Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Cast Iron and Steel.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 22nd May, 1894-Accepted, 30th June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Cast Iron
and Steel.
We, CHARLES ALLEN, of The Bessemer Steel Works, Sheffield, in the County
of York, Engineer, and CHARLES DAVY, of Whitworth Road, Ranmoor, Sheffield,
in the County of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention has reference to improved apparatus for use in the manufacture of
cast iron and steel. As is well known inequalities occur in the character of the
molten metal tapped from blast furnaces, not only between the products of different
furnaces but also in the product withdrawn at different stages from a single furnace,
and with the view of obviating the difficulty molten metal from several furnaces or
molten metal withdrawn at different times from a single furnace have been mixed in
a receiver or vessel as for example according to the Specification of Deighton's
Patent No. 3672 of the year 1873 preparatory to such metal being run into pigs
or cast directly into articles of commerce or converted into steel in suitable
apparatus by the Bessemer or Siemens-Martin process.
Now according to the present invention a vessel for storing molten metal is
employed which in cross section has the form of rather more than a half circle and
is constructed of metal with a lining of refractory material and strengthened by
means of channel and angle irons. It is provided with roller ways that rest on
supporting rollers mounted in bearings secured in frames upon suitable foundations
so that by means of hydraulic apparatus the vessel can be tilted and rocked when
necessary. Along the bed the vessel is constructed with an internal ridge adapted
to agitate the liquid contents of the vessel when it is rocked upon the rollers. If
desired two or more ridges may be provided. In the roof of the vessel charging
openings are formed, these openings being furnished with closing doors.
For feeding the molten metal to the vessel through the charging openings a
travelling feeder is provided. It consists of a cover trough that may be approxi-
mately of T shape in plan, with nozzles through which the molten metal can flow
into the vessel, this covered trough being mounted on wheels adapted to run upon
rails and fixed respectively upon the top of the vessel and upon a platform or
bank on a level therewith the arrangement being such that when in proper position
on the rails upon the receiving vessel the feeder can receive molten metal from a
ladle and will deliver through the top of the vessel at two or more different points
and when not delivering molten metal into the vessel, can be moved onto the rails
on the platform or bank clear of the vessel. The feeder is formed of metal lined
with refractory material. For tilting the vessel when required it is provided with
bydraulic cylinders with trunnions working in bearings the rams being hinged to a
bar arranged longitudinally at the rear of the vessel.
For discharging the molten metal into a ladle as it is required for treatment in
the Bessemer, Siemens-Martin, or other converter, or for casting into pigs or
articles of commerce, the vessel is constructed with a discharging hole furnished
with a nozzle closed by a stopper which is operated by a suitable lever, the
nozzle being placed in such a position that by tilting the vessel in one or the
other direction it can be brought either below or above the level of the molten
metal.
In order that when necessary heat may be applied to the vessel, either preparatory
to its receiving a charge of molten metal, or for the purpose of maintaining the
vessel and its charge at the desired temperature, and whether the vessel is being

page_text: rocked or not, there are provided means for supplying gas and air to the vessel.
For this purpose an opening is formed at each end of the vessel, these openings
being so arranged that the axis about which the vessel rocks passes through them.
At each end of the vessel, somewhat below the level of the said openings, a
pair of regenerators is arranged, conduits being provided for conducting the gas
and air from the regenerators to the openings. These conduits are formed in
two portions the upper portions being movable and the lower portions fixed.
The upper portions are mounted on wheels adapted to travel upon girder rails
the ends of which furthest from the vessel are pivoted to standards and their
opposite ends formed with nuts and screws bearing on other standards. For the
purpose of fixing the movable portions in their normal or working positions for the
passage of gases they are moved into contact with the ends of the vessel and
lowered on to the tops of the fixed portion by operating the screws.
For the purpose of inspecting the interior of the vessel or for effecting such
necessary repairs as may be possible to the brickwork of the openings and the
conduits, the movable portions may be raised by means of the screws until clear of
the fixed portions when they can be moved away from the vessel.
The above described apparatus enables the molten metal from blast furnaces to
be maintained in a molten condition for any desired period, for example over the
week end.
Dated this 22nd day of August 1893.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Cast Iron
and Steel.
We, CHARLES ALLEN, of The Bessemer Steel Works, Sheffield, in the County
of York, Engineer, and CHARLES DAVY, of Whitworth Road, Raumoor, Sheffield,
in the County of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying three sheets of illustrative drawings, whereof :-
Fig. 1, shews partly in longitudinal vertical section and partly in rear elevation,
an apparatus for the manufacture of cast iron and steel constructed according to
this invention ;
Fig. 2 shows a cross section taken on the line x x of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows partly in elevation and partly in cross section one of the moveable
upper portions of the apparatus containing gas and air conduits as hereinafter more
particularly referred to as also the arrangements for supporting same.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line y y, of Fig. 3.
This invention has reference to improved apparatus for use in the manufacture
of cast iron and steel. As is well known inequalities occur in the character of the
molten metal tapped from blast furnaces, not only between the products of
different furnaces but also in the product withdrawn at different stages from a
single furnace, and with the view of obviating the difficulty molten metal from
several furnaces or molten metal withdrawn at different times from a single furnace
have been mixed in a receiver or vessel as for example according to the
Specification of Deighton's Patent No. 3672 of the year 1873 preparatory to such
metal being run into pigs or cast directly into articles of commerce or converted
into steel in suitable apparatus by the Bessemer or Siemens-Martin process.
Now according to the present invention a vessel A. for storing molten metal is

page_text: employed, which in cross section has the form of rather more than a half circle,
and is constructed of metal 1 with a lining 2 of refractory material and strengthened
by means of channel and angle irons 3. It is provided with roller ways 4 that rest
on supporting rollers 5, mounted in bearings 6, secured in frames 7, upon suitable
foundations 8, so that by means of hydraulic apparatus the vessel A can be tilted
and rocked when necessary. Along the bed the vessel is constructed with an
internal ridge 9 adapted to agitate the liquid contents of the vessel when it is
rocked upon the rollers. If desired, two or more ridges may be provided. In the
roof of the vessel, charging openings 10, are formed, these openings being furnished
with closing doors 11. There may be any convenient number of charging
openings.
For feeding the molten metal to the vessel A through the charging openings 10
a travelling feeder B is provided. It consists of a covered trough 12 that may be
approximately of T shape in plan, with nozzles 13 through which the molten metal
can flow into the vessel, this covered trough being mounted on wheels 14 adapted
to run upon rails 15 and fixed respectively upon the top of the vessel and upon a
platform or bank 16 on a level therewith, the arrangement being such that, when
in proper position on the rails upon the receiving vessel A, the feeder B can
receive molten metal from a ladle Ċ and will deliver through the top of the vessel
at two or more different points, and, when not delivering molten metal into the
vessel, can be moved onto the rails 15 on the platform or bank 16 clear of the
vessel. The feeder is formed of metal lined with refractory material.
For tilting the vessel A when required, it is provided with hydraulic apparatus D,
the cylinders 17 of which are provided with trunnions 18 working in bearings 19
secured to the foundation 8, the rams 20 being hinged to a bar 21 arranged
longitudinally at the rear of the vessel A.
There are employed in the apparatus shewn, two hydraulic cylinders with rams,
one being arranged towards each end of the vessel A.
For discharging the molten metal into a ladle as it is required for treatment in
the Bessemer, Siemens-Martin, or other converter, or for casting into pigs or
articles of commerce, the vessel A is constructed with a discharging hole 22
furnished with a nozzle 23 closed by a stopper 24 which is operated by a suitable
lever 25, the nozzle being placed in such a position that by tilting the vessel A
in one or the other direction it can be brought either below or above the level of
the molten vessel.
In order that when necessary heat may be applied to the vessel A, either
preparatory to its receiving a charge of molten metal, or for the purpose of
maintaining the vessel and its charge at the desired temperature (or converting
the charge into steel), whether the vessel is being rocked or not, there are provided
means for supplying gas and air to the vessel. For this purpose an opening 26 is
formed at each end of the vessel, these openings being so arranged that the axis
about which the vessel rocks passes through them. At each end of the vessel,
somewhat below the level of the said openings, a pair of regenerators 27, 27ª is
arranged, conduits 28, 28* being provided for conducting the gas and air
respectively from the regenerators 27, 27 to the opening 26. These conduits
are formed in two portions the upper portions being movable and the lower
portions fixed.
The upper portions are in a separate part E or E' of the structure mounted on
wheels 29 adapted to travel upon girder rails 30 the ends 30" of which furthest
from the vessel A are pivoted to standards 31 and their opposite ends formed with
nuts 32 and through which pass screws 33 bearing on other standards 34. For the
purpose of fixing the movable portions E and E' in their normal or working
positions for the passage of gases, they are moved into contact with the ends of the
vessel and lowered on to the tops of the parts of the structure containing the fixed
portions of the conduits 28 28" by operating the screws 33.
It will be understood that when gas and air are being fed to the vessel A at one
end from the corresponding regenerators the hot gases from the vessel A are

page_text: permitted to escape at the other end through the regenerators in connection with
that end, so as to heat them.
For the purpose of inspecting the interior of the vessel or for effecting such
necessary repairs as may be possible to the brickwork of the openings 26 and the
conduits 28, 28" the movable portions E, E' may be raised by means of the screws
until clear of these parts of the structure containing the fixed portions of the
conduits, when they can be moved away from the vessel.
The above described apparatus enables the molten metal from blast furnaces-
to be maintained in a molten condition for any desired period, for example over
the week end.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In an apparatus for the manufacture of cast iron and steel, a molten metal
storing vessel A having in cross section the form of rather more than a half circle,
roller-ways 4 attached to the said vessel, supporting rollers 5 mounted in bearings 6
secured in frames 7 upon suitable foundations 8, means for tilting the said vessel
when required, charging openings 10 and travelling feeder B consisting of a covered
trough 12 with nozzles 13 from which the molten metal can flow into the vessel A,
this covered trough being mounted on wheels 14 running on rails 15 upon the top
of the vessel and upon a platform or bank 16 on a level therewith, the arrangement
being such that, when in proper position upon the rails on the receiving vessel A,
the feeder B can receive molten metal from a ladle and will deliver through the
top of the vessel A at different points and when not delivering molten metal into
the vessel can be moved on the rails 15 on the platform or bank 16 clear of the
vessel, substantially as described.
2. In an apparatus for the manufacture of cast iron and steel constructed with a
covered vessel A such as referred to in the preceding claim mounted so that it can
be tilted or rocked and provided with means for imparting a tilting or rocking
movement to it, forming the said vessel with an opening 26 at each end so arranged
that the axis about which the vessel rocks shall pass through the said openings
and providing at each end of the vessel somewhat below the level of the
corresponding opening a pair of regenerators 27, 27* with conduits 28, 28" for
conducting the gas and air respectively from the regenerators 27, 27ª to the
corresponding opening 26, or hot gases from the vessel A to the said regenerator,
such conduits being formed partly in a movable portion E or E' of the structure
adapted to travel along girder rails 30 able to be raised and lowered at their
inner ends and provided with means for raising such ends and supporting them
when raised in such manner that by raising said inner ends the corresponding
movable portion E or E¹ of the structure will be lifted clear of the portion
containing the fixed or stationary parts of the same conduits 28, 28" so that the
movable portion can then be withdrawn along its girder rails 30 and then it can be
replaced in position for the passage of gases between the regenerators and the
vessel A by returning it along the girder rails 30 and then lowering their raised
ends as described.
3. The combination of parts constituting the improved apparatus constructed,
arranged and operating as shown in and described with reference to the accom-
panying drawings for the manufacture of cast iron and steel.
Dated this 22nd daw of M... 1904