IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND STEEL BY THE BESSEMER PROCESS, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Gjers, of Middlesbrough on Tees, in the North
Riding of the County of York, Iron Master, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND
STEEL BY THE BESSEMER PROCESS, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR."
A com-
munication to him from abroad by C. A. Caspersson, of Westanfors, in the
Kingdom of Sweden.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Gjers at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th February 1880.
"
JOHN GJERS, of Middlesbrough-on-Tees, in the North Riding of the County of
York, Iron Master. IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH THE MANUFACTURE
OF IRON AND STEEL BY THE BESSEMER PROCESS, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR."
(A communication from abroad by C. A. Caspersson, of Westanfors, in the
Kingdom of Sweden.)
In the manufacture of iron and steel by the Bessemer process as usually practised
the metal is emptied from the converter into a moderately heated large ladle, which
is conveyed to the moulds into which the metal is then tapped from the ladle. In
this way there is a great loss of heat, and if the temperature of the molten metal
as drawn from the converter is not sufficiently high, it often results that the metal
poured out (especially in the last moulds) has cooled so much that it is no longer
quite fluid, and it follows that unsound ingots are produced, and some of the metal
not being fluid remains in the ladle as "sculls."
Now according to this Invention the molten metal is poured from the converter
through an apparatus attached thereto (and which I will call a funnel) directly into
the moulds in such a manner that most of the molten metal remains in the highly
heated converter whilst the pouring of metal into the moulds is being effected, and
thus the metal is kept at a high temperature until the whole has been poured into
moulds. Moreover this method admits of pouring the metal more slowly, and into
smaller moulds than usual if desirable.
The construction of the apparatus herein before referred to as a funnel, and which
is attached to the converter, may vary.
In the accompanying Drawings, which illustrate one form by way of example,
a (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) is a cylindrical vessel of wrought iron lined with refractory

page_text: material; it is fixed in the manner indicated by Figs. 6 and 7 on the nose or chimney
of the Bessemer converter after the blow is finished; Fig. 6 shews the position of
the converter whilst (after completion of the blow) the funnel is being applied
thereto and firmly fixed by means of two wedges b.
During the pouring of the molten metal into the moulds, which is regulated in
the usual manner by means of the lever c working the ordinary bottom plug, as
shewn, the converter is placed in the position shewn by Fig. 7%; some of the metal
is then in the funnel, but the bulk remains in the converter. The moulds into
which the metal is to be poured are placed below the funnel, on one or more bogies,
or on a turn-table, in order that when one mould is filled it may be removed with
ease and another substituted. As already stated other forms of apparatus may 'be
used in carrying out this Invention.
Furthermore, apparatus such as hereinabove referred to may be used with
advantage in the blowing of iron containing phosphorus when there is a large
quantity of slag to be dealt with, as by this means the whole of such slag will
be kept back until the steel has been run off, and can thus conveniently be run
into a bogie and be got rid of. The steel may in such case be run into a casting
ladle, and the necessary spiegel there added, thus obviating the difficulty which
ordinarily results from the spiegel acting upon and partly dephosphorising the slag,
causing some of the phosphorus to return to the steel.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Gjers in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th August
1880.
"
JOHN GJERS, of Middlesbrough on Tees, in the North Riding of the County of
York, Iron Master. IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH THE MANUFACTURE
OF IRON AND STEEL BY THE BESSEMER PROCESS, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR."
(A communication to me from abroad by C. A. Caspersson, of Westanfors, in the
Kingdom of Sweden.)
In
In the manufacture of iron and steel by the Bessemer process as usually practised
the metal is emptied from the converter into a moderately heated large ladle, which
is conveyed to the moulds into which the metal is then tapped from the ladle.
this way there is a great loss of heat, and if the temperature of the molten metal
as drawn from the converter is not sufficiently high it often results that the metal
poured out (especially in the last moulds) has cooled so much that it is no longer
quite fluid, and it follows that unsound ingots are produced, and some of the metal
not being fluid remains in the ladle as "sculls."
Now according to this Invention the molten metal is poured from the converter
through an apparatus attached thereto (and which I will call a converter ladle or
funnel) directly into the moulds in such a manner that most of the molten metal
remains in the highly heated converter whilst the pouring of metal into the moulds
is being effected, and thus the metal is kept at a high temperature until the whole
has been poured into moulds. Moreover this method admits of pouring the metal
more slowly and into smaller moulds than usual if desirable. Furthermore,
apparatus such as above referred to may be used with advantage in the blowing
of iron containing phosphorous when there is a large quantity of slag to be
eliminated.
One of the most simple forms of the converter ladle or funnel is represented, by
way of example, in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the Drawings, Figs. 1 and 3 being
elevations of two different sides, Fig. 4 a top view, and Fig. 2 a vertical
section.
When the blow of a Bessemer charge is finished, and the converter has been
partly turned, the converter ladle or funnel is closely fixed to the converter mouth,
as shown by Fig. 5; then the converter is turned still further, as shown by Fig. 6,
or so much that, but for the attached converter ladle or funnel, the converter would
be emptied. The fluid metal then stands partly in the converter and partly in the
converter ladle or funnel, and is ready to be cast in the moulds, which can be placed
on a turn table, or on waggons, or in any other convenient way for the operation
of casting. In this manner much heat will be saved which is lost by the usual
mode of casting by means of a ladle which receives the whole charge of fluid metal
at once from the converter, and is then moved for casting into the moulds. In
consequence of the heat retained by the use of the converter ladle or funnel, no
metal is caused to remain therein by cooling, and moreover sounder ingots can be
obtained.
Another advantage arising from the use of the converter ladle or funnel is that
when the casting of the metal into the moulds is performed with the usual ladle
the converter ladle or funnel will enable the metal to be got in the ladle separated
from the slag in the converter, which in some cases, as for instance, when pig iron
containing phosphorus is used, may be of great importance.
The converter ladle or funnel is furnished not only with the ordinary apparatus
for casting through its bottom, but also with an opening in its side, which opening
is so arranged that it fits to the mouth of the converter, and can be tightly fixed
to it. Furthermore, the converter ladle or funnel is so made that its tapping hole E
becomes vertical when the converter is turned in a position ready for casting, as
shown by Fig. 6.

page_text: These are the chief characteristics of the converter ladle or funnel, and they can
of course be obtained in different ways, as the shape of such a converter ladle
or funnel or appliance must always depend upon the form of the converter
mouth.
The converter ladle or funnel is made of iron-plates or other suitable material,
and is lined with ganister or other refractory substance. A is the side-opening,
which must fit to the mouth of the converter, to which it can be firmly fixed by
means of the wedges C and the eyes B, Fig. 5, or in any other convenient way.
The converter ladle or funnel being fixed to the converter the casting takes place
through the hole E in the bottom, as shown in Fig. C.
Having described the nature of my said Invention, and described the manner
of carrying it into practical effect, as communicated to me as aforesaid, I hereby
declare that what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as
secured to me under the Letters Patent herein before in part recited is,-
1. A casting "converter ladle" or funnel or appliance having a tapping hole in
the bottom, an opening at the side (projecting or otherwise) arranged to fit the
mouth of the converter with which it is to be used, and means for fastening such
converter ladle or funnel or appliance to the mouth of such converter, substantially
as hereinabove described.
2. The method, substantially as described, of casting Bessemer metal by causing
it to pass into moulds through a funnel or appliance, such as hereinbefore described,
fixed to the converter.
3. The method of separating the slag in the converter from the metal by the use
of a converter ladle or funnel or appliance, such as hereinabove described, fastened
to the mouth of the converter before the metal is run from the same into the usual
ladle for casting into the moulds.
In witness' whereof, I, the said John Gjers, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-second day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.