PERMANENT KILN ROOFS.
By having the roof permanent, a great saving of labor in taking off and putting on an ordinary wooden roof is effected, and the waste incident to the repeated handling of the boards is obviated. It renders the brickmaker independent of the weather, as his kiln is covered at all times, and the doors can be shut down more or less during a storm. It saves fuel, as the heat cannot escape so rapidly, and the proportion of hard burned brick is largely increased, and a much greater uniform ity of color throughout is secured.
The kiln roof shown in Figs. 89, 90, and 91 is the invention of Mr. Thos. F. Adams, of Philadelphia, Pa., and it is in use at the works of the Peerless Brick Company in that city, which company controls the patent right.
The roof is permanent on the kiln, and enables the burner to manage the direction of the heat, and by closing and opening the doors he can create a draft at any part of the kiln he may desire.
Fig. 89 is an end elevation of a brick-kiln embodying this invention. Fig. 90 is the transverse vertical section of the same. Fig. 91 is a detail view of a part thereof.
A represents the ordinary frame-work of a brick-kiln, which is boarded up to a certain height. At each end are then ap
plied sheets B B, of iron, to complete the gable, and in the same is made a door C, which is hinged at its upper end, and provided with a chain a, passing over pulley b, at the top of the frame, so that the door can be opened more or less from the ground, as may be desired.
To the frame-work A are connected suitable upright truss frames E E, standing above the kiln on each side, and to these are secured rafters D D on each side, the rafters meeting at the top in the centre, and sloping downward on each side be low the truss-frames.
The roof of the kiln is composed of iron sheets F F, which are suspended from the rafters by hooks or stirrups d d, pass ing through the sheets and fastening in rods i, running from the top to the lower edge of the roof on each side.
At the top in the roof thus formed, are made hinged doors G G, to be opened more or less, as occasion may require.
The iron roof F is suspended about an inch below the rafters, so as to prevent any liability of the wood catching fire.