AN IMPROVED PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING TOOLS AND OTHER ARTICLES OF STEEL a communi- cation to me from abroad.
Year: 1885

page_text: of Steel.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for AN IMPROVED
PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING TOOLS AND OTHER ARTICLES OF STEEL a communi-
cation to me from abroad. by Frédéric Southgate, of 1 Rue d'Hauteville, Paris,
France, Manufacturer to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of tools and articles of steel and has
for its object to improve the quality and increase the durability of the steel by
combining therewith carbon in its normal state, whereby an alloy of carbon and
iron is obtained capable of resisting wear to a high degree, the cost of production
being comparatively low.
The invention consists essentially in taking a granular metal (i,e, a metal in
which no fibrous or lamellar structure has been developed) and raising this metal to
a certain temperature in the presence of an atmosphere deprived of oxygen or air
in hermetically closed chambers. The metal is thus easily brought to a spongy
or porous condition so that it can become saturated with hydro-carbon vapor or
pure carbon obtained from the said vapor which can for this purpose be volatilized
and decomposed so as to drive off the hydrogen which it contains.
After saturation of the metal with the carbon vapor a true carburet of iron is
produced by maintaining the metal until cold in the atmosphere above mentioned
and deprived of all trace of air. This operation is performed in movable retorts or
receptacles in the manner hereafter described.
Instead of ordinary fibrous metals puddled or otherwise whose structure is due
to the effect of mechanical action, I employ a homogeneous granular metal such as
that produced by the Bessemer or other analogous process in which the carbon is
oxidised by the well known processes of decarburation. This metal is cast in
ingots of dimensions as near as possible to the final dimensions they are desired
to have and brought to the final dimensions by lightly rolling. From these rolled
ingots the blanks are stamped or cut out to form the tools or articles to be
manufactured, the blanks being finished by turning, stamping, or polishing until
the article is ready to receive the carbon, after which it is tempered.

page_text: It is known that in working steel when the heated alloy of carbon and iron is
exposed to the air owing to the affinity of the mettalloid for oxygen the carbon
is oxidised by contact with air and in this state it is found in annealed steel or any
other steel which has been exposed hot to the contact of air.
In order to avoid this oxidation in practice and preserve the carbon in its normal
condition as found in the diamond, no trace whatever of oxygen should be allowed
to come in contact with the metal when raised to a temperature which permits of
the chemical affinity producing its effects.
The process by which the tools or articles are treated or saturated with pure
carbon is as follows:-
Retorts or receptacles of iron are used, preferably tubes (such as those used for
large steam pipes) securely closed at their lower extremity, and furnished at their
upper extremity with a removable door provided with a coned joint which may be
luted with clay, and with means of locking them in the closed position during the
heating. Suitable inlet and outlet tubes are provided for supplying the hydro
carbon and for carrying off the volatile vapors and air. Each retort is also
provided with a small test cock at which the escaping vapor may be ignited in
order to judge of the purity of the atmosphere contained in the apparatus. The
retort or receptacle is filled with the tools or articles arranged in layers alternated
with layers of a suitable substance which is infusible and nonvolatilizable at a red
heat, in order to provide between the articles a sufficient space to permit of the
proper circulation of the gases over all points of their external surface. The retort
is then hermetically closed, placed in the muffle of a furnace, and put in communi-
cation with a gas holder containing hydro carbon vapor. As the temperature is
raised the volatile vapors are expelled as well as every trace of air through the
escape valve and replaced by the hydro carbon, the purity of the vapor being
indicated by the brightness of the flame lighted at the test cock. The purity of
this vapor may be increased by the introduction of chlorine gas which by reason
of its affinity for hydrogen, decomposes the hydro carbon. The volatile hydro-
chlorate escapes whilst the pure carbon remains to combine with the porous metal.
The outlet valve is then closed, the pressure in the gas holder increased, and all
parts of the metal become saturated. When the operation is terminated (its
duration depending on the bulk of the articles) the communication between the
retort and the gas holder is cut off, the outlets closed, and the retort withdrawn
from the furnace and allowed to cool, care being taken not to allow the entry of
any trace of air, either during the heating or cooling.
I am aware that a process of conversion of tools, blanks for tools, files, &c, of
decarburized cast iron, has been employed, the pieces being first cast in sand moulds
and then decarburized as in the process of treating malleable cast iron with a view
to retain the metal in the granular condition; but it has been found that in casting,
the articles are subject to numerous imperfections (blow holes, &c.) so that a perfect
result is unobtainable; moreover, the waste increases the cost of manufacture
considerably. But by using the homogeneous metal obtained in the Bessemer or
other analogous process in which no solid oxide and no scoria or other foreign
matter is allowed to come into contact with the molten metal, a product is obtained
which is not only less costly but is of a very much better and more uniform
quality.

page_text: An Improved Process of Manufacturing Tools and other Articles
of Steel.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention (a communication to me
from abroad by Frédéric Southgate (Manufacturer) of 1 Rue d'Hauteville, Paris,
France), and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to the manufacture of tools, tool blanks and articles of
steel and has for its object to improve the quality and increase the durability
of the steel by combining therewith carbon in its normal state, whereby an alloy of
carbon and iron is obtained capable of resisting wear to a high degree, the cost
of production being comparatively low.
The invention consists essentially in taking a granular metal (i: e: a metal in
which no fibrous or lamellar structure has been developed) and raising this metal
to a certain temperature in the presence of an atmosphere deprived of oxygen or
air in hermetically closed chambers. The metal is thus easily brought to a spongy
or porous condition so that it can become saturated with hydro carbon vapor or
pure carbon obtained from the said vapor which can for this purpose be volatilized
and decomposed so as to drive off the hydrogen which it contains.
After saturation of the metal with the carbon vapor a true carburet of iron is
produced by maintaining the metal until cold in the atmosphere above mentioned
and deprived of all trace of air. This operation is performed in movable retorts
or receptacles in the manner hereafter described.
Instead of ordinary fibrous metals puddled or otherwise, whose structure is due
to the effect of mechanical action, I employ a homogeneous granular metal such as
that produced by the Bessemer or other analogous process in which the carbon is
oxidised by the well known processes of decarburation. This metal is cast in
ingots of dimensions as near as possible to the final dimensions they are desired
to have and brought to the final dimensions by lightly rolling. From these rolled
ingots the blanks are stamped or cut out to form the tools or articles to be
manufactured, the blanks being finished by turning, stamping, or polishing until
the article is ready to receive the carbon, after which it is tempered.
It is known that in working steel when the heated alloy of carbon and iron is
exposed to the air owing to the affinity of the metalloid for oxygen, the carbon
is oxidised by contact with air and in this state it is found in annealed steel or any
other steel which has been exposed hot to the contact of air.
In order to avoid this oxidation in practice and preserve the carbon in its normal
condition as found in the diamond, no trace whatever of oxygen should be allowed
to come in contact with the metal when raised to a temperature which permits of
the chemical affinity producing its effects.
The process by which the tools or articles are treated or saturated with pure
carbon is as follows:-
Retorts or receptacles of iron are used, preferably tubes (such as those used for
large steam pipes) securely closed at their lower extremity, and furnished at their
upper extremity with a removable cover provided with a coned joint which
may be luted with clay, and with means of locking them in the closed position
during the heating. Suitable inlet and outlet tubes are provided for supplying the
hydro-carbon and for carrying off the volatile vapors and air. Each retort is also

page_text: provided with a small test cock at which the escaping vapor may be ignited in order
to judge of the purity of the atmosphere contained in the apparatus. The retort
or receptacle is filled with the tools or articles arranged in layers alternated with
layers of a suitable substance which is infusible and nonvolatilizable at a red heat,
in order to provide between the articles a sufficient space to permit of the proper
The retort is then
circulation of the gases over all points of their external surface.
hermetically closed, placed in the muffle of a furnace, and put in communication
with a gas holder containing hydro-carbon vapor. As the temperature is raised
the volatile vapors are expelled as well as every trace of air through the escape
valve and replaced by the hydro-carbon, the purity of the vapor being indicated by
the brightness of the flame lighted at the test cock. The purity of this vapor may
be increased by the introduction of chlorine gas which by reason of its affinity for
hydrogen, decomposes the hydro carbon. The volatile hydro-chlorate escapes
whilst the pure carbon remains to combine with the porous metal. The outlet
valve is then closed, the pressure in the gas holder increased, and all parts of the
metal become saturated. When the operation is terminated (its duration depending
on the bulk of the articles) the communication between the retort and the gas
holder is cut off, the outlets closed, and the retort withdrawn from the furnace and
allowed to cool, care being taken not to allow the entry of any trace of air, either
during the heating or cooling.
I am aware that a process of conversion of tools, b'anks for tools, files, &c, of
decarburized cast iron, has been employed, the pieces being first cast in sand moulds
and then decarburized as in the process of treating malleable cast iron with a view
to retain the metal in the granular condition; but it has been found that in casting,
the articles are subject to numerous imperfections (blow holes, &c.) so that a perfect
result is unobtainable; moreover, the waste increases the cost of manufacture
considerably. But by using the homogeneous metal obtained in the Bessemer or
other analogous process in which no solid oxide and no scoria or other foreign
matter is allowed to come into contact with the molten metal, a product is obtained
which is not only less costly but is of a very much better and more uniform
quality.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that
what I claim is
1st The herein described process of manufacturing tools and other articles of steel
which consists in forming tools, tool blanks or articles, by rolling stamping &c, of
soft metal (decarburized cast-iron or steel containing little carbon) of granular or
semigranular structure (such as that produced by the Bessemer and analogous
processes) and converting the metal into a true carburet of iron by heating it in
the presence of an atmosphere of hydrocarbon vapour or its equivalent, maintained
under pressure and free from all trace of oxygen during the whole of the
carburetting operation and until the articles are cooled, substantially as specified.
2nd A file or other tool or article made of a metal of granular structure con-
taining but little carbon, such as those produced on the hearth or by the Bessemer
or other analogous processes, and which is converted into a true carburet of iron,
substantially in the manner herein before specified.
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