IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE PURIFI- CATION OF IRON AND STEEL
Year: 1885

page_text: and Steel.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE PURIFI-
CATION OF 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 relates to processes of, and compounds for, purifying high steel or
white iron, of the kind used in casting car wheels and other articles, whereby
the native impurities of the metal are removed and its quality improved at a
comparatively small expense.
The invention consists in the mode of procedure and in the compound herein-
after fully described.
In preparing the said compound I take one pound each of minium or red lead
and of litharge, and mingle therewith one fourth of a pound of cinnabar. To this
mixture I add about three pounds of loam, moulding sand, or a similar material
and one gallon of water, and stir the whole until a thorough mechanical
combination is effected.
The
This composition I put up in packages of suitable size for sale in the market.
The manner of using the above compound is as follows:-that is to say. In
fusing the metal either in a ladle, crucible or other vessel, the interior thereof is
first lined with the compound to a thickness of about one fourth of an inch.
metal is then melted therein and allowed to remain after fusion for a short period,
the substances in the composition combining with the native impurities, which are
thrown to the surface. For example litharge having the property of readily com-
bining with silicic acid at high temperatures, and the red lead or minium evolving
oxygen at a red heat, the melted metal is thrown into ebullition whereby the
silicon, sulphur and phosphorous are rapidly eliminated, and a certain percentage
of the carbon combines with the oxygen of the minium forming carbonic oxide
which burns upon the surface.

page_text: I have given the proportions of ingredients I regard as preferable, but I do not
limit myself to the exact quantities named, as these may be varied considerably
without departing from my invention.
It should be noted also, that as minium or red lead, parts with three atoms of
oxygen when brought to a red heat, and is thereby converted into Pb O or litharge,
the latter may be omitted in forming the compound and red lead used instead, if
desired.
If preferred, the compound may be used by smearing it upon the metal before
it is placed in the furnace.
By the use of this compound I am able to produce a pure and remarkably tough,
fine grained metal at a comparatively low cost.
When prepared in the manner described, the composition has essentially a
pinkish color and of about the consistency of paint. It may be applied with a
brush or in any other suitable manner to the ladle, crucible or other vessel, or to
the metal itself.
I am aware that red lead and litharge have been heretofore used in various
processes of purifying metals. According to one mode of procedure, a compound
consisting of chromate of iron, salammoniac, sal soda, saleratus, York ore, litharge
and iron scale, is placed in the cupola or blast furnace. In another instance, the
vessel for containing the melted metal is coated with a composition of oxide of
iron, red lead, and nitrate of soda.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign Correspondent, I declare that what I claim is
First. The process herein described of purifying iron and steel, said process
consisting in melting such metal in intimate contact with a compound consisting of
red lead or minium and cinnabar mingled with moulding sand and water in
substantially the proportions named.
Second. The process herein-before described of purifying iron or steel, said
process consisting in melting such metals in a ladle, crucible or other vessel lined
with a compound of red lead or minium and cinnabar, mingled with moulding
sand and water in substantially the proportions named.
Third. A compound for the elimination of impurities from iron and steel, con-
sisting of minium or red lead and cinnabar with moulding sand and water, in
substantially the proportions named.
Fourth. A compound for eliminating the impurities from iron and steel, con-
sisting of minium or red lead, litharge and cinnabar mingled with moulding sand
and water, in substantially the proportions specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.