IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OR MEANS EMPLOYED FOR CONVERTING IRON INTO STEEL.
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Lockwood, of Sheffield, in the County of
York, Iron Founder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PROCESS OR MEANS EMPLOYED FOR CONVERTING IRON INTO STEEL.'
PROCESS OR MEANS EMPLOYED FOR CONVERTING IRON INTO STEEL.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Lockwood at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 10th June 1873.
I, WILLIAM LOCKWOOD, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Iron
Founder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OR MEANS EMPLOYED FOR CONVERTING IRON INTO
STEEL," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the process or means
employed for converting iron into steel.
In the ordinary method of "converting" iron into steel for all kinds
of melting, rolling, hammering, or for any other similar purpose in the
manufacture of steel, the iron is placed in a closed furnace commonly
termed a converting furnace," and is arranged in alternate layers of
charcoal and iron, and after remaining for a suitable period of time the
iron is subjected to a regulated temperature of heat as may be required,
$

page_text: and the furnace is then allowed to cool gradually. The charcoal used is
burnt in retorts or otherwise, and is ground into various degrees of fine-
ness, being thus prepared at considerable cost.
Now according to my improved method of converting iron into steel
I substitute (either wholly or partially or combined with other materials) 5
for the charcoal before referred to particles of wood or timber produced
in any manner, either in the form of what is usually termed sawdust or
such as wood turnings, shavings, or borings of wood, or wood in any
other similar suitable form or state and of small commercial value.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Lockwood in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 9th December 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
LOCKWOOD, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Iron Founder, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Lockwood, Her special license,
that I, the said William Lockwood, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Lockwood, 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 PROCESS OR MEANS EMPLOYED FOR CONVERTING IRON INTO STEEL," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Lockwood, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Lockwood, 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:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the process or means
employed for converting iron into steel.
In the ordinary method of "converting " iron into steel for all kinds
of melting, rolling, hammering, or for any other similar purpose in the
manufacture of steel, the iron is placed in a closed furnace, commonly
termed a "converting furnace," and is arranged in alternate layers of
charcoal and iron, and after remaining for a suitable period of time the
iron is subjected to a regulated temperature of heat, as may be required,
and the furnace is then allowed to cool gradually. The charcoal used is
burnt in retorts or otherwise, and is ground into various degrees of fine-
ness, being thus prepared at considerable cost.
Now according to my improved method of converting iron into steel
I substitute (either wholly or partially or combined with other materials)
for the charcoal before referred to particles of wood or timber produced
in any manner, either in the form of what is usually termed sawdust or
such as wood turnings, shavings, or borings of wood, or wood in any
other similar suitable form or state and of small commercial value.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing or carrying the same into practice, what I claim is, the
improved method or process of converting iron into steel by employing
sawdust, shavings, or comparatively small particles of wood, either alone
or combined with charcoal or other suitable materials, substantially in
the manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Lockwood, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.