IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STEEL
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Millis Coventry, the younger, of 60, King Street, Man-
chester, in the County of Lancaster, Esquire, and Matthew Wilks, of 90, King
Street aforesaid, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF STEEL"
Sealed the 23rd September 1879, and dated the 27th June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Millis Coventry and Matthew
Wilks at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th June
1879.
MILLIS COVENTRY, the younger, of 60, King Street, Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Esquire, and MATTHEW WILKS, of 90, King Street aforesaid, Merchant.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STEEL."
This Invention relates to improvements in the treatment of white, mottled, or
other iron of an analogous character which would be suitable for the manufacture
of steel by the Bessemer process, but which cannot now be used for this purpose on
account of the small proportion of silicon in it, and in the manufacture of steel
therefrom.
In carrying out our Invention we proceed as follows:-We charge a Bessemer
converter or similar vessel in the ordinary way with molten metal. This charge if
blown with a simple blast of air would, from the absence of fuel in the iron, result
in what is technically known as a cold blow, that is to say, the iron would not
be sufficiently hot and fluid to be dealt with in the ordinary way at the end of the
blow.
To obviate this we cause the blast on its passage to the converter or other vessel
containing the charge to take up a certain quantity of petroleum or other suitable
hydrocarbon, the quantity depending upon the quality of the metal under
treatment.
This we effect by the following or analogous means:-Above the level of the
blast pipe which runs between the blowing engine and the converter we fix a tank
in which the petroleum is contained. This tank is fitted with a glass gauge to
indicate the height of the petroleum in the tank, and is also fitted with necessary

page_text: taps by which to put in and dischargo the petroleum. The tank is connected by a
pipe with a chamber in the apparatus hereinafter described, which apparatus is fixed
in a convenient place on the blast pipe running between the blowing engines and
the converter.
This apparatus consists of a copper tube, which may be made straight or in the
form of a coil, and having a diameter of about half an inch, tapering towards the
point of discharge. This tube may be enclosed in an iron casing, usually known as
a steam jacket, and through which jacket steam is rapidly passed by means of inlet
and outlet taps. The tube is connected at one ond with the small chamber above
referred to, in which is fixed a valve for opening and closing the entrance to
the tube. The opposite end of the tube communicates with and enters the blast
pipe.
Wo blow the iron in the converter in the ordinary way as practised in the
Bessemer process, and during the blow we admit petroleum from the tank into the
chamber of the above apparatus, from thence into the copper tube, where it is con-
verted into vapour by the steam in the steam jacket, and from thence into the blast,
and so into the molten metal.
When the blow is completed ferro inanganese or spiegeleisen is added, as usual.
Tho petroleum or other hydrocarbon may also bo introduced into the blast by
inserting into the blast pipe, and connecting with the tank of petroleum or other
hydrocarbon, an apparatus known as an injector or other analogous apparatus.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Millis Coventry and Matthew Wilks in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 1st October 1879.
MILLIS COVENTRY, the younger, of 60, King Street, Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Esquire, and MATTHEW WILKS, of 96, King Street aforesaid, Merchant.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STEEL."
This Invention relates to improvements in the treatment of white iron, mottled,
or ather iron of an analogous character, which would be suitable for the manu-
facture of steel by the Bessemer process or analogous processes, but which cannot
now be used for this purpose on account of the small proportion of silicon in it, and
to-improvements in the manufacture of steel therefrom.
It should be stated that this Invention is founded upon, and is in fact a develope-
ment of, what is described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to the said
Matthew Wilks and to Richard Howson, dated March 17th, 1879.
• When we desire to operate by means of our Invention upon qualities of iron
which cannot now be treated for the reasons before mentioned, we proceed as
follows:-
We charge a Bessemer converter or similar vessel in the ordinary way with the
molten metal. This charge if blown with a simple blast of air would, from the
absence of fuel in the iron, result in what is technically known as a cold blow, that
is to say, the iron would not be sufficiently fluid to enable its being removed from
the vessel in the ordinary way at the end of the blow.
To obviate this we causo the blast on its passage to the converter or other
vessel containing the charge to take up a certain quantity of petroleum or other
suitablo hydro carbon, the quantity depending upon the coldness of the metal under
treatment.
This we effect by the following or analogous means; we describe the same by.
reference to the Drawing hereto annexed:-
About 16 feet above the level of the pipe which conveys the blast into the vessel
containing the metal under treatment we fix a tank, marked A, sufficiently large to
hold at least 100 gallons of liquid.
We prefer to construct this tank of wrought iron plates well rivetted together, as
it must be strong and air tight.
On the top of the tank we fix a tap B, on which is placed a tun dish C to be
used for filling the tank.
On the side of the tank we fix a glass gauge D to indicate the quantity of liquid
the tank contains.
.
At the bottom of the tank we fix a pipe E, E, for drawing off the liquid.
We fill the tank with petroleum or other hydro-carbon, which is conveyed from
the same by the pipe E, E, at a convenient height, near to the bottom of which is
fixed a tap F. We connect the bottom end of this pipe E, E, with the main blast
pipe K by means of a horizontal pipe G, G. We encase a length of at least 10 feet
of the pipe G, G, with an outer tube or jacket H, which jacket, in order to prevent-
the condensation of the vapour, must be as near as possible to that end of the
pipe G, G, which is connected with the blast pipe. Into this tube or jacket H we
introduce steam or hot air, and the jacket is fitted with suitable taps I, I, for the
introduction and emission of the same. Other forms of heating chambers may, as
is obvious, be employed for vapourizing the hydro-carbon oil or spirit.
On opening the tap F the petroleum or other hydro-carbon is admitted into the
pipe G, G, on its passage through which it becomes vaporized by the heat
obtained from the steam or hot air in the jacket H, and in the form of vapour it is
carried forward into the blast pipe, and thence by the blast into the metal under
treatment.

page_text: The size of the pipes E, E, and G, G, and the length and diameter of the jacket H
must be regulated by the quantity of petroleum or other hydro-carbon which it is
desired to introduce into the blast in a given time. For instance, when it is
desired to introduce petroleum or other hydro-carbon into the blast pipe K at the
rate of one gallon per minuto, a pipe of about 3 inch diameter and a jacket of
2 inch diameter and 10 feet long will be found suitable.
Should more than this quantity be required, the result may be obtained either by
increasing the number of ³½ inch pipes connecting the tank with the blast pipe or
by increasing the diameter of such pipe. If the diameter of the pipe be increased,
the jacket will require to be increased in length as well as in diameter, in order
that the whole of the petroleum or hydro-carbon passing through the pipe may be
completely vapourized.
A small pipo L, L, L, fitted with a tap M connects the blast pipe K with the top
of the tank A for the purpose of equalizing the pressure in the blast pipe K and the
tank A.
Where a hot blast is used the addition of a steam jacket or heating chamber will
not of necessity be required, as the petroleum or other hydro-carbon may bo
introduced into the hot blast thro' a rose or perforated disc fixed on the end of the
pipe G, G, in the form of spray, and by the effect of the hot blast the hydro-carbon
will become vaporized, and in that form be carried with the blast into and among
the particles of the melting or molton metal being operated upon.
By means of tho taps and gauges previously described the quantity of petroleum
or other hydro-carbon allowed to pass thro' the pipe or pipes is easily controlled,
and by these means the quantity introduced into the melting or molten metal and
the heat generated thereby can be exactly regulated.
By the use of our Invention all danger of the petroleum or other hydro-carbon
collecting or accumulating anywhere so as to cause any risk of explosion may be
safely obviated.
Wo blow the iron in the converter in the ordinary way as practised in the
Bessemer process, and during the blow we admit petroleum into the metal by the
ineans hereinbefore described.
When the blow is completed ferromanganese or speigeleisen is added, as usual.
Modifications in detail of our Invention may be adopted. For example, instead
of n Bessemer converter our Invention can be applied to any form of vessel in
which steel is melted or manufactured, or whethor the blast used be what is com-
monly known as high pressure or low pressure.
Having described the nature of our Invention and the manner of performing the
Bame, we desire it to be understood that we do not claim separately the apparatus
which we employ for the introduction into the charge of the herein before referred to
hydro-carbon; but what we claim is, the improved process of manufacturing steel
from iron low in silicon, substantially as is herein before described.
We also claim the use in the process of treating iron as herein mentioned, and in
analogous processes, of apparatus such as is above described, and employed for
impregnating a blast of air with vaporized hydrocarbon oil or spirit, when such
apparatus is used in combination with vessels, or chambers, or fornaces in which
metals or their ores are being treated in a molten state.
In witness whereof, we, the said Millis Coventry and Matthew Wilke, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thirtieth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.