IMPROVE- MENTS IN ANNEALING PLATE GLASS, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF KILNS THEREFOR
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Windle Pilkington, of St. Helen's, in the
County of Lancaster, Glass Manufacturer, for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ANNEALING PLATE GLASS, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF KILNS
THEREFOR,"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Windle Pilkington
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd January 1880.
WILLIAM WINDLE PILKINGTON, of St. Helen's, in the County of Lancaster,
Glass Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ANNEALING PLATE GLASS, AND IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF KILNS THEREFOR
"
My Invention relates to annealing plate glass by a novel application of heating
gases in the kilns or ovens, and to new constructions of the said annealing kilns or
ovens, the objects being to ensure that the plates of glass shall be properly and
uniformly annealed, so that breakage of valuable plates may be avoided; that the
rate of deterioration of the parts of annealing kilns or ovens shall be diminished,
consequently rendering them more durable; that annealing kilns or ovens may be
constructed of greater length than is at present practicable, and that kilns as at
present constructed shall be capable of being enlarged or lengthened for the purpose
of obtaining better effects therefrom.
Under the first part of my Invention I anneal plate glass by causing the heating
gases to enter the kiln or oven at or near the crown thereof in one or more streams
so disposed that the heat therefrom shall strike downwards and be uniformly and
desirably distributed over the whole surface of the plates being annealed.
Second. I admit the heating gases into the kilns or ovens, whether in a condition
suitable for combustion in the said kilns or ovens, or whether previously heated to
the requisite temperature, through a series of openings extending along near the
crown of the kiln or oven.
Third. I admit combustible gas or gases and air into the said kilns or ovens
through openings at each end of the said kilns or ovens, and at or near the centre
of the crown thereof. The said combustible gas or gases and air are admitted
through openings placed side by side, or ready mixed in the proportions necessary

page_text: for combustion through the same openings. The said gases are ignited within the
kilns or ovens.
Fourth. I employ in combination heating gases and products of combustion and
combustible gases and air admitted through openings in kilns or ovens in any of
the ways set forth under the above second and third heads.
Fifth. I construct and direct the passages leading to the openings mentioned
under the above second and third heads, in such manner that the heating or burning
gases, or both, shall be caused to enter the kilns and travel forward along the crown
so as to ensure uniformity of temperature.
Sixth. I construct annealing kilns or ovens to be heated, substantially as set
forth under the foregoing heads, by dividing them at or near one end, so that one
portion is covered with a single and the other portion with a double arch, or I
cover the kiln or oven with a crown in sections so disposed as to provide spaces
between them for the admission of heating gases and air, or either of them.
Seventh. I construct kilns or ovens with openings for the admission of heating
gases over the mouths, so as to enable the mouths to be made of the greatest
width.
The combustible gases may be obtained from a Siemens' or like producer, or they
may be produced in any desirable manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Windle Pilkington in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd July 1880.
WILLIAM WINDLE PILKINGTON, of St. Helen's, in the County of Lancaster,
Glass Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ANNEALING PLATE GLASS, AND IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF KILNS THEREFOR."
My Invention relates to annealing plate glass by a novel application of heating
gases in the kilns or ovens, and to new constructions of the said annealing kilns or
ovens, the objects being to ensure that the plates of glass shall be properly and
uniformly annealed, so that breakage of valuable plates may be avoided; that the
rate of deterioration of the parts of annealing kilns or ovens shall be diminished,
consequently rendering them more durable; that annealing kilns or ovens may
be constructed of greater length than is at present practicable, and that kilns as at
present constructed shall be capable of being enlarged or lengthened for the purpose
of obtaining better effects therefrom.
Under the first part of my Invention I anneal plate glass by causing the heating
gases to enter the kiln or oven at or near the crown thereof in one or more streams,
80 disposed that the heat therefrom shall strike downwards and be uniformly and
desirably distributed over the whole surface of the plates being annealed.
Second. I admit the heating gases into the kilns or ovens, whether in a condition
suitable for combustion in the said kilns or ovens, or whether previously heated
to the requisite temperature, through a series of openings extending along near the
crown of the kiln or oven.
Third. I admit combustible gas or gases and air into the said kilns or ovens
through openings at each end of the said kilns or ovens, and at or near the centre
of the crown thereof. The said combustible gas or gases and air are admitted
through openings placed side by side, or ready mixed in the proportions necessary
for combustion through the same openings. The said gases are ignited within the
kilns or ovens.
Fourth. I employ in combustion heating gases and products of combustion and
combustible gases and air admitted through openings in kilns or ovens in any of
the ways set forth under the above second and third heads.
Fifth. I construct and direct the passages leading to the openings mentioned
under the above second and third heads in such manner that the heating or burning
gases, or both, shall be caused to enter the kilns and travel forward along the crown
so as to ensure uniformity of temperature.
Sixth. I construct annealing kilns or ovens to be heated, substantially as set forth
under the foregoing heads, by dividing them at or near one end, so that one portion
is covered with a single and the other portion with a double arch, or I cover the
kiln or oven with a crown in sections so disposed as to provide spaces between
them for the admission of heating gases and air, or either of them.
Seventh. I construct kilns or ovens with openings for the admission of heating
gases over the mouths, so as to enable the mouths to be made of the greatest
width.
The combustible gases may be obtained from a Siemens' or like producer, or they
may
be produced in any desirable manner.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

page_text: combustible gases, with or without the admixture of air, pass from the generators or
producers to the upright flue or tube f opening into the longitudinal pipe or way g;
h, valve for shutting off the gas or gases from the pipe or way g; i, i, i, valves
for preventing the passage of the gas or gases from the pipe or way g through the
openings j, j , into the kiln or oven k; l shew pipes leading air through 1, ¹²,
to support combustion, air may be otherwise admitted; m, door through which
the glass to be annealed is placed in and removed from the kiln or oven; n, outlet
for waste gases.
Under the first part. The plates of glass within the kiln or oven k are annealed
by the heating gases which enter the said kiln or oven in streams through j, j, jª,
and air through 7 near the crown of the said kiln or oven. The disposition of the
openings j,,, ensures that the heating gases shall' strike downwards and be
uniformly distributed over the whole surface of the glass under treatment.
Under the second part. The heating gases whether previously heated to the
requisite temperature or in a condition suitable for combustion are admitted into
the kiln or oven through, the series of openings j, j, ³, extending along the said
kiln or oven near the crown thereof.
Under the third part. A combustible or combustible gases and air are admitted
into the said kilns or ovens through openings j. 1, 7, at each end of the said kilns
or ovens, and at the centre of the crown thereof.
Under the fifth part. The gases led through g issue from the directing openings
or nozzles j, j, 7, in such a direction that they travel along the underside of the
crown, the heat therefrom is thereby reflected downwards on to the plates. This
feature is of the greatest moment in respect of good and uniformly good results.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of a kiln built in lengths of varying heights,
but with (in width) single covering arches; j', protected opening for admitting
gases.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section shewing two arches in width at one end, and a
single arch at the other end under the sixth part of my Invention.
Under the seventh part. The opening ; for the admission of gas is placed over
the mouth of the kiln, so that such mouth o can be made of great width. This
part of my Invention is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3.
.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention in
such manner that others will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect I
claim,-
Under the first part. Annealing plate glass by subjecting it to the action of
heating gases, substantially as set forth.
Under the second part. Admitting heating gases into annealing kilns or ovens
through a series of openings, substantially as set forth.
Under the third part. Admitting a combustible gas or combustible gases into
annealing kilns, substantially as set forth.
Under the fourth part. The combination of means and apparatus, substantially
as set forth.
Under the fifth part. The construction of parts substantially as set forth.
Under the sixth and seventh parts. Constructing annealing kilns or ovens,
substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Windle Pilkington, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty ninth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.