An Improved Method of Burning Bricks and Tiles and an Improved Kiln therefor.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1890-Accepted, 28th June, 1890
CUBI LEIN DIMOITICATION.
An Improved Method of Burning Bricks and Tiles and an Improved
Kiln therefor.
I, HENRY GURNEY of 50 Elizabeth Street Sydney in the Colony of New South
Wales, Engineer, 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 :-
My invention consists of a new and improved method by which the whole operation
of drying burning and cooling bricks and tiles is conducted in one vertical chamber
or flue the green bricks being fed in at the top and the burnt and cooled bricks
removed at the bottom and it also consists of a kiln specially constructed for burning
bricks according to this method.
In my improved kiln for carrying out my improved method of burning bricks
and tiles furnaces are preferably placed in the side of the kiln the fuel being fed into
the furnaces only no part of the fuel coming in contact with the bricks in the kiln
the operation of drying and burning the bricks being performed solely by the
products of combustion passing into the kiln chambers or flue but my kiln might
also be erected and worked without furnaces by mixing proportionate quantities of any
suitable fuel among the bricks.
In the kiln I provide gutters or water troughs fitted on each side of the kiln
suitable power and mechanical appliances to enable the column of bricks in the
chamber to be raised supported and lowered. also suitable power and mechanical
appliances to deliver the bricks into the drays when the bottom portion of the
column of bricks is lowered.
Green bricks are first passed through the top section of the kiln where they are
dried by the waste heat from the central section of kiln then they pass through said
section between the furnaces and combustion chambers where they are properly burnt
then they pass down through lower section of kiln where they are cooled (by the
gold air entering through inlets at bottom of kiln) and then pass below the kiln for
discharge.
My improved kiln is suitable for burning all kinds of fuel wood coal or breeze
and also liquid or gaseous fuels and can be built either singly or in couples or
rows but each kiln should have an independent and separate action of its own.
It
can be constructed either with or without a chimney and the chamber or flue can be
square or any other suitable shape and it might also be built and worked with or
without furnaces according to the method adapted for applying the fuel.
But in order that this invention may be clearly understood I will now refer to the
drawings bereto attached in which Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of my
improved kiln and Figure 2 represents a section of the ground plan of the furnace
taken through one side wall only with portions of similar adjoining chambers.
Figure 3 front elevation of kiln showing the hydraulic table down with four courses
of bricks detached from colunin of bricks in kiln and the broken portion at top
showing the column of bricks Figure 4 section through kiln at bottom showing the
four courses of detached bricks from column partly thrust on to dray and remaining
portion of column supported. Like letters indicate corresponding parts in the several
figures. A B C indicate three divisions of the kiln D D furnaces on each side
of kiln. D combustion chambers over each furnace. E fire doors. F ash pits.

page_text: G water-trough. H bearing bars at bottom of kiln. H girder for holding bearing
bars. J table of a hydraulic lift or other suitable appliance (preferably hydraulic
lift) K the fire bars. L closed openings for cleaning or removing fire bars. M
openings through which the products of combustion are conveyed to kiln. N openings
through which heated air &c. from lower part of kiln has access to furnaces D. O air
inlets to furnaces. Pair inlets to kiln. the top of kiln. R the bottom of kiln.
S arched recess under kiln for drays to back up and receive the bricks which are
mechanically delivered into them. T the level of dray tracks for backing in to
receive bricks. The arrows indicate the direction of air currents in the kiln. U is
a hydraulic cylinder for pushing detached bricks on to drays. h are openings in
girder H for receiving the bearing bars H through and are the spaces on the
table J to clear bearing bars H wben said table relieves the weight of column from
said bearing bars so that the latter may be withdrawn. The fire bars K used in the
furnaces I construct of fire-clay asbestos or other material which will stand great heat
and this and the water-trough G for promoting moisture in the furnace I claim as
distinct features of my invention.
In use say in continuous use the kiln A B C is filled with a column of bricks &c.
and supported upon the bearing bars H which bars are inserted through openings h
and through interstices left for that purpose on the column of bricks say at every six
courses. The green brick being set or loaded on top of column of bricks in division A
when the bricks are sufficiently burnt in that part of the column in division B
opposite the furnaces table J of the hydraulic lift takes the weight of the column of
bricks so that the bearing bars II may be withdrawn and then the whole column is
lowered a depth of say six courses more or less of bricks. The bars are then reinstated
and the lift being still further lowered they take the weight of the remaining column :
the lowering of the lift is continued enough to enable the top of the freed six courses
which remain on the table J to clear the underside of the girders H' H' which hold
the bearing bars. In this position the bricks are pushed by the ram of hydraulic
cylinder or other appliances from the table J on to the dray ready to receive them
in the arched recess $. By these actions the green bricks are first passed through
the top section A of the kiln where they are dried by the waste heat from the
central section B of kiln. Then they pass through said section between the furnaces D
and combustion chambers D₁ where they are properly burnt. They then pass down
through lower section of kiln where they are cooled by the cold air entering
through inlets P at bottom of kiln and they then pass below the kiln for discharge.
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 :―
First. The improved method of burning bricks and tiles in a descending column
passing from the outer air between furnaces or through a combustion space to the
lower outer air substantially as herein described and explained.
Second. The peculiar methods of supporting a column of bricks upon bearing bars
across a kiln and of releasing said bearing bars and of lowering said column of bricks
substantially as herein described and explained.
Third. The special construction of improved brick kiln consisting essentially of the
bottomless chainber A B and C and the furnaces D with bars K and orifices M N
and substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated in the
Drawings.
Fourth. The combination and arrangement with a continuous brick kiln vertical or
otherwise of a water-trough or damping contrivance in the drying part of such
continuous kiln substantially as herein described and explained.
Fifth. The combination and arrangement with a continuous kiln suitable for a

page_text: descending column of bricks of a movable table with hydraulic or other means of
moving same vertically substantially as herein described and explained.
Sixth. The combination and arrangement with a vertical hydraulic or other
receiving table in a continuous kiln of mechanical means such as a hydraulic rain &c.
for forcing the bricks &c. from off such table on to a dray or other vehicle substan-
tially as herein described and explained.
Dated this 24th day of December One thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine
HENRY GURNEY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.