AN IMPROVED METHOD OF TREATING IRON AND STEEL
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I PERCY HEAD BAILY of 10 College Terrace, Belsize Park in the County of
Middlesex, Foreign Agent, do hereby declare the naturo of the said invention for
"AN IMPROVED METHOD OF TREATING IRON AND STEEL" to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object to improve the quality of iron and steel and
consists in a method of treating the same when in the molten or fluid state,
whether in the furnace convertor or other receptacle or when run into casting
moulds.
This method of treatment consists in passing a current of electricity, generated
by a powerful dynamo-electric machine or other electric generator through the
metal while in a molten or fluid state, for a sufficient length of time to enable the
current to have its full effect.

page_text: COME ELE
DIECIFICATION.
I, PERCY HEAD BAILY of 10 College Terrace, Belsize Park in the County of
Middlesex, Foreign Agent do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for
"AN IMPROVED METHOD OF TREATING IRON AND STEEL" and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
My Invention has for its object to improve the quality of iron and steel, and it
consists in a method of treating the same when in the molten or fluid state,
whether in the furnace, converter or other receptacle, or when run into casting
moulds.
This method of treatment consists in passing a current of electricity generated
by a dynamo electric machine or other powerful electric generator through the
metal while in the molten or fluid state for a sufficient length of time to enable the
current to have its full effect.
In order that my Invention may be more readily understood, I have illustrated
in the accompanying drawings an example of the method of carrying the same into
effect in connection with a cupola furnace, but I would have it understood that
I do not by any means limit myself to the arrangements therein represented as the
same may be varied according to circumstances.
Figure 1 represents in section a cupola furnace in the circuit of a dynamo or
other powerful electric generator of any suitable kind, and Figure 2 represents a
cross section of the furnace at the point where the electrodes pass through the
walls of the furnace. Figure 3 represents the electric generator, P being the
positive pole and N the negative pole of the machine.
In order to ensure a uniform distribution of the current through the molten or
partially molten mass M in the furnace, I prefer to employ a number of electrodes
at suitable intervals grouped at two opposite sides of the furnace, as represented in
Figure 2 for example, N being the negative electrodes and P the positive electrodes,
the two groups being connected with the positive and negative poles respectively
of the dynamo or other powerful electric generator, the electrodes of each group
being connected with the corresponding polo by one or more wires.
The electrodes traverse the walls of the furnace at such a height that their ends,
which project into the furnace, will be immersed in the molten metal. They may
be made of platinum, carbon, or other suitable material and insulated from any
metallic casing or part of the furnace, or mould, as the case may be. The effect of
the current traversing the molten metal is to cause the impurities that may be in
combination with the metal to be separated from it, thereby improving the
quality of the metal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe
that I do not confine myself to the precise details set forth, nor to the employment
of any special form of electric generator, reserving to myself the right to modify

page_text: the process according to circumstances and necessities of manufacture, but I declare
that what I claim is
The herein described method of treating iron and steel, which consists in passing
a current or currents of electricity from a dynamo or other suitable powerful
electric generator through the metal when in a molten or fluid state, substantially
as specified.