IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF MACHINERY, APPARATUS, AND BUILDINGS EMPLOYED IN OR FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF CAST STEEL AND MALLEABLE IRON FROM PIG OR OTHER CARBURET OF IRON
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Bessemer, of Queen Street Place, Cannon
Street, in the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF MACHINERY, APPARATUS, AND
BUILDINGS EMPLOYED IN OR FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF CAST
STEEL AND MALLEABLE IRON FROM PIG OR OTHER CARBURET OF IRON."
Sealed the 13th July 1869, and dated the 23rd February 1869:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Bessemer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd February 1869.
I, HENRY BESSEMER, of Queen Street Place, Cannon Street, in the
City of London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF MACHINERY,
APPARATUS, AND BUILDINGS EMPLOYED IN OR FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR PRO-
DUCTION OF CAST STEEL AND MALLEABLE IRON FROM PIG OR OTHER CARBURET
OF IRON," to be as follows:-
The production of ingots or other masses of cast steel or malleable
iron from pig or other carburet of iron by the forcing of atmospheric
air upward through the molten metal, and now generally known as the
Bessemer process, consists of several distinct operations carried on in

page_text: succession. The most important of these operations consist in melting
the pig metal, transferring it in the molten state to the converting vessel,
blowing air through it, and converting it into a malleable metal, mixing
the metal so converted with a certain quantity of fluid manganesian pig
iron, pouring the mixed metals into a casting ladle, and running it from
thence through a suitable valve into ingot or other moulds, and the
removal therefrom of the ingots or other cast masses when solidified.
Now it is essential to the economic performance of these successive
operations that the several kinds of apparatus employed should occupy
such positions in reference to each other that no unnecessary time should
be employed in passing the metal from one to the other, that the metal
in its fluid state should not be unnecessarily cooled by exposing it to
radiation in open gutters of great length, and that the motion of the
several parts of the apparatus should be capable of being effected with
ease and certainty, with a view to economize time, save labor, retain
heat, and conduct the process with safety. These objects are sought to
be accomplished by the several arrangements or combinations of appa-
ratus herein-after described, and at the same time the first cost of the
combined apparatus will be much reduced as compared with the cost of
the apparatus now generally employed in the manufacture of Bessemer
steel and iron, while the size and cost of the necessary building will also
be much reduced.
In carrying into practical operation the objects set forth I prefer to
place two or more converting vessels in such a position with reference to
each other that their respective axes are in a straight line, the axes
being at a distance of three to four feet above the general floor level.
Beneath each vessel a small pit is formed, and an arched passage passes
from one pit to the other in the line of the vessel's axes and terminating
.beyond the building, so that by means of a line of rails laid in this passage
the ashes or other debris of the operation may be readily removed on
trucks moving on these rails. An incline or a lift may be employed
to raise the trucks up to the general ground level. In front of cach
- vessel I mount a casting ladle on the top of a vertical slide or ram
the upper part of the slide or ram having a table for the ladle
to stand upon, or having two supports for the axes of the ladle
Should it be desired to make the ladle moveable so as to discharge
the slag by turning it over without removing it from the table
the ram or slide has a vertical movement given it by means of hydro

page_text: static pressure acting in the cylinder in which the ram works, or it may
be moved up and down by a screw and worm wheel similar to Healey's
patent screw jack, or it may be moved by forming a rack upon the ram
or slide actuated by a pinion on a revolving shaft. The casting ladle
so mounted will be lowered as the metal from the converter is poured
into it, after which it will be raised again so high that its under side
will rise above the top of the moulds, which are to be brought succes-
sively under it, and be filled by means of the valve arrangement now
generally employed in casting Bessemer steel. In front of the casting
ladle I mount a circular bed or table on a vertical spindle, the upper
surface of which I protect with brick, fire-tiles, or sand; on this table the
moulds are placed in a concentric circle; a hollow or indented part is
formed or cut out on one side of the table to allow the casting ladle to
rise up past it; the table may be rotated by gearing, or simply by a hand
spike or lever, and thus each mould will be quickly and with little force
Brought under the ladle to be filled. Against or near to the side walls I
fix small cranes to lift off the ingot moulds and ingots from the revolving
tables, and transfer them to trucks moving on rails laid in a line parallel.
to the line of converting, vessels.
By another arrangement the turntables _ may be replaced by a
line of rails on which a series of low trucks are moved and ou
which the moulds are placed, so that the trucks and moulds may
bo moved beneath the casting ladle in a line parallel to the axes
of the converting vessels, and be filled in succession; or in lieu of
using trucks wheels may be fitted to axes attached to the bed of the
moulds, and capable of easy adjustment to new beds as the beds. become
worn out. The trucks or moulds on wheels may be moved by hand, but
I prefer to employ an endless wire rope or chain passing, beneath them.
and over suitable pulleys, so that by taking a grip on. the rope with a
suitable lever attached to the trucks or moulds they may be moved or
allowed to remain at rest as desired; by mounting each mould bed on
three or four wheels great facility is afforded for their general movement
from place to place. Both when using the line of rails or the circular
table to move the moulds I prefer to place the cupola melting furnaces
before the converting vessels or nearly so, so that when the vessels are
turned down to receive a charge of molten iron the mouth of the vessels
'shall approach nearer to the .cupola. When two converting vessels are
used I prefer to employ two large cupolas, but when a greater number
than two converting vessels are used in a line the arrangement.and

page_text: number of cupola furnaces may be varied to suit the requirements of the
manufacturer and the hours of working; but in all cases I prefer to have
one casting ladle and one turntable for each converter, if turntable be
employed. The cupola furnace may be of the ordinary kind used by
founders, but I prefer to employ the description of cupola known as
"Ireland's upper tuyere furnace" or "Woodward's steam jet cupola."
In either case in a line between the cupolas, but preferably nearer to the
converting vessels, I mount a ladle or receiver on a weighing machine
with a short spout from each cupola leading into it, so that the charge of
iron to be converted is first run into this receiver and weighed. Beneath
the tap hole of receiver is placed the enlarged end of a swinging gutter
by which the iron may be run (above the level of the turntable or line
of moulds and trucks) into the mouth of the converter. The turning of
the vessels on their axes may be effected by a small steam or air engine
baving reversing gear similar to that generally employed in steam cranes
or winding engines used in mines. A large spur wheel or wheels may be
employed in connection with the axes of the vessels, and a reversing
clutch so arranged that either vessel may be moved separately; a large
worm wheel, however, is to be preferred to spur gearing either as a first
or second motion as it has no tendency to run back or reverse the
engine; or in lieu of this a separate engine may be employed to
each axis of the converters at their outside ends, in which case the air
will be admitted at the axes that come near each other between the
vessels. The winding engines and the cranes employed to move the
ingots may be actuated by steam, or the compressed air or blast may be
used in lieu thereof if desired. The winding engine instead of being
placed between or at the outer ends of a pair of converting vessels may
be placed at any convenient part of the converting house and transmit
its power to the vessels by means of shafting, and may in such case by
similar means be employed to work the cranes for removing the ingots
and moulds and for actuating the lifts for raising the pig metal to the
upper floor and raising the debris from the casting pits. When the
winding engine is used between the vessels I prefer to build a wall on
each side thereof, and to spring a brick arch over it, and in like manner
I carry an arch above the mouth of the converters so that the flame and
heated. gases may not rise to the roof of the building but escape through
suitable openings made in the brick wall for that purpose. When two
converting vessels are grouped as described I also employ two small
cupola furnaces for melting the manganesian carburet of iron or spiegel

page_text: eisen; these may be placed near the weighing ladle and the iron from
them be run into the vessel or casting ladle along the. gutters before-
named, but I prefer to tap these small furnaces into a swing or travelling
ladle, where the iron may be weighed, and be thus transferred to the con-
verter or casting ladle without being cooled or wasted by passing along
a gutter. I prefer to form an upper floor on girders and arches at that
part of the converting house where the cupola furnaces are situated, on
to which floor the metal and fuel may be hoisted by a suitable lift. The
cupola furnaces may form a support for the iron floor beams at the
central part, the outer walls of building supporting the other ends of
them. The trunnion bands generally employed in converting vessels
are of forged iron, and-from the difficulty of making them are very
expensive; I therefore replace them in some cases by employing a hoop
of cast iron with the trunnions and air passages. formed therein. In this
case I use rolled angle irons to. embrace, the cast-iron hoop, and by
passing bolts entirely through the cast iron and rolled angles the several
parts of the cast-iron hoop would be supported in case of accidental
fracture; or in lieu of this mode I make the central band of plate iron
or steel which forms part of tlie vessel thicker than the other parts of it,
and secure to it the trunnions. by a flange, using by preference- for the
trunnion steel castings, or iron or steel forgings; the central part of the
vessel may be further stiffened by angle rings rivetted around it 'above
and below the trunnion flanges.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Bessemer in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 23rd August 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
BESSEMER, of Queen Street Place, Cannon Street, in the City of London,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters,
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors; give, and grant unto me, the said Henry Bessemer, Her special
licence that I, the said Henry Bessemer, my executors, administrators,

page_text: and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Bessemer, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF MACHINERY, APPARATUS, AND BUILDINGS
EMPLOYED IN OR FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF CAST STEEL AND
MALLEABLE IRON FROM PIG OR OTHER CARBURET OF IRON," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Henry Bessemer, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, 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
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 Henry Bessemer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
The production of ingots or other masses of cast steel or malleable
iron from pig or other carburet of iron by the forcing of atmospheric air
upward. through the molten metal, and now generally known as the
Bessemer process, consists of several distinct operations carried on in
succession. The most important of these operations consist in melting
the pig metal, transferring it in the molten state to the converting vessel,
blowing air through it, and converting it into a malleable metal, mixing
the metal so converted with a certain quantity of fluid manganesian pig
iron, pouring the mixed metals into a casting ladle, and running it from
thence through a suitable valve into ingot or other moulds, and the
removal therefrom of the ingots or other cast masses when solidified.
Now it is essential to the economic performance of these successive
operations that the several kinds of apparatus employed should occupy
such positions in reference to each other that no unnecessary time should
be employed in passing the metal from one to the other, that the metal
in its fluid state should not be unnecessarily cooled by exposing it to
'radiation in open gutters of great length, and that the motion of the
several parts of. the apparatus should be capable of being effected with

page_text: ease and certainty, with a view to economize time, save labour, retain heat,
and conduct the process with safety. These objects are sought to be
accomplished by the several arrangements or combinations of apparatus
herein-after described, and at the same time the first cost of the combined
apparatus will be much reduced as compared with the cost of the
apparatus now generally employed in the manufacture of Bessemer steel
and iron, while the size and cost of the necessary building will also be
much reduced.
In carrying into practical operation the objects set forth I prefer to
place two or more converting vessels in such a position with reference
to each other that their respective axes are in a straight line, the axes
being at a distance of three to four feet above the general floor level;
beneath each vessel a small pit is formed, and an arched passage passes
from one pit to the other in the line of the vessel's axes, and terminating
beyond the building, so that by means of a line of rails laid in this
passage the ashes or other debris of the operation may be readily
removed on trucks moving on these rails. An incline or a lift may be
employed to raise the trucks up to the general ground level.
And in order that the arrangement and construction of the converting
apparatus may be more fully understood, I have hereunto annexed a
Sheet of Drawings on which the same is represented in plan at Figure 1,
and in vertical section at Figure 2; a side elevation of the converting.
vessel showing the gearing for giving it rotation is shown at Figure 3.
The same letters of reference in these Figures indicate a repetition of the
parts so marked.
a, a, represent two converting vessels so placed that their respective
axes are in a straight line, in which position any required number may.
be placed along one side of the "converting house;" the axes of the:
vessels are supported on massive castings b, the upper parts of which
are formed into plummer blocks * for the axes to turn in; each of the.
converters a stands over a separate pit u through which an arched
passage c leads to the outer sides of the building; in this passage arc
fixed the rails d, on which an iron truck e may be moved beneath any
number of vessels placed in a line and receive from them the slags,
cinders, or other debris, and convey it out of the converting house. The
pipe and usual valve arrangement for the supply of air to the converter
is shown at f*. In front of each vessel I mount a casting ladle g on the
top of a vertical slide or ram h,. the upper part of the slide or ram:

page_text: having a table i for the ladle to stand upon, as shown, or having two
supports for the axes of the ladle should it be desired to make the ladle
moveable so as to discharge the slag by turning it over without removing
it from the table; the ram or slide h has a vertical movement given it by
means of hydrostatic pressure acting in the cylinder k in which the ram
works, or it may be moved up and down by a screw and worm wheel
similar to Haley's patent screw jack, or it may be moved by forming a
rack upon the ram or slide actuated by a pinion on a revolving shaft.
The casting ladle. so mounted will be lowered as the metal from the
converter is poured into it, after which it will be raised again so high
that its under side will rise above the top of the moulds, as shown by
dots at g*; the moulds are to be brought successively under it by turning
the table m, and be filled by means of the valve arrangement f now
generally employed in casting Bessemer steel. In front of the casting
ladle I mount a circular bed or table m on a vertical spindle n moving
in a bearing o and foot step o*; the upper surface of the table I protect
with brick, fire-tiles, or sand m* '; on this table the moulds p are placed in
a concentric circle; a hollow or indented part q is formed or cut out on
one side of the table to allow the casting ladle g to rise up past it; the
table may be rotated by gearing or simply by a hand spike or lever, and
thus cach mould will be quickly and with little force brought under the
ladle to be filled. Against or near to the side walls I fix small cranes to
lift off the ingot moulds and ingots from the revolving tables and
transfer them to trucks moving on the rails laid in a line parallel to
the line of converting vessels; or in lieu of the wall cranes I use an
hydraulic crane such as is generally known as an ingot crane, and
represented at. 8, Figures 1 and 2, and placed between each pair of
converting vessels, the range of the gib shown by dots being such that
the top of the converter or the tuyere box may be removed by it on
to a truck moving on the rails r, and be carried out of the converting
house.
.
By another arrangement the turntables may be replaced by a line
of rails on which a series of low trucks are moved, and on which the.
moulds are placed, so that the trucks and moulds may be moved beneath
the.casting ladle in a line parallel to the axes of the converting vessels
and be filled in succession; or in lieu of using trucks wheels may be
fitted to and axes attached to the bed of the moulds, and capable of easy.

page_text: moulds on wheels may be moved by hand, but I prefer to employ an
endless wire rope or chain passing beneath them and over suitable
pulleys, so that by taking a grip on the rope with a suitable lever
attached to the trucks or moulds they may be moved or allowed to
remain at rest as desired; by mounting each mould bed on three
or four wheels great facility is afforded for their general movement
from place to place. Both when using the line of rails or the circular
table to move the moulds I prefer to place the cupola melting
furnaces A, A, before the converting vessels, or nearly so, as shown in
the annexed Drawings, so that when the vessels are turned down, as
shown by dots at a*, Figure 2, to receive a charge of molten iron the
mouth of the vessel shall approach nearer to the cupola A. When two
converting vessels are used I prefer to employ two large cupolas, as
shown at A, A, in the annexed Drawings, but when a greater number
than two converting vessels are used in a line the arrangement and
number of cupola furnaces may be varied to suit the requirements of
the manufacturer and the hours of working; but in all cases I prefer
to have one casting ladle and one turntable for each converter, if turn-
tables be einployed. The cupola furnaces may be of the ordinary kind
used by founders, but I prefer to employ the description of cupola
known as "Ireland's upper tuyere furnace " or "Woodward's steam
jet cupola." In either case in a line between the cupolas, but prefer-
ably nearer to the converting vessels, I mount a ladle or receiver B on a
weighing machine C with a short spout D from each cupola leading into
it, so that the charge of iron to be converted is first run into the
receiver B and weighed. Beneath the tap hole of the receiver is placed
the enlarged end E of a swinging gutter E by which the iron may be
run (above the level of the turntable or line of moulds and trucks) into
the mouth of the convertor. The moveable gutter or spout D is sup-
ported in a vertical spindle F, which is retained in position by a
pedestal G bolted to the foundation; the spout E is capable of sup-
plying both converting vessels, and when not in use may be moved out
of the way by turning it in a direction parallel to the rails r. By this
arrangement each of the cupolas may be employed to supply either of
the convertors, the exact quantity of metal employed being ascertained
by weighing it in the receiver B before running it into the converter.
The turning of the vessels on their axes may be effected by a small steam
or air engine having reversing gear similar to that generally employed
in steam cranes or winding engines used in mines. A large spur wheel

page_text: or wheels may be employed in connection with the axes of the vessels
and a reversing clutch so arranged that either vessel may be moved
separately; a large worm wheel however is to be preferred to spur
gearing, either as a first or second motion, as it has no tendency to run
back or reverse the engine.
In the accompanying Drawing at Figure 3 a large worm wheel H is
shown on the axes of the converting vessel; a worm I on the vertical
shaft J gears into the worm wheel, and is supported by the frame K
bolted to the foundation. A bevilled wheel L is keyed on to the lower
end of the shaft J, and is geared into another bevilled wheel M on the
horizontal shaft N; this shaft extends entirely across the building, and
is provided with any of the usual means of connection with a steam or
air engine having a reversing valve gear, so that the shaft N may be put
in motion, reversed, or stopped when required by a workman so placed
that he can see the pouring out of the molten metal into the ladle, and
be enabled to regulate the motion of the converter as found desirable; a
clutch is also provided for the purpose of disengaging the bevilled
wheel M, when the vessel to which it gives motion is required to be at
rest; or in lieu of this arrangement a separate engine may be employed
to each axis of the converters at their outside end, in which case the air
will be admitted at the axes that come near each other between the
vessels. The winding engines and the cranes employed to move the
ingots may be actuated by steam, or the compressed air or blast may be
used in lieu thereof if desired. The winding engine instead of being
placed between or at the outer ends of a pair of converting vessels may
be placed at any convenient part of the converting house, and transmit
its power to the vessels by means of shafting, and may in such case by
similar means be employed to work the cranes for removing the ingots
and moulds, and for actuating the lifts for raising the pig metal to the
upper floor and raising the debris from the casting pits. When the
winding engine is used between the vessels I prefer to build a wall on
each side thereof, and to spring a brick arch over it, and in like manner
I carry an arch above the mouth of the converters, so that the flame and
heated gases may not rise to the roof of the building, but escape through
suitable openings made in the brick wall for this purpose. When two
converting vessels are grouped as described I also employ two small
cupola furnaces Q, Q, for melting the magnesian carburet of iron or
spiegel eisen; these may be placed near the weighing ladle, as shown,

page_text: and the iron from them be run into the vessel or casting ladle along
the gutters before-named, but I prefer to tap these small furnaces into
a swing or travelling ladle, where the iron may be weighed, and be thus
transferred to the converter or casting ladle without being cooled or
wasted by passing along a gutter. I prefer to form an upper floor
on girders, as shown at R, Figure 2, or on arches at that part
of the converting house where the cupola furnaces are situated, on
to which floor the metal and fuel may be hoisted by a suitable
lift; the cupola furnaces may form a support for the iron floor
beams at the central part, the outer walls of building supporting
the other ends of them. The cupola furnaces A and Q are erected
on a raised bed of masonry S in order that the workman may have
a platform or floor to stand on when tapping the furnaces; the
steps T give access to this raised platform. The trunnion bands generally
employed in converting vessels are of forged iron, and from the difficulty
of making them are very expensive; I therefore replace them in some
cases by employing a hoop of cast iron with the trunnions and air
passages formed therein. In this case I use rolled angle irons to embrace
the cast-iron hoop, and by passing bolts entirely through the cast iron
and rolled angles the several parts of the cast-iron hoop would be sup-
ported in case of accidental fracture; or in lieu of this mode, I make
the central band of plate iron or steel which forms part of the vessel
thicker than the other parts of. it, and secure to it the trunnions by a
flange, using by preference for the trunnion steel castings, or iron or
steel forgings; the central part of the vessel may be further stiffened
by angle rings rivetted around it above and below the trunnion
flanges.
Having described my Invention, and the manner in which the same
is to be carried into practical operation, I desire it to be understood that
I do not confine myself to the precise details herein specified so long
as the peculiar character of my Invention is retained; but what I do
claim is,―
Firstly. Placing two or more converting vessels with their respective
axes in a line when used in combination with melting furnaces to which
the mouths of the converters approach when turned down to receive the
molten iron.
Secondly. I claim raising and lowering the casting ladle vertically in

page_text: front of the converting vessel by the direct action of a hydraulic plunger
or by a screw or rack, as described.
Thirdly. I claim employing in combination with such raising and
lowering apparatus a turntable mounted on a vertical axis for bringing
the moulds in succession under the casting ladle, as herein described.
Fourthly. I claim the movement of converting vessels on their axes
by means of a worm and worm wheel and bevilled gearing, as herein
described.
Fifthly. I claim the employment of a ladle or receiver for weighing
molten cast iron so placed as to receive a charge of metal from two or
more melting furnaces, and provided with a moveable gutter for the
conveyance of the metal therefrom into two or more converting
vessels.
Sixthly. I claim the mode herein described of receiving in a truck on
rails and conveying away the waste fuel and slags or other matters from
the converting vessels.
Lastly. I claim the general arrangement and grouping together of the
several implements or apparatus employed in the manufacture of
Bessemer steel, as shown in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Bessemer, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of August, in the.
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
תתות66תת למזיד
HENRY BESSEMER. (1.S.)