IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF IRON AND STEEL
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Edwin Sherman, of Bucksport, in the State
of Maine, United States of America, Engineer, now residing at
Bloomsbury Square, in the County of Middlesex, England, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF IRON AND
STEEL."
Sealed the 24th September 1870, and dated the 25th July 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Edwin Sherman
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 25th July 1870.
I, JOHN EDWIN SHERMAN, of Bucksport, in the State of Maine,
United States of America, Engineer, now residing at Bloomsbury
Square, in the County of Middlesex, England, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF IRON
AND STEEL," to be as follows:-
One part of this Invention relates to the employment of iodine, or of
compounds containing iodine in the treatment of cast or pig iron, so

page_text: as to obtain therefrom a cast or pig iron of superior quality as also iron
or steel of an improved description."
And this Invention further relates to the treatment of wrought iron
or steel by means of iodine, or of compounds containing iodine so as to
eliminate impurities therefrom.
In carrying out the first part of this Invention I prefer to melt or fuse
the pig iron to be treated in a reverberatory furnace, but other furnaces
may be employed, and when the pig or cast-iron is in a state of fusion
I add thereto either iodine, or an iodide, or a compound containing
iodine, and after having thoroughly incorporated the same the purified.
cast-iron may be tapped or ladled off as is well understood. When it
is desired to obtain from cast or pig iron either wrought iron or steel,
then I add to the molten metal either iodine or an iodide, or a com-
pound containing iodine, and after the metal has been puddled either
to the condition of steel or of wrought iron it is removed from the
furnace.
In carrying out another part of this Invention, videlicit, the production
of steel of an improved quality, I place together with either cemented
bar or with mixtures of spiegel eisen or cast iron and wrought iron, or
with such mixtures as are employed for the production of steel, either
iodine or an iodide, or a compound containing iodine; the metal being
contained either in a furnace or a crucible. If a furnace be employed
for the production of steel then I prefer to add iodine or compounds
containing iodine when the metal is in a state of fusion, and when a
crucible is employed for effecting the fusion of the metal or metals
then I prefer to add the iodine or the compounds containing iodine to
the metal or to the mixtures before placing the same in the furnace.
Whichever method be adopted it will be found that by the employment
of iodine, or of a compound containing iodine, steel of an improved
quality will be obtained.
When steel is produced from pig or cast-iron
by what is known as the Bessemer process, then the iodine or the com-
pound containing iodine may either be introduced with the blast or they
may be added to the molten metal either before. or after its conversion.
The proportion in which the iodine or compounds containing iodine
may be employed, will vary according to the quality of the metal
operated upon and the result it is desired to obtain, but I have found
that good results may be obtained by the employment of the same in
about the following proportions, videlicit, of iodine, either in a free

page_text: state or in combination about from 10 to 50 grains for every 100 pounds
of cast or pig iron, or of wrought iron or of steel to be operated upon,
but as before mentioned these proportions will vary.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Edwin Sherman in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 25th January 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME I, JOHN
EDWIN SHERMAN, of Bucksport, in the State of Maine, United States of
America, Engineer, now residing at Bloomsbury Square, in the County
of Middlesex, England, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Edwin Sherman, Her special license
that I, the said John Edwin Sherman, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Edwin Sherman, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might makė, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF IRON
AND STEEL," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Edwin Sherman, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Edwin Sherman, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-

page_text: This Invention relates to the employment of iodine or of compounds
containing iodine in the treatment of cast or pig iron so as to obtain
therefrom a cast or pig iron of superior quality, as also iron or steel of
an improved description, and to the treatment of wrought iron in the
production of steel, and to the treatment of steel by means of iodine or of
compounds containing iodine so as to eliminate impurities therefrom.
In carrying out the first part of this Invention I perfer to melt or fuse
the pig iron to be treated in a reverberatory furnace, but other furnaces
may be employed, and when the pig or cast iron is in a state of fusion I
add thereto either iodine or an iodide or a compound containing iodine,
and after having thoroughly incorporated the same the purified cast
iron may be tapped or ladled off as is well understood. Or instead of
mixing the iodine or the iodide or compounds containing iodine with
the molten cast iron in the furnace the same may be added to the
molten metal contained in a ladle or other vessel, and after incorporation
the purified metal may be employed for the purposes of casting or
otherwise.
When it is desired to obtain from cast or pig iron either wrought iron
or steel, then I add to the molten metal, when the iron begins to expand
into a boil, either iodine or an iodide, or a compound containing iodine,
and after the metal has been puddled either to the condition of steel or of
wrought iron it is removed from the furnace.
When steel is produced from pig or cast iron by what is known as the
Bessemer process, then the iodine or the compounds containing iodine
may either be introduced with the blast or may be added to the molten
metal either before or after its conversion.
When iodine or an iodide or compounds containing iodine are employed
in conjunction with a blast they may be injected with the blast by
employing, for example, a small pipe having two valves attached to the
blast pipe the lower valve being closed the iodine or compounds con-
taining iodine are placed in the small pipe, the upper valve is closed, and
when the metal begins to boil (as in the puddling furnace) the lower
valve is open and the iodine or compounds are forced through the molten
metal by the blast. If the small pipe is not used the converter may be
turned down when the metal begins to expand into a boil and the iodine
or compounds may be thrown into the vessel; good results may be

page_text: obtained by placing the before-mentioned iodine, iodides, or compounds
containing iodine in a ladle and pouring the metal into them, allowing
it to remain some minutes in the ladle before tapping or pouring.
In carrying out that part of this Invention which relates to the pro-
duction of cast steel of an improved quality, I place together with either
cemented bar or with mixtures of spiegl eisen or cast iron and wrought
iron, or with such mixtures as are employed for the production of steel
either iodine or an iodide, or a compound containing iodine, the metal
being contained either in a furnace or a crucible. If a furnace be
employed for the production of steel then I prefer to add the iodine or
compounds containing iodine when the metal is in a state of fusion,
and when a crucible is employed for effecting the fusion of the metal
or metals, then I prefer to add the iodine or the compounds containing
iodine to the metal or to the mixtures before placing the same in the
furnace.
Whichever method be adopted it will be found that by the employ-
ment of iodine or of a compound containing iodine, steel of an improved
quality will be obtained.
In carrying out that part of the Invention which relates to the treat-
ment of steel so as to eliminate impurities therefrom, the steel is firstly
melted either in a furnace or crucible and the iodine or the compounds
containing iodine are added thereto, and after having been incorporated
therewith by stirring or otherwise, the steel thus operated upon may be
removed. The proportion in which the iodine or compounds containing
iodine may be employed will vary according to the quality of the metal
operated upon and the result it is desired to obtain, but I have found
that good results may be obtained by the employment of the same in
about the following proportions, videlicet, of iodine either in a free state
or in combination about from ten to fifty grains for every one hundred
pounds of cast or pig iron, or of wrought iron, or of steel to be operated
upon:
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the employ-
ment of iodine, or of the iodides of the metals, or of the alkaline earths
or of the alkalies, or of compounds containing iodine or mixtures of the

page_text: same for the purpose of effecting the purification of cast or pig iron, and
for the improved production of steel and iron.
In witness. whereof, I, the said John Edwin Sherman, have to
this my Specification set my hand and seal, the Second day of
January, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
JOHN EDWIN SHERMAN. (L.S.)