IMPROVEMENTS IN CONVERTERS FOR USE IN. THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND STEEL
Year: 1884

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I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm off Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare
the nature of said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN CONVERTERS FOR USE IN.
THE MANUFACTURE 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:
This invention relates to converting apparatus by means of which, Bessemer'
steel, Thomas Gilchrist steel, cast steel and refined cast iron can be produced with
the aid of comparatively inexpensive apparatus and in an economical manner.
The said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which :-
Figures 1 and 2 are transverse and longitudinal sections of the improved
apparatus and
Figures 3 and 4 horizontal sections.
Figure 5 is a sectional view hereinafter referred to.
The said apparatus comprises a receptacle A of sheet or cast iron mounted upon
a horizontal shaft B, and lined internally with silicious or basic fire-proof- material
such as is generally used in furnaces for manufacturing steel or refined cast iron.
In refining cast iron the air is introduced into the receptacle A through one of the
journals of the shaft B, through a circular air-box D, and through the tuyeres E
arranged as shown in Figure 3.
The said tuyeres are formed of silicious or basic substances and are placed upon
the receptacle or converter in such a manner as to permit the cleaning when the
blowing operation is terminated, to prevent them from being obstructed, and to
arrest the introduction of air when the said receptacle or converter is inverted for
withdrawing a portion of the metal for assaying purposes, or for permitting the
refined metal to flow out.
.
In some cases, tuyeres may be arranged all round the convertor. In this case,
and in order that the metal, when running out, should not obstruct any part of the
tuyeres, the receptacle is made of a shape similar to that shown in Figure 5. In
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this manner very good results can be obtained. By allowing a great depth in the
converter for the metal the tuyeres may be easily arranged all over the converter
or receptacle. This arrangement of the tuyeres permits the blowing to be effected
at a low pressure (from 15 to 20 centimetres of mercurial pressure) by means of a
small and inexpensive blowing machine.
The inversion of the receptacle which is effected by hand, although it may be
accomplished by steam or bydraulic pressure, permits the easy removal of the
dross through the mouth of the converter and the outflow of the refined metal
either through a special aperture suitably arranged through the lining of the
converter, or through the mouth of the latter into a small pit arranged accordingly,
or into a channel communicating with the moulds which have to be filled.
As it is intended to produce only a small quantity of metal at each operation
(say from 400 to 2000 kilogrammes) the inversion of the converter, which is effected
by hand by means of gearing, is of the simplist and most economical kind.
I find it advantageous to use tuyeres having apertures from 8 to 15m/m in
diameter. These tuyeres are placed in a horizontal or inclined position relatively
to the surface of the metal the converter being in the position in which blowing
is effected. In Figures 1, 3. 4 and 5 the position of the metal is shown when the
converter is placed horizontally.
.
I arrange the said tuyeres so as to be slightly inclined to the radial lines of the
receptacle in order to obtain a rotary motion of the metal which is favorable to the
refining thereof. These tuyeres are placed at a distance of from 10 to 15
centimetres below the surface of the liquid metal.
When the metal is sufficiently refined, which can be ascertained by the means
usually employed in such operations, the receptacle is inverted, the tuyeres being
cleared out and the blowing operation arrested without fear of the metal entering
the said tuyeres. The bottom and the mouth of the receptacle are rendered
movable so as to permit the same to be easily cleaned or repaired.
す
.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
'
First. The general arrangement of, apparatus substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Second. In a converter having a rotary motion the tuyeres arranged substantially
as described for permitting the blowing to be effected at a low pressure.
Dated this 1st Day of Mauch 1001