Improvements in the Manufacture of Steel.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Dec., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Steel.
I JOHN WATSON SPENCER of Newburn, Newcastle-on-Tyne in the County of
Northumberland Steel Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
With the view of producing steel more economically especially from inferior.
pig iron, I pursue the following method of manufacture.
I melt the pig iron in cupolas, reverberatory or other suitable furnaces from
which it is run into a basic lined vessel by preference of similar construction to
a Bessemer converter, wherein by means of a blast of air of high pressure, alone
(or mixed with carbonaceous material or combustible gases if necessary, to be
used to assist the temperature at intervals) whereby the carbon and other metal-
loids are oxidized.
Into the converter I introduce also as convenient oxides of iron in the form
of ore, scale, or other suitable form to assist oxidation together with lime and
such like bases for the purpose of retaining the oxidized metalloids in the form
of slag.
On turning on the blast a violent ebullition of the metal takes place with
rapid oxidation by the air concurrently with the intimate admixture of oxides
causing the oxidation of the various metalloids which pass away as gases or into
the slag, the presence of oxide of iron causing them to remain there even in
e presence of carbon in the steel, contrary to the usual Bessemer basic practice
where an after blow is required to get rid of the phosphorus.
When the charge has been blown to the desired extent I have one or more
open hearth furnaces, basic or acid lined ready heated up to the necessary tem-
perature partially filled with a charge of scrap pig iron, or both, or if needed
without any charge, but by preference the former.
The charge from the converter is then run into the open hearth furnaces;
either direct or by indirect means after the metalloids, have been more or less
completely oxidised the slag being run off into another vessel.
The charge can be blown if desirable to or over the point of oxidation of the
iron so long as it retains sufficient heat to enable it to be run into the open
hearth furnaces by ordinary means where the process can be completed, the bath
neutralized and the requisite additions made of carbon, manganese, silicon or
other suitable substance as may be desired.
By this process a poorer and cheaper pig iron can be used, a more rapid
oxidation of the metalloids effected with more complete purification of the charge
from these metalloids while complete control of the charge is assured, as is usual
in an open hearth furnace whereby substantially any grade or quality can be
produced as desired.

page_text: By my invention I am able to attain the combination of the Bessemer basic
and open hearth processes to effect the purpose required in the manner substan-
tially as described.
By this means the out put of an open hearth plant can be largely and economi-
cally increased and a product of greater purity obtained.
Dated the 16th day of December 1896
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane London. Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Steel.
I JOHN WATSON SPENCER, of Newburn, Newcastle on Tyne, in the County of
Northumberland, Steel Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
In the manufacture of steel and with the view of producing steel more
economically, especially from inferior pig iron, I pursue the following method.
I melt the pig iron in cupolas, reverberatory or other suitable furnaces from
which it is run into a basic lined vessel, by preference of similar construction to
a Bessemer converter, wherein by means of a blast of air of high pressure either
alone, or mixed with carbonaceous material, or if necessary using combustible
gases to assist in maintaining the temperature, at intervals-whereby the carbon
and other metalloids are oxidized.
Into the converter I cause to be introduced also-as convenient-oxides of iron
in the form of ore, scale, or other suitable form, to assist in the oxidation together
with lime and such like bases in excess for the purpose of retaining the oxidized
metalloids in the form of slag.
Upon turning on the blast a violent ebullition of the metal takes place with
rapid oxidation by the air concurrently with the intimate admixture of oxides
causing the oxidation of the various metalloids which in their nascent state pass
away as gases, or into the slag, the presence of oxide of iron causing them to
remain there even in the presence of carbon in the steel, contrary to what takes
place when proceeding according to the usual Bessemer basic method or practice,
where an after blow is required in order to get rid of the phosphorus.
When the charge has been blown to the desired extent I cause one, or more
open hearth furnaces-basic, or acid lined and ready heated, up to the necessary
temperature to be partially filled with a charge of scrap or pig iron, or both,
or if needed without any charge, but by preference the former.
The charge from the converter is then run into the open hearth furnace; either
directly or by indirect means after the metalloids have been more, or less, com-
pletely oxidised the slag being run off into another vessel.
The charge can be blown if found desirable to or over the point of partial
oxidation of the iron-so long as the charge retains sufficient heat to enable it
to be run into the open hearth furnaces by ordinary means; wherein the process
can be completed, the bath neutralized and the requisite additions made of carbon,
manganese, silicon, or other suitable additional substance, as may be desired.
By this process a poorer and cheaper pig iron can be used or a siliciferous pig,
a more rapid oxidation of the metalloids effected and a more complete purifica-
tion of the charge from these metalloids obtained whilst a complete control of the
charge is assured, as is usual in an open hearth furnace, so that substantially
any grade or quality of steel can be produced, as may be desired.

page_text: By my invention I am able to attain the combination of the Bessemer basic
process and the open hearth process, so as to effect the purpose required in manner
substantially as described.
By this means the output of an open hearth plant can be largely and economi-
cally increased and a product of greater purity obtained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The manufacture of steel, by the employment of a combination of the pro-
cesses known as the Bessemer basic method and the open hearth method, so as
to produce from a poor and cheap pig iron a steel of substantially any desired
grade or quality, whilst effecting a more rapid oxidation of the metalloids, more
effectual purification of charge from such metalloids and assuring a more com-
plete control of the charge, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. The herein before described method of production of steel from poor and
cheap pig by the combination of the known methods of Bessemer basic and open
hearth treatment as set forth.
Dated the 16th day of September 1897.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55/56 Chancery Lane London. Chartered Patent Agents.