IMPROVEMENTS IN KILNS FOR BURNING LIME WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO KILNS USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel De La Grange Williams of Birmingham in the
County of Warwick Lime Merchant for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
KILNS FOR BURNING LIME WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO
KILNS USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel De La Grange
Williams at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th October
1883.
SAMUEL DE LA GRANGE WILLIAMS of Birmingham in the County of Warwick
Lime Merchant "IMPROVEMENTS IN KILNS FOR BURNING LIME WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO KILNS USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES
"
My invention has reference to such lime and other kilns as are heated by the
combustion of gaseous fuel and consists of the construction and arrangement of the
parts of the said kilns hereinafter described whereby the burning of the lime or
other contents of the kiln is efficiently and economically effected
I will describe my invention in connection with a lime kiln. I construct a
chamber of fire brick or other refractory material the said chamber being
preferably of a tunnel shape and situated about midway between the top and
bottom of the kiln. The said chamber or tunnel passes horizontally across the kiln
and is provided with passages for the introduction into it of gaseous fuel and
atmospheric air which enter into combustion in the said chamber the flame and
products of combustion passing out through small openings made in the sides
and top of the chamber. I will hereinafter call the said chamber the combustion
chamber. The body of the kiln consists of a vertical chamber open at top and
bottom the diameter of the said body increasing from the top downwards to the
part in which the combustion chamber is situated the body being of greatest
diameter at that part. The body contracts from the combustion chamber down-
wards. The lower part of the body has an arch on which the combustion chamber
is supported
The gaseous fuel produced by the imperfect combustion of coal or coke and
consisting essentially of carbonic oxide and nitrogen is produced by any of the well
known generators or producers employed for that purpose. The said gaseous fuel

page_text: is conveyed from the producer through flues provided with dampers into the
combustion chamber into which heated atmospheric air is also introduced through
other flues provided with dampers the proper relative quantities of gaseous fuel
and atmospheric air being determined by operating the said dampers.
The limestone to be burned is introduced at the top of the kiln and after burning is
removed at the bottom of the kiln the kiln being charged in the usual way excepting
that the limestone is not mixed with coal as in the ordinary method of burning.
The gaseous mixture in the combustion chamber being ignited the flame and heated
air passing from the said chamber into that part of the body of the kiln in which
the said chamber is situated raise that part of the kiln to a very high temperature. 1
The limestone in its slow descent through this heated zone is efficiently calcined or
deprived of its carbonic acid and is removed at the bottom of the kiln in the
usual way.
In order the more effectually to operate on every portion of the limestone as it
passes through the heated zone semi circular flues connected with the combustion
chamber may be carried round the kiln so as to deliver through openings in them
flaine and heated air to the portions of the limestone most distant from the
combustion chamber.
My improvements are especially applicable to kilns for burning lime but are also
applicable to other kilns such for example as kilns for calcining ironstone or other
mineral substances.
The application of my improvements to kilns other than lime kilns differs in no
essential respect from their application to lime kilns as berein before described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel De La Grange Williams in the Patent Office on the 4th April
1884.
SAMUEL DE LA GRANGE WILLIAMS of Birmingham in the County of Warwick,
Lime Merchant "IMPROVEMENTS IN KILNS FOR BURNING LIME, WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO KILNS USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES
"
My invention has reference to such lime and other kilns as are heated by the
combustion of gaseous fuel and consists of the construction and arrangement of the
parts of the said kilns hereinafter described, whereby the burning of the lime or
other contents of the kiln is efficiently and economically effected.
I will describe my invention in connection with a line kiln. I construct a
chamber of fire brick or other refractory material the said chamber being
preferably of a tunnel shape and situated about midway between the top and
bottom of the kiln. The said chamber or tunnel passes horizontally across the kiln
and is provided with passages for the introduction into it of gaseous fuel and
atmospheric air which enter into combustion in the said chamber, the flame and
products of combustion passing out through small openings made in the sides
and top of the chamber. I will hereinafter call the said chamber the combustion
chamber. The body of the kiln consists of a vertical chamber open at top and
bottom the diameter of the said body increasing from the top downwards to the
part in which the combustion chamber is situated, the body being of greatest
diameter at that part. The body contracts from the combustion chamber down-
wards. The lower part of the body has an arch on which the combustion chamber
is supported.
The gaseous fuel produced by the imperfect combustion of coal or coke consisting
essentially of carbonic oxide and nitrogen is produced by any of the well known
generators or producers, employed for that purpose. The said gaseous fuel is
conveyed from the producer through flues provided with dampers into the
combustion chamber into which, heated atmospheric air is also introduced through
other flues provided with dampers the proper relative quantities of gaseous fuel
and atmospheric air being determined by operating the said dampers.
The limestone to be burned is introduced at the top of the kiln and after
burning is removed at the bottom of the kiln the kiln being charged in the usual
way excepting that the limestone is not mixed with coal as in the ordinary method
of burning. The gaseous mixture in the combustion chamber being ignited, the
flame and heated air passing from the said chamber into that part of the kiln in
which the said chamber is situated raise that part of the kiln to a very high
temperature The limestone in its slow descent through the heated zone is
efficiently calcined or deprived of its carbonic acid and is removed at the bottom of
the kiln in the usual way.
In order the more effectually to operate on every portion of the limestone as it
passes through the heated zone semi-circular flues connected with the combustion
chamber may be carried round the kiln so as to deliver through openings in them,
flame and heated air to the portions of limestone most distant from the combustion
chamber.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawing represent vertical sections, taken
in planes at right angles to one another, of a lime kiln constructed according to my
invention. The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in both Figures;
a is the body of the kiln and b, b are chambers or tunnels of fire brick or other
refractory material situated about midway between the top and bottom of the

page_text: kiln a.
The said chambers or tunnels b, b pass horizontally across the kiln and are
in communication with passages c, c through which gaseous fuel from an ordinary
generator or producer is conducted into the said chambers or tunnels bb; d d are
other passages through which atmospheric air is supplied for the combustion of the
gaseous fuel in the chambers or tunnels b. b. The said atmospheric air is delivered
under the chambers b, b respectively at the points marked d² d in the Drawing.
The quantity of atmospheric air passing along the channels d. d is regulated by
slide valvee, one of which is indicated at d³ and the quantity of gaseous fuel passing
along the passages c, c is regulated by a valve or damper f (see Figure 2). The
said atmospheric air ascends through perforations h, h into the chambers b, b and
mingling with the gaseous fuel therein passes out and burns at the apertures g, g.
The gaseous fuel is introduced into the middles of the chambers or tunnels b, b by
passages p, p. The flame from the ignited gaseous mixture passes through the
perforations g, g into the body a of the kiln and heats the limestone in the
immediate neighbourhood of the said chambers or tunnels b. b to a sufficiently high
temperature to drive off its carbonic acid and thereby reduce it to the caustic state.
The top of the kiln a is provided with dampers k by which the ascending current
of air through it can be regulated and it has at bottom doors m by which the quick
lime is removed. The kiln is charged at top with limestone in the usual way
excepting that it is not mixed with coal as in the ordinary method of lime burning.
The limestone contracts when heated by the loss of its carbonic acid and slowly
descends from the middle of the kiln where it has been calcined or cauterized into
the lower part where it undergoes a slow cooling before reaching the doors m at
which it is removed. The chambers or tunnels b, b are supported on arches b², b².
My improvements are especially applicable to kilns for burning lime as described
but are also applicable to other kilns, such for example as kilns for calcining cement
or other mineral substances.
The application of my improvements to kilns other than lime kilns differs in
no essential respect from their application to lime kilns as herein before described
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
Having now described the nature of my invention and the manner in which
the same is to be performed I wish it to be understood that I claim as my
Invention:-
The improvements in kilns for burning lime and for other purposes hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing; that is to say, con-
structing a chamber or chambers or tunnels within the body of the kiln in which
chamber or chambers or tunnels a mixture of gaseous fuel and atmospheric air is
ignited, the flame of the said ignited mixture passing through perforations in the
said chamber or chambers or tunnels and thereby intensely heating the descending
column of limestone or other material to be operated upon as it passes by the said
chamber or between the said chambers or tunnels substantially as described and
illustrated.
In witness whereof I the said Samuel De la Grange Williams have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Third day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty four
SAMUEL DE LA GRANGE WILLIAMS (L.S.)
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT
37 Temple Street
Birmingham