IMPROVEMENTS IN DRYING AND BURNING BRICKS, TILES, POTTERY, LIME, CEMENT, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Craven, of Wakefield, in the County of York,
Engineer, and Humphrey Chamberlain, of Barnsley, in the County of
York, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DRYING AND
BURNING BRICKS, TILES, POTTERY, LIME, CEMENT, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Craven and Humphrey
Chamberlain at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th January
1881.
JOHN CRAVEN, of Wakefield, in the County of York, Engineer, and HUMPHREY
CHAMBERLAIN, of Barnsley, in the County of York, Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS
IN DRYING AND BURNING BRICKS, TILES, POTTERY, LIME, CEMENT, AND OTHER
SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE KILNS OR OVENS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Our Invention relating to the drying and burning of bricks, tiles, pottery, lime,
cement, and other substances, has reference to that.system in which the burning is
effected by means of gas, and our Invention consists in the use of air heated by
means of the gas generator in the drying of the said articles or substances, and also
in the mode of drawing off the vapour from the drying articles or substances, and
farther, of improvements in the general arrangement of the kilns or ovens, whereby
the operations are carried out with facility and under economical conditions.
The Invention is applicable both to continuous, and non-continuous kilns, but
we shall describe as an example the application of our Invention to a continuous
kiln.
In applying the Invention to a kiln consisting of two series of chambers or
compartments arranged side by side, we proceed in the following manner:-In the
centre of the kiln between the two series of chambers or compartments we arrange
the gas main leading from the gas generator, with branch pipes communicating
with the several chambers or compartments, and carrying any suitable number of
gas jets or burners. At each side of the gas generator we form a chamber into
which air is admitted, so as to be heated by the gas generator, and from the said

page_text: chambers extend a pipe or flue which surrounds or contains the gas main, and
communicates by means of branch air flues also surrounding the branch gas pipes
with the several chambers or compartments we also provide longitudinal main
smoke communicating with the chimney, say, for example, at the centre; with this
longitudinal flue communicate end main flues, which connect together the two
series of chambers or compartments, and into the main flues the products of
combustion are conducted by branch smoke flues leading from the several chambers
or compartments. Openings are formed in the roofs of the chambers or compart-
ments for the egress of the vapour from the drying articles or substance, which
may all be assisted by small chimneys. A door-way is made in each chamber or
compartment, and dampers are provided between the consecutive chambers or
compartments, and also other valves or dampers for regulating the inlet of the gas
and air, and the egress of the products of combustion.
Assuming the complete kiln to consist of six chambers or compartments herein-
after designated Nos. 1 to 6 (three in each series), the compartment or chamber
No. 1 is first filled with unburnt bricks, for example, a damper is put up dividing
this chamber from chamber No. 2, and the doorway of No. 1 is also built up; hot
air from the hot air chamber which is built round the gas generator and main is
turned into this chamber by lifting the dampers in the branch hot air flues
extending across the kiln floor, which thoroughly dries the goods; the steam
generator during this process passes off through openings left in the arch of the
kiln.
By drying the goods in each chamber separately with the air heated by the gas
generator and main as described, a much better color is obtained than in any other
continuous kiln.
•
By not using the cooling heat for drying purposes, as in other kilns, the goods
at the top of the chambers are more uniformly burnt.
During the process of drying in chamber No. 1, No. 2 chamber is next being
filled and dried as in the preceding chamber; a bell valve is now raised, connecting
No. 1 chamber with the chimney, and the gas in the branch pipes extending across
the kiln floor is turned on, the air for combustion being drawn from the hot air
flues in which the branch pipes are enclosed first, setting the kiln to work.
After the drying the dampers dividing chambers Nos. 1 and 2 are taken down
and put up between chambers 2 and 3, the door way No. 2 being also built up; the
gas is ignited by a light being put in from the openings in the arch; the vapour
and waste products of combustion are carried to the chimney through a bell valve
in the smoke chamber. The next bell valve is raised connecting chamber No. 2
with the chimney, and the valve of No. 1 is lowered; the spent gas from chamber
No. 1 is drawn through the goods in chamber No. 2, the fire always travelling
forward.
The gas from the main is not turned on in chamber No. 2 until the goods are
sufficiently hot to ignite the gas. When the burning is sufficiently in advance, the
doorway in chamber No. 1 is taken down to allow a supply of fresh air to cool the
goods by which it is heated to a high temperature and produces a more perfect
combustion.
Chamber No. having been filled and dried by the hot air, and the valve of
No. 2 being closed, the burning proceeds as in the two preceding chambers, the
draught now proceeding through the end main flue at that end of the kiln and the
bell valve of No. 3 to the chimney; this chamber being sufficiently advanced, the
bell valve in chamber No. 3 is closed, and the one in No. 4, opened, which draws
the heat from chamber No. 3 through the end main flue into No. 4 chamber, and
the work is carried on as described in the preceding chambers, and so on in
succession throughout the remaining chambers of the kiln.
The Invention is also applicable to continuous annular kilns and also to non-
continuous kilns, such modification being made as will be necessarily understood by
persons conversant with kilns of this description.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Craven and Humphrey Chamberlain in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 2nd July 1881.
JOHN CRAVEN, of Wakefield, in the County of York, Engineer, and HUMPHREY
CHAMBERLAIN, of Barnsley, in the County of York, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN DRYING AND BURNING BRICKS, TILES, POTTERY, LIME, CEMENT, AND OTHER
SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE KILNS OR OVENS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Our said Invention relating to the drying and burning of bricks, tiles, pottery,
lime, cement, and other substances has reference to that system in which the
burning is effected by means of gas, and our said Invention consists in the use of
air heated by means of the gas generator and gas mains in the drying of the said
articles or substances, and also of improvements in the general arrangement of the
kilns or ovens whereby the operations are carried out with facility and under
economical conditions.
The Invention is applicable both to continuous and noncontinuous kilns, but we
shall describe as an example the application of our Invention to a continuous kiln.
In applying the Invention to a kiln consisting of two series of chambers or
compartments arranged side by side we proceed in the following manner :-In the
centre of the kiln between the two series of chambers or compartments we arrange
the gas main leading from the gas generator with branch pipes communicating
with the several chambers or compartments, and carrying any suitable number of
gas jets or burners. At each side of the gas generator we form a chamber, into
which air is admitted so as to be heated by the gas generator, and from the said
chambers extends a pipe or flue which surrounds or contains the gas main and
communicates by means of branch air flues also surrounding the branch gas pipes
with the several chambers or compartments. We also provide a longitudinal main
smoke flue communicating with the chimney, say for example, at the centre. With
this longitudinal flue communicate end main flues which connect together the two
series of chambers or compartments, and into the main flues the products of
combustion are conducted by branch smoke flues leading from the several chambers
or compartments. Openings are formed in the roofs of the chambers or compart-
ments for the egress of the vapour from the drying articles or substance which may
also be assisted by small chimneys. A doorway is made in each chamber or
compartment, and dampers are provided between the consecutive chambers or
compartments, and also other valves or dampers for regulating the inlet of the gas
and air and the egress of the products of combustion.
Assuming the complete kiln to consist of six chambers or compartments, herein-
after designated Nos. 1 to 6 (three in each series), the compartment or chamber
No. 1 is first filled with unburnt bricks (for example). A damper is put up dividing
this chamber from chamber No. 2, and the doorway of No. 1 is also built up; hot
air from the hot air chamber, which is built round the gas generator and main, is
then turned into this chamber by lifting the dampers in the branch hot air flues
extending across the kiln floor, whereby the goods are thoroughly dried, the steam
generated during this process passing off through openings left in the arch of the
kiln. By drying the goods in each chamber separately with the air heated by the
gas generator and main as described a much better color is obtained than in any
other continuous kiln, whilst by not using the cooling heat for drying purposes, as
in other kilns, the goods at the top of the chambers are more uniformly burnt.
During the process of drying in chamber No..1, No. 2 chamber is being filled and
dried as in the the preceding chamber. A bell valve is now raised connecting No. 1
chamber with the chimney, and the gas in the branch pipe extending across the

page_text: kiln floor is turned on. The drying having now been effected in chambers Nos.
and 2 we proceed in the following manner :-
In first setting the kiln to work after the drying the dampers dividing chambers
Nos. 1 and 2 are taken down and put up between chambers 2 and 3, the doorway
No. 2 being also built up. The gas is ignited by a light being put in from the
openings in the arch; the vapour and waste products of combustion are carried to
the chimney through a bell valve in the smoke chamber. The next bell valve is
then raised, connecting chamber No 2 with the chimney, and the valve of No. 1 is
lowered. The spent gas from chamber No. 1 is drawn through the goods in
chamber No. 2, the fire always travelling forward. The gas from the main is not
turned on in chamber No. 2 until the goods are sufficiently hot to ignite the gas.
When the burning is sufficiently in advance the doorway in chamber No. 1 is taken
down to allow a supply of fresh air to cool the goods, by which it is heated to a
high temperature and supports combustion.
Chamber No. 3 having been filled and dried by the hot air, and the valve of
No. 2 being closed, the burning is carried on as in the two preceding chambers, the
draught now proceeding through the end main flue at that end of the kiln and the
bell valve of No. 3 to the chimney; this chamber being sufficiently advanced, the
bell valve in chamber No. 3 is closed, and the one in No. 4 opened, which draws
the heat from chamber No. 3 through the end main flue into No. 4 chamber, and
the work is carried on as described with reference to the preceding chambers, and
so on in succession throughout the remaining chambers of the kiln.
As a modification of the preceding arrangement, in lieu of using a single gas
main with a hot air flue surrounding the same extending down the centre of the
kiln between the two series of chambers or compartments, we employ two gas
mains with surrounding hot air flues, one to each series of chambers or compart-
ments, each of such gas mains with its surrounding hot air flue being arranged
beneath the centre of its corresponding series of chambers or compartments, and
being provided with branch gas pipes, air flues extending across the several
chambers or compartments of the series.
The said Invention is also applicable to continuous annular kilns, and also to
noncontinuous kilns, such modifications being made as will be necessarily under-
stood by persons conversant with kilns of this description.
And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood, we shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheets of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 (on Sheet 1) of the accompanying Drawings represents a horizontal
section of a kiln or oven, constructed and arranged according to our said Invention,
and for the purpose of carrying out the same; Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical
section, and Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section of the said kiln or oven.
Figure 4 (on Sheet 2) is a detail transverse section drawn to a larger scale,
illustrating the arrangement of the gas main, and the hot air and smoke flues
hereinafter described; Figures 5, 6, and 7 (on Sheet 2) are details (also drawn to
a larger scale than Figures 1, 2, and 3) of the gas generator hereinafter referred to,
illustrating the mode of heating the air thereby, Figure 5 being a longitudinal
vertical section, and Figure 7 a plan of the same.
Figure 8 (on Sheet 3) is a horizontal section of a kiln or oven illustrating a
slight modification in the arrangement of the gas main and hot air flues represented
in Figures 1, 2, and 3; Figure 9 is a longitudinal vertical section corresponding to
Figure 8 of the said kiln or oven, and Figure 10 is a transverse vertical section of
the same; Figure 11 is a detail transverse section drawn to a larger scale of the
gas main, hot air, and smoke flues.
•
In applying the Invention to a kiln consisting of two series of chambers or
compartments arranged side by side we proceed in the following manner, reference
being had to Figures 1 to 7 of the Drawings:-A', A2, A3, represent one series of
chambers or .compartments, and A4, A5, A6, represent the other series of chambers

page_text: or compartments, the two series arranged side by side forming with the passages,
flues, and connections hereinafter described, the complete kiln. In the centre of
the kiln, between the two series of chambers or compartments, we arrange the gas
main E leading from the gas generator D with branch pipes E¹ communicating
with the several chambers or compartments, and carrying any suitable number of
gas jets or burners 1, 1. At each side of or partially surrounding the gas generator,
we form a chamber, chambers, or passages F2 (Figures 5, 6, and 7), into which air
is admitted so as to be heated by the gas generator D, and from the said chambers
or passages extend a pipe or flue F, which surrounds or contains the gas main E
and communicates by means of slotted or perforated branch air flues F¹, also sur-
. rounding the branch gas pipes E¹, with the several chambers or compartments. We
also provide a longitudinal main smoke flue B communicating with the chimney C
(situate in the present example in the centre); with this longitudinal flue com-
municate end main flues G, which connect together the two series of chambers or
compartments, and into the main flues the products of combustion are conducted
by branch smoke flues B° leading from the several chambers or compartments.
Openings a are formed in the roofs of the chambers or compartments for the egress
of the vapour from the drying articles or substance, which may also be assisted by
small chimneys. A doorway b is made in each chamber or compartment, and
dampers are provided at the points c, d, e, f, between the consecutive chambers or
compartments. We also provide valves g for regulating the inlet of the gas, and
dampers h for regulating the inlet of the air, and also bell valves B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6,
for regulating the egress of the products of combustion.
In operating with kilns constructed and arranged in the manner hereinbefore
described the compartment or chamber A' is first filled with unburnt bricks (for
example); a damper is put up at c, dividing this chamber from chamber A2, and
the doorway b of A¹ is also built up; hot air from the hot air chamber F2 and hot
air flue F, which are built round the gas generator D and main E respectively, is
then turned into the chamber A¹ by lifting the dampers hin, the branch hot air
flues F', extending across the kiln floor, the air escaping through slots 2 into the
chamber, whereby the goods are thoroughly dried; the steam generated during
this process passes off through the openings a left in the arch of the kiln. By
drying the goods in each chamber separately with the air heated by the gas
generator and main, as described, a much better colour is obtained than in any other
continuous kiln, whilst by not using the cooling heat for drying purposes, as in
other kilns, the goods at the top of the chambers are more uniformly burnt. During
the process of drying in chamber A' chamber A² is being filled and dried as in the
preceding chamber, the bell valve B¹ is now raised, connecting chamber A' with
the chimney C, and the gas in, the branch pipes F¹ extending across the kiln floor
is turned on.
The drying having now been effected in chambers A1, A2, we proceed in the
following manner:-In first setting the kiln to work after the drying the damper
at c, dividing chambers A1, A2, is taken down and put up at d between the
chambers A2, A3, the doorway b of A² being also built up; the gas is ignited by
a light introduced through the openings a in the arch; the vapour and waste
products of combustion are carried to the chimney C through the bell valve B¹ and
the smoke flue B. The next bell valve B2 is then raised, connecting chamber A²
with the chimney C, and the valve B¹ is lowered; the spent gas from chamber A¹
is drawn through the goods in chamber A2, the fire always travelling forward.
The gas from the main is not turned on in chamber A2 until the goods are
sufficiently hot to ignite the gas. When the burning is sufficiently in advance, the
doorway b in chamber A¹ is taken down to allow a supply of fresh air to cool the
goods, by which combustion is supported and the chamber A³ heated to a high
temperature.
Chamber A³ having now been filled and dried by the hot air, and the bell
valve B being closed, the burning is carried on as in the two preceding chambers,
the draught now proceeding through the end main flue G that end of the kiln, and

page_text: the bell valve B³ to the chimney C. When chamber A³ is sufficiently advanced,
the bell valve B³ is closed and the bell valve B in A* is opened, so that the heat
is drawn from chamber A³ through the end main flue G into chamber A*, and the
work is carried on as described with reference to the preceding chambers, and so
on in succession throughout the remaining chambers of the kiln.
In lieu of using a single gas main E with a hot air flue F surrounding the same
extending down the centre of the kiln between the 2 series of chambers or
compartments A¹, A³, A³, and A4, A5, Aº, as in the arrangement hereinbefore
described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, the modification illustrated in
Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11 (Sheet 3) may be adopted, in which two gas mains E, E,
are employed, each with its surrounding hot air flues F, one of such gas mains
with its hot air flue being arranged at the centre of the series of chambers or
compartments A1, A2, A3, and the other being arranged at the centre of the series
of chambers or compartments A4, A5, A6. The gas mains and hot air flues are
respectively provided with branch flues F³ extending across the several chambers
or compartments of the series, and which perform the function of both the branch
gas pipes E¹ and the branch air flues F¹ herein before described.
The operation of the kilns arranged according to this modification will be readily
understood from the description hereinbefore given without further explanation.
The Invention is also applicable to continuous annular kilns, and also to non-
continuous kilns, such modifications being made as will be necessarily understood
by persons conversant with kilns of this description.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, we observe in conclusion that what we consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
I
First. In the process of drying and burning bricks, tiles, pottery, lime, cement,
and other substances, the employment in the drying operation of air heated by the
generator, and passage of the gas used for burning the said articles or substances,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Second. In kilns or ovens for drying and burning bricks, tiles, pottery, lime,
cement, and other substances, the general arrangement of the kiln or oven for
drying by means of heated air, and burning by means of gas, substantially as
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Craven, on behalf of myself and the
said Humphrey Chamberlain, have to this our Specification set my hand
and seal, this Twenty ninth day of June, One thousand eight hundred and
eighty-one.