The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-03-05

The Problem Of Uunxing an Inferior
Qualify of the Article Solved.

A very important invention, the Manches-
ter Courier says. has just been patented in
Great Britain, Belgium, the German empire
France and the United States of America,
which is destined to play a consT icuous part
IN the future of iron and steel manufacture.
The great problem as to the means of utiliz-
ing poor iron, such as that of Cleveland, has
been solved, after much perseverance and
succession OF practical experiments by the
late ). Perry Downing. of the Redheugh
derman Robinson, the present mayor OF
Newcastle. The growth and development of
the steel trade on the west coast has practl-
cally resulted in the stoppage of many fur
naces and large number of iron rail mills
IN the Cleveland district, and scientists and
metallurgists have been experimenting for
some months with a view of ascertain
ing the means. if any, by which
Cleveland iron can be dephosphorized. The
inventor of the proces IS now under review
claimed that he could do this by simple and
inexpensive means, and that he could plaza
a high class steel IN the market at much
less cost than by the Bessemer proc ass The
inventor left his widow and son, Mr.. ].
Perry Downing, solicitor of Gateshead, in
possession of the secret manufacture before
his death, and they have since disposed of
portion OF their interest to certain firms.
The invention has for Its object the manu-
facture Of iron of superior classes from ores
OF any description or from pig-iron and pur.
flying them from matters of an objections
BILE nature by single operation Of smelling;
also for the manufacture of steel from either
poor or rich ore or from pig iron, even if
such iron ore or plg-iron contains chemical
combinations of detrimental character.
which at present are not eliminated by one
single furnace operation. A suitable fur
mace or cupola is employed capable of re-
sisting great heat. Common iron. contain
mated with phosphorus, such as Cleveland
iron, to the extent of, say for example, one
ton is placed in the cupola of No. 3 quality
To this add 100 weight of good iron,
such as that made from charcoal; 25
pounds to 63 pounds of scoria, or tap cfnder.
obtained from pudding or mill furnaces, and
about 100 pounds of scrap iron. These are
melted together for about half an hour and
the furnace is run at the heat at which cast
steel melts. When the ircn Is in a LIQUID
state the heat should be continued for two
hours. The meta, is then drawn off. when
it will be found to be perfectly refined iron,
which, OF course, can be improved in quality
by the addition of larger quantities of the
good iron. For ordinary purposes the above
quantities will be found sufficient The
chief merit OF the discovery, however is the
production of good Steel from poor pig iron
or ores by refining in the first place the iron,
and then by adding heterogeneous and other
compounds, converting the same by one
smelling operation into genuine steel ingots,
having such properties as to enable them to
be manufactured into tools, bars, plates,
rails, etc. In malleable furnace. well lined,
one ton of p iron. % to IS pounds of scoria,
and 100 pounds OF coed scrap iron are placed,
and when b ese are melted the
furnace is run at heat which cast
steel melts- This is continued for 80 or 40
has taken up such impurities as have not
been volatized. and this will be found float
ing on the surface, and must be tapped off:
% to 26 pounds of hematlte is then added,