IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REFINING CAST-IRON
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jasper Wetter, of New Wandsworth, Surrey for an
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR
REFINING CAST-IRON A communication to him from abroad by Camille
Lévèque, of Jouzin, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jasper Wetter at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th November 1882.
JASPER WETTER, of New Wandsworth, Surrey, ." IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REFINING CAST-IRON," a communication to mo
from abroad by Camille Lévèque, of Jouzin, France,
This invention has for its object the economical refining of cast-iron after it has
been obtained from the blast furnace, that is to say, to transform grey cast-iron
into white cast-iron by forcing through it an air current at a low pressure, such as
is produced by the ordinary blowing engines of blast furnaces.
The apparatus for this purpose consists of an annular or rectangular receptacle
or converter of sheet metal mounted on wheels and divided into three compart-
ments, the central one of which is lined with refractory material and communicates
with the two outer chambers by two series of pipes or orifices.
The inner compartment receivos the molten metal and is provided with top
openings for the escape of the waste gases, while the two outer compartiments
communicate with each other by pipes through which compressed air is lead from
the blowing engine The upper half of the central chamber is divided into
several removable sections. Holes with covers are provided at the circumference
of the apparatus for facilitating inspection and cleaning.
The entire apparatus mounted on wheels is pivoted on a horizontal axis passing
approximately through the centre of gravity.
In operation the apparatus is placed on rails near a blast furnace from which the
metal runs into an intermediate trough on the floor of the hall before it is made
to run into the refining apparatus.
When a sufficient quantity of silicium and other admixtures has been removed
by oxydation the contents of the central compartment consisting of metal and
slag, are allowed to run off through an opening at the sole of the said
compartment.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Jasper Wetter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th May
-
1883.
JASPER WETTER, of New Wandsworth, Surrey, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REFINING CAST-IRON," a communication to me
from abroad by Camille Lévèque, of Jouzin, France,
If during the Bessemer-process the action of the blast is limited to the period of
scorification, white cast iron analogous to that formerly manufactured in the
refineries, is obtained.
For converting grey cast-iron into white cast-iron Bessemer plant as used for
the manufacture of steel, would in many cases be found too expensive in first cost
and working.
The apparatus hereinafter described has for its object the economical refining of
cast iron after leaving the blast furnace.
In describing this invention reference will be had to the accompanying drawings
Figs. 1 to 10.
The principal part of the apparatus is a receptacle of sheet iron, mounted on
wheels and movable around a horizontal axis placed near its centre of gravity.
This receptacle may be of rectangular shape, as represented by Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
or of annular shape, as shown by Figs 1, 2, 3. It is divided into three
compartments.
The central (or intermediate) compartment, where the refining operation proper
takes place, is lined with fire-bricks or other refractory material. This compartment
communicates with the two others by means of two serios of air-channels or tuyeres,
placed laterally and at a short distance from the bottom.
The holes for the tuyeres are made by perforating the fire bricks or they are left
open, while the refractory lining is formed.
Holes RR, r r closed by movable plugs permit an easy inspection of the interior.
The two outer compartments are connected with each other by pipes CC leading
to the regulators of the blowing engines.
The molten iron enters the apparatus through the orifice O.
The chimneys E E allow the escape of the waste gases generated during the
operation. The upper part of the central compartment is movable, and for
facilitating its removal it is divided into several segments S S S.
The whole apparatus is mounted on wheels, and is therefore easily movable.
If the apparatus is worn out; it may be easily replaced by a new one so that
the production of refined iron may be carried on continuously.
The shape and arrangement of the apparatus permits the application of
compressed air supplied by the usual blowing engines of blast furnaces.
The facility of allowing the application of blowing engines with feeble pressure
in conjunction with the simplicity of its arrangement render Lévèque's apparatus.
a useful complement to blast furnaces for the manufacture of superior cast iron, iron
for the manufacture of fine steel or Bessemer steel (either by the ordinary or the
basic process) and for all products requiring cast iron free from sulphur and
containing but little slicium.
Figs. 9 and 10 show a refining apparatus in combination with a blast furnace.
A trough or measuring tank A receives the molten iron from the blast furnace
and distributes it into the refining apparatus B.
'
The chimney D situated above receives the gases escaping through the apertures
EE and conducts them out of the room. The troughs I receive the refined metal.
The room next to the refining room serves to repair or to store the apparatus not

page_text: in use, they are there kept ready to be put in operation. The rails X X X and
the traverser P serve for the exchange of the refining apparatus, and the rails y y
for the removal of the refined metal and the slags.
The operation of refining is carried out as follows:
The molten iron leaves the blast furnace and enters the measuring tank A.
When the trough A is full and the valve V opened, the blast enters the apparatus
through the tuyeres ttt, and the molten metal through the aperture O. Instantly
an oxidation of silicium and other admixtures takes place.
Gerbs of sparks issue with the gaseous current through the apertures E E as soon
as the operation has commenced, and keep on to the end, which may be recognized
by the acceleration of the current, by the finer sparks issuing from the apparatus,
and by the slags in form of globules carried away by the blast and which are nearly
always accompanied by an abundant red smoke, succeeded by a flame which would
become more and more white if at this moment the orifice O¹ were not opened.
The refined metal and the slags produced by the operation run rapidly off
through the orifice O¹ and enter the troughs I I, where the whole is rapidly cooled
by means of water.
If the refined iron is intended to be immediately used for manufacture, when
thus coming from the blast furnace, it is conducted from the apparatus into a ladle
kept in readiness for this purpose.
For completely emptying the apparatus, it is towards the end of the operation
lifted on one side by means of the lover L L. The flexible pipe F, made of india-
rubber or leather, allows to place the apparatus at any desired inclination without
interrupting the blast.
When the apparatus is empty, the blast is allowed to continue for a few seconds,
after which the valve V is closed; and the tuyeres are inspected. When this
inspection is terminated and the apparatus found to be in satisfactory condition,
the orifice O' is again closed and the apparatus is ready for another operation. If
the interval between two operations occupies considerable time, the apparatus
should be heated by means of a coke fire or by means of the waste gases of the
blast furnace.
The duration of the refining process depends upon the nature of the iron.
Iron containing but little silicium is refined in 2 or 3 minutes, while iron
containing a great amount of silicium and graphite requires from 15 to 20 minutes
for the same operation, and sometimes even more.
If a sufficient blast is at disposal, from 5 to 6 tons of iron may be daily refined
in the manner above described.
The exchange of the apparatus B (figs 9 and 10) for another apparatus is effected
by detaching the two joints M N from the air-pipe C C (Fig. 1) and wheeling the
apparatus on the rails X X into the room reserved for repairs, while a new apparatus
is wheeled in its place and connected with the air-nine
1. An apparatus for economically converting grey cast iron into white cast iron,
(refined cast iron) when it leaves the blast-furnace by causing an air current at a
low pressure to pass through the molten iron, substantially as described.
2. Using for this purpose compressed air supplied by the ordinary blowing
engines of the blast-furnace.
3. An annular or rectangular apparatus for refining grey cast-iron, movable on a
horizontal axis near its centre of gravity, and having lateral tuyeres, means for the
inspection of the interior, a central compartment, the upper portion of which is
composed of several removable sections, the said apparatus being mounted on
wheels and provided with a flexible pipe for the supply of compressed air,
substantially na described.

page_text: 4. The combination of a blast-furnace with the described refining apparatus, a
repairing and reserve-room, and with rails and traverser, substantially as described
and illustrated by Figs. 9 and 10.
In Witness whereof I, the said Jasper Wetter have hereunto set my hand
and seal this fourth day of May A.D. 1883