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The Paragon LiteLid Lid Assist
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The Paragon patented LiteLid is a self contained spring device that
mounts on Paragon Kilns and is balanced to assist with opening and closing of
the heavy kiln lid on larger sized top loading kilns.
With the LiteLid, a kiln lid that weighs over 90 pounds can be opened with only a few pounds of pressure. As an added benefit, the use of the Paragon LiteLid has dramatically reduced the number of kiln lids that are damaged during opening or closing. The LiteLid has been standard on every large Paragon Kiln since the late '90's. |
Mechanically, the Paragon LiteLid eliminates the pressure points common to the traditional kiln brace that caused much of the structural damage to kiln lids. Even more importantly, the Paragon LiteLid does not apply the mechanical force of the spring device to the kiln lid. The spring (seen at the rear of the kiln above) attaches to a reinforced mounting plate. The mounting plate is attached to a large area at the rear of the kiln, often the entire surface of the kiln, thus reducing the force of the spring as it pulls against the kiln chassis over a very large area. The force points of the spring are applied to the mounting plate (at the bottom) and the cross bar (at the top of the spring). The force applied to the cross bar is then applied back to the mounting plate back through the offset arms. The mounting point of the offset arms also serves as the hinge of the lid. Technically the mounting point of the offset arms (lid hinge) is a fulcrum and the kiln lid serves as counterweight against the force of the spring with absolutely NO force of the spring applied to the fragile brick of the kiln lid.
The TnF 27-3 shown above has a nice horizontal view of the LiteLid mount to the kiln lid. If the horizontal mounting bolts were to be removed at the front and rear of the lid, the lid would remain in place on the kiln chamber (as gravity holds it in place) and the LiteLid cross bar would move upright from the force of the spring.
| NEVER tighten the mounting bolts etc of the LiteLid. When kilns are heated, the lid must be able to "float" to allow for expansion of the bricks. By design, the mounting bolts have a lot of play to allow for this expansion. Tightening the bolts may place inappropriate force against the fragile kiln bricks. |
While easily opening and closing a heavy kiln lid is important, protecting a lid from damage is a good idea, the hidden advantage is that the LiteLid also allows kiln lids to nearly open 90˚, thus allowing clear access to the kiln chamber without having to work around awkward lid braces.
And, because of the mechanically simple design, Paragon is able to combine multiple LiteLid devices together to handle extremely large lids, such as the lid on the GL 64ADTS shown above.
| Over the past decade, other kiln companies have followed Paragon's lead and started offering their own lid assist device because each kiln company has always had problems with their traditional lid braces causing damage to the fragile brick of the lid. Some of these designs have been quite interesting. There are also designs that should have been immediately returned to the drawing board because the lid assist actually causes more problems than it solves. At issue is the use of springs that apply force directly to the kiln lid. There is no practical means of eliminating the damage potential when a spring applies significant force to a small area of fragile brick material. |
The Paragon LiteLid is standard equipment on all large top loading Paragon kilns including the Viking, TnF, Janus and large Oval Kilns. A modified versions of the Paragon LiteLid is used on the Paragon Pearl 56 while the smaller pearl kilns use pneumatic lift assists. The LiteLid is not standard on the Paragon Fusion 10 because the Fusion 10 can be upgraded to include the ceramic fiber top with replaceable element. The fiber top is less dense (22 lbs/cu ft) than the insulating fire brick (32 lbs/cu ft) that is standard equipment in the Fusion 10 lid, and some customers are satisfied with the weight reduction of the fiber top such that they consider the LiteLid to be redundant in the Fusion 10.
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12590 Dedeaux Road
Gulfport Mississippi, 39503
Telephone (228) 831-4848 Fax (228) 831-3111
Showroom Business Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 10AM to 5PM
Thursday 1PM to 6PM
Closed Wednesday and Sunday
The Paragon patented LiteLid is a self contained spring device that mounts on Paragon Kilns and is balanced to assist with opening and closing of the heavy kiln lid on larger sized top loading kilns.