AN IMPROVED METHOD OF REMOVING BESSEMER CONVERTERS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR to
Year: 1884

page_text: We, PERCY CARLYLE GILCHRIST of 2 Wellington Place, Penn Fields, Wolver-
hampton Engineer and LEWIS GEORGE FITZMAURICE of 2 Wellesley Terrace
Bilston, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention for AN
IMPROVED METHOD OF REMOVING BESSEMER CONVERTERS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR
to be as follows:-
Hitherto when it has become necessary to renew the lining of a converter it has
been the custom to follow one of two methods; 1st either to reline the vessel
"in situ "
or 2nd to have the vessel specially made with a removeable shell and
separate belt, by the method known as the Holley system. Both of these systems
are open to objection for example. By the first (more especially when working
the basic process) a comparatively long time is required for re-lining during which
time not only is the converter itself idle but also the centre crane, ingot moulds,
ingot cranes &c which should be receiving metal from the converter so that in
order to keep the pit fully employed it is necessary to have a spare converter which
can be worked while the other is undergoing repairs, this of course necessitates the
duplication of much costly machinery, in addition to the actual converter, it also
takes up considerable space necessitating the use of larger pits, bigger cranes &c.
The second method known as the Holley system can only be applied to specially
constructed vessels and requires that the trunnion belt should be capable of being
removed from the converter shell. The object of our invention is to obviate these
disadvantages and not only to avoid the great waste of time required at present in
removing the lining, with the vessel in position and also (owing to the rapidity and
ease by which a vessel may be removed by our method) to obviate the necessity of
keeping fixed a spare vessel with its attendant machinery and shop, this we effect
by removing the vessel to be repaired by the method hereinafter described to the
repairing shop and replacing it by a vessel which has been already prepared for use,
the whole time employed in removing the worn vessel and replacing it by the fresh
one being only about three (3) hours from blow to blow. Under each converter is
placed an hydraulic ram on which rests a turntable supported on a pivot on which
it is capable of rotating, said pivot or centre pin may be drilled through the centre
to give facilities for oiling the ram is further supported by a cross head which
works against guides attached to the inner faces of the converter standards, by
TD 077

page_text: these means the ram is rendered incapable of any lateral movement caused by the
weight being unevenly distributed The method of removing the worn converter
is as follows.
The bottom section of the converter being removed, a converter carriage is run
upon the turntable under the converter and turned horizontally to an angle
of 45° from the line of rails. The converter is then turned nose downwards, the
plummer block glands are removed, the blast and tipping connections are severed,
the converter being thus left free to be lifted out of its bearings The converter
carriage is then lifted up by means of the hydraulic ram and the converter trunnions
are lifted clear of their bearings and whilst in this position the table and its
superimposed load is turned horizontally to an angle of 45° and then lowered to
the rail level the trunnions passing freely between the standards and the converter
is then removed to the repairing shop. A relined converter supported on a carriage
with the trunnions at right angles (horizontally) to their position when in their
bearings is run under the converter bearings and is lifted by means of the hydraulic
ram so that the trunnions are free to revolve above their bearings. The converter
is then turned horizontally to an angle of 45° and lowered into its bearings, the
glands of the plummer blocks are replaced and the blast and tipping gear are
connected.
In order to maintain the turntable in its horizontal plane it is made to project
down over the top of the ram and carries a series of rollers which not only steady
it but also prevent any undue friction when the table is being rotated. This
foregoing arrangement may be very readily applied to existing steel works by
which means the power of production may be considerably increased. It is evident
that a table or platform might be fixed to the head of the ram and guided at the
sides and have on its face a turntable of usual construction but such an arrangement
would have the drawback that slag and dirt would get amongst the rollers and
pivots and to a certain extent destroy its usefulness whereas by the before described
arrangement this would be impossible.

page_text: We PERCY CARLYLE GILCHRIST of 2 Wellington Place, Penn Fields, Wolver-
hampton, Engineer, and LEWIS GEORGE FITZMAURICE of 2 Wellesley Terrace
Bilston Engineer do hereby declare the nature of our said invention for
AN IMPROVED METHOD OF REMOVING BESSEMER CONVERTERS AND APPARATUS
THEREFOR, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
Hitherto when it has become necessary to renew the lining of a converter it
has been the custom to follow one of two methods.
1st either to reline the vessel "in situ " or 2nd to have the vessel specially
made with a removeable shell and separate belt by the method known as the Holley
system. Both of these systems are open to objection for example. By the first
(more especially when working the basic process) a comparatively long time is
required for re-lining during which time not only is the converter itself idle but
also the centre crane ingot moulds, ingot cranes &c which should be receiving
metal from the converter so that in order to keep the pit fully employed it is.
necessary to have a spare converter which can be worked while the other is
undergoing repairs, this of course necessitates the duplication of much costly
machinery, in addition to the actual converter, it also takes up considerable space
necessitating the use of larger pits, bigger cranes &c.
The second method known as the Holley system can only be applied to
specially constructed vessels and requires that the trunnion belt should be capable
of being removed from the converter shell.
The object of our invention is to obviate these disadvantages and not only to
avoid the great waste of time required at present in removing the lining with the
vessel in position and also (owing to the rapidity and ease by which a vessel may
be removed by our method) to obviate the necessity of keeping fixed a spare
vessel with its attendant machinery and shop, this we effect by removing the
vessel to be repaired by the method hereinafter described to the repairing shop, and
replacing it by a vessel which has been already prepared for use the whole time
employed in removing the worn vessel and replacing it by the fresh one being
only about three (3) hours from blow to blow.
To clearly explain our invention reference is made to the accompanying
drawings which form part of this specification, and in which similar letters of
reference are used to designate corresponding parts.
Figure 1 represents in elevation a Bessemer converter when resting in its
bearings, and by dotted lines shows its position when resting upon the truck.
Figure 2 represents in plan the cross head attached to the ram to keep it
perpendicular.
Figure 3 represents upon an enlarged scale the turntable and head of the
bydraulic ram.
Figure 4 represents a plan of Figure 3.
Under each converter A is placed an hydraulic ram B on which rests a turn-
table C supported on a pivot D on which it is capable of rotating, said pivot or
centre pin may be drilled through the centre to give facilities for oiling the ram is
further supported by a cross head E which works against guides F attached to the
inner faces of the converter standards, by these means, the ram is rendered
incapable of any lateral movement caused by the weight being unevenly distributed.
The method of removing the worn converter is as follows:-
The bottom section of the converter being removed, a converter carriage G is run
upon the turntable under the converter and turned horizontally to an angle of 45°

page_text: from the line of rails. The converter is then turned nose downwards, the plummer
block glands are removed, the blast and tipping connections are severed, the
converter being thus left free to be lifted out of its bearings.
The converter carriage is then lifted up by means of the hydraulic ram, and the
converter trunnions are lifted clear of their bearings and whilst in this position the
table and its super imposed load is turned horizontally to an angle of 45° and then
lowered to the rail level, the trunnions passing freely between the standards, and
the converter is then removed to the repairing shop. A relined converter supported
on a carriage with the trunnions at right angles (horizontally) to their position
when in their bearings run under the converter bearings and is lifted by means
of the hydraulic ram so that the trunnions are free to revolve above their
bearings. The converter is then turned horizontally to an angle of 45° and lowered
into its bearings, the glands of the plummer blocks are replaced and the blast and
tipping gear are connected. In order to maintain the turntable in its horizontal
plane it is made to project down over the top of the ram and carries a series of
rollers H, which not only steady it but also prevent any undue friction when the
table is being rotated. This foregoing arrangement may be very readily applied
to existing steel works, by which means the power of production. may be
considerably increased. It is evident that a table or platform might be fixed to
the head of the ram and guided at the sides and have on its face a turntable of
usual construction but such an arrangement would have the drawback that slag
and dirt would get amongst the rollers and pivots and to a certain extent destroy
its usefulness whereas by the before described arrangement this would be
impossible.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is-
1st The improved method of mounting Bessemer converters which consists in
first running the trolly carrying the same (at an horizontal angle of 45° to its
position when in place) upon the turntable and then raising the latter with its
superimposed load until the trunnions are free to revolve above the bearings then
turning the converter carriage in a horizontal plane and lowering the converter
until the trunnions find their seat in the bearings substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
2nd The improved method of dismounting or removing a Bessemer converter
which consists in first running the trolly on to the turntable and turning the latter
to an angle of 45° with the fixed line of rails, then raising the carriage and lifting
the converter until the trunnions are clear of their bearings then turning the turn-
table with its superimposed load back to the line of the rails and lowering the
converter all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3rd In apparatus for mounting and dismounting Bessemer converters the com-
bination with a lift or hydraulic ram of a turntable pivoted or moveably mounted
thereon and adapted to carry a converter carriage or trolly substantially as and for
the purposes described.
Dated this anwarth dow of Tanuary 1995