Improvements in the Manufacture of Steel or Steel-like Compounds.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 10th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 22nd Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Steel or Steel-like Compounds.
I, JAMES RILEY, General Manager to the Steel Company of Scotland, Limited, of
23 Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, do
hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its object the manufacture of improved steels or steel-
like compounds possessing valuable and superior properties advantageously adapting
them for various uses and applications.
In carrying out my Invention I may employ a crucible or a Bessemer or similar
converter; but I prefer to use an open-hearth steel-making furnace.
When using a crucible I add nickel in the form of bars, cakes, or in a granular
(or shot-like) state, mixed with iron or steel scrap, in proportions suitable for
obtaining the desired results. When the contents of the crucible are melted I add a
due proportion of ferro-manganese, and finally some metallic aluminium or an alloy
thereof.
When using a converter I proceed in the ordinary manner for making steel, and
when the charge of metal has been decarbonised to the require extent, I add
sufficient ferro-manganese to insure deoxidation, and then nickel in the form of
bars, cakes, ingots, or other lumpy form. Subsequently I add ferro-manganese in
the converter or in the ladle, and immediately afterwards metallic aluminium or its
alloy. The aluminium is preferably introduced into the stream of molten metal on
its way from the converter to the ladle.
When using an open-hearth furnace I proceed in the ordinary manner for making
steel, fusing pig iron and scrap, and decarbonising with ore, preferring a somewhat
large proportion of scrap. When a proper degree of decarbonisation has been
reached I add a sufficient proportion of ferro-manganese to insure deoxidation, next
nickel in the form of bars, cakes, or ingots, preferring if only granular or shot-like
nickel be available, to first cast it into the form of small ingots or lumps, so as to
be able to depress the pieces well into the molten metal, I then add ferro-manganese
in suitable proportion, and finally introduce aluminium or its alloy, either into the
furnace or into the ladle, or, preferably into the stream on its way from the furnace
to the ladle.
Instead of introducing nickel alone as hereinbefore described I may use a
compound or alloy of nickel, copper and iron, and preferably the compound produced
as a matte in the primary smelting of certain ores; or I may use such matte with
nickel or nickel matte in addition.
The proportions of the various metals bereinbefore mentioned may be varied to
suit the particular qualities desired in the steel to be produced. In general, for
every 1000 parts by weight of steel there may be used of nickel from 5 to 500 parts,
of the compound of nickel, copper, and iron (containing approximately 10 per
centum nickel, 25 per centum copper and the remainder iron and impurities) from
25 to 250 parts with the addition of from 1 to 250 parts nickel; and of aluminium
about 1 part.
Dated this Twenty-first day of May 1889.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Steel or Steel-like Compounds.
1, JAMES RILEY, General Manager to the Steel Company of Scotland, Limited, of
23 Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, 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, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its object the manufacture of improved steels or steel-
like compounds possessing valuable and superior properties advantageously adapting
them for various uses and applications.
In carrying out my Invention I may employ a crucible or a Bessemer or similar
converter but I prefer to use an open-hearth steel-making furnace.
When using a crucible I add nickel in the form of bars, cakes, or in a granular
(or shot-like) state, mixed with iron or steel scrap, in proportions suitable for
obtaining the desired results. When the contents of the crucible are melted I
add a due proportion of ferro-manganese, and finally some metallic aluminium or an
alloy thereof.
When using a converter I proceed in the ordinary manner for making steel, and
when the charge of metal has been decarbonised to the required extent, I add
sufficient ferro-manganese to insure deoxidation, and then nickel in the form of bars,
cakes, ingots, or other lumpy form. Subsequently I add ferro-manganese in the
converter or in the ladle, and immediately afterwards metallic aluminium or its
alloy. The aluminium is preferably introduced into the stream of molten metal on its
way from the converter to the ladle.
When using an open-hearth furnace I proceed in the ordinary manner for making
steel, fusing pig iron and scrap, and decarbonising with ore, preferring a somewhat
large proportion of scrap. When a proper degree of decarbonisation has been reached;
I add a sufficient proportion of ferro-manganese to ensure deoxidation, next nickel in
the form of bars, cakes, or ingots, preferring if only granular or shot-like nickel be
available, to first cast it into the form of small ingots or lumps, so as to be able to
depress the pieces well into the molten metal. I then add ferro-manganese in
suitable proportion, and finally introduce aluminium or its alloy, either into the
furnace or into the ladle, or, preferably, into the stream on its way from the furnace
to the ladle.
Instead of introducing nickel alone as hereinbefore described I may use a
compound or alloy of nickel, copper, and iron, and preferably the compound produced
as a matte in the primary smelting of ores found at Sudbury, Ontario, America, or
similar ores; or I may use such matte with nickel or nickel matte in addition.
The proportions of the various metals hereinbefore mentioned may be varied to
suit the particular qualities desired in the steel to be produced. In general, for
every 1000 parts by weight of steel there may be used of nickel from 5 to 500 parts,
of the compound of nickel, copper, and iron. (containing approximately 10 per
centum nickel, 25 per centum copper and the remainder iron and impurities) from
25 to 250 parts with the addition of from 1 to 250 parts nickel; and of aluminium
about 1 part.
By operating as hereinbefore described I am enabled to make steels or steel-like
compounds containing nickel more satisfactorily and economically than has been
hitherto accomplished, and with greater certainty as regards the qualities intended
to be produced, the products being of finer and more reliable character and possessing
greater ductility and strength.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
.
1. Making steel or a steel-like compound in a crucible by melting therein nickel

page_text: in the form of bars, cakes, or in a granular state mixed with iron or steel scrap,
subsequently adding ferro-manganese, and finally metallic aluminium or an alloy
thereof, the proportions of the ingredients being such as are hereinbefore indicated.
2. Making steel or a steel-like compound in a converter by first adding to an
ordinary charge of metal after suitable decarbonisation and after the addition of
sufficient ferro-manganese for deoxidation, nickel in the form of bars, cakes, ingots,
or other lumpy form, secondly adding ferro-manganese in the converter or in the
ladle, and finally aluminium or an alloy thereof substantially in the manner and with
the proportions of ingredients herein before specified.
3. Making steel or a steel-like compound in an open-hearth furnace by first fusing
pig iron and serap secondly decarbonising with ore, thirdly deoxidising with ferro-
manganese, fourthly adding nickel in the form of bars, cakes, ingots, or other lumpy
form, fifthly adding ferro-manganese, and finally adding aluminium or an alloy
thereof, substantially in the manner and with the proportions of ingredients herein-
before specified.
4. In making steel or a steel-like compound using a matte such as that hereinbefore
referred to and containing nickel and copper, the proportions of the ingredients, and
the operations being substantially as hereinbefore specified.
Dated this Ninth day of October 1889.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.