Improvements in the Manufacture of Steel.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 16th June, 1891-Accepted, 17th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Steel.
1, JOHN FRANCIS HALL, of Norbury, Sheffield, in the County of York,
Manager of Steel Works, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object to consolidate the steel when cast into ingots, or
other forms of castings, by inducing the molecules of molten metal to arrange
themselves in such a manner as to increase the strength of the casting when the
metal is cooled and solidified.
To accomplish this I propose to cause an electric current to pass through the
metal when in a molten or semi-molten state; in casting an ingot of steel for
example, one of the wires from the dynamo or other source of electricity may be
passed through the base of the ingot mould into the interior, in any approved
manner, to form the connection with the molten metal, the opposite wire will in
like manner be connected with the crucible or ladle or other vessel from which the
steel is to be poured, and when the stream of metal connects the two, the circuit is
complete, and action takes place, and may be continued as long as may be found
desirable or necessary.
In the case of castings of various sizes and forms such as propeller blades or the
sternposts of steamships, the application of the electric current may be made by
insulated wires passed through the sand or loam into the opposite ends of the mould,
and either during the running of the molten metal or directly after the metal has
filled the mould.
The action of the electric current passing through the molten or semi-molten
metal, increases its density and strength.
Dated the 15th 1...
Lamahan 1000
ROBT. F. DRURY, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Steel.
I, JOHN FRANCIS HALL of Norbury, Sheffield in the County of York,
Manager of Steel Works, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object to consolidate masses of steel when cast into
ingots, or made into any other form of casting, by inducing the molecules of molten
metal, through the action of an electric current or currents, to arrange themselves
in such a manner, as to condense and consolidate the metal, so that the strength of
the metal when cooled and solidified will be considerably increased.
To accomplish this object, I cause a current of electricity to pass through the
metal when in a molten or semi-molten state, and this may be performed in various
ways; in casting an ingot of steel of ordinary form for example, one of the wires
from the dynamo, battery, or other source of electricity, would be passed through
the base of the ingot mould in any approved manner, but preferably through a plug
of non-conducting material, so that the end of the wire would be insulated from the
mould, but exposed to form a connection with the metal when poured into the
mould.

page_text: The opposite wire should be connected with the stream of molten steel or other
metal as it flows from the crucible, ladle or other vessel. This can be done by
simply holding the wire in the metal as it flows into the mould, or by any other
approved plan. The stream of metal will thus form the connection and complete
the circuit, electric action will be set up in the molten metal, and may be continued
until the metal solidifies, and as long after as may be thought desirable.
Should the action be too powerful to allow the metal to cool or solidify, the
strength of the electric current may be reduced to
any desired power.
In the case of castings that are made in sand and loam, such as propeller blades
or the stern-posts of steamers and the like, the application of the electric current
may be made by means of insulated wires passed through the sand or loam into the
opposite ends or sides of the mould, and the current applied either during the
running of the metal, or after the mould is filled.
I may
also cause an electric current to travel round the ingot or other casting,
by coiling the conducting wire or wires in connection with the battery, dynamo, or
other electrical producer round the mould which should be formed of non-conducting
material, and a thin or thicker layer of same intervening between the coil of wires
and the casting metal as may be desired, according to the strength of the current
of electricity passed through the wires when the metal is poured into the mould,
and during the setting or consolidation of same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is carried into practice, declare that what I
claim is :-
In the manufacture of steel into ingots and castings, the application of an
electric current to the molten, or the semi-molten steel, for the purpose of equalising
the component parts, and condensing and consolidating the steel substantially as
hereinbefore described.
the fun day of June 1891.
ROBT. F. DRURY, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.