IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PUDDLED STEEL OR IRON
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Mitford, of Darlington, in the County of Durham,
Engineer, and Richard Lester, of Middlesbrough-on-Tees, in the County of
York, Manager, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF PUDDLED STEEL OR IRON."
Sealed the 8th June 1877, and dated the 12th December 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Mitford and Richard
Lester at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th December
1876.
WILLIAM MITFORD, of Darlington, in the County of Durham, Engineer, and
RICHARD LESTER, of Middlesbrough-on-Tees, in the County of York, Manager. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PUDDLED STEEL OR IRON."
This Invention relates to the manufacture of puddled steel or iron in a more
effectual and perfect manner than by the methods hitherto employed for that
purpose, and consists in the employment of spiegeleisen or other similar carbonizing
agent in a heated, granulated, or molten state, but by preference in a molten or
nearly molton condition, in such proportions and at such times during the progress
of manufacture as may be found desirable or necessary.
The spiegeleisen or other similar carbonizing agent is introduced in a molten,
heated, or granulated state into the puddling furnace when the iron in the latter is
in a proper condition to receive it, which in most cases will be when the process of
puddling is nearly completed, and in such proportions as may be necessary for the
better refining and recarbonizing the iron for either the hard or steely or more soft
and ductile kinds of puddled steel or iron.
In carrying this Invention into effect, it will be understood that either rotary,
mechanical, or other ordinary puddling furnaces may be employed, and also that
the spiegeleisen or other similar carbonizing agent may be heated or melted in any
convenient manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Mitford and Richard Lester in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 12th June 1877.
WILLIAM MITFORD, of Darlington, in the County of Durham, Engineer, and
RICHARD LESTER, of Middlesbrough-on-Tees, in the County of York, Manager. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PUDDLED STEEL OR IRON."
Our said Invention consists in the addition to the iron under treatment of spiegel-
eisen or other similar or analogous carbonizing agent in a heated, granulated, or molten
state, but by preference in a molten or nearly molten condition, in such proportions
and at such times during the progress of manufacture as may be found desirable or
necessary.
The spiegeleisen or other similar or analogous carbonizing agent is introduced in
a heated, granulated, molten, or nearly molten state into the puddling furnace when
the iron in the latter is in a fit state to receive it, which in most cases will be when the
process of puddling is nearly completed, and in such proportions as may be necessary
for the better refining and recarbonizing of the iron for either the hard or steely or
more soft and ductile kinds of puddled steel or iron.
In carrying our said Invention into effect it will be understood that either rotary,
mechanical, or other ordinary puddling furnaces may be employed, and also that
the spiegeleisen or other similar analogous carbonizing agent may be heated or
melted in any convenient manner, but when the iron is melted in a separate
furnace, such as a cupola or air furnace, in connection with the process above
described, the spiegeleisen or other similar or analogous carbonizing agent may be
melted with the pig iron and silicate of iron usually obtained from the sand
bottoms of furnaces, such as aro employed for heating purposes in rolling mills and
forges, and as a flux and refining agent, or it may be used in the molten iron as it is
run from the blast furnace.
By means of the above described method of treatment it will be found that tho
puddled steel or iron produced will be greatly improved in quality.
Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, we would observe in conclusion that
what we consider novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting the In-
vention secured to us by the said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent,
arc, the improvements in the manufacture of puddled steel or iron, substantially as
herein described and set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Mitford and Richard Lester, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Ninth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
WILLIAM MITFORD. (L.S.)
RICHARD LESTER.
(L.S.)