being baked or fired in the open field where the
bricks are made; and in a new mode and means of firing the same; by which
improvements much fuel is saved, and the heat much better and more economically
utilized, so as to fire a great many more bricks than has been possible by the modes
and means heretofore employed of stacking and baking or firing bricks.
My improvements in building or erecting the bricks for being baked or fired,
according to my invention, consist in building them in open deep long wide parallel
clamps, stacks, or benches, close to each other, range behind range, with a close wall
between each range so as to be baked or fired one clamp or range after the other in
sequence alternately from end to end, each range, or the ranges previously fired,
heating the air for supplying the combustion and firing of the other set, all as will
hereinafter be described.
By one arrangement I would build a tall chimney to give sufficient draught to draw
off all gaseous waste products of combustion from the longest and largest set of
clamps I may find it desirable to burn at a time, as say from one hundred to one
hundred and fifty feet long, twenty to thirty feet wide, and eight to ten feet high, but
I by no means bind myself to these sizes. At each end of these parallel rows of built
clamps, I would form flue passages in the ground, built in by bricks at bottom and
sides, and covered over by sheet metal or other plates easily removed, and run them
up parallel to each other until they were nearly in a line with the two sides of the
said tall chimney, and curve them round in a U shape to enter the chimney
beneath the ground, the chimney standing in the centre between the parallel rows
of flues, each fitted with a separate damper close to the chimney to give the
draught equally from both flues when either was used for carrying off the products
of combustion from each clamp in succession as burned.

page_text: Where the chimney had sufficient draught, these flues might extend say two
hundred feet or more from the chimney, and the first clamp be built across between
their extreme ends by two outer close nine inch walls of fired brick and clay, or
loam to prevent the admission of air at the sides, say about thirty feet wide and ten
feet high; which would leave an open space between the side walls of say fully
twenty-eight feet wide, across the whole distance between the flues, to be built up
open or apart to the top with the dried clay-bricks to be fired over the low cross walls
or bottom of fired brick laid to separate them from the wet ground, and covered in
over the top by a roof of two or more thicknesses of close bricks with clay or loam
above, to prevent any escape upwards of the heated products of combustion. This
first clamp or stack of bricks would be built open from bottom to top, with interstices
between them for the heated products of combustion to pass through and properly
bake or fire the bricks; having low fires along the one end much as usual for kindling
and starting the kiln or firing of the bricks at that end.
The rest or remainder of the bricks towards the other end would all be fired from
the top through removable lids down through three or four small special vertical
square channels for the purpose, built in the open bricks in a row across the clamp,
at intervals of three four or more feet as may be found best for fully baking the
bricks between each cross set of firing channels; and these vertical channels would
be charged or fired at intervals with small coals or "breeze" to any desired height as
observation showed, by looking in through the lids, how the bricks were getting fired
towards the next cross set of firing chambers. The heated air to support combustion
would be admitted from the end where the starting fires were regulated as desired
by closing up the apertures, so that the air would be highly heated before reaching
the fuel in the vertical fuel chambers, and the heat passing off from these would dry
and partially fire the bricks in the cross sections beyond between the firing chambers
before reaching the far end of the whole range or clamp of bricks, where one or more
portable or other downtake flue chambers, made of plates or otherwise, would be
erected to conduct the waste products of combustion down into the flue below the
ground, direct on to the chimney through its damper, the other being closed for the
time being.
While this clamp or set of bricks was being so fired, the men would be building up;
the next parallel clamp or set of bricks behind it, all as described in reference to the'
first clamp, to be baked or fired, started through a damper aperture in the side wall
near the extreme end, which damper might be made of a material such as paper or
pasteboard, which would burn itself through and form an opening for itself, or be
mado of a shifting portable form, of a number of plates removable from the end; in
either case so that the flame and heated products of combustion from the last set of
vertical fires would, pass in in front of the close end wall to the first end vertical set
of fires of the new second clamp to be fired, which when started would heat and
light the second, third, and remainder of the fires, so as to fire the whole of this
second clamp or set of bricks, the gases being led at the opposite end by a portable.
sheet metal or other dip flue, or flues, down into the flue under the ground on the
opposite side to the chimney, the damper of which would now be opened, while the
damper on the opposite underground flue and side of the chimney would be closed.
The air is heated in passing through the bricks of the first fired set or clamp, to
support combustion in the second set or clamp of bricks being fired, the flames and
heat partially firing the bricks in the sections in advance of the burning fuel on their
way to the end leading down to the underground flue, thus utilising both the heat of
the first fired set for heating the air for the second set, and also utilizing the waste
heat passing off to the chimney for heating the bricks gradually before being fired.
While this second clamp or set of bricks were being so fired, the third parallel clamp
would be built behind it with the dried clay bricks to be fired all as before described
in reference to the second clamp. And as the second clamp had completed the firing
of its bricks, its last fires would kindle the fires of the third set or clamp of bricks, in
front of its close end wall, and the dampers in the side underground flues being
reversed, this third set or clamp of bricks would be fired in like manner to the second,

page_text: and the gases pass down at the opposite end into the underground flue and chimney
on that side; the bricks in advance being heated by the escaping products of com-
bustion, so as to gradually fire them to the required degree; while the air to support
combustion in this third set of bricks being fired would be heated in passing in
succession through the first and second sets of clamps or bricks fired, the attendant
requiring to observe how much air had to be admitted by looking into the vertical
firing chambers.
When the first set or clamp of bricks had got too cold to heat the
air, it could either be removed to allow the air to enter direct into the second set
through its said opening or damper at the starting firing end, or holes might be
opened through the end wall for that purpose when preferred. This process of
building and firing would be continued to the fourth, fifth and sixth sets behind the
others in succession until they reached close up to near the chimney, when the first
sets or clamps baked being all cooled down could then be removed and new sets or
clamps built for firing at the outer extremities of the side flues again. When these
clamps or sets were made very long, a central flue might be sunk in the ground
between the two side flues entering the front side of the chimney, fitted with a damper
also, so that when desired a portion of the waste products of combustion could be led
down by a dip flue in or near the inside wall into this flue below the centre of each set
or clamp being fired, instead of carrying these on to the far end of the clamp as
hereinbefore described..
When desired the same chimney could have an entire double set of flues, fitted to
it, all as described, led away parallel to each other on the diametrical opposite side of
the chimney, so as to be able to have a second set of brick firing clamps built on the
opposite side of the chimney, and worked all as described in reference to the first set,
and to be used and worked while the fired bricks of the other set were cooling down
and being removed from the brick field. When there was no chimney to create the
draught, or when the chimney was too small to create sufficient draught for this new
mode of building and firing the bricks, a Roots or other air or gas Exhauster might
be used to draw the gases through the flues from the stacks or clamps while being
fired.
When found more convenient, instead of having a damper opening in the end of
the side wall between the clamps of bricks being fired, for kindling the new clamp
when the other was finished, the end dip or portable flues, leading down into the flues
under the ground, might be so constructed that they could be turned and led into and
through the close end wall of the new set of clamps to light the fires and commence
the burning of the bricks in this clamp which end fues might also be made to
convey the heated air passing through the last fired clamp to this next set of bricks
while being burned, or admit the open air to this clamp when the previously burned
clamp was shut off, and was so cold that it could not heat the air.
Dated this 17th day of June 1886

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with the Manufacture of Bricks.
I, PETER JOHN MILLIGAN, of Millcroft Brickworks, Rutherglen, Lanarkshire,
Contractor Brickmaker, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement in writing, reference being had to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say :-
My Invention comprises a new or improved mode of building bricks in long
"clamps" stacks, or ranges, for being baked or fired in the open field where the
bricks are made; and in a new mode and means of firing the same; by which
improvements much fuel is saved; and the heat much better and more economically
utilized, so as to fire a great many more bricks than has been possible by the modes
and means heretofore employed of stacking and baking or firing bricks.
My improvements in building or erecting the bricks for being baked or fired,
according to my invention consist in building them in open deep long wide parallel
clamps, stacks, or benches, close to each other, range behind range, with a close
wall between each range so as to be baked or fired one clamp or range after the
other in sequence alternately from end to end, each range, or the ranges previously
fired, heating the air for supplying the combustion and firing of the other set,
all as will hereinafter be described.
And in order that my said invention, and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended an explanatory Sheet of Drawings, in which the same reference letters are
used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown. Figure 1
is a side elevation of the brickfield Z, showing some of the clamps of bricks B, B1, B2,
built ready for firing with the flues, chimney A, and fan house F, in section, as taken
on the line 1---1 in Figure 2. Figure 2, is a plan corresponding to Figure 1, with
parts of the clamps B, B1, B2, of bricks a, and the chimney A and fan house F,
in horizontal section, and a great part of the field Z, at 2-2 is broken away.
While
Figures 3 and 4 indicate transverse sections of the opposite ends of one of the
clamps for showing the fuel furnaces D, D, at the one end, and the exit channels g, H,
at the other; the arrows in the several parts indicating the direction and passage
of the flames and hot gases through the clamps B, B1, B2, of bricks a and through
the flues C to C³, to the chimney A in all the figures.
Referring to the arrangement of my improvements shown in these Drawings :-
I build a tall chimney A to give sufficient draught to draw off all gaseous waste
products of combustion from the longest and largest set or sets of clamps I may find it
desirable to burn at a time two such clamps B, B', being shown as built, and one B²
in the act of being built, and these clamps may be of any suitable size,as say from one
hundred to one hundred and fifty feet long, as from to twenty to thirty feet wide
as from 6 to 6¹, and eight to ten feet high as from 6 to 63, but I by no means bind

page_text: myself to these sizes. At each end b, b, of these parallel rows of built clamps
B, B, B2, I form flue passages C, C and C, C¹, in the ground, built in by bricks
at bottom and sides, and covered over by sheet metal or other plates c easily removed,
and run them up parallel to each other along the extreme ends of the clamps until they
were nearly in a line with the two sides of the said tall chimney A, and curve them
round in a U shape at C, C, towards the chimney at C to enter the chimney A
by the lower flue C³, beneath the ground under the fan house F, the chimney A,
standing in the centre between the parallel rows of flues C, C and C, C, as seen
in Figure 2, cach flue C, C", being fitted with a separate damper c¹² at C
close to and leading into the chimney flue (3, to give the draught equally from botli
sets of flues C, C, when either was used for carrying off the products of combustion
from each clamp B, B1, B2, in succession while being burned or fired.
Where the chimney A, had sufficient draught, these flues C, C, and C", C₁, might
extend say two hundred feet or more from the chimney as from C to C, and C¹ to C,
or Z to Z, and the first clamp B, be built across between the extreme ends of these
flues C, C, by two outer close or enclosing nine-inch walls b, b, of fired-brick
and clay or loam to prevent the admission of air at the sides, of the clanips to be
fired, say about thirty feet wide and ten feet high; which would leave an open
space between these side walls b, b, of say fully twenty-eight feet wide, across
the whole distance between the flues C, and C, to be built up open or a little
apart to the top 62, with the dried clay bricks a, a, to be fired built over the low
cross walls a with the bottom row of fired brick laid to separate them from tho
wet ground, leaving channels a² between the walls a¹, to convey the gases right
along the whole stalk or clamp of bricks to be burned, the whole being covered
in over the top by a roof of two or more thicknesses of close fired bricks as with clay
or loam above, to prevent any escape upwards or outwards of the heated products
of combustion. This first clamp or stack of bricks B is built open from bottom
to top, with interstices between them, for the heated products of combustion to pass
through, and properly bake or fire the bricks a; having low fire chambers D,
or it might be temporary furnaces with furnace bars along the one end, much
as usual for filling with fuel and kindling and starting the kiln or firing of the
bricks at that end.
The rest or remainder of the bricks a, right through towards the other end
or flue C, C, would all be fired through square or round holes d, in the roof a
through removable lids down through three or four small special vertical square
or cross channels e for the purpose, built in the open bricks a in a row across the
clamp, at intervals of three, four or more feet as may be found best for.fully baking
the bricks between each cross set of firing channels e. These vertical channels e
would be charged or fired at intervals with small coals or "breeze" through the
holes and lids at d, d, in the roof a³, to any desired height as observation showed
necessary, by looking in through the lids d, how the bricks a a, were getting fired
between and towards the next cross set of firing chambers e. The heated air
to support combustion would be admitted through the furnaces D or through holes
at D, for the purpose in the front close end E, where the starting fires D, are
ranged and regulated as desired by closing or opening up the apertures D', so that
the air would be highly heated before reaching the fuel in the vertical fuel
chambers e, e, and the heat passing off from these would dry and partially fire the
bricks a, in the cross sections beyond, between the firing chambers before reaching
the far end at C, of the whole range or clamp B of bricks a, where one or more
portable or other downtake flue chambers g made of plates g', or otherwise, would be
erected at an angle to conduct the waste products of combustion down into the flue C
below the ground, (the level plates c, at these parts being removed) direct on
to the chimney through one damper c¹ the other c², being closed for the time being.
e
While this clamp B, and set of bricks a in it was being so fired, the men would
be building up the next parallel clamp B' and set of bricks a behind it, all as described
in reference to the first clamp B, to be baked or fired, started through a damper
aperture H, in the second side wall b, near the extreme end from the fires D.

page_text: This aperture H may be fitted with a damper made of a material such as paper or
pasteboard, which would burn itself through and form an opening for itself, or otherwise
may be made as indicated in the Drawing, of a sliding metal plate or plates on edge,
drawn out from the end as dotted-in in Figure 4; in either case so that the flame
and heated products of combustion from the last set or sets of vertical fires e, e,
in the first clamp B, would pass in in front of the close end wall E, to the first end
yertical set of fires e, of the new second clamp B, B₁, to be fired, all as indicated by
the arrows. These first fires e of the second clamp B, would heat and light the second,
third, and remainder of the vertical rows of firing chambers e, so as to fire the whole
of this second clamp B¹, and its set of bricks a, the gases being led off from these
at the opposite end wall E, through channels in line with a², by a portable sheet
metal or other dip flue or flues down into the flue C, C, under the ground (on the
opposite side to the flue C, C) to the chimney A and through the damper c², which
would now be opened, while the damper on the opposite underground flue C, C, and
side of the chimney would be closed. The air is heated in passing through the
bricks a of the first fired set or clamp B, already burned to support the combustion in
the second set or clamp B₁ of bricks a being fired, the flames and heat partially firing
the bricks in the sections a, in advance of the burning fuel on their way to the end
leading down to the underground flue C, 0, thus utilising both the heat of
the first fired set of bricks a of the clamp B, for heating the air for the second
set of bricks a in the clamp. B, and also utilising the waste heat passing
off from the bricks being burned to the chimney A, for heating the bricks gradually
before being fired. While this second clamp B', and set of bricks a were being
so fired, the third parallel clamp B2, would be getting built up behind it with
the dried clay bricks to be fired; all as before described in reference to the second-
clamp B, and as indicated in this clamp B² in Figure 2. And as the second clamp B¹,
had completed the firing of its bricks «, its last fires would kindle the fires of the
third set or clamp B2 of bricks a, through the damper opening H', and damper h¹, in
the third wall b, b. in front of its close end wall E, and the dampers c¹, c², of the side
underground flue C, C, and chimney A, on that side; the bricks a in advance being
heated by the escaping products of combustion, so as to gradually fire them to the
required degree while the air to support combustion in this third set B² of
bricks a, being fired would be heated in passing in succession through the bricks
the first and second set of clamps B and B, and its admission regulated through the
holes D', in the end walls E, E, the attendant requiring to observe how much air had
to be admitted by looking through the doors d; d, in the roof a³, into the vertical
firing chambers e, e. When the first set or clamp B of bricks a had got too cold to
heat the air, it could either be removed to allow the air to enter direct into the second
set through its said opening and damper H, Z, at the starting firing end, or holes D¹
might be opened through the end walls E or E, for that purpose when preferred. This
process of building and firing would be continued to the fourth, fifth and sixth sets
behind the others in succession until they reached close up to near the flue C, at the
chimney, when the first sets of bricks a or clamps B, B1, B2, baked being all cooled
down, could then be removed and new sets or clamps built for firing at the outer
extremities of the side flues C, C, and C¹, C¹, again. When these clamps or sets were
made very long, a central flue might be sunk in the ground between the two side flues
in line with the flue C³, entering the front side of the chimney and which would be
fitted with a damper also, when employed similar to c¹, c³, so that when desired a
portion of the waste products of combustion could be led down by a dip flue in or near
the inside wall, b, of each clamp, into this flue below the centre of each set or clamp
being fired, instead of carrying these on to the far end of the clamp as hereinbefore
described.
a,
in
When desired the same chimney A, and fan arrangements F, could have an entire
double set of flues C, C, fitted to it, all as described, led away parallel to each other on the
diametrically opposite side of the chimney, so as to be able to have a second set of
brick firing clamps built on the opposite side of the chimney, and worked all as described
in reference to the first set, and to be used and worked while the fired bricks of the

page_text: "
other set were cooling down and being removed from the brick field. When there
was no chimney to create the draught, or when the chimney was too small to create
sufficient draught or for starting the draught in this new mode of building and firing
the bricks a "Roots or other air or gas Exhauster might be used to draw the gases
and vapour through the flues C, C, C, from the stacks or clamps while being fired.
For the purpose of thus exhausting the waste gases from such brick fields an arrange-
ment of screw fan blower, is shown as fitted in a fan house F over the flue C³, in
front of the chimney; the flue C³, being fitted with a damper c³, for being let down to
shut off the direct communication through the flue C, to the chimney A, and lead the
gases up into the fan or gas exhausting house F, so as to be drawn and discharged
into the chimney A, through the flue F, leading from the chamber F, into the
chimney A, by the screw fan gas exhauster f fitted in an open frame in the entrance to
this flue so as to be driven by a pulley and band f" from a small motive engine or
other convenient motive power not shown in the Drawings.
When found more convenient, instead of having a damper opening H, and damper h,
in the end of the side walls b, b, between the clamps of bricks B, B1, B2, being fired,
for kindling the fires e of cach new clamp when the other was finished, the end dip or
portable angled flues g, gl, leading down into the flues C, C, and C, C, under the
ground, might be so constructed that they could be turned and led into and through
the close end wall of the new set of clamps to light the fires and commence the burning
of the bricks in this clamp, which end flues g, g', might also be made to convey the
heated air passing through the last fired clamp to this next set of bricks a, while being
burned, or admit the open air to this clamp when the previously burned clamp was
shut off, and was so cold that it could not heat the air.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
:-
First. The building of bricks in long clamps, between walls and flues with transverse
rows of vertical fuel charging and burning chambers so as to be fired in succession
one after the other as built, the heated gases from the fires of the bricks being burned
drying those in advance and kindling their fires, and the finished burned bricks
forming regenerators for heating the air to support combustion in the fires of the
succeeding bricks and clamps, substantially as herein described, in reference to and
shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The building and firing of bricks in long clamps, by having vertical fuel
burning chambers charged down through them from the top, so as to successively fire
the bricks between them in a continuous manner, substantially as herein described, in
reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The arrangement of brickfields with flues and chimney, either with or
without gas exhauster, so as to build and fire bricks in a continuous manner in long
clamps or stacks, substantially as and for the advantages herein described in reference
to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
בד
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