IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in
.
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON." A communication from abroad by
William Edward Sendey, of Liége, in the Kingdom of Belgium.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th March 1881.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON." A communi-
cation from abroad by William Edward Sendey, of Liége, in the Kingdom of
Belgium.
In carrying out this process superior ore, such as Spanish hematite, is smelted in
the usual way in a blast furnace. The crude iron thus produced should contain from
1 to 2 per cent. of silicon. This iron is refined previous to puddling in an ordinary
reverberatory furnace, having the bottom and sides of its hearth lined with iron ore,
such as hematite; or instead of employing hematite and native oxide of iron, as
before mentioned, tap cinder, known as best tap, from the balling furnaces may be
employed, or oxide of iron, which may be obtained by oxidizing bars of wrought
iron, which bars have been previously placed in the furnace and oxidised by the
flames, may be employed. The furnace is strongly heated, and the bottom of the
hearth is covered with finely pulverized ore, such as hematite, equal in weight to
about 10 per cent. of the metal to be refined. The crude metal in a molten state,
either from the blast furnace or cupola, is then run into the furnace, and gently
stirred, until it is seen from samples of metal taken that the proper degree of
refinement bas been obtained. The metal and cinder is then tapped out of the
furnace, when it will be found by chemical analysis to have been almost entirely
free from phosphorus sulphur, silicon, and manganese. This fine metal, which
contains little else than iron and carbon may then be puddled, and made into
wrought iron in the usual way, thus producing iron of a very superior quality.
Wrought iron made from ordinary crude iron refined in this way previous to
puddling will be found to be very much improved in quality.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd September 1881.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON." A communi-
cation from abroad by William Edward Sendey, of Liege, in the Kingdom of
Belgium.
In carrying out this process superior ore, such as Spanish hematite, is smelted in
the usual way in a blast furnace. The crude iron thus produced should contain
from 1 to 2 per cent. of silicon. This iron is refined previous to puddling in an
ordinary reverberatory furnace, having the bottom and sides of its hearth lined
with iron ore, such as hematite; or instead of employing hematite and native oxide
of iron, as before mentioned, tap cinder, known as best tap from the balling
furnaces, or oxide of iron, which may be obtained by oxidizing bars of wrought
iron, which bars have been previously placed in the furnace, and oxidized by the
flames, may be employed. The furnace is strongly heated, and the bottom of the
hearth is covered with finely pulverized ore, such as hematite, equal in weight to
about 10 per cent. of the metal to be refined. The crude metal in a molten state,
either from the blast furnace or cupola, is then run into the furnace, and gently
stirred until it is seen from samples of metal taken that the proper degree of
refinement has been obtained. The metal and cinder is then tapped out of the
furnace, when the refined metal will be found by chemical analysis to have been
almost entirely freed from phosphorous, sulphur, silicon, and manganese. This fine
metal, which contains little else than iron and carbon, may then be puddled, and
made into wrought iron in the usual way; or it may be made into ingot iron by
any of the open hearth processes, thus producing iron of a very superior quality.
Wrought iron made from ordinary crude iron refined in this way previous to
puddling will be found to be very much improved in quality.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
The manufacture of iron by causing molten pig iron containing silicon to come
in contact with and to be manipulated with oxides of iron, in the manner and for
the purposes herein before mentioned.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Twenty third day of September,
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.