IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE VESSELS OR CONVERTERS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WHAT IS KNOWN AS BESSEMER' STEEL
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Bramall, of Sheffield, in County of York, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE VESSELS OR
CONVERTERS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WHAT IS KNOWN AS BESSEMER'
STEEL."
'
Sealed the 12th January 1877, and dated the 22nd July 1870
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION loft by the said Henry Bramall at the Office
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd July 1876.
HENRY BRAMALL, of Sheffield, in the County of York.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE VESSELS OR CONVERTERS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF WHAT IS KNOWN AS 'BESSEMER' STEEL."
This Invention relates to the construction of the bottoms of the vessels or
converters, and its object is to dispense with the tuyeres ordinarily employed to
render the bottom less costly and more durable than hitherto, and at the same
time to distribute the air more evenly throughout the mass of metal to be
converted.
I make the bottom of the vessel of gannister or silica in the form of a solid
cylindrical block perforated all through with holes tapering upwards, the block
being made all in one piece, and the taper perforations being all over the surface
at suitable distances apart, whereby no tuyeres are required, the bottom is less
costly to make, lasts longer, and distributes the air more evenly than heretofore.
In forming these solid gannister bottoms I employ a ring or cylinder of metal in
connection with a bottom plate provided with long taper pegs or "prickers" corre-
sponding in size and form with the taper holes required to be left in the blocks. I
ram this ring or cylinder full with the gannister all round the pegs until it becomes
one solid mass, and when dry and hard I reverse the mould, and the block with
its tapered perforations is delivered, the taper peg or prickers" drawing from the
holes when the bottom plate is removed. The ring or cylinder may be made in
two pieces, and fastened together by flanges or otherwise.
"

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Bramall in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th January
1877.
HENRY BRAMALL, of Sheffield, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS OR CONVERTERS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WHAT
IS KNOWN AS BESSEMER STEEL."
This Invention relates to the construction of the bottoms of the vessels or
converters, and its object is to dispense with the tuyeres ordinarily employed to
render the bottoms less costly and more durable than hitherto, and at the same time
to distribute the air more evenly throughout the mass of metal to be converted.
I make the bottom of the vessel of prepared ganister or silica in the form of a
single cylindrical block perforated all through with holes tapering upwards, the
block being made all in one piece, and the taper perforations being all over the
surface at suitable distances apart, whereby no tuyeres are required, the bottom is
less costly to make, lasts longer, and distributes the air more evenly than heretofore.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention, I will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be clearly understood
I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked
the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the
following explanation thereof :-
1
In the annexed Drawing Fig. 1 is a vertical section and Fig. 2 a plan view
showing the method of constructing or moulding the prepared gannister blocks for
the bottom of "Bessemer converters;" and Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views of the
perforated blocks ready for insertion into the converters.
In forming these solid gannister bottoms I employ a ring or cylinder of metal a, a,
(see Figs. 1 and 2) in connection with a bottom plate b, b, and a second plate U¹, b',
provided with long taper pegs or prickers" c, c, corresponding in size and form
with the taper holes required to be left in the blocks, and screwed or otherwise
attached to the plate. I ran this ring or cylinder a, a, full with the prepared
gannister d, d, all round the pegs or pins c, c, either by hand or by hydraulic or
other pressure until it becomes one solid mass, and when dry and hard .I reverse
the mould and remove the ring or cylinder a, a, and then unscrew and remove the
plate b, b, and withdraw the taper pegs or prickers c, c, from the holes in the
block d, d, see Figs. 3 and 4. (The ring or cylinder a, a, may be made in two.
pieces, and fastened together by flanges e, e, or otherwise, for the purpose of easy
removal.) I then pass the ring bolt ff, through the central hole, and by means of
it the perforated block or bottom may be carried and inserted in its place..
The block d, d, being rather smaller than the space left in the bottom of the
vessel for its reception, the joint between the two is made good by ramming in
prepared gannister all round the block.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I claim as my Invention
constructing the bottom of Bessemer converting vessels of a single cylindrical block
of gannister perforated all through with holes tapering upwards, the said block
being made all in one piece, substantially in the manner herein-before described
and illustrated by the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Bramall, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
HENRY BRAMALL. (L.S.)