Improvements in or connected with Processes of Manufacturing Iron wherein the Iron is Subjected to an Electric Treatment.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 27th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Processes of Manufacturing Iron
wherein the Iron is Subjected to an Electric Treatment.
We, ALFRED GRIFFITHS GREENWAY, of 34 Crosby Green, West Derby, in the
County of Lancaster, Doctor of Medicine, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BABCOCK of 4 Com-
mercial Buildings, 17 Water Street Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, Merchant,
and BRAINERD RADCLIFFE 3 Chapel Chambers, Chapel Street, Liverpool in the
County of Lancaster, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention
to be as follows:--
This invention has reference mainly to those processes of manufacturing iron in
which the iron while in a molten state is subjected to an electric treatment, that
is, a current of electricity is caused to pass through the molten metal, and the molten
metal itself forming a continuous part of the circuit.
The chief object of this invention is to provide a means or mode by which the
electrical treatment of iron can conveniently be carried out in connection with blast
furnaces in which ore is smelted, and an iron, of superior quality to that produced
by ordinary methods from a given kind of ore, can be manufactured.
According to processes for manufacturing iron in which the metal was to be
subjected to an electrical treatnient, it has been proposed to carry out this treatment
on the metal in the blast furnace itself, but according to our invention the electric
treatment is carried on after the molten metal has been tapped from the blast
furnace, and prior to its being cast into pigs or other castings, or subjected to
subsequent metallurgical operations; that is whilst it is on its way from the blast
furnace to the moulds or other receptacle or apparatus; and the ends served and
effects resulting from the process or mode, in contradistinction to the prior one
above mentioned, are the following:-That by our process or mode of treatment, we
are, amongst other things, enabled to operate upon the metal in a convenient
position and manner, and with comparative certainty; that the metal may be under
view, and is generally accessible for operations to be carried on upon it in a practical
manner; whereas in the case of a blast furnace the electrodes or conductors must
be passed through thick walls, the treatment carried on in an unaccessible position
and out of view, the liability of the burning away and destruction of electrodes and
dearrangement of appliances is large, and the difficulties of manipulation, renewal,
or removal, may easily become great all of which go to render the mode of
treatment in the blast furnace itself unreliable, difficult of application, uncertain,
and as a continuous working thing, impracticable.
In the case where the molten iron from a blast furnace is run into moulds and
formed into "pigs" or other castings, we carry on the electric treatment in a runner
adapted for the purpose or in or in connection with this runner we may employ
an enlargement, depression, vessel, or chamber adapted to hold a certain quantity of
the metal, and in which the electric treatment may take place. In any case suitable
electrodes or conductors are used and put in electrical connection with the molten
metal, which, when electricity is supplied, forms a continuous part of the circuit.
The chamber or vessel may be so. constructed that it fills, at the commencement of
the outflow of the metal from the furnace, and when the flow ceases, it may be
emptied. This may in one way be done by providing an aperture at the bottom of
the enlargement or chamber adapted to be opened and closed.
In the case where the metal is run into a ladle or receptacle before casting it
or otherwise useing it, the electric treatment may be conducted in this receptacle or
ladle.
The electricity may be generated by a suitable dynamo electric machine, and the

page_text: electricity may be conveniently conducted to the metal by wires having terminals
or electrodes of carbon or other suitable material which may be suitably mounted
and coated to prevent them being destroyed.
According to a further part of our invention we may in conjunction with the
electrical treatment just described cause air to be passed through the molten metal
prior to, or subsequent to, or simultaneously with the passing of the current of
electricity through it, and the result of this pneumatic operation being chiefly the
decarburization of the metal to a greater or less extent, care being taken not to
decarburize it to such an extent as to cause the metal to become thick or pasty,
or in other words to reduce its fluidity too much the process in this case would
thus be a combined electric and pneumatic one, and the two can be carried on in
the vessel, chamber or enlargement above specified.
It will be evident that the arrangement of the parts or appliances and the modes of
carrying out the invention will under varying circumstances and conditions of the
application of it have to be modified and adapted to suit such circumstances and
conditions, and that therefore the invention is not to be confined to those herein-
before particularly specified.
Dated this 26th day of February 1889
ALFRED GRIFFITHS GREENWAY.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BABCOCK.
BRAINERD RADCLIFFE.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Processes of Manufacturing Iron
wherein the Iron is Subjected to an Electric Treatment.
We, ALERED GRIFFITHS GREENWAY, of 34, Crosby Green, West Derby, in the
County of Lancaster, Doctor of Medicine, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BABCOCK, of 4, Com-
mercial Buildings, 17, Water Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant,
and BRAINERD RADCLIFFE, of 3, Chapel Chambers, Chapel Street, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention
and in what manner the same is to he performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention has reference mainly to those processes of manufacturing iron in
which the iron, while in a molten state, is subjected to an electric treatment, that is, a
current of electricity is caused to pass through the molten metal, and the molten metal
itself forming a continuous part of the circuit.
The chief object of this Invention is to provide a means or mode by which the
electrical treatment of iron can conveniently be carried out in connection with blast
furnaces in which ore is smelted, and an iron, of superior quality to that produced by
ordinary methods from a given kind of ore, can be manufactured.
According to processes for manufacturing iron in which the metal was to be
subjected to an electrical treatment, it has been proposed to carry out this treatment.
on the metal in the blast furnace itself, but according to our invention the electric
treatment is carried on after the molten metal has been tapped from the blast furnace,
and prior to its being cast into pigs or other castings, or subjected to subsequent
metallurgical operations; that is, while it is on its way from the blast furnace to the
moulds or other receptacle or apparatus. The ends served and effects resulting from
the process or mode, in contradistinction to the prior one above mentioned, are the
following:―That by our process or mode of treatment we are, amongst other things,
enabled to operate upon the metal in a convenient position and manner, and with
comparative certainty; that the metal may be under view, and is generally accessible
for operations to be carried on upon it in a practical manner, whereas in the case of a
blast furnace the electrodes or conductors must be passed through thick walls, the
treatment carried on in an unaccessible position and out of view, the liability of the

page_text: burning away and destruction of electrodes and arrangement of appliances is large,
and difficulties of manipulation, renewal, or removal, may easily become great all of
which go to render the mode of treatment in the blast furnace itself unreliable,
difficult of application, uncertain, and as a continuous working thing, impracticable.
In the case where the molten iron from the blast furnace is run into moulds and
formed into "pigs" or other castings, we carry on the electric treatment in a runner
adapted for the purposes. Or in or in connection with this runner we may employ an
enlargement, depression, vessel, or chamber, adapted to hold a certain quantity of the
metal, and in which the electric treatment may take place. In any case suitable
electrodes or conductors are used and put in electrical connection with the molten
metal, which, when electricity is supplied, forms a continuous part of the circuit.
The chamber or vessel may be so constructed that it fills, at the coinmencement of the
outflow of the metal from the furnace, and when the flow ceases, it may be emptied.
This may in one way be done by providing an aperture at the bottom of the enlarge-
ment or chamber adapted to be opened and closed.
In the case where the metal is run into a ladle or receptacle before casting
it or otherwise using it, the electric treatment may be conducted in this receptacle
or ladle.
The electricity may be generated by a suitable dynamo electric machine, and the
electricity may be conveniently conducted to the metal by wires having terminals or
electrodes of carbon or other suitable material, which may be suitably mounted and
coated to prevent them being destroyed.
In conjunction with the electrical treatment just described, we may cause air to be
passed through the molten metal prior to, or subsequent to, or simultaneously with the
passing of the current of electricity through it, and the result of this pneumatio
operation being chiefly the decarburization of the metal to a greater or less extent,
care being taken not to decarburize it to such an extent as to cause the metal to
become thick or pasty, or in other words to reduce its fluidity too much the process.
in this case would be a combined electric and pneumatic one, and the two can be
carried on in the vessel, chamber, or enlargement above specified.
:
It will be evident that the arrangement of the parts or appliances and the modes of
carrying out the Invention will under varying circumstances and conditions of the
application of it, have to be modified and adapted to suit such circumstances and
conditions, and that therefore the Invention is not to be confined to those hereinbefore
particularly specified..
The electricity used in the treatment may be conveniently produced by any snitable
continuous current dynamo electric machine and only a comparatively low tension
current is desired, as the resistance is small. The quantity of electricity employed of
course will vary with the quality and quantity of the material to be operated upon.
The result of the electric process upon the iron produced, is that a considerable,
quantity of impurities are removed, and its strength is increased. .
In the drawings, hereunto annexed, which serve to illustrate the Invention, we
show three arrangements of means or modes of treating iron according to the
Invention.
In Figure 1 is shown, in sectional elevation, an arrangement in which the iron as
it flows from the blast furnace in a gutter or runner to pig-beds, or a receptacle or
other thing, is electrically operated upon. In the Figure, A is the base of the blast
furnace, B the hearth, C the supporting columns, D is the crucible, and E is the
runner or gutter down which the metal flows from the crucible. Into the metal in
flowing down the runner we insert electrodes c, held in suitable standards y, and
when in operation the electricity is caused to flow by way of the running molten
metal from one terminal to the other. In any case the electrodes may be in the
form of rods and used in single sets or in multiple; or they may be in the form of
plates, or other convenient shape; also they may be coated in any known way at
points where they are in contact with the air, with any suitable kuown kind of non-
conducting substance.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 2 the same disposition is used, but in lieu of

page_text: L
L
treating the molten metal to the action of the electric current in the runner E, it is
treated in a pool or vessel G, capable of holding a considerable amount of iron and
wherein it will be comparatively quiescent.
In this pool or vessel the electrodes x are placed, and the process carried on whilst
the molten metal from the blast furnace runs in and out of it. To empty the pool a
tap hole g
provided which, during the electric treatment is stopped with clay or
other material, which material is removed when the process ceases by reason of the
completion of treatment of the amount of metal withdrawn from the furnace at one
tapping, or for any other reason.
In operating with either of the above arrangements, the electric current may be
caused to pass in either of the two possible directions, i.e., in the same direction as
that of the flow of metal, or in a contrary one.
In Figure 3 is illustrated the arrangement according to which the molten metal
from the blast furnace is operated upon electrically in a receiver. In the Figure,
G is this receiver, and a designates the electrodes passing through the walls thereof;
it is filled by conducting the metal from the blast furnace to it by a runner E. It
may be assumed that this receiver, which is, as shown, mounted on wheels, may be
employed to convey the molten metal to Bessemer Converters for subsequent
treatment therein, and it may therefore be of any known type used for this purpose,
or for any other purpose.
As previously described, in conjunction with the electric treatment, atmospheric
air may be passed through the molten metal for the purpose, chiefly, of partially
decarburizing it; if this done, it may be most conveniently carried on in a receiver
or receptacle G such as the one described with reference to Figure 3, and the air may
be forced through it through tuyeres of any known kind, in its sides, bottom, or other
part, or otherwise suitably disposed in any known manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The herein described process in or connected with the manufacture of iron,
consisting in subjecting molten metal after it has left (or as it flows from) a blast
furnace and before it is run into moulds or subjected to subsequent metallurgical
operations or treatments, to the action of the electric current, for the purpose
specified; and also the means and mode of carrying out said process substantially as
set forth with reference to the Drawings.
2. The herein described process in or connected with the manufacture of iron,
consisting in subjecting molten metal after it has left (or as it flows from) a blast
furnace and before it is run into moulds or subjected to subsequent metallurgical
operations or treatments, to the action of the electric current and to the passing of
air therethrough; substantially as described and as set forth with reference to the
drawings.
Dated this Twenty-sixth day of November 1889.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicants' Agents.