An Improved Case Kiln for the Burning of all Classes of Bricks and other Clay Goods.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 9th July, 1886.
Complete Left, 1st Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 1st Mar., 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Case Kiln for the Burning of all Classes of Bricks
and other Clay Goods.
ROBERT SKEOCH, Foreman Brickmaker, East Heaton, near Newcastle upon Tyne
in the County of Northumberland, and WILLIAM GEORGE WODSON of the same
place Brick Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The kiln is built in the form of an ordinary square case, or open fire kiln, but
without fire holes in its side walls and without arched covering of any kind, all
fireing being done at the end, or, ends--the kiln may be so arranged as to be single
or double, i.e. either to be fired at one, or, both ends, we claiming for it the advantage
of making six fires do the work it requires thirty fires in the ordinary case kiln now
in use the required distribution of heat being obtained by the setting of flues in
green or unburnt bricks on the top of the kiln when set, these flues being so arranged
as to deliver all smoke and stythe into chimnies connected with and adjoining
the kiln.
We claim for our invention the following advantages over all case kilns at present
in use viz.
(1.) A considerable reduction in the consumption of coal or other burning
material.
(2.) A great saving in the amount of labour required in the process of burning.
(3.) An almost entire doing away with the nuisance arising from the stythe
generated in brick yards where the present character of open fire, or, clamp burning
is in use, and so detrimental to adjoining agricultural land.
ROBERT SKEQCH.
WILLIAM GEORGE WODSON.

page_text: We commence operations by building the division walls G; these walls are built
with green, that is to say unburnt bricks; we next cover the floor of the kiln with
unburnt bricks in such a manner as to form the flues H H H running from tho front
of the kiln to the division walls G. We next stack unburnt bricks on the top of each
other as in ordinary open fire or oven setting as represented in enlarged view at
figure 6 we continue stacking bricks on each other until the kiln is filled in the
manner represented at figure 3: the top row of unburnt bricks is arranged to form
flues, two bricks high as shewn at K on the sections figures 1 and enlarged at
figure 5: these top Hues it will be observed correspond to the bottom in appearance
the top being 4 inches wide and the bottom only 3: we next build four fire places:
these are spanned openings formed with green, that is to say unburnt bricks. We
next build up our front wall N with burnt bricks: having filled both parts of the
kiln as represented in section at figure 2, and closed both ends we cover the top with
one or two courses of burnt bricks as shown at O figures 1, 3, 4 and 5. Previous to
so doing we sprinkle slack in the interstices P of the unburnt bricks, we shovel slack
or coal through the firing holes Q and kindle a fire Q₁ Figure. 3 which is
supplied with air through the ash holes R. The action of the kiln so set is as
follows.
The fire kindled passes upwards in the direction of the arrows figure 3, and passing
through the flues K' at the top of the kiln it returns back through the interstices P
between the unburnt bricks into the flues Hat the bottom of the kiln, eventually
passing through one of the outlet flues T into the stack D', by this arrangement we
utilize the whole of the heat obtained from the coal, moreover when the kiln is once
heated and the bricks become red hot, or nearly so, we consume our own smoke, for
it will observed that the smoke, which is carbon, comes in contact with the oxygen
entering at the fire holes Q: this oxygen, when heated and in contact with the carbon
produces instantaneous combustion, that is to say flame, thus shewing as hercinbefore
stated that we consume almost the whole smoke of our kiln.
By the ordinary method of brick burning, after wasting a great quantity of fuel in
the process of such burning, the manufacturer would leave his kiln to cool; under our
new system by the invention illustrated and described we can utilize the heat from
the kiln of burnt bricks to dry the unburnt bricks stacked in another kiln connected
on either side of the hot kiln; it will be observed that we provide a series of flues
connecting the kilns together as hereinafter set forth the connecting flues are pro-
vided with a series of moving dampers; during the process of burning bricks in the
kiln, as hereinbefore described, the dampers U figure 2 would be open, the damper V
of chimney would also be open, thus conveying the smoke and hot air into the
outlet W of the chimney D'; when we wish to use the hot kiln to dry the bricks
stacked in the cold kiln we close the damper V and open the dampers X Y Z and
thus allow the hot air to pass through the flue A A, in a like manner we open the
dampers VVCCDD and admit hot air through the flue FF: in a like manner
when the kiln on the left hand side has become hot, and the kiln on the right hand
side has discharged its burnt bricks and been filled with a fresh stock of unburnt
bricks, we close the chimney damper C¹lift the dampers H H J J K K LLOOPP,
and
pass the hot air through the flues M M N N.
We provide flues leading from the top passages K' into the stacks these top flues are
carried by preference on arches as represented at WWXXYYZ Z and are also
provided with dampers similar to those shewn at U UUU figure 2; the position of
the flues on the plan figure 2 would correspond with the outlet flues TTTT
We use the top flues WWXXYYZ Z to create a quick upward draft when
lighting the kiln fires; it will be readily understood that by closing the damper U the
fire must pass upwards and along the passage K' to the only outlet namely Y Y X X
or W W Z Z after the fire is properly ignited and has got a fair start we close
the chimney dampers of the top flues and open the dampers UUUU thus com-
pelling the fire to return back through the stacked green bricks and eventually
pass along the opening or flue H through the flues AAFF or M M N N into the
stacke
DI

page_text: Our improved kiln constructed and operated in the manner hereinbefore described
will burn brick or other clay goods in an efficient manner, with less coal than would
be required in an ordinary kiln, also at a great saving in the cost of attendants
wages.
Either coal wood or other combustible material required in the burning of bricks―
tiles-pipes or other clay articles can be used in our improved kiln.
We can build a continuous row of kilns in the manner represented at figure 8
embracing any required number.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is
1st. The invention as illustrated and described.
2nd. In a kiln for burning bricks or other clay goods the combination of two side
walls with top and bottom flues connected to a smoke shaft or chimney in the manner
illustrated and described.
3rd. In a kiln for burning bricks or other clay goods the building of the temporary
division walls CC figure 2 and C figure-3 with unburnt bricks.
4th. In a kiln for burning bricks or other clay goods the arranging of green bricks
to form flues at the top and bottom of the kiln as shewn at Kfigure 5 and H
figure 6.
ALFRED WILLIAM TURNER,
Cobden Buildings,
Corporation Street, Birmingham,
Agent for the Applicants.