Improvements in Brick Kilns.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 7th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 30th Oct., 1897
Improvements in Brick Kilns.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of 23 Southampton Buildings, in the County
of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, a
communication to me from Charles E. Coates and Llewellyn Hancock, both residing at
Woodbridge, in the County of Middlesex and State of New Jersey in the United
States of America, to be as follows:-
The invention relates to what are known as continuous brick kilns, in which the
drying, burning and cooling is carried on as a continuous process, and wherein the
heat escaping from the cooling chambers is utilized for drying green brick in other
chambers preparatory to firing, and the present invention is designed to give greater
economy and efficiency and to insure full control of the kiln in operation.
In carrying the invention into effect, two main flues are employed, preferably of
different diameters. The larger of the two serves as the draft flue for the burning
chambers and for carrying off the products of combustion and the steam from the
drying chambers, and the smaller one is mainly for conveying the hot air from the
cooling chambers to the drying chambers.
These flues are preferably located beneath the level of the chambers and extend
around the entire structure under the outer walls thereof. Each chamber is provided
with two sets of flues. One set leads from the main draft flue to the top and bottom
of the chamber at one end, and the other set leads from the main hot air flue to the
top and bottom of the chamber at the opposite end of the chamber. The adjacent
branch flues which enter the tops of the chainbers are connected by a flue provided
with a damper to control communication between them. Each set of branch flues
leading from the main flues are provided with a damper controlling communication
with the main flues, and in addition to these dampers, each of the flues leading to
the tops of the chambers is provided with a separate damper for independently
regulating the up draft.
By providing the flues extending from the top and bottoin of each chamber to the
main draft flue, an up and down draft is produced, which results in a more uniform
burning of the brick, and by providing similar flues leading to main hot air flue,
more hot air is conveyed from the cooling chambers to the drying chambers, the hot
air being drawn out both at the top and bottom of the cooling chamber, and this also
results in a more uniform cooling of the bricks. The hot air entering the drying
chambers at the top and bottom greatly facilitates the drying of the green bricks
and drives them evenly from the top and bottom, which guards against the crushing
of the green bricks at the bottom of the chamber.
This objection exists in brick kilns where the hot air enters the drying chambers
from the top only, in which case the bricks dry from the top downward, which often
results in the crushing of the green bricks at the bottom of the chamber, which,
being still wet, are unable to stand the weight of the mass of bricks above. The
drying of the bricks from the top downward also tends to drive the moisture from

page_text: the upper bricks downward, which makes the bricks at the bottom of the chamber
more moist, rendering them more liable to become crushed. This is entirely avoided
by the method herein described of drying the bricks both from the bottom and top
of the chamber. The moisture and the air from the drying chambers pass out both
from the top and bottom of the chamber, into the main draft flue for the burning
chambers.
To increase the draft when necessary dampers are provided between the two main
flues at each chamber, which are designed to be opened beyond a drying chamber,
whereby the draft is greatly increased in all the chambers in operation.
The kiln is also provided with two stacks located at opposite points with which both
main flues are connected.
The main flues are provided with dampers on each side of the two stacks, and a
damper is provided for each stack to cut it off entirely from the main flues. By this
arrangement the kiln may be worked in two sections in either direction, or as one
continuous kiln in either direction.
Lateral flues are also provided entering the bottom of each chamber from the
exterior of the structure, to permit the entrance of cold air into a burning chamber to
regulate for any desired temperature, thus guarding against the burning of the bricks
beyond the desired degree. The branch flues entering the top of the chambers on one
side of the kilu may also be connected with those entering the top of the chambers on
the other side, and from these connections a branch may extend through the central
wall of the kiln to near the bottom of the chambers. Thus the hot air from one side
may be directed to the other side of the kiln if desired.
The improved kiln, in one form, is constructed in two parallel arches joined at the
ends by curved arches and the whole covered with brick and earth." The flues
leading from the top of the arches are built directly over the arches through the brick
and earth covering to the main flues. Where it is desired to have an open-top kiln,
vertical pipes or flues are provided built within the outer walls and extending upward
from the main flues, and these vertical flues are connected by renovable pipes with
openings provided in the covering for the mass of green bricks in the chambers. The
mass of green bricks is preferably covered by several layers of brick and a covering
layer of sand.
The green bricks are piled up in the chambers in the usual manner with vertical
passages for the fuel in line with the fuel holes in the top of the structure, and with
lateral passages to permit the radiation of heat and cold air to facilitate the drying,
burning and cooling of the bricks.
Dated December Und 1806
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brick Kilns.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of 23 Southampton Buildings in the County
of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, a
communication to me from Charles E. Contes and Llewellyn Hancock, both residing
at Woodbridge, in the County of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, in the United
States of America, and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The invention relates to what are known as continuous brick kilns, in which the
drying, burning and cooling are carried on as a continuous process, and wherein the

page_text: heat escaping from the cooling chambers is utilized for drying green brick in other
chambers preparatory to firing, and the present invention is designed to give greater
economy and efficiency and to insure full control of the kiln in operation.
In carrying the invention into effect. two main flues are employed preferably of
different diameters. The larger of the two serves as the draft flue for the burning
chambers and for carrying off the products of combustion and the steam from the
drying chambers, and the smaller one is mainly for conveying the hot air from the
cooling chambers, to the drying chambers. These flues are preferably located
beneath the level of the chambers and extend around the entire structure under the
outer walls thereof.
Each chamber is provided with two sets of flues. One set leads from the main
draft flue to the top and bottom of the chamber at one end, and the other set leads
from the main hot air flue to the top and bottom of the chamber at the opposite end
of the clumber. The adjacent branch flues which enter the tops of the chambers
are connected by a flue provided with a damper to control communication between
them. Each set of branch flues leading from the main flues are provided with a
damper controlling communication with the main flues, and in addition to these
dampers, each of the flues leading to the tops of the chambers are provided with a
separate damper for independently regulating the up draft.
By providing the fines extending from the top and bottom of each chamber to
the main draft flue, an up-and-down draft is produced, which results in a more
uniform burning of the brick, and by providing similar flues leading to main hot air
flue, more hot air is conveyed from the cooling chambers to the drying chainbers, the
hot air being drawn out both at the top and bottom of the cooling chamber, and this
also results in a more uniform, cooling of the bricks. The hot air entering the
drying chambers at the top and bottom greatly facilitates the drying of the green
bricks and dries them evenly from the top and bottom, which guards against the
crushing of the green bricks at the bottom of the chamber.
This objection exists in brick kilns where the hot air enters the drying chambers
from the top only, in which case the bricks dry from the top downward, which often.
results in the crushing of the green bricks at the bottom of the chamber, which,
being still wet, are unable to stand the weight of the mass of bricks above. The
drying of the bricks from the top downward also tends to drive the moisture from the
upper bricks downward, which makes the bricks at the bottom of the chamber more
moist, rendering them more liable to become crushed. This is entirely avoided by
the method herein described of drying the bricks both from the bottom and top of
the chamber.
The moisture and the air from the drying chambers pass out both from the top
and bottom of the chamber, into the main draft flue for the burning chambers.
To increase the draft when necessary dampers are provided between the two
main flues at each chamber, which are designed to be opened beyond a drying
chamber, whereby the draft is greatly increased in all the chambers in operation."
The kiln is also provided with two stacks located at opposite points with which
both main flues are connected.
The main flues are provided with dampers on each side of the two stacks, and
a damper is provided for each stack to cut it off entirely from the main fines.
By this arrangement the kiln may be worked in two sections in either direction
or as one continuous kiln in either direction.
Lateral flues are also provided entering the bottom of each chamber from the
exterior of the structure, to permit the entrance of cold air into a burning chamber
to regulate for any desired temperature, thus guarding against the burning of the
bricks beyond the desired degree. The branch flues entering the top of the chambers
on one side of the kiln may also connect with those entering the top of the chambers
on the other side, and from these connections a branch inay extend through the
central wall of the kiln to near the bottom of the chambers. Thus the hot air from
one side may be directed to the other side of the kiln if desired.
The improved kiln, in one forin, is constructed in two parallel arches joined at the

page_text: ends by curved arches and the whole covered with brick and earth. The flues leading
from the top of the arches are built directly over the arches through the brick and
earth covering to the main flues.
Where it is desired to have an open-top kiln, vertical pipes or flues are provided
built within the outer walls and extending upward from the main flues, and these
vertical flues are connected by removable pipes with openings provided in the
covering for the mass of green brick in the chambers.
The mass of green brick is preferably covered by several layers of brick and a
covering layer of sand.
The green bricks are piled up in the chambers in the usual manner with
vertical passages for the fuel in line with the fuel holes in the top of the structure,
and with lateral passages to permit the radiation of heat and cold air to facilitate the
drying, burning and cooling of the bricks.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation and partial central vertical section;
Fig. 2, a top plan view and partial horizontal section;
Fig. 3 a vertical cross-section showing the arches;
Fig. 4, an enlarged vertical cross-section of one arch;
Fig. 5, an enlarged horizontal section of one of the chimney corners of the
structure;
Fig. 6 an elevation of the base of the chimney;
Figures 7 and 8 are respectively a partial vertical cross-section, and a partial plan
view, illustrating an open top kiln; and
Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view, illustrating a number of chambers and their
connection by branch flues with the main flues.
Referring to the drawings, A A are the foundations upon which the two arches B, B
are built. C, C are the outer walls of the structure, and C is the roof. The arches
and the outer walls are connected by traverse webs c, and the intervening spaces are
filled with earth or other suitable material. Extending around the entire
structure under the outer walls are the two main flues D and E; the flue D being the
draft flue for the burning chambers and for carrying off the products of combustion
to the stack, and the flue E is for conveying the hot air from the cooling chambers to
the drying chambers. Both main flues beyond the drying chambers may be employed
to carry off the steam and air from the drying chambers.
The two arches are provided with ribs at uniform distances apart, which mark
the chambers for piling up the brick. In Fig. 2 of the drawings, sixteen of such
chambers are indicated. For each chamber branch flues D and E at opposite ends
of the chambers are provided. (Figs. 5 and 9).
These flues lead from the top of the chambers and connect respectively with the
main flues D and E, and the flues D¹ and E¹ of adjacent chambers are connected by
a short flue I. In line with the flues D¹ and E¹ are branch flues D2 and E2 (Figure 1)
also connecting respectively with the main flues D and E and entering the chambers
near the floor.
For controlling communication between the main flues D and E, and the branch
flues D, and D and E and E', respectively, dampers d and e are provided which
are accessible through the side walls of the structure, and in addition to these
dampers the flues D and E are provided with aeparate dampers d and e' which are
controlled from the roof of the structure by suitable rods passing down through
the walls of the structure.
The openings o in the top of the arches where the flues D¹ and E¹ enter are
provided with suitable covers o' (Fig. 4) accessible from the roof of the structure
for controlling communication between the chambers and said flues, and the short
flues F connecting the adjacent openings o are provided with dampers f
(Figs. 4 & 9).
The main flues E are provided with dampers à opposite each chamber for directing
the hot air from the cooling chambers into the drying chainbers, and opposite each
chamber is also placed a damper ¹ for controlling communication between the two

page_text: main flues for regulating the draft.
The dampers are designed to be opened beyond the drying chambers to
increase the draft in the main flue D when necessary.
Ench chamber is provided with an entrance H, and the dampers and h¹ before
referred to are accessible at these entrances. At each side of entrance H are
openings and through which the dampers d and e are accessible. The
entrances H and the openings and are closed with brick and clay during the
operation of the kiln, as is customary. The chambers at the four corners of the
structure are each provided with an extra pair of flues D and De (Figures 2 and 5)
connecting with the main flue D. The object of these additional flues is to balance
the draft at the curved ends of the arches. The fines for admitting cold air to regulate
the temperature of the burning chambers, are indicated at G and extend under the
floor of the chambers, two being shown for each chamber, and having openings g.
These flues extend to the exterior of the structure and are provided with suitable
doors or covers (not shown).
Both main flues communicate with the stacks S, and both flues are provided with
dampers 4, (Figure 5) at each side of the stack. When the kiln is worked in two
sections, one stack for each section, dampers i on one side of the stacks are closed to
prevent back draft. The stacks S are also provided with dampers (Figure 1) located
within the stacks for shutting them off entirely from the main flues when it is desired
to work the kiln with one stack only and thereby increasing the draft. In such case
all the dampers i will be open at the stack whose damper i' is closed. The stacks are
provided with double walls leaving spaces (Figure 2) which allow for expansion and
contraction.
In the open-top kiln illustrated in Figure 7, the green bricks are stacked almost
as high as the walls of the structure, and over the green brick for a covering several.
layers C of finished brick are placed and the whole covered with a layer C³ of sand or
other suitable material.
In this form of kiln, the flues D and E rise vertically in the side walls of the
structure, and pipes F connect adjacent chambers similarly to the branch flues Fin
the arched kiln. The pipes F are connected with the flues D¹ and E¹ by cross pipes P.
In a double open top kiln having sixteen chambers, eight on each side, about four
sets of the pipes F and P are required on each side, and these pipes are removed from
one chamber to another as the operation of the kiln proceeds. With the exception
just noted, the flues and their controlling dampers are the same in the arched and
open-top kilns, as is also the node of operation.
The green bricks are stacked in the chambers in the usual manner, with spaces in
line with the fuel feeding holes O, and lateral passages are also formed to permit the
radiation of heat in all directions to thoroughly and uniformly burn the brick, and
also to permit the heat from a cooling chamber to radiate entirely through the mass
of green brick in a drying chamber, as is well understood.
The ribs a mark the ends of the chambers, and in stacking the green brick, when a
rib a is reached, a heavy paper partition is placed over the pile of brick, as usual.
In practice the kiln may be operated by carrying on the drying, burning and cooling
separately in the two sides of the kiln in the same direction, so that the two sides
are operated practically as independent kilns, the work in one side following up the
work in the other side, or, if desired, the kiln may be operated from one side, working
around the entire structure instead of working from both ends.
The operation of the improved kiln is as follows: Assuming that the brick in the
diagonally opposite chambers 1 have already been burned and are cooling and that
the brick in chambars 2 and 3 are burning, that the green brick in chambers 4
are fully dried, and that the green brick in chambers 5 and 6 are being dried by
the heat escaping from chambers 1 in which the brick are cooling. To operate in
this manner, the covers o¹ at the crown of chambers 1 controlling communication
with the flue E will be removed and dampers e¹ and e of that flue will be open, and
the dampers in the main flue E will be open opposite chambers 1 to 6, and closed
at. 7, and the dampers e and e' of flues E¹ and E at chambers 5 and 6 will be open

page_text: and the covers o¹ for openings o to which the flues E¹ of those two chambers lead will
be removed and the dampers / in the connecting flues F at those chainbers will be
closed. Thus the hot air from chambers 1 passes out at the top and bottom through
their flues E1 and E2 into main flues E and into chambers 5 and 6 at the top and
bottom through their flues E' and E. To regulate the entrance of the hot air into
chambers 5 and 6, the dampers e and e¹ may be adjusted to direct more or less hot
air into either flues E¹ or E2 causing more or less hot air to enter the top or bottom
of the chamber to meet all requirements.
Under the conditions assumed, the brick in chambers 2 are burnt to about the
desired degree, the burning of the brick in chambers 3 being well under way, and the
brick in chambers 4 just fired. All connections between chambers 2, 3 and 4 with
main flue E are shut off, and the dampers of flues D1 and D2 at chambers 2 are also
closed. At chambers 3 the covers ol are removed and the dampers d and d¹ con-
trolling communication with main flue D are open, producing an up-and-down draft in
those chambers, and at chambers 4 the covers of are in place and dampers d'are
closed, but dampers d are open, producing a down draft only. As the fire reaches
chamber 5, the positions of the various dampers are altered to correspond with the
positions just described, and these changes are made progressively, as will be readily
understood. If it is desired to dry and burn in more or less chambers at one time
than the number stated, the various dampers may be adjusted as desired. Or if, for
instance, in the operation described, it may be desired to burn in chambers 3 with a
down draft only, and in chambers 4 with an up-and-down draft, the dampers d and d¹
and covers o' may be adjusted to operate in that manner, and as before stated the various
dampers may be opened partially or entirely to meet different conditions or
requirements.
When desired the hot air from the cooling sections on one side of the kiln may be
conveyed to drying sections on the opposite side by means of the branch flues E
shown by the dotted lines in Figure 3.
The dampers for these flues are not shown, but each flue will be provided with two
dampers, one at each end, and these dampers will be similar to the dampers e
(Figure 4) which are accessible from the roof of the structure.
The operation will be the same when the kiln is worked from one side only, and
this applies also to the open-top kiln.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a continuous brick-kiln, the arrangement of the main draft and hot air
flues, the branch flues from each section of the kiln to the main draft flue to produce
up and down drafts, the branch flues from each section to the main hot air flue for
conveying the hot air from the cooling sections to the drying sections, and the
dampers for controlling all said flues, substantially as set forth.
2. In a continuous brick kiln, the arrangement of the main draft and hot air flues
extending entirely around the kiln and both leading to the stack, and the dampers
for controlling communication between said main flues, substantially as set forth.
3. In a continuous brick kiln, the arrangement of two stacks, a main draft flue
extending entirely around the kiln and connected with both stacks, and dampers for
controlling communication between said flue and stacks, whereby the kiln may be
worked independently in two sections in either direction, or as one continuous kiln in
either direction, substantially as set forth.
4. In a continuous brick kiln, the arrangement or the main draft and hot air flues
extending entirely around the kiln, branch flues connecting each section of the kilu
with said flues, and cross-over connections from the sections on one side of the kiln,
to the sections on the other side of the kiln, whereby the hot air from cooling sections
on one side may be conducted to drying sections on the opposite side independently
of the main hot air flue, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 5. A continuous brick-kiln constructed substantially as herein shown and
described.
Dated this 7th day of August 1897.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.