Improvements in the Method of and Converters or Machinery for the Manufacture of Iron and Steel.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Sept., 1890-Accepted, 18th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Converters or Machinery for
the Manufacture of Iron and Steel.
I, WILLIAM SELLAR, of 27 John Street, Sunderland, in the County of Durham,
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to puddle and purify metals, and to convert the
same into a homogeneous body which can be made into either malleable ingots or
malleable castings or into steel castings or steel ingots by smelting the metal with
the aid of gas in a converter constructed as hereafter described or as a saving of time
by smelting the metal first in a cupola or a smelting furnace and afterwards to run it
into the converter. This converter is made with an arched or convex hearth to which
a rocking or oscillating motion is imparted by suitable mechanical means in order to
bring all the metal thinly and evenly to the surface as it runs slowly backwards and
forwards from one side of the converter to the other thus causing rapid combustion
of the impurities to take place; the heat from the gases evolved from the impurities
in the metal, aided if desired by other gases which may be produced by separate
plant outside the converter and mixed with atmospheric air (air just sufficient for
combustion) are injected into the converter above the level of the metal therein, the
combustion of the combined gases raising the temperature, in the converter to the
highest possible degree of heat and thus causing the metal to boil rapidly. As the gases
evolved from the impurities in the metal begin to decrease the quantity of the gases
injected are increased and maintained until the metal parts with all its combined
impurities, becomes quite fluid and malleable in nature; the injected gases and
atmospheric air are then shut off but the converter is continued in motion to allow the
balance of the gases absorbed by the metal to escape as it runs thinly over the convex
surface of the hearth, the process will take about 20 to 25 minutes when the metal is
in a fit state to be used as malleable or converted into steel by adding carbon and
giving the converter a few turns in order to mix the carbon properly with the
metal.
The gases I employ increase the heat to the highest possible degree which at the
same time destroy the phosphorus. The converter having only one opening gives me
full command over the operation and prevents an excess of air (oxygen) from injuring
the metal. The converter is mounted in simple framework and oscillating motion
communicated to it by gearing. The gas retort is arranged in the converter below
the arched hearth.
Old boilers might be utilized for converters, the flues will answer for forming the
gases, the tap hole may answer as an overflow, a vent when the metal is being run
into the converter and a slag tap which is plugged up when charged, the lowest tap
drawing off the charge when ready.
The invention may be applied in combination with the so called Bessemer process,
but of course can be both refined by that mode and puddled by the convex hearth.
The fumes may be conducted up a chimney by the aid of a telescope funnel having
a trumpet mouth, capable of being lowered up and down to cover the oscillating
travel of the outlet of the converter while at work.
Dated this 2nd day of December 1889.

page_text: Improvements in the Method of and Converters or Machinery for
the Manufacture of Iron and Steel.
I, WILLIAM SELLAR of 27 John Street, Sunderland in the County of Durham,
Agent, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to puddle and purify metals, and to convert the
same into a homogeneous body which can be made into either malleable ingots or
malleable castings or into steel castings or steel ingots by smelting the metal with
the aid of gas in a converter constructed as hereafter described or as a saving of time
by smelting the metal first in a cupola or a smelting furnace and afterwards to run it
into the converter. My invention will be best understood by the following description
having reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of a converter constructed according to my
invention make with a square base.
Figure 2 shows half in vertical longitudinal section and half in elevation such a
converter as that previously illustrated in order to show the details of construction.
Figure 3 is an end elevation of a similar converter to that shown at Figure 1 but
of cylindrical form. According to my invention the converters are mounted on
trunnions A and are made with an arched or convex hearth B a rocking or oscillating
motion being imparted to the said converters by suitable mechanical means such as
a connecting rod and crank C C₁ Figure 3 in order to bring all the metal thinly and
evenly to the surface as it runs slowly backwards and forwards from one side of the
converter to the other thus causing rapid combustion of the impurities to take
place; the heat from the gases evolved from the impurities in the metal aided
if desired by other gases which may be produced by separate plant are injected
with atmospheric air into the converter above the level of the metal therein
the said air and gas or gases pass into the converter through the hollow trunnions A
as shown at Figure 2 the air entering by the exterior tube and the gas by the interior
the combustion of the combined gases raising the temperature in the converter to the
highest possible degree of heat and thus causing the metal to boil rapidly.
the gases evolved from the impurities in the metal begin to decrease the quantity
of gases injected are increased and maintained until the metal parts with all its
combined impurities and becomes quite fluid and malleable in nature; the injected
gases and atmospheric air are then shut off. The purifying or converting process
As
will take about 20 to 25 minutes when the metal is in a fit state to be used as
malleable or converted into steel by adding carbon and giving the converter a few
turns in order to mix the carbon properly with the metal. The converter is mounted
in simple framework E and oscillating motion communicated to it as aforesaid. The
atmospheric air can be passed through and heated below the arched hearth B beforo
passing into the converter.
The invention may be applied in combination with the so called "Bessemer
process," but of course can be refined by that mode and converted into a homogeneous
body by the aid of the convex hearth.
The converter is charged with the molten metal at the gate or outlet F for the
fumes, the top hole G Figure 1 may answer as an overflow a vent when the metal is
being run into the converter and has a slag tap which is plugged up when charged
the lower tap H is for drawing off the charge when ready.
The fumes may be allowed to escape outside the gate or outlet or may be conducted
up a chimney by the aid of a telescope funnel having a trumpet mouth capable of
being, moved up, and down to cover the oscillating travel of the converter while at
work or by plugging up the gate when the metal is charged the fumes can be
conducted out at the end of the converter through a horizontal flue in connection
with a chimney or boiler flue.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. In the manufacture of iron and steel, the method of treatment thereo
consisting in subjecting the molten metal to a rocking motion in a converter
constructed with an arched or convex hearth thus bringing all the metal thinly and
evenly to the surface together with (if desired) the introduction of other gases and
atmospheric air all substantially as and for the purposes described in the accompanying
Specification.
Second. The converters or machinery for the manufacture of iron and steel with
convex hearth and with trunnions whereon the converter is rocked during the treat-
ment of the metal together with the construction and arrangement of parts as and
for the purposes herein set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1000
W. SELLAR.
By Brewer & Son,
Agents.