Improvements in Kilns for Drying and Burning Bricks, Tiles, and other Earthenware Goods.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 10th May, 1895-Accepted, 15th June, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Kilns for Drying and Burning Bricks, Tiles, and
other Earthenware Goods.
I, JOSEPH ONIONS, of Tennyson Terrace, Parkfield Road, Wolverhampton in
the County of Stafford, Brick Works Manager, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to kilns for burning and drying bricks, tiles and other
earthenware goods, in which the burning is effected (or chiefly so) on what is
known as the down-draught system; and has for its main object certain improve-
ments in such kilns, whereby the temperature of different parts of a kiln may be
regulated to ensure the goods contained therein being equally, or approximately
equally, burnt throughout, and whereby waste heat from one kiln may be utilized
in drying the goods in another kiln, in such manner that the moisture given off in
drying is carried upwards and out through the top of the kiln, and thus the wetting
of the goods which are near the bottom which results from a dowu-draught steaming
process, and the consequent distortion of such goods by the pressure of the
superincumbent weight, be avoided. The invention has the further object also of
controlling the flow of beat used in drying the green bricks, tiles or other earthenware
goods, within a kiln, so as to ensure the bulk of such goods being dried equally
or approximately equally throughout.
For the purpose of enabling the temperature of different parts of a kiln to be
regulated to ensure the goods contained therein being equally, or approximately
equally, burnt throughout, a number of flues which communicate with the chimney
are carried underneath the floor, and are provided with narrow openings through
the floor in such positions that the goods to be dried and burnt may be stacked in
separate lots within the kiln with spaces between them with each of which a line.of
openings from the flues communicates. Dampers of firebrick or other refractory
material are arrauged in such position, and connected with suitable rods, that they
may be moved either vertically or endways to close the openings, or partially close
them, as desired. These dampers may be suspended by neaus of rods passing
down through the top of the kiln, or may be connected with rods passing
horizontally through the sides or one side of the kiln. By means of these dampers
the movement of the hot products of combustion through the openings at the
bottom of any space between two masses of material stacked within the kiln may
be stopped, or partially arrested, and the temperature of the part of the kiln
through which the flow is stopped, or partially arrested, be thereby reducedtin
comparison with the temperature of any part or parts of the kiln through which
the hot products of combustion are allowed to flow, or to flow to a greater extent ;
and thus the goods throughout the kiln may be equally, or approximately equally,
burnt.
A convenient arrangement of the flues underneath the kiln consists of three
longitudinal flues running parallel with one another, one being in the middle and
the other two a short distance from each side. Sub flues communicate, respectively,
between each longitudinal flue and the main flue to the chimney; and a convenient
arrangement of these sub flues consists in running them transversely to the

page_text: longitudinal flues, a single transverse flue being carried from each of the side
longitudinal flues, and two transverse flues being carried from the middle longitudinal
Alue, namely, one from near each end thereof, respectively.
It is preferred to divide each kiln into two chambers by means of a transverse
wall across the middle; and in such case the flues of each chamber are kept quite
distinct, so that in effect the transverse wall forms the kiln into two distinct and
independent kilns.
For the purpose of enabling the waste products of combustion from one kiln to
be utilized in drying the green bricks, tiles, or other earthenware goods, on an
up-draught system, the main flue from each kiln is capable of being put into direct
communication with the main flue or flues from another kiln or other kilns, and
each kiln has outlet openings along the top which communicate with a flue which is
itself led into the chimney. The waste heat from a kiln (or kilns) may thus be
allowed to pass down through the perforated floor of the kiln into the underneath
flues, thence through the main flue into the main flue from another kiln, and along
such flue into the underneath flues of such other kiln, and up through the perforated
floor thereof and out through the openings at the top, and thence to the chimney.
The steam given off in drying goods in this manner is carried upwards and clear
away through the top
of the kiln, whereby the goods at and near the bottom of the
kilo are prevented from being wetted by the steam from the goods higher up,
and are thus prevented from being pressed out of shape by the superincumbent
weight.
The main flues from the kilns are, of course, controlled by dampers so that they
may be made to communicate, either direct with the chimney, or one such fue
with the corresponding flue (or flues) of another kiln (or kilns) when the waste
heat from a kiln (or kilns) is to be utilized in drying the goods in another kiln ;
and a suitable damper is, of course, arranged to close the communication between
the top of a kiln and the chimney, when it is required to burn the goods within a
kiln on the down-draught system only.
When a kiln is divided into two chambers by a transverse wall, each division or
chamber may be treated as a separate kiln, and the waste heat from one may be
utilized in drying the goods stacked in the other.
If the main flues of two kilns run direct into the chimney without previously
communicating with one another, a horizontal damper may be arranged in the
bottom of the chimney by means of which both the flues may be cut off from the
chimney when it is required that the waste heat from one kiln shall be passed
through the other kiln.
The means above described for enabling the waste products of combustion from
one kiln to be utilized in drying the green goods in another kiln enable the
waste heat from a kiln to be utilized in partially burning the goods stacked in
another kiln.
The dampers of fire brick or other refractory material described above as for
use in equalising the heat in the process of burning the goods within a kilu, may
be utilized also in regulating the flow of the waste heat used in drying green goods
within a kiln; and such dampers may be used also with advantage, in combination
with suitable outlet openings and flues from the bottom of a kiln, such as described,
for controlling the flow of the heat when the goods within a kiln are dried on the
down-draught system. The uses of the dampers for both these purposes constitute
features of this invention.
Dated this 9th day of July 1894.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Kilns for Drying and Burning Bricks, Tiles, and
other Earthenware Goods.
I, JOSEPH ONIONS, of Tennyson Terrace, Parkfield Road, Wolverhampton in
the County of Stafford, Brick Works Manager, 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:-
This invention relates to kilns for drying and burning bricks, tiles and other
earthenware goods, in which the burning is effected (or chiefly so) on what is
known as the down-draught system; and has for its main object certain improve-
ments in such kilns, whereby the temperature of different parts of a kiln may be
regulated to ensure the goods contained therein being equally, or approximately
equally, burnt throughout, and whereby waste heat from one kiln may be utilized
in drying green goods in another kiln, in such manner that the moisture given off in
drying is carried upwards and out through the top of the kiln, and thus the wetting
of the goods which are near the bottom which results from a down-draught
steaming process, and the consequent distortion of such goods by the pressure of
the superincumbent weight, be avoided. The invention has the further object,
also, of controlling the flow of heat used in drying the green bricks, tiles or other
earthenware goods, within a kiln, so as to ensure the bulk of such goods being
dried equally or approximately equally throughout.
For the purpose of enabling the temperature of different parts of a kiln to be
regulated to ensure the goods contained therein being equally, or approximately
equally, burnt throughout, flues which communicate with the chimney are carried
underneath the floor, and are provided with narrow openings through the floor in
such positions that the goods to be dried and burnt may be stacked in separate lots
within the kiln with spaces between them with each of which a line of openings
from the flues communicates. Dampers of firebrick or other refractory material
are used to close the openings, or partially close them, as desired. These dampers
may be operated by means of rods passing down through the top of the kiln, or by
means of rods passed for such purpose through the sides of the kiln. By means of
these dampers, the movement of the hot gases through the openings at the hottom
of any space between two masses of material stacked within the kiln may be
stopped, or partially arrested, and the temperature of the part of the kiln through
which the flow is stopped, or partially arrested, be thereby reduced; and thus the
goods throughout the kiln may be equally, or approximately equally, burnt.
For the purpose of enabling the waste products of combustion from one kiln to
be utilized in drying the green bricks, tiles, or other earthenware goods, in another
kiln, on an updraught system, the underflow flues of each kiln are capable of being
put into cominunication with the underfloor flues of another kiln or any other kiln
of a set or series, and each kiln has outlet openings along the top which
communicate with a flue which is itself led into the chimney. The waste heat
from a kiln may thus be allowed to pase down through the perforated floor of the
kiln into the underneath flues, thence through a flue into the underneath flues
of the kiln containing the green goods to be dried, and up through the perforated
Hoor of such kiln and out through the openings at the top, and thence to the
chimney. The steam given off in drying goods in this manner is carried upwards
and clear away through the top of the kiln, whereby the goods at and near the
pottom of the kiln are prevented from being wetted by the steam from the goods
higher up, and are thus prevented from being pressed out of shape by the
uperincumbent weight.
The means above described for enabling the waste products of combustion from
ne kiln to be utilized in drying the green goods in another kiln enable the waste

page_text: heat from a kiln to be utilized in partially burning the goods stacked in another
kiln and in such case the temperature of different parts of the kiln in which the
goods are being partially burnt may be regulated in the manner above described.
The dampers of firebrick or other refractory material described as for use in
equalising the heat in the process of burning the goods within a kiln, may be
utilised also in regulating the flow of the waste heat used in drying green goods
within a kiln on an updraught system, such as above described; and such dampers
may be used also with advantage in combination with suitable outlet openings and
flues from the bottom of a kiln, such as described, for controlling the flow of the
heat when the goods within a kiln are dried on the down-draught system; and
corresponding dampers may be used for the purpose of regulating the temperature
of different parts of a kiln in which the burning is completed on an updraught
system in which the heated gases enter the kiln through narrow openings, such
as above described, in the floor thereof. The uses of the dampers for all these
purposes constitute features of this invention.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, I will now proceed to
describe, by reference to the accompanying drawings, convenient means of carrying
out the same in practice.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, taken on line a x of Figure 2, through one
kiln and a short length of an adjacent kiln at each end thereof, constructed
according to this invention.
Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on line y y of Figure 1, looking in the
direction of the arrow a¹; and
Figure 3 is a sectional plan taken on line x¹¹ of Figure 2.
The kiln A is divided from the kilns A' A' by the walls a a', respectively, and
each kiln, or each kiln of any number of a set or series of kilus constructed
according to this invention, may be worked independently of the others. The
kilns are constructed alike, and I will therefore describe in detail the construction
of the kiln A only, and then describe the manner in which the waste heat from one
kiln may be utilised in another, and in which the temperature of the different parts
of a kiln may be regulated.
The kiln has the usual firing holes 6 with upward flues c therefrom into the kiln.
Longitudinal flues, conveniently two only, such as B B', run underneath the floor
of the kiln and are stopped at each end thereof. Narrow flues d' are formed from
the flue B¹ through the floor of the kiln, and corresponding flues d (indicated by
broken lines in Figure 3, as they do not properly shew in a sectional plan of the
flue B) are formed from the flue B through the floor of the kiln. Underground
flues C C run along the opposite sides of the kiln, respectively, and continue along
the opposite sides, respectively, of the other kilns of the set or series. One of such
flues, say the flue C communicates with the chimney, but the other flue C
is used merely for the purpose of placing one kiln in communication with another
kiln of the series. The flue B communicates near one end with the flue C through
a short flue g, and also with the flue C¹ through a flue g', such flue g¹ being carried
through the lower portion of the flue B'; and the flue B' similarly communicates
near its opposite end with the flue C¹ through a short flue h, and also with the
flue C through a flue, which passes through the lower portion of the flue B.
Outlet openings e through the roof of the kiln communicate through flues f with a
flue D running along the whole of the kilns of a set or series; and the flue D
communicates with the chimney.
When bricks, tiles or other earthenware goods, are being burnt in the kiln A by
the heat from the fire-holes b, the heat may pass as usual first into the kiln from
the flues c, and then downwards through the flues d d into the flues B B', and
thence either into the flue C¹ and so direct to the chimney; or the heat may pass,
according to this invention, from the flues B B of the kiln A into the flue C, and
from thence through the flues B B' and d d' of another kiln into such other kiln to
dry green goods therein, or to partially burn goods therein, the heat passing from
such other kiln through the outlets e thereof, and away through the flue D to the

page_text: chinney. The flow of gases from the kiln A into the kiln A' in the manner last
described is indicated by arrows. The waste heat may pass, in the manner just
described, from any kilu of the set or series, into any other kiln of the set or series.
Suitable dampers n are, of course, provided to direct the flow of gases through the
flues in any manner described in this paragraph, as may be required.
For the purpose of regulating the temperature of different parts of a kiln, such
as A, or other kiln having narrow flues or openings. such as d d' through the floor.
thereof through which the heated gases pass, dampers, such as k. shewn in transverse
section by Figure 1, and one of them in side elevation by Figure 2, are used which
may be pushed through openings formed in the sides of the kiln, so as to cover,
or partially cover, some of the flues d d'. Openings, such as 1, are left also in the
walls by which the doorway E and cartway F are closed in. The goods may be
stacked in separate lots on the floor spaces m between each line of flues running
across the floor, and a margin, of say an inch, is left on each side between the
goods and the edges of the flues, upon which the dampers rest. The dampers k are
made of fire-brick or other refractory material, and are pushed along by rods
passed through the openings l, and may be drawn back by inserting hooked or bent
ends of such rods into holes formed therefor in the dampers. These dampers may
be conveniently formed round-nosed, as seen on plan, at their ends, to prevent them
catching against any projecting corner of the goods between which they are
moved along.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a kiln for drying and burning bricks, tiles and other earthenware goods,
having narrow flues or openings through the floor thereof through which the hot
gases pass, with floor spaces between on which the goods can be stacked in parallel
lines across the kiln, the use of dampers by means of which any of such narrow
flues or openings may be closed or partially so, as required for the purpose of
regulating the flow of hot gases and thus regulating the heat of different parts of
the kiln, substantially as described.
2. In a kiln for drying and burning bricks, tiles and other earthenware goods,
having narrow flues or openings through the floor thereof through which the hot
gases pass, with floor spaces between on which the goods can be stacked in parallel
lines across the kiln, the use of dampers of earthenware or other refractory
material which lie on the floor of the kiln and thereby cover or partially so, any of
such narrow flues or openings, for the purpose of regulating the flow of hot gases
and thus regulating the heat of different parts of the kiln, substantially as
described.
3. Two or more kilns, for drying and burning bricks, tiles and other earthenware
goods, provided with suitable flues and controlling dampers whereby the heat from
one of such kilns may pass, on the downdraught system, through flues or openings
in the floor of the kiln, and thence up through flues or openings in the floor of
another kiln to dry on an updraught system, or partially burn, the goods in such
latter kiln, the heated gases escaping from the upper portion of the kiln, through
the roof thereof, into a flue to the chimney, substantially as described.
4. Kilns, for drying and burning bricks, tiles, and other earthenware goods,
constructed with flues and controlling dampers, substantially as described and
shewn by the drawings herewith, for the purpose set forth.
Dated the 9th day of May 1895.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.