Improvements in the Manufacture of Iron and Steel and in Apparatus for the Purpose.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 25th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Iron and Steel and in
Apparatus for the Purpose.
I, JAMES MORGAN WHILE, of Barrow in Furness, in the County of Lancaster,
Manager of the Barrow Steel Works, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
In the manufacture of iron and steel it is now customary to draw charges from
a number of smelting furnaces and to mix them in a suitable mixer for the purpose
of securing uniformity in the quality of the metal preparatory to its treatment in
converters.
Now in practice difficulties have been experienced owing to the loss of tempera-
ture to which the molten metal is liable in the mixer and my invention has for
objects to obviate such difficulties by facilitating the heating of the mixer before
the molten metal is introduced into it and also by subsequently maintaining the
contents of the mixer at a suitable temperature for which purposes in connection
with the mixer I provide an air blast for promoting the combustion of fuel in the
__mixer to heat it; also after the mixer has been charged I cause a blast of air to be
forced into the molten metal contained in the mixer so as by promoting combustion
to maintain the required temperature.
The mixer is suitably adapted for the purposes indicated and is connected with
the blast main as required, but so nevertheless that the mixer remains free to be
turned on its axis or trunnions.
Dated this 10th day of January 1893
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Iron and Steel and in
Apparatus for the Purpose.
I, JAMES MORGAN WHILE, of Barrow in Furness, in the County of Lancaster,
Manager of the Barrow Steel Works, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 iron and steel it is now customary to draw charges from
a number of smelting furnaces or successive charges from one furnace and. to mix
them in a suitable mixer for the purpose of securing uniformity or approximate
uniformity in the quality of the metal preparatory to its treatment in converters.
But in practice difficulties have been experienced owing to the loss of temperature
to which the molten metal is liable in the mixer.
For example when starting say on Monday after the ordinary Sunday's stoppage
inconvenience is experienced owing to the difficulty of properly heating the mixer
before placing in it the molten iron; inconveniences also arise whilst working
during the week consequent upon a strong tendency of the molten iron to become
too cold before further treatment a result being the creation of "skulls "in ladles,
and a waste of iron owing to want of fluidity.
Now my invention has for objects to obviate such difficulties by facilitating the
heating of the mixer before the molten metal is introduced into it and also by

page_text: subsequently maintaining the contents of the mixer at a suitable temperature for
which purposes in connection with the mixer I provide an air blast for promoting
the combustion of fuel in the mixer to heat it; also after the mixer has been
charged cause a blast of air to be forced into the molten metal contained in the
mixer so as 'by promoting combustion or oxidation to maintain the required
temperature.
The mixer is suitably adapted for the purposes indicated and is connected with
the blast main as required, but so nevertheless that the mixer remains free to be
turned on its axis or trunnions as usual.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings,
Fig. 1 shews in transverse section one convenient form of mixer that may be
used.
Fig. 2 shews the same in vertical longitudinal section.
:
Fig. 3 shews in vertical section to a larger scale the construction of .tuyere. A
hereinafter described. The details for tilting the mixer. are omitted as being well
understood.
c is the mixer constructed as usual of metal with a refractory.lining. d is the
hopper, e the spout, ff are the manholes, g is the axis of the trunnions about which
the mixer can be tilted by any suitable mechanism. A. is a tuyere which in both
Figs. 1 and 2 is shewn in the position it occupies while the mixer is charged with
iron to the level B. In the example illustrated in Fig. 3 the tuyere. A comprises
a metallic tube a which is defended from the molten iron by a series of short
tubular fire bricks a' strung upon it and then set in fire clay. As will be seen the
upper end of the tube has a telescopic joint adapted to allow the tuyere to be lifted
when needful as for the purpose of ceasing blowing or of being changed.
With the construction illustrated or an analogous arrangement the heating of
the mixer can be readily performed by passing through the tuyere a current of air,
so that combustion of the gases formed by coal, coke, timber or other fuel may.readily
be effected; and likewise the heating of the molten iron can be ensured by forcing
a current of air through the tuyere into and through the molten mass, whereby
combustion or oxidation of a portion of the carbon or silicon will be caused to take
place thereby generating such an amount of heat as may be found desirable in each
particular case. and so thoroughly mixing the whole mass in a far more efficient
manner than has been found to be practicable by simply pouring the metal into the
mixer without further treatment. The blast of air passing through the tube of
the tuyere will keep down any excess of temperature in the tube.
Care must of course be taken as heretofore not to drain the metal too low in the
mixer and so get a badly mixed product.
The tuyere A may be fixed at any point found to be most convenient either at
the top, bottom or sides of the mixer, but I prefer to use it as shewn on the
drawing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In the manufacture of iron and steel, the method of heating a metal mixer,
preparatory to the introduction and mixing therein of successive or different
charges of molten metal, by causing combustion or oxidation in such mixer by
means of an air blast of suitable fuel as hereinabove described.
2. In the treatment of successive charges of molten metal within a mixer for the
purpose of securing uniformity or approximate uniformity in the quality of the
metal, subjecting the molten contents of the mixer to the action of an air blast
therein, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.
3. In the manufacture of iron and steel when using a metal mixer to secure
uniformity or approximate uniformity in the quality of the metal product, subjecting
the mixer to a preliminary heating by effecting combustion therein of suitable fuel
by means of an air blast; charging the mixer with successive charges of molten

page_text: metal; and subjecting such molten metal whilst in the mixer to the action of an
air blast, in the manner and by the means hereinabove described with reference to
the drawings.
Dated this 25th day of January 1893.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.