IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND STEEL
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Stammers Webb, of Norton Iron Works,
near Stockton-on-Tees, in the County of Durham, Metallurgical
Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF IRON AND STEEL."
Sealed the 4th March 1870, and dated the 6th September 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Stammers
Webb at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 6th September 1869.
I, THOMAS STAMMERS WEBB, of Norton Iron Works, near Stockton-
on-Tees, in the County of Durham, Metallurgical Chemist, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF IRON AND STEEL," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in certain improvements in the manufacture
of iron and steel whereby very superior results are obtained. The
metal employed for the purposes of this Invention is obtained by
smelting titanic iron ore, known as ilmenite, in a blast furnace without

page_text: the addition or admixture of any other metalliferous body or compound,
whereby an alloy of iron is obtained which possesses a large per-centage
of carbon. In order to convert this metal into steel or steely iron,
puddled bar, scrap steel, scrap iron turnings, or iron possessing similar
qualities, and as free from oxide as possible should be added. When
rusty or oxidised scrap or other similar material is used it is preferred
to treat it previously to use in one or other of the following methods:-
First, to heat it in a current of carbonic oxide, more or less impure, and
mixed if desired with other gases, such, for instance, as are obtained
by burning coals or coke or other carbonaceous material in contact with
a limited supply of air; secondly, to subject it to mechanical treatment,
as, for example, to agitation in any convenient manner; or, thirdly, to
immerse it in acid solutions, by preference such as the waste acid liquors
from chemical works.
The mixture thus obtained is for the production of cast steel treated
in a suitable crucible, furnace, or apparatus, as will be well understood
by persons conversant with metallurgical operations. Manganiferous
pig iron or other material containing manganese is added to complete
the operation.
Another modification embraced by this Invention for the production
of cast steel consists in the manufacture of a metal containing about
three per cent. of carbon by melting by preference the metal produced
from titanic iron ore or ilmenite, although other metal containing a
high per-centage of carbon may be used, together with about three
times its weight of scrap iron or steel, by preference the cheap rusty
scrap iron known as "light scrap," in a blast furnace, cupola, or any
suitable furnace, in contact with carbonaceous matter and with or
without blast. These materials are by preference heated and beaten or
pressed together before charging the crucible, furnace, or apparatus.
Sufficient flux should be added to prevent the formation of silicate of
iron, and as much of the scrap iron or steel as lastly before mentioned
should be used to produce cast steel.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent;.
filed by the said Thomas Stammers Webb in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th March 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS:
STAMMERS WEBB, of the Norton Iron Works, near Stockton-on-Tees, in
the County of Durham, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Thomas Stammers Webb, Her special licence that
I, the said Thomas Stammers Webb, my executors, administrators, and.
assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Stammers Webb, my exe-.
cutors, 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 MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND STEEL," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Thomas Stammers Webb, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, 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 Thomas Stammers Webb, 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, that is to say :-
My said Invention consists in certain improvements: in the manu-
facture of iron and steel whereby very superior results are obtained.
The metal employed for the purposes of my said Invention is obtained by
smelting titanic iron ores known as ilmenite in a blast furnace without
the addition or admixture of any other ferruginous body, whereby, an

page_text: alloy of iron and carbon is obtained of a high degree of purity. In
order to convert this metal into steel or steely iron, puddled bar, by
preference puddled bar made from the above titanic metal, scrap steel,
scrap iron turnings, or iron possessing similar qualities, and as free from
oxide as possible should be added. When rusty or oxidised scrap or
other similar material is used it is preferred to treat it previous to use.
in one or other of the following methods:-First, to heat it in a current
of carbonic oxide more or less impure, and mixed if desired with other
gases, such, for instance, as are obtained by burning coals or coke or
other carbonaceous material in contact with a limited supply of air;
secondly, to subject it to mechanical treatment, as, for example, to
agitation in any convenient manner; and, thirdly, to immerse it in acid
solution, by preference such as the waste acid liquors from chemical
works.
The mixture thus obtained is for the production of cast steel heated
in a suitable crucible, furnace, or apparatus, as will be well understood
by persons conversant with metallurgical operations. Manganiferous
pig iron or other material containing manganese. may be added to
complete. the operation.
Another modification embraced by this Invention for the production
of cast steel consists in the manufacture of a metal, melting by preference
the metal produced from titanic iron ore or ilmenite, although other
metal containing a high per-centage of carbon may be used, together
with about three times its weight of scrap iron or steel, by preference
the cheap rusty scrap iron known as light scrap, in a blast furnace,
cupola, or any suitable furnace in contact with carbonaceous matter,
and with or without blast. These materials are by preference heated
and beaten or pressed together before charging the crucible, furnace, or
apparatus, sufficient flux should be added to prevent the formation of
silicate of iron, and as much of the scrap iron or steel as lastly before
mentioned should be used to produce cast steel.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-.
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe
in conclusion that what I consider novel, and original, and therefore
claim as constituting the Invention secured to me by the said herein-
before in part, recited Letters Patent arc, the processes for the manu-

page_text: facture of iron and steel herein-before described and set forth, or any
mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Stammers Webb, have,
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.