Kiln lid mounting assembly

摘要

An assembly for use in mounting a lid on a kiln body. An anchor member is mounted on a side surface of the kiln body defined by a metal outer layer of the body, which anchor member has a horizontal pivot pin fixed adjacent its upper end. Spaced hinge portions are attached to the periphery of the lid and have surfaces defining through openings receiving and being pivotable about the pivot pin, including generally vertically extending surfaces that afford vertical movement of the lid relative to the pivot pin to accommodate vertical expansion of a ceramic lining in the kiln during heating of the kiln. The assembly also includes a force transfer structure including (1) a pivot portion pivotably mounted on the pivot pin and projecting from the pivot pin along the periphery of the lid and above the upper surface of the lid, and (2) a transverse portion attached to an upper part of the pivot portion. That transverse portion has a lid bridging part spaced above the upper surface of the lid and having a distal end attached along the periphery of the lid at a location opposite the pivot portion to afford pivoting of the lid relative to the transverse portion about an axis parallel to that of the pivot pin. The transverse portion also has a force receiving part projecting from the side of the upper part opposite the lid bridging part and having a distal end to which is attached one end of a tensioned spring having its opposite end attached to the anchor member. That spring applies a force to assist manual lifting of said lid through the pivotably attached end of the transfer portion in a way that does not interfere with movement of the lid during heating and cooling of the kiln.