IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND TREATMENT OF MALLEABLE IRON AND STEEL, AND IN FURNACES, MACHINERY, AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN SUCH MANU- FACTURE
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Bessemer, of Queen Street Place, New
Cannon Street, in the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND TREATMENT OF MALLEABLE IRON AND STEEL,
AND IN FURNACES, MACHINERY, AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN SUCH MANU-
FACTURE."
Sealed the 24th March 1863, and dated the 13th January 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Bessemer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th January 1863.
I, HENRY BESSEMER, of Queen Street Place, New Cannon Street, in the
City of London, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND TREATMENT OF MALLEABLE IRON AND STEEL,
AND IN FURNACES, MACHINERY, AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN BUCH MANUpac-
TURE," to be as follows:-
In the manufacture of malleable iron and steel direct from fluid crude iron,
or from remelted pig or refined iron, great facilities are obtained by giving
axial motion to the converting vessel, whereby the tuyeres may be made to
assume such a position that the whole of the metal may be run into the vessel
before the blast of air is turned on; the process can also be arrested at the
desired moment by a like change of position of the vessel and tuyeres, so that
the blowing need not continue during the discharge of the converted metal ;

page_text: but when single masses of cast malleable iron or steel are required of a weight
varying from 20 to 40 tons, the moveable converting vessel with its necessary
appliances becomes a very costly apparatus, and from its great weight is some-
what difficult to manage. I therefore prefer to use for very large charges of
metal a fixed vessel, consisting of a vertical cylinder lined in the usual manner,
and having a flat bottom and a domed top, terminating in an inclined opening
similar to the tops of the moveable converting vessels now in use; below the
converting chamber I form a shallow chamber or receiver with an inclined
bottom terminating in a spout, this receiver being also lined with brick, loam,
or ganister. The flat bottom of the converting vessel consists of an iron frame,
having numerous conical holes, into which tuyeres are fitted; on the top of
each tuyere a cap or disc of fire-clay is placed, and the spaces left between the
tuyeres are then filled up with ground ganister level with the top of the tnyere
caps, so that the interior of the converting vessel presents no appearance of
tuyere holes; the blast pipe communicates with the chamber below the tuyeres.
The spout before described being closed during the blowing operation before
the air is turned on, the whole of the charge of fluid iron may be run in
through a suitable opening made in the side of the vessel for that purpose.
The hole is then stopped with loam, and the valve on the blast pipe being
opened, the air will fill the receiver, and pressing on the under side of the
tuyere caps will immediately displace them and pass upward through the
metal, and thus clearly define the time of commencing the process, which may
be as suddenly arrested by the simultaneous shutting of the air pipe and
opening of the orifice or spout of the receiver; the metal being no longer sup-
ported by the pressure of air will rapidly descend through the numerous tuyere
holes into the receiver, and passing through the inclined spout may be received
in a large fixed or moveable ladle, provided with a valve or plug in the usual
way before running the converted metal into the mould it may be re-
carbonized by the addition of a carburet of iron, or it may be alloyed, or stirred,
or otherwise.treated, as may be desired. The tuyeres may, if preferred, be
inserted through the sides of the vessel instead of through the bottom of it,
and thus blow in horizontally or nearly so, in which case the tuyere should
have a bent passage formed in it, so that on ceasing to blow the metal may
find its level by running up the tuyeres without doing further injury to the
apparatus, the metal in such case being tapped out through a suitable opening
at the lowest level of the vessel, the orifices of the horizontal or inclined tuyeres
before named being protected from the metal with a disc or cap, as before
described. The recarbonization or alloying of the converted metal may take
place in the converting vessel or in the ladle. It will be obvious that con-

page_text: verting vessels constructed as herein-before described may be employed in the
conversion of small charges of crude molten iron into steel or into malleable
iron, although such vessels are specially adapted for the conversion of very
large charges of metal.
Although I have described such vessels as fixed vessels in order to distinguish
them from vessels having fixed axial motion, I nevertheless desire it to be
understood that such vessels may be made moveable on wheels so as to be
readily removed to or from the casting pit, or the upper part of such vessels
may be removed by a crane, the vessel being divided at a level somewhat above
the level of the charge of metal, or divided on a level with the upper ends of
the tuyeres, the upper portion of the vessel may thus be removed to facilitato
the repair of tuyeres, or it may at once be placed over another set of tuyeres,
and the process of conversion be completed.
The second part of my Invention relates to improvements in the construc.
tion of converting vessels having axial motion, and in the mode of changing
and repairing the tuyeres employed in such vessels; for this purpose I mako
the converting vessel with a moveable bottom, the lining of the vessel being
supported during the removal of the bottom by a ring of iron or steel bolted
to a stout hoop, rivetted around the lower part of the vessel; the tuyere box is
bolted to the moveable bottom, and is provided with three wheels, by which it
is wheeled away in conjunction with the bottom of the vessel, and is replaced
by another bottom of precisely similar construction. Whenever the tuyeres
require to be repaired several moveable bottoms are provided, and tuyeres are
set in them while they are away from the vessel. The mass of ganister in
which the tuyeres are embedded, and which forms the bottom lining of the
vessel, is dried in a proper drying stove. The tuyeres and bottom lining of
the vessel thus prepared may be employed for the conversion of a charge of
metal as soon as they are fastened to the under side of the vessel by means
of the cotters and bolts provided for that purpose, and thus a succession
of charges of metal may rapidly follow after each other without the delay
heretofore occasioned by setting a fresh set of tuyeres with wet ganister in the.
vessel, and consequently without the employment of the fuel in the vessel now
used to dry them before they can be used. A hydraulic ram placed below
the centre of the vessel is employed to lower and raise the bottom of the
vessel and tuyere box whenever it requires to be changed. The large opening
formed by the removal of the bottom of the vessel will allow the lining (when
too much worn) to be removed through it without the necessity of taking off
the upper part of the vessel, as heretofore practised; no upper joint in the
vessel is therefore made. A sound joint is made by a little lute formed of
D

page_text: fire-clay and ganister, or other suitable fire-resisting plastic material. This
lute is laid in a circle around the group of tuyeres, and at such a distance
beyond them that it will be passed between the under side of the lining of
the vessel and the upper surface of the moveable bottom. This lute is
firmly compressed by the hydraulic ram before referred to; after which the
cotters are driven home. The lute employed is so small in quantity as to be
rapidly dried on its surface when exposed to the heated interior of the vessel.
It will be observed that in this form of converting vessel the tuyeres may
be spread over the entire area of the bottom of the vessel at small distances
apart from each other, and thus distribute the blast more perfectly throughout
the metal. In order that free access may be had to the vessel I suspend from
the roof or walls by suitable framing an iron pipe lined with fire-brick or
loam in lieu of the brick chimney heretofore used to convey the heated vapours
and flame issuing from the vessel. The motion of the vessel on its axis I
prefer to effect by means of a hydraulic cylinder and piston acting vertically
direct upon a spur wheel on the axis of the vessel; such piston being actuated
by water under pressure in a manner well understood.
When a charge of metal has been converted into malleable iron or steel by
the forcing of atmospheric air below its surface, an addition thereto of molten
pig iron in small quantities is generally made when treating iron that has been
smelted with mineral fuel. A carburet of iron containing silicon and manganese
in a state of alloy being preferred for that purpose. Now it is very necessary
that this mixture of metals if made should be as complete as possible, it is
also desirable that the metal after such addition of carburet of iron has been
made should be exposed as little as possible to the action of atmospheric
air until after the mass has become solidified in the moulds. In order to
effect a thorough mechanical mixture of the converted and unconverted metal,
I fix up a vertical revolving shaft by means of brackets projecting from the
wall of the converting house in such a position that the casting ladle may be
brought directly under it. On this shaft I fix cross arms, paddles, or screw
blades of iron coated with loam, fire-clay, or other suitable slow conductor of
heat, and by engine power I put the shaft and paddles in motion. The
alloying metal may be put into the casting ladle before or after or during the
pouring in of the converted metal, or the metals may be put together in the
converting vessel before the converted metal is poured out. As soon as
the whole of the metal is in the ladle the crane is to be moved round until the
ladle is beneath the paddle shaft; the paddles are then put in motion, and
the ladle raised by the crane ram. The ladle may be moved gradually up and
down, or the paddle shaft may, if desired, be made to move upward and down-

page_text: ward in addition to its rotatory motion, or it may turn first one way round, and
then the reverse, or a simple reciprocating motion may be given to the paddle
or agitator. The object in cither case being to agitate and mechanically mix
the fluid particles as completely as possible, and thus produce therefrom a
homogeneous mass of metal. The surface of the metal under treatment may
be covered with charcoal, sand, clay powder, lime, or any other slow con-
ductor of heat that will exclude the atmosphere and assist in retaining the heat
of the metal without injuring its quality. It will be understood that this mode
of mechanically agitating and mixing the metal may also be employed in all
cases where alloys of any metal are intended to be mixed with malleable iron
or steel produced from crude or cast iron by the forcing of atmospheric air
into and among the particles of molten iron, whether such alloying metal be
added thereto in a molten, granular, or solid state. When the degree of car-
buration of converted metal is to be regulated by the addition thereto of a
carburet of iron after the converting process has ceased, and also when
any definite alloy is to be made with such converted metal and some
other metal, it is of great importance that the actual weight of metal to be
carburetted or alloyed should be first ascertained in order that the weight of
metal to be added thereto may be determined on; to effect this object with
accuracy, and to insure the desired temper or quality of cach charge of metal,
I support the casting ladle on a series of levers attached to the casting crane,
such levers being made and worked in a similar manner to those employed in
ordinary weighing machines. The empty ladle having its counterbalance
weight adjusted, the metal may be run into it from the converting vessel and
the weight taken, the carburet of iron or other alloy may be slowly added
until the desired proportion is indicated by the action of the apparatus, when
the whole may be agitated and mixed in the manner herein-before described.
Or in lieu of constructing the crane in such manner as to weigh the fluid
metal, a suitable weighing machine may be fixed in the casting pit in such a
position that the casting crane may pass over it, the arrangement for holding
the ladle on to the crane being such that the ladle of metal may be lowered
on to the platform of the said weighing machine and again lifted up with as
little delay as possible. And further, I desire it to be understood that although
the tuyeres herein-before mentioned may be made of the ordinary form, that is,
a truncated cone with a group of circular holes passing longitudinally through
them, such tuyeres may have a long narrow slit, or a series of narrow longi-
tudinal openings made therein in lieu of round holes, for the purpose of more
perfectly distributing the air throughout the metal; or the orifice of the tuycres
may consist of a narrow annular opening formed by the insertion of a plug or

page_text: central piece into a cylindrical opening of somewhat larger diameter made in
the tuyere or passage conducting air into the metal.
My said improvements also consist in certain modifications of the furnaces
employed in the manufacture of malleable iron and steel. In constructing
furnaces for the purpose of retaining the heat of cast ingots until they can be
conveniently operated upon by the hammer, pressing machine, or rolls; and
also for the purpose of reheating cold ingots so to be so treated, I construct
a furnace with a circular hearth or bed, formed on an iron frame, having a
central vertical spindle on which it may be slowly made to revolve. The
fire-place or admission for gas (where gas is employed as a heating medium)
is made on one side of the hearth, and a chimney or flue is formed in
connection with the opposito side of the hearth; one or two doors are also
provided for the purpose of putting in or taking out the ingots, which I prefer
to stand on end in a circle on the revolving bed. The bed may be formed in
a manner similar to beds or hearths of puddling furnaces, or it may be paved
with fire-bricks or stone, a little fuel being distributed over its surface as
usual, if desired. The furnaces employed in remelting pig iron for conversion
into malleable iron or steel cannot utilize the whole of the heat generated
therein, but allow a portion of such heat to escape up the chimney, the very
high temperature of the escaping vapours being such as to render their imme-
diate and direct application to the metal surface of a steam boiler more or less
unsafe. Now this part of my said improvements consists in conveying the
said vapours or products of combustion along a horizontal bricked flue covered
with a thin tile or brick arch, either perforated or otherwise. Above this arch
I place horizontally a steam boiler, by preference of the Cornish construction.
The heated mattors, after passing along this horizontal flue and giving out a
portion of their heat to the brick arch, and by radiation from it to the under
side of the boiler, return in an opposite direction by way of the internal flue
tube of the boiler, and ascend a tall chimney. When perforations or small
openings are made in the arch a circulation of hot vapours will take place
although the main body of heated matters will pass rapidly along the flue,
the steam so generated being afterwards used to drive the blast engine or
other machinery employed in the manufacture of malleable iron or steel. The
furnaces employed in reheating ingots or forgings, or in retaining the heat of
the recently cast ingots, may also be provided with a flue constructed as
herein-before described; and the escaping heat of such furnaces may be also
utilized in the generation of steam to be employed in driving the blast engine
and in working force pumps for acting with hydraulic pressure, and giving
motion to the converting apparatus and to the cranes and lifts employed in

page_text: connection therewith. For this purpose I combine in one apparatus the blast
engine and the said force pumps employed in moving the cranes and lifts; and
the force pumps employed for working hydraulic presses and hydraulic cutting
apparatus used in pressing or "cogging," and shaping or cutting cast ingots of
mallcable iron or steel, for this purpose I prefer to employ the kind of blast engine
described in a Patent granted to me on the 1st day of March 1860, No. 578;
I make an additional crank on the engine shaft and so modify the shape of
the bed or foundation plate that a plummer block may be secured thereto; on
cach side of the said additional crank I also employ a fly wheel of greaterdiameter
and weight than would be necessary for the blast engine in its uncombined
state; the additions to the bed plate also form a secure holding for the force
pumps and guides, so that the whole may be combined in the same frame.
For working the smaller forec pumps used for cranes and lifts excentrics may
be formed on the engine shaft, the pumps and valves fitted thereto being made
in a manner well understood.
Lastly, my said Invention consists in a mode of treating ingots or masses of
cast malleable iron or steel and preparing them for the manufacture of plates or
sheets by the process of rolling. For this purpose I subject the cast ingot (by
preference while still hot from the casting) to the action of the hydraulic press,
whereby its section will be reduced, and the mass will become elongated. If
round plates be required I press the ingot into a plain solid cylinder; if square
or rectangular plates be required I press the ingot into a square or rectangular
form in cross section, after which I cut it into slices of any desired thickness
by means of a suitable knife or cutter moving up and down in a hydraulic
cutting press, preferring for this purpose of pressing and cutting the kind of
press described in the Provisional Specification filed by me on the 5th day of
January 1863, (No. 37); the slices or transverse cuttings of the ingot are
then to be rolled into plates or shects in the usual manner.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Bessemer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th July 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
BESSEMER, of Queen Street Place, New Cannon Street, in the City of London,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of January, in the year of our

page_text: Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Henry Bessemer, Her special licence that I, the said Henry
Bessemer, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Henry Bessemer, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
" IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND TREATMENT OF MALLEABLE IRON
AND STEEL, AND IN FURNACES, MACHINERY, AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN BUCH
MANUFACTURE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry
Bessemer, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describo
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
"
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Bessemer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
In the manufacture of malleable iron and steel direct from fluid crude iron
or from remelted pig or refined iron great facilities are obtained by giving
axial motion to the converting vessel whereby the tuycres may be made to
assume such a position that the whole of the metal may be run into the vessel
before the blast of air is turned on; the process can also be arrested at the de-
sired moment by a like change of position of the vessel and tuycres, so that the
blowing need not continue during the discharge of the converted metal. But
when single masses of cast malleable iron or steel are required of a weight
varying from 20 to 40 tons, more or less, the moveable converting vessel with
its necessary appliances becomes a very costly apparatus, and from its great
weight is somewhat difficult to manage. I therefore prefer to use for very
large charges of metal a fixed vessel constructed in the manner represented in
vertical section at Figure 1, and in elevation at Figure 2 on Sheet A of the
Drawings hereunto annexed, Figure 3 being a plan of the under side of the
partition b, shewn in Figure 1. The converting vessel a consists of an upright
cylindrical vessel made of strong plate iron, and lined with "ganister" or firc-
brick, or other refractory material as shewn at a*; it is divided into three parts

page_text: attached together by flanges and bolts as shewn at a¹ and a, the converting
chamber a has a flat cast-iron partition & having strong ribs 6* formed on its
under side, and is provided with numerous conical openings as shewn at c*,
Figure 3, into which the fire clay tuyeres c arc fitted, the converting chamber
consisting of a vertical cylinder lined in the usual manner and having a flat
bottom or partition and a domed top terminating in an inclined opening a
similar to the tops of the moveable converting vessels now in use, below the
converting chamber I form a shallow chamber or receiver d with an inclined
bottom d* terminating in a spout e, this receiver being also lined with brick,
loam, or ganister is covered over by the flat partition 6 of the converting vessel
shewn at Figure 3, and which consists of an iron frame having numerous
conical holes into which the tuyeres are fitted, the bottom as of the receiver is
provided with a flange a' by means of which it is secured to the iron plates of
which the cylindrical part of the vessel a is formed, the space within and above
the flange a' is filled with ganister with its surface inclined at an angle down-
ward towards the spout e, the mouth of this spout is formed with a moulded
and baked piece of fire clay e* through which the molten metal flows, and is
thereby prevented from coming in contact with the iron tubular projection f
formed on the side of the vessel; a cap of metal g is hinged to the upper part
of the tubular piece fand has its face accurately fitted to the surface of the
piece f so as to form when pressed down by a suitable lever a nearly air-tight
joint, the cap g being arranged on a joint so as to be suddenly lifted up into
the position shown by dots at g*, and thus allow the metal to flow from tho
receiver d into the ladle whenever the blowing operation ceases. The
receiver d is lined with bricks or loam and is provided with a manhole at i by
means of which access may be had for the purpose of putting in new tuycres
when necessary. On the top of cach tuyere a flat circular cap or disc of fire
clay m is placed, and the spaces left between the tuyeres are then filled up
with ground ganister level with the top of the tuyere caps m so that the
interior of the converting vessel presents no appearance of tuyere holes. The
orifice of the main blast pipe communicates with the receiver or chamber das
shewn at j. The spout e before described being closed during the blowing
operation. Before the air is turned on the whole of the charge of fluid iron
may be run in through a suitable opening made in the side of the vessel for
that
purpose as shewn at k. The hole is then stopped with loam and the
valve on the blast pipe being opened the air will fill the receiver d and pressing
on the under side of the tuyere caps m will immediately displace them and
pass upward through the metal, and thus clearly define the time of commencing
the process, which may be as suddenly arrested by the simultaneous shutting.

page_text: of a suitable valve on the air pipe j and the opening of the orifice or spout e
of the receiver the metal being no longer supported by the pressure of air will
rapidly descend through the numerous tuyere holes into the receiver d, and
passing through the inclined spout may be received in a large fixed or moveable
ladle provided with a valve or plug in the usual way as shewn at p; before
running the converted metal into the mould t it may be recarbonized by the
addition of a carburet of iron, or it may be alloyed, or stirred, or otherwise
treated as may be desired. The tuyeres may if preferred be inserted through
the sides of the vessel instead of through the bottom of it, and thus blow in
horizontally or nearly so, in which case the tuyere should have a bent passage
formed in it so that on ceasing to blow the metal may find its level by running
up the tuyeres without doing further injury to the apparatus, the metal in such
case being tapped out through a suitable opening at the lowest level of the
vessel, the orifices of the horizontal or inclined tuyeres before named being
protected from the metal running into them by a disc or cap as before described.
The recarbonization or alloying of the converted metal may take place in the
converting vessel or in the ladle. It will be obvious that converting vessels
constructed as herein-before described may be employed in the conversion of
small charges of crude molten iron into steel or into malleable iron, although
such vessels are specially adapted for the conversion of very large charges of
metal. Although I have described such vessels as fixed vessels in order to
distinguish them from vessels having axial motion, I nevertheless desire it to
be understood that such vessels may be made moveable on wheels so as to be
readily removed to or from the casting pit, or the upper part of such vessels
may be removed by a crane, the vessel being divided at a level somewhat
above the level of the charge of metal, or divided on a level with the upper
ends of the tuyeres, the upper portion of the vessel may thus be removed to
facilitate the repair of tuycres, or it may after the conversion of a charge of
metal be at once placed over another set of tuyeres and the process of con-
version be repeated.
The second part of my Invention relates to improvements in the construction
of converting vessels having axial motion, and in the mode of changing and
repairing the tuyeres employed in such vessels.
In order that this portion of my said Invention may be fully understood
I have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings marked B, whercon the said
apparatus is in part represented.
Figure 1, Sheet B, is a vertical section of the converting vessel of the
hydraulic apparatus employed for lowering the bottom of the converting
vessel when the tuyeres require to be changed; this Figure shows the buyere

page_text: box and bottom of the vessel removed. Figure 2 is a vertical section taken
through the hydraulic apparatus employed to give axial motion to the vessel,
the latter being shewn in elevation; this Figure also shews in section the
standard or support on which the axis of the vessel rests. Figure 3 is a front
clevation of the converting vessel, and both of the standards or supports on
which it rests; and Figure 4 is a horizontal cross section through the hydraulic
cylinder shewn in Figures 1 and 2. This converting vessel is also shewn in
vertical section at Figure 5, Sheet A, with the bottom of the vessel and
tuyere box fastened thereto, a sectional plan of the converting vessel is also
shewn at Figure 6, Sheet A, and at Figure 1, on Sheet C, I have also
shown on a larger scale a vertical section through the axis and air valves,
and at Figure 2 on the same Sheet a cross section through the axis of the
vessel. The same letters are employed on Sheets A, B, and C, to denote
a repetition of the parts in the several Figures, in which this apparatus is
shewn.
In carrying this part of my Invention into practical operation I make
the converting vessel a with a moveable bottom a*, the lining of the vessel a¹
being supported during the removal of the bottom by a ring of iron or steel b,
bolted to a stout hoop c, rivetted around the lower part of the vessel a;
the tuyere box d is bolted to the moveable bottom a*, and is provided with
three wheels e by which it is wheeled away in conjunction with the bottom
of the vessel, and is replaced by another bottom of precisely similar con-
struction whenever the tuyercs require to be repaired. Several tuyeres are
employed, one of which is shewn in vertical section at f in Figure 1,
Sheet B.
When making vessels according to my present Invention several moveable
bottoms are provided and tuyeres are set in them while they are away from
the vessel, the mass of ganister in which the tuyeres are embedded, and which
forms the bottom lining of the vessel is dried in a proper drying stove, the
tuyeres and bottom lining of the vessel thus prepared may be employed for the
conversion of a charge of metal as soon as they are fastened to the under side
of the vessel by means of the cotters and bolts g, provided for that purpose,
and thus a succession of charges of metal may rapidly follow after each other
without the delay heretofore occasioned by setting a fresh set of tuyeres with
wet "ganister in the vessel, and consequently without the employment of the
fuel in the vessel now used to dry them before they can be used. A hydraulic
ram placed below the centre of the vessel is employed to lower and raise
the bottom of the vessel and tuyere box whenever it requires to be changed.
The ram or plunger his formed into a hemisphere at its upper end at h*,

page_text: which fits into a socket formed on the under side of the strong ribbed plate i.
The lower end of the ram is fitted into a hydraulic cylinder j, the joint being
formed by a leather ring or cup in the usual way, a pipe / conveys water into
the cylinder by which means the movement of the ram is controlled. The
large opening formed by the removal of the bottom of the vessel will allow the
lining (when too much worn) to be removed through it without the necessity
of taking off the upper part of the vessel as heretofore practised, no upper
joint in the vessel is therefore made. A sound joint is made at the junction
of the moveable bottom with the vessel by a little lute as shewn at Q,
Figure 1, it may be formed of fire-clay and ganister, or other suitable fire-
resisting plastic material, this lute is laid in a circle around the group of
tuyeres and at such a distance beyond them that it will be pressed between
the under side of the lining of the vessel and the upper surface of the moveable
bottom, this lute is firmly compressed by the hydraulic ram before referred.
to, after which the cotters are driven home, the lute employed is so small in
quantity as to be rapidly dried on its surface when exposed to the heated
interior of the vessel. It will be observed that in this form of converting
vessel the tuyeres may be spread over the entire area of the bottom of the
vessel at small distances apart from each other, as shewn at f, Figure 6,
Sheet A, and thus distribute the blast more perfectly throughout the metal.
In order that free access may be had to the vessel I prefer to suspend from
the roof or walls by suitable framing a large open mouthed iron pipe lined
with fire-brick or loam in lieu of the brick chimney heretofore used to
convey the heated vapours and flame issuing from the vessel. The motion
of the vessel on its axis I prefer to effect by means of a hydraulic cylinder
and piston acting vertically direct upon a spur wheel on the axis of the
vessel (in lieu of the horizontal hydraulic apparatus heretofore employed)
such piston being actuated by water under pressure in a manner well under-
stood.
In carrying into practice this part of my said Invention I construct a
support for the vessel of a hollow pyramidal form, as shewn at 7; the upper
part projects forward, and is formed into a double plummer block *, *,
which supports the axis of the vessel on which a spur wheel m is keyed.; the
support also projects forward at foot, and supports the upper flange n* of
the hydraulic cylinder n. In this cylinder is fitted a piston o, having a double
set of leathers, so as to form a water-tight joint in both directions. The
piston rod p is formed into a rack at p*, gearing into the wheel m, so that when
water under sufficient pressure is admitted by the pipe q beneath the piston,
the movement of it upward will lower the mouth of the converting vessel,

page_text: while a reversal of the valves will allow the water to escape from beneath the
piston, and admit the water under pressure above the piston and produce a
motion of the vessel in an opposite direction. The other axis of the vessel is
also supported on a hollow pyramidal casting, the upper part being formed
into a plummer block, and the foot of the casting forming a support for the
pipe and equilibrium valve s, shewn on a larger scale in section at Figure 1,
Slicet C. Instead of forming the axis W of the vessel hollow for the air to
pass through in the ordinary manner, I prefer to fit upon the axis a tube t,
having ribs formed along the inside thereof, which fit tightly against the
axis of the vessel, while the spaces between these ribs form channels along
which the air passes to a chamber, into which the pipe is fitted. The
exterior of the tube is fitted to the plummer block, and is provided with a
stuffing box at v, so as to keep an air-tight joint with the pipe w, which com-
municates direct with the equilibrium valve. On the flange of the stuffing
box va disc or cam 2 is fitted which moves round with the axis of the
vessel, and by the inclines formed on its periphery it moves up and down the
lever, and thus raises or lowers the valves at the proper time. One end of
the lever x is jointed to the top of the plummer block cap, and the other end
passes through a slot in the valve rod which is guided by the arched casting y ;
the valve is retained in its seat by the ball, which is secured to the top valve
rod. In order to facilitate the removal of the tuyere box when required, the
pipe u is provided with a sliding piece A, having a stuffing box formed at its
upper edge, and a stud B formed at each side. The tuyere box & has a pro-
jecting pipe d* formed on it on one side, its end terminating in an elbow,
the upper surface of which is truly faced and made to fit against the lower
edge of the sliding piece A, so that whenever the tuyere box has to be
removed, it is only necessary to loosen the screw C, and remove the bridle
picce D from the studs B, and the joint is undone; the joint is better kept if a
ring of india-rubber be placed between the surfaces. It will be observed that,
in the arrangement of apparatus here shewn, the converting vessel is placed
high enough to admit of the removal of the bottom of the vessel on the floor
level of the building. When lowering the bottom of the vessel the wheels e
will rest on the floor, as shewn at F, Figure 1, Sheet B.
When a charge of metal has been converted into malleable iron or steel by
the forcing of atmospheric air below its surface, an addition thereto of molten
pig iron in small quantities is generally made when treating iron that has
been smelted with mineral fuel, a carburet of iron containing silica and
manganese in a state of alloy being preferred for that purpose; now, it is

page_text: very necessary that this mixture of metals, if made, should be as complete as
possible; it is also desirable that the metal, after such addition of carburet of
iron has been made, should be exposed as little as possible to the action of
atmospheric air until after the mass lias become solidified in the moulds. In
order to effect a thorough mechanical mixture of the converted and uncon-
verted metal I fix up a vertical-revolving shaft by means of brackets project-
ing from the wall of the converting house in such a position that the casting
ladle may be brought directly under it. On this shaft I fix cross arms, paddles,
or screw blades of iron coated with loam, fire-clay, or other suitable slow con-
ductor of heat, and by engine power I put the shaft and paddles in motion ;
this arrangement is shown on Sheet C of the annexed Drawings, where
Figure 3 is an elevation of the mixing apparatus with the casting ladle
beneath it in vertical section. A frame A is bolted to the wall of the building,
and serves to support the vertical shaft B, which receives rotatory motion from
the bevilled wheels C and D. At E is a socket into which the axis F of the
paddle or agitator G is keyed; this axis and the paddles are roughened or
perforated in order the better to retain a coating of loam or fire clay employed
as a means of protecting the apparatus from direct contact with the molten
metal. The ladle is supported at the end of the crane arm II, and is capablo
of being raised or lowered when required.
The alloying metal may be put into the casting ladle before, or after, or
during the pouring in of the converted metal, or the metals may be put together
into the converting vessel before the converting metal is poured out of it. As
soon as the whole of the metal is in the ladle the crane is to be moved round
until the ladle is beneath the paddle shaft; the paddles are then put in
motion, and the ladle raised by the crane ram. The ladle may be moved
gradually up and down, or the paddle shaft may, if desired, be made to move
upward and downward in addition to its rotatory motion, or it may turn first
one way round and then the reverse, or a simple reciprocating motion may be
given to the paddle or agitator, the object in either case being to agitate and
mechanically mix the fluid particles as completely as possible, and thus
produce therefrom a homogeneous mass of metal. The surface of the metal
under treatment may be covered with charcoal, sand, clay powder, lime, or
any other slow conductor of heat that will exclude the atmosphere and assist
in retaining the heat of the metal without injuring its quality. It will be
understood that this inado of mechanically agitating and mixing the metal may
also be employed in all cases where alloys of any metal are intended to be
mixed with malleable iron or steel produced from crude or cast iron by the

page_text: forcing of atmospheric air into and among the particles of molten iron,
whether such alloying metal be added thereto in a molten, granular, or solid
state.
When the degree of carburation of converted metal is to be regulated by
the addition thereto of a carburet of iron after the converting process has
ceased, and also when any definite alloy is to be made with such converted
metal and some other metal, it is of great importance that the actual weight
of metal to be carburetted or alloyed should be first ascertained in order that
the weight of metal to be added thereto may be determined on. To
effect this object with accuracy, and to insure the desired temper or quality of
each charge of metal, I support the casting ladle on a series of levers attached
to the casting crane, such levers being made and worked in a similar manner
to those employed in ordinary weighing machines, and which are well under-
stood. The empty ladle having its counterbalance weight adjusted, the metal
may be run into it from the converting vessel and the weight taken, the
carburet of iron or other alloy may be slowly added until the desired pro-
portion is indicated by the action of the apparatus, when the whole may be
agitated and mixed in the manner herein-before described. Or in lieu of con-
structing the crane in such manner as to weigh the fluid metal, I prefer that
a suitable weighing machine may be fixed in the casting pit in such a position
that the casting crane may pass over it, the arrangement for holding the ladle
on to the crane being such that the ladle of metal may be lowered on to the
platform of the said weighing machine, and again lifted up with as little delay
as possible.
And in order that the arrangement which I prefer of detaching the casting
ladle from the crane, and placing it on the weighing machine may be fully
understood, I have shewn the casting ladle in elevation at Figure 4, and in
plan at Figure 5, and also in elevation detached from the crane and resting on
the weighing machine in Figure 6, Sheet C of the annexed Drawings. The
axis I of the ladle has keyed upon it a T picce N, the upper part of which
receives two conical ended pins P, P, these pins are fixed firmly into the
hoop Q, which embraces the upper part of the ladle, a similar hoop R passes
round the lower part of the ladle and is provided with lugs R*, between which
the lower limb N* of the T piece is fitted, a hole is made through these lugs
in order to secure the ladle in place while turning the ladle round on its axis.
When the cranc arm is turned round so as to bring the ladle over the weighing
machine, the crane is to be lowered until the ladle is made to rest its three
fect S, S, S, on to the table Z, of the weighing machine, the further movement

page_text: downward of the crane arm will withdraw the pins P, P, from the T piece,
and thus allow the ladle to rest its entire weight freely on the weighing machine;
the upward movement of the crane arm will reattach the ladle as before.
And, further, I desire it to be understood that although the tuyeres herein-
before mentioned may be made of the ordinary form, that is, a truncated conc,
with a group of circular holes passing longitudinally through them, such tuyeres
may have a long narrow slit or a series of narrow longitudinal openings made
therein in lieu of round holes for the purpose of more perfectly distributing the
air throughout the metal; or the orifice of the tuyeres may consist of a narrow
annular opening formed by the insertion of a plug or central piece into a
cylindrical opening of somewhat larger diameter made in the tuyere or passage
conducting air into the metal. The shape of the tuyere orifices and the
position they bear with reference to each other will be fully understood by
reference to Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, on Sheet C, each Figure represent-
ing that end of the tuyere from which the air passes into the metal.
My said improvements also consist in certain modifications of the furnaces
employed in the manufacture of malleable iron and steel. In constructing
furnaces for the purpose of retaining the heat of cast ingots until they can be
conveniently operated upon by the hammer, pressing machine, or rolls, and
also for the purpose of reheating cold ingots so to be treated, I construct a
furnace with a circular hearth or bed formed on an iron frame having a
central vertical spindle on which it may be slowly made to revolve, the fire-place
or admission for gas (where gas is employed as a heating medium) is made
on one side of the hearth, and a chimney or flue is formed in connection with
the opposite side of the hearth, one or two doors are also provided for the
purpose of putting in or taking out the ingots which I prefer to stand on end
in a circle on the revolving bed. The bed may be formed in a manner similar
to the beds or hearths of puddling furnaces, or it may be paved with fire-
bricks or stone, a little fuel being distributed over its surface as usual, if
desired.
The mode of constructing these circular heating furnaces is represented on
Sheet D, of the Drawings hereunto annexed, Figure 1 being a vertical
section through the heating furnace, and also through a steam boiler employed
in connection therewith; Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the same, and
Figure 3 is a cross section through the steam boiler and flues.
a is a cast-iron plate having a deep channel around its outer edge in which
fire-bricks b are placed upon end, the central part being also covered with
fire-bricks; the plate a is supported on a vertical spindle c resting in a foot

page_text: step d, the upper part of the spindle is kept in place by passing through a
girder e, which rests on the side walls of the furnace, the circular bed of the
furnace is made to revolve by means of a worm wheelf, acting on a ring of cogs
formed on the under side of the plate; a door g is provided at one side for
the admission of the ingots h, and a door i is made on the opposite for their
removal; a fluej is made either to conduct the heated matters direct to the
chimney, or the heat so escaping from the furnace may be utilized by applying
the same for the generation of steam for driving the blast engine or for working
other apparatus to be employed in forging, rolling, or shaping the ingots of iron
or steel. When employing boilers in connection with the heating furnace before
described, I prefer not to bring the heated products of combustion immediately
on its escape from the furnace into direct contact with the steam boiler, but I
prefer to pass such highly heated matters along a flue having a brick arch,
either perforated or solid, and I place the boiler above the arch so that the
heated brick work may transmit a portion of the heat to the boiler. The heated
vapours after traversing this flue, and being thereby reduced in temperature,
may be passed through flues or otherwise applied direct to the metallic surface
of the boiler; the brick arch before referred to may be perforated so as to allow
a still further application of heat to the under side of the boiler by reason of
some of the vapours passing up through such perforations, but nevertheless
so that no direct draught or current of vapours may pass along and in contact
with the boiler.
In the illustration I have given of the mode of working circular heating
furnaces in connection with a steam boiler on Sheet D, this mode of heating
boilers is also represented. In Figures 1 and 3 the arch m is shewn, under
which the heated matters are conveyed to the furthest part of the boiler before
coming in direct contact with it; n shews the space between the arch m and
the boiler p; atq are openings by which a still greater heat may be transmitted
to the boiler without bringing the main current of heated matters in contact
therewith. The products of combustion after passing along the internal flue
tube and returning in an opposite direction by the flue tube s cscape into the
chimney t.
The furnaces employed in remelting pig iron for conversion into malleable
iron or steel cannot utilize the whole of the heat generated therein, but allow
a portion of such heat to escape up the chimney, the very high temperature of
the escaping vapours being such as to render their immediate and direct
application to the metal surface of a steam boiler more or less unsafe.
Now this part of my said improvements consists in conveying the said

page_text: vapours or products of combustion (escaping from furnaces employed in melting
iron for conversion into steel by passing atmospheric air into and through the
fluid metal) along a horizontal bricked flue, covered with a thin tile or brick
arch, either perforated or otherwise; above this arch I place horizontally a steam
boiler by preference of the Cornish construction. The setting of the boiler
and the arrangement of the flues may be the same as represented in Figures 1,
2, and 3, Sheet D, where a steam boiler is shown in connection with a heating
furnace, the heated matters escaping from the furnace after passing along the
horizontal fluc and giving out a portion of their heat to the brick arch, and by
radiation from it to the under side of the boiler return in an opposite direction
by way of the internal fluc tube of the boiler, and ascend a tall chimney; when
perforations or small openings are made in the arch a circulation of hot
vapours will take place although the main body of heated matters will pass
rapidly along the flue, the steam so generated being afterwards used to drive
the blast engine or other machinery employed in the manufacture of malleable
iron or steel. The furnaces employed in reheating ingots, or forgings, or in
retaining the heat of the recently cast ingots may also be provided with a flue
constructed as herein-before described as applicable to the furnaces employed
in melting iron, and the escaping heat of such reheating furnaces may be also
utilized in the generation of steam to be employed in driving the blast engine
and in working force pumps for acting with hydraulic pressure, and giving
motion to the converting apparatus, and to the cranes and lifts employed in
connection therewith. In the construction of engines for this purpose I combine
in one apparatus the blast engine and the said force pumps employed in
moving the cranes and lifts, and the force pumps employed for working
hydraulic presses and hydraulic cutting apparatus used in pressing or "cogging"
and shaping or cutting cast ingots of malleable iron or steel; for this purpose
I prefer to employ the kind of blast engine described in a Patent granted to
me on the First day of March, 1860, No. 578. I make an additional crank
on the engine shaft of such blast engine and so modify the shape of the
bed or foundation plate that a plummer block may be secured thereto on
each side of the said additional crank. I also employ a fly wheel of greater
diameter and weight than would be necessary for the blast engine in its un-
combined state, the additions to the bed plate also form a secure holding for the
force pumps and guides, so that the whole may be combined in the same frame.
For working the smaller force pumps used for cranes and lifts excentrics may
be formed on the engine shaft, the pumps and valves fitted thereto being made
in a manner well understood.

page_text: Lastly, my said Invention consists in a mode of treating ingots or masses
of cast malleable iron or steel and preparing them for the manufacture of plates
or sheets by the process of rolling. For this purpose I subject the cast ingot
(by preference while still hot from the casting) to the action of the hydraulic
press, whereby its section will be reduced, and the mass will be somewhat clon-
gated, the metal being also condensed and rendered more suitable for the
operation of slicing. If round plates be required I press the ingot into a plain
solid cylinder, if square or retangular plates be required I press the ingot into
a square or rectangular form in cross section, after which I cut it into slices of
any desired thickness by means of a suitable knife or cutter moving up and
down in a hydraulic cutting press, or other suitable apparatus. I prefer for
the purpose of pressing and cutting the ingots or blooms the kind of press
described in the Provisional Specification of a Patent filed by me on the 5th
day of January 1863, No. 37, a Complete Specification of which was duly filed
on the 5th day of July 1863. The slices or transverse cuttings of the ingots or
blooms are to be rolled into plates or sheets by a rolling mill in the usual
manner.
Having described the several parts of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same may be carried into practical operation, I desire it to be
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein given
provided the essential parts of my said improvements be retained; but what I
claim in the manufacture of malleable iron and steel is,-
First. The employment of a converting vessel having a receiver formed
beneath it into which the air is forced before entering the tuyeres and
into which the converted metal is received when the forcing in of the air
ccases..
Second. Covering the orifices of the tuyeres so as to prevent the access of
metal or other matters thereto until the blast of air is applied beneath such
covering.
Third. The employment of converting vessels moveable on wheels to or from
the casting pit as described.
Fourth. The movement à crane or similar apparatus of the upper part
of one converting vessel over or on to the lower part of another vessel so as to
hasten or facilitate a repetition of the converting process.
Fifth. The employment in converting vessels having axial motion of a
moveable bottom to which the tuyere box is attached.
Sixth. Setting the tuycres in a detached portion of the converting
vessel and drying or baking the same prior to connecting such tuyeres with
the vessel.

page_text: Seventh. Distributing the tuyeres over an enlarged area as described.
Eighth. The employment of an iron funnel or chimney lined with fire-brick
or other suitable material and suspended from the roof or otherwise, or attached
to the walls of the building in lieu of the brick chimneys heretofore used
opposite to the mouth of each converting vessel.
Ninth. The employment of a hydraulic cylinder with piston and rack
placed in a vertical position for giving motion to converting vessels mounted
on axes.
Tenth. Conveying the blast through a tube surrounding the axis of con-
verting vessels, in lieu of passing it through the axis as heretofore practised.
Eleventh. The employment of a double cone equilibrium valve actuated by
a cam as shewn for the purpose of shutting off or turning on the blast to the
converting vessel.
Twelfth. The mode of connecting the tuyere box to the air pipe by a sliding
joint as described.
Thirteenth. The employment of a rotatory, semi-rotatory, or reciprocating
paddle or agitator for the purpose of facilitating the mixing, carbonizing, or
alloying converted with unconverted metals.
Fourteenth. Covering the surface of the metal in the manner described
while in the ladle, in order to lessen the escape of heat therefrom, and
the coating of the paddle or agitator with loam or other slow conductor
of heat.
Fifteenth. The combined arrangement herein described for ascertaining the
weight of metal in the ladle in order to determine the quantity of carburet of
iron or of any other alloying metal to be added thereto.
Sixteenth. The mode herein described of detaching and attaching the casting
ladle to the crane or lifting apparatus.
Seventeenth. In the manufacture of malleable iron and steel the employment
of tuyeres, the orifices of which are formed or arranged in the manner
represented in Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, on Sheet C of the Drawings
annexed.
Eighteenth. The employment of furnaces having a revolving hearth or
bed for heating or retaining the heat of ingots, blooms, or other masses of
malleable iron or steel.
Nineteenth. The mode of setting boilers in connection with heating and
melting furnaces as herein described.
Twentieth. In the construction of blast engines employed in the manufacture
of malleable iron and steel the combination therewith of the force pumps
employed to move the converting vessels and hydraulic cranes, and also com-

page_text: bining therewith the force pump or pumps employed in actuating the press or
presses for shaping or "cogging" ingots or other masses of the converted
metal.
Twenty-first. Forming slabs or blooms intended to be rolled into plates or
sheets by pressing and shaping such ingots of malleable iron or steel in a
hydraulic press and then cutting therefrom slices of the required weight and
thickness.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Bessemer, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
HENRY BESSEMER. (L.s.)