Improvements in Kilns for Firing Bricks, Pottery, and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Oct., 1894
Complete Specification Left. 27th July, 1895-Accepted, 31st Aug., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Kilns for Firing Bricks, Pottery, and the like.
I, JOHN GILCHRIST STEIN, of Annislea, Bonnybridge, in the County of
Stirling, North Britain, Fireclay Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object to improve the construction and operation
of kilns for firing bricks, pottery, and the like.
In carrying out my invention I construct the kilns of a circular or other simple
form in plan, each being provided with an ordinary arrangement of furnaces for
common fuel the fire gases being delivered from such furnaces directly into the
interior of the kiln. The floor of the kiln is constructed with a number of openings
communicating with flues or passages underneath. Two or more, and preferably
four or more of the kilns are arranged in connection with each other, and with
the flues or passages below each kiln communicating with those below the next
kiln or kilns of the series. A main underground flue communicating with a
chimney has branch flues communicating with the under flues of the several kilns;
and an overhead flue which may consist of an iron tube lined with brick and which
also communicates with the chimney, or it might be, with a separate chimney,
communicates with the tops of the several kilns.
The several flues are provided with dampers or valves for controlling and
regulating the action of the combined system. At the time when the firing action
is at its height in one kiln and when all or most of the moisture of the bricks or
other articles has been driven off, the outlet at the top is closed and the heated
gases after acting on the articles pass off through the perforated floor and find
their way through the under flues to the next kiln in order in which their heat is
utilised in drying the articles therein. The top outlet of this kiln is open and the
gases and vapors pass off thence through the overhead flue to the chimney, there
being thereby obtainable ample draught which is at the same time easily regulated
by adjusting the damper or dampers. When the firing of one kiln has been com-
pleted, the firing is next proceeded with of the kiln the articles in which have been
dried by the hot gases from the kiln just previously fired.
If found of advantage the bot gases after passing through the next kiln to the
one being fired may, by a suitable adjustment, of the dampers be made to pass
through a third kiln for the purpose of drying articles freshly placed therein.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of October 1894.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Kilns for Firing Bricks, Pottery, and the like.
I, JOHN GILCHRIST STEIN, of Annislea, Bonnybridge, in the County of
Stirling, North Britain, Fireclay 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, that is to say :-
My said invention bas for its object to improve the construction and operation of
kilns for firing bricks, pottery, and the like.

page_text: In carrying out my invention I construct the kilns of a circular or other simple-
form in plan, each being provided with an ordinary arrangement of furnaces for
common fuel, the fire gases being delivered from such furnaces directly into the
interior of the kiln. Underground and overhead flues provided with dampers or
valves are constructed in connection with a series of kilns; and at the time when
the firing action is at its height in one kiln, and when all or most of the moisture
of the bricks or other articles has been driven off, the outlet at the top is closed
and the heated gases after acting on the articles pass off through openings in the
floor and find their way through the underground flues to the next kiln in order,
in which their heat is utilised in drying the articles therein. The top outlet of
this second kiln is open, and the gases and vapors pass off thence through the
overhead flue to the chimney, there being thereby obtainable ample draught which
is at the same time easily regulated by adjusting a damper or dampers. When
the firing of one kiln has been completed, the firing is next proceeded with of the
second kiln the articles in which have been dried by the hot gases from the kiln
just previously fired.
If found of advantage the
one being fired may, by a
through a third kiln for the
placed therein.
hot gases after passing through the kiln next to the
suitable adjustment of dampers, be made to pass
purpose of, to some extent, drying articles freshly
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings to
be hereinafter referred to and representing a set of kilns and flues constructed for
operating as hereinbefore described.
Figure, 1, of the drawings is a plan partly in horizontal section, and Figure, 2,
is a side elevation partly in vertical section. In these drawings the same reference
letters are used to represent the same, and, with or without distinguishing numerals,
like parts wherever they are repeated.
In the drawings three kilns, A1, A2, A3, are shown, but a connected series
may comprise two or more and preferably four or more. Each kiln is constructed
with six (or it might be any suitable number of) ordinary furnaces, B, for common
fuel, the fire gases being delivered from the furnaces through openings, C, directly
into the interior of the kiln. The floor of each kiln is constructed with a number
of openings, D, communicating with spaces or flues, E, underneath, which com-
municate by a central vertical Hue, F, with an underground flue, G 1, extending
along under the series of kilns to a chimney, H. Another underground flue, G 2,
also communicating with the chimney, H, is connected to the first, G 1. by branch
flues, J; and an overhead flue, K, which may consist of an iron tube lined with
brick, and which also communicates with the chimney, H, or it might be with a
separate chimney, communicates with the tops of the several kilns.
In the flue, G1, under the kilns there are dampers, L, at each side of each
kiln, there being two between each two kilos a connection to a branch flue, J,
being between them. Each branch flue, J, is provided with a damper, M, and
the second underground flue, G 2, is provided with dampers, N. Dampers, P,
also control the connections between the overhead flue, K, and the several kilns.
When firing is in action in kiln, A 1, its top damper, P, is closed, and
dampers, L, are open in the underground flue, & 1, between it and the next
kilo, A 2. In kilo, A 2, its top damper, P, is open; and the fire gases from
kiln, A 1, after operating therein and then passing to kiln, A 2, pass off by the
overhead flue, K, to the chimney. The other dampers are closed so far as
may be necessary. On firing next taking place in kilo, A 2, the dampers for
it and for kiln, A 3, are arranged as just described for kilns, A 1, and A 2.
When it is required to lead the fire gases from a kiln in which firing is in
action to any kiln in the rear thereof, that is further from the chimney, it can
easily be effected by means of the second underground flue, G 2, and by suitably
disposing the dampers, L, M, N, in the flues, G I, J, and G 2.

page_text: 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 :-
In kilns for firing bricks, pottery, and the like, combining two or more kilns
having ordinary furnaces, with flues constructed to allow of the fire gases after
acting in a kiln in the furnaces of which they are generated to pass through one
or more other kilns, the parts being arranged and operating substantially as and
for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Dated this Twenty-sixth day of July 1895
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.