IMPROVEMENTS IN CONTINUOUS AND SEMI-CONTINUOUS ACTION KILNS FOR BURNING BRICKS, POTTERYWARE, OR LIME OR FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES to be as follows
Year: 1884

page_text: "
I, HENRY KNOWLES of Albion Works Woodville in the County of Leicester
Fire Brick and Sanitary Pipe Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of said
Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN CONTINUOUS AND SEMI-CONTINUOUS ACTION
KILNS FOR BURNING BRICKS, POTTERYWARE, OR LIME OR FOR OTHER LIKE
PURPOSES to be as follows:-
"
My Invention relates to improvements in the construction of continuous and
semi-continuous action kilns for drying and burning Bricks, tiles pipes, terra cotta,
pottery ware lie and other like articles and substances for which such kilns are
applicable.
It applies to down draught Kilns, and has for its object to give the burner more
effectual control over the working of the kilns in transmitting the waste or surplus
heat from one chamber to the other and to secure greater economy in fuel and
labour and the consumption of smoke by passing the heat and products of
combustion from chamber to chamber in as direct a manner as possible and to
effectually close the connection between the chambers when necessary.
According to my Invention I construct a kiln having a series of chambers with
or without outer fireholes, and having the other parts which are common to such
kilns, the construction depending on the class of goods to be burnt The chambers
are separated from each other by an improved partition wall at the bottom of
which on one side I construct flue openings which lead into damper chambers
constructed in the partition wall near to the sides of the kiln and provided with
dampers worked from the outside of the kiln for effectually closing the flues wben
necessary Above and leading out of the said damper chambers I construct flues in
the partition wall to the upper part of the same and from each of these upper flues
I make a series of openings or perforations through the wall into the next or
receiving chamber for the passage of the heat and products of combustion issuing
from the other or preceding chamber.
The products of combustion issuing from the flues heat the goods on each side of
the chamber and by radiation and diffusion also heat the central parts of the

page_text: chamber. To give strength and stability to the partition wall I make it solid in
the central part from the base to the upper part and at the upper portion of the
solid part I make one or more openings through the wall from chamber to chamber
for the direct passage of the heat and products of combustion from chamber to
chamber. These openings are each provided with one or more dampers, for
effectually closing the same when necessary and they are used either in conjunction
with the before named flues or separately when desirable.
By the above improved combination of flues and openings provided with dampers
arranged to operate and worked as may be desired according to circumstances
depending mainly on the class of goods to be burnt I am enabled to secure free and
easy transmission of the heat and products of combustion from one chamber to the
other, and to effect great economy in fuel and labour, and to consume the smoke
especially in burning the best class of goods.
Dated th
1
T
J. HENRY JOHNSON,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the said Henry Knowles.

page_text: I HENRY KNOWLES of Albion Works Woodville in the County of Leicester
Fire Brick and Sanitary Pipe Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of said
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONTINUOUS & SEMI-CONTINUOUS ACTION KILNS
OR OVENS FOR BURNING BRICKS POTTERYWARE OR LIME OR FOR OTHER LIKE
PURPOSES and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
"
My Invention relates to improvements in the construction of continuous and
semi continuous action kilns for drying and burning bricks tiles pipes terra cotta
pottery ware lime and other like articles and substances for which such kilns are
applicable.
It applies to down draught kilns and has for its objects to give increased facility
in controlling the working of the kilns in transmitting the heat from one chamber
to another and to secure the consumption of smoke and greater economy in fuel
and labour by passing the heat and products of combustion from chamber to
chamber in as direct a manner as possible and to enable the connection between
the chambers to be effectually closed when necessary According to my Invention
I construct a kiln having a series of chambers with or without outer fire holes and
having the other parts which are common to such kilns the construction of these
parts depending on the class of goods to be burnt The adjacent chambers of the
kilns are separated from each other by improved partition walls at the bottom of
which and on one side thereof I construct flues which lead into damper chambers
formed in the said partition walls near to the sides of the kiln and provided with
dampers worked from the outside of the kiln for effectually closing the flues when
necessary Above and leading out of the said damper chambers I construct flues
in the partition walls near to the upper part of the same and from each of these
last named flues I make a series of openings or perforations through the walls into
the next or receiving chamber for the passage of the heat and products of
combustion issuing from the other or preceding chamber.
The products of combustion passing through the said flues and issuing from the
said openings or perforations heat the goods on each side of the chamber and by
radiation and diffusion also heat the centre parts of the Chamber To give strength.
and stability to the partition wall I make it solid in the central part from the base
to the upper part and at the upper portion of the solid part I make an opening or
openings of any suitable size and form through the wall from chamber to chamber
for the direct passage of the heat and products of combustion from chamber to
chamber These openings are each provided with one or more dampers arranged.
as hereinafter described for effectually closing the same when necessary They are
used either in conjunction with the before named flues or separately when
desirable.
By the above improved combination of flues and openings provided with
dampers arranged to operate and to be worked as may be desired according to
circumstances depending mainly on the class of goods to be burnt I am enabled to
secure free and easy transmission of the heat and products of combustion from one-
chamber to the other and to effect great economy in fuel and labour and to consume
the smoke which is especially desirable in burning the best class of goods.
The kiln may be built of an annular or other form suitable for the class of goods
for which it is to be employed and it may be divided by the partition walls into.
any desired number of chambers,

page_text: In kilns intended for burning glazed ware and the best quality of bricks tiles
and the like-I prefer to arrange the chambers in a straight line each chamber
having an equal number of fire places on each side of the kiln and a doorway for
charging the chamber with green goods and another doorway for discharging the
goods when burned I also provide the chambers with the usual shield walls or
bags" and with the necessary flues and dampers for conducting and regulating
the passage of the products of combustion from one chamber to another and to the
chimney.
cr
The number and size of the flues in the partition walls should be such that
the collective capacity of the flues is sufficient to convey the whole of the products
of combustion freely when the kiln is on "full fire" and the series of openings or
perforations leading from the said flues should be sufficient in number and size to
ensure the free passage of the products of combustion from one chamber into the
next or receiving chamber.
The dampers should be fitted to slide freely over the flues which lead into the
damper chamber and they should be sufficiently large to completely cover the said
flues to close the connection between the chambers, sand or other suitable material
being employed when necessary to cover and close the joints as effectually as
possible In burning goods which require very intense heat it will be in some
cases advantageous to have more than one opening or flue in the upper part of the
partition walls each of less capacity than, is required where one only is used as
when the flues are smaller and the dampers correspondingly small they are more
easily manipulated and less liable to damage.
In burning salt glazed sanitary pipes or other similar goods when the connection
..between the chambers is cut off it is important that the passage or passages or flue
or flues in the upper part of the partition walls should be closed as completely as
possible and in order to effect this I use two dampers in each opening or flue
arranged a short distance apart and when both these dampers are closed I fill the
space between them with sand or other suitable material so as to effectually close
the passage between the chambers In burning fire bricks or the like one damper
only may be used for each opening or flue in the upper part of the partition wall
and I place the said damper in that part of the opening or flue nearest the chamber
in which the burning is completed and from which the heat passes thereby leaving
a space on the opposite side of the damper sufficient to serve as a fire place for
burning fuel to assist the burning of the goods in the adjacent chamber I admit
the fuel to this fire place through a feed hole at the top of the kiln provided with
a suitable cover which in this and also in the case where two dampers are used
serves as the means of closing over the openings through which the dampers are
worked The temperature of that part of the chamber farthest from the ordinary
fireplaces is by this arrangement increased and greater uniformity of temperature
throughout the chamber obtained and the burning accelerated, the goods near the
partition wall being equally well burnt with those situated in the other parts of
the chamber and with less damage to the goods nearest the ordinary fire places
than when burning with only the ordinary fire places by avoiding the necessity for
forcing the fires to get sufficient heat to properly burn the goods in the parts of
the chamber farthest from the fire places. The hot air passing from the chamber
which is cooling is utilized for promoting the combustion of the fuel in the fire
place in the partition Wall.
And in Order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the annexed drawings the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts
in all the figures.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of four chambers constituting a portion of a
Kiln constructed according to my Invention the said chambers being arranged in a
straight line.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same (taken on the line X X
Figure 3) showing the partition walls with the damper chambers and the flues with

page_text: outlet perforations and the opening or through flue in the upper part, the
arrangements of double and single dampers being also here illustrated.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line Y Y in Figure 2 showing
the partition walls with the flues and perforations therein and the damper
chambers and lower or inlet flues.
Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line Z Z figure 1 shewing the outlet
perforations and through opening or flue in the upper part of the partition wall.
A A are the outer walls of the Kiln, B is the roof or " crown," C C¹, C², C¹³ are
the partition walls separating the chambers 12, 3, 4. The said partition walls
have formed therein the herein before described flues to convey the surplus heat
from one chamber to the other-D are the central flues of the chambers. E¹ E' E³ E
are branch flues from the chambers to the main flue F leading to the chimney G.
Each chamber has fire places a shield walls perforated bottoms c and doorways d.
The branch flues have dampers e The partition walls have inlet flues f leading
into damper chambers 9 provided with dampers h and upper flues f¹ having
outlets or perforations i into the next chamber. The upper part of each of the
partition walls is provided with an opening or flue (or openings or flues) k fitted
with a damper (or dampers) and cover m.
In working the Kiln assuming all the chambers to be empty and the dampers of
the flues in the partition walls to be all closed I first charge N° 1 Chamber with
green goods after which the doorways and openings of the said chamber are closed
the fires are lighted in the fire places a of this chamber and burning commenced in
the ordinary way, the damper e in the branch flue E¹ being opened for the passage
of the steam or vapour from the green goods into the main flue F leading to the
chimney, the dampers e in the other branch flues being closed. The next or N° 2
chamber is meanwhile being charged with green goods and when charged the door
ways fire places and all other openings thereof are closed to exclude cold air
preparatory to receiving the surplus heat from N° 1 chamber. When the steam or
vapour from the goods in N° 1 chamber has been driven off the damper e in the
branch flue E is closed and the dampers h h in the partition wall C₁ are drawn so
as to allow the heat from N° 1 Chamber to pass directly through the connecting
flues and chambers fgf¹ and perforations into N° 2 chamber to be utilized for
drying and burning the goods therein, the damper openings h¹ being closed to
exclude cold air and the damper e in the branch flue E' is opened for the passage
of the steam or vapour from the goods now being dried in N° 2 Chamber to the
main flue and chimney. The same process is repeated in N° 3 chamber and then
in N° 4 chamber, the surplus heat from N° 2 chamber being utilized in drying and
burning the goods in N° 3 chamber and that from N° 3 chamber in drying and
burning the goods in N° 4 chamber and so on through any number of chambers
that there may be in the series.
The whole of the chambers N° 1, 2, 3 and 4 are now in operation, N° 1 being on
full fire, and N° 2 and 3 at different stages getting up heat, and N° 4 drying It
will be observed that fires have only been lighted in N° 1 chamber, the otherwise
waste heat from which is utilized by being made to pass successively through the
chambers 2, 3 and 4 so that while the fires are only lighted and burning in one
chamber the drying and burning is proceeding at different stages in the whole of
the chambers 1, 2, and 4 All the doorways d, fire places a, and other openings
in Nos 2, 3, and 4 being closed except the damper e in the branch flue E' and the
passage through the flues chambers and perforations f g f¹ and i in each of the
partition walls for the passage of the heat from chamber to chamber. When
the burning of the goods in No 1 chamber is completed I close the fire holes a of
that chamber, remove the cover m, and raise the damper or dampers in the flue k
in the upper part of the partition wall C to allow the heat from N° 1 Chamber to
pass direct into N° 2 chamber among the goods therein and thence through the
perforated bottom to the flues f leading forward into N° 3 and afterwards in like
manner to N° 4 chamber.

page_text: When all the surplus heat of N° 1 chamber has been utilized by passing it into
No 2 chamber until the temperature thereof is nearly equal to that of N° 1 Chamber
the connection between the two chambers is cut off by closing the dampers h h
in the flues ff and the damper (or dampers) of the flue k in the partition wall C¹
and replacing the cover m.
The burning in N° 1 Chamber having been completed and the surplus beat
therefrom having been utilized by passing it into N° 2 Chamber the covers n of
the openings in the crown of N° 1 are removed and that chamber is left to cool.
Shortly before the completion of the passing of the surplus heat from N° 1
Chamber into N° 2 Chamber the fire places a of the latter are partially opened and
the fires lighted and made up to complete the burning. When the burning of
N° 2 Chamber is completed and the surplus heat from it has been utilized by
passing it into N° 3 Chamber in the same manner as before described with
reference to the N° 2 Chamber and the connection between the two Chambers has
been cut off the burning of N° 3 Chamber is in a similar manner completed. The
same process is carried out with N° 4 Chamber and so on through any number of
Chambers which there may be in a series.
It will be evident that the kiln may be constructed so that the end or last
Chamber of the series may be made to communicate with the first Chamber so that
the surplus heat from the said last Chamber may be conveyed to the said first
Chamber as described herein before with reference to the conveyance of heat from
Chamber to Chamber and so worked continuously.
When burning common bricks lime or the like the fire places shield walls and
perforated bottoms may be dispensed with and the burning be effected in the
ordinary way through feed holes in the crown and the branch flues E and the
doorways may be at the end of the Chambers next the partition walls in
the direction the kiln is working. After the burning is completed in one Chamber
on full fire and all the heat it is possible to utilize has passed into the adjoining
Chamber and thence forward to the other Chambers, then the dampers of the flues
connecting it with the next chamber are closed and it is left to cool and the
burning is carried on and completed in the next chamber and so on through any
number of a series of terminal kilns or continuously if the kilns be annular.
My Invention may be applied to any continuous or semi continuous arrangement
of kilns having Chambers separated by partition walls or to kilns which may be
divided into Chambers by my improved partition walls having flues and dampers
arranged and made to operate as hereinbefore described.
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 construction of continuous or semi-continuous action kilns with
separate chambers divided from each other by partition walls having in connection
therewith flues or passages provided with dampers and perforations arranged in the
manner and for the purpose of leading the surplus heat from one Chamber into an
adjacent Chamber substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Secondly, The construction of continuous or semi-continuous action down-
draught kilns with separate Chambers, each Chamber being divided from the
adjacent chamber by a partition wall having an opening or flue or openings or
flues there-through at the upper part through which openings or flues the heated
products of combustion from one Chamber can be caused to pass direct into another
chamber when required, the said openings or flues being each provided with two
dampers with a space between them to be filled with Sand or the like substantially
as and for the purpose hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
Drawings.
Thirdly, The construction of continuous or semi-continuous down-draught kilns
with separate chambers, each Chamber being divided from the adjacent Chamber

page_text: by a partition wall having an opening or flue or openings or flues there-through at
the upper part through which openings or flues the heated products of combustion
from one chamber can be caused to pass direct into another chamber when required,
the said openings or flues being each provided with a damper arranged nearest the
chamber from which the heat passes so as to leave a space on the opposite side of
the said damper to serve as a fire-place for burning fuel substantially as and for
the purpose hereinbefore described with reference to my drawings.
Fourthly, In continuous or semi-continuous action down-draught kilns, the
combination with the partition walls of the flues or passages f, f1, chamber g,
dampers and openings or perforations i, and direct passages k and damper or
dampers l, all arranged substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-
before described with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth, The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the
improved kila substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.