IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND STEEL, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND STEEL, AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR." A communication from abroad by Alfred Braconnier, of Nancy,
France, Mining Engineer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th April 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON
AND STEEL, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR." A communication from abroad by
Alfred Braconnier, of Nancy, France, Mining Engincer.
In practising this Invention when it is desired to refine ordinary white pig iron
the latter should be heated to a very high temperature in a reverberatory furnace
heated by gas and hot air, and provided with heat-recuperators. When it is desired
to obtain products of the best quality, or to use with the pig iron either scrap or
waste pieces or old rails, I add manganesian pig-iron so as to have from one to three
per cent. of manganese in the batch.
The melted iron is introduced into a Bessemer converter, and from twelve to fifteen
per cent. of lime is added which has been previously heated to a high temperature.
In from ten to twenty seconds after the disappearance of the carbon the first scoria
or slag is run off, and a proportion of from eight to ten per cent. of lime mixed
with twenty per cent. of calcareous iron ore is added, and the refining is completed
by again running off the scoria or slag, and then causing a current of gas taken
from a gas apparatus to pass for several seconds, finally adding from three to eight
per cent. of spiegeleisen according to the nature of the metal which it is desired to
produce.
The converter which I employ differs from the ordinary Bessemer converter in
one important point, that is to say, I make the upper part which becomes quickly
choked or obstructed by the solidification of the scoria, movable like the bottom,
so that it can be replaced by another whenever this may be necessary.
The converter is lined with magnesian bricks manufactured as described in the
Provisional Specification filed by me on the 27th March, A.D. 1880, No. 1291.

page_text: The bottom of the converter is made of magnesian bricks of the best quality
made according to the said former Specification; they should be well prepared
for fitting together before being put into the position they are to occupy, and are
fitted or secured by a very thin layer of cement made of magnesia mixed with a
small portion of clay. The openings for the passage of air are formed by making
grooves in the bricks, which are firmly compressed and baked at a very high
temperature. I thus obtain a bottom which offers as perfect a resistance as possible
to the physical and chemical corrosion of the metal in fusion.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th October 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON
AND STEEL, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR" A communication from abroad by
Alfred Braconnier, of Nancy, Franco, Mining Engineer.
This Invention relates to the manufacture of iron and steel, and to apparatus
therefor.
In practising the said Invention when it is desired to refine ordinary whito pig-
iron the latter should be subjected to a very high temperature in a reverberatory
furnace heated by gas and hot air, and provided with regenerators. When it is
desired to obtain products of the best quality, or to use with the pig-iron either
scrap or waste pieces or old rails, I add manganesian pig iron in the proportion of
from one to three per cent. of manganese in the mass.
The molten iron is introduced into a Bessemer converter, and from twelve to
fifteen per cent. of lime is added, the lime having been previously heated to a high
temperature. In from ten to twenty seconds after the disappearance of the carbon,
the first scoria or slag is run off, and a proportion of from eight to ten per cent. of
lime mixed with twenty per cent. of calcareous iron ore is added, and the refining
is completed by again running off the scoria or slag and then admitting a current
of gas from a gas-apparatus for several seconds, finally adding from three to eight
per cont. of spiegeleisen, according to the nature of the metal which it is desired to
produce.
The converter which I employ differs from the ordinary Bessemer converter in
one important point, that is to say, I make the upper part, which becomes quickly
choked or obstructed by the solidification of the scoria, moveable like the bottom, so
that it can be replaced by another whenever this may be necessary.
The converter is lined with magnesian bricks manufactured as described in
the Specification of former Letters Patent, dated the 27th March A.D. 1880,
No. 1291.

page_text: The bottom of the converter is formed of magnesian bricks of the best quality
made according to tho said former Specification; they should be well prepared for
fitting together before being put into the position they are to occupy, and are fitted
or secured by a very thin layer of cement made of magnesia mixed with a small
proportion of clay. The openings for the passage of air are formed by making
grooves in the bricks, which are firmly compressed and baked or burnt at a very
high temperature. I thus obtain a bottom which offers an effectual resistance to
the physical and chemical corrosion of the metal in fusion.
The improvements relating to the construction of the upper part and bottom of
the converter, as above set forth, may also be advantageously applied to similar
apparatus to be employed for various purposes.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it
understood that I claim,-
First. The process for manufacturing cast iron and steel by treating ordinary
pig-iron in a Bessemer-converter, as above set forth.
Second. The improvements in the construction of Bessomor converters and
similar apparatus, as and for the purpose above set forth and for similar
purposes.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
W”. RUB², LAKE. (L.S.)