IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CAST STEEL
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Mushet, of Coleford, in the County of
Gloucester, Metallurgist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF CAST STEEL."
Sealed the 7th January 1862, and dated the 19th July 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Mushet at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 19th
July 1861.
I, ROBERT MUSHET, of Coleford, in the County of Gloucester, Metallurgist,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF CAST STEEL," to be as follows:-
When lumps or pieces of pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron are heated to a
temperature somewhat short of their melting point, the said lumps or pieces
of pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron become soft and friable, and when the
said heated lumps or pieces are placed in an iron mortar, and are quickly beaten
upon with heavy pestles, the said lumps of iron are broken and pulverised,
and are reduced to a granular state. Pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron thus
pulverised consists partly of small knobs or pieces, and partly of small granules
and metallic dust.
When pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron granulated in the manner I have
herein-before described, is mixed with a suitable quantity of pulverised iron ore,
Price Sel

page_text: or oxide of iron and oxide of manganese, as herein-after explained, and the
mixture thus prepared, and either with or without the addition of scrap iron
or scrap steel, is introduced into a melting pot or crucible placed in a melting
furnace, and is heated therein until the said mixture is melted, cast steel is
produced, and the said cast steel may be poured from the melting pot into ingot
moulds to form ingots of cast steel in the usual manner. Ingots of cast steel,
however, manufactured in this manner, are apt to crack when heated and
subjected to the action of hammers or rollers in order to extend the said ingots
into bars, rods, or plates. Or, if the ingots of cast steel do not crack, the steel
drawn or rolled from these ingots is, nevertheless, frequently found to be
defective in quality when manufactured into tools. To remedy these defects,
either wholly or partially in cast steel manufactured as herein-before described.
is the object of my Invention.
When pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron has been granulated by pulverising
heated lumps or pieces of the said iron in the manner herein-before described,
I call the granular iron, for brevity's sake, "pulverised pig, cast, or refined
iron." as the case may be; and I wish it to be distinctly understood that the
first portion of my Invention relates only to the improvement of cast steel
manufactured from mixtures of "pulverised pig, cast, or refined iron," with
pulverised iron ore or oxide of iron and oxide of manganese, with or without
the addition of scrap iron or scrap stecl.
When any mixture of pulverised pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron, with
pulverised iron ore, or oxide of iron and oxide of manganese, with or without
the addition of scrap iron or scrap steel, is intended to be melted into cast
steel, I add to and mix with the said mixture a quantity of pulverised wolfram
ore, or a quantity of tungstic acid, or a quantity of deoxidised wolfram ore or
a quantity of an alloy of tungsten and iron containing also carbon, and in each
case I introduce the particular mixture thus made into a melting pot or crucible
placed in a melting furnace, and I heat the said mixture therein until the said
mixture is melted. I then withdraw the melting pot from the furnace, and I
pour the steel into an ingot mould or into any other suitable mould.
I wish it to be observed and clearly understood, that whenever in this Pro-
visional Specification I employ the phrases "pulverised pig iron, cast iron, or
refined iron," or pulverised grey hematite pig iron," I mean pig iron, cast
iron. or refined iron, or grey hematite pig iron respectively, which have been
reduced to a granular state by pulverising heated lumps, or pieces, or pigs of
the said irons in the manner I have herein-before described: and I wholly
disclaim the use in my process of pig iron, cast iron, and refined iron, which
said irons have been granulated or pulverised in any other manner, and I wish

page_text: it to be understood, that when I herein-after use the phrases "pulverised pig
iron," or "pulverised cast iron," or "pulverised refined iron, I mean pig
iron, cast iron, or refined iron pulverised in the manner I have herein-before
described.
Though pig iron, cast iron, and refined iron of various qualities may be
employed for my process, I prefer to use the grey hematite pig iron smelted
with coke fuel from the red hematite iron ores of Lancashire or Cumberland;
though I do not confine myself to the use of this particular kind of pig iron,
for the grey pig iron smelted from the hydrated iron ores of the Forest of
Dean affords excellent results. In practice, however, I have found that the
grey hematite pig iron smelted from Lancashire or Cumberland hematite iron
ores affords excellent results when used for my process, and the said hematite
pig iron is also accordingly cheap and abundant, and I therefore prefer to
employ it. When pulverised or granulated in the manner herein-before
described, the hematite pig iron is ready for my process.
Though various iron ores and oxides of iron may be employed for my
process, I prefer to use the red hematite iron cres of Lancashire and Cum-
berland, though I do not confine myself to these particular iron ores; but in
practice I have found the said red hematite iron ores afford excellent results.
and being also very pure, cheap, and abundant, I prefer to employ the said
red hematite iron ores for my process. I prepare the red hematite iron ore
for my process by stamping, crushing, or pulverising the said iron ore to a
powder which will pass through a sieve of 3,600 meshes per square inch; but
I do not confine myself to this particular degree of pulverisation to which I
reduce the said iron ore; but I wish it to be understood, that the finer the red
hematite iron ore is pulverised, the better it is suited for my process. When
thus pulverised, the red hematite iron ore is ready for my process. The man-
ganese I employ is the common oxide of manganese of commerce, and I
prefer to use that which is of good quality, and free or nearly free from silica,
arsenic, baryies, and veinstone or gangue. The oxide of manganese may be
employed in small knobs or pieces, but I prefer to pulverise it in a manner
similar to that which I have herein-before described in reference to the pre-
paration of the red hematite iron ore. When thus prepared. the oxide of
manganese is ready for my process.
The wolfram ore I employ is the tungstate of iron of mineralogists, and
I am
consists essentially of the oxides of tungsten iron and manganese.
careful to select the purest wolfram ores as free as possible from silicia, arsenic,
copper, tin, and gangue or veinstone. I prepare the wolfram ore for my
process by pulverising it in the manner I have herein-before described in

page_text: reference to the preparation of the red hematite iron ore. When thus
prepared the wolfram ore is ready for my process.
Tungstic acid separated from ores of tungsten by any convenient chemical
operation may be employed in place of wolfram for my process, and when thus
prepared tungstic acid is in the state of very fine powder, which does not
require to be pulverised, and is therefore ready for my process. Wolfram ore
deoxidised may also be employed for my process, and the said wolfram ore
may be deoxidised by heating it intensely in contact with carbonaceous
matter, such as charcoal in closed retorts or chambers, such as the pots
employed in ordinary steel converting furnaces. An alloy of tungsten and
iron containing also carbon may likewise be employed for my process, and
such an alloy may be prepared by melting in melting pots or crucibles
granular cast iron mixed with from a sixth part to a fourth part of the weight
of the said granular cast iron of pulverised wolfram ore. Or an alloy of
tungsten and iron containing also carbon may be prepared by smelting
wolfram ore in mixture with iron ores in a blast furnace with charcoal or
coke fuel. When I use deoxidised wolfram ore I prefer to crush or stamp it
until it is reduced to a coarse powder, and in this state it is ready for my
process.
The melting pots or crucibles I employ and the furnaces in which I place
and heat them are such as are ordinarily used by manufacturers of cast steel,
and the melting operations are conducted as is usual in the manufacture of
steel.
The quantity or proportion of wolfram ore, or of tungstic acid, or of
deoxidised wolfram ore, or of an alloy of tungsten and iron containing also
carbon, which I add to a mixture or to mixtures of "pulverised pig iron "
with pulverised red hematite iron ore and oxide of manganese, with or without
admixture of scrap iron or scrap steel, intended to be melted into cast steel,
will be best shewn and illustrated by examples which I now proceed to
give :-

page_text: an alloy of tungsten and iron containing also carbon, I add from two pounds
to five pounds of the said alloy of tungsten and iron containing also carbon
in place of each pound of pulverised wolfram ore set down in the examples
herein-before given.
I do not confine myself to the precise proportions I have given in
Examples No. 1, No. 2, No. 3. and No. 4 of the pulverised grey hematite
pig iron, iron ore, and oxide of manganese, scrap iron or scrap steel employed,
for the proportions may be varied without departing from the nature of my
Invention and as circumstances may require. Neither do I limit myself to
the proportions of pulverised wolfram ore, or of tungstic acid, or of deoxidised
wolfram, or of the alloy of tungsten and iron containing also carbon, which
I add to the mixture of pulverised pig iron, iron ore, and oxide of man-
ganese, with or without admixtures of scrap iron or scrap steel, for the
proportions may be varied without departing from the nature of my Invention;
but I have found that the proportions given in Examples Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4,
or nearly similar proportions, afford in practice excellent results. I prefer to
employ pulverised wolfram ore as it is more readily procured, and is much
more economical than either tungstic acid, deoxidised wolfram, or an alloy
of wolfram and iron containing also carbon, and the said pulverised wolfram
produces in my process excellent results.
Should the steel produced by the mixtures set down in Examples Nos. 1, 2, 3,
and 4, prove too hard, I increase the proportion of pulverised red hematite
iron ore in the mixture by four ounces of the said red hematite iron ore
each time or trial until the desired degree of softness is attained. Should the
steel prove too soft, I on the other hand diminish the proportion of pulverised
red hematite iron ore added to the mixture employed by four ounces of the
said red hematite iron ore cach time or trial until the required degree of
hardness is arrived at, and thus by gradually increasing or diminishing the
proportion of pulverised red hematite iron ore employed in each example,
steel of a softer or harder quality may be produced at will as circumstances
may require, and thus the various qualities of steel required in commerce may
be readily obtained.
My Invention further consists in adding chrome ore, or oxide of chromium
finely pulverised, to mixtures of pulverised pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron,
with pulverised iron ore or oxide of iron, and oxide of manganese with or
without the addition of scrap iron or scrap steel, and which said mixtures are
intended to be melted into cast steel. Chrome cre is termed chromate of iron
by mineralogists, and consists essentially of the oxides of chromium and
iron. To prepare the chrome ore for my purpose, I pulverise it so as to pass

page_text: through a sieve of 3,600, meshes per square inch, though I do not confine
myself to this particular degree of pulverisation, observing that the finer the
chrome ore is pulverized the better it is suited for my purpose. When I
employ pulverised chrome ore, in place of pulverised wolfram in the
mixtures set down in the examples, Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4, herein-before given,
I add to the mixture in each example one pound of pulverised chrome ore,
in place of one pound of pulverised wolfram ore, and I then introduce the
mixtures into melting pots or crucibles, and proceed to melt the said mixtures
in the manner I have already described, with reference to Examples Nos. 1, 2,
3, and 4, wherein pulverised wolfram ore was employed; but I do not confine
myself to the proportion of pulverised chrome ore herein given, for the
quantity of chrome ore to be added may be more or less than one pound, and
may be varied without departing from the nature of my Invention. But I
have found that one pound of the said chrome ore added in place of pulverised
wolfram ore to each of the mixtures of pulverised pig iron, red hematite iron
ore, and oxide of manganese, with or without the addition of scrap iron or
scrap steel, as herein-before given in Examples Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4, affords
excellent results. When I employ oxide of chromium in place of chrome
ore, I substitute one half pound of oxide of chromium for each pound of
chrome ore.
My Invention consists further in adding a mixture of pulverised wolfram
and pulverised chrome ore to any mixture of pulverised pig iron, cast iron,
or refined iron with pulverised iron ore, or oxide of iron and oxide of
manganese, with or without admixture of scrap iron or scrap steel, and which
said mixture is intended to be melted into cast steel. The manner in which
I carry this portion of my invention into effect will be best shewn and illus-
trated by examples which I proceed to give.

page_text: mixture into a melting pot or crucible, placed in a melting furnace, and
I heat the said mixture therein until it is melted into steel, I then withdraw
the melting pot from the furnace, and I pour the steel into an ingot mould,
or into any other suitable mould
EXAMPLE B.
Pulverised grey hematite pig iron, as in Example A. 22 lbs.
Puddled steel or scrap steel in pieces
Red hematite iron ore, as in Example A.
Oxide of manganese pulverised
To these substances I add of-
Pulverised wolfram ore
Pulverised chrome ore
-
22 lbs.
2
"
8 oz.
8
8
دو
I mix the whole of these substances thoroughly, and I then treat the mixture
as in Example A.
I do not confine myself to the proportions of wolfram ore and chrome ore
given in Examples A. and B.. for these proportions may be varied without
departing from the nature of my Invention; I have, however, found that the
proportions given in Examples A. and B. answer very well in practice.
My Invention further consists in adding a mixture of pulverised pig iron,
cast iron, or refined iron, and oxide of manganese with pulverised wolfram
ore, or tungsten acid, or with pulverized chrome ore, or oxide of chromium, or
with pulverised ores of wolfram and chrome. mixed or with oxides of tungsten
and chromium, mixed to any mixture or mixtures of materials, which when
melted produce cast steel, in order to improve the quality of the cast steel
produced. In practice I find it answers very well to employ pulverised grey
pig iron, smelted from the red hematite iron ores of Cumberland or Lancashire
and pulverised wolfram ore, and pulverized chrome ore, or mixtures of
pulverised wolfram and chrome ores.
To from five to seven pounds of pulverised grey hematite pig iron mixed
with from four to twelve ounces of oxide of manganese, I add one pound of
pulverised wolfram, or I add one pound of pulverised chrome ore, or I add
half a pound of pulverised wolfram ore, and half a pound of pulverised chrome
ore, and in each case I mix the pulverised pig iron, and oxide of manganese
and the pulverised wolfram or chrome ore or ores carefully. The mixture
of pulverised grey pig iron and oxide of manganese, with pulverised wolfram
ore, I call mixture No. 1. The mixture of pulverised grey pig iron and
oxide of manganese with chrome ore, I call mixture No. 2; and the mixture

page_text: of pulverised grey pig iron and oxide of manganese with pulverised wolfram
or chrome ores jointly, I term mixture No, 3. Thus prepared these mixtures
are ready for my process. In place of pulverised wolfram ore and pulverised
chrome ore, tungstic acid and oxide of chromium may be employed in the
mixtures Nos. 1, 2, and 3, but I have found in practice that pulverised
wolfram ore and pulverised chrome ore when employed for my process afford
excellent results, and they are more economical and abundant than tungstic
acid or oxide of chromium. I do not confine myself to the relative proportions
herein set down of pulverised wolfram ore, or of pulverised chrome ore, or of
pulverised wolfram and chrome ore jointly, to the mixture of pulverised grey
pig iron and oxide of manganese, for these proportions may be varied without
departing from the nature of my Invention. But I have found in practice
that these proportions or nearly similar proportions afford good results. The
manner in which I carry this portion of my Invention into effect will be best
illustrated by examples, which I therefore proceed to give as follows:-

page_text: cast steel
To this mixture I add of mixture No. 1
- 40 lbs.
6 lbs.
I introduce these mixtures into a melting pot, and I then proceed as in
Example C.
The mixtures No. 2 and No. 3, herein-before described, may be employed in
place of mixture No. 1, and in a manner precisely similar, merely substituting
mixture No. 2 or mixture No. 3, as the case may be, in place of mixture
No. 1, in Examples C, D, E, F, G, and the "General Example," herein-before
given. I do not confine myself to the precise quantities or proportions herein set
down of the mixtures No. 1, No. 2, or No. 3, which I add to and melt with
forty pounds of steel-producing materials, for the quantity or proportion of the
said mixtures Nos. 1, 2, or 3, as the case may be, added to forty pounds of
materials which, when melted, produce cast steel, may be varied without
departing from the nature of my Invention, but I have found that in practice
these proportions afford very good results.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the methods by
which I carry the said Invention into effect, I hereby declare that my Inven-
tion consists,-
First, in adding to and melting with any mixture of what I have described
as pulverised pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron, with pulverised iron ore, or

page_text: oxide of iron and oxide of manganese, with or without the addition of scrap
iron or scrap steel, which mixture when melted produces cast steel, a quantity of
pulverised wolfram ore, or a quantity of tungstic acid, or a quantity of deoxidised
wolfram ore, or a quantity of an alloy of tungsten and iron, containing also
carbon, in order thereby to improve the quality of the cast steel produced.
My Invention consists, further, in adding to and melting with any mixture
of pulverised pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron, with pulverised iron ore or
oxide of iron and oxide of manganese, with or without the addition of scrap
iron or scrap steel, which said mixture when melted produces cast steel, a
quantity of pulverised chrome ore or oxide of chrome, in order thereby to
improve the quality of the cast steel produced.
My Invention further consists in adding to and meiting with any mixture
of pulverised pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron, with pulverised iron ore or
oxide of iron, and oxide of manganese, with or without the addition of scrap
iron or scrap steel, a quantity of pulverised ores of wolfram and chrome mixed
together, in order thereby to improve the quality of the cast steel produced.
My Invention consists, lastly, in adding to and melting with any mixture of
materials which when melted produces cast steel, a quantity of a mixture of
pulverised pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron, and oxide of manganese, with,
1stly, pulverised wolfram ore or tungstic acid; 2ndly, pulverized chrome ore
or oxide of chromium; 3rdly, pulverized ores of wolfram and chrome mixed,
or tungstic acid and oxide of chromium mixed, and which mixtures I have
herein-before respectively designated as mixtures Nos. 1, 2, and 3, the addition
of the said mixtures to the said steel-producing materials being made in order
to improve the quality of the cast steel obtained by melting the said steel-
producing materials with the said mixtures. And I wish it to be observed
that 1 wholly disclaim the use of pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron, when such
pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron has been granulated by running it into
water, or by turning or boring pig or cast iron or by any other method than that
which I have herein-before described at the commencement of this Provisional
Specification; nevertheless, when such otherwise granulated pig iron, cast
iron, or refined iron, constitutes some part or portion of a mixture of materials
which when melted produce cast steel, I claim to add to and melt with the
said steel-producing materials, partly consisting of pig, cast, or refined iron,
granulated by some method other than that which I have herein-before
described, my mixtures Nos. 1, 2, or 3, in order thereby to improve the
quality of the cast steel produced.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Mushet in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th January 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
MUSHET, of Coleford, in the County of Gloucester, Metallurgist, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself. Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Robert Mushet, Her special licence that I, the said Robert Mushet.
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert
Mushet, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF CAST STEEL," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Robert Mushet, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
articularly described and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Mushet, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement thereof, that is to say:--
When lumps or pieces of pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron are heated to
a temperature somewhat short of their melting point, the said lumps or pieces
of pig iron, cast iron or refined iron become soft and friable, and when the
said heated lumps or pieces are placed in an iron mortar, and are quickly
beaten upon with heavy pestles, the said lumps of iron are broken and pulver-
ised, and are reduced to a granular state, or the said heated iron may be
reduced to a granular state by the action of rolls or pressure otherwise applied
in place of percussion. Pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron thus pulverised.
consists partly of small knobs or pieces, and partly of small granules and
metallic dust.
When pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron granulated in the

page_text: manner I have herein-before described, is mixed with a suitable quantity of
pulverised iron ore, or oxide of iron, and oxide of manganese, as herein-after
explained, and the mixture thus prepared, and either with or without the
addition of scrap iron or scrap steel, is introduced into a melting pot or crucible
placed in a melting furnace, and is heated therein until the said mixture is
melted, cast steel is produced, and the said cast steel may be poured from the
melting pot into ingot moulds to form ingots of cast steel in the usual manner.
Ingots of cast steel, however, manufactured in this manner are apt to crack
when heated and subjected to the action of hammers or rolls in order to extend
the said ingots into bars, rods, or plates. Or, if the ingots of cast steel do
not crack, the steel drawn or rolled from these ingots is nevertheless often
found to be defective in quality, and is frequently brittle, and sometimes soft
when manufactured into tools. To remedy these defects either wholly or
partially in cast steel manufactured as herein-before described is the object of
my Invention.
When pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron has been granulated by pulverising
or crushing heated lumps or pieces of the said iron in the manner herein-
before described, I call the granulated iron for brevity's sake "pulverised pig,
cast, or refined iron," as the case may be, and I wish it to be distinctly under-
stood that the first portion of my Invention relates only to the improvement of
cast steel manufactured from mixtures of "pulverised pig, cast, or refined
iron," with pulverised iron ore or oxide of iron, and oxide of manganese, with
or without the addition of scrap iron or scrap steel. When any mixture of pul-
verised pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron with pulverised iron ore, or oxide of
iron and oxide of manganese, with or without the addition of scrap iron or
scrap steel, is intended to be melted into cast steel, I add to and mix with the
said mixture a quantity of pulverised wolfram ore, or a quantity of tungstic
acid, or a quantity of deoxidized wolfram ore, or a quantity of an alloy of
tungsten and iron containing also carbon, and in each case I introduce the par-
ticular mixture thus made into a melting pot or crucible placed in a melting
furnace, and 1 heat the said mixture therein until the said mixture is melted;
I then withdraw the melting pot from the furnace, and I pour the steel into
an ingot mould, or into any other suitable mould. I wish it to be observed
and clearly understood, that whenever in this Specification I employ the phases
"pulverised pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron, or "pulverised grey hematite
pig iron," I mean pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron, or grey hematite pig
iron respectively, which have been reduced to a granular state by pulverising
or crushing heated lumps or pieces, or pigs of the said irons, in the manner
I have herein-before described, and I wholly disclaim the use in my process

page_text: of pig iron, cast iron, and refined iron, which said irons have been granulated
or pulverised in any other manner; and I wish it to be understood that when
I herein-after use the phases "pulverised pig iron," or "pulverised cast iron,"
or "pulverised refined iron," I mean pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron pulver-
ised or crushed in the manner I have herein-before described. Though pig
iron, cast iron, and refined iron of various qualities may be employed for my
process, I prefer to use the grey hematite pig iron smelted with coke fuel
from the red hematite iron ores of Lancashire or Cumberland, though I do
not confine myself to the use of this particular kind of pig iron, for the grey
pig iron smelled from the hydrated iron ores of the Forest of Dean also
affords excellent results. In practice, however, I have found that the grey
hematite pig iron smelted from Lancashire or Cumberland hematite iron ores
affords excellent results when used for my process, and the said hematite pig
iron is also exceedingly cheap and abundant, and I therefore prefer to employ
it. When pulverised or granulated in the manner hercin-before described,
the hematite pig iron is ready for my process. Though various iron ores and
oxides of iron may be employed for my process, I prefer to use the red hema-
tite iron ores of Lancashire and Cumberland, though I do not confine myself
to these particular iron ores, for other rich iron ores, such as the Wootz ore
of India, may be employed; but in practice I have found the said red hematite
iron ores afford excellent results, and being also very pure, cheap, and abundant,
I prefer to employ the said red hematite iron ores for my process. I prefer the
red hematite iron ore for my process by stamping, crushing, or pulverising the
said iron ore to a powder, which will pass through a sieve of 3600 meshes per
square inch, but I do not confine myself to this particular degree of pulveri-
sation to which I reduce the said iron ore; but I wish it to be understood
that the finer the red hematite iron ore is pulverised, the better it is suited for
my process. When thus pulverised, the red hematite iron ore is ready for my
process. The manganese I employ is the common oxide of manganese of
commerce, and I prefer to use that which is of good quality, and free or
nearly free from silica, arsenic, barytes, and veinstone or gangue. The oxide
of manganese may be employed in small knobs or pieces, but I prefer to
pulverise it in a manner similar to that which I have herein-before described
in reference to the preparation of the red hematite iron ore. When thus
prepared, the oxide of manganese is ready for my process.
The wolfram ore I employ is the tungstate of iron of mineralogists, and
consists essentially of the oxides of tungsten iron and manganese. I am careful
to select the purest wolfram ores as free as possible from silica, arsenic, copper,
tin, and gangue, or veinstone. I prepare the wolfram ore for my process by

page_text: pulverising it in the manner I have herein-before described in reference to the
preparation of the red hematite iron ore. When thus prepared, the wolfram
ore is ready for my process. Tungstic acid separated from ores of tungsten
by any convenient chemical operation may be employed in place of wolfram for
my process, and when thus prepared, tungstic acid is in the state of very fine
powder, which does not require to be pulverised, and is ready for my process.
Wolfram ore deoxidised may also be employed for my process, and the said
wolfram ore may be deoxidised by heating it intensely in contact with carbo-
naceous matter, such as charcoal in closed retorts or chambers, such as the
pots employed in ordinary steel converting furnaces. An alloy of tungsten
and iron containing also carbon may likewise be employed for my process,
and such an alloy may be prepared by melting in melting pois or crucibles
granular cast iron, mixed with from a sixth part to a fourth part of the weight
of the said granular cast iron of pulverised wolfram ore. Or an alloy of
tungsten and iron containing also carbon may be prepared by smelting wol-
fram in mixture with iron ores in a blast furnace with charcoal or coke fuel.
When I use deoxidised wolfram ore, I prefer to crush or stamp it until it is
reduced to a coarse powder, and in this state it is ready for my process. When
I employ an alloy of tungsten and iron, containing also carbon in my process,
the said alloy does not require to be crushed or pulverised.
The melting pots or crucibles I employ, and the furnaces in which I place
and heat them, are such as are ordinarily used by manufacturers of cast steel,
and the melting operations are conducted as is usual in the manufacture of
steel.
The quantity or proportion of wolfram ore, or of tungstic acid, or of de-
oxidised wolfram ore, or of an alloy of tungsten and iron containing also carbon,
which I add to a mixture or to mixtures of "pulverised pig iron" with
pulverised red hematite iron ore and oxide of manganese, with or without
admixture of scrap iron or scrap steel, intended to be melted into cast steel,
will be best shewn and illustrated by examples, which I now proceed to give.
EXAMPLE No 1.
Pulverised grey pig iron smelted from Lancashire or

page_text: I then mix the whole of these substances thoroughly, and I introduce the.
mixture into a melting pot or crucible placed in a melting furnace, and I heat
the said mixture therein until it is melted. I then withdraw the melting pot
from the furnace, and I pour the steel into an ingot mould or other suitable
mould

page_text: When I employ tungstic acid in place of wolfram ore, I find it sufficient to
add from 4 ounces to half a pound weight of the tungstic acid in place of each
half pound or pound of pulverized wolfram ore set down in the examples
herein-before given. When I use deoxidized wolfram ore I add from half a
pound to one pound of the said deoxydized wolfram ore in place of each pound
of the pulverized wolfram ore set down in the examples herein-before given.
When I employ an alloy of tungsten and iron containing also carbon, I add
from two pounds to five pounds of the said alloy of tungsten and iron con-
taining also carbon, in place of each pound of pulverized wolfram ore set down
in the examples herein-before given.
I do not confine myself to the precise proportions I have given in Examples
No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4, of the pulverized grey hematite pig iron, iron
ore, and oxide of manganese, scrap iron, or scrap steel employed, for the
proportions may be varied without departing from the nature of my Invention,
and as circumstances may require. Neither do I limit myself to the propor-
tions of pulverized wolfram ore, or of tungstic acid, or of deoxidized wolfram,
or of the alloy of tungsten and iron containing also carbon, which I add to the
mixture of pulverized pig iron, iron ore, and oxide of manganese, with or
without admixtures of scrap iron or scrap steel, for the proportions may be
varied without departing from the nature of my Invention; but I have found
that the proportions given in Examples Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4, or nearly similar
proportions, afford in practice excellent results. I prefer to employ pulverized
wolfram ore as it is more readily procured. and is much more economical than
either tungstic acid, deoxidized wolfram, or an alloy of wolfram and iron
containing also carbon, and the said pulverized wolfram ore, when carefully
selected and freed from impurities, produces in my process excellent results.
Should the steel produced by the mixtures set down in Examples Nos. 1, 2, 3,
and 4, prove too hard, I increase the proportion of pulverized red hematite
iron ore in the mixture by four ounces of the said red hematite iron ore each
time or trial until the desired degree of softness is attained. Should the steel
prove too soft, I, on the other hand, diminish the proportion of pulverized red
hematite iron ore added to the mixture employed by four ounces of the said
red hematite iron ore each time or trial until the desired degree of hardness is
arrived at, and thus, by gradually increasing or diminishing the proportion of
pulverized red hematite iron ore employed in each example, steel of a softer or
harder quality may be produced at will, as circumstances may require, and thus
the various qualities of steel required in commerce may be readily obtained.

page_text: My Invention further consists in adding chrome ore. commonly known as
chromate of iron or oxide of chromium, finely pulverized. to mixtures of pul-
verized pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron, with pulverized iron ore or oxide of
iron and oxide of manganese, with or without the addition of scrap iron or
scrap steel, and which said mixtures are intended to be melted into cast steel.
the said chrome ore or oxide of chromium being used in place of and for the
same purpose as the wolfram in the several mixtures herein-before set down.
Chrome ore is termed chromate of iron by mineralogists, and consists essen-
tially of chromic acid and oxide of iron. To prepare the chrome ore for my
purpose I pulverize it so as to pass through a sieve of 3600 meshes per square
inch, though I do not confine myself to this particular degree of pulverization,
observing that the finer the chrome ore is pulverized the better it is suited for
my purpose. When I employ pulverized chrome ore in place of pulverized
wolfram in the mixtures set down in the Examples Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4, herein-
before given. I add to the mixture in each example half a pound or onc
pound of pulverized chrome ore in place of half a pound or one pound of
pulverized wolfram ore, and I then introduce the mixtures into melting pots
or crucibles, and proceed to melt the said mixtures in the manner I have
already described with reference to Examples Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4, wherein
pulverized wolfram ore was employed. But I do not confine myself to the
proportion of pulverized chrome ore herein given, for the quantity of chrome
ore to be added may be more or less than from half a pound to one pound,
and may be varied without departing from the nature of my Invention. But
I have found that from half a pound to one pound of the said chrome ore
added, in place of pulverized wolfram ore, to each of the mixtures of pulverized
pig iron, red hematite iron ore, and oxide of manganese, with or without the
addition of scrap iron or scrap steel, as herein-before given in Examples
Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4, affords excellent results. When I employ oxide of chro-
mium in place of chrome ore, I substitute from four ounces to half a pound of
oxide of chromium for each half pound or pound of chrome ore.
My Invention consists further in adding a mixture of pulverized wolfram
and pulverized chrome ore to any mixture of pulverized pig iron, cast iron, or
refined with pulverised iron ore, or oxide of iron and oxide of manganese,
with or without admixture of scrap iron or scrap steel, and which said mixture
is intended to be melted into cast steel.
The manner in which I carry this part of my Invention into effect will be
best shewn and illustrated by examples which I proceed to give.

page_text: EXAMPLE A.
Pulverized grey pig iron smelted from Cumberland or
Lancashire red hematite iron ores
Red hematite iron ore of Cumberland or Lancashire,
pulverized
Oxide of manganese, pulverized
To these substances I add of-
Pulverized wolfram ore
40 lbs.
8 lbs.
12 oz.
Pulverized chrome ore
8 oz.
8 oz.
I mix the whole of these substances thoroughly, and I then introduce the
mixture into a melting pot or crucible placed in a melting furnace, and I heat
the said mixture therein until it is melted into steel. I then withdraw the
melting pot from the furnace, and I pour the steel into an ingot mould, or
into any other suitable mould.
EXAMPLE B.
Pulverized grey hematite pig iron, as in Example A. -
22 lbs.
Puddled steel or scrap steel in pieces
"
22 lbs.
Red hematite iron ore, as in Example A.
-
2 lbs.
8 oz.
Oxide of manganese, pulverized
To these substances I add of-
Pulverized wolfram ore
Pulverized chrome ore
-
8 02.
-
8 oz.
I mix the whole of these substances thoroughly, and I then treat the
mixture as in Example A. I do not confine myself to the proportions of
wolfram ore and chrome ore given in Examples A. and B., for these pro-
portions may be varied without departing from the nature of my Invention.
I have, however, found that the proportions given in Examples A. and B.
answer very well in practice.
My Invention further consists in adding a mixture of pulverized pig iron,
cast iron, or refined iron and oxide of manganese with pulverized wolfram ore
or tungstic acid, or with pulverized chrome ore or oxide of chromium, or with
pulverized ores of wolfram and chrome mixed, or with oxides of tungsten and
chromium-mixed to any mixture or mixtures of materials, which when melted
produce cast steel, in order to improve the quality of the cast steel produced.
In practice I find it answers very well to employ pulverized grey pig iron
smelted. from the red hematite iron ores of Cumberland and Lancashire, and
pulverized wolfram ore and pulverized chrome ore, or mixtures of pulverized

page_text: wolfram and chrome ores. To from five to seven pounds of pulverized grey
hematite pig iron mixed with from four to twelve ounces of oxide of manganese,
I add one pound of pulverized wolfram, or I add one pound of pulverized
chrome ore, or I add half a pound of pulverized wolfram ore and half a pound
of pulverized chrome ore, and in each case I mix the pulverized pig iron and
oxide of manganese, and the pulverized wolfram or chrome ore or ores
carefully. The mixture of pulverized grey pig iron and oxide of manganese
with pulverized wolfram ore, I call mixture No. 1. The mixture of pulverized
grey pig iron and oxide of manganese with chrome ore, I call mixture No. 2;
and the mixture of pulverized grey pig iron and oxide of manganese with
pulverized wolfram and chrome ores jointly, I term mixture No. 3. Thus
prepared, these mixtures are ready for my process. In place of pulverized
wolfram ore and pulverized chrome ore, tungstic acid and oxide of chromium
may be employed in the mixtures Nos. 1, 2, and 3; but I have found in
practice that pulverized wolfram ore and pulverized chrome ore when employed
for my process afford excellent results, and they are more economical and
abundant than tungstic acid or oxide of chromium. I do not confine myself
to the relative proportions herein set forth of pulverized wolfram ore, or
of pulverized chrome ore, or of pulverized wolfram and chrome ores jointly to
the mixture of pulverized grey pig iron and oxide of manganese, for these pro-
portions may be varied without departing from the nature of my Invention.
But I have found in practice that these proportions, or nearly similar pro-
portions, afford good results.
The manner in which I carry this part of my Invention into effect will be
best illustrated by examples, which I therefore proceed to give as follows:-
EXAMPLE C.
Mild converted blister steel
To this I add of mixture No. 1
40 lbs.
5 lbs.
1 introduce these substances into a melting pot or crucible placed in a
melting furnace, and I heat the said substances therein until they are melted.
I then withdraw the melting pot from the furnace, and pour the steel into an
ingot mould, or into any other suitable mould.
EXAMPLE D.
Common Swedish bar iron cut in pieces
Charcoal
40 lbs.
->>
7½ oz.
To these substances I add of mixture No. 1.
6 lbs.
I then introduce the whole of these substances into a melting pot, and
proceed as in Example C.

page_text: steel, may be varied without departing from the nature of my Invention; but
I have found that in practice these proportions afford very good results.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the methods by
which I carry the said Invention into effect, I hereby declare that my Inven-
tion consists,-
First, in adding to and melting with any mixture of what I have described
as pulverised pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron with pulverised iron ore or
oxyde of iron and oxide of manganese, with or without the addition of scrap
iron or scrap steel, which mixture when melted produces cast steel, a quantity
of pulverised wolfram ore, or a quantity of tungstic acid, or a quantity of
deoxidised wolfram ore, or a quantity of an alloy of tungsten and iron con-
taining also carbon, in order thereby to improve the quality of the cast steel
produced.
My Invention consists further in adding to and melting with any mixture
of pulverised pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron with pulverised iron ore, or
oxide of iron and oxide of manganese, with or without the addition of scrap
iron or scrap steel, which said mixture when melted produces cast steel, a
quantity of pulverised chrome ore or oxide of chromium, in order thereby to
improve the quality of the cast steel produced.
My Invention further consists in adding to and melting with any mixture
of pulverised pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron with pulverised iron ore, or
oxide of iron and oxide of manganese, with or without the addition of scrap
iron or scrap steel, a quantity of pulverised ores of wolfram and chrome mixed
together, in order thereby to improve the quality of the cast steel produced.
My Invention consists, lastly, in adding to and melting with any mixture of
materials which when melted produces cast steel, a quantity of a mixture of
pulverised pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron and oxide of manganese with,
firstly, pulverised wolfram ore, or tungstic acid; 2ndly, pulverised chrome ore,
or oxide of chromium; 3rdly, pulverised ores of wolfram and chrome mixed,
or tungstic acid and oxide of chromium mixed, and which mixtures I have herein-
before respectively designated as mixtures Numbers 1, 2, and 3, the addition of
the said mixtures to the said steel-producing materials being made in order to
improve the quality of the cast steel obtained, by melting the said steel-
producing materials with the said mixtures. And I wish it to be observed
that I wholly disclaim the use of pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron when such
pig iron, cast iron, or refined iron has been granulated by running it into
water, or by turning or boring pig or cast iron, or by any other method than
that which I have herein-before described at the commencement of this

page_text: Specification.
Nevertheless, when such otherwise granulated pig iron, cast
iron, or refined iron constitutes some part or a portion of a mixture of
materials which when melted produce cast steel, I claim to add to and melt
with the said steel-producing materials, partly consisting of pig, cast, or refined
iron granulated by some method other than that which I have herein-before
described, my mixtures Numbers 1, 2, or 3. in order thereby to improve the
quality of the cast steel produced.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Mushet, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witnesses,
EDW. M. MUSHET,
Coleford, Gloucestershire.
B. MUSHET,
Coleford, Gloucestershire.
ROB. MUSHET. (L.S.)