A NEW AND IMPROVED METHOD OR PROCESS FOR CONVERTING IRON INTO STEEL BY THE ACTION OF CERTAIN GASES, AND FOR PRODUCING GASES FOR SUCH PURPOSE
Year: 1866

page_text: Invention of "A NEW AND IMPROVED METHOD OR PROCESS FOR CONVERTING
IRON INTO STEEL BY THE ACTION OF CERTAIN GASES, AND FOR PRODUCING GASES
FOR SUCH PURPOSE."
Sealed the 21st day of May 1867, and dated the 26th November 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Jabez Barron at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th November 1866.
I, THOMAS JABEZ BARRON, of the City and State of New York, in the
United States of America, Manufacturing Chemist, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "A NEW AND IMPROVED METHOD OR PROCESS
FOR CONVERTING IRON INTO STEEL BY THE ACTION OF CERTAIN GASES, AND FOR
PRODUCING GASES FOR SUCH PURPOSE," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in converting iron into steel, either partially or on
the surface, or entirely through the mass as desired or necessary for the uses
to which the metal is to be applied by means of certain gases which are
brought in contact with the metal while hot; this conversion may be
effected while the metal is in the rough mass, or after it is fashioned into
shape. The gases which I use for the purpose are carburetted hydrogen with
nitrogen and cyanogen, or with nitrogen and carbonic oxide. Ammoniacal
or chlorine gases, or gases formed from the decomposition of muriate or other
salts of ammonia, may also be used in the place of or with the nitrogen.
[Price 6d.]

page_text: In applying these gases to carry out my Invention I use a furnace con-
structed to contain one or more ovens, muffles, or retorts which receive the
iron to be steeled, and are brought to a bright red or white heat according to
the character of the steel to be produced when the metal is placed in them,
and they are closed; into such retorts there is then to be placed in imme-
diate contact with the heated metal, a mixture of carburetted hydrogen and
nitrogen, or cyanogen gas, or of carburetted hydrogen and nitrogen and
carbonic oxide, and either with or without gases derived from the compounds
of ammonia; these gases may be prepared in separate retorts, and then forced
into the retort containing the iron to be steeled, or the carburetted hydrogen
may be generated in the same retort with such iron by admitting therein liquid
or solid hydrocarbons or nitrogenized fats. A proportion of from one-sixth to
one-fourth of nitrogen gas to five-sixths or three-fourths of carburetted hydrogen
will be found sufficient to produce the result desired, a larger portion of
nitrogen may however be made use of, provided it is not so great as to drive
the hydrocarbon gas from the surface of the iron. Cyanogen, which is com-
posed of nitrogen and carbon, may be used instead of nitrogen alone, but a
little larger proportion of cyanogen than of nitrogen should be used; the gases
formed by the decomposition of the muriate or other salts of ammonia,
or any substance which will produce such gases, may be used in place of
nitrogen or in connection with it; the latter I deem the preferable method.
A compound gas composed of nitrogen, carbonic oxide, and cyanogen produced
as herein-after described may also be used in combination with the carburetted
hydrogen.
Articles which are to be coated with or converted into steel are to be allowed
to remain in such bath of gases a longer or shorter time according to the depth
of steel surface desired, and the degree of heat to which they are subjected:
the greater the heat the quicker will be the action of the gases, and the higher
the steel. If the iron is impure, chlorine gas should be admitted into the
retort for a few minutes or longer according to the character of the iron
previous to admitting the other gases to convert it into steel; such gas carries
off or takes up as they are volatilized the impurities which may have been con-
tained in the metal; when the iron is pure such preparatory use of chlorine
may be dispensed with. When the metals or articles to be steeled have been
sufficiently acted on by the gases they are removed to a cooler part of the
retort, or to another retort connected therewith, and allowed to remain there
until cooled sufficiently to prevent oxidation when brought in contact with
the atmosphere. When such articles require hardening, the articles are to
be passed into the hardening retort without being exposed to the atmosphere

page_text: to discolor or oxidise their polished or finished surfaces. The retorts are so
ventilated as to allow gases to pass out as fresh supplies enter; or a pipe may
be connected therewith to receive the discharged gases, and conduct them into
the fire to be burned. The compound or mixed gas of nitrogen, carbonic
oxide, and cyanogen is produced by causing atmospheric air either cold or
heated to pass through a closed furnace of retort containing ignited charcoal, -
coke, or other fuel. The air is to be forced into the retort and through the
ignited fuel in such quantities only as will ensure its decomposition. The
oxygen of the air as it ispassed through suchignited fuel is taken up or absorbed
by it, and the other gases set free, which are conducted off and stored for
use. The gases set free will be principally nitrogen and carbonic oxide, but
there will be found a proportion. of cyanogen, though not very large. Car-
buretted hydrogen may also be produced in connection with the nitrogen,
carbonic oxide, and cyanogen by admitting slowly within the retort a liquid
or other hydrocarbon which is easily decomposable.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Jabez Barron in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd May 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
JABEZ BARRON, of the City and State of New York, in the United States of
America,, Manufacturing Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of November, in the year of our
Lord. One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors; give and grant unto me, the
said Thomas Jabez Barron, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas Jabez
Barron, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Thomas Jabez Barron, 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 make
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A NEW
AND IMPROVED METHOD OR PROCESS FOR CONVERTING IRON INTO STEEL BY THE
ACTION OF CERTAIN GASES, AND FOR PRODUCING GASES FOR SUCH PURPOSE," upon
the condition (am.ngst others) that I, the said Thomas Jabez Barron, my
executors er administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,

page_text: or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 Thomas Jabez Barron, 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:
My Invention or discovery consists in converting iron into steel after the
metal is formed or fashioned into any shape desired or required, and more or
less deeply as found useful or necessary by the application of certain gases
brought in contact with the metal while heated and acting in combination
with any suitable apparatus for heating such metal, and also in a new and
improved method or process of producing gases to be used for such purpose.
The gases used by me for such purpose of converting iron into steel are
carburetted hydrogen in combination with nitrogen or cyanogen, separately or
together, or carburetted hydrogen with nitrogen and carbonic oxide. Ammo-
niacal gas and chlorine may also be used in the place of or mixed with the
nitrogen.
The manner of applying these gases and carrying out my Invention is sub-
stantially as follows:-I construct a furnace to contain one or more ovens,
muffles, or retorts of such form as to be adapted to receive the iron which it
is desired to convert either partially or wholly into steel; such retorts are to
be brought to a red heat or white heat according to the character of the steel
to be produced, when the iron is placed in them and the retort, oven, or
muffle closed; into such retorts or muffles there is then forced or caused to
enter in immediate contact with the iron or metal a mixture of carburetted
hydrogen and nitrogen, or cyanogen gas, or of carburetted hydrogen and
nitrogen, and carbonic oxide gas, and either with or without gases derived
from the compounds of ammonia. A proportion of from one-sixth to one-
quarter of nitrogen gas to five-sixths or three-quarters of carburetted hydrogen
will be found sufficient in ordinary cases to produce the result desired; but a
greater proportion of nitrogen may be used provided it is not so great as to
drive the hydrocarbon from the surface of the metal; the surplus of this or
the other gases not taken up by the iron producing no injurious effect, except,
perhaps, a cooling effect upon the heat of the retort or muffle, and such
surplus passing out of the mutile or retort. The carburetted hydrogen may be
prepared in a separate retort in the usual manner, or may be generated in the

page_text: retort or muffle containing the metal to be steeled by slowly admitting into
such retort either liquid or solid hydrocarbons, or nitrogenized or other fats
which will be decomposed by the heat of the retort or muffle and converted
into gas. The nitrogen is prepared in the usual manner, and is then forced
into the retort or muffle in connection with the carburetted hydrogen.
Cyanogen gas, which is composed of nitrogen and carbon, may be used in
place of pure nitrogen, but in such case a little greater proportion of cyanogen
than of nitrogen should be used or mixed with the carburetted hydrogen.
The gases formed by the decomposition of the muriate or other salts of ammonia,
or any substance that will produce such gases, may also be used in place of
the nitrogen or in connection with it, the latter being deemed by me most
preferable form of use. A compound or mixed gas composed of nitrogen and
carbonic oxide, with a small proportion of cyanogen, and which may be pro-
duced in the manner herein-after described, may also be used in combination
or connection with the carburetted hydrogen, and from the nitrogen and carbon
contained in it will be found efficacious to produce the result mentioned.
From the facility and cheapness with which such mixed gas can be produced I
generally make use of it.
Articles which it is desired to coat with or convert into steel are allowed to
remain in the bath of gases a longer or shorter time according to the depth of
the steel surface required or desired, and the degree of heat to which such
articles are subjected in the retort or muffle, and the character, size, and
thickness of the iron. With a low degree of heat a longer time is required
to steel the metal to a given depth, and the greater the heat the quicker the
action of the gases, and the higher the steel. The time occupied in the process
varies from a few seconds to a number of hours, five or six or more in some
cases according to the character, and size, and thickness of the iron, and the
depth to which it is to be steeled, and the heat of the muflle or retort. 1 have
converted iron one-sixteenth of an inch thick into good steel in three minutes,
and half an inch thick by two inches wide in one and a half hours. If the
heat is high enough iron will be converted into steel an eighth of an inch deep
in from five to ten minutes, and in a much less time when the metal is near
a welding heat; but with such extreme heat the metal becomes coarse and
requires re-working. What will be a sufficient time in any case and under
different circumstances can be easily determined by the operator by one or
two preliminary trials. When the iron to be coated with or converted into
steel is impure, chlorine gas should be admitted into the retort or muffle pre-
vious to the admission of the carburetted hydrogen and other gases, and
should remain in contact with the metal a few minutes or longer time

page_text: according to the quality of the iron. Such gas has the effect to carry off or
take up any impurities as they are volatilized which may have been contained
in the metal. When the iron is pure the use of this gas may be dispensed
with. Such gas may be prepared and forced into the retort or muffle, or
generated therein as found most convenient. When the iron or metal has
been sufficiently acted on by the gases in the hottest parts of the retort it may
be removed to the end or cool, part of the retort, or to another retort con-
necting therewith and extending beyond the heat of the fire, and there
retained in the bath of gases until sufficiently cool to prevent oxidation when
it comes in contact with the atmosphere. This removal is made or employed
when the metal or articles steeled do not require hardening. When any such
articles require hardening the retort or muffle connects with or opens into the
hardening bath, into which the articles are dropped without exposure to the
atmosphere. When the retort or muffle cannot be connected with the hard-
ening bath a jet of the gases should be played upon the metal or articles as
they are removed from the retort or muffle to the hardening bath, so as to
form an atmosphere of gas around them to prevent oxidation. This shielding
of the articles from contact with the atmosphere in passing from the retort to
the hardening bath prevents oxidation or discoloration of the surface, and is
specially desirable and useful when the article has been polished or finished
before being steeled, and it is desired to preserve the polished or finished
surface. The retort or muffle containing the metal or articles to be steeled
are ventilated so as to allow the gases to escape therefrom, and fresh supplies
of gas to enter or be generated therein, or a discharge pipe may be connected
therewith which will conduct the gases passing out of the retort into the fire,
where they can be burned as fuel. The mixed gases of nitrogen, carbonic
oxide, and cyanogen are produced or obtained by passing common atmospheric
air, either heated or cold, over or through ignited charcoal, coke, or other fuel in
a closed furnace, whereby the oxygen is taken up by the fuel, and the nitrogen,
carbonic oxide, and cyanogen are set free, which can then be collected and
used together, or separated if desired and used for manufacturing and other
purposes. To obtain these gases I provide a closed air-tight furnace or retort
having a grate or similar contrivance, on which is placed and lighted the
charcoal, coke, or other fuel. Into such furnace or retort below the ignited
fuel opens a tube or pipe connected with some suitable blowing apparatus,
and through which atmospheric air is forced as required. If it is desired to
heat the air before entering such furnace or retort the supply pipe may be
passed through any furnace, or the air may be otherwise heated and then sup-
plied to such pipe. The air is passed through the ignited fuel in suc

page_text: quantities only as to cause its decomposition as it comes in contact with the
fuel, and have the oxygen taken up by the fuel while the other gases are set
free. A pipe leading from the furnace or retort above the ignited fuel
permits such gases not taken up by the fuel to pass off, when they can be col-
lected and separated if desired, or used in connection with each other. The
gases set free will be principally nitrogen and carbonic oxide, but there will
be found a proportion, though not very large, of cyanogen. When it is
desired to use these gases in. combination h carburetted hydrogen, such
carburetted hydrogen may be produced generated by the action of the
same furnace or retort producing the nitrogen, carbonic oxide, and cyanogen, by
slowly admitting into such furnace or retort some liquid or other hydrocarbon
that is easily decomposable, and the carburetted hydrogen will pass off with
the other gases.
What is claimed as new and is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is,-
1. The use and application for converting iron into steel of the compound
gas composed of carburetted hydrogen, with nitrogen and cyanogen, or with
nitrogen and carbonic oxide, and either with or without ammoniacal and
chlorine gases, applied substantially as described.
2. The use in combination with the process of converting iron into steel
by the application of the gases, mentioned in the first claim, of chlorine gas
preliminary to such process, for the purpose set forth.
3. Protecting the iron or metal after it has been steeled or converted into
steel from contact with the atmosphere while being cooled or hardened, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. Producing nitrogen, carbonic oxide, and cyanogen gases by passing
atmospheric air, whether heated or not, through ignited charcoal, coke, &c.,
substantially as described.
5. In combination with producing nitrogen, carbonic oxide, and cyanogen,
as described in the last claim, the use of liquid or other hydrocarbons, sub-
stantially as described for producing carburetted hydrogen in connection with
such other gases.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Jabez Barron, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of May, A.D. 1867.
THOMAS JABEZ BARRON. (L.S.)