Improvements in or Applicable to Muffles or Kilns used for Pottery Purposes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1806
Complete Specification Left, 5th June, 1897-Accepted, 10th July, 1897
acc
Complete Specification Left, 5th June, 1897-Accepted, 10th July, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Applicable to Muffles or Kilns used for Pottery
Purposes.
We, FREDERICK HANCOCK, Manufacturer, of 88 Elder Road, Burslem, and
CHARLES BURTON WINZER, Manager, of 27 Aynsley Road, Shelton, Staffordshire,
le hereby declare the nature of this invention to he as follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in or applicable to muffles or
kilns used for pottery purposes, the main objects of the Invention being to enable
the muffles or kilns to be made of a much longer range than is customary or thar
is practicable with the existing arrangements thereof, and to avoid the liabi ity
of cracking or damaging the ware due to sudden variations of temperature within
the kiln, by ensuring a more gradual heating and a more gradual cooling of the
ware under treatment, due, in some measure, to the increased range of the ..iln
and of its warming and cooling adjuncts, and, in part, to the improved arrange-
ment of the latter relatively to the main or hot chamber, and also to render the
kiln equally utilizable for what is known as glost firing, hardening on, enamel
and gold firing in the manufacture of ceramic ware.
In carrying the Invention into effect, we construct a main hot or firing chamber
of the desired length, and, at the opposite ends thereof, we construct duplicate
warming chambers and duplicate cooling chambers, respectively, constructing
the same in the same manner with the duplicate warming chambers on the
opposite sides of their end of the firing chamber and the duplicate cooling chambers
on the opposite sides of their end thereof, and arranging the same so that they
respectively return alongside of and are built adjacent to and outside of their
respective ends of the main chamber, and respectively communicate therewith
at the outermost ends thereof, their own inlet and outlet openings being arranged
at points respectively furhest from their connections with the central chamber.
The walls of the ends of the central chamber adjacent to the warming chamber
are made solid so that the warming of the warming chambers is effected partly by
radiation through such walls and partly by the heated air from the main chamber
circulating through the connections therefrom with the warming chambers, and
which connections may or may not, as may be preferred, be fitted with closable
doors.
The walls of the central section of the main or hot chamber between the adjacent
ends of the warming and cooling chambers are made hollow for the traverse of the
gaseous flame, and the fire passage is divided-off by side partitions and by
alternating top and bottom baffle-plates which operate to conduct the gaseous
flame from the fuel chamber and inlet (which is situated about one-third of the
length of the central chamber from the cooling chamber end thereof) upward and
downward and well around the inner wall of the central section of the central
chamber, repeatedly, and then being conducted at the end of such section of
such chamber, adjacent to the warming chamber end thereof, through a channel
leading to the chimney or shaft. By such means, we effect a more even regulation

page_text: and radiation of the heat and a more economical working of the kiln. Moreover,
we avoid all angular hindrances to the uniform diffusion of the heat, and obviate
many difficulties hitherto experienced in continuous working muilles, in which,
as hitherto constructed and fired, the thicker and larger goods are very liable to
collapse through the sudden exposure to heat or cold. When firing for hardening
on or enamel purposes, the one fuel chamber will suffice, but in order to obtain
the requisite heat to fire glost ware, a second (or more if necessary) fuel chamber
is made in close proximity to the first on the side thereof towards the warming
chamber.
The walls of the central chamber at the cooling chamber end thereof are also
solid, and the cooling chambers are entirely separated from the heating flues by
strong fixed fire clay partitions, which are fixed in close proximity to the mouth or
feeding chamber nearest the cooling chamber.
The warming, firing and cooling chambers are respectively fitted with pushers
such as are usually used for traversing the ware there along and from the one
chamber into the other in proper progression.
To render the increased range of muffle practicable, we form, entirely along the
floor of the central chamber parallel grooves adapted to support series of spherical
balls of fire ciay or other suitable material capable of withstanding the heat of
the kiln, and we also form the bottom of the carriers of the ware through the kiln
with correspond parallel grooves adapted to rest on and be supported by said
spherical balls, and, by such means, we minimise the friction and facilitate the
propulsion of the ware carriers, which enables us to construct the firing chamber
of a much greater range than is customary, and, moreover, we avoid the defects
of the iron rails and carriages hitherto used, which are quickly destroyed and are
liable to be melted by the heat of the furnace.
Dated this 5th day of Santambon 1800
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Applicable to Muffles or Kilns used for Pottery
Purposes.
We, FREDERICK HANCOCK, Manufacturer, of 88 Elder Road, Burslem, and
CHARLES BURTON WINZER, Manager, of 27 Aynsley Road, Shelton, Staffordshire,
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 :-
This Invention relates to improvements in muffles or kilns used for pottery
and analogous purposes, the objects of the Invention being to enable such kilns to
be made of a much longer range than is practicable with existing arrangements
thereof, and to avoid the liability of the ware being cracked or damaged by
sudden differences of temperature within the kiln, by ensuring a more gradual
heating and more gradual cooling of the ware in treatment, due, in part, to the
increased range of the kiln and of its warming and cooling adjuncts, and, in part,
to the improved arrangement of such adjuncts relatively to the main or hot
chamber, and also to render the kiln utilizable for glost-firing, hardening-on,
enamelling and gold-firing, in the manufacture of ceramic ware.
On the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1, represents a sectional plan on the line A-B, Fig. 2.

page_text: ig. 5, represents a ilke view on E-F.
Fig. 4, a like view on (i-H.
Fig. 5, a like view on I-J, and
Fig. 6, a like view on K-L.
a, is the main firing chamber which may be of any desired length. b, b, are
duplicate warming chambers which are built at one end of and respectively on
opposite sides of the chamber a, with the adjacent end of which they communicate,
and from which communication they return alongside of and are built adjacent
to the outer sides of the chamber a, to their respective inlets d. c, is a cooling
chamber which is built at the other end of and on one side of the chamber a,
with the adjacent end of which it communicates, and from which communication
it returns alongside of and is built adjacent to the outer side of the chamber a,
and is doubled back upon itself to its outlet c. It has an under passage c', through
which air, for gradually cooling the ware circulates and discharges under the
furnace g.
For the whole length of the chamber a, except where it connects with the
chamber b, c, its walls are made as flue passages f, which are formed by top,
bottom and side baffles or partitions f', which serve to conduct the furnace gases
from the furnace or furnaces g, (which is or are situated at or nearest adjacent to
the ware outlet end of the chamber a), upward and downward and well around
the outer side of the chamber a, repeatedly (ride the dotted lines Fig. 2,) until,
on arriving at the ware inlet end of the chamber a, they pass into wing channels h,
(Fig. 1,) constructed under the warming chambers, and along which they return
and are led through a channel j, to a chimney.
By such relative arrangements of the chambers a, b, we effect a better gradua-
tion and a more regular dispersion of the heat, and, consequently, obtain a more
gradual warming of the ware in the chambers b, before it enters the firing
chamber a, and we, consequently, obtain a more economical working of the kiln
and obviate many difficulties which have hitherto been practically experienced
with continuous working muffles, in which, as hitherto constructed and fired, the
thicker and larger goods are very liable to collapse through being too suddenly
subjected to the heat of the firing chamber.
When firing for hardening or enamelling purposes, one furnace 9, will suffice,
but if it is required to obtain a sufficient heat to fire glost ware, then a further
furnace or furnaces g*, would be necessary and should be constructed close
adjacent to the furnace g, on the side thereof towards the ware inlet end of the
chamber 2, vide Fig. 1.
By the aforesaid relative arrangement of the chambers a, e, is ensured a more
gradual cooling of the ware before it emerges from the kiln. and is subject to the
atmospheric temperature, and, consequently, the ware is rendered much less liable
to crack or to become damaged in its passage from the firing chamber to the
atmosphere..
The gradual treatment of the ware in the improved kiln is, as aforesaid, due,
in part, to the increased range of the firing chamber, which permits of the
warming and cooling chambers being returned and built alongside of the firing
chamber, as distinguished from being built at right angles thereto as is customary,
and this is further operative in ensuring a considerable economy in the quantity
of fuel required. Such long range of firing chamber has not been practicable on
account of the great weight of the carriers of ware under treatment and of the
difficulty of pushing a series thereof along the chamber with the usual appliances,
without great liability of damaging the ware.
We render the increased range of kiln practicable by forming along the floor
of the firing chamber, (and, if required, also along the floor of the warming and
heating chambers) parallel grooves m, adapted to support a series of balls n, of
vitrified fire clay or other suitable refractory material, which serve to support the
ware-carriers o. The bottoms of the carriers may also be formed with grooves P,

page_text: adapted to rest on the balls n. By such means, we reduce the friction and
facilitate the propulsion of the ware-carriers by the usual appliances 1, to such an
extent as to enable us to construct the firing chamber of a much greater range
than is customary. The balls n, may be supplied to the grooves m, through
tubular channels g, and may escape therefrom through other channels r, or in
any other convenient manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In combination, a firing chamber «, surrounded with flues for its entire
length, and having duplicate warming chambers b, built at one end and on opposite
sides of and doubled back alongside the chamber a, to their inlets d, and a cooling
chamber c, at the other end and on one side of and alongside the chamber a, and
doubled back on itself to its outlet e, as set forth.
2. In combination, a firing chamber a, surrounded with flues for its entire
length, and having duplicate warming chambers b, built at one end and on
opposite sides of the chamber a, a cooling chamber c, at the other end and on one
side of the chamber a, the chamber a, having longitudinal parallel grooves m,
adapted to receive series of balls for supporting the ware-carriers, as set forth.
3. In combination, a firing chamber a, surrounded with flues for its entire
length, and having duplicate warming chambers b, built at one end and on
opposite sides of and doubled back alongside the chamber a, to their inlets d,
and a cooling chamber c, at the other end and on one side of the chamber a, the
chambers a, b, c, having parallel grooves m, adapted to receive series of balls of
fire clay or other refractory material for supporting the ware-carriers, as set
forth.
100-
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.