Low profile kiln apparatus

An ultra low profile kiln for firing bricks stacked in a kiln car traveling continuously through the kiln without stopping, said kiln having an entrance end and an exit end and defining therebetween an ultra low profile tunnel through which a kiln car loaded with bricks having a stack height of 18 inches or less is conveyed, said kiln comprising:

• a preheat zone through which combustion gases are drawn to preheat the bricks;
• a furnace zone disposed behind said preheat zone, said furnace zone having a heat source for firing the bricks, said heat source mounted so that it is above the load of bricks stacked on the kiln car;
• a cooling zone disposed behind said furnace zone and adjacent the exit end of said kiln for cooling the bricks;
• said kiln car including a framework base, a fiber insulating layer on said framework base, and a brick ware support deck;
• said brick ware support deck spaced from said insulating layer to allow heat to circulate under said deck;
• and
• said brick ware support deck having an open grid pattern comprising a plurality of beams supported by posts fixed to said framework base, and a plurality of stringers spanning between said beams to allow for even and quick dying and firing of the brick ware.

An ultra low profile kiln assembly for firing bricks stacked in a kiln car, said kiln assembly comprising:

• a kiln having an entrance end and an exit end and defining therebetween an ultra low profile tunnel through which a kiln car loaded with bricks is conveyed continuously without stopping;
• a kiln car adapted to be conveyed continuously through said kiln without stopping;
• a load of bricks stacked on said kiln car to a load height no greater than 18 inches;
• said kiln having a plurality of burners for firing said bricks in said kiln, said burners mounted in said kiln so that none of said burners are below the load of said bricks on said kiln car.