Improvements in the Manufacture of Iron or Steel Forgings.
Year: 1899

page_text: 1
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
"
Improvements in the Manufacture of Iron or Steel Forgings.
I, DONALD BARNS MORISON, of Hartlepool Engine Works, Hartlepool, in the
County of Durham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
In the manufacture of forgings from rolled iron or steel, as for example
round, oval, or rectangular, as distinguished from scrap iron or steel, the pieces
are usually arranged in layers forming a pile, the pieces in each layer being
laid parallel one with another with a space between each two pieces, the pieces
of the succeeding layer being similarly arranged and placed at an angle to the
pieces of the first layer, and so on unul the pile is of the desired height. When
the metal pieces are of rectangular or equivalent section, loose distance pieces are
employed to separate the pieces of each layer from those of the layers above
and below in order that the furnace gases may circulate through the pile. The
employment of these loose distance pieces results in the disadvantage of forming
additional welding surfaces which may be of an unreliable kind, and also in-
volves danger arising from the risk of pieces of dissimilar and unsuitable
material being used. When round, oval or equivalent sections are employed
the loose distance pieces are not so necessary, but the passages are of more
irregular section, and less adapted for free and uniform circulation of the gases,
and the resultant blooms are composed of the various layers in the pile welded
together in approximately parallel planes, each layer being attached to the
layers immediately above and below it by the welding of parallel and nearly
plane or regular surfaces only.
Now my invention has reference to an improved manufacture of forgings
having for object to make them of more uniform and reliable structure through-
out, for which purpose I employ sections such as will when laid in a pile form
practically regular channels for the free circulation of the gases without the
employment of loose separating pieces, the sections being adapted for uniform
heating, and of such formation that, in the process of welding together into a
bloom, portions of the sections of each piece in each layer will penetrate and
imbed themselves into the pieces in the adjoining layer and so form an inter-
locked welded surface as differentiated from a plane or more regular welded
surface and as differentiated from the imbedding of loose distance pieces which
might imperfectly weld to either of the layers above or below them. The iron or
steel may be of various sections; for example rectangular with triangular or
other suitable ridges or projections, either continuous or intermittent, on one
side with the apices of which ridges or projections the flat portions of the pieces
of the next layer will come in contact. These ridges or projections separate the
layers by the amount of their depth and so form regular and uniform channels
for the free circulation of the gases and being as compared with loose pieces
immovable during the heating and welding ensure a practically or approximately
uniform distribution of heat throughout the pile. The pieces are piled so that

page_text: those of one layer will be at an angle, to those of another layer and so that the
ridges or projections of one layer come under or not under those of another
layer. When the pieces are being welded together these ridges or projections,
when on one side only, penetrate or imbed themselves into the juxtaposed portions
of the pieces of the next layer thereby forming what may be termed an inter-
locking weld. There may be one or more ridges or projections on one or more
sides, the mean thickness of ridge or projection being approximately equal to
the thickness of the rectangular portion so that the entire section may become
uniformly heated or approximately so and be effectively welded.
In carrying out my invention the shape of the projections upon the pieces
may be varied; they may for example be serrated or toothed."
Improvements in the Manufacture of Iron or Steel Forgings.
I, DONALD BARNS MORISON, of Hartlepool Engine Works, Hartlepool, in the
County of Durham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
In the manufacture of forgings from rolled iron, as for example round, oval,
or rectangular, as distinguished from scrap iron, the pieces are usually arranged
in layers forming a pile, the pieces in each layer being laid parallel one with
another with a space between each two pieces, the pieces of the succeeding
layer being similarly arranged and placed at an angle to the pieces of the first
layer, and so on until the pile is of the desired height. When the metal pieces
are of rectangular or equivalent section, loose distance pieces are employed to
separate the pieces of each layer from those of the layers above and below in
order that the furnace gases may circulate through the pile. The employment.
of these loose distance pieces results in the disadvantage of forming additional
welding surfaces which may be of an unreliable kind, and also involves danger
arising from the risk of pieces of dissimilar and unsuitable material being used.
When round, oval or equivalent sections are employed the loose distance pieces
are not so necessary, but the passages are of more irregular section, and less
adapted for free and uniform circulation of the gases, and the resultant blooms
are composed of the various layers in the pile welded together in approximately
parallel planes, each layer being attached to the layers immediately above and
below it by the welding of parallel and nearly plane or regular surfaces only.
Now my invention has reference to an improved manufacture of forgings
having for object to make them of more uniform and reliable structure through-
out, for which purpose I employ pieces or bars (hereinafter referred to as bars)
of such sections as will, when laid in a pile, form practically regular channels
for the free circulation of the gases without the employment of loose separating
pieces, the sections being adapted for uniform heating, and of such formation
that, in the process of welding together into a bloom, integral portions of the
sections of each bar in each layer will penetrate and imbed themselves in the
bars in the adjoining layer and so form an interlocked welded surface a
ав

page_text: differentiated from a plane or more regular welded surface and as differentiated
from the imbedding of loose distance pieces which might imperfectly weld to
either of the layers above or below them.
The iron may be of various sections; for example, rectangular with triangular
or other suitable ridges or projections, either continuous or intermittent, on
one side with the apices of which ridges or projections the flat portions of the
pieces of the next layer will come in contact. These ridges or projections
separate the layers by the amount of their depth and 'so form regular and uniform
channels for the free circulation of the gases and being as compared with loose
pieces immovable during the heating and welding ensure a practically or
approximately uniform distribution of heat throughout the pile. The bars are
piled so that those of one layer will be at an angle to those of another layer
and the ridges or projections of one layer may come under or not under those of
another layer. When the pieces are being welded together these ridges or
projections, when on one side. only, penetrate or imbed themselves into the
juxtaposed portions of the pieces of the next layer thereby forming what may
be termed, an interlocking weld. There may be one or more ridges or pro-
jections on one or more sides, the mean thickness of ridge or projection being
approximately equal to the thickness of the rectangular portion so that the
entire section may become uniformly heated or approximately so and be effec-
tively welded.
The accompanying drawings illustrate in perspective piles ready to be heated
and welded for the manufacture of forgings in accordance with this invention.
The pile shown in Fig. 1 is composed of bars a of rectangular section with a
pair of approximately triangular ridges a¹ on their undersides. The bars a
of each layer are arranged at a short distance apart and at right angles to those
of adjacent layers; the ridges a¹ of each layer come under those of the next
layer but one above it. In this example, there are three bars in each layer but
the number of bars in each layer may vary according to the width of the bars
employed and the size of the bloom desired; in Fig. 2 a pile is shown comprising
layers each comprising two wider bars a. Fig. illustrates a pile formed of
bars a each of rectangular section and having a single longitudinal ridge a on
its upper side, there being three bars in each layer and those of each layer being
arranged at right angles to those of adjacent layers.
Fig. 4 shows a pile composed of somewhat wider bars a each with a longi-
tudinal ridge a¹ on its upper side, its underside being curved.
In the pile shown in Fig. 5, the bars a are each formed with two longitudinal
ridges on the underside and with one on the upper side, intermediately disposed.
In carrying out my invention the size and weight of the pieces may be varied
as desired, the shape of the projections upon the pieces may also be varied; they
may for example be serrated or toothed at preferably long pitches.
Since filing my Provisional Specification I have discovered that forgings of
greatly improved quality result from maintaining the fibre of the iron in one
direction and may be produced by forming the piles of bars having integral
ridges or projections as herein before described, arranged parallel to each other
and so that the bars of the several layers break joint with those of adjacent
layers, which method forms the subject of another application for Letters
Patent by me No. 13448 of 1899 and is therefore not claimed as part of my
present invention. During the welding of a pile the bars of which are parallel
and break joint as just referred to, the projections on each bar will penetrate
the adjacent bars of the next layer, will lock them together so as to prevent them
separating or moving apart and will cause lateral displacement of the metal of
the locked bars, so that the longitudinal joints between them will be forcibly
closed and effectively welded. In the resulting forging the fibres will be parallel
or approximately so and the liability of laminations and improperly welded
joints occurring therein will be minimised.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner. the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
The improved manufacture of forgings herein before described wherein the
piles are built up of bars arranged in layers, such bars being formed with
integral ridges or projections which serve to form regular or approximately
regular channels between the several layers for the passage of the heating gases
substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings, and the said integral
ridges or projections being caused, during the welding operation, to penetrate
and imbed themselves in the adjoining layers as set forth.