IMPROVEMENTS IN THE " MANUFACTURE OF STEEL OR OF ALLOYS OF IRON AND STEEL SUITABLE FOR CASTING
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Julius Boult, of 323 High Holborn in the
28
County of Middlesex, Engineer for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
"
MANUFACTURE OF STEEL OR OF ALLOYS OF IRON AND STEEL SUITABLE FOR
CASTING a communication from George W Francis "Steel worker," a person
resident at Middlesex, County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, United
States of America
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alfred Julius Boult at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th April 1883.
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the county of Middlesex
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STEEL OR OF ALLOYS OF
IRON AND STEEL, SUITABLE FOR CASTING." a communication from George.
W. Francis. "Steel Worker a person resident at Middlesex, County of Middlesex,
and State of Connecticut. United States of America
»
Heretofore many attempts have been made to make steel castings, but the result
has generally been a failure not only for the reason that steel of a good grade
cannot be melted and poured into moulds and produce castings with sharply
defined angles corresponding with the angles of the molds, but also the quality of
the steel itself after it has been melted and poured into moulds becomes greatly
deteriorated. Furthermore on account of the difficulty of melting and pouring
steel of a good grade, a poor grade of steel has generally been selected for this
purpose because the latter will melt and pour more readily than the former.
Steel, even of the best quality, if melted in conjunction with charcoal pig iron as
hereinafter explained, will form a mixture which is sufficiently fluid to be run into
and take the exact form of the mould while the quality of the steel will not be
impaired, but it will remain applicable even say to cutting tools.
This invention consists in melting steel which is rich enough in carbon to be
hardened and tempered in conjunction with charcoal, pig iron, pouring such fluid
or molten mixture into any desired form of moulds and then annealing the metal

page_text: so cast. It also includes the peculiar composition of metal or material which is the
product of said process.
To carry the said invention into effect I take scrap tool steel such as old files,
old dies &c &c, and "Lake Superior" charcoal pig iron or other charcoal iron of the
like character and preferably place the iron into the bottom of a crucible and the steel
on the top; the same being in proportions varying from three parts of the steel
and one of iron to one part of the steel and four of the iron according to the
quality of steel castings to be produced, the smallest amount of iron with the
largest amount of steel producing the best steel for most purposes, but these pro-
portions may be somewhat varied especially a larger proportion of the iron can be
added when the use for which the casting is designed will admit.
The castings thus produced are annealed after which they are ready for use.
Prior to annealing, the metal cannot be rolled or hammered with good results when
either cold or hot. It has been found that three parts of steel and one of
charcoal pig-iron thus placed in a crucible, even when the best refined steel is used,
will readily melt at a white heat, the iron first melting and the steel melting
immediately or soon thereafter and falling down into the crucible with the iron
and commingles therewith forming a molten.metal which may be readily poured
into ordinary sand moulds.
It is also found that this compound runs very freely so as to produce sharp and
well defined castings, even of a very small size, which are free from flaws or blow
holes, are of a fine and homogeneous structure and which after annealing may be
refined by rolling or hammering whilé hot and may be hammered for any purpose
when cold. When finely polished this new steel closely resembles nickel and is
very free from all tendency to oxidize. Said castings, unless a larger proportion of
iron is employed than that hereinbefore specifically stated are also capable of
being hardened and tempered by merely heating and immediately immersing in
water or other liquid in the same manner as other steel.
It is preferable to use scrap-steel composed of old tools &c because such steel is
generally of a superior quality and can be obtained cheaply, but bar-steel or other
steel which can be hardened and tempered may be used if desired with good
effect.
This steel may be produced not only in crucibles but furnaces may also be
employed for this purpose. In carrying out the said process no manganese or any
thing else is put into the crucible except the steel and iron before mentioned and
into the furnace except fuel
If desired instead of first pouring it into molds for shaping it into its final form
the steel or compound may first be run into ingot molds and the ingots thus
produced may be re melted and run into molds for shaping; the desired article or
articles. For edge tools, such as axes, chisels & it is preferable to cast the article
into substantially the desired form, and afterwards the cutting blade of such edge
tools may be heated and hammered to refine and toughen them, after which they
are hardened and tempered in any ordinary manner.
Bessemer steel and common cast iron have been heretofore melted and puddled
and I hereby disclaim the same. It has been tried to melt steel in conjunction 4
with various kinds of iron but nothing except charcoal pig-iron has been found
which can be mixed with steel for casting and produce the results hereinbefore
specified.
Having now described this invention and the manner of performing the same as
communicated to me by my foreign correspondent I wish it to be understood that 5
what I claim and desire to protect under the herein before in part recited Letters
Patent is,
First The method of producing manufactures of steel, which consists in melting
steel and charcoal pig-iron in the proportions set forth, pouring the same
into moulds and finally annealing to produce manufactures of steel 5
which can be hammered. hardened and temnered anhatantiall
2

page_text: Second As a new article of manufacture, a material produced by melting
together steel and charcoal pig-iron substantially as described, to form
a compound suitable to be cast into the form of or worked into cutting
tools or other articles.
In witness whereof I the said Alfred Julius Boult have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twelfth day of April in the year of Our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three
igned and sealed by the
within named Alfred Julius
Boult, in my presence this
twelfth day of April 1883
BERNHARD DUKES.
ALFRED J. BOULT (L.S.)