IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MALLEABLE IRON AND STEEL
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Bessemer, of Queen Street Place, New Cannon
Street, in the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MALLEABLE
IRON AND STEEL."
Sealed the 28th August 1860, and dated the 1st March 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Bessemer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st March 1860.
1, HENRY BESSEMER, of Queen Street Place, New Cannon Street, in the
City of London, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
MALLEABLE IRON AND STEEL," to be as follows:-
These improvements relate to the machinery or apparatus employed in the
manufacture of malleable iron or steel obtained by forcing atmospheric air.
into molten, crude, or remelted pig iron. In this manufacture it has been.
found important to have the blast as nearly uniform in force as can readilybe
obtained,and also that the blast apparatus should beso constructed thatthe
number of cubic feet of air compressed by it may be registered by a suitable
instrument or counter with such accuracy as to enable the workmen tojudge
of the state of the metal under treatment by a knowledge of the number of
cubic feet of air that has been forced into it. For this purpose I employ a

page_text: pair of horizontal high pressure engines, placed parallel with each other, so
that one crank shaft and flywheel only is requied for the pair of engines, this
shaft having at one end of it a half crank, which is placed at right angles to
a similar half crank, keyed on to the opposite end of the shaft. The steam
piston rods pass out of the back covers of the cylinders, and are attached toor
form part of the piston rods of the blast cylinders, whicharealsosupportedon
the same bed plate as the steam cylinders. The inlet valves of the air
cylinders are formed of a strap of india-rubber or other elastic material
covering a fine grating, and is contained in an annular space left around the
cylinder cover. The outlet valves are of the same kind, and work in annular
channels formed around both ends ofthe aircylinders, which are also provided
with suitable passages running in the direction of their length; to these
passages s the inlet and discharge pipes are attached, the. latter communicating
with a large air vessel or regulator. When reverberatory or air furnaces are
e.nployed to melt pig metal for conversion into malleable iron or steel, Ierect
the furnaces at such an elevation that the fluid metal may be run direct
therefrom into the converting vessels; and I effect this either by raising the
said furnaces above the general level and above the level of the converting
apparatus,or I place the converting vessels in a building at a lower leveltlian
that containing the said furnaces I group these furnaces in such a manner
that each of them can run their metal into any one of the converting vessels
employed in connection therewith, wheroby a rapid and continuous working
of the process may be kept up; for this purpose I also render the converting
vessels moveable from place to place,either by suitable cranes or on wheels.
or preferably by mounting four or other convenient number of converting
vessels on a revolving framework,supported on wheels or on a centralpostor
axis. I also give to each vessel a rotatory motion on its own axis, for the
purpose of filling it and of discharging the fluid metal and other matters
therefrom. This notion of the vessel on its own axis I prefer to effect by
means of fluid pressure acting in a cylinder, the piston rod of whichisformed
into a rack at one end, and actuates a spur wheel keyed on the axis of the
vessel, the pressure cylinders being also mounted on the revolving framing
I construct the axes of such vessels of malleable iron or steel inonepiece, the
axes forming part of a stout malleable iron or steel band or hoop, which
passes round the central portion of the vessel. For the purpose of raising the
fluid converted metal and conveying it to the moulds, I use an hydraulic lif
or rain, having a cross head or arms made of malleable iron or steel, and
strengthened by tension rods; at one end of it I mount the casting ladle on an
axis, to which I affix a worm wheel or other gearing, so as to cause the ladl

page_text: to move round when required, and thus pour out its contents over a spout or
lip formed in the upper part thereof. I also form in the bottom of the said
ladle two or more openings, provided with suitable plugs or stoppers, which
are guided externally, and are provided with handles, so as to let into the
moulds a regulated supply of metal when desired. On the opposite end of
the cross head I place a counterweight, which I prefer to be equal to the
weight of the casting ladle, and also equal to one half of the metal to belifted
in such ladle; or in lieu of or in addition to such counterweight I sometimes
employ a second ladle at this end of the cross head, for the purpose of
receiving converted or partially converted metal from any one of the con-
verting vessels, or from any other source, and of elevating and transferring it to
any one or other of the converting vessels when found necessary or desirable.
These improvements also consist in the use of a basin or vessel of malleable
iron, lined with sand or loan, or made of fire-clay and baked dry, and
preferably used red hot, such basin having several lips or spounts formed
around its upper edge, or having several openingsinade in the bottom thereof,
so that when such basin is placed above several small ingot or other moulds
one large stream from the casting ladle directed in such basin will, by means
of the said lips or holes, be conveyed with less force and in smaller quantities
into the several moulds beneath.
The tuyeres used in the converting vessel are sometimes rapidly acted upon
by the impurities of the metal, and I have found it preferable to form such
tuyeres as dense and as free as possible from those cracks which are frequently
found in tuyeres made of plastic clay. For this purpose I employ ganister
silicate of alumina, fire-clay, silicate of magnesia, lime, plumbago, or oxide of
iron; these substances may be used alone, or any two or more of them may
be combined in any desirable proportions; they are to be reduced to a fine
powder, and to be used in a dry or nearly dry state. I compress these
matters or either of them in a suitable mould by means of hydraulic pressure
or by percussion, after which the tuyeres so made may be used in the state in
which they come from the mould; but I prefer first to bake them in a pottery
kiln, and to glaze the interior of the holes, so as to render them smooth
and even.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Bessemer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st September 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
BESSEMER, of Queen Street Place, New Cannon Street,in the City of London,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year. of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Henry Bessemer, Her special licence that 1, the said Henry
Bessemer, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Henry Bessemer, 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 lnvention for "IMPROVE
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MALLEABLE
IRON AND STEEL," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry
Bessemer, my executors or administrators, by an instrumentin writing, under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
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 Henry Bessemer, 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
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
These improvements relate to the machinery or apparatus employed in the
manufacture of malleable iron or steel obtained by forcing atmospheric air
into molten, crude, or remelted pig iron. In this manufacture it has been
found important to have the blast as nearly uniform in force as can
readily be obtained, and also that the blast apparatus should be so constructed
that the number of cubic feet of air compressed by it may be registered
by a suitable instrument or counter with such accuracy as to enable the
workman to judge of the state of the metal under treatment by a knowledge
of the number of cubic feet of air that has been forced into it. For this

page_text: purpose I employ a pair of borizontal high-pressure engin es placed paralle
with each other, so that one crauk shaft and fly wheel only is required for
the pair of engines; this shaft having at one end of it a half crank, which
is placed at right angles to a similar half crank keyed on to the opposite
end of the shaft, the steam piston rods pass out of the back covers of the
cylinders, and are attached to or form part of the piston rods of the blast
cylinders, which are also supported on the same bed plate as the steam
cylinders. The inlet valves of the air cylinders are formed of a strap of india-
rubber or other elastic material covering a fine grating, and is contained in an
annular space left around the cylinder cover. The outlet valves are of the
same kind and work in annular channels forme d around both ends of the
air cylinders, which are also provided with suitable passages running in the
direction of their length to these passages; the inlet and discharge pipes are
attached, the latter communicating with a large air vessel or regulator.
In order that the peculiar arrangement of this combined steam and blast
engine may be more fully understood, I have hereunto annexed a Sheet of
Drawings marked A, on which it is represented in elevation at Figure 1,
and in plan at Figure 2, au enlarged cross section (on the line A, B,
Figure 1) of the air cylinder is given at Figure 3, and a longitudinal
vertical section of one end of the blast cylinder is also represented at Figure 4,
and a portion of the end of the cylinder, shewing the perforations at full size,
is represented at Figure 5. a, a, are stone plinths on which the bed
plates b, b, of the engines rest; c,c,are steam cylinders provided with ordinary
slide valves actuated by excentrics on the shaft d; the piston rods of these
cylinders are connected to cross heads e, e, working in guides f, f, and by
means of the connecting rods g, 3, give motion to the half cranks h, h, and
shaft d. These cranks being placed at right angles to each other render
the engine capable of regulation by a sinall Hy wheel i placed on the centre
of the shaft. Steam to supply these cylinders is conveyed to them by the arched
pipe j, the waste steam being discharged by a pipe below ground, and not
shewn in the Drawings. Upon the bed plates b, b, there are also fixed
two blast cylinders m, m; these cylinders have formed on their upper sides
a longitudinal passage n, which communicates at each end with an annular
channel formed around each end of the blast cylinders, so that any air
that is forced from the interior of the cylinders into these channels p, p, may
pass along the passages n, n, and from thence be conveyed by the pipe o
into the receiver or regulator q.
By reference to Figure 3 it will be seen that the blast cylinders are also
provided with passages ",", running along the under side of them, from the

page_text: room.
central parts of which a pipe s proceeds downwards and is for the supply
of air to the cylinders, the air being taken from the exterior of the engine
The blast cylinder covers are constructed in such a manner as to
leave a chamber or passage t all around the stuffing boxes u, through which
the piston rods work. This chamber in the cover communicates with the
lower passages 1, 2, the sides of which are carried through the anuular
channels p, p, as far as the large flange of the inner cylinder cover ",
that part of the flange v¹ opposite the end of the passages r, r, being cut
away, so that the air entering by the pipe s may pass freely along the
passages r, r, and thence into the chamber t formed between the inner cylinder
cover v and the outer cover. w. On reference to Figure 4 it will be seen
that the cylinder cover is so made as to leave an annular space A between
it and the interior of the cylinder. The metal of the cover is perforated
with numerous holes, as shown at B; the perforations extend entirely around
it and are covered with an elastic strap or valve D, which in its contracted
state closely presses on the perforated surface, and prevents the escape of
compressed air from the cylinder by these openings; but whenever a partial
vacuum is formed in the cylinder by the return of the piston, the elasticity of
the air occupying the chamber t and passages r, r, will press upon the inner
surface of the elastic strap or valve D, and expand it sufficiently to allow a
free influx of air to the cylinder; as the strap can only expand until its outer
surface comes in contact with the interior of the cylinder it is thereby
prevented from becoming strained. To prevent the strap from getting out of
place a number of small steel studs or pins are inserted into the cylinder cover
at E, from which they project: as radii at a distance of a few inches from each
other; the blast cylinder is also perforated near to each end with numerous
holes H, also disposed in the manner represented in Figure 5, and opening
from the annular space A into the annular channel p, p. These openings are
also covered with an elastic strap K, which is kept in place by a series of studs
or pins L,and is prevented from expanding too much by the supporting ringM,
which is fastened by a flange to the cylinder cover. It will thus become evident
that whenever the steam pistons are put in motion, that their elongated rods
being coupled at R with the piston rods of the blast cylinders a direct motion
will be thus transmitted to them, causing air to be drawn in through the
pipes, along the passages r, ", into the chamber t, and by expanding the
elastic valve D pass through the perforations B into the cylinder, while on
the opposite side of the piston the air is compressed and will expand the
elastic valve and pass into the annular channels p, p, and passages n, n, and
pipe o, and from thence into the receiver q, where the pressure may regu
be

page_text: lated by a loaded valve. A pipe from the receiver will convey the compressed
air to the converting vessel in a very uniform current owing in part to the
employment of two double-acting air cylinders working alternately, and the
further equalization of pressure attained by the employment of the receiver.
For the purpose of regulating the process of conversion by the known
quantity of air passing through the metal, any ordinary counting apparatus
capable of registering the number of revolutions of the blast engine may be
employed. As each revolution compresses a known quantity of air, the instru-
ment may be readily made to indicate the number of cubic feet of air, so that
by starting at O at the commencement, and continuing the process until
the desired number of cubic feet of air are registered as having been forced
through the metal, any desired amount of decarbonization may be effected
and the crude metal rendered into hard,medium, or soft steel or into malleable
iron as may be desired.
It will be observed that in the blast apparatus herein described the air is
taken in through a pipe leading out of the engine room, and not from the
atmosphere immediately around the apparatus, by which arrangement great
facility is afforded for artificially drying the air, by drawing it through or in
contact with any solid or fluid substance contained in a suitable vessel, and
capable of absorbing the moisture of the air; it also affords facility for mixing
with the air any gaseous matters that it may be found desirable to pass along
with the air into the metal under operation.
When reverberatory or air furnaces are employed to melt pig metal for
conversion into malleable iron or steel, I erect the furnaces at such an elevation
that the fluid metal may be run direct therefrom into the converting vessels,
and I effect this either by raising the said furnaces above the general level
and above the level of the converting apparatus, or I place the converting
vessels in a building at a lower level than that containing the said
furnaces. group these furnaces in such a manner that each of them
can run their metal into any one of the converting vessels employed in
connection therewith, whereby a rapid and continuous working of the process
may be kept up. For this purpose I also render the converting vessels move-
able from place to place, either by suitable cranes or on wheels, or preferably
by mounting four or other convenient number of converting vessels on a
revolving framework supported on wheels, or on a central post oraxis ; I also
give to each vessel a rotatory motion on its own axis, for the purpose of filling
it and of discharging the fluid metal and other matters therefrom. This
motion of the vessel on its own axis I prefer to effect by ineans of fluid
pressure acting in a cylinder, the piston rod of which is formed into a rack at.

page_text: one end and actuates a spur wheel keyed on the axis of the vessel, the
pressure cylinders being also mounted on the revolving framing. I construct
the axes of such vessels of malleable iron or steel in one piece, the axes form-
ing part of a stout malleable iron or steel band or hoop which
the central portion of the vessel.
passes
round
In order that the manner in which I prefer to arrange the various parts of the
said apparatus may be fully understood, I have hereunto annexed three Sheets
of Drawings, marked B, C, and D. On Sheet B is represented an elevation
of the converting apparatus, and on Sheet C I have given a vertical section
through the centre of the apparatus, and on Sheet D a plan of the same. By
reference to these Drawings and the letters marked thereon, it will be seen
that the whole apparatus is supported on the central shaft or axis a, which I
prefer to be of wrought iron, and which rests in a footstep 6 secured to
masonry in the lower part of the foundations. The axis a is supported above
by a stout iron frame c,in which it is free to revolve; this frame is bolted to
the foundation walls d by bolts e, the walls dare raised about a foot above the
general level of the floor of the building,and are secured by a very strong iron
curb of an octagonal form, which is also bolted down to the foundation at y;
there are recesses made in the floor secured by iron curves z; these hollows
are for the purpose of allowing the converted vessels to be inverted, which
would otherwise be prevented by their coming in contact with the floor,and also
for receiving any cinders, &c. from them. A strong square cast-iron frame f
frame
is keyed firmly ou to the axis a, and above this a similar square
is
also keyed. From each of the sides of these square frames project a pair of
brackets h, h, which are held firmly to the frames fand g by bolts fastened
through the corners of the frames, and are held firmly together by the curved
frame pieces o at the upper part, and by stretchers o at their lower angles;
the ends of the brackets farthest from the central axis have mounted on them
plummer blocks i and j, in which the trunnions or axes of the converting
vessels are supported. The form of converting vessel which I prefer to
employ is cylindrical, with rounded ends, the upper part having an inclined
mouthpiece as shown at k'. The vessels are constructed of plate iron or steel
and are rivetted into a stout wrought-iron hook 2, on which the trunnions k
are forged or made; one of these trunnions is bored out hollow, and is con
nected by a stuffing box to the blast pipe 7, the other trunnion has keyed upor
it a spur wheel m, shown by dots, this wheel is enclosed in the central part o
what may be called a double plummer block j, because it supports the axis
on each side of the wheelm; a cover is placed over this wheel, which enclose
it and prevents any splashes of slag, &c. from falling on to it. The whee
g

page_text: m on the trunnion of the converting vessel is for the purpose of giving a
rotatory or semi-rotatory motion to the vessel on its own axis, in addition
to the general motion of all the vessels on the main or central axis. To effect
this semi-rotation of the vessels & there is mounted on the upper frameg four
hydraulic cylinders ; these cylinders have piston rods.passing out at one end
of them, the rods terminating in a rack which passes beneath the wheels
spur
m, and lies in between the feet of the double plummer block, and resting on
the upper surface of the brackets h. The piston rods Y are enclosed by covers
when in use, which extend beyond the ends of the frames has seen at p*; these
covers are for the purpose of preventing any splashes from falling into the teeth
of the rack. It will, however, be readily understood that the movement of the
pistons in any of the cylinders n will produce a correspo uding motion in the
racks, and the wheels malso moving will force round the converting vessels
in anyrequired direction; in order, however, to connect the hydraulic cylinders
with the source of power, a peculiar arrangement is rendered necessary in
consequence of the cylinders being mounted on a revolving frame. For this
purpose I prefer to employ a donkey pump capable of forcing water under a
pressure of 200 to 300 lbs. per square inch into a large air vessel, so that
a constant supply of water under that pressure may beat all times in readiness
to work the hydraulic cylinders; a cistern to receive the discharged water there-
from being placed above the level of the donkey pump will also supply it with
water, a pipe leading from the vessel in which the water is under pressure
to the hydrauliccylinders, and another pipe leading from them to the discharge
cistern before mentioned, are provided with a sluice cock or cocks so ar-
ranged that the water under pressure maybe made to proceed to the cylinders
through either of the said pipes,and simultaneously the escape water from the
cylinders be made to pass along the other; these sluice cocks are to be provided
with handles at a convenient height,and at such a distance from the converting
apparatus that a workman operating them will be out of the way of motions
of the apparatus, but within sight of what is going on, so that he may by the
mere motion of the said handles cause any desired movement of the convert-
ing vessels, and retain them firmly in any required position for such period as
may be desired. In order to admit of the axial motion of the apparatus
without disturbing the connections of the pressure and escapewater pipes, they
are carried up above the apparatus one within the other, their lower ends
passing through stuffing boxes in the water chest r, the central pipes passing
down into the lower chamber 7, and the outside passing through a stuffing
box into the upper compartment. The water chestr has secured to each of
- its four sides two pipes t and u, the four pipes t communicating with the

page_text: chamber, and the four pipes u communicating with the chamber r. On the
top side of each of the hydraulic cylinders two passages are formed, one ofthem
leading to each end of the cylinders, so that the pipes t and u are each made
to communicate with the end of the cylinder to which they are nearest. As,
however, it will not be required to move all the converting vessels on their aves
at one time, the pipes t and u are provided with cocks v, all of which should
be closed, with the exception of that pair which communicate with the cylinder
that actuates the vessel in which the converting process is going on. I would
remark that all the pipes before named are to be kept full of water, and the
cylinders also on both sides of their pistons, so that whenever the operator
moves his handles so that the water under pressure is caused to flow into the
cylinder at that end through which the rod passes, the rod will be drawn in,
and the water expelled from the opposite end of the cylinder, and so in like
manner the reversal of the said handles, throwing the pressure on the opposite
side of the piston, its motion will be immediately reversed, because the whole
space is occupied with a non-elastic fluid, so in like manner the closing of the
cocks to that point which prevents the flow of water in either direction will
cause the vessels to be retained in any required position.
I have herein-before described the form of blast engine which I prefer to
employ, and I will now show in what manner the blast is conveyed into the
converting vessels:-Apipe from the air vessel or regulator passes beneath the
floor,and is joined to the flanged nozzle A¹ which projects from one side of a
cast-iron ring A surrounding the main axis a,the upper part of the ring being
kept tight by a stuffing box B; the lower part of it is rivetted to a plate-iron
tube which encloses the main axis,and is screwed to the footstep in order to
prevent the escape of air. The axis a is hollow or tubular at a*, and into
this tubular part the holes a¹ are bored, so as to admit air from the nozzle A¹
into the tubular axis a"; the upper square frame g is made with a large
boss g*, which is elongated downwards, and has an annular passage formed in
it, with which the openings a communicate. On the outside of the boss g*
are bolted four pipes l, each of which communicate at one end with the
annular passage last named, and at the other end communicate to the
trunuious of the converting vessels with the pipes * and tuyere boxes D,thus
establishing a free communication between the blast apparatus and each of
the converting vessels without the necessity of disconnecting anypipes. When
the vessels are moved either on their own axis or about their common centre
of rotation,as, however, all the vessels do not require to remain in connection
with the blast at the same time, each of the pipes are provided with stop-
cocks
by which means the blast can be shut off when desired. The fire-

page_text: clay tuyeres E employed in this apparatus are cylindrical in form for the
greater part of their length, the lower part swelling out into a cone for the
purpose of fitting it more securely into the top of the tuyere box; each tuyere
has five circular passages passing through its entire length, and thus divides.
the air into as many separate jets; there are seven such tuyeres fitted into
cach box,one in the centre and the other six surrounding it at equal distances,
thus dividing the air into thirty-five separate jets, which pass vertically
upwards through the fluid metal. The tuyere box is entirely constructed of
wrought iron or steel, and is held on to the large angle flange of the con-
verting vessel by means of slotted studs and cotters, so as to enable it to be
readily removed when the tuyeres require renewing. The openings in the
upper part of the tuyere box are conical in form, having deep grooves formed
in them; through these openings the tuyeres are inserted, a little wet clay
being first smeared round the conical part to cause a close joint to be made,
the spaces G between the tuyeres is filled up with a ground stone known as
"ganister," mixed into the consistency of batter with water; this semi-fluid
matter is poured in until it reaches the top of the tuyeres, and thus fills up
the vacant spaces between them and the lining & of the vessel, which lining
may also consist entirely of gaunister rammed in in a moist state, as in making
a sand mould for casting; or the vessel may first have a lining of fire-brick,
and be then lined with gannister or road drift to protect the bricks from the
action of the molten metal and slags; the bottom of the tuyere box D is
fastened on by slotted studs and cotters, and may easily be removed when
necessary, and the tuyeres looked at to ascertain if all of them are open and
in working order.
I have before mentioned that the whole apparatus is moveable on a central
axis. In order to render the motion of such a heavy mass steady and easily.
effected, a hoop or ring of cogs Kis bolted to the framec in which the central
axis revolves; into these cogs a pinion Lis geared, it is keyed on to a vertical
shaft M, which is supported by suitable bearings on the frames f and g; the
shaft M also carries the bevil wheel N, into which a pinion P is geared; this
pinion is keyed on to a horizontal shaft Q, which is supported by plummer
blocks R, R, and has upon one end a handle V, by which it is turned when
required,and whereby the whole apparatus will be slowly moved on the central
axis. The melting furnaces employed for melting the pig iron to be operated
on may be grouped in any convenient manner around the converting apparatus
and be at such a distance and at such level that the molten metal may on
tapping either of the said furnaces be run direct into any one of the converting
vessels. The kind of furnace which I prefer for melting the crude motalis
i.

page_text: the ordinary air or reverberatory furnace, but as such furnaces form no part
of my Invention I have not shown them in the Drawings.
Before using the apparatus for the conversion of crude oiten iron into
malleable iron or steel a fire (preferably of peat or wood charcoal) should be
made in the vessel, and by means of the blast the lining of the vessel should
be well heated, after which the remaining fuel may be emptied out by turning
the vessel on its own axis one-half of a revolution, which will entirely empty
the vessel; this should never be omitted if coke be employed to heat the vessel,
but it is not necessary when wood charcoal is employed. By means of the
hydraulic cylinders before described the workinan (who operates the handles)
will then cause the vessel to assume the position indicated by dots at S in
Sheet C, the whole apparatus may then be turned round by means of the
handle V until it is opposite the end of the gutter of the particular furnace
from which the charge of metal is to be taken, as shown at T. It will be
observed that while the vessel is in the position indicated by dots, the metal
will all collect at the lower side, not rising high enough to enter the buyeres at
one end, nor rising high enough to run out of the mouth at the other. When
all the metal has run in the whole apparatus is steadily moved round into its
former position. In order to prevent the violent tremour produced in the
vessel during conversion from being transmitted to the whole apparatus, there
are projecting pieces x secured to the curb x, and there are also inclined
projections on the under side of the brackets h, which slide onto and rest upon
the pieces; there is also a powerful screw passing through the boss h
which has a jaw on the lower side, which takes firin hold of the pieces a*, and
thus binds the brackets firmly down during the converting process. Assoonas
this is done the blast may be turned on, and the handle of the hydraulic
apparatus is moved so as to cause the vessel to assume the vertical position,
the process is thus brought into full activity, the sparks and flame being
received into an iron chimney suspended from the roof or supported on a
girder fixed across the converting house above the apparatus. While the
process is going on in one of the converting vessels another of them may be
heated in readiness for immediate use, while a third is undergoing the fitting
in of new tuyeres, and a fourth having been used may be cooling in in readiness
for the setting of new tuyeres. So soon as the metal has been converted the
hydraulic handle is reversed, and the vessel steadily and slowly lowered into
the position shown by dots at U on Sheet C, whereby the whole of the con-
verted metal will be poured out and be received in a suitable casting ladle,the
vessel may then be turned a little further round until the mouth of it is as low
as possible, a sudden turning on of the blast for a few seconds will blow out

page_text: the scoria, and the vessel may then be turned into a position suitable for
receiving another charge of metal; should, however, the tuyeres not be in
good condition, the next vessel may be used instead, and thus the process may
be continued uninterruptedly, the time required for conversion, together with
the casting and the removal of the ingot moulds will occupy about 40 or 45
minutes, so that without hurrying the workmen one charge of crude metal
may be readily converted every hour throughout the week. The apparatus
from which the Drawings hereunto annexed are taken has been constructed
for the conversion of 50 cwt. of crude metal at each charge.
For the purpose of raising the fluid converted metal and conveying it to
the moulds, I use an hydraulic lift or crane having a cross head or arms
made of malleable iron or steel, and strengthened by tension rods at one
end of it. I mount the casting ladle on an axis, to which affix a worm
wheel or other gearing, so as to cause the ladle to move round when required,
and thus pour out its contents over a spout or lip formed in the upper part
thereof. I also form in the bottom of the said ladle two or more openings
provided with suitable plugs or stoppers, which are guided externally and
are provided with handles so as to let into the moulds a regulated supply of
metal when desired. On the opposite end of the cross head I place a
counterweight R, which I prefer to be equal to the weight of the casting
ladle, and also equal to one-half of the metal to be lifted iu such ladle, or in
lieu of, or in addition to, such counterweight, I sometimes employ a second
ladle at this end of the cross head for the purpose of receiving converted or
partially converted metal from any one of the converting vessels or from
any other source, and of elevating or transferring it to any one or other of
the converting vessels, when found necessary or desirable.
The mode in which this hydraulic crane is constructed will be understood
by reference to Sheet E of the annexed Drawings, where Figure 1 is a side
elevation, showing part of the ram and cylinder broken off; Figure 2 is a
vertical section of the same; and Figure 3 a plan, and Figure 4 a vertical
section of the ram and cylinder taken at right angles to Figures 1 and 2. a is
the outer cylinder, the upper part of which is bored out and fitted truly to the
hollow ram b, which is kept water-tight by the stuffing box c; into the upper
part of the ram is fitted an axis d, which forms the crane post, the lower part
of it rests in a footstep b*, and is further supported at 6, where a collar is
formed in which it is free to revolve; on to the axis d is keyed an iron
casting e, to which the flat wrought iron or steel bars f, f,are bolted at each
end of,and between these bars pieces of iron g.are securely fastened, serving
not only to hold the bars in position, but having a hole bored through them,

page_text: serve also to support the axes of the casting ladles. To the upper part of
the pieces g are also fastened one end of the tension rods i, while the other
ends of them are supported by the elongated axis d*, and thus enables the
apparatus to support a great weight of metal in the casting ladles m, which.
are constructed of sheet plate iron strengthened byhoops m', between which a
space is formed to receive the two halves of a stout iron hoop n and n', the
part n being readily detached, while the other half has a projecting part n²,
which forms the axis on which the ladle is turned round. A piece of iron p
is rivetted in between the bars,and serves to support one end of the nxis of
the ladle, which has keyed on to it a worm wheel q, into which a worm is
geared, the worm shaft passing through the bars f, f, and having a handle at
one end by which the movement of the casting ladle on its axis is effected,
when necessary. The casting in general being effected by running out the
metal from the lower part of the ladle, for which purpose there are two
projecting pieces beneath the ladle, into which a tubular piece of burned
fire-clay is fitted, the upper part being formed into a hollow cone, into which
a conical plug or valve piece s, also of burned fire-clay, is fitted; this plug is
fastened on to an iron rod t, which is coated with loam to defend it from the
metal. On the outside of the ladle a sliding barn works up and down in
guides v by means of the handle w, and to the upper end of the bar u the rod t
is fixed, sothat the lifting up of the handlowwill causea correspondingmotion
of the valve plug s, and allow the fluid metal to run out in a clear stream,
free from the melted scoria which floats on its surface. Two or more valves
may be made in each ladle, but when two are employed I prefer to place
them diagonally, as represented at Figure 3,as it affords a better opportunity
of working the handles. After filling a mould from each valve the ladle may.
be moved round on the axis d until the valves are brought over other moulds,
when the lifting of the handles will again allow the metal to flow; the moulds
should be placed in a semicircular pit previous to the casting operation, a
portion of this pit is shewn at y, having an iron curb around it, the ladle
and portion of the crane is lowered down into the cavity y formed in the floor
of the converting house; the lines x shew the position which the moulds
should occupy in order to come under the valves when the crane is turned
round. The ladles should be lined with loam, and well dried and heated
before running the metal from the converting vessel into them; the drying is
easily effected by inverting the ladies by means of the worm and handle, and
then lowering them over a small fire made in a basket for that purpose, and
placed within the sweep of the crane.
In order to receive the metal from the converting vessel it will be necessary

page_text: first to elevate the ladle so as to catch the first portions of the metal that runs
out; the further lowering of the mouth of the converting vessel will render
necessary the lowering down of the casting ladle, so as to catch the whole of
the metal. When this is done, the ladle with its charge of metal is to be
raised, so as to bring the bottom of the ladle above the level of the moulds.
This rise and fall of the ladle is effected with ease and steadiness by means of
hydrostatic pressure acting on the ram b. Water for this purpose may be
had from the air vessel herein-before referred to as containing water under a
pressure of 200 to 300 lbs. per square inch, for the purpose of working the
hydraulic cylinders that move the converting vessels. The water from this
vessel is to be admitted by a stop-cock placed in any convenient position, and
communicating with the pipe a at the foot of the ram. When the ram is
lowered down by the discharge of the water from the cylinder, thecouical
projecting piece 63 enters the orifice through which the water escapes, and
partially closes the passage, whereby any concussion that might otherwise be
caused by such a heavy mass striking the bottom of the cylinder is pre-
vented by the last part of its descent being very slow in consequence of the
diminished area of the outlet, one of the ladles will only begenerally required
for casting, but the second one is most valuable in case of any accident ren-
dering the former one unserviceable, or for transferring the metal from one
converting vessel to another, when necessary. The second ladle serves also
as a counterbalance to the other one, and may be loaded to half the weight
of the charge of fluid metal, and thus equalize more nearly the strain upon
the apparatus.
its
These improvements also consist in the use of a basin or vessel of malleable
iron lined with sand or loam, or made of fire-clay, and backed dry, and pre-
ferably used red hot,such basin having several lips or spouts formed around
upper edge, or having several openings made in the bottom thereof,so that
when such basin is placed above several small ingot or other moulds, one large
stream from the casting ladle directed into such basin will, by means of the
said lips or holes, be conveyed with less force and in smaller quantities into
the several moulds beneath, by which means sounder ingots will be produced
owing to the diminished velocity with which the metal enters the mould from
these basins, while the slow filling of each mould by a small stream of metal
also tends to improve the ingots, but at the same time does not prevent the
rapid emptying of the casting ladle,and thus a large number of small ingots
may be made from one large ladle of metal without retaining the metal
therein until it has cooled too far for casting.
In order that this mode of supplying the metal to the soveral ingot moulds

page_text: may be fully understood, I have given on Sheet of the aunexed Drawings
a vertical section of the basin, aud moulds at Figure 5, and a plan of the
same at Figure 6.
In
Another modification of the basin is shewn in section at Figure 7, and a
plan at Figure 8. A represents the lower portion of the casting ladle, from
which a large stream of metal flows into the basin B, which may have four
holes D in the bottom of it, each of the required diameter; it rests upon a
block of fire-clay E, which is placed on the moulds F. These moulds are
simply square tubes, slightly conical, and resting on flat plates F*.
Figure 7 the basin G is shewn as resting on the top of the moulds H. It
has a lip or spout formed on each side, as shewn at I, Figure 8. When the
molten steel is poured into this basin it will overflow at the several spouts,
and supply the moulds beneath with a gentle stream of metal. The metal
retained in this form of basin may, when the casting ladle is emptied, be
turned up with a pair of tongs, so as to empty its contents into one of the
moulds.
The tuyeres used in the converting vessel are sometimes rapidlyacted upon
'by the impurities of the metal, and I have found it preferable to formu such
tuyores as dense and as free as possible from those cracks which are fre-
quently found in tuyeres made of plastic clay. For this purpose I employ
ganister, silicate of alumina, fire-clay, silicate of magnesia, lime, plumbago,or
oxide of iron. These substances may be used alone, or any two or more of
them may be combined in any desirable proportions. They are to be reduced
to a fine powder, and to be used in a dry or nearly dry state.
1 compress
'these matters or either of them in a suitable mould by means of hydraulic
pressure, or by percussion, after which the tuyeres so made may be used in the
state in which they come from the mould, but I prefer first to bake them in
a pottery kiln, and to glaze the interior of the holes, so as to reuder them
smooth and even.
Having thus described my Invention, and the manner in which it is to be
carried into effect, what I claim is,-
Firstly, the peculiar combination and arrangement of the various parts
constituting the combined steam and blast engine herein represented and
described.
Secondly, claim,in the manufacture of malleable iron and steel, mounting
one or more converting vessels on a frame so constructed as to give such
vessel or vessels rotation about a common centre, in addition to a rotatory or
semi-rotatory motion on their own axes.
"Thirdly, I claim giving a rotatory or semi-rotatory motion to converting

page_text: vessels on their own axes by means of hydrostatic pressure in cylinders acting
by suitable mechanism on the axes of the said vessels.
Fourthly, I claim, in the manufacture of malleable iron and steel, the
employment of the peculiar combination and arrangement of apparatus repre-
sented on Sheets B, C, and D) of the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Fifthly, I claim, in the manufacture of malleable iron and steel, the
employment of casting ladles having two or more valvular openings in the
bottom of them, and also the employment of two ladles on the same crane,
as herein described.
Sixthly, I claim the method, herein described, of filling several moulds
at one time from a basin or vessel having several outlets, such basin or
vessel being supplied with fluid malleable iron or steel during such casting
process.
And, lastly, I claim the method herein described of forming tuyeres by
pressure from dry or nearly dry material.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Bessemer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
HENRY BESSEMER. (L.s.)