• I am consulting to Ge and Ge Kilns of Monbulk Victoria who can now supply High Lift and single or double hearth Rolling Hood kilns designed  to customer specification.
  

Contact detail is as follows;

• Discussions are under way concerning the ongoing manufacture and marketing  of FS-1 and FS-3 rollout hearth Top-hat kilns 

If you have interest in these smaller studio kilns, or in the progress of discussions, you can contact me via 'Contact' on the lower task bar.

• The GS series kilns will no longer be available

Outline of design features

Riley Top-hat glass kilns were designed primarily for slumping and fusing sheet glass stacks from 3mm to 20mm high, in single large area pieces or as numerous smaller pieces distributed across the hearth.
Features included;

• a light weight stainless steel hood with a stackbond ceramic fibre lining and elements spread across the roof

• insulating fire brick, ceramic slab or sand/powder hearth as required
  

• powder coated mild steel support structure

• brake winch or hydraulic hood lift system

• a multi pattern controller and overheat protection providing trouble free unattended operation.
• All kilns comply with AS/NZS 3000 and AS/NZS 3820; Essential safety requirements for low voltage electrical equipment.
  

The Rapid Cool feature provides a lipped hearth and large area roof vents to minimise exposure of the glass to devitrifying temperatures without chilling the edges and inducing stress. 

Custom kilns 

Riley High Lift (HL) and Rolling Hood (RH) Custom designed Top-hat kilns allow for a wide range of hearth size, power capacity and glass firing requirements. These features will continue to be incorporated in Custom kilns supplied by Ge and Ge kilns.

They will all have a brick hearth and matching stainless steel Ceramic Fibre (CF) lined hood with a tubular steel hood lifting frame. A sand or powder bed with refractory edge for screeding can be provided above the brick hearth.  Hood lift can be by hand operated brake winch or by electric motor drive.

Shown is a typical Brake winch operated High Lift design. It has the lift frame integral with the hearth frame so that the hood can be lifted above head height but remains directly above the hearth. This design occupies minimum floor space whilst allowing the operator clear access from front and back of the kiln. 

The Rolling Hood (RH) design has the hood and lifting system mounted on wheels so that it can be rolled clear of the hearth, allowing access to all four sides of the hearth for easy working. This occupies more floor space than the HL but does allow the use of the one hood with two hearths; allowing a near doubling of throughput at minimal extra cost.

Hearth length in excess of 4 metres can be supplied but hearth width in excess of 1400mm is not recommended; for the very practical reason that anything wider makes it difficult for the operator to reach the centre when preparing a design on the hearth.

The overseas practice of using a fixed hood and a hearth or hearths rolling on the floor is not recommended as vibration due to floor unevenness can easily disturb and compact fine detail in the design. Moving the hood allows the hearth and set-up to remain undisturbed. The additional cost of rolling the hood is not great and the ongoing benefits can be considerable.

CONTROLS 

Electrical controls are housed in a metal cubicle and include;

• The preferred Shinko PCD-33A process controller, or other unit as selected by the client.

• Overheat shutdown safety system using the preferred Brainchild L91 Limit switch: ensuring safe unattended operation.

• Solid state relays (SSR’s) and heat sinks for rapid power switching.

• Element isolation switch, indicator lamps, fuses and circuit breakers as required.

• Push button hood lift controls if electric lift is chosen.

• Timer controlled delayed start system if required.

PROCESS CONTROL

The fully programmable Shinko PCD-33A controller offers 9 patterns each of 9 steps. Both pattern entry and operation is extremely simple. Instrument systems from other suppliers can be supplied if required, as can specially designed systems to take advantage of off-peak power or to meet other power or load restrictions. 

POWER.

A number of alternative element systems are available for any size hearth. It is wise to choose the maximum size elements your premises can handle. Larger elements cost little more than elements of lower power, increase the heating rate, and can, by shortening the firing time, actually reduce the total power consumption.

The faster heating above transition point may also allow for two firings in 24 hours instead of one: akin to having a free extra kiln.  

The low thermal mass and high thermal efficiency of our hoods means that, even with extended firings, special heat baffling or other protection of adjacent structures is generally not required: although they should be kept free of volatile or easily combustible materials. The normal clearances required for working access is generally sufficient.

For further technical pricing and delivery information on HL and RH kilns contact

FS kilns

FS-1

The FS-1 is the most widely used of the Riley designs, having found homes in teaching institutions and in many commercial and art glass studios, as well as among kilnforming hobbyists.

 

Hearth size is 1300 x 675 and available either as a insulating fire brick (IFB) surface as shown or as a single extruded Cordierite slab. Hearth is mounted on smooth running roller tracks so it can be pulled out from under the hood for easy access. 
Clearance between hearth and elements is a minimum of 300mm although higher hoods with greater clearance can be provided to special order.
Power options
•    Three phase, 240Volts, 16Amp(11.5kW), 20Amp(14.4kW) or 25Amp(18kW)
•    Can also be connected as 48Amp, 60Amp or 75Amp single phase.
•    Two phase options also available for rural 500Volt systems.
All versions require special power installation and must be direct wired with isolator switch.
The 11.5kW version gives good performance, being able to heat a 1200 x 600 piece of 6mm float at about 4ºC per minute at 800ºC. If thicker glass or heavier moulds are envisaged, then higher power inputs may be advisable.

Controls

Electrical controls are housed in a metal housing and include;
•    A Shinko PCD-33A, 9 pattern 9 step programmable controller.
•    A Brainchild L91 temperature switch as an overheat cutout.
The fully programmable controller offers automatic control of the most complex firing patterns, is simple to operate and is ideal where commercial requirements dictate extended unsupervised operation.

General specification

Hearth size.                                                  1300mm x 675mm.   
Vertical clearance in hood.                             300mm minimum.            
Overall dimensions
                                Width                          1960mm                           
                                Depth.                         1000mm     
                                Height.                        1260mm       
Height with optional leg and brace kit.             1960mm.
Spyhole positions: front and left side.   
Special heat baffling or other protection of adjacent structures is generally not required, although they should be kept free of volatile or easily combustible materials. The normal clearance required for access is generally sufficient.

FS-3

Half the size of the FS-1, the FS-3 is about as large as single phase kilns can go and is ideal for both the glass hobbyist and the serious glass artist who has only single phase power available. It has roof mounted elements providing even heating over the entire hearth area.
It has a 650 x 650 x 25mm single piece slab hearth, plugs into a special 3 pin outlet and is available as either 25Amp (6.0kW) or 32Amp (7.68kW) 240volt single phase. Whilst 20Amp (4.8kW) units have been supplied it is not recommended as the rate of heating is slowed sufficiently that there may be a risk of devit with heavier loads.
Like it's big brothers, it is fitted with the Shinko PCD-33A programmable controller providing 9 patterns each of 9 steps.