No. 775,600. ' " PATENTED NOV. 22'. 1904.

T. A. EDISON.
ROTARY CEMENT KILN.
APPLICATION FILED JULY 22,1903. ~
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 No. 775,600. . Patented November 22, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE. '

THOMAS A. EDISON, OF LLEWELLYN PARKQNEVVJERSEY,

ROTARY CEMENT-Kim.
SIPECIITIOA'JFJEQLTv forming part of Letters Patent No. 775,600, dated November 22, 1904.
Application ?led July 22, 1903. Serial No- 166,519. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: be softened and rendered worthless in about

Be it known that I, THOMAS_A. EDISON, of fifteen seconds, more or less. . -
Llewellyn Park, Orange, in the county of Es With my new cement-kiln I make use of a 50
sex, State of New Jersey, have invented cer structure - approximately two and one-half
tain Improvements in Rotary Cement-Kilns, times the length of the kilns now used, and
(Case No. 1,10%) of which the following isa in consequence the zone in which the mass
description. forms into aggregates is proportionately re
Prior to my work in connection with the moved from the lower end, so as to make it 55
manufacture of Portland cement the Portland in many cases practically impossibleto break
10 cement mixture has been, and in most cases up any of such coherent masses by any of the
still is, calcined in rotary kilns about sixty expedients as now employed.
feet in length and heated by means of pul The object of my invention, therefore, is.
verized coal. As the material progresses to provide a kiln, or rather attachments there
slowly through the kiln toward the zone of to, by which any aggregates or masses of ma
highest heat it ?rst becomes very viscous; but terial can be effectively broken up, no matter
as the chemical reactions progress it is con how far their formation may take place from
verted into the usual hard clinker-balls of the lower end, and at the same time this op
varying sizes. Although the melting-point eration will be performed much more expe 65
of the material in this latter condition is much ditiously than heretofore and with resulting
20 higher than when the material is introduced economies and improvements in llIllfOIlDlliYl
into the kiln, yet in the hottest portions of of _ burning.
the clinkering zone the clinker-balls become To this end the invention consists in com
more or less sticky onrtheir surfaces and tend bining or making use, in connection with a .70
to form into balls or masses of large size. rotary cement-kiln, of a gun of simple con
25 When the material leaves the extremely-hot struction operated ~either by compressed air
clinkering zone, it is subjected to a very rapid or steam and by which a suitable projectile
reduction in temperature, and this chilling of may be shot at high velocity into the kiln, so
the mass frequently results in the formation as to hit and break up any masses or aggre
of a coherent. ring extending completely gates of material therein. Such an operation
around the kiln and sticking to the lining can be effected very rapidly and without en
thereof, which ring tends to grow in size by tailing any of the laborious work which is
accretion of the rapidly-cooling clinker-balls. necessary when the operation is performed
As soon as one of these rings forms in the manually. The projectile employed may be 80
kiln between the clinkering zone proper and of any suitable su?iciently hard material for
35 the lower discharge end the large balls or the purpose; but it is preferably formed of
masses referred to are obstructed in their pas neat cement molded'to the proper shape.
sage through the kiln, and the latter tends to In order that the invention may be better
become clogged up,so as to thereby materially understood, attention is directed to the accom
interfere with the proper operation. Conse panying drawings, forming part of this specifis
quently the-aim has been to break up the ag cation, in which. .
gregates referred to before allowing them to Figure 1 1s a sectional vlew ofthe rear end
reach an objectionably large size, and this has of a rotary cement-kiln having a pair of- pro-.
been usually accomplished by breaking the jection-nozzles' as proposed by me and show 90'
masses with long steel or iron bars operated ing one form of, gun adapted particularly for
45 by-manual labor. This operation has been use'with steam as the source of pressure; Fig.
necessarily slow and expensive, and, owing to 2, a separate sectidnal view showing the rear
the enormous heat, an iron or steel bar will portion of the gun; Fig. 3, a section on the
 2 775,600
line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a side elevation of type common on naval pieces and needs no
the rear portion of the gun, showing the trig description. The valve,mechanism may be
ger mechanism; Fig. 5, aside elevation, partly the same as with the form previously ex
in section, of another and preferred form for plained. I arrange, however,in advance of
use with compressed air; Fig. 6, a separate the valve a, chamber 25, having a hose con
elevation of the gun-imber for receiving the nection 26 and a cut-off valve 27. With this
recoil, and Fig. 7 a horizontal sectional view form a charge of compressed air is introduced 70
of the breech mechanism. ' into the chamber 25, after which the hose con
In all of the above views corresponding nection may be removed, if desired. When
10 parts are represented by the same reference
numerals.
the trigger is released, the compressed air in
the tank 25 will shoot the projectile from the
The kiln 1 is a long rotating tubular fur gun, as will be understood.-v '
nace lined with fire-brick and opening at its 75
It will of course be understood that any
lower end into a stationary chamber 2, into form of gun suitable for the purpose may be
which the burned clinker is discharged. v"The used in connection with rotary kilns withthe '
pulverized fuel is supplied by nozzles 33, ex object in view of breaking up any forming
tending through an opening 4 and manipu aggregates of material, although for practical
latedv from a platform 5. On this platform I purposes the Very simple forms described are
mount the gun, two forms of which are shown. entirely satisfactory. It is- desirable that the
20
With theform shownin Figs. 1 to 4 the bar gun should be operated by steam or com
rel 6 is carried on wheels 7, like an ordinary pressed air, since both sources of pressure are
?eld-piece, and is provided with a swinging available; but of course other sources of high
breech-block 8,~having a packing 9 and adapt pressure may be used, including explosives. 85
ed to be locked in a closed position by a cam Having now described my invention, what
25 latch 10. Cast integrally with the gun-barrel I-claim as new therein, and desire to secure by
near its rear end is a valve-chamber 11, in Letters Patent, is ~
which is mounted a plug-valve 12, which is 1. The combination with a rotary cement
adapted toconnect the inlet'13 with the pas kiln of a gun mounted near the open end there
sage 14, leading into the bore. A nipple is of, and adapted to throw a projectile into the
formed on the valve-chamber, as shown, and kiln for the purpose of breaking up any form
with which a steam-pipe or compressed-air ing aggregates of material, substantially as
pipe may connect. The shaft 15 of the valve - set forth. ' -
95
is provided with a lever 16, by which the valve 2. The combination with a rotary cement
may be moved to its closed position, being kiln of a compressed-air gun mounted near
35 then locked by a trigger 17. When the Valve the open end thereof, and adapted to throw a
is released, a spring 18 moves it to its open projectile into the kiln for the purpose of
position, such movement being limited by a breaking up any forming aggregates of ma I00
shoulder 19 engaging a stop 20. The pro terial, substantially asset forth.
jectile 21, formed, preferably, of molded neat 3. In the art of breaking up aggregates or
40 cement, is introduced into the gun-bore, and masses of material forming in rotary cement
the breech-block 8 is closed. The gun is now kilns, the improvement which consists in
aimed at the desired object, and the trigger 17 throwing into contact with'themasses or ag
being released the valve will open and the gregates a compact projectile traveling at a
?uid-pressure will drive the projectile at high high velocity, substantially as and for the pur
velocity against the forming mass, so as to pose set forth. -
break it up. The valve is then closed, and 4. Inthe art of breaking up aggregates'or
the gun will be ready for operation when de masses of material forming in rotary cement
sired. - '
kilns the improvement which consists in
The form of gun just described is desirable .throwing into contact with the masses or ag
when steam is used as a source of pressure. gregates a projectile of molded cement, trav'
\Vhen, however, compressed air is employed, eling at a high velocity, substantially as and
it preferable to make use of a storagereserfor the purpose set forth.
voir holding enough air for a single shot, as 115
5. The combination with a rotary cement
in this way the gun is more portable, since a kiln and a stationary chamber with which the
constant hose connection is not necessary, and kiln connects, of-a gun mounted behind said
it is also more economical, since there will be chamber, and adapted to throw a projectile
no waste of pressureeven if .the valve is al through an opening in the wall thereof into 120
lowed to remain open; Such an arrangement the kiln for the purpose of breaking up any
is shown in Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive. Here the aggregates or masses of material forming
gun 6 is mounted on a light carriage.22, sup therein, substantially as set forth.
ported on wheels 23, a limber 24, having a 6. The combination with a rotary cement
toothed foot, being used to prevent recoil. kiln, a stationary chamber with which the kiln 125
The breech-block is of the interrupted~thread connects and a fuel-supply nozzle projecting
 7753600 3

through an opening in the wall of said cham This speci? atien si :ned and witnessed this
ber for supplying pulverized fuel to the kiln, 20th day of J uly, 19( .
'of a gun mounted behind said chamber and
adapted to throw a projectile through said THOMAS A. EDISON.
opening into the kiln for the purpose of break Witnesses: ._
ing up any aggregates or masses of material FRANK L. DYER,
forming therein, substantially asset forth. WILLIAM A. DOLA