Improvements relating to the Conversion of Iron or Low Grade Steel into High Grade Steel, chiefly intended for the Treatment of Axles and Axle Boxes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 10th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 10th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 21st Mar., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Conversion of Iron or Low Grade
Steel into High Grade Steel, chiefly intended for the Treatment
of Axles and Axle Boxes.
We, THE STEEL FORGING AND BALL BEARING COMPANY LIMITED of
22 Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Manufacturers, and PERCY
HOLYOAKE, of the same address, Secretary of the said Company, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to an improved method of converting articles of iron or low
grade steel into high grade steel to a required depth and at the same time leaving
parts of the same unaffected, and 18 specially intended for the treatinent of axles and
axle boxes.
In order to carry our invention into practice we surround the axle, at the point
where it is to be converted, with a circular iron box, whose internal diameter is
greater than that of the axle itself. We then pack the annular space between the
axle and the box with a suitable carbonizing mixture such for example as bone
dust and charcoal, and in cases where it is desired to have part of the axle inside
the box in its original state we su round that part with some non-carbonizing
material, such, for example, as sand. We then pack the ends of the box with clay
or cther suitable material in order to exclude all free oxygen and bring the part
of the axle to be converted to a suitable heat below the melting point of cast iron,
by placing it in a furnace.
In cases where the axle box is to be hardened also we may use a box, itself of
larger diameter than the axle, as the outer box, and place the box or the axlo in the
position it would occupy in actual working. For example in the case of carriage
axles a box of a larger size could be placed on the end of an axle and after the
box has been packed and sealed with clay the box and axle end could be brought
to a suitable heat in a fire or furnace.
The depth to which it is desired to convert the articles can be regulated by
beating them for a longer or shorter time as required.
In some cases we place the axle and box, when ready for heating, vertically in a
gas furnace having holes in the top through which the axle arms can project and fill up
the space between the hole in the furnace and the axle to exclude as far as possible
free oxygen.
In the case of ball bearing axles where an annular space is left for the balls, this
space can be utilized to hold the carbonizing mixture.
We prefer in all cases to bring the articles, before they are converted, as nearly
as possible to their fiuished size.
Dated thin 10th day of May 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London W.C., Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements relating to the Conversion of Iron or Low Grade
Steel into High Grade Steel, chiefly intended for the Treatment
of Axles and Axle Boxes.
We, THE STEEL FORGING AND BALL BEARING COMPANY LIMITED, of
22 Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Manufacturers, and PEROY
HOLYOAKE, of the same address, Secretary of the said Company, 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 :-
Our invention relates to an improved method of converting articles of iron or low
grade steel into high grade steel from the surface inward to the required depth and
at the same time leaving parts of the same unaffected, and is especially intended for
the treatment of axles and axle boxes.
The accompanying drawing shows partly in section a portion of a carriage axle
enclosed in a box packed with the necessary substances for converting the metal of
the axle into high grade steel by the aforesaid method; the box is shown ia
longitudinal section.
In carrying our invention into practice we surround the part or parts of the
axle A which is or are to be converted into bigh grade steel with a circular iron
box B the internal diameter of which is greater than the diameter of the axle. We
then pack the annular space between the axle A and the box B with a suitable
carbonizing mixture C such for example as bone dust and charcoal. In some cases
where it is desired that part of the axle inside the box shall retain its original
unconverted state we surround that part with some non-carbonizing material, for
example sand, as indicated at E. We then pack the ends of the box B with clay
or other suitable material D in order to exclude all free oxygen. The box B and
the portion of the axle within it are then raised to a suitable temperature below the
melting point of cast iron, by placing them in a fire or furnace, and they are
maintained at this temperature for a sufficient length of time to couvert the axle to
the required depth.
In cases where the axle box is to be converted as well as the axle we use an
axle box of larger diameter than the axle in place of the aforesaid outer box, and
place the said axle box and axle in the relative positions they would occupy in
actual working. For example in the case of a carriago axle the axle box would be
placed on the end of the axle and packed and sealed with clay as above described
and then would be heated to a suitable temperature in a fire or furnace. The
box B shown in the drawing 18 an axle box.
The depth to which it is desired to convert any article can be regulated by
heating it for a longer or shorter time as required.
In some cases we place the axle and box when ready for beating vertically in a gas
furnace having holes in the top through which the axle can project, the space
between the hole in the furnace and the axle being filled to exclude from the furnace
as far as possible free oxygen.
In the case of a ball-bearing axle such as that shown in the drawing where an
annular space is left for the balls, this space can bo utilized to hold the carbonizing
mixture.
We prefer in all cases to bring the articles before they are converted as nearly
as possible to then finished size.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invon-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim 15:-
1. The method of converting an axle and its axle box by one operation substantially
as hereinbefore described.
2. The improved method of converting a carriage axle or axle-box or other
article of iron or low grade steel into high grade steel from the surface inward to
the required depth, and at the desired parts, substantially as hereinabove described.
10th February 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.