IMPROVEMENTS IN KILNS FOR BURNING BRICKS AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Firth, of St. John's, Dewsbury, in the County of
York, Builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KILNS FOR BURNING
BRICKS AND OTHER ARTICLES."
Sealed the 10th November 1876, and dated the 13th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Firth at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th June 1876.
JOSEPH FIRTH, of St. John's, Dewsbury, in the County of York, Builder.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN KILNS FOR BURNING BRICKS AND OTHER ARTICLES."
This Invention relates to the construction of kilns for burning bricks and other
articles by the combustion of gases produced in separate gas generators.
The kilns I arrange in two parallel rows placed back to back. Openings are
provided in the lower parts of the walls of the adjoining kilns so that the heated
gases from one kiln may be led into the kiln next to it.
Along the front of each row of kilns and below them is a flue for conducting the
heated gases from the kiln to the chimney. In the walls of each kiln aro numerous
descending outlet flues leading to flues below the walls, and these conduct the gases
to the flues along the front of the furnaces and from thence to the chimney. From
the top of each of the kilns are also outlets leading to the chimney flues, by which
all steam generated when drying the articles previous to firing are conducted away
to the chimney.
The gas by which the firing of the kilus is to be effected is conducted from the
generator to a valve chamber, and from thence to a flue leading along the front of
one of the rows of kilns, from this flue pipes are led above the top of each of the
kilns. Parallel with these pipes are also air pipes for supplying air for burning
with the gas. From each of the air and gas pipes are numerous branch pipes
running transversely across the kilns, and these pipes carry nozzles which project
downwards through holes in the top of the kiln.
When any one or other of the kilns is to be fired, streams of gas and air are
allowed to enter into it through these nozzles, and the products of combustion are
either allowed to pass from the kiln directly to the chimney, or are caused to pass
previously through the kiln next to it so as to dry the articles in this kiln prior to
their be fired.
Valves are provided in all the air and gas pipes so that any kiln may be fired
as desired; there are also valves upon each of the branch gas and air pipes to allow
[Price 6d1

page_text: of the heating of all parts of each kiln being under control. All the flues of the
several kilns are also provided with dampers, which can be opened or closed as
required.
Openings are also provided in one end kiln of one of the rows of kilns in which
fires may be lighted for heating this kiln when first starting work. Afterwards the
the kiln is heated by the introduction of gas and air into it, as above described, and
the process of burning is carried on continuously from kiln to kiln in a continuous
series of operations. In place of the gas and air being admitted at the top of the
kiln they might if desired be admitted at the bottom.
By constructing kilns to be heated by the combustion of gas, as above described,
great regularity in the firing of each of the kilns is obtained, whilst at the same
time there is a great saving in fuel, and the production of smoke is entirely avoided.
There is also a great saving of labor in avoiding the necessity of wheeling "slack
or powdered fuel to cach kiln, as the fuel has simply to be carted to the gas
generator.
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The heat obtained in the kilns is also more regular and better under control, so
securing more perfect work. All ash produced from the fuel remains in the
generator, so that no ash has to be removed from the kilns after firing, and the
articles fired in the kilns come out cleaner and better burnt.
"
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Firth in the Great Seal Patent Office on tho 12th December
1876.
JOSEPH FIRTH, of St. John's, Dewsbury, in the County of York, Builder.
IMPROVEMENTS IN KILNS FOR BURNING BRICKS AND OTHER ARTICLES."
This Invention relates to the construction of kilns for burning bricks and other
articles by the combustion of gases produced in separate gas generators.
The kilns I arrange in two parallel rows placed back to back. Openings are
provided in the lower parts of the walls of the adjoining kilns so that the heated
gases from one kiln may be led into the kiln next to it.
Along the front of each row of kilns and below them is a flue for conducting
the heated gases from the kiln to the chimney. In the walls of each kiln are
numerous descending outlet flues leading to flues below the walls, and these conduct
the gases to the flues along the front of the furnaces and from thence to the
chimney. From the top of each of the kilns are also outlets leading to the chimney
flues, by which all steam generated when drying the articles previous to firing is
conducted away to the chimney.
The gas by which the firing of the kilns is to be effected is conducted from the
generator to a valve chamber and from thence to a flue leading along the front of
one of the rows of kilns, from this flue pipes are led above the top of each of the
kilns. Parallel with these pipes are also air pipes for supplying air for burning
with the gas. From each of the air and gas pipes are numerous branch pipes
running transversely across the kilns, and these pipes carry nozzles which project
downwards through holes in the top of the kiln.
When any one or other of the kilns is to be fired, streams of gas and air are
allowed to enter into it through these nozzles, and the products of combustion are
either allowed to pass from the kiln directly to the chimney, or are caused to pass
previously through the kiln next to it so as to dry the articles in this kiln prior
to their being fired.
Valves are provided in all the air and gas pipes so that any kiln may be fired
as desired; there are also valves upon each of the branch gas and air pipes to
allow of the heating of all parts of each kiln being under control. All the flues
of the several kilns are also provided with dampers, which can be opened or closed
as required.

page_text: Openings are also provided in one end kiln of one of the rows of kilns in which
fires may be lighted for heating this kiln when first starting work. Afterwards
the kiln is heated by the introduction of gas and air into it, as above described,
and the process of burning is carried on continuously from kiln to kiln in a con-
tinuous series of operations. In place of the gas and air being admitted at the top
of the kiln they might if desired be admitted at the bottom.
By constructing kilns to be heated by the combustion of gas, as above described,
great regularity in the firing of each of the kilns is obtained, whilst at the same
time there is a great saving in fuel, and the production of smoke is entirely avoided.
There is also a great saving of labor in avoiding the necessity of wheeling "slack
or powdered fuel to each kiln, as the fuel has simply to be carted to the gas
generator.
"
The heat obtained in the kilns is also more regular and better under control,
so securing more perfect work. All ash produced from the fuel remains in the
generator, so that no ash has to be removed from the kilns after firing, and the
articles fired in the kilns come out cleaner and better burnt.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a block of kilns constructed according to my Invention ;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same; Figure 3 also is a portion of a
longitudinal section taken in another place; Figure 4 is an horizontal section of
the works below the ground line; Figure 5 is an horizontal section taken through
the bodies of the kilns or burning chambers; Figure 6 is an horizontal section
taken above the crowns of the arches of the kilns or chambers, and Figure 7 is a
transverse vertical section.
a, a, are the kilns or burning chambers arranged in two parallel rows back to
back; b, b, are openings at the lower part of the partition walls, by which the
heated gases may pass from one kiln or chamber to the next; c, c, are flues passing
along the front of each row of kilns or chambers for conducting the heated gases to
the chimney d; e, e, are descending flues in the partition walls of the kilns or
chambers, they lead into the transverse flues f, f, beneath the walls, and these
conduct the gases into the flues c; g, g, are openings at the tops of the kilns or
chambers by which the steam and gases can pass into the flues h, h, these flues
lead down into the main flues c. All these flues are provided with dampers as the
drawings show, so that the draught of the kilns is under complete control. i is
the gas generator in which the gas to be burnt in the kilns is produced, it is
unnecessary to describe the generator in detail as it is very similar to generators
now in use for supplying gas to furnaces. The gas passes through the valve
chamber k, in which there is a valve to.regulate the flow into the gas flue / leading
along the front of one of the rows of kilns or burning chambers and out of 6, flue
pipes m, m, conduct the gas along the top of each kiln or chamber parallel to the
pipes m there are other pipes n, n, communicating with the air fluo 0, to which
air is admitted by a regulating valve contained in the valve chamber p. The air
passes to the chamber through the pipes q, q, which are contained within the
main flues e, and so the air becomes heated before it reaches the air flue o. The
pipes m and n are shown in section to a larger scale at Figure 8, they are provided
with nozzles m² and n¹ respectively, passing down through the crowns of the
arches of the kilns or burning chambers. Each nozzle is provided with a. valve
or damper, so that at each nozzle the quantity of gas or air admitted can be
regulated. There are also dampers, as is shown, by which the entrance of gas or
air to each pipe m or n can be controlled; ?, r, are fire holes provided in the outer
wall of the first kiln or chamber of the series. The method of working the kilns
is as follows:-The first three or four kilns or chambers of the series having been

page_text: loaded fires are lighted in the fire-holes r, r, and the steam and hot gases are
allowed to pass off from the first kiln by the openings g, g, and so to the chimney.
When the steam has for the most part passed off the flues h of the first kiln or
chamber are closed, and the heat then passes on by the openings b, b, into the
second kiln or chamber and dries the bricks therein, the steam escaping by the
openings g, g, of this kiln or chamber. When the bricks are at a sufficiently high
heat in the first kiln or chamber to ignite gas the gas is admitted to it at the top,
and the fire holes r, r, are no longer made use of. To complete the burning in the
first kiln or chamber the dampers are drawn out from the flues f of this kiln or
chamber, allowing the hot gases or a portion of them to pass at once to the
chimney. In a similar manner the burning of the bricks or other articles in each
kiln or chamber is successively carried on; the heat from one kiln or chamber
serving to dry the articles in the next. As the burning in each kiln or chamber
is completed the gas is shut off from it and the contents of the kiln or chamber
are allowed to cool. The front of the kilns or burning chambers are opened for the
removal of the goods in the usual way.
In some cases I admit the gas and air at the lower part in place of at the top of
the kilns or chambers, this arrangement is illustrated by the Figures 9 and 10.
Figure 9 representing a portion of a longitudinal section, and Figure 10 a portion
of an horizontal section below the ground level. In this arrangement in addition
to the flues c there is a gas and air flue passing along the front of each row of
kilns or burning chambers, and these communicate with transverse gas and air
flues 8 and t. The gas and air passes under the control of suitable valves, as is
shown, from these flues to the flues e, e, in the partition walls. In this arrange-
ment the products of combustion in all cases pass out by the openings g, g, and by
the flues c, c, to the chimney.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim―
The construction of gas heated continuous burning kilns in which the heat is
passed from chamber to chamber, substantially as described.
I also claim the construction of kilns substantially as described and shown in
the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, J, the said Joseph Firth, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Eighteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
JOSEPH FIRTH. (L.S.)