IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND STEEL AND OTHER METALS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William John Clapp, of Nantyglo, in the County of
Monmouth, Surgeon, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR
APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND STEEL AND
OTHER METALS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William John Clapp at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st September 1880.
WILLIAM JOHN CLAPP, of Nantyglo, in the County of Monmouth, Surgeon.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
IRON AND STEEL AND OTHER METALS."
The Invention has for its object improvements in means or apparatus employed
in the manufacture of iron and steel and other metals.
Heretofore it has been proposed to run molten crude or remelted metal directly
from a blast or other furnace into a puddling, refining, or mixing chamber, and it
has also been proposed to puddle or agitate the metal in such chamber by means of
a rotating stirrer or agitator fixed to a vertical shaft capable of being introduced
into and withdrawn from the puddling, refining, or mixing chamber through an
aperture in the crown of the furnace containing such chamber, but in such cases
the puddling, refining, or mixing chamber was completely open at the top, thereby
necessarily exposing its contents to all the gases of the furnace, and as such chamber
was a fixture it was necessary to pull the furnace to pieces in order to obtain access
thereto.
According to my present Invention I also run the molten crude or remelted metal
directly from the blast or other furnace into the puddling, refining, or mixing
chamber, and I puddle or agitate the metal therein by a rotating stirrer or agitator
fixed to a vertical shaft, but I so construct and arrange the parts as to enable the
puddling, refining, or mixing chamber and stirrer or agitator to be readily intro-
duced into and withdrawn from the furnace for repairs or otherwise, whilst such
chamber can if desired be completely closed, except at the orifice through which the
molten metal is run into it.

page_text: For this purpose I suspend the puddling, refining, or mixing chamber in the
centre of a furnace or heating chamber, and I construct the former in two parts
connected together by means of inclined or conical flanges formed thereon in a
plane, by preference slightly inclined from the horizontal. The upper conical flange
forms a trough around the said chamber, fitting the interior of the furnace or heating 5
chamber, and receiving the molten metal from the trough leading from the blast or
other furnace. The molten metal passes from such conical trough into the puddling,
refining, or mixing chamber through an opening in the crown of the latter.
The lower inclined flange rests upon a seat formed in the furnace or heating
chamber.
The upper part of the puddling, refining, or mixing chamber is connected by a
tube to the crown or cover of the furnace or heating chamber, thereby enabling the
former chamber with its stirrer or agitator therein to be readily removed from the
furnace or heating chamber by any convenient tackle.
1
The interior of the upper portion of the furnace or heating chamber is formed 1
slightly conical to permit of the ready insertion and withdrawal of the puddling,
=refining, or mixing chamber, and a tap hole is formed in the lower part of the latter
to enable the molten metal-to-run-therefrom into a trough formed in the lower
part of the furnace or heating chamber, whence it may be conducted-or-removed as
desired.
The shaft of the stirrer or agitator by being-passed-through the tube connecting
the crown or cover of the furnace-or-heating chamber with the puddling, refining,
or mixing chamber is thereby protected from the direct action of the beat-in-the
furnace or heating chamber, and such shaft is driven by means of suitable gearing
operated in any convenient manner.
The various parts of the apparatus are, where required, protected by a suitable
coating from the intense heat of the furnace, as is well understood.
2
By the employment of various purifying agents in the interior of the puddling,
refining, or mixing chamber, or by the mixture of various materials with the metal
therein, or by the mixture of different descriptions of metal together in such 3
chamber, various qualities of iron and steel and other metals can be produced, as is
well understood.
The puddling, refining, or mixing chamber is heated before the liquid metal is
run therein, and it is kept suitably heated whilst the metal is being treated therein,
to maintain the metal in its required fluid condition.
3

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William John Clapp in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st March 1881.
WILLIAM JOHN CLAPP, of Nantyglo, in the County of Monmouth, Surgeon.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
IRON AND STEEL AND OTHER METALS."
The Invention has for its object improvements in means or apparatus employed
in the manufacture of iron and steel and other metals.
Heretofore it has been proposed to run molten crude or remelted metal directly
from a blast or other furnace into a puddling, refining, or mixing chamber, and it
has also been proposed to puddle or agitate the metal in such chainber by means of
a rotating stirrer or agitator fixed to a vertical shaft capable of being introduced
into and withdrawn from the puddling, refining, or mixing chamber through an
aperture in the crown of the furnace containing such chamber, but in such cases
the puddling, refining, or mixing chamber was completely open at the top, thereby
necessarily exposing its contents to all the gases of the furnace, and as such
chamber was a fixture it was necessary to pull the furnace to pieces in order to
obtain access thereto for repairs or otherwise.
According to my prosent Invention I also run the molten crude or remelted
metal directly from the blast or other furnace into the puddling, refining, or mixing
chamber, and I puddle or agitate the metal therein by a rotating stirrer or agitator
fixed to a vertical shaft, but I so construct and arrange the parts as to enable the
puddling, refining, or mixing chamber and stirrer or agitator to be readily intro-
duced into and withdrawn from the furnace for repairs or otherwise, whilst such
chamber can if desired be completely closed except at the orifice, through which
the molten metal is run into it.
For this purpose I suspend the puddling, refining, or mixing chamber in the
centre of a furnace or heating chamber, and I construct the former in two parts
connected together by means of inclined or conical flanges formed thereon in a
plane, by preference slightly inclined from the horizontal. The upper conical
flange forms a trough around the said chamber fitting the interior of the furnace or
heating chamber, and receiving the molten metal from the trough leading from the
blast or other furnace. The molten metal passes from such conical trough into the
puddling, refining, or mixing chamber through an opening in the crown of the
latter.
The lower inclined flange rests upon a seat formed in the furnace or heating
chamber.
The upper part of the puddling, refining, or mixing chamber is connected by a
tube to the crown or cover of the furnace or heating chamber, thereby enabling
the former chamber with its stirrer or agitator therein to be readily removed
from the furnace or heating chamber by any convenient tackle.
The interior of the upper portion of the furnace or heating chainber is formed
slightly conical to permit of the ready insertion and withdrawal of the puddling,
refining, or mixing chamber, and a tap hole is formed in the lower part of the
latter to enable the molten metal to run therefrom into a trough formed in the
lower part of the furnace or heating chamber, whence it may be conducted or
reinoved as desired.
The shaft of the stirrer or agitator by being passed through the tube connecting
the crown or cover of the furnace or heating chamber with the puddling, refining,
or mixing chamber, is thereby protected from the direct action of the heat in the
furnace or heating chamber, and such shaft is driven by means of suitable gearing
operated in any convenient manner,

page_text: The various parts of the apparatus are where required protected by a suitable
coating from the intense heat of the furnace, as is well understood.
And in order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed aided by the accompanying Drawings more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1 and 2 are vertical sections, drawn at right angles to each other, of
means or apparatus constructed according to my Invention.
Figures 3 and 4 are vertical sections also drawn at right angles to each other,
and Figure 5 is a plan of a modification of my Invention.
The different forms of apparatus represented in the Drawings are primarily
intended for the conversion of crude or remelted iron into malleable iron or steel,
but may also be employed in the manufacture of other metal in which the use of
similar apparatus would be advantageous.
In all the Figures corresponding parts are marked with similar letters of 1
reference..
a represents the puddling, refining,-or-mixing chamber; b, the stirrer or agitator
working within the same; c, the furnace; d, a flue or heating chamber around the
chamber and-e-the-main flue or chimney. The stirrer or agitator b is fixed on a
shaft-or-axis.b which at its upper end is provided-with-a-bevelled toothed wheel b
to which rotary motion is given by the bevelled pinion ƒ³ fixed on a rotating shaft-
or axis. If desired rotary motion may be given to the stirrer or agitator_b_in_
any other suitable manner.
The shaft or axis b¹ is fitted with a link, or is formed with a hole or slot at its
upper end (not shown), to which a chain is connected to enable the puddling,
refining, or mixing chamber a, when required, to be raised out of the heating
chamber d. It will be evident that previous to raising the chamber a the shaft f
with its bevelled pinion f' must be moved out of the way by sliding it in or
removing it from its bearings, suitable means being provided, as will be readily
understood, for enabling it to be speedily removed and replaced as may be required.
In the arrangement represented at Figures 1 and 2 the chamber a is constructed
and supported in the following manner:-The chamber a is formed in two parts,
each of which is provided with a conical flange a accurately fitting each other,
and securely bolted or otherwise fixed together. The flanges a' fit the interior
of the heating chamber d and rest upon a seat formed in the latter, and such :
The
flanges a are formed in a plane slightly inclined from the borizontal.
upper conical flange a¹ forms a trough around the chamber a to receive the molten
metal from the trough g leading from the blast or other furnace, and the molten
metal passes from such conical trough a¹ into the chamber a through an opening a²
formed in the crown of the latter. The said opening a² may, if desired, be left
open during the treatment of the metal in the chamber a, or it may be provided
with means for closing the same at such times, in which latter case the crown or
cover of the furnace or heating chamber d will be provided with an aperture
(not shown) capable of being readily opened and closed, through which the
opening a² can be closed when required.
The upper part of the puddling, refining, or mixing chamber a is connected to
the crown or cover a³ by a tube a, through which the shaft or axis b passes.
The interior of the upper part of the heating chamber d is formed slightly
conical to permit of the ready insertion and removal of the chamber a from the
heating chamber d.
In the arrangement represented at Figures 3, 4, and 5, the flanges a¹ are
dispensed with, and the puddling, refining, or mixing chamber a is made without a
division, whilst it is supported by a flange a resting on the cover d' of the furnace
or heating chamber d. An aperture as is formed in the crown of the chamber a
to enable the molten metal to be run into the latter from a trough g, shown by

page_text: dotted lines, or to be poured therein from a ladle, and said aperture a is capable
of being readily opened and closed by means of a door or covor, as shown.
In both arrangements the puddling, refining, or mixing chamber a is provided
with a tap hole a', in the lower part thereof, to enable the molten metal, after
being sufficiently treated, to run therefrom into a trough d³ formed in the lower
part of the heating chamber d, whence it may be conducted or romoved, as
desired.
I also, when required, provide the chamber a with suitable apertures a³ to fit
against tuyores or blast pipes when it is desired to act upon the contents of
the chamber a by a blast of air or steam or a combination thereof, in which case
an opening must be left in the crown of the chamber a to permit of the escape of
the gases.
The various parts of the apparatus are, where required, protected by a suitable
coating from the intense heat of the furnace, as is well understood.
By the employment of various purifying agents in the interior of the puddling,
refining, or mixing chamber a, or by the mixture of various materials with the
metal therein, or by the mixture of different descriptions of metal together in such
chamber, various qualities of iron and steel and other metals can be produced, as is
well understood.
The chamber a is heated before the liquid metal is run therein, and it is kept
suitably heated whilst the metal is being treated to maintain the metal in its
required fluid condition. By aid of the apparatus herein described I am enabled
to produce a perfectly homogeneous metal free from bubbles and blow holes.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the modo in which I
carry the samo into effect, I would have it understood that I do not claim the
various parts of the apparatus separately considered, but I claim the arrangements
and combination of means or apparatus employed in the manufacture of iron and
steel and other metals, substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William John Clapp, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Fourteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord Oue
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.