US96905A - Improvement in the manufacture of iron and steel - Google Patents

Description

whom .concern .'.Beitflrnown thj't waFnnuD l and YrnGrr-xW. Buslinien, of Bridporaixr view; Fic.

.iremity PATENT ".Orricn.

P. 'AND BLANCHAnnoF BRIDPORT, vEnMoNr.

insgeheim' iii-int'nmiumunt or IRON 'AND STEEL.

P. FLETCHER the-'county of Addison `and State of Vermont, havelinvented a new anduseful Improvement .'in .the Manufacture of Steel and Malleable iron; and` we do hereby Adeclare that the fol'- lowing is al full, clear, and 4exaet description thereof, reference'being had to the accompa-- Dying drawings, and'totheletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side elevation; Fig. 2, aplan 3, a. vertical longitudinal section through linen b, Fig; 2;'Fig. 4, a cross-section through line c d, Eig. 3; liig.` 5, aplan view-nf axle. Src. ;A Figj, acrosssection through liney',v fg. Fig. 1; and Fig. -7 ,"abroken plan ofthe bot-V tom of vessel.

@grenoble others slilledfin theart to sind use our invention, we Vv'iillnovr describe itsconstructionfand operation.

A rep rcsents the converting-vessel, mounted upon its axle B. The axleB is irmly snpported' liy theframeC. Bymeans of its axle B a tilting, rocking, or revolving motion may be given tothe converting-vessel A. Snrronnding the axle B of the converting-vessel A, and connected to thatlvessel, is seen the circular apartment F. Fitted bya suitable bearing-surface to the circular apartment E is seen the stationary disk D. Connected with the disk'D and opening into the apartment F is the blastfpipe E. Connected by one exwith the apartment F is seen the air or blast pipes G'G. 'The open 'extremity of the air or blastpipe E may he connected by any suitable conductor with a receiver or reservoircontaining thejeompressed gaseous element or elements-required in the, process of reducing andpurifying the molten metal. It

will be observed that whatever maybe the po'- sition of the'converting-vessel A the passage isalways freebetween the air er blast pipe E and the airor blast pipes G G. Let K K represent two symmetrical apartments or pockets of the converting-vessel A. These apartments or pockets serve several important uses in the invention; first, as vessels to` hold the molten metal during the process of convertion or puriieation; second, as vessels in which the pro cess of atomizing or globularizing is carried cess of converting thecarbnret of iron into steel and malleable iron may be completed with a' pnddling-tool, if desired; fourth', they serve .as vessels or cruciblcs for melting wrought-iron or east-iromor. any variety of 'iron ore or any substance that will aid in the.

tuse angle, is seen the depression M.

Extending upward at a greateror less angle,

and terminating or opening in each wall of, the depression M, opposite or facing the pock-` ets -K K, are the blast-pipes NN. These pipes re connected, through the apartment F, with the blastpipe E,.and are provided with the valves O O, to bar or regulate the passage of the gaseous element or elements through them.

l Connected with apartment F are the pipes. G G.- These pipes are furnished with the valves' S S, to regulate the passage of the gaseous ele- "ments through them.. Working in 'the depression Mis seen thevalve a. -lilirectly over the axle B of the converting-vessel A. is the extremity of the rod b towhieh the valve a is attached. j

d represents a lever attached to rod b, by

means ot' which the valve a can be worked outside of vessel A. The office or. nseof the valve a is to close the extremity of the blastpipes N N, opening into the depression M. It `:vill be observed that whilethe extremity of one of the blast-pipesN is closed by thevalve a, the extremity of the other will be open. By

this means the molten metal may be prevented 'from entering the open extremity oi' Veither ot the blastpipes N N, while the jet of gaseous elements is issuing from the pipe on' the opposite side ol' the depression M during the process of reduction or purification of the molten metal. We would, however, remark that we on third, as puddling-vesselsinivhich the proi vr reflectedwhile the process of atomizing or glohularizing is going on.

.T T designate two openings, situated'one at or near each extremityof the vessel A. These openings serve in several important uses First,

' through them the metal, molten or otherwise,

is introduced into the converti ng-vesse1; second, through them the products ofv combustion lescape during the process of conversion or purification; third, lbythem the process of skimniing the molten metal orthe removal of scoria or slag takes place; fourth, through them the process of peddling is 'carried on; fifth, by means of them the recarbonization of' the molten metal may take place by the introduction of certain suitable substances into the converting-vessel; and also by them the molten metal is poured from the vessel when the process of conversion or purification is complete.

J J represent two reverberatory furnaces, connected each with the converting-vessel A, about midway its extremities.

U designates the passage by which the reverberatory furnace is connected with, the apartment or pocketK of 1the vessel A. This I vpassage is inclined downward, so as iso-deflect the dame or products of combustion issuing from said furnace against the bottom or'iioor of' apartment K. Fuel is introduced into the reverberatory furnaces J J by means of their lids I I. The reverberatory furnaces are furnished with blasts by means of the pipes P P. 1t may be here remarked that the connection, arrangement, construction, and operation" of each reverberatory furnace, as respects the converting-vessel A, areidentical. These furnaces perform several important officessuch as affording means of melting cast orwrought iron or any variety ofiron ore within the apartments K K; for keeping the metal in a suiciently fluid or molten state while the process of atQmizing or globularizing or while the process of puddling is going on; for carbonizing or decarbonizing or otherwise purifying the molten metal contained in the pockets K K, according as the flames or products of coinbustion issuing from them arecharged with carhouzingor decarbonizing or other purify.- ing or eliminatve gases'or vapors. A Q represents a lever, by means of which the vessel A may be depressed,-elevated, tilted, rocked, or revolved to agreater or less degree required inthe introduction, conversion, and pouring of themetal. We would have remarked that we do not confine ourselves to the mechanism described, but to any means sib stantially the same by which the same effect is produced. In the practical operation of our invention, fuel is first introduced into the reverberating furnacesT T, and kindled. The valves O O in the blast-pipes P P, connecting these furnaces through the apartlneutF with the blast-pipe E,are opened. The Haine or products of combustion are thrown by this means, l through the openings U Ut into the'apart-m'ents 'o 'r pockets K K of the converting -vessel A, pointing to the floor or bottom of the i same. Wlfen the pockets K K are heated to a suificient degree of intensity, the con verting-vessel may,

by means of the lever Q, be rocked or revolved or tilted toa suit-able degree to conveniently yin-A troduce'at one of the openings S moltencastiron direct froma blast,or any other form of furnace, or wrought or cast iron in the form of scrap or pig.

purification will commence at once,\vhileifthe wrought 01 cast iron is singly introduced, or introduced mixed with molten metal, the processwill be more or less delayed` according to the time required to melt the samein the heat afforded bythe reverberating furnaces; We would here remark that the-different varieties ofA iron ore are not introduced into the converting-vessel to be melted, "except in combinat-ion with the melted metal, before the process of conversion or purification commences,

but may be added after such process has begun, in such quantities as may be deemed desirable. Such addition we do not, however, consider indispensable in the process.

By theaddition of wrought or cast iron or iron ore, n'suitable quantities, totheumo'lte'n metal after theprocess of conversion o rfpurification 'has begun, any surplus heat beyond.

what is"- required to keep them'etaljn a liquid or molten state may7 be utilized, and b v such( means a proper quantity'of i-ron ore or wrought* or cast i'ron scraps may be economicallycon When" the verted into the desired product. metal introduced into thefpocket K of the ves'- sel is in a sufficiently liquid state from previ, ous heat, or from the effects of such heat combined with that of' the flame or producs 0f combustion from the reverberating furnace, the extremity of the vessel A, containing the molten metal,'is raised, tilted, or revolved by means of the lever Q, Iso that the molten metal in a stream flows over` the central portion of the floorof the Vessel A into the -depression pression M is actuated so as to close` the extremit-y of'one ofthe pipes N N, opening into "the depression M, oppositeto its fellows, from which the jet of gaseous elements issues into the converting-vessel. Then, as the melted metal falls into the depression M, the jet or blast of gaseous elements issuing from the open extremity of the blast-pipe N,'with a In case the molten cast-iron is." alone introduced, the process of conversion or greater or lesser force and'velocitytrikes the l varieties of metal, expedient to have the blasts stream of melted metal and forcibly carries or of the reverberating furnaces consist of a difprojects it in a globular or atomic condition over the depression M into the opposite apartment or pocket K ofthe vessel A.

lt may here be observed that the blast-pipes N N are placed at such an angle that thejcts ot' gaseous elements issuing from them and striking the molten metal causes the globules, atoms, or particles into which such stream becomes dispersed or divided, to forcibly strike against-the inclined planes R R,formed by.`

thel root' of theconverting-vessel. Then` as the jet of gaseous elements may consist of air, su perheated steam, 'free oxygen, hydrogen.

-ammoniacal or chlorine gas, or any mixture ol' the saine, or any hydrocarbon vapor, or any volatile-or gaseous element or elements that may be required ro effect the conversion and purification of the molten metal, it is clearly seen-that every atom, globule, or particle of thel melted metal may be brought into fr e'c and immediate contact with the gaseous elements required to e'eot its conversion and purification. The atom, globule, or particle of molten metal forciblystriking the inclined plane R, formed by the roof of the vessel A,

becomes flattened or reflected, thereby presen ting'a new surface to the action of the gaseous elements by which it may be surrounded. The atom, globule, or particle of' molten metal, after Strikingor being reected from the ineline plane, passes or vfalls directly into the flame from the furnace T, that points to the flor'otthe vessel A. By this means every atom7 particle, or globule ofthe melted metal thatpasses from one apartment to the other on the opposite side is exposed to the direct action of the flame issuing from the reverberating4 furnaces. It will be observed that the heat-of these furnaces is used and applied,

' most economically.

V(airbcmfcontaine'din the molten metal, operates .favorably in effeeti ng its combustion und elimination, We would here remark that the blasts for supplying; the reverberating fu rnaees are shown as ldesired in common with those used for atomizing or globularizmg purposes, from the apartment f'F, connected with the blast- Ppe E We would -be understood that we (lo-not 'confine ourselves to this arrangement. It' necessary, separate blasts may be provided for the said furnaces. It 4may be found, in certain ferent gaseous element or elements from those used in the atomizing or glolmlarizing process. We would be understood to claim this variation.

By elevating, tilting, rocking', or revolving the vessel Ato a certain degree the molten metal will all pass over in a globular or atomic condition into the opposite apartment or pocket. Then, by continuing the same process to a still greater degree, the slag or seoria or other impurities on the top of the melted metal may be poured off through the opening S, near the extremity of the vessel A, or removed with a suitable instrument. vWe would here remark that during the process of removing the slag or scoria from the molten metal, or any other necessary operation pertaining -to its conversion or purification, the valve O in the pipe P of the furnace T may be closed, which will allow any such'necessary operation to be performed without-diiiculty. At this point in the process a portion of the 4molten metal may be removed from the vesthe position of the valve a, soithat the ex-v tremity ofthe blast-pi pe that has been closed during` the operation just described may be opened and its fellow on the opposite side of the depression be closed. This pipe will afford a jet or blast ot' gaseous elements on the opposite side ofthe depression M to th at whose or atomic condition, a greater or less n umber` of times from one apartment to its fellow on the opposite side, and the process of skimming or testing performed as often as desired.

We would here observe that we do not limit ourselves to the precise method shown for repeatedly/.converting or purifying the melted t metal, .but that we claim any manner or method whereby a stream of molten metal is repeat edly reduced or dispersed to 'a globular or atomic state by the saine jet or jets of a gaseous ments is suicient to convert or purify a large body of melted metal, and the process may also by this means be indefinitely prolonged for the removal of the, slag or scoria and other impurities. During the process of conversion or purification the addition of suitable quantitiesof wrought-iron or iron ore will shorten the process of converting the carburet of iron into steel or malleable iron. Bypassing the molten metal, in a globular or atomic state, a greater orl'ess number of -ti mes from one`apartment of the vesselA to its fellow on the opposite side it may be reduced to any desired grade of steel or malleable iron.

` It will beobserved that by the elevating, rocking, or revolving, tilting; and depressing motionof the converting-vessel, and by means of the valves in the air'or blast pipes that furnish the atomizing or globularizing jets, the size or volume of the stream of molten metal and the size or volume of the jet or jets of gaseous element or yelements are' completely under the control of the-operator. Thus, by increasingor diminishing thesize of the stream of molten metal with a given size to the jetor jets of gaseous elements,'or by `iu'reasing or diminishing thesizeof the jets of gaseous elements with a given size to the stream of molten metal, a greater orless 'amount of the carbon, sulphur, or phosphorus, or any impuri ties contained in the-moltenmetal, for which the gaseous elements contained-in the jets may have a chemical or elective .,anity, maybe removed or eliminated from the molten mtal at pleasure; also, by charging'the blasts of the reverberatingjfurnaces T T to agreater or less degree with a; surplus gaseous element orelements that have an elective or chemical affinity w'ith the deleterious substance orqualitiescontained in the molten metal, such substances or qualities may be to a greater or less Vextent removed or eliminated from the molten `metal at pleasure.

It willhere be particularly observed that by the process heretofore set fort-h diiierent grades of steel may be produced from the carburet of iron b y several different modes or methods,

which the quality of the iron to be converted and the-qualityof steel to be produced must determine. j The skill and judgment of the operator must determine the proper method. The molten metal may be passed fronrone apartment or pocket K of the vessel A, in a globular or atomic condition to its fellow on the opposite side of thevessel, and this problasts of the lrevexjberating furnacesmaybe tenmetal maybe reduced by the atomizing or globularizing process to nearly the desired degrec, after which the process may be completed with a puddling-tool introduced into the opening S nea'r each of theextremitiesof thevessel -A By this mode puddled steel or iron may beproduced at the close of the operation in precisely-the' same manner as in ordinary puddlng-t'urnaces, with but little labor. We do not'in this connection confine ourselves to the precise method shown; but we claim anymethod -by means of whichl the molten metal is partallyconverted or purified by the atomizi'ng or-globularizing process, the process being completed with a puddlin'g-tool or its equivalent.

We would here observe that we do notlimit ourselves to the means and processes described in this speciiication to the production 'and manufacture of steel or malleable iron, but that we-do claim by such means andproccsses the manufacture or production of any grade or quality of metal intervening between the carburet of iron or cast-iron and steel. We would here also remark that we do, not con- [ine ourselves in this invent-ion tothe conver sion or purification of iron alone, but that we' claim the process of atomizing and globularizing, and allof the features embodied in this'4 invention, applied to any other -uietalbsides iron by means of. which'such metal maybe purifiedor refined. The purification' of sil#` ver containinglcad'as an impurity or alloy -may be eected' by this processwith great fa cility.`

Having thus described our invention, what `we claim as new, and desire .to secure by Letters Patent, is,-

1. The use and. employment of a tilting, rocking, o'r revolving converting vessel or bath for the purpose of exposing .the melted metal contained thereinin aglobular or atomicstate a greater or less number of times to a jet or jetsvof gaseous element or elements, substan'- tially as and for the purposes set forth.-

2. The repeated forcibleieduction or dis-` persion of the molten metal into a globularor atomizing condition by the samejet or jetsof a gaseous element oiielements, substantially as `v and for the purposes specified.`

, 3. The introduction into Atheiblast ot a verberating furnace, whensuchtfurnacisiom bi ned with a converting vessel or bath in Whiehl the molten metal is lred'uoedto a globular or atomic state, any gaseous or volatile element or elements that will by chemical affinity eliminate or remove any deleterious lelement contained 4in the molten metal, or assist in the production ofthe desired product.

4. The use and employment of la tilting, rocking, or revolving converting vessel or bath containing two apartments or pockets for holding the molten metal during the process of convessel or bath in which the molten metal may bereduced to a globular or atomic condition, V4substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

, The introduction of wrought or cast iron,

' or"-'`ny"vaiiety of iron ore, into a converting vessel oliA bath in which the molten metal is reduced'to a-globular or atomic condition within the eiect or in the presence of a .dame or prodnctsfofv combustion from a reverberating furnace, substantially as and for the purposes described.

8. The arrangement of blast-pipes,with their 4necessary valves, connected with the apartment of the converting-vessel, in combination with such Vessel and the reverberating furnaces, for the purpose of supplying and regulating the jet of gaseous elements required to reduce the `,metal to a globular or atomic state, and to supply and regulate the necessary blast for the reverberating furnaces, substantially i n the maunerspecified.

9. ,The introduction of spiegeleisen, spathic ore, or anyl suitable substance containing a greater` or less per cent. of carbon, into a conver-'ting vvessel or bath combined with a reverberatiug furnace, and in`which the molten metal is reduced to a globular or atomic condition by ajet or jets of gaseous elements, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. The introduction ot any hydrocarbon vapor, or any gaseous or volatile element containing a greater or less per cent. of carbon, into the jet or jets by which the molten metal is atoinized or globularized within the converting vessel or bath, substantiallyas and for the purposes described.

11. The openings at each extremity of the converting-vessel, for the purpose of .the exil; of the products of combustion, and for the introduction of any suitable instrument for the removal of the scoria` or slag from the molten metal, or for working the met-al with a puddling-tool,substantiallyin the mannerset forth.

12. The lever Q: or its equivalent', for tilt ing, rocking, o'r revolving the converting-vessel, substantiallyas and inthe manner speci lied.

13. The forcible dispersion oiastream of inolten metal into a globular or atomic state, in the production oi' any desired grade or variety ol' product between the carburet of iron, or what is commonlyr known as cast iron and steel, substantially as and in the manner described.

14. Rising and falling pockets or apartments forholding the molten metal during the process of conversion or purification, substantially as and for the purpose se'tforth.

15. The use ofthe valve u in the depression M of the com'erting-vessel A. substantially as and for the purpose specified.

lli. The use ot the stationary disk D,'in eombination with the apart nient F, and blast-pipe E,wl1en used in connection with aconvertingvessel in which the molten metal is reduced to a globular or atomic stale, substantially as and iu the manner set forth.

17. In a tilting, rocking, or revolving con 'vertingvessel to which are attached rever-

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