Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Bricks and the Means or Apparatus Employed therein
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 11th Nov., 1899
Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Bricks and the
Means or Apparatus Employed therein,
I, JONATHAN PARKER BISHOP FISKE, of 21, Central Street, Auburndale, Newton,
County of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Manu-
facturer, 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:-
-
In order that my invention may be properly understood, I deem it best to
explain that the manufacture of bricks as heretofore practised has been com-
paratively slow and expensive, due largely to the fact that the handling of the
bricks has required so much hand labor.
The details of manufacture of bricks vary greatly according to their kind,
whether common bricks, face, enamel, or fire bricks and according to the process
of manufacture whether by the "dry press,"
29 65 stiff mud" or "soft mud"; but
in the case of all kinds and of all processes, the same expensive system of handling
each brick separately over and over by hand is employed.
Thus for instance in the manufacture of common bricks by the most improved
methods, the bricks are usually moulded in a suitable brick machine and piled
one by one by hand on cars, which when loaded are pushed by hand over tracks
into a dryer."
"
When the bricks are sufficiently dried the loaded cars are then pushed each
by two or three men over long tracks into the kilns where the bricks are taken
off, passed by hand to the "setter" who stacks them one by one in the proper
position for burning.
They are taken from the stack after being burned, passed by hand to wheel
barrows or hand trucks, taken thereon a few at a time over long distances to the
stock sheds where they are removed and passed again by hand to the man on the
stock pile.
The immediate removal of the burned bricks from the kiln is often omitted
where the old fashioned up draught kilns (whose walls are constructed of green
bricks) is used, as the cost of building up such a kiln is so little that it is deemed
more economical to build new kilns than to empty burned ones.
In this case
the bricks stand until they can be put directly into the delivery wagons and
carted to the buyer.
The excessive cost of fuel for burning such a crude kiln, the large quantity of
poor bricks obtained, and the labor of building it anew for each burning, renders
it desirable to use a permanent kiln of modern construction, but in such event it
is necessary to remove by hand at once the burned bricks at a large expense in
order that the kiln may again be filled with green bricks and burned.
So great, however, is the cost of hand labor in America that common brick
manufacturers have been very slow to adopt the permanent kiln, particularly what
s known as the "continuous kiln which for years has been almost universally
sed in Europe where hand labor is cheap.
"
The continuous kiln as is well known requires only about one third the fuel

page_text: of the old fashioned kiln described above, but has been largely prohibited in this
country by the extra labor of handling the burned bricks required.
Furthermore, the various systems of handling bricks during the manufacture
of the same at the present time, involves so many distinct handlings and positions
of the individual bricks, whether green or dried, that various internal lines or
planes of structural weakness are developed that subsequently appear in the com-
pleted bricks, rendering the latter inferior in quality.
For instance, the frequent shifting of the individual bricks from one place to
another, for example, first onto the cars, then into the drier, and finally into the
kiln-, makes it practically impossible to preserve the respective bricks always in
the same relation one to another, and to retain their original formation and
support, and each new pressure or strain to which they are subjected tends to
weaken the same structurally. If, for example, in the piling of the bricks in the
first instance, various bricks are called upon to sustain loads at their ends while
themselves supported at their middle points, and subsequently these same bricks
in further handling or piling are called upon to sustain loads at their middle
points while themselves supported at their ends, or if, as is frequently the case, by
careless handling pieces of the green bricks are chipped off and remain upon the
supports for the bricks, causing some of the lowest bricks to be held in inclined
or tilting position, the entire stack will be thrown out of proper alignment and
support, so that nearly all of the individual bricks are subjected to unnatural and
weakening pressures and stresses.
Usually this frequent bending or pressing of the bricks one upon another, first
in one direction and then in another or first at one point and then at another,
while the bricks are yet in a more or less soft or green state, and particularly in
connection with the jarring incident to the wheeling of the same in small loosely
packed lots I have found, tends to weaken the same internally, usually by
developing internal planes of weakness that during the burning are developed
into open and exposed cracks as a rule, although frequently the burning opens
the cracks beneath the surface, leaving them concealed at the surface by the
harder outer skin of the bricks.
"
In the first instance the exposed cracks developed from these planes of weakness
render the bricks " seconds and therefore inferior in quality and in selling
price, while bricks of the last mentioned kind go into the work unnoticed and as
sound bricks, yet at some time, in case of accident, fire or the like, when their
greatest strength is needed, they fail by reason of these internal weaknesses,
often causing great damage.
Recognizing the great cost attending systems heretofore pursued in the manu-
facture of bricks, the great loss due to exterior chipping by reason of the frequent
handling of the same, and finally that less recognized but equally important matter
of the internal weaknesses developed in the bricks by improper and frequent
handling, my present invention has for its object mainly the elimination of this
frequent handling of the individual bricks either in their green or burned condi-
tion, and to this end my invention generally stated consists in providing means
for taking the moulded clay or green bricks as they issue from the brick making
machine, or immediately thereafter, and building the same into what I call unit
stacks of definite dimensions and formation, and thereafter maintaining these
unit stacks intact, either as so many separate unit stacks or else in masses made
up of a multiplicity of these unit stacks, throughout the entire process of com-
pleting the bricks.
Thus the original formation of these unit stacks may take place in the open
air or where there is ample light and facility for stacking them, accurately, so
that at the very 'beginning of the operation and while they are yet in a green or
soft condition they are stacked in such a manner as to support one another in
the best possible manner to resist unequal or improper pressures or strains, and by
reason of the stack formation, subsequent individual handling is avoided and
consequent chipping.

page_text: By maintaining these unit stacks intact throughout the entire subsequent
process of brick making, the original formations are maintained and the individual
bricks are not subjected to frequently changing pressures, loads, or strains; or
in other words, they are dried and burned in precisely the same positions and
under the same pressures, and supported in the same manner as when originally
stacked in their most green or soft condition, and moreover are not subjected to
chipping or other external damage due to the repeated handling of each brick as
heretofore.
This absolute uniformity in structure of the bricks is maintained, and I find
the quality of the same both externally and internally is much improved over
bricks made in the ordinary and customary manner.
Also the time required in the manufacture of the bricks is much reduced, cost
is lessened, superior bricks are produced, and a very desirable continuous kiln
may be made use of because of the facility with which the bricks previously
piled in stack formations outside the kiln may be deposited bodily within the
latter and likewise removed after burning, even at less cost than the building of
the old form of kilns now so generally used.
Obviously, and to the highest development of my invention, the unit stack
formation of bricks originally formed while the bricks are in the soft or green
condition are usually maintained not only through the kiln drying, but subse-
quently when removed therefrom and piled in the yard or in the cars, thus saving
in the handling of the bricks and ensuring at all times protection, to most if not
all of the bricks in the stacks, from mechanical injury and chipping.
In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a brick yard shown in sufficient
detail to make my invention readily understood;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail in top plan, parts being broken away, showing the
various features of construction of a chamber and of the adjoining parts of a
kiln, together with certain special constructional details preferably employed
in carrying out my invention."
Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section taken through a kiln chamber, showing
the bricks properly piled therein and the crane in position for removing the
cover of the kiln.
Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section thereof, showing further details of con-
struction.
I will first explain the details of construction shown in the drawings, and will
then set forth more particularly the distinguishing characteristics of my system.
In Figs. 2 and 4, I have shown an entire chamber A of a continuous kiln,
and portions of adjacent chambers A', 'A².
Each chamber has at one side, herein shown for convenience as its left hand
side, a partition wall and a flash wall a separated sufficiently to provide a fire
box between them extending the full length of the kiln chamber, the flash
wall terminating short of the top of the chamber to provide a passage a³ for the
heat, smoke, etcetera, and the partition a¹ having at its bottom a plurality of
flue holes at.
The kiln chambers have a plurality of flue walls or elevations a³ extending
transversely thereof in a series from one end of the chamber to the other, these
flue walls forming between them flues a, and being spaced apart to correspond
to the lengths of the bricks which are to occupy the kiln, so that when the bricks
are laid on edge lengthwise across the flues, end to end throughout the length of
the chamber, their ends will rest on the middle of the successive flue walls, as
clearly shown in Fig. 3.
In alignment with the flues a are perforations or rod holes a through the flash
walls, and at the opposite sides of the kiln chamber are lifting beam pits (8
extending preferably below the bottoms of the flues (26.
The kiln chambers have removable tops, as shown at alo, Figs. 3 and 4, these
tops having a width commensurate with the width of the chamber and preferably
extending from about the middle of one partition wall to the middle of the

page_text: next, and being made of any suitable material and in any suitable manner, pre-
ferably of hollow construction tiles a joined by tie rods a¹³, this construction
being light and strong and well adapted for the purpose.
At their opposite sides the removable tops are provided with suitable lifting
devices, herein shown as forks or straps a hooking into the sides of the tops and
provided with eyes a¹ at their upper ends to receive the hooks 16 of the lifting
apparatus.
I prefer to build the kilns in the earth, as shown in Fig. 3, where it will be
observed that the top of the kiln chamber comes flush with the surface of the
ground, and the removable top lies normally slightly above the adjacent ground
in position to be engaged by the crane, as will presently be described.
This construction is relatively inexpensive as it requires no bracing, and
because of the solid abutting earth it retains the heat to the best advantage, and
withstands rough usage better than other forms of kilns.
I have especially devised this form of kiln set in the earth as stated, for the
reason that it is of peculiar advantage in connection with my system, as it enables
me to transport enormous masses of bricks with very little up and down move-
ment, and it gives a firm, steady foundation for the transporting crane to travel
upon.
Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the flues and the
pits are occupied by the removable grill or platform on which the bricks are
transported, it being understood that the bricks shown in place in the kiln
have just been lowered into position and the supporting platform on which they
were carried into position has not yet been removed.
This platform consists of longitudinal lifting beams herein shown as heavy
I beams extending the full length of the chamber, and cross rods or lifting
bars 6', the latter also being shown for convenience of illustration as I beams.
The lifting beams are provided with links or straps 2 or other suitable
engaging appliances for receiving the hooks at of the lifting apparatus.
I prefer to employ the supporting grill or platform described for the reason
that it is exceedingly strong, economical, easily handled, and forms a convenient
support upon which the original arrangement of the green bricks in unit stack
formation, where the bricks issue from the brick machine, may be built up,
thus forming a convenient support for maintaining the unit stack formation of
bricks throughout the entire process of manufacture, including that of drying
to be described, and kiln burning immediately under consideration.
I do not intend, however, to limit myself to the particular platform herein
shown on which the bricks may be transported as described, for the reason that I
believe myself to be the first to conceive of providing supporting means for carrying
a large number of bricks in stack formation into a kiln, said supporting means
being removable from the kiln without disturbing the stack formation of the
bricks within the kiln and in this connection I wish also to make it understood
that I may employ various features of my invention in connection with modified
or substituted apparatus, inasmuch as my invention is broadly new in many
particulars, all as more particularly defined hereinafter in the claims, and many
mechanisms differing in detail may be employed for carrying out my invention
without departing therefrom.
I am aware that kilns have been constructed on the knock down principle, in
which the sides and top were capable of being taken apart and put together
again, and I am aware that holes for depositing coal, etcetera, have been provided
in the tops of kilns, but so far as I am aware, there never has been heretofore a
kiln constructed with a top which was removable as such, it having been heretofore
necessary, in case it was desired, to open a kiln at the top, to break up the top entirely
thereby destroying it, or else, to take it to pieces, as just mentioned, in which case
nothing remained of the top but the original building materials of which it was
built and which might then be used for building the sides, or top, or any other
part of a subsequent kiln or other structure. I provide flue holes and rod holes

page_text: already described, in order that the rods or bars & may be pulled out into the
adjacent empty kiln chamber after the bricks are in place as otherwise they
would warp and rapidly deteriorate.
One very important feature of my invention resides in providing an overhead
crane, preferably an electric crane, as shown at C, travelling on a track e running
lengthwise of the kiln in position to bring the crane over the individual
chambers, said track extending from near the drier to such distance out into the
yard as it is desired that the bricks shall be deposited when burned.
The track c may extend along the ground, as shown, or be otherwise arranged
in proper location in respect to the kiln K and extending out into the yard Y.
The kiln is herein shown as a continuous kiln having a plurality of chambers
each like the one described, although it will be understood that I am not limited
in respect to the general kind of kiln, the one herein shown having fourteen
chambers.
There are two tracks running parallel, one for each series of chambers, and
each of these tracks will have its own electric crane, the crane not being herein
shown in detail for the reason that any commercial crane may be employed,
m herein indicating the motor from which opposite winding drums m¹ are operated
for raising and lowering the hoisting chains m², and the crane containing other
usual mechanism for causing it to travel in the direction required on its tracks.
As already explained, it is of great advantage and importance as to time, expense
and output, to do away with the manual handling, and this holds true, although
to a less extent, when my invention is employed in part only of its preferred and
complete embodiment herein set forth, and therefore I do not intend to restrict
myself necessarily to the use of the entire system, as for some purposes it is
advantageous to use a part thereof. For example, the kiln and crane, etcetera, may
be employed for handling the bricks in mass as stated, even though the exigences
of the particular plant or situation make it preferable to remove the bricks from
the carrying platform instead of to remove the latter from the bricks.
I have indicated in a conventional manner at N a brick making or moulding
machine which may be of any kind desired, and running in usual manner in
front of this machine is a track on which trucks or cars may travel for carrying
the bricks.
Upon these cars, brought successively into position with reference to the
brick machine N, are piled the green bricks, after they issue from the machine, in
the original unit stack formations that are to be preserved intact throughout the
entire remaining process of manufacture of the bricks.
This original stack formation may be conveniently and cheaply carried out at
this point where there is ample room and light and every means for ensuring
accuracy of work.
Three loaded cars each carrying its unit stack of bricks are shown in front
of the machine, and an empty car ready to be put into loading position. These
cars are or may be run onto a transfer car ³ travelling on a cross track ', and are
delivered therefrom onto the transfer tracks upon which the cars n¹ carrying
their unit stack formations of bricks are run into the drier D), of usual construction,
where the bricks are dried, still remaining in their original unit stack formations.
After the drying process has been completed, and in accordance with my
novel system, the cars carrying these original unit stacks of bricks are run
out from the drier and, it may be, onto a transfer car or truck n
travelling on a cross track similar to the track nt, and are preferably run into
convenient positions from which the individual unit stacks of bricks are trans-
ferred bodily and intact, without disturbing the stack formation or the relative
arrangement of the individual bricks, upon suitable supports that I have
designated as stations S, S¹, conveniently arranged with reference to the kiln..
In the drawings, the former station is shown in Fig. 1 as unoccupied by bricks,
and the latter as carrying stacks of bricks ready for transfer to the kiln.
The stations are formed in substantially the same way as the bottoms of the

page_text: kiln chambers, i.e., they have a series of elevations or low brick walls s corre-
sponding in general shape and arrangement to the flue walls, these walls being
provided to receive the rods or bars 6 between them and the bricks upon them
above said rods or bars, the same as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 in connection with the
kiln chamber.
The beams will be rested on the ground or other support at the sides of the
stations beneath the projecting ends of the bars or rods in the same relation
thereto as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.
The walls s may be made of clay or of wood joists, metal beams, or otherwise
being provided simply for the purpose of supporting the ends of the first layer
of bricks the same as do the flue walls already explained, and preferably they are
carried on a hydraulic lift indicated at s¹, Fig. 1.
The first or bottom layer on the stations or supports S, S¹, is or may be composed
of burned bricks e or other hard rigid substance which will withstand the action
of the fire in the kiln, in order to give proper support to the super-piled green
bricks g and to receive the contact of the lifting rods or bars.
This first or foundation layer of burned bricks e is carefully positioned on the
walls s, said burned bricks being placed on edge with spaces between them to
form riddle or openings through which the heat may pass into the kiln flues
when the stack subsequently reaches the kiln.
The unit stacks of dry green bricks are transferred bodily from the car n³ into
proper position upon the layer of burned bricks, upon and forming, it may be, a
part of the station S or S', and as many of these unit stacks may be arranged side
or superimposed one upon the other at these stations S, S¹, as may be necessary
to build up a stack of suitable size to substantially fill the chamber of the kiln
into which they are to be placed. Thus while the size of the entire mass or stack
of bricks is increased, such increased stack or mass is made up of a multiplicity of
the small unit stacks still maintained intact, and, after the drying, the bricks
in the unit stacks are able to sustain the added weight due to the placing upon
them of other unit stacks, whereas previous to drying they might not be thus able
to sustain the increased weight.
When enough unit stacks to fill a kiln or a section thereof, as desired, have
been piled up at a station, the rods or bar are run under the burned bricks and
between the brick walls s of the stations or supports S, SI, and then the main
lifting beams are placed under the projecting ends of the rods or bars b¹.
Meanwhile the travelling crane C has been brought into position over the
particular chamber of the kiln which is to be charged, and the lifting bales al
of the removable roof thereof have been engaged by the hooks 16 of the lifting
chains, and the entire roof of the kiln has been raised and carried away from the
chamber.
Then the crane is brought over the station on which the large stacks have been
formed, and the hooks a¹ of the crane lifting chains are caught into the stirrups 62
of the respective lifting beams, and the entire mass of accurately stacked, spaced
bricks is lifted bodily and transported to the kiln by the overhead travelling
crane, and is lowered into the kiln until the burned bricks rest at their ends on
the edges of the flue walls, the lifting rods b¹ passing down between the flue
walls into the flues a6.
The weight of the bricks is thereby removed from the rods, the rods are
drawn out transversely to the kiln chamber through the openings, herein called
for convenience flue holes and rod holes (in the partition wall and flash wall
respectively) into the empty kiln chamber adjacent, and then when all the
rods have been drawn out, the main lifting bars are drawn up by the crane.
The cover is then brought back and placed in position on the chamber, the
partition walls al being preferably square and flat at their tops to receive a layer
of loose sand as a sand seal for the cover a 10.
Then the rod holes.a' are closed by means of terra cotta or brick or other

page_text: plugs, as indicated at a³, in order that the heat and gases from the fire in the fire
box or boxes may be properly directed.
The heat and gases pass over the flash wall and are drawn downward through
the open tortuous passages in the stacked bricks, passing through the riddles
formed by the layer of burned bricks into the flues a6, thence through the flues a
and out through the flue holes a, up through the fire box a² of the next kiln and
over its baffle or flash wall a, and so on, according to the number of chambers of
the continuous kiln which may be occupied.
After the bricks are burned and the chamber has sufficiently cooled, the cover
is taken off, the main lifting beams are lowered into the pits, the rods are pushed
into the flues, through the rod holes and flue holes from the adjacent empty
kiln, and when all are in place each under a row of burned bricks, and the crane
chains have been secured to the lifting beams, the whole mass is lifted by means
of the lifting beams and overhead crane, and is carried in one body without
disturbance to the stock yard Y. where it is lowered into final position upon brick
walls or wood beams arranged to support the ends of the burned bricks precisely
as already explained in connection with the kiln.
Thereafter if desired the bricks may be transferred still in mass and without
disturbing the original unit stack formation, to the cars or other means of
transportation.
From the above description it will be readily evident that a great saving of
time and labor is accomplished; also the old way of handling the bricks was apt
to mutilate the green bricks considerably, due to wheeling or trucking them
into the kiln and passing them through so many handling operations before
burning also much damage is done to the burned bricks by passing them by
hand to wheelbarrows, wheeling them to the stock yard, and passing them to the
stock piles, whereas my system obviates all this.
The commercial advantages of my invention are of the greatest importance, as
they make it feasible to accomplish practically all the transportations of the
bricks in the yard with one stacking thereof, and, moreover, it is of great conse-
quence from a commercial standpoint to be enabled to handle the bricks in such
large masses, my system enabling me to transport twenty to fifty or more tons
of bricks into the kiln, out again, and to the stock yard, without any incon-
venience and with a very small amount of expense.
In operating separate kilns under the old methods, the removing of the burned
bricks from the kiln and the refilling with unburned bricks requires several days'
time moreover the removing cannot be commenced until the kiln has well
cooled, as the men are obliged to enter it and work in it. while in addition a
considerable waste of heat takes place but my improved system enables the
bricks to be taken out while yet very hot, and a charge of unburned bricks to be
put in and the fires reapplied, all in a few minutes' time, thereby not only saving
a great deal of time, but saving also a large amount of heat, and resulting in a
large increase of efficiency and capacity of the kilns.
Thus with my new apparatus a yard with, say, six kilns will produce as many
bricks in a season as a yard with, say ten kilns under the old system.
I do not intend to limit my invention otherwise than as hereinafter expressed
in the claims, and it will be understood that while I prefer to employ all the
apparatus above described, yet many advantageons results may be obtained by
employing various parts of the apparatus aside from the whole thereof, and also
certain features of my invention may be employed in other connections and other
devices may be substituted for certain parts of the apparatus, all within the spirit
and scope of my invention.
It will be understood that while I have used the word "kiln" in the specification
and in the claims in explaining that feature of my apparatus which employs
a removable cover, making it feasible to employ an overhead crane or other
lifting device for lifting the bricks and depositing the same, that I do not limit

page_text: myself to a technical kiln but that my idea is broadly new in employing the
removable cover and the lifting and depositing means in the manufacture of
bricks, whether this feature of the invention be employed in depositing the bricks
in a drier or in a burning 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. In an apparatus for the manufacture of bricks, a kiln, and supporting means
for carrying a large number of bricks in stack formation into the burning chamber
of the kiln, said supporting means being removable from supporting engagement
with the bricks without disturbing their said stack formation, substantially as
described.
2. In an apparatus for handling bricks during their manufacture, a kiln having
an opening in its top, a movable support outside of said kiln for carrying a large
number of green bricks stacked in regular formation for burning, lifting
mechanism for bodily raising said support and the stack of bricks thereon and
moving the same to said kiln and lowering said support and bricks
into the kiln, means in the kiln for sustaining said stack of bricks
independently of said movable support and without interfering with
the original stack formation thereof, and means for withdrawing said
movable support from supporting engagement with said bricks during the burn-
ing operation, substantially as described.
3. In an apparatus for handling bricks during their manufacture, a kiln having
an opening in its top, a movable support outside of said kiln for carrying a large
number of green bricks stacked in regular formation for burning, lifting
mechanism for bodily raising said support and the stack of bricks thereon and
moving the same to said kiln and lowering said support and bricks into the
kiln, means in the kiln for sustaining said stack of bricks independently of said
movable support and without interfering with the original stack formation thereof,
means for withdrawing said movable support from supporting engagement with
said bricks during the burning operation, and means for re-engaging said movable
support with said bricks after the latter have been burned and for removing the
same in their original stack formation from the kiln, substantially as described.
4. An apparatus for the manufacture of bricks, including a kiln for burning
the bricks, carrying means for transporting a large number of bricks in stack
formation, said means including a plurality of separated parts each engaging a
series of said bricks, devices for lowering said carrying means and the bricks
thereon into the kiln, and means for removing said carrying means from engage-
ment with said bricks without disturbing said stack formation thereof, sub-
stantially as described.
5. A brick yard having a brick kiln, a station outside said kiln constructed for
supporting the bricks in stack formation and a transporting device for transporting
bricks when arranged in stack formation from one to the other of said station
and kiln, said station and kiln each being constructed to permit effective engage-
ment of the said transporting device with the said stack formation of bricks
that rest upon said station or kiln, substantially as described.
6. A brick yard having a brick kiln, a station outside said kiln constructed for
supporting the bricks in stack formation and a transporting device for trans-
porting bricks when arranged in stack formation from one to the other of said
station and kiln, said station and kiln each, being constructed to permit engage-
ment of the said transporting device with the said stack formation of bricks that
rest upon said station or kiln, and to permit removal of said transporting device
after deposit of said stack of bricks, substantially as described.
7. A kiln having one or more kiln chambers constructed to be charged and
discharged through the top only, and a movable cover or covers closing the tops
of said chambers and supported by the kiln and permitting the deposit of the bricks

page_text: in or removal of the same from said chamber or chambers, substantially as
described.
8. In an apparatus for manufacturing bricks, a kiln having a removable and
replacable top supported by the kiln and means for transporting to and lowering
into the kiln through the top opening thereof the green bricks which are to be
burned, substantially as described.
9. In an apparatus for manufacturing bricks, a kiln having an opening in
its top, a station outside the kiln whereon the green bricks are stacked and.
means for lifting the said stacked bricks from said station and transporting and
depositing them in the kiln through the opening.
10. The combination with a kiln or kiln chamber constructed to be filled and
discharged through its top, of a removable support to receive a stack of bricks to
be deposited in or removed from the kiln, and a movable cover or covers for the
kiln, permitting the deposit in the kiln and the removal therefrom of said support
with its said stack of bricks, substantially as described.
11. A brickyard having a brick kiln, a station outside said kiln, and a removable
brick support, said station and said kiln being formed and arranged to receive
said removable support for the transportation by means of said support of a
stack of bricks piled thereon from said station into said kiln, combined with a
track leading from said station to said kiln, and an overhead crane travelling on
said track for carrying said support and bricks between the station and kiln, sub-
stantially as described.
12. A brickyard having a stockyard, a kiln, and a stacking station, combined
with a movable brick support for carrying a large mass of bricks, opposite parallel
rails including said station, kiln, and yard between them, and an overhead crane
travelling on said rails for carrying large mases of bricks piled on said movable
support from said station into said kiln, and from the kiln to said stockyard,
substantially as described.
13. A brickyard having a kiln, a removable top for said kiln, a track adjacent
the kiln, an overhead travelling crane to rún on said track, in position for
removing said removable top, and a movable brick support to be engaged by
said crane for carrying a large mass of bricks for depositing the same in said kiln,
substantially as described.
14. A brickyard, having a kiln, containing one or more burning chambers
constructed to be charged and discharged through their tops only, one or more.
movable covers for said burning chambers, combined with an overhead travelling
crane and its track arranged adjacent said kiln, said crane furnishing the means
for handling said movable cover or covers and for charging or discharging said
kiln through the open tops of the chambers thereof, substantially as described.
15. A brick kiln having flat top walls, and a removable cover extending from
wall to wall, and having a flat underside at said walls to rest down upon the latter
for closing the kiln, combined with means for entirely removing said cover for
opening the entire top of the kiln, substantially as described.
16. A brick kiln supported at its side by the solid earth and having its top
substantially flush with the adjacent surface of the earth, a removable top for said
kiln supported by the kiln walls and means for heating the kiln, substantially
as described.
17. The herein described apparatus for transporting bricks in large masses,
comprising a removable support having lifting means to be engaged by an
overhead crane, a layer of burned bricks arranged over said support for the bricks
to be stacked upon which it is desired to transport, an overhead crane, a track
therefor for transporting the support and entire mass of bricks, and a fixed support
for a mass of bricks constructed to permit removal of said removable support from
the brick mass when placed on said fixed support, substantially as described.
18. A brick kiln having its bottom composed of a series of flue walls spaced
apart to support the ends of bricks layed thereon, flues or passages between said

page_text: walls, and pits extending transversely to said flues at the ends thereof, sub-
stantially as described.
19. A brick kiln provided with a removable top supported by the kiln and
having its bottom composed of a series of flue walls spaced apart to support the
ends of bricks laid thereon, leaving flues or passages between said walls and
beneath the bricks laid thereupon, substantially as described.
20. A brick kiln having its bottom composed of a series of flue walls spaced apart
to receive the ends of bricks laid lengthwise thereon, flues or passages between
said walls, pits extending transversely to said flues at the ends thereof, and
openings or holes through the walls of the kiln or between adjacent chambers
thereof in line with said flues or passages, substantially as described.
21. A brick kiln having at each side a partition wall and a flash wall separated
to form a fire box between them, the flash wall being lower than the partition
wall, flues extending across the bottom of the kiln, flue holes through the bottom
of said partition walls, and rod holes through the bottom of the flash walls, said
rod holes and flue holes being in alignment with the said flues, substantially as
described.
22. A brick kiln having at each side a partition wall and a flash wall separated
to form a fire box between them, the flash wall being lower than the partition
wall, flues extending across the bottom of the kiln, longitudinal pits at each side
of the kiln chamber extending below said flues, flue holes through the bottom of
said partition walls, and rod holes through the bottoms of the flash walls, said rod
holes and flue holes being in alignment with the said flues, substantially as
described.
23. The herein described brick support for transporting a mass of bricks, com-
prising opposite lifting beams and transverse separately movable carrying bars
or rods supported by said beams, and means for engaging said beams with lifting
mechanism, substantially as described.
24. A support of the kind described, comprising opposite lifting beams, and a
plurality of transverse carrying bars or rods supported by said beams, combined
with a plurality of walls or elevations shaped and arranged to occupy the spaces
between said beams and said bars, and to extend above the same for receiving the
bricks stacked thereon, substantially as described.
Dated th95th law of Canto 1200
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, Londen, Agents for the Applicant.