IMPROVEMENTS IN LIME KILNS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Robinson, of Skipton, in the County of York,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIME KILNS."
Sealed the 12th February 1864, and dated the 18th August 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Robinson at the
Office of tho Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th
August 1863.
I, HENRY ROBINSON, of Skipton, in the County of York, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIME KILNS," to
be as follows:-
The ordinary process of burning lime consists in placing alternate layers
of fuel and limestone in an open-mouthed kiln. By this plan, the fuel
being consumed, the ashes mingle with the burnt limo and cause considerable
loss.
The first part of my Invention consists in causing the heat and flame from
several fires placed at intervals outside and around the kiln (or kilns in a
series) to pass through apertures in the side or sides of the kiln or kilns
through the lime, thus keeping the ashes separate from the lime. These fire
which by preference I range two on each side of the kiln or kilns are enclosed
in galleries or air drifts communicating with the outer air by means of doors,

page_text: which I prefer to open and shut alternately, dependent on the direction of the
wind, which is thus utilized by increasing the draught.
Secondly, I place a chimney or stack of suitable dimensions on the mouth
of the kiln provided with a steam jet to assist the draught, and having an
aperture for charging the kiln with lime capable of being closed by a suitable
door.
Thirdly, I place a steam jet under the grate bars of the fires to keep them
cool.
Fourthly, I use an iron door capable of being raised by a suitable lever at
the ordinary discharge hole of the kiln, placing in front of such door another
door or trap to regulate or entirely exclude the admission of air (both doors
being fixed in a suitable iron casing), which cannot be effectually done by the
first-named door in consequence of pieces of lime resting between it and the
discharging trough used for loading carts or wagons, the said troughs being
immediately beneath and in contact with the afore-named doors.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Robinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th February 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
ROBINSON, of Skipton, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Henry Robinson, Her special licence that I, the said Henry Robinson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry
Robinson, 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 LINE
KILNS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Robinson,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-

page_text: formed, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Robinson, do hereby declare
5 the nature of the 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 Drawings hereunto annexed
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
The ordinary process of burning lime consists in placing alternate layers
of fuel and limestone in an open-mouthed kiln. By this plan, the fuel
being consumed, the ashes mingle with the burnt lime and cause considerable
loss.
My Invention of "Improvements in Lime Kilns" consists, in the first place,
in causing heat and flame from several fires placed at intervals outside and
around the kiln (or kilns in a series) to pass through apertures in the side or
sides of the kiln or kilns, through the limestone or lime, thus keeping the ashes
in the fire-places separate from the limestone or lime. These fires, which by
preference I place two on the opposite sides of the kiln or kilns, are enclosed
in galleries or air drifts (sufficiently lofty and wide to allow the attendants to
keep the fires in), communicating with the outer air by means of doors which
may be opened and shut according to the direction of the wind, which is thus
utilized by increasing the draught.
Secondly, I place a chimney or chimneys of suitable dimensions on the mouth
of the kiln or kilns provided with a steam jet to assist the draught, and having
an aperture for charging the kila with limestone capable of being closed by a
suitable door. Or in some cases I prefer to have the chimney or chimneys
separate and distinct from the kiln or kilus, a flue or flues conveying the
gases from the same into the chimney or chimneys. In such case I place
the steam jet or jets before named for aiding the draught within the fire flue
at the lower part of the kiln, by preference in such a position that the said jet
impinges on the apex of the fork used for splitting the draught and entering
the kiln along with the flames through two distinct apertures.
Thirdly, I place a steam jet under the grate bars to keep them cool.
Fourthly, use an iron door capable of being raised by a suitable lever at
the ordinary discharge hole of the kiln, placing in front of such door another
door or trap to regulate or entirely exclude the admission of air (both doors
being fixed in a suitable cast-iron casing), which cannot be effectually done by
the first-named door in consequence of pieces of lime resting between it

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation through the galleries or nir drifts
on the line A, B, (Figure 3,) showing kilns A, A, constructed with chimneys
detached and connected by means of flues K. Figure 2 is an elevation of the
same shewing air drifts or galleries C, provided with doors d working in a
slide fixed to the enclosure wall E. Figure 3 is a sectional plan on the line
C, D, (Figure 1,) shewing the position of the fire-places. Figures 4 and 5
represent side and end elevations of kilns having the chimneys or stacks on
the top instead of being detached. Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation
shewing arrangement of steam jets under the fire-places and within the flues;
Figure 7 is an enlarged elevation of doors and trough used in kilns con-
structed like those in Figures 4 and 5. And here 1 remark that the same
letters of reference apply to the same parts in the various Figures.
•
The parts marked ƒ (Figures 1 and 3) represent ordinary fire-places in
each air drift or gallery having split flues g to divide both the flames and the
steam jets issuing from the pipes h, supplied from an ordinary boiler (not
shown) through the main h', and placed in any convenient position. The
pipes i for cooling grate bars may also be supplied from the same source.
Ordinary cocks are placed on the pipes h and i to shut off the steam when not
required.
.
Through the apertures marked ; (Figure 8) the flame and steam enter
the kilns and ascend through the lime to the flues K in the chimney L, when
that plan is used, or the heat ascends into the chimney stack L' when it is
preferred to have the same on the top of the kiln and the steam jet in the
same. Or again, when the latter arrangement of chimney stacks is used the
steam jets may be used in the fire flues as before explained. I may here
remark that a small quantity of fluel mixed with the lime aids the process
of burning.
In Figures 1 and 3 the parts denoted a' represent the discharge holes
having troughs & underneath, within the archway z to guide the lime into the
cart or other vehicle. With this arrangement of kiln it is not absolutely

page_text: necessary to use either an inner or outer door in the same frame, as the trough
is raised by levers in the ordinary manner, as shewn in Figures 4 and 5, where
the discharge hole is at the side of the kiln or kilns. The doors d, Figure 2,
are furnished with balance weights d' suspended from a cord passing over
pulleys d", for easy adjustment in any position. The pipes i and h for
cooling the grate bars and aiding the draught are shown in dotted lines
(Figure 2) as well as the discharge troug hand hole.
In Figure 4, shewing two kilns arranged with stacks or chimneys on the
top e', represents the slide charging door; f' represents the discharging door
fixed to the front of the discharging trough, the same being furnished with a
second door against the kiln, both shown in dotted lines in Figure 5, and in
enlarged view, Figure 7. The steam jet h is also shown in dotted lines in
Figure 5 within the stack or chimney for the purpose before named. The
arrangements of air drifts, fire-places, and flues in Figures 4 and 5 is the
same as that shown in Figures 1 and 8. The difference between the two
plans consists in the position of the stack or chinney, and the plan of
charging and discharging those operations being effected at the top (by
removing the lid a) and bottom in Figures 1 and 3, and at the sido in
Figures 4 and 5, opening slide doors e', f', and also in the position of the
draught steam jets when the same are placed within the chimneys. The
space between the walls E, the thoroughfares and kilns may be filled up
with stone or rubble in the ordinary manner. The thoroughfares are arched
over to give the requisite strength.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details shown, but what I claim as novel and of my
Invention, is,
Firstly, the application of heat to lime kilns for the purpose of burning
limestone by means of a fire or fires placed outside and around the kilns
and having access to the limestone by means of apertures in the walls of the
kiln in connection with the flues of such fire or fires.
Secondly, I claim the use of steam jets, either behind the fire and within the
flue or within the chimney or stack, whether detached from or a part of the
kiln, though I do not claim the use of steam jets for aiding the draught
of an ordinary fire or fires, but simply its application to lime kilus where the
flames and beat require to pass through a compact mass of limestone.
Thirdly, I claim the application of a steam jet for cooling the grate bars of
lima kilns

page_text: And lastly, I claim the combined arrangement of air drifts or galleries,
external fires, (that is to say, fires placed without the kilns,) and the steam
jets before named, substantially as described, for the purpose of burning
lime, and also the use of double doors in front of the discharge hole.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Robinson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
HENRY ROBINSON. (L.B.)