A NEW OR IMPROVED PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR TEMPERING CAST STEEL, THE BARRELS OR TUBES OF RIFLES, CANNON, AND THE LIKE
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Carl Kesseler, of 63, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin, W., in the
Empire of Germany, Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor, for an Invention
of A NEW OR IMPROVED PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR TEMPERING CAST
STEEL, THE BARRELS OR TUBES OF RIFLES, CANNON, AND THE LIKE."
A communication from Mr. Diedrich Wilhelm Reunert, of Annen, Westphalia,
Empire of Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Carl Kesseler at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th August 1880.
CARL KESSELER, of 63, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin, W., in the Empire of Germany,
Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor. "A NEW OR IMPROVED PROCESS AND
APPARATUS FOR TEMPERING CAST STEEL, THE BARRELS OR TUBES OF RIFLES,
CANNON, AND THE LIKE." A communication from Mr. Diedrich Wilhelm Reunert,
of Annen, Westphalia, Empire of Germany.
By this process it is possible to impart a hardness to the tubes of cannon, the
barrels of rifles, etcetera, after they have been completely finished, which shall
only extend to the interior layers or portions of the material without causing the
very soft and tough cast steel, specially applicable to the above objects, to lose its
toughness. For this purpose I heat the tubes or barrels which are to be hardened
in a special flame furnace with flat sole or bottom to red heat, and then place them
into the following apparatus.
It consists of a suitable frame of malleable or cast iron, carrying a suitable
chamber in bearings, in one end of which revolve preferably three cog wheels
having hollow bosses prolonged through the casing so as to project inside for a
short distance. These cog wheels or pinions are driven by a larger wheel connected
to the frame work, and which in its turn is driven by a handle or otherwise. The
three or more pinions may gear into each other, only one gearing with the large
wheel. A mouth piece is connected with the outside of each pinion, so that with
the hollow boss it forms a pipe or tube, from the external end of which a flexible

page_text: or other tube is carried to a reservoir or tank provided with a stop cock, which
contains the tempering liquid. Plain bearings are provided upon the opposite end
of the chamber, and the tubes or barrels to be tempered are placed through these
reaching to the first end, where they enter the hollow pinion-bosses, into which
their thin ends are firmly driven and secured, so as to revolve with them. A
charcoal fire burns upon suitable bars a short distance below the revolving barrels,
and meanwhile the tempering liquid is forced under suitable pressure (obtained by
the elevation of the reservoir or otherwise) through the red hot rapidly rotating
tubes or barrels, which are thereby almost entirely prevented from warping. The
tempering liquid which I prefer to use consists of a strong solution of cyanide of
potassium (cyankalium), tartar, and salt, and what flows through the barrels is
caught by a trough or equivalent, and conducted away for re-use. The charcoal
or gas fire keeps the tubes continually red-hot, and upon this firing the duration of
the hardening process chiefly depends. For rifle barrels I find that a quarter to
half an hour is generally sufficient, and I do not find that it is advantageous
to temper more than six barrels at a time; three is a convenient number, though,
of course, I do not bind myself down to that exact quantity.
For hardening cannon tubes the process is somewhat modified, and only one tube
should be hardened at a time; the fire should entirely surround the tube, and the
process would be continued, say, for twenty four to forty eight hours, and steam
or other power would be employed to revolve the tube.
When by the continual passing of the hardening liquid the tubes are so far
cooled that a change in the calibre is no longer to be feared, they are taken out and
cleaned on the outside. Should a barrel have become slightly warped it can easily
be readjusted in consequence of the outer layers or thickness of inetal remaining
soft, the inner thickness only acquiring a hardness which will endure even if the
barrel be placed in a strong quick fire for a considerable period.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Carl Kesseler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th February
1881.
.
CARL KESSELER, of 63, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin, W., in the Empire of Germany,
Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor. "A NEW OR IMPROVED PROCESS AND
APPARATUS FOR TEMPERING CAST STEEL, THE BARRELS OR TUBES OF RIFLES,
CANNON, AND THE LIKE." A communication from Mr. Diedrich Wilhelm Reunert,
of Annen, Westphalia, Empire of Germany.
By this process it is possible to impart a hardness to the tubes of cannon, the
barrels of rifles, etcetera, after they have been completely finished, which shall only
extend to the interior layers or portions of the material without causing the very
soft and tough cast steel, specially applicable to the above objects, to lose its
toughness. For this purpose I heat the tubes or barrels which are to be hardened
in a special flame furnace with flat sole or bottom to red heat, and then place them
into the following apparatus.
It consists of a suitable frame of malleable or cast iron, carrying a suitable
chamber E, in the Drawings attached hereto in bearings, in one end of which
revolve preferably three cog wheels or pinions R, having hollow bosses prolonged
through the casing so as to project inside for a short distance.
These cog wheels or pinions are driven by a larger wheel R' connected to the
frame work, and which in its turn is driven by a handle K, or otherwise. The
three or more pinions may gear into each other, by preference only one gearing
with the large wheel. A mouth piece C is connected with the outside of each
pinion, so that with the hollow boss it forms a pipe or tube, from the external end
of which a flexible or other tube G is carried to a reservoir or tank provided with
a stopcock which contains the tempering liquid. Plain bearings B are provided
upon the opposite end of the chamber, and the tubes or barrels to be tempered are
placed through these reaching to the first end, where they enter the hollow pinion-
bosses, into which their thin ends are firmly driven and secured so as to revolve
with them. A charcoal fire burns upon suitable bars a short distance below the
revolving barrels, and meanwhile the tempering liquid is forced, under suitable
pressure (obtained by the elevation of the reservoir or otherwise), through the red
hot rapidly rotating tubes or barrels, which are thereby almost entirely prevented
from warping. The tempering liquid which I prefer to use consists of a strong
solution of cyanide of potassium (cyankalium), tartar, and salt, mixed in the
proportion of 200 pounds of water, one pound of tartar, one pound of salt, and one
pound of cyankalium, though I do not bind myself to these exact quantities, and
what flows through the barrels is caught by a trough D or equivalent, and conducted
away for re-use. The charcoal or gas fire keeps the tubes continually red hot, and
upon this firing the duration of the hardening process chiefly depends. For rifle
barrels I find that a quarter to half an hour is generally sufficient, and I do not
find that it is advantageous to temper more than six barrels at a time; three is a
convenient number, though, of course, I do not bind myself down to that exact
quantity. A piece of solid cyankalium entered into the rifle barrel will also do
instead of the solution. For hardening cannon tubes the process is somewhat
modified, and only one tube should be hardened at a time; the fire should entirely
surround the tube, and the process would be continued, say, for twenty four to
forty eight hours, and steam or other power would be employed to revolve the
tube.
When by the continual passing of the hardening liquid the tubes are so far
cooled that a change in the calibre is no longer to be feared, they are taken out
and cleaned on the outside. Should a barrel have become slightly warped it can

page_text: even in de placed in a song quick u
CLAIMS.
Having now described my Invention, and the method of performing the same, I
wish it to be understood that what I claim and desire to protect under the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The hereindescribed process of imparting to cast steel cannon, or other
tubes and rifle barrels, a hardness which extends to the interior layers or portions
only, by driving through them a continuous jet of hardening water, consisting of
cyanide of potassium (cyankalium), tartar, and salt, in or about the foregoing
proportions when they are red hot, and whilst they are rotated at a high speed;
whilst under them (or in the case of large gun tubes round them) a charcoal or
gas fire is kept up and continued till the tubes are cooled, substantially as set
forth.
Second. The arrangement of an apparatus (which renders the tempering or
hardening according to this process possible) for rotating the tubes, and which
consists of the cogwheels or pinions R, R, having their bosses perforated for taking
in the ends of the tubes; of the suitably rotated driving wheel R', in combination
with a reservoir for containing the hardening water, which latter is enabled to pass
under pressure, by means of hose or pipe through the bore of the cog wheels, and
the tubes or barrels fitted therein, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Carl Kesseler, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
CARL KESSELER. (L.S.)