The advantages of this steam dry-floor over any other, in addition to the control over the distribution of the steam in the various sections as required, and the regulation of heat necessary as before described, are that the exhaust steam is sufficient to provide all heat required for the dry-floor ; and should any of the sections require heat after the engine has stopped work, an inch pipe can be connected from the boiler with the main exhaust, and thus utilize the steam left in the boiler.
The main feature, however, is that after the first expense of laying this floor has been paid, the drying of the brick does not cost one cent. The fact that all the brick manufactured can be dried ready for kiln free of cost should attract and en gage the attention of all manufacturers.
Another advantage is a perfectly smooth and level floor, not only allowing the brick and tiles to be straight and true but also preventing the breakage, if not on the dry-floor, in the kiln, in consequence of the brick being not true to shape. One more im portant feature possessed by this steam-floor over the old sys tem of fire flues is the absence of fire and the risk of being burned out, which so frequently is the case; this should reduce the rate of insurance. It can also be mentioned that in steam drying everything is clean, there being no ashes to wheel away or accumulate.
Objections have been raised to this plan of steam-drying in consequence of what appears to be its heavy cost as compared with the dry-floors generally used. Do not be prejudiced at first sight. This system is worthy of a careful investigation. Take a pencil and make a calculation in .this manner when in tending to put down a new dry-floor : first, estimate the cost of this steam-floor as described ; that done, get the cost of the old style dry-floor you proposed to put in ; then ascertain the cost per month of coal and labor required for the same, and figure out how many months cost of coal and labor it would take if added to the cost of the fire-flue floor to equal the cost of the steam-floor. You would find it would be from twelve to eighteen months, according to the price of your fuel. When that point is reached your cost of fuel and labor continues, while that of the steam-floor is practically nothing, in addition to the many other advantages already alluded to. Economy in man ufacture is in doing a little well and reducing the cost of pro duction to the lowest possible point, rather than in trying to spread your limited capital over the largest extent of plant pos sible. The plan generally adopted in the erection of fire-brick
works is for the amount of capital at command to get the great est output of brick, which means increased cost of production, in place of considering the most modern and economical sys tems of manufacture, although they may be more costly and the output of brick for the same amount of capital less. Your brick will be of better quality, commanding a larger price, your profits also larger, thus enabling you in a short time to extend your plant on the same principles, and thus you will find you are sailing with the wind, instead of against it as in the former and general way.
Turley & Beyerly's Kentucky Fire Brick Co., Portsmouth, Ohio, has had in satisfactory use for over a year a drying system in its new fire-brick plant for the drying of all "shape work." The brick made upon this floor are claimed to be firmer, and it is also claimed that the breakage is not five per cent. of the loss by the old process of flue drying. This method of drying fire-clay wares is very economical. The pipes have not in any instance leaked. The circulation and drainage are also claimed to be perfect. This drying-floor is the invention of Leslie C. Turley and William G. Beyerly, of Portsmouth, Ohio, from whom all desired information can be obtained. This brick drying-floor was patented in the United States October 27th, 1891, the number of the patent being Drying Fig. 126 is illustrated a form of hot-air drying floor which is in use in the various plants of the Glenboig Union Fire Clay Co., Limited, of Glasgow, Scotland, and which is suitable for the drying of either fire-brick or sewer Pipe.
It enables a manufacturer to put two moulders in the space usually allotted to one, and it completely does away with the " hot end " and the consequent cracking of goods dried near the firing ends. At Glenboig they use iron plates (flasked castings), each 4 feet by 2 feet by inch, but fire-clay covers (slabs) can be used. These plates are secured in posi tion at their joints on cross-plates, whose breadth is about that of a brick, and by this arrangement all possibility of dust get ing through to choke .the subjacent fires is effectually pre vented. Besides the increased production from a given size of drying-floor, the firing is safer and more regular, and the first cost is greatly reduced, as air space takes the place of fire-clay slabs in a large portion of the floor. The illustration in Fig. 126 gives a good idea of the construction of the floor.