IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING IRON INTO STEEL BY THE BESSEMER PROCESS."
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Francis Jackson, of Bradford, in the County of
York, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF
AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING IRON INTO STEEL BY THE BESSEMER
PROCESS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Francis Jackson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th January 1882.
"
WILLIAM FRANCIS JACKSON, of Bradford in the County of York Engineer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING IRON INTO
STEEL BY THE BESSEMER PROCESS."
The object of this Invention is to give the tipping gear used in the Bessemer
process greater safety than hitherto.
I accomplish my object in the following manner. The hydraulic cylinders which
actuate the tipping gear are placed between and attached to wrought iron girders,
box II or other suitable section and the bearings for the converters being attached
to the said convertors and therefore self-contained.
I also construct the trunnion hoop of wrought iron box girder section thereby
retaining greater strength at less cost and the blast can be delivered at any point
in the ring deemed most suitable previously to being conveyed to the tuyere or
blast box.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Francis Jackson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th July 1882.
WILLIAM FRANCIS JACKSON of Bradford in the County of York, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING IRON INTO
STEEL BY THE BESSEMER PROCESS."
The object of this Invention is to give to the tipping gear used in the Bessemer
process for converting iron into steel greater safety and rigidity to the mechanism
than hitherto, and consists in an arrangement by which the hydraulic cylinder and
the bearings for carrying the converter-trunnions are secured to girders, by
which the apparatus is self-contained no one portion of which can alter its
relative position with the other, thereby reducing the liability of the parts to
derangement.
:
In order that my Invention may be better understood I have annexed hereunto
explanatory Drawings in which Figure 1 represents the side elevation of my
improved tipping gear as arranged for a single converter, one girder in the Drawing
is removed in order to shew the working parts to better advantage. Figure 2 is a
plan of the same with both girders in position. Figure 3 is a cross section through
line 1. 2, and Figure 4 is a cross section through line 3. 4.
The tipping apparatus is supported by the columns A or other suitable means:
the girders B which are secured to the tops of the columns, are formed of wrought
iron or steel plates, and angles rivetted together or by cast iron girders. Near to
one end and between the girders B, is secured the hydraulic cylinder C which is
connected by pipes to an ordinary pump or accumulator, and is operated upon in
the usual manner. To the hydraulic cylinder piston rod D, is secured a rack G
which is supported by grooved pullies H and gearing with the teeth of the said rack,
is a pinion wheel J which is keyed on the couverter trunnion K the hoop of which
is attached to the converter.
The trunnion K may be supported by pedestals bolted to the girders B or by
bearings formed between the extended plates B₁ forming part of girders B; the
bearings and extended plates being constructed somewhat similar to the frames of a
locomotive. By either of these methods of mounting the trunnion K when the
hydraulic pressure is brought to bear upon the piston in cylinder C for the purpose
of tipping the converter all the strain between the cylinder and the trunnions is
taken by the girders, the cylinder and trunnions being prevented from altering
their relative positions with each other, as the working parts of the apparatus are
all attached to the girders.
In the case of two converters being placed side by side, I secure the cylinders C
between the girders as shown by Figure 5, and mount the trunnions in bearings as
before described; the trunnions at the opposite sides of the converters being sup-
ported by girders or other means as is most suitable for the situation in which the
apparatus is placed.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I hereby declare that I make no claim to the construction
of the trunnion hoop as described in the Provisional Specification but what I
believe to be novel and original and claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
Fixing the tipping gear cylinders between two girders arranged substantially in

page_text: the manner and for the purpose herein before described and as illustrated by the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I the said William Francis Jackson have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Fourth day of July in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-two.
Witness
JOHN WAUGH C.E.
Patent Agent
Bradford
Yorks.
W. F. JACKSON. (L.S.)