Improvements in Kilns.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1396
Complete Specification Left, 8th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 10th Apr., 1897.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Kilns.
I EDWARD HENRY DAVIES of Albert House Holmer Hereford Brick Manu-
facturer, Colliery Owner, General Merchant and Carrying Contractor do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention refers to the construction of kilns for the drying baking or burning
of bricks, tiles, pipes and other pottery and in particular it relates to enclosed and
roofed kilns which consist of only one chamber (as distinguished from kilns having
more than one chamber,) and which kilns being constructed in rows or ranges
utilize the waste heat of one of them in the drying baking or burning of pottery in
another of them forming one of such range of kilns. The manner of so utilizing
waste heat from one kiln is to control its escape from the kiln in which it is
generated and convey it by means of one or more flues into the other kiln where it
is to be utilized and for the purpose of controlling diverting conveying and directing
such waste heat, methods are in use whereby the heat within the kiln of its
generation is confined by the shell of the kiln and a wall known as a flash wall and
is distributed at the desired points or sections of the surface being again with-
drawn at other parts of the kiln and conveyed by one or more flues in the necessary
direction and being so conveyed to the second kiln such heat is controlled, confined,
distributed and withdrawn as may be desired or expedient. There are used, for
the controlling & directing of such heat, currents of air which are obtained by
means of chimneys & stacks, controlled by means of dampers and conveyed by
means of flues. By the process which I have devised, kilns such as those which I
have referred to may be constructed in ranges of a convenient number and one or
more may be fired without regard to the position of such kiln in respect of the
other kilns forming the range, and the waste heat of the kiln under fire may be
conveyed to another of the kilns notwithstanding that the course of firing the
respective kilns may not be in sequence (or consecutive order according to position)
and notwithstanding that some of the kilns in such range (of kilns) may be in
disuse or out of repair & notwithstanding that any general stack or chimney may
be in disuse or out of repair and notwithstanding that the emergencies of the
working may require currents of air from some of the kilus to be conveyed in
directions opposite to each other and notwithstanding that some of the kilns
forming such range of kilns may be detached for the time being from the service
or influence of any general system of air currents produced by the range as a whole
or by any stack or chimney common to the whole of the kilns of the range.
Hot air in the course of drying pottery in its earlier and damper states, becomes
impregnated with moisture. which renders it useless & in some cases detrimental
upon other pottery under treatment by heat, and by the process which I have
devised it is possible to effect as may become convenient the escape of such moist
air without bringing it into or permitting it to influence any general air current
common to the entire range. In kilus such as I have referred to the heat being
controlled and partially confined in the kiln of its generation by means of the outer
shell and flash wall is conveyed downwards from the top of the confines by a down
draught through the layers of pottery to be treated and is carried out of the kiln
by a flue into the second kiln to be heated and its intensity being then partially
reduced such heat is more effectively used by an up-draught and considerable
economy in time and fuel is effected by directing such heated air in a concentrated

page_text: force into the midst of the pottery under treatment, as distinguished from first
distributing in the space between the shell of the kiln and the flash wall to be
afterwards applied in a distributed form. By the process which I have devised it
is possible to collect and withdraw from the kiln of its generation the heated air and
convey it to the centre or other suitable point or points of the floor of the second
kiln to be heated, and there distribute it directly among the pottery under treat-
ment withdrawing it by means of an updraught & that notwithstanding that the
same kihn is shortly to be fired for the further burning of the pottery set therein
and notwithstanding that the heat of such firing will be governed & directed by
means of a down draught and notwithstanding that the principle of construction of
the kiln for the time being controlled by a down draught & the kiln concurrently
controlled by an updraught are in all respects identical and notwithstanding that
in changing the direction of the air currents which must be effected at the time of
firing it is impossible by reason of the heat then prevailing for any human being to
obtain access to the interior of the kiln.
In applying the process which I have devised I construct kilns in form and
dimensions such as may be convenient and arrange them in rows of suitable number
and I provide each kiln with a main chimney stack at its side together with a
chimney in its roof such chimney being furnished with a damper by which its entire
draught can be at will shut off or wholly or partially put into effect. I also
provide each kila with a perforated bed (or floor) of suitable material and con-
struction forming the mouth of a flue which is connected with other flues so
arranged below the level of the kiln's floor & so as to serve the objects of my
invention in the conveyance of the air current into another kiln of the range or
into the general flue connected with any common stack serving the entire range of
kilns, or with the main chimney stacks of the respective kilns.
For the controlling & directing of the air currents I place dampers of a suitable
design and construction at convenient points in the flues connecting with each kiln.
For the accentuation of the draughts obtainable by means of the roof chimneys,
fixed in the roof of the respective kilns I have devised a process whereby they
may, by means of a pipe of iron or other suitable material, be connected with the
main chimney stack of their respective kilns, or merged into an apdraught system
(separate from the down draught system already referred to) and this latter
process I effect by joining such chimneys by means of pipes or flues connecting
such roof chimneys with each other or with the main chimney stacks of the
respective kilns or with the general stack common to the range. And the
abrogation, direction and control of the air currents causing this updraught system
I effect by means of dampers conveniently placed and suitably constructed.
The flues or pipes for the updraught system to which I have referred are
carried from one kiln to another or to the main chimney stacks of the respective
kilns or on to the common stack by means of a bridging or arching arrangement
founded upon the roofs of the kilns in such a manner and of such material as I find
suitable and convenient.
Dated this Ninth day of April 1896.
EDWARD HENRY DAVIES of Albert House, Holmer Hereford Brick
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention 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 the construction of kilns for the drying baking or

page_text: burning of bricks tiles pipes and other pottery and is more particularly applicable
to enclosed & roofed kilns which consist of only one chamber, as distinguished from
kilns having more than one chamber, and which kilns being constructed in rows or
ranges utilize the waste heat of one of them in the drying baking or burning of
pottery in another of them forming one of such range of kilns; the manner of so
utilizing waste heat from one kiln is to control its escape from the kiln in which it
is generated and convey it by means of one or more flues into the other kiln where
it is to be utilized and for the purpose of controlling, diverting, conveying, and
directing such waste heat methods are in use whereby the heat within the kiln of
its generation is confined in some localities by the shell of the kiln and a wall
known as a "flash wall" and is distributed at the desired points or sections of the
surface, being again withdrawn at other parts of the kiln and conveyed by one or
more flues in the necessary direction and being so conveyed to the second kiln such
beat is controlled, confined, distributed, and withdrawn as may be required or
expedient.
There are used for the controlling and directing of such heat, currents of air which
are obtained by means of chimneys and stacks controlled by means of dampers &
conveyed by means of flues.
My invention consists in the combination of flues, chimneys, walls and dampers
into a system serviceable for the directing, distributing controlling and withdrawing
of the various air currents in such a manner as renders the heat at the points of its
exit from the kiln of its generation available for and controllable in the other kiln
to which it is introduced without diminishing (in the process) the efficiency with
which it may be applied within-the kiln of its generation.
The manner in which I proceed to apply my invention and to carry it into effect
is as follows:-
I construct two or more kilns in a range or group which range or group need not
take a straight, angular or circular formation, but any of such formations of ranges
or groups as I find to be convenient that I adopt, and as a modification of my
invention 1 build to each range of kilns one or more chimney stacks "G" with
which are connected flues "/"from each of the kilns which I desire such chimney
stacks to serve.
The kilns which in the application of my invention I erect, are self contained
one chamber kilns built in a circular or other convenient shape and covered with an
arched roof, in the centre of which is placed a chimney furnished with damper "d"
by means of which the outlet of the chimney can be cut off. I find it convenient
to place this damper "d" immediately at the bottom of the chimney (where it
joins the roof of the kiln). The floor of the kiln "a" is made of firebrick or other
suitable material and is perforated, or laid with crevices between the bricks; it is
built over a vacuum or chamber "b" about 12 inches or some other convenient
depth and is supported by pillars or arched brickwork as may be preferred, the
vacuum "6" being connected with flues "f" communicating with the vacuum or
chamber "b" of the kilns next it-on either side-forming part of the range or
group. The flues "/" are provided with dampers "d" capable of stopping the air
passage and I find it convenient to place such dampers at a point about 3 feet outside
the kilo; and as a modification of my invention I carry such flues or connections
of them into the main chimney stack "F." The kilns which I erect are con-
structed of an outer wall in which are placed firing holes "K" at suitable
distances which I find to be about 7 feet apart (on the outside) and upon this
outer wall is built the arched roof (forming together a shell). Inside the outer
wall at a convenient distance, which I find to be about 1 foot-clear-I build an
upright flash wall "C" to a suitable height which I find to be a point about
2 feet and 6 inches below the ceiling-or bottom of the arched roof. This class of
wall (called a flash wall) is frequently adopted in the building of kilns to burn on
the down draught system.
And as a further modification of my invention I connect by means of pipes or
flues "" furnished with dampers "d" capable of shutting off the draught at a point

page_text: outside each kiln, the roof chimneys of some or all of the kilns in the group and
support the flues or pipes by any convenient form of archway or standards, such
flues or pipes so connected may if desired be made to communicate with the main.
chimney stack "F" (if that modification of my invention be employed.)...
In the accompanying sheet of drawing Figure 1 shows in sectional plan the
floors; Figure 2 the longitudinal sectional elevations and Figure3 is. the transverse
section of one of the kilns shewn in Figures 1 and 2.
In Figures 1 and, 2 arc. shown a row or group of kilas built in a straight
formation (by preference) provided with perforated floors "a" .constructed over a
vacuum ""connected. with flues "f" which are provided with dampers "d" and
apertures "e" beneath the vacuum. The sides are furnished with (preferably)
10 fire holes "K" and oue door "D" the kiln flues "f1" connect with main stack
flue." F." Inside the outer wall or shell of the kiln is erected the flash
wall "C.".
In Figure 3 "a" shows the perforated floor of the kiln "b" the vacuum beneath
the floor "d" the dampers of the flue between the kiln and its own chimney. stack,
"d" the damper to the roof chimney. "G" the flue of the kiln chimney stack.
and "D" the door to the kiln.
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 :-
1. The combination of flues, f & fl perforated floors "a" roof-chimneys,
-dampers d & d" and flash walls. "C" in kilns forming one of two or more erected
in groups as set forth..
2. The combination of flues f & f¹ dampers d & d¹ and chimney stacks G & F
as set forth..
3. The combination of flues f& f11 perforated floors "a" and roof-chimneys as
set forth.
4. The combination of kilns erected in groups constructed with devices capable
of controlling the direction of the draughts (up & down respectively) by the
manipulation of which devices such draughts may be converted into draughts in the
opposite direction whilst the practicability of reversing the direction without
reopening the kiln is still maintained.
Dated this Sixth day of January 1897.