IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF KILNS FOR DRYING AND BURNING BRICKS, TILES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Veevers, of Fulwood, near Preston, in the
County of Lancaster, Architect and Surveyor, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF KILNS FOR DRYING AND BURNING BRICKS,
TILES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Veevers at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th March 1878.
RICHARD VEEVERS, of Fulwood, near Preston, in the County of Lancaster,
Architect and Surveyor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF KILNS FOR
DRYING AND BURNING BRICKS, TILES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES."
This Invention relates to improvements in the mode of constructing continuous
action kilns, in which the method of firing, drying, and burning, in its essential
features is similar to that in what are known as Hoffman kilns, and for which
Letters Patent were granted to Alfred Vincent Newton, bearing date the Twenty-
second December, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, (No. 2918) 59/.
.
By use of these improvements the construction of the kiln is simplified and the
cost reduced, the space of ground required for the kiln is diminished, and the
removal of the smoke, steam, and gases from the chamber, and the articles being
dried, is facilitated.
The construction of my improved kiln is as follows:-A series of compartments
radiate immediately around a central smoke chamber and chimney in connection
therewith without any intervening space between the smoke chamber and the
compartment, the wall of the smoke chamber and the inner wall of each compart-
ment adjoin, and so support each other. The compartments are arched over, the
arches widening outwards as they radiate from the smoke chamber wall. Two
flues provided with dampers lead from each compartment to the smoke chamber,
one passing through the smoke chamber wall, and the other leading from near the
external wall of the kiln beneath the floor to the smoke chamber. There are two

page_text: entrances to each compartment through the external wall. Each compartment
communicates with the adjoining one through openings in the partition walls.
The compartments are to be filled in succession with the bricks or articles to be
dried and burned, the flues of all the compartments except the two furthest from the
last filled compartment (one of which is being filled and the other is being emptied)
are to be closed, and the air entering through the doors of the compartments which
are so being emptied and filled passes through the kiln opening into the compart-
ments adjoining which are cooling, where the cool air helps to cool the burnt bricks
and at the same time itself becomes heated. From that compartment the air
passes on through the succeeding compartments and over the bricks successively in
the processes of drying and burning, out of which last compartment the air with
the steam and gases passes into the smoke chamber, and thence up the chimney.
Thus the process of filling, emptying, cooling, burning, heating, and drying, go on
simultaneously as well as successively in successive compartments, and the air
passing from one compartment to the other by cooling the bricks to be cooled, and
becoming more and more heated in its passage, effects a considerable saving in the
consumption of fuel, and thereby a minimum of fuel is used and a maximum of
heat is obtained therefrom.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard. Veevers in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 13th
September 1878.
RICHARD VEEVERS, of Fulwood, near Preston, in the County of Lancaster,
Architect and Surveyor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF KILNS FOR
DRYING AND BURNING BRICKS, TILES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES."
This Invention relates to and consists of improvements in the mode of con- s
structing continuous action kilns for drying and burning bricks, tiles, and other
similar articles, in which kilns the method of firing, burning, and drying, is in its
essential features similar to that in what are known as Hoffman kilns, and for
which Letters Patent were granted to Alfred Vincent Newton, bearing date the
Twenty-second December, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine (Number
2918, /59).
.
By the use of the present improvements the construction of the kiln is simplified
and the cost reduced, the space of ground required for the kiln is diminished, and
the removal of the smoke, steam, and gases, from the chambers and the articles
being dried is facilitated.
The construction of my improved kiln, which (as I have herein-before stated)
will be readily understood by a mere inspection of the Drawings hereunto annexed
and the letters and figures marked thereon, is as follows:-A series of compart-
ments radiate immediately around a central smoke chamber and chimney in
connection therewith without any intervening space between the smoke chamber
....

page_text: and the compartments. The wall of the smoke chamber and the inner wall of
each compartment adjoin and support each other. The compartments are arched
over, the arches widening outwards as they radiate from the smoke chamber wall.
Two flues provided with dampers lead from each compartment to the smoke
chamber, one of the said flues passing through the smoke chamber wall and the
other leading from near the external wall of the kiln underground or beneath the
floor to the smoke chamber. There are two entrances or doorways to each compart-
ment through the external wall.
Having thus described the construction of my improved kiln, I will now proceed
to describe the manner of using the same for the burning and drying of bricks,
tiles, and other simiar articles.
The compartments are to be filled in succession with the bricks or articles to be
dried and burned, the flues of all the compartments, except that from the last filled
compartment, are to be closed, and the air entering through the external doorways
of the compartments which are being filled and emptied passes thence into the
compartment adjoining the one being emptied, and from thence through the inter-
vening compartments into the compartment in course of firing, and the cool air so
entering helps to cool the articles which have completed their course of burning,
and at the same time itself becomes heated by absorbing the heat which has com-
pleted the work to which it was first applied.
During the process of burning, all the external doorways or entrances, except
those leading into the compartments being emptied and filled, are temporarily built
up. From the compartment in course of firing the heated air passes in through
the adjoining compartment, and thence into the next compartment, and so on over
the bricks or articles successively in the process of drying until it reaches the last
compartment in which the articles have been last placed, out of which last compart-
ment the air with the steam and gasses pass into the smoke chamber, and thence
up the chimney, chiefly by the underground flue passing under that compartment.
The fuel is supplied to the compartment in course of firing by means of holes and
perpendicular tubes built through the arch of such compartment, such holes being
provided with moveable stoppers. Thus the process of filling, emptying, cooling,
firing, burning, heating, and drying, go on simultaneously as well as successively
in successive compartments, and the air passing from one compartment to the other
by cooling the bricks or articles to be cooled, and becoming more and more heated
in its passage, effects a considerable saving in the consumption of fuel.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same may be performed or carried into
effect, I declare that what I claim as the Invention secured to me in and by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the improved kiln for drying and
burning bricks, tiles, and other similar articles, herein described, and illustrated in
the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Veevers, have hereunto set my hand
and seal. this Tenth day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
Witness,
CEDRIC HOUGHTON,
Solicitor,
Preston,
Lancashire.
RICHARD VEEVERS. (L.S.)