US673896A - Brick-kiln. - Google Patents

Description

No. 673,896. Patented May 14, 190i. J. C. 5033.

BRICK KILN.

(Application filed Mar. 27, 1900.)

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Patented May [4, l90l.

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iTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. BOSS, OF ELKHART, INDIANA.

BRICK-KILN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,896, dated May 14, 1901.

Application filed March 2'7, 1900. Serial No. 10,395. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN C. BOSS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elkhart, Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brick-Kilns, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to kilns for the burning of brick or other clay articles and is designed for the purpose of utilizing coal and at the same time to expedite the process of burning, to distribute the products of coinbustion and the heat more uniformly throughout the kiln, and thereby also to improve the products.

I am aware that heretofore coal has been used as a fuel in burning bricks, the combustion of which is carried on by means of a raised grate placed in the arch, said grate having the ordinary open structure and the combustion being maintained over its whole surface simultaneously and equally by natural draft through the chimney. I am also aware of the patent of Duty of 1874, No. 150,232, in which is described a kiln having arches for the fuel and passages leading from the furnace whereby air is forced into the arches to maintain the combustion of the fuel.

My invention includes arches and means for supplying a blast of air thereto; but it specially consists in a box or chamber below the floor of the arch and adapted to hold air under pressure, with openings for the discharge of air against the coal from the said box, and, further, in the special arrangement and construction of the boxes.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a plan view of the arches, air-boxes, blower, and pipes leading therefrom to the boxes. Fig. 2 shows a front elevation of one of the arches with the box in place. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the boxes, and Fig. i a crosssection of Fig. 3, taken through one of the holes.

In the drawings, A represents the mass of bricks as they are arranged in an ordinary kiln prepared for the process of burning. The ordinary arches, extending from side to side and constructed and arranged in the usual manner, are shown at 13. Within these arches, at each end thereof, 1 locate my airbox, by means of which I am able to dispense with the grate. A convenient form of this box is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, this consisting of a rectangular box D, open at the bottom and closed at the sides and top, which is provided with openings for the passage of the air, as hereinafter described. These boxes as I have used them have been made three feet three inches long, seven inches wide, and four inches deep; but their dimensions may be varied. These boxes are placed, preferably, in the central line of the arch, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in trenches, so that the bottom is flush, substantially, with the floor or bed of the kiln on which the bricks rest. One is placed at each end in every one of the series of arches, as indicated in the plan view.

A blower E, located outside the kiln, is connected with a main pipe F on its pressure side, and this main pipe extends under the kiln-floor in two main branches G G, from each of which side pipes 2 extend laterally, one into every one of the air-boxes through which the air is forced to the fuel within the arches.

Suitable valves are provided to control the air and direct it as required.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the air-box detached from its normal position. Itis designed simply to afford an inclosed space for the air which is discharged through the apertures, and although the form shown I have found in practice to be the most convenient, yet any construction which would secure the inclosed space and aiford means for the escape of the limited amount of air under pressure would be within the limits of my invention. The apertures are shown at 3.

My invention requires, for the best effect, that the air should be directed upon the fuel within comparatively narrowlimits and only upon a part of the fuel. Practically the firechamber, which in the form shown occupies the whole arch, has a solid or closed bottom, which in this case consists mainly of the floor of the kiln, and in part only of the top of the box, which is also solid excepting at the line of apertures. These in the form shown are arranged in single line, which lies along the central line lengthwise of the arch or firebox. For the purpose of better diffusion and direction of the air and to discharge it provided with longitudinal ribs 5., which leave thin segmental spaces 6 between the plug and the wall of the hole. The plug is mounted on a threaded spindle 7, which passes down through the yoke 8 and is held by a nut 9,

all easily applied and removed. The fuel,'

which may be spread out thinly on the bottom of the fire-chamber, is ignited along the line of the apertures at first, and air is applied by the blower, at first gently and with a pressure of about one-half ounce, and afterward, as the combustion increases, alittle more, but not for the best effects to exceed over one ounce. This causes the combustion of the coal at first along the line of apertures and maintains the combustion. As the operation increases the combustion spreads to the parts of coal not directly affected by the currents of air and simply'byoontact of the unin flamed mass with that which is ignited. By this method of ignition along a narrow line or lines and by communication from the ignited to the unignited portion of the fuel not directly affected by the air-current I am able to consume the fuel thoroughly and at the same time force the products of combustion, without the clogging of unconsumed carbon and without the expensive aid of a chimney, gradually through the entire mass of brick.

By means of the air-pipes branching to each side of the kiln and the doors capable of closing the arches I am able to control the heat and to direct the products of combustion to one side or the other while still maintaining the fires upon both sidesthat is to say, in each end of the arches. In the operation I at suitable times diminish or entirely shut off the outside air from one side of the kiln and maintain it upon the other. This forces the products of combustion to the one side and causes them to enter and pervade the mass upon that side, and having maintained this for a suflicient length of time I alternate With the other, and thus evenly distribute the action of the heat.

At the beginning of the 5 operation, however, I leave the doors open on both sides and While maintaining the blast al- 1 low free access of air through the door. This is 5 continued until the bricks become thoroughly dried and heated for the greater part to a red or approximately red heat. This with my apparatus is accomplished in two days or a little more. I then establish the alternate action above described.

It will be observed that the boxes do not extend to the interior of the arches, but that an unoccupied space is left between their interior ends. This interior part, however, is occupied by the products of combustion when it is fully established.

My invention is applicable also to downdraft furnaces, and the boxes are placed in the arches or furnaces of such kilns Without material change in the invention.

It will be observed that the boxes are cut out at the ends to allow of the entrance of the air-pipe. A plate or cover closes the opening at the opposite end, and this may be removed when it is desired to remove the accumulated ashes.

The air-box, it will be noticed, is located in a trench formed in the floor of the kiln.

What I claim is 1. In combination in a kiln, an air-blast box at the bottom of the arch thereof, said box having a cover with a plurality of upwardlydirected openings, a blower and a pipe leading from the blower to the air-box.

2. In combination in a kiln with the arch, an air-blast box at the bottom of the arch comprising the cover or top and "the sides extending down wardly therefrom, said box hav ing a plurality of upwardly-directed openings in its cover or top, substantially described.

3. In a kiln the combination with the arch, of an ai-rbox at the bottom of said arch, and beneath the support for the fuel, said box having a plurality of up wardly-directed openings for discharging air up through the fuel, a blower and a pipe leading from the blower to the air-box, substantially as described.

4:. In combination in a kiln with the arch, an air-box embedded in the floor of the arch and comprising sides and a top, the latter being flush With the bottom of the arch and having a plurality of upwardly-directed openings, a blower and pipes leading from the blower to the air-box, said box being adapted to receive the fuel upon its cover, substantially as described.

5. In combination with the arch of a kiln, a pair of air-boxes, one at each end of the arch extending part way of the length of the arch, leaving a space between their inner ends, each box having a plurality of upwardly-directed openings disposed in itscover, substantially as described.

6. In combination with the arch of a kiln, a pair of air-boxes, one at each end of the arch extending part way-of the length of the arch leaving a space bet-ween their inner ends, each box having a plurality of upwardly-directed openings disposed in its cover with conical ribbed plugs in said openings, substantially as described.

7. In combination, the arch havinga trench formed in its floor, an air-box arranged in said trench and having its cover or upper side provided with a plurality of upwardlydireoted openings, said cover being arranged to support the fu'ehsubstantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN (J. BOSS.

Witnesses:

HENRY E. COOPER, O. S. MIDDLETON.

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