IMPROVEMENTS IN KILNS FOR BURNING BLUE BRICKS, GLAZED GOODS, AND OTHER ARTICLES REQUIRING TO BE BURNT IN A SIMILAR MANNER."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ernest Edwin Street, C.E., of Clifton, in the County of
Gloucester, Managing Director of the Cattybrook Brick Company, Limited, for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KILNS FOR BURNING BLUE BRICKS,
GLAZED GOODS, AND OTHER ARTICLES REQUIRING TO BE BURNT IN A
SIMILAR MANNER."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ernest Edwin Street at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd December 1880.
ERNEST EDWIN STREET, C.E., of Clifton, in the County of Gloucester, Managing
Director of the Cattybrook Brick Company, Limited. "IMPROVEMENTS IN KILNS
FOR BURNING BLUE BRICKS, GLAZED GOODS, AND OTHER ARTICLES REQUIRING
TO BE BURNT IN A SIMILAR MANNER."
This Invention has for its object improvements in kilns for burning blue
bricks, glazed goods, and other articles requiring to be burnt in a similar manner.
In the burning of blue bricks a very high heat is required, and it is necessary
that as soon as the burning is complete that the kiln or burning chamber should be
closed up effectually, as any air passing through whilst the bricks are cooling
causes them to lose their color. For these reasons all attempts hitherto made to
burn such bricks in a continuous kiln where the heat is passed on from one burning
chamber to another have been at the best but partially successful. The same applies
to other blue goods and to glazed stoneware and other articles. To burn such goods
I erect a continuous kiln, in which the burning chambers are arranged in several
detached groups, each group being connected with the other groups by one or more
short underground flues at either end; in each of these flues there is a damper
accessible from the outside, so that any group of burning chambers can be isolated
and effectually closed. The continuous kiln may conveniently consist of four
groups of burning chambers, with three (more or less) chambers in each group, say
twelve chambers in all. The chambers are arranged in two parallel rows, say six
chambers forming two groups in each row. Between the rows there is a space
giving free access to the burning chambers for setting and drawing, tending the
fires, and so forth. Along this space also underground flues pass to a central
chimney.

page_text: Each group of burning chambers is surrounded by four main walls, and transverse
partition walls divide off one burning chamber from another. Thus, say three
oblong burning chambers, adjoining end to end, are included within the main walls of
a group. The external side walls have fire places formed in them, say eight for each
burning chamber, four on either side. The partition walls are perforated at the
bottom to permit of the heat passing on from chamber to chamber. There is also a
transverse flue running across the floor of each burning chamber; it is continued
past the side wall into one of the flues already mentioned leading to the chimney.
In each of these connecting flues however between the burning chamber and the
flue leading to the chimney there is a valve accessible from the outside, and which
consequently can be closed very securely.
Every burning chamber is also provided with a doorway for setting and
drawing.
The kiln may also be built in a circular or oval form, the burning chambers being
grouped as already described.
The kiln is worked in the following manner:-Several of the burning chambers
having been set with the green bricks or other articles in a state ready for burning,
and the fire hobs closed in all but the first chamber, and a stopping being provided
to prevent back draft in the other chambers, the fires at the sides of the first
burning chamber are lighted, and the valve in the flue leading out of this chamber
to the chimney is opened so that the steam evolved from the goods whilst drying
may pass freely away.
When the goods in the first chamber are dry the outlet valve of the first chamber
is closed, and then the draft and heat pass on from the first burning chamber into
the second, the valve in the flue of the second chamber having been opened, and
so on. When the goods in the first burning chamber are completely burned the
fire places are bricked up and closed air tight by a plastering of clay, and the
fires of the second chamber are lighted, and so on for each successive chamber.
Before the outlet flue of the last chamber of the group is closed the connecting flue
or flues forming the connection with the next group is opened. Thus the burning
continues until the goods in the last chamber of the first group are finished, and
then the damper in the connecting flue or flues between the first and the second
group is put down and made air tight, and the goods in the first group are thus
closed in so that no air can reach them, and so they are left until cold.
Thus in turn each group is sealed up as soon as the goods in it are finished
burning. When cold the chambers are opened, drawn, and again set with green
bricks.
In place of so completely isolating the groups as I have described, providing an
actual passage way between group and group, which renders the complete isolation
of each group easy, I in some cases provide for the closing of the passages in or
past the partition walls which separate one burning chamber from another by the
introduction of a trough or trap, into which sand can be poured from the
outside.
This is best done by forming the connecting passages beneath the partition wall.
The wall is built with channels in it, by which sand can be poured down into the
connecting passages so as to fill them and shut off the communication between the
burning chambers which they connect. Or in place of using sand dampers may be
worked through channels provided in the thickness of the partition walls.
It is not necessary that all the partition walls should be thus provided; it will
be sufficient if the series of burning chambers can thus be separated into groups
capable of being isolated effectually the one from the other.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Ernest Edwin Street in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
June 1881.
"
ERNEST EDWIN STREET, C.E., of Clifton, in the County of Gloucester, Managing
Director of the Cattybrook Brick Company, Limited. IMPROVEMENTS IN KILNS
FOR BURNING BLUE BRICKS, GLAZED GOODS, AND OTHER ARTICLES REQUIRING
TO BE BURNT IN A SIMILAR MANNER."
This Invention has for its object improvements in kilns for burning blue bricks,
glazed goods, and other articles requiring to be burnt in a similar manner.
In the burning of blue bricks a very high heat is required, and it is necessary
that as soon as the burning is complete that the kiln or burning chamber should
be closed up effectually, as any air passing through whilst the bricks are cooling
causes them to lose their color. For these reasons all attemps hitherto made to
burn such bricks in a continuous kiln where the heat is passed on from one
burning chain ber to another have been at the best but partially successful. The
same applies to other blue goods and to glazed stoneware and other articles. To
burn such goods I erect a continuous kiln in which the burning chambers are
arranged in several detached groups, each group being connected with the other
groups by one or more short under ground flues at either end; in each of these
flues there is a damper accessible from the outside, so that any group of burning
chambers can be isolated and effectually closed. The continuous kiln may con-
veniently consist of four groups of burning chambers with three (more or less)
chambers in each group, say twelve chambers in all. The chambers are arranged
in two parallel rows, say six chambers forming two groups in each row. Between
the rows there is a space giving free access to the burning chambers for setting
and drawing, tending the fires, and so forth. Along this space also underground
flues pass to a central chimney. Each group of burning chambers is surrounded
by four main walls, and transverse partition walls divide off one burning chamber
from another. Thus, say three oblong burning chambers, adjoining end to end, are
included within the main walls of a group. The external side walls have fire
places formed in them, say eight for each burning chamber, four on either side.
The partition walls are perforated at the bottom to permit of the heat passing on
from chamber to chamber. There is also a transverse flue running across the floor
of each burning chamber; it is continued past the side wall into one of the flues
already mentioned leading to the chimney. In each of these connecting flues
however between the burning chambers and the flue leading to the chimney there
is a valve accessible from the outside, and which consequently can be closed very
securely. Every burning chamber is also provided with a doorway for setting and
drawing. The kiln may also be built in a circular or oval form, the burning
chambers being grouped as already described.
The kiln is worked in the following manner :-Several of the burning chambers
having been set with the green bricks or other articles in a state ready for burning,
and the fire hobs closed in all but the first chamber, and a stopping being provided
in the other chambers to prevent back draft, the fires at the sides of the first
burning chamber are lighted, and the valve in the flue leading out of this chamber
to the chimney is opened, so that the steam evolved from the goods whilst drying
may pass freely away. When the goods in the first chamber are dry the outlet
valve of the first chamber is closed, and then the draft and heat pass on from the
first burning chamber into the second, the valve in the flue of the second chamber
having been open, and so on.
When the goods in the first burning chamber are completely burned the fire

page_text: their full heat from the last burning chamber of one group to the first chamber of
the next group; m, n, are valves or dampers on these flues; these being outside the
kiln are readily accessible, so that the flues m, m, can be perfectly closed at the
proper times to effect that complete isolation of a group of chambers which is
essential to the successful burning of blue and of glazed goods. This effectual
closing may be ensured by the use of sand, or a luting of clay may when necessary
be employed, according to the construction of the valve or damper employed.
As represented in the Drawings, the central space between the groups of burning
chambers is arched over; the arch serves the purposes of a roof, and also adds to
the stability of the structure. There are also side arches which are added with the
same objects. Small sight holes are provided in the top of the chambers; they are
closed by stoppers. The way of working the kiln has already been described, but,
nevertheless, a few words may perhaps usefully be added by way of illustration:-
Suppose four burning chambers (the three of one group, and the first of another)
to have been set or filled with the goods to be burnt, then all external apertures in
them are bricked up or closed air tight excepting the fire places of the first burning
chamber. A stopping to prevent back draft is put in to close the flue passages f,f,
between the fourth and fifth chambers. The stopping which I employ is a board
extending nearly across the chamber, and lying close up to the partition wall b,
covering the passages f; a luting of clay is applied around the board to render the
closing air tight. In the case supposed the stopping is put in at the fifth chamber.
To render further reference to the stoppings unnecessary it may be here stated
that as each chamber is set, and when it has been got completely ready for burning,
a stopping is put in in advance of it, and the stopping behind is withdrawn. To
return to the description of the burning: the fires in the first chamber being
lighted, the valve or damper k belonging to this chamber is open to allow the
steam from the moist goods to pass to the chimney. Presently this valve is closed,
and the similar valve of the next chamber is opened, allowing the heat to pass on.
When the goods in the second chamber are sufficiently progressed the heat is
conducted on to another chamber in advance, and so on. When the operator
considers that the goods in the second chamber are in a sufficiently forward state
he breaks out the stoppings of the fire places of this chamber and lights the fires,
meanwhile taking care to prevent (as far as may be) the entrance of cold air into
the kiln by closing down the dampers.
When the burning in the first chamber is complete the fire places of this
chamber are bricked up and closed air tight. So each chamber is in turn closed
when the burning is finished. And when all the chambers in a group are closed,
the burning in them being complete, the damper or valve n in front of the group is
closed and carefully rendered air tight, so that the entire group of chambers is
sealed in and isolated. The goods are left thus enclosed until they are sufficiently
cold to bear contact with air without injury; this is the case when they have ceased
to be red or are only just visibly red. The chamber in which they are contained
may then be opened. Although it is advantageous to build the kiln with the
groups of chambers detached, and with connecting flues accessible from the outside,
nevertheless by special means a sufficient isolation of the groups may be otherwise
obtained. Thus the passages f beneath the partition walls b may be arranged as is
shown in plan at Figure +, and in section at Figure 5; the draft then rises into
the chamber by the holes f', f¹, and these can be effectually closed when desired
by pouring in sand through openings provided for the purpose in the roof of the
kiln, and there may be guide channels in the partition walls to lead the sand into
the holes f¹; or the openings in the roof being vertically over the holes the sand
will fall into them.
Or, as is shown by the plan, Figure 6, with the same arrangement of the holes f¹
and passages fan opening can be provided in the side wall of the kiln at a', from
which a stopping can be momentarily withdrawn, and fire slabs or burs pushed in
by means of a metal rod to cover and close the holes f¹.
Or, as is shown in plan at Figure 7, and in vertical section at Figure 8, the

page_text: partition walls b can be built with passages through them, by which burs or fire
slabs can be lowered down when required to close the passages f. These methods
of isolating the chambers in groups are useful, especially where the kiln is built of
a circular or oval form.
In some cases, in applying the Invention to detached kilns already built, it may
not be advisable in combining them to provide for conveying the heat back from
the last to the first, but better to let the circulation cease at the last chamber.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim as my improvements
in kilns for burning blue bricks, glazed goods, and other articles requiring to be
burn in a similar manner,—
First. The construction of continuous kilns with the burning chambers arranged
in separate detached groups, auch groups communicating by flues external to them,
and the flues being provided with dampers or equivalent means for closing them,
the whole being so contrived that as soon as the burning is complete in any group
of chambers the group can be effectually isolated, and the goods therein protected
whilst cooling from injury by the passage of air amongst them.
Second. The construction of continuous kilns with the burning chambers
arranged in groups capable of being effectually isolated by the means herein
described in reference to Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the Drawings.
Third. The construction of continuous kilns, substantially as represented by
Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ernest Edwin Street, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty first day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
RAKTHAR
ERNEST E. STREET. (L.S.)