AN IMPROVE- MENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STEEL
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVE-
MENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STEEL." A communication from abroad by
Louis Launay and François Launay, both of Paris, France.
A
1800
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th October 1879.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STEEL." [A com
munication from abroad by Louis Launay and François Launay, both of Paris,
France.]
This Invention consists in the employment in the manufacture of steel of what
is commonly known in commerce as the corozo nut or vegetable ivory, and in
science as the phytelephas macrocarpa, and which is the fruit of a species of palm
tree.
By the employment of this nut in the manner hereinafter described, cast steel of
greatly improved quality may be made without previous cementation, that is to
say, directly during the process of cementation itself.
The corozo nuts may be used in various forms; for example, they may be simply
crushed or vegetable ivory turnings or the carbonized powder of the nut may be
employed. The bar scrap or other iron is placed in a crucible together with the
carbonized powder, crushed nuts, or turnings, or refuse as the case may be, and
heated to the proper point, whereupon ingots of cast steel of superior quality are
directly obtained, and which is especially suited for making metal working tools.
The corozo nuts whether carbonized or not may also be employed in the process,
and for the ordinary purpose of cementation.
The right is reserved of making such modifications in the details of the Invention
as experience may decide.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th April 1880.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STEEL."
A communication from abroad by Louis Launay and François Launay, both of
Paris, France.
This Invention consists in the employment in the manufacture of steel of what
is commonly known in commerce as the corozo nut or vegetable ivory, and which
is the fruit of a species of palm tree, known in science as phytelephas. By the
employment of this nut in the manner hereinafter described cast steel of greatly
improved quality may be made without previous cementation, that is to say,
directly during the process of cementation itself.
The corozo nuts may be used in various forms or conditions; for example, I may
use the carbonised powder of the nuts, or I may simply crush the nuts, and use
them in that condition; or I may use turnings and other waste resulting from the
manufacture of articles of vegetable ivory.
To make cast steel directly in the process of cementation, the bar, scrap, or other
iron is placed in a crucible together with the carbonised powder, crushed nuts, or
vegetable ivory turnings, or waste, as the case may be, and heated to the proper
point, whereupon ingots of cast steel are directly obtained. The cast steel thus
produced is of superior quality, and is especially suited for making metal working
tools.
The corozo nuts, whether carbonised or not, may also be employed in the
ordinary process of cementation, for the ordinary purpose of this operation. Such
modifications may be made in the details of the Invention as experience may
hereafter dictate.
Having described the nature of the Invention and the manner of performing the
same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
The application and employment of the corozo nut or fruit of the phytelephas in
the manufacture of steel, substantially as herein described, whereby cast steel of
superior quality may be directly produced in the process of cementation, as
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord