Improvements in Treating Molten Metals.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd July, 1895-Accepted, 24th Aug.,
1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
· Improvements in Treating Molten Metals.
I, EDWARD A. UEHLING, of 1110 North 24th Street, Birmingham, in the
County of Jefferson, and State of Alabama, United States of America, Mechanical
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:-
My invention relates to the treatment of molten metal by re-agents for the
purpose of purifying and rendering it more homogeneous, changing its chemical
character and hence its physical properties.
According to the nature, of the elements of which the revolving bodies are
composed and the end to be effected, these bodies are assimilated by the molten
metal or absorb from the same injurious elements forming a slag which separates
by gravity from the body of the metal rising to the top where it can be removed.
For example if the revolving body or bodies are composed of carbon and the
molten metal which is agitated by them is deficient in that element, it will be
absorbed and assimilated by the metal. If the revolving body is composed of
silicon, manganese or aluminum these elements will first satisfy their affinity for
oxygen and the excess will be assimilated by the metal. Manganese has in addition
to its affinity for oxygen also a great attraction for sulphur and is very efficient in
separating this most injurious element from the metal thus treated. If the revolving
body is composed of oxide of iron in connection with other basic material the
silicon will be removed from the metal bath and under favorable circumstances also
the phosphorus.
The above effects are very thoroughly realized in consequence of the rotation of
the bodies composed of the elements with which the metal is to be treated by my
invention. It is by no means new to treat metal, especially iron and steel in the
molten condition by adding thereto the very ingredients or re-agents which I have
named above, and many others which might be mentioned but the manner of doing
it has either been crude and wasteful or difficult to carry into effect.
The treating operations in actual use either do not agitate the molten mass at all'
and therefore cannot with certainty produce a homogeneous product or the agitation
is done subsequent to the introduction of the ingredients and almost universally by
manual labor which is of the severest nature.
In my invention the treatment and agitation occur simultaneously, are positive
and very thorough and take place without loss of metal or of the treating element.
The desired results can therefore be very closely approximated.
To accomplish this I form, or mold, or compact the ingredients or re-agents with
which the molten metal is to be treated into solids or bodies of revolution of any
desired size and shape, such as a sphere, cylinder, disk, cone, etc. which is suspended
by suitable means and caused to be rapidly rotated or agitated in a suspended
position within the body of the molten metal augmenting by the dissolving and
absorbing action of the metal on the agitating body which is thus caused to be very
rapidly worn away and the constituents thereof are thereby uniformly mixed and
assimilated with the metal, producing the desired effect and giving it a homogeneous
character.
For carrying my invention into practice and effecting the results stated I have
illustrated in the accompanying drawing one form of apparatus by which the body
of re-agents or chemicals having the form of a solid of revolution is suspended in
position to be rotated as a stirring body within a ladle or receptacle containing
molten metal

page_text: It will however be understood that my invention is not limited to any particular
form of suspending and operating carrier for giving the revolving motion to the
chemical bodies so long as the ingredients or re-agents forming such body to be
brought in contact with the metal are suspended therein as a dissolving body
revoluble on its axis of rotation and having the function of a stirrer while giving
off its constituents in the process of treating iron for the purpose stated.
In the drawing:
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a single carrier for suspending, immersing and
operating the body of the chemical ingredients or re-agents within the molten body
of metal to dissolve and assimilate the chemical therewith, and
Figs. 2 and 3 show different forins of bodies or solids of revolution into which
the chemical ingredients may be compacted or molded upon an attaching device
or core.
The chemical ingredients or re-agents having been properly mixed in plastic
condition are molded or compacted in any desired proportions, form and size,
preferably upon a core or stem a, as a means for attaching the molded body b, to
any suitable suspending carrier, which may be a spindle c, constructed for being
itself suspended by a rotating device. In the drawings, such rotating device
consists of a power-driven gear d, engaging a gear e, on the suspending spindle
whereby the latter is rapidly rotated with its body of chemical ingredients immersed
within the molten metal. The chemical ingredients or re-agents molded upon an
attaching stem as stated, forms a new article of manufacture and for this purpose
the stem terminates outside of the body in a screw e, whereby it may be screwed
into a corresponding socket f, in the lower end of the suspending spindle. Any
other suitable means for such attachment may be provided that will give a rigid
connection of the chemical body and spindle so as to hold the body firmly while
being rotated within the body of the molten metal. This construction gives the
advantage of allowing the attaching core to be conveniently removed from the
spindle when the body of the ingredients upon the core has been dissolved and
absorbed by the metal and another body of the chemical ingredients rigidly connected
to the spindle.
In this way the suspending and rotating device may be supplied with bodies of
the chemical ingredients to be used in the treatment of molten metal. The metal
in a fluid condition which the line g, in Fig. 1 may represent may be treated in any
suitable receptacle such as a furnace-hearth, ladle or crucible, and it will be
understood that it may not always be the object of the treatment to add desirable
chemical ingredients to the metal, or to increase the quantity of the chemical
constituents already contained in the metal. The treatment in the way and by the
means stated may have for its object the removal from the metal of injurious
elements. It may be desirable to increase the percentage of carbon in a bath of
metal. In such case the body or bodies for effecting such an addition are composed
of carbonaceous substances and are made of such weight as to impart to the metal
the exact quantity of the carbon desired by the rotation and agitation of such
body within the metal.
Other chemical elements may be incorporated in the metal in the same way,
and in this way a bath of molten metal may be purified. If oxygen and other
gases are to be removed the rotating body will be composed of alloys of manganese,
silicon, or aluminum. If silicon is to be removed these bodies are formed of basic
material, principally sesquioxide of iron. To remove sulphur ferro-manganese
would be used to form the removing agent. Phosphorus is removed by making
the dissoluble bodies of basic material containing certain percentage of oxide of
iron and carrying on the treatment in a basic-lined receptacle for the metal. These
examples refer more particularly to the purification, etc. of iron and steel, but it is
evident that the same treatment and means are applicable to the purification etc. of
any metal while in a molten condition by forming the revolving bodies of chemicals
suitable for the desired purpose.
This treatment carried on immediately after the metal is received into the

page_text: ceptacle and while I have shown a single body of the momen
spended for rotation within the metal-bath yet it is obvious that provision may
e made for suspending and operating a series of such bodies within the bath.
The prepared chemical bodies are immersed in the body of the metal or such
odies may be held suspended within the crucible, or other receptacle and set in
otion while the metal is being run into such receptacle but in either case the
hemical bodies have no contact or movement upon the bottom or walls of the
eceptacle and therefore cannot injuriously affect the lining thereof. The cohesive
onsistency of the molded body need only be such as to maintain its form under
It is important
he gradual dissolving and frictional action of the molten metal.
o notice that this dissolving action is due to the absorbing action upon the body
of chemicals and is rendered uniform upon the surface of the chemical body so
that the wear thereof is made equal throughout its surface until it is worn away to
ts suspending core and there is nothing lost.
My invention can be used with a fixed or with a movable hearth, ladle or
crucible for containing the metal, or the dissolving bodies may be adjustably
suspended.
In fact, my invention as an appliance used in the treatment of molten metal
with chemical constituents, can be set up and operated as such, independent of any
fixed connection with or construction of the receptacle containing the molten
metal..
It is also important to notice that my invention provides chemical bodies
composed of compositions suited for the desired treatment of molten metal, in the
exact proportions required for such treatment, and in a condition for use as a
complete thing having the means whereby it can be rigidly suspended from an
operating carrier which exposes the entire surface of such chemical body to the
dissolving action of the molten metal. This gives the advantage of making and
storing such bodies of different compositions as articles which may be sold to the
trade for use with any suitable suspending and operating contrivances in the
treatment of molten metal. I prefer that the suspended position of the chemical
body shall be such as to entirely immerse it in the molten metal within which its
rotation causes it to give off a portion throughout its surface and equally distribute
it in the absorbing action of the metal.
As such immersion will necessarily include to a greater or less extent the
attaching part or stem of the body and its revolving spindle which would thereby
become coated or clogged by the metal and render it impossible to renew the bodies
from time to time upon the suspending spindle and particularly by the screw joint
connection thereof shown, I provide the spindle with a sleeve of refractory material
so as to join the attaching end of the body and inclose and form a covering pro-
0 tection for the joint connection and for the spindle as shown in the drawings. This
protection it will be seen keeps the socket of the spindle free for the removal and
renewal of the bodies of the re-agents.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The process hereindescribed of treating molten metal with suitable re-agents,
which consists in molding or compacting the re-agents into a body having a form
suitable for rotating about an axis, submerging said body into the molten metal and
revolving said body on its axis of rotation whereby it is dissolved for the purpose
50 stated.
55
2. For use in the treatment of molten metal, a body composed of the re-agents
employed in such treatment having the form of a solid of revolution molded on
compacted about a core or hanger whose end terminates in a rigid detachable
coupling adapted for connection with a mechanically rotating device.
3. For the treatment of inolten metal, a body having a form suitable for rotating
about an axis, molded or compacted of the re-agents employed in said treatment

page_text: about a core, a suspending device upon which said body is molded, and suitable
means for mechanically revolubly operating said suspending device, substantially as
described.
4. The process hereindescribed of treating molten metals with suitable re-agents,
which consists in molding or compacting the re-agents into a body having a form
suitable for rotating about an axis and suspending, submerging and revolving said
body on its axis of rotation within the molten metal to effect its dissolving and
assimilation therewith.
"
5. For treating molten metal, the combination, with a body composed of the
re-agents employed in effecting such treatment having the form of a solid of
revolution and molded or compacted about a core or hanger, of a suitably suspended
shaft rigidly connecting said body, and suitable means for revolving said shaft with
its body of re-agents immersed within the molten metal, substantially as described.
6. For treating molten metal the combination with a body composed of the
re-agents employed in effecting such treatment having the form of a solid of
revolution and molded upon a central core terminating in a screw stem external to
said body, of a suitably suspended shaft having a screw socket for engaging the
screw stem of said body core, and suitable means for revolving said shaft and its
suspended body to effect the assimilation of the latter uniformly within the body of
the molten metal.
7. For treating molten metal, a body having the form of a solid of revolution
compacted or molded of the re-agents employed in effecting such treatment rigidly
mounted on a mechanically revoluble shaft for operation in suspension within the
body of the molten metal.
8. For treating molten metal, the combination with a body composed of the
re-agents employed in effecting such treatment having a form suitable for rotating
about an axis and molded about a core provided with suitable means for rigidly
connecting said body, of a properly mounted shaft with which said rigid connection
is made provided with a sleeve of refractory material inclosing and protecting such
connection, and suitable means for revolving said shaft with its body of re-agents
immersed within the molten metal, whereby the re-agent is dissolved.
9. The hereindescribed process of treating molten metal with suitable re-agents,
which consists in reducing the re-agents into a mastic, molding or compacting the
same into a body, submerging said body into the body of the metal and dissolving
the said immersed body of re-agents by the revolution of one of said bodies on its
axis of rotation.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1895.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.