IMPROVEMENTS IN KILNS FOR BURNING BRICKS, POTTERY, OR OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Bacon, of Church Gresley, in the County
of Derby, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KILNS FOR BURNING
BRICKS, POTTERY, OR OTHER ARTICLES."
Sealed the 21st February 1873, and dated the 3rd December 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Bacon at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd December 1872.
I, JAMES BACON, of Church Gresley, in the County of Derby, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
KILNS FOR BURNING BRICKS, POTTERY, OR OTHER ARTICLES," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to the construction and working of continuous
kilns, that is to say, of kilns which are composed of a series of chambers
in which the burning of the bricks or other articles is carried on pro-
gressively, the heat and gases being passed from the first chamber to the
second, then to the third, and so on, and the working being regulated
by dampers or otherwise as the drying, heating, firing, burning, and
cooling proceed in the several successive chambers.

page_text: For some goods, such as glazed ware, I construct an inner chamber
to contain the goods. The hot air and gases then pass up the space
which is between the inner and outer chambers before entering the top
of the funnel. They therefore do not come in contact with the goods.
The perforated bottoms are in this case dispensed with.
An important feature of this Invention is that all back or waste heat
is brought to the fire of what is for the time being the heating chamber,
the air passing on with it. A proper combustion is thus caused, and
heat and fuel are economized.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Bacon in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 3rd June 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
BACON, of Church Gresley, in the County of Derby, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said James Bacon, Her special licence that I,
the said James Bacon, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said James Bacon, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN KILNS FOR BURNING BRICKS,
POTTERY, OR OTHER ARTICLES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said James Bacon, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.

page_text: T
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Bacon, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, that is to say :-
:-
My Invention relates to the construction and working of continuous
kilns, that is to say, to kilns which are composed of a series of chambers
in which the burning of the bricks or other articles is carried on pro-
gressively, the heat and gases being passed from one chamber to another,
then to a third, and so on, and the working being regulated by dampers
or otherwise as the drying, heating, firing, burning, and cooling proceed
in the several successive chambers.
In constructing continuous kilns I form therein a series of chambers
of circular or other suitable shape, each chamber having a separate
crown, and six or other requisite number of external fire-holes, which
are fed externally, and are built up and provided with covers. In the
centre of each chamber I erect what I call a funnel. This funnel
does not reach to the top of the chamber, it is open at its top,
and communicates at its lower end with a flue leading to a common
flue or chimney, the communication with this common flue being
furnished with a damper. The lower end of each funnel also communi-
cates with what I call a continuous bottom, that is to say, when
the damper closes the communication with the common flue the hot air
and gases after passing up through the bricks in the chamber and down
the funnel pass from the bottom of the funnel into a portion of the
bottom of the chamber partitioned off from the remaining portion, and
forming a channel leading to the bottom of the next following chamber
where the air and gases become distributed to the fire-holes of this
chamber, they pass up through the bars which are made of fire-clay,
and then through another bottom which is perforated. After passing
up through the bricks or other articles in this second chamber the hot
air and gases pass down the funnel of this chamber along the continuous
bottom, and then up into the third chamber, and so on, the course of
the draught being turned into the common flue or chimney at the last
or any desired chamber of the series, and each chamber being in turn
the first as the work proceeds progressively in the several chambers, as
will be well understood by those conversant with the working of con-
tinuous kilns. The top of each funnel-is provided with a cover, which

page_text: is closed when the draught at the corresponding chamber has to be
stopped. This cover is inserted and removed through an aperture in the
top of the crown, this aperture being kept closed when the kiln is at
work.
In order to provide for the working of the kiln when it is difficult to
obtain a good draught, which is possible at times in all kilns, I adopt
the following arrangement :-In the wall between every two adjoining
chambers I form one or more wells or vertical cavities, communicating
at different levels with the two chambers, and furnished with a damper
by which direct communication between the two chambers through these
wells is shut off. But should the draught through, the funnels and
continuous bottom be bad I open these dampers so as to create a direct
draught from chamber to chamber. I can thus, by means of these
dampers in the wells and the dampers on the top of the funnels, regulate
and direct the draught as thought best. In some cases it may be found
desirable to supply fuel to these wells as well as to the chambers. All
the fire holes are built up and provided with covers, which are removed
when it is required to put in coal.
For some goods, such as pottery, terra cotta, Bristol ware, enamelled
bricks, and other goods of that glass, I construct an inner or muffle
chamber to contain the goods. The hot air and gases then pass up the
space which is between the inner and outer chambers before entering
the top of the funnel. They therefore do not come in contact with the
goods. The perforated bottoms are in this case dispensed with.
An important feature of this Invention is that all back or waste heat
is brought to the fire of the chamber in which for the time being the
firing is carried on, the air passing on with such back or waste heat. A
proper combustion is thus caused, and heat and fuel are economized.
My Invention will be fully understood on reference to the accom-
panying Drawings, which represent a circular continuous kiln constructed
according to my improvements, and having ten kiln chambers.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the kiln, the chambers
being for the sake of clearness drawn as if they were arranged in one
straight line. Figure 2 is a sectional plan of the kiln. In this Figure
the chambers Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are shewn as taken on the line
a, Nos. 6, 7, and 8, on the line b. b, and Nos. 9 and 10 on
the line c
Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section
Ɑ----
of Figure 3.
-- --
°

page_text: on the linc d
on the line e
the line f-
-
->
-
d of Figure 2.
- -e of Figure 2;
-f of Figure 2.
.
Figures 4 and 5 are similar sections
and Figure 6 a similar section on
A, A, represent the walls or brickwork, and B, B, the crowns of the
chambers; C, C, are the doors or entrances to the chambers; D, D, are the
fire-holes; E, E, the covers to the same; and F, F, the entrances thereto.
G in the centre of each chamber is what I have herein-before termed the
funnel; it is open at at its top, and communicates at its lower end with a
flue H, leading to a common central flue or chimney I. The lower end
of the funnel G also communicates with what I have herein-before called
a continuous bottom. This continuous bottom is formed by partitioning
off a portion of the space below the bottom K of each chamber by
o means of divisions L so as to form a channel L' leading from the bottom
of the funnel G and through apertures M, M, to that portion J which is
not partitioned off of the space below the bottom of the next chamber.
N, N, represent perforated or false bottoms to the chambers. 0, 0, (seen
in chambers 6 and 9) are covers to the funnels G. These covers are
inserted and removed at the proper times through apertures in the
crowns B, these apertures being likewise provided with covers P, P.
Q, Q, are other apertures (also furnished with covers) in the crowns to
allow of the fire holes being inspected when burning. R, R, are dampers
in the flues H. S, S, are wells or cavities as herein-before described in
the walls A, A, between the chambers. These wells communicato at
different levels with two chambers between which they are respec-
tively situated. T, T, are dampers in the walls S to shut off communi-
cation through the same when required. The dampers in the wells
communicating with chambers Nos. 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10, are shewn in
Figure 1 as raised. In Figure 6, in chamber No. 7 of Figure 1 and in
chamber No. 4 of Figure 2, I shew an inner or muffle chamber as I have
herein-before described for use in burning pottery, terra cotta, Bristol
ware, and goods of that class. U is the inner chamber between which
and the outer chamber the hot air and gases pass before entering the
upper end of the funnel G. The perforated bottom N is in this case
dispensed with. V, Figure 2, represents a passage left between two of
the chambers to allow of access to the back of the kiln.
The action of the kiln is readily understood. Looking at Figure 1
the red arrows indicate the course of the products of combustion, and

page_text: the black arrows that of the air. The firing is supposed to be at present
carried on at chamber No. 1, and it will commence at No. 2 some time
before No. 1 is finished. The heat or products of combustion pass
successively through chambers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, which are in process of
being gradually heated up and burnt. From No. 5 they pass to the
chimney flue; No. 10 has just been fully burnt; Nos. 8 and 9 have
been previously burnt and arc cooling; No. 7 having cooled is being
emptied, while No. 6 having been emptied is being refilled. In due
course the process is advanced a stage, the dampers being altered
accordingly, that is to say, firing takes place at No. 2, the products of
combustion pass through Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, while Nos. 9 and 10 are
cooling, Figure 7 is being refilled and Figure 8 emptied, and so on,
progressively in the manner well known. When required to put on
coal the covers E of the fire-holes are lifted, the coal put in, and the
covers then replaced and made air-tight. The coal being put in fresh
chambers as the fire-holes are heated up by the heat of the last burning
chamber, and while the burning proceeds, no time is lost in first putting
in fire and then coal as in other kilns.
Although I have shewn my Invention as applied to a circular kiln,
it is also applicable to rectangular continuous kilns, that is to say, to
kilns consisting of two rows of chambers set back to back.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. Constructing continuous kilns with what I have herein-before
termed continuous bottoms, substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described.
Second. Constructing continuous kilns with wells or cavities in the
dividing walls of the chambers, substantially as and for the purpose
herein-before described.
Third. The employment of dampers on the upper end of the funnels
and in the wells or cavities for the purpose of regulating and directing
the draught, as herein-before described.
Fourth. Constructing continuous kilns so that the draught from one
chamber is conducted to and through the fire holes of the next adjoining
chamber, substantially as herein-before described.

page_text: Fifth. Constructing continuous kilns as herein-before described with
reference to the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Bacon, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of May, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-three.