IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PORTLAND CEMENT AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, TILES, POTTERY, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Goreham, of Gally Hill, Swanscombe,
in the County of Kent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF PORTLAND CEMENT AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN,
PARTLY APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, TILES, POTTERY, AND
OTHER SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 19th December 1871, and dated the 30th September 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Goreham at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th September 1871.
I, WILLIAM GOREHAM, of Gally Hill, Swanscombe, in the County of
Kent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PORTLAND CEMENT AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, TILES, POTTERY, AND
OTHER SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:―
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of
Portland cement and in apparatus employed therein, partly applicable
to the manufacture of bricks, tiles, pottery, and other substances.

page_text: In the manufacture of Portland cement I prefer to employ a con-
tinuous kiln, such as described in the Specification of a Patent granted
to me, No. 385, in the year 1871. The chamber leading along the side
or sides for conducting the products of combustion from the kiln (if
straight) may have an endless band passing over a drum at each end
and having a continuous motion given to it. As the band proceeds the
slurry or slip to be dried is put on this band at an uniform thickness, say
about 3 inches, at the coolest end of the chamber. Such speed is imparted
to the band that the material shall be dry by the time it has reached the
hottest end, where it rolls off the plates when passing round the drum
into the kiln or suitable receptacle below.
When the kiln is circular I prefer to employ in place of the band a
rigid annular plate nearly fitting the chamber at a certain height so as
to catch the heat on its upper and lower sides. This annular plate is
made to revolve by convenient machinery, and the slip to be dried is fed
on to its upper side. A vertical scraper is inserted at the point where
the slip has become dry and also opposite to that part of the kiln being
loaded. This scraper being brought in contact with the annular plate at
such an angle to the motion of this plate that the dried material is thrust
on one side and falls through openings made for that purpose into the
kiln or other receptacle. These appliances may be adopted for utilizing
the heat from ordinary kilns.
I sometimes form a flue over or near the chamber or flue before
mentioned, into which the products of combustion pass from the before-
mentioned flue through openings provided for that purpose. Into this I
place the band or plates as described.
Also according to my Invention I propose to dispense with the fixed
transverse flues of the kiln described in the Specification before mentioned
and use a travelling transverse flue or hollow chamber extending across
the whole sectional area of the kiln, with openings at its ends cor-
responding to the openings in the side walls of the kiln, taking care to
have this flue or hollow chamber wide enough to be always open to one
or more of the openings in the side or sides of the kiln. In the side of
the transverse travelling flue or chamber which is towards the loaded
part of the kiln other smaller openings are made, and into these tubes
are inserted (which I prefer to have perforated and tapered) extending a
considerable distance into the kiln, and into the material to be burned.
The distances of tubes apart may be regulated according to the dryness

page_text: of the material to be burned. These tubes are open at both ends for the
transmission of heat from fire into the travelling flue or chamber, from
whence it issues into the chambers along the sides of the kiln. The slip
having been previously mixed with a proportion of coke necessary for
burning soon becomes hot and dry, especially that part impinging upon
the tubes, and will allow the tubes together with the travelling flue or
chamber to be moved forward, leaving channels in the material that
the drying in the whole mass may be hastened. Holes are formed
in the opposite side of the travelling flue or chamber, and these holes are
generally closed against the admission of cold air. They are for the means
of inspection for ascertaining the state and progress of fire, for plugging
up or partially so those tubes through which the heat is issuing too
intensely, for clearing the tubes of any obstacles, and affording means
whereby to regulate the speed of travelling flue or chamber.
In ordinary kilns I place the tubes upright and pass the gases through
them, and the tubes are raised as the burning proceeds.
I sometimes take the hot gases from the kiln after they have been
deprived of their combustible properties and force or draw them through
and amongst the slip or material, and I cause the gases to enter into the
slip or material through numerous small orifices so as thoroughly to
mix them therewith. Or the slip in a state of spray may be forced into
the hot gases as they leave the kiln, when it falls into the kiln or on to
a moving heated surface, when any water that remains is driven off and
by which it is conveyed to the kiln or other convenient receptacle.
In a similar manner the heated gases from a kiln may be employed
for preparing ground brick material to bring it to a consistency fit for
moulding. Material for pottery making may likewise be similarly
brought to the requisite consistency for moulding or shaping.
The travelling flue carrying tubes projecting backwards from it, as
herein-before mentioned, may also be used when burning bricks. I also
fix to the travelling flue of a kiln or frame supporting it an engine
of any ordinary construction for propelling it, and a steam boiler
attached in such a manner as to receive heat passing from the kiln to
generate steam sufficient to supply the engine. The frame may be made
to extend to that part of the kiln where the burnt material is being
withdrawn, to which part I attach apparatus for pulverizing or grinding
the burnt material. I prefer for this purpose an upright cylinder with

page_text: grooves or ridges running round the inside; in the middle an upright
shaft having attached to it several horizontal discs made to revolve at a
rapid speed so as to throw the burnt material with great force against
the sides of the cylinder. The ridges on the side of cylinder are well
projected between the discs that the material flying off from one disc 5
will rebound from the side of cylinder and be conducted by the ridge on
the succeeding disc below, and so on in succession till it leaves the last
in a state of powder, after which it may be passed through wire gauze or
other suitable apparatus to bring it to an uniform fineness. I also
attach to this part of the frame an engine and boiler, which may 1
derive a great quantity of heat from the kiln for driving this grinding
apparatus.
I also sometimes force air or steam through a coil or its equivalent
placed in the upper part of the kiln or in the flues connected therewith,
by which it becomes heated, and I conduct such heated air or steam into 1
hollow receptacles so constructed as that the heated air or steam is
forced into the body of the material to be dried through openings
constructed for that purpose, whereby the material is dried by such
heated air or steam.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 2
filed by the said William Goreham in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 30th March 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
GOREHAM, of Gally Hill, Swanscombe, in the County of Kent, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Goreham, Her special license;
that I, the said William Goreham, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Goreham, 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

page_text: vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF PORTLAND CEMENT AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, PARTLY
APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, TILES, POTTERY, AND OTHER
SUBSTANCES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Goreham, 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 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Goreham, do hereby declare
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, that is to say :-
In the Specification of a former Patent granted to me on the 15th
February 1871 (No. 385) was described the constructing a kiln for
burning cement of an oblong or annular form and with longitudinal
flues formed along the sides of the upper part of the kiln into which
other vertical flues leading from the lower parts of the kiln enter and
(at intervals of a few feet apart) with transverse flues formed across the
top of the kiln to connect together the horizontal flues before men-
tioned on the two sides of the kiln.
According to my present Invention in place of the fixed transverse
flues across the top of the kiln I employ a moveable transverse partition
within the kiln, and carrying at its top a flue by which the products of
combustion may be led from the horizontal flue on one side of the kiln
to the other and also to a central chimney if the kiln be annular. In
some cases the vertical transverse partition of the kiln may be a hollow
chamber and have tubes projecting out from its side which is towards
the loaded part of the kiln to extend into the material to be burnt.
The tubes are open at their ends, and the products of combustion from
the kiln pass through the tubes into the hollow chamber and pass away
from it at the top to the chimney or flues. The slip and the proportion
of coke necessary for burning is fed into the kiln on to and between the ·
tubes projecting from the moveable hollow chamber and soon becomes
dry, especially the portions near to the tubes, and as it becomes dry the

page_text: hollow chamber with the tubes projecting from it is moved forward,
leaving channels in the material in the kiln through which the hot gases
continue to pass whilst fresh slip or dried material and fuel is continued
to be fed on to and between the tubes.
In a similar manner upright tubes open at both ends may be used
with ordinary vertical kilns, the tubes being raised as the burning pro-
ceeds and the heated gases rising up through the tubes. The heated
gases passing from the kiln I utilize for drying the slip. When the
kiln is of a circular or annular form I effect this by feeding the slip on
to an annular plate or plates surrounding the kiln and caused to revolve
within a flue or flues in which they are contained, and through which
the heated gases pass on their way to the chimney, the plate or plates
being so mounted that the heated gases come into contact both with the
top and bottom of the plate or plates; or I cause the slip to be projected
in the form of spray into and amongst the heated gases as they pass to
the chimney, or cause the heated gases to be forced into and amongst
the slip so as to bring them thoroughly into contact; or air or steam
may be heated by the gases as they pass to the chimney, and the air
or steam so heated be similarly mixed intimately with the slip.
In a similar manner also the heated gases from a brick kiln may be
employed for preparing brick material to bring it to a consistency fit for
moulding. Material for pottery making may likewise similarly be
brought to the requisite consistency for moulding or shaping.
For pulverizing or grinding the cement or material burnt in the kiln
or for pulverizing or grinding other substances I employ an upright 2
cylinder with projections sloping downwards standing out from it on
the inside. In the centre of the cylinder an upright shaft is mounted
having attached to it several horizontal discs. The shaft is made to
revolve rapidly and the material to be ground or pulverized, which is
fed in at the top of the cylinder, is thrown with great force against the 3
sides of the cylinder, and the material thus thrown off by one disc is
conducted downwards by the sloping projections on to the next dise
below it, and so on in succession till it leaves the lower part of the
cylinder, when it may be sifted and the residue ground to bring it to a
uniform state of fineness, or it may be entirely ground with ordinary 3
millstones or other suitable apparatus.

page_text: At Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings hereunto annexed I have shewn
an annular kiln for burning cement constructed as herein-before de-
scribed with a hollow chamber forming a moveable partition across the
kiln, the chamber having tubes projecting from it into the kiln, as before
› described, and being also formed to conduct the products of combustion
from the flue on one side of the kiln to the other and to the central
chimney.
Figure 1 shews a vertical section of part of the kiln and Figure 2
shews a plan view, partly in section, of the same. In these Figures
a, a, is the body of the kiln; b, b, are horizontal flues carried around the
upper part of both sides of the kiln; c, c, are vertical flues leading down
from the flucs b and communicating with the interior of the kiln, as
shewn (and as is fully described in the Specification of my before-
mentioned Patent); d, d, is the movable hollow chamber forming a
partition across the kiln and having tubes d' projecting from it into the
kiln, as shewn. The partition is of wrought iron and is carried by
rollers e, which run upon rails f,f, fixed around the top of the side walls
of the kiln; g,g, are flues extending from the top of the hollow chamber
to connect two or more of the passages b', b', which lead from the flues b
with the hollow chamber; % is a flue from the top of the hollow
chamber by which the heated gases are led away to the central chimney
k in the manner shewn by the Drawing. The extremity of this flue
where it abuts against the chimney is supported on rollers running on
a fixed rail Z.
In the arrangement of kiln shewn in these Figures the slip is dried
by being forced in the form of spray or minutely divided into and
amongst the heated gases as they pass from the kiln to the chimney.
The slip is fed into the annular trough m, from which it is pumped by
the pumps n which are carried within the flue h. The suction pipes of
these pumps are perforated, as shewn, so that a large amount of heated
gas is drawn into the pumps together with the slip, and thereby the
slip as it is ejected by the pumps through the tubes n' will be dispersed
in a fine spray, or it might be caused to pass through a number of small
orifices. The slip issuing from the tubes n' comes against the fixed plate
n³ and drops on to the endless chain or band o, by which it is carried
forward to the centre of the travelling hollow chamber d and dropped
into an inclined trough or shoot down which it slides and falls into the
kiln through an opening o' at the end of the shoot. This opening is

page_text: fitted with a hinged flap, as shewn, by which it is closed except at the
time when dried material is passing through it.
In place of employing plunger pumps, such as shewn in the Drawings,
centrifugal pumps may be similarly used to form the slip into spray and
mix it with the heated gases passing from the kiln. In this case the
slip is drawn in at the centre of the pump through a small pipe whilst
at the same time the heated gases are also drawn in through a larger
pipe surrounding the pipe by which the slip is supplied, and the heated
gases mixed with the slip in the form of spray will be thrown off at the
periphery of the pump and may be collected on a travelling band or chain 1
and carried forward to the kiln in a similar manner to that herein-before
described.
When the kiln is at work the hollow chamber d is from time to time
moved a distance forward and away from the burning material, and the
slip or dried material is fed into the kiln just in rear of the hollow 1
chamber and on to and between the tubes d' projecting from it, the
requisite quantity of fuel being at the same time fed in at top of the
kiln. The fire is thus led gradually and continuously around the kiln.
The material in the kiln as it becomes burnt and after it has cooled
down sufficiently may either be removed from the kiln to be ground, as 2
described in my former Specification, or the grinding apparatus may be
within the kiln, as shewn at Figure 4, and be mounted on a travelling
carriage together with a suitable engine and boiler for giving motion to
it, so that it may travel around the kiln and be always close up to the
point where the burnt cement is being removed, so that the burnt 2
cement may be delivered at once to the grinding machinery and packed
into casks for storing or for being carried away.
At Figures 3, 4, and 5 I have shewn another arrangement of annular
kiln in which the transverse flue / by which the gases are conducted
from one side of the kiln to the other is at the top of a movable solid g
partition in place of at the top of a movable hollow chamber d, as in
the kiln shewn at Figures 1 and 2.
In place also of the flue / conducting the heated gases directly to the
chimney, as in that kiln, it conducts them into an annular flue which
surrounds the chimney and is in connection with it. The slip also is 8
dried by being fed on to annular plates which are mounted upon rollers
within the flues b. b.

page_text: Figure 3 is a vertical section of the kiln; Figure 4 a plan view,
partly in section of a portion of the same. In these Figures the same
letters of reference are used as in Figures 1 and 2 for marking like parts
of the kiln.
The flue h, as the Drawings shew, is arranged to fit over the openings
b³, b', to draw the heated gases from the flues 6 and deliver them into
the flue 6 through similar openings, from whence they pass to the
chimney. p, p, are the annular plates mounted upon rollers 9, 9, as
shewn within the flues b. The slip is fed in a thin layer on to these
plates by a pipe in front of the movable partition d near to where the
heated gases are being led away to the chimney, and is carried round
slowly by the plates to where the gases are being led off from the burning
material in the kiln and is delivered into the kiln in rear of the moving
partition d, through openings 6 fixed scraper plates, not shewn
in the Drawings, being inserted into the flues 6 wherever the dried slip
is to be delivered into the kiln through the openings be.
In place of drying the slip on annular plates revolving in the
flues b, b, the heated gases passing through these flues might be
employed to heat air or steam forced through pipes placed in the flues,
and the air or steam thus heated may either be mixed with slip and
formed into a spray or may be caused to rise up through and amongst
the slip.
The arrangements for drying the slip shewn at Figures 1 and 2
might also be employed in this kiln in place of drying it upon the
revolving annular plates p, p; the flue h in this case being led to the
chimney in the manner shewn at Figures 1 and 2, and having pumping
apparatus mounted in it for delivering the slip in the form of spray
or minutely divided into and amongst the gases which are passing
to the chimney.
When the annular plates are used as shewn at Figure 3, 4, and 5
they may be caused to travel by driving some of the rollers q, upon
which they are mounted by arrangements of gearing such as shewn.
at r, r, or by other suitable arrangements of gearing, both with the
kiln shewn at Figures 1 and 2 and the kiln shewn at Figures 3,
4, and 5. I prefer to employ a moveable cover, as described in the
Specification of the Patent before mentioned, to cover over the portion of
the kiln where the burning is being carried on.

page_text: In the kilns shown at Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 I have not shewn any
arrangements of mechanism for causing the chamber or partition d to
travel slowly around the kiln or for driving the pumps, as any suitable
arrangement of mechanism may be employed for the purpose. The
power requisite for giving the slow travelling movement to the chamber
or partition and for driving the pumps, may be obtained from a small
steam engine mounted in front of it.
At Figures 6 and 7 of the Drawings I have shewn how annular
revolving plates for drying the slip may be used, together with the
ordinary vertical kilns. Figures 6 shews a vertical section of an
assemblage of two kilns a, a, cach surrounded with an annular flue b,
into which the products of combustion from the kiln are led before
entering the chimney. c, c, are the annular plates mounted on
rollers d, d, any desired number of which may be rotated by suitable
arrangements of gearing such as e, e. The slip to be dried is supplied
on to each plate by a pipe f, and the dried slip is scraped off from the
plate and into the kiln by a fixed scraper g (see Figure 7), or in place
of the annular plates c, pipes for heating air or steam may be placed in
the flues b, and the air or steam thus heated be employed for drying
slip as herein-before described.
The several modes herein-before described of drying slip by the heated
gases passing from a kiln are also, as before stated, applicable for drying
semi-fluid brick stuff or material to bring it to a consistency fit for
moulding.
In the diagram view, Figure 8, I have shewn how an assemblage of
vertical tubes for drawing off the products of combustion may be used
with vertical kilns of the ordinary form. In this Figure a, a', are two
of a number of kilns which are similarly connected one with another in
the manner shewn; b, b, are the vertical tubes, the upper ends of which
open into the domes enclosing the top of the kilns; c, c, is a passage
leading from the dome or cover of the kiln a to the lower part of the
next kiln a¹. When the material in the kiln a is burning the tubes b, b,
in it are gradually raised as the burning proceeds, and the heated gases
are conducted to the bottom of the kiln a', in which is a similar set of
tubes 6, and the heated gases rise up through these tubes and dry the :
slip or material as it is fed around them. When the material in the
kiln a¹ has been sufficiently dried the fuel at its bottom is ignited, air
being also admitted to assist combustion; and as the burning proceeds

page_text: the tubes are gradually raised and conduct off the heated gases to the
next kiln, and so on in succession.
In a similar manner an assemblage of tubes may be employed for
drawing off heated gases from clamps or kilns of burning bricks.
Apparatus suitable for this purpose is shewn at Figures 8° and 8b. a are
the tubes projecting from a hollow chamber 6 carried by a frame c,
which is supported on wheels d, as shewn; e are rails- for wheels & to
run upon. The dotted lines f. f, indicate the boundary of the brick
clamp or kiln. g, exit for heated gases; h, h, endless band passing
through chamber 6 for carrying bricks to be dried. The bricks to be
burnt are piled around and over the tubes, and the frame carrying the
tubes is drawn back as the burning proceeds.
* At Figures 9 and 10 I have shewn my improved arrangement of
apparatus for pulverising the burnt cement, or it might be brick, earth,
or other material requiring to be pulverised. Figure 9 is a vertical
section of the apparatus and Figure 10 a plan view of the same, a, a, is
the outer cylinder or casing; b, the central axis carrying discs discs; c, d,
are inclined projections between the discs, and fixed around the interior
of the cylinder a. The axis 6 is caused to revolve rapidly by a driving
band working over a pully 6' fixed upon it. The material to be pul-
verized is fed into the top of the cylinder on to the upper disc c, and is
by it projected forcibly against the interior of the cylinder a, the material
dropping on to the upper inclined projection d falls down it on to the
next disc, and so on in succession until the material leaves the bottom
of the cylinder in a pulverized state.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim,-
1. The combination of a moveable partition and transverse flue / with
an annular kiln, arranged substantially as herein described.
2. The combined arrangement of kiln substantially as described and
shewn at Figures 1 and 2.
3. The combined arrangement of kiln substantially as described and
shewn at Figures 3, 4, and 5.
4. The combined arrangement of an assemblage of tubes, substantially
as herein described, to draw off heated gases from materials being burnt
in a kiln or clamp, such assemblage of tubes being capable of being
raised or drawn forward as the burning proceeds.

page_text: 5. The combined arrangements of apparatus for drying "slip," or
semi-fluid brick stuff, or brick material, substantially as herein described.
6. The drying "slip," or semi-fluid brick stuff, or brick material
by forcing it in the state of spray into and amongst the heated gases
passing from a kiln or by otherwise intimately mixing it with such 5
gases or with air or steam heated by such gases, substantially as herein
described.
7. The combined arrangement of pulverizing apparatus, substantially
as herein described and shown at Figures 9 and 10.
8. The combined arrangement, substantially as herein described, of 1
an annular kiln for burning cement and a travelling carriage having
grinding apparatus mounted on it and capable of travelling around the
interior of the kiln so that the burnt material may be ground before
removed from the kiln.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Goreham, have hereunto set 1
my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.