Method and Means for Manufacturing Steel or the like direct in a Cupola.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1897
Complete Specification Left 3rd May 1898-Accepted 3rd Aug
1898
Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 3rd May, 1898-Accepted 3rd Aug 18.98
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Method and Means for Manufacturing Steel or the like direct
in a Cupola.
I, THOMAS DOHERTY, of the Town of Sarnia, County of Lambton, Province of
Ontario, Dominion of Canada, Iron Founder, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to metal founding and has for its object to manufacture
or produce steel or the like direct from iron in the same cupola or the like furnace
in which such iron is melted-but in suchwise that if desired the cupola can also
be used simply for melting iron without converting same into steel or the
like that is to say ordinary cast iron or castings thereof can be produced from
the cupola if desired.
My present invention is as follows:-
I divide or arrange a cupola or furnace adapted to melt iron therein into
two chambers viz.: an upper chamber in which the charges (pig iron and fuel)
are placed and such iron when melted then falls (through a suitable aperture
or apertures or duct in the bottom of said upper chamber) into a second or lower
chamber in which said molten iron is then and there converted into steel or the
like direct viz.: by blowing air onto the surface of the molten metal in this
lower chamber.
I may apply my present invention to or carry same out with an ordinary
cupola shell (which latter may advantageously be rather high by constructing
the linings and a somewhat funnel-shaped base to form the upper chamber and
having a central opening or duct leading centrally from said upper or melting
chamber (which I shall hereinafter refer to as the "melting chamber") into
the said lower or converting chamber (which latter I shall hereinafter refer to as
the converter") the said duct serving the double purpose of allowing the air
blast to pass up from the converter into the melting chamber and the iron as it
melts to fall through into the converter-said duct being of any suitable size
and shape for this purpose and if desired provided with any suitable means.
to prevent the unmelted iron or fuel from falling through.
The "
converter" chamber may be of any suitable size shape and depth
(advantageously rather shallow but of sufficient depth to contain enough molten
metal for the air blast to act on) and the air blast is introduced into the converter
in any suitable manner and at any suitable point or points and in one or any
number of jets.
For instance I may use a nozzle or jet consisting of a slot or opening (through
which the blast issues) of say 12 inches in length by 2 inches in depth or
thereabouts or in other proportions according to the size of the cupola or I
may use a number of smaller nozzles or jets as desired.
The blast is supplied (at any suitable pressure-say 4 or 5 lbs. per square inch)
from any suitable source or by any suitable means and is led to the said nozzle
or nozzles in any desired manner or by any suitable means.

page_text: According to my present invention the blast may advantageously be led to
the said nozzle or nozzles by means of an adjustable tuyere or tuyeres viz.; by
means of a horizontal pipe (or pipes) from which latter said nozzle or nozzles
project and such pipe or pipes is cased in or enclosed in an air-tight manner
on the exterior of the shell said pipe passing through a suitable stuffing box
or gasket at each end of said casing and means
such as a square head
or end may be provided on said pipe by which the latter can be turned on its
horizontal axis for instance by a wrench or lever adapted to fit on said square
end and thereby the nozzle or outlets from said blast supply pipe is or are directed
downwards onto the molten metal in the "converter" and the blast after acting
on such molten metal passes up into and acts as the blast in the melting chamber
or said blast may be directed upwards and thus pass up the said duct direct to
the melting chamber-without acting on the metal in the converter-the said
blast pipe being connected up to the source of the blast supply in any suitable
manner such for instance as a screw-thread or by any suitable coupling.
Thus the blast used for acting on the molten metal in the converter will also
be utilised for and act as the blast in the melting chamber above and consequently
effecting considerable economy.
Any suitable observation hole or holes may be provided in the converter above
the level of the molten metal therein; and also any suitable tap hole or holes is
or are provided in said converter advantageously one tap hole at a suitable height
from the bottom of the converter to retain a suitable quantity or body of molten
metal in the latter while said tap hole is always running or open so that the
converted metal can flow out constantly therefrom; a second tap hole being
advantageously provided at the very bottom of the "converter" in order to empty
same at the end of the melt or when only melting iron.
Dated 15.1 3
J
100%
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
outhampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Method and Means for Manufacturing Steel or the like direct
in a Cupola.
I, THOMAS DOHERTY, of the Town of Sarnia, County of Lambton, Province of
Ontario, Dominion of Canada, Iron Founder, 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:
This invention relates to metal founding and has for its object to manufacture
or produce steel or the like direct from pig iron or its equivalent in the same
cupola or the like furnace in which such iron is melted-but in suchwise that
if desired the cupola can also be used simply for melting iron without converting
same into steel or the like that is to say ordinary cast iron or steel or semi-steel
can be produced from the same charge in a cupola as desired.
My present invention is as follows:-
I divide or arrange a cupola or furnace adapted to melt iron therein into
two chambers viz.: an upper chamber in which the charge (pig iron, fuel etc.)
is placed and such iron when melted then falls (through a suitable aperture or
apertures or duct in the bottom of said upper chamber) into a second or lower
chamber in which said molten iron is then and there converted into steel or

page_text: semi-steel or the like direct viz.: by blowing air onto or into the molten metal
in this lower chamber.-If desired any suitable gas may be employed.
I may apply my present invention to or carry same out with an ordinary
cupola shell (which latter may advantageously be rather high) by constructing
the linings and a somewhat funnel-shaped base to form the upper chamber and
having a central opening or duct leading centrally from said upper or melting
chamber (which I shall hereinafter refer to as the "melting chamber") into the
Baid lower or converting chamber (which latter I shall hereinafter refer to as the
converter") the said duct serving the double purpose of allowing the air blast
to pass up from the converter into the melting chamber and the iron as it melts
to fall through into the converter-said duct being of any suitable size and shape
for this purpose and if desired provided with any suitable means to prevent the
unmelted iron or fuel from falling through.
6
رو
The " converter chamber may be of any suitable size shape and depth
(advantageously rather shallow) but of sufficient depth to contain enough molten
metal for the air blast to act on) and the air blast is introduced into the converter
in any suitable manner and at any suitable point or points and in one or any
number of jets.
For instance I may use a nozzle or jet consisting of a slot or opening
(through which the blast issues) of say 12 inches in length by 2 inches in
depth or thereabouts or in other proportions according to the size of the cupola
or I may use a number of smaller nozzles or jets as desired.
The blast is supplied (at any suitable pressure-say 4 or 5 lbs. per square inch)
from any suitable source or by any suitable means and is led to the said nozzle
or nozzles in any desired manner or by any suitable means.
According to my present invention the blast may advantageously be led to the
said nozzle or nozzles by means of an adjustable tuyere or tuyeres viz. by means
of a horizontal pipe (or pipes) from which latter said nozzle or nozzles project
and such pipe or pipes is cased in or enclosed in an air-tight manner on the
exterior of the shell said pipe passing through a suitable stuffing box or gasket
at each end of said casing and means such as a square head or end may be
provided on said pipe by which the latter can be turned on its horizontal axis
for instance by a wrench or lever adapted to fit on said square end and thereby
the nozzle or outlets from said blast supply pipe is or are directed downwards
onto or into the molten metal in the "converter and the blast after acting on
such molten metal passes up into and acts as the blast in the melting chamber
or said blast may be directed upwards and thus pass up the said duct direct to
the melting chamber-without acting on the metal in the converter-the said
blast pipe being connected up to the source of the blast supply in any suitable
manner such for instance as a screw-thread or by any suitable coupling.
Thus the blast used for acting on the molten metal in the converter will also
be utilised for and act as the blast in the melting chamber above and consequently
effecting considerable economy.
Any suitable observation hole or holes may be provided in the converter above
the level of the molten metal therein; and also any suitable tap hole or holes
is or are provided in said converter advantageously one tap hole at a suitable
height from the bottom of the converter to retain a suitable quantity or body
of molten metal in the latter, a second tap hole being advantageously provided
at the very bottom of the converter in order to empty same at the end of
the melt or when only melting iron.
6
"
Referring to the accompanying drawings :
Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the cupola constructed and arranged in such a way
as to allow the employment of my process.
Fig. 2 is a detail figure of the tuyere opening into the converter and accom-
panying apparatus controlling the air blast.
Fig. is a view at right angles to Fig 2 i.e. looking in the direction of the
arrow Fig. 2.

page_text: Fig. 4 shows a modified arrangement of the blast directing and controlling
apparatus.
Fig. 5 is a perspective detail of the fire clay portion of the tuyere which projects
into the converter.
In the drawings similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
In the drawings-A is the shell of the cupola which rests upon a base A¹
and which is lined as is usual with the ordinary fire brick B. is the charge
door. The floor of the cupola may be arranged to be dropped in the usual
manner and need not be described.
Dis the tuyere opening into the converter S shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3.
E is tapping hole for purposes hereinafter described.
Fis the air blast pipe which is connected to any appropriate air blast apparatus
with any convenient source of air pressure.
Above the tuyere D I place a thick partition H advantageously of fire brick
moulded to fit which partition has a central opening J. The partition His
concave on both the upper and lower faces and it is this partition and its use
in connection with the air blast which constitutes the principal mechanical
change from the ordinary form of cupola.
In carrying out my invention I place above the partition H through the
charge door an ordinary charge of coke, pig iron or scrap iron or both and a
flux in the usual manner there being nothing novel in the mode of charge
except that the charge rests above and upon the partition H. This charge is
lighted the blast turned on through the tuyeres R R₁ which are controlled by
the valves r r¹ respectively and as the iron begins to melt it passes down through
the central perforation J in the partition H into the converter S. As it descends
it is subjected to the blast from the rotatable tuyere I).
By graduating the amount of air blast to conform to the molten iron I am
enabled to obtain at will almost any quality from that of ordinary cast iron to
Bessemer steel.
T is an outlet from the converter through which the slag may be blown off.
The tuyere D is arranged so that it can be tilted by the lever L attachable
to this tuyere D and thus change the direction of the blast (as may be desired)
through the holes o of the fire-clay nozzle 0 (Fig. 2).
L is the casing in which is journalled the rotatable tuyere D.
1" is valve for regulating the blast through tuyere D.
Referring more particularly to Figs.
and 5-
The nozzle with holes o as shown is attachable to the sleeve M by being
bolted thereto as indicated in Fig. 4.
This I accomplish by having the casing L into which is fitted a tilting hollow
sleeve M movable in the journals M¹ the casing having an opening through this
projects the tuyere D and with sufficient play to permit of change of direction
as it is rotated by the affixed lever L*. As the sleeve is connected by an air-
tight but rotating coupling P through which air is forced it delivers the air
through the tuyere 1) as desired.
I am thus enabled to adjust the direction of the air blast as may be desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is —
1. The method of producing in one cupola and without the use of a separate
converter cast steel consisting of first charging the cupola upon a partition above
a converting chamber and an air blast, second subjecting the molten iron to the
air blast in the chamber below the partition and into which it descends in a
molten condition through an opening in the partition meeting the air blast in
its descent substantially as described.
2. The method of producing in one cupola and at one operation cast steel or
malleable iron as may be desired by first charging the cupola upon a perforated

page_text: partition and subjecting the melted metal to a blast of air or air and steam
through tuyeres located above the partition second subjecting the molten metal
which passes through the perforated partition into the converter to such air blast
as may be desired by means of the rotatable tuyere which projects into the
converter chamber so that the air blast may be directed through the mass of the
molten metal within the converter or into the open space within the converter
above the molten metal and then drawing off the metal so treated substantially as
specified.
3. A cupola divided into two chambers by a partition adapted to support the
charge and provided with a perforation whereby the molten charge is enabled
to descend into a lower chamber and means for subjecting the charge to an air
blast substantially as described.
A. In a cupola the combination of the shell a perforated partition located in
said shell and dividing the cupola into two chambers an upper melting chamber
and a lower converting chamber substantially as described.
5. In a cupola the combination of a shell a perforated partition located therein
and dividing the cupola into two chambers one or more tuyeres and means for
changing the direction of the air blast in the lower chamber substantially as
described.
6. In a tuyere the combination of a casing a hollow sleeve partially rotating
therein and having a coupling connection with an air blast pipe said hollow
sleeve carrying a fire-clay nozzle and means for partially rotating the hollow
sleeve whereby the direction of the air blast can be changed substantially as
described.
1000
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.