Steel, and other Metals.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 19th June, 1888
Specification Accepted, 13th Apr.. 1889
Steel, and other Metals.
We RILEY PORTER WILSON, Metallurgist, 167 Broadway, FRANKLIN JULIUS
WALL, Real Estate Agent, 167 Broadway, FRANKLIN ALDEN THURSTON, Builder, 62
East 133rd Street, TRACY LATHROP BIBBINS, Real Estate Agent, 167 Broadway, and
WILLIAM LIVINGSTONE FLANAGAN, Brewer 262, 10th Avenue, all of New York City,
in the State of New York, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature
of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALS, 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 certain improvements in the manufacture of iron, steel
and other metals, and it has for its object to avoid the loss of metal from oxidation
during the finishing stage of the process, and to more fully purify the crude metal,
and thus enable an air blast to be used.in the manufacture of the finer grades of iron,
steel and other metals.
To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain the same consists in
the peculiar process, the details of which are more fully hereinafter set forth, and which
consists essentially in providing a reducing surface-atmosphere which can be regulated
at will, by supplying the gases in the chamber over the molten charge with an excess of
combustible hydrocarbon, so as to reduce the oxidized metal as it is burned by the
blast during the finishing stages, and thus prevent loss, and allowing the purifying
process to be carried to a point of perfection beyond that heretofore attained.
In carrying out the process we prefer to use a converter or furnace chamber
provided with a blast which is capable of being so regulated as to furnish an
exceedingly moderate draft when desired. The converter should be provided with a
means for charging and discharging, and should be provided with a suitable acid or
basic lining. The furnace should be provided with a wide and shallow bed for the
molten metal (which is treated in charges), and the surface of the metal should be
covered with a suitable flux or slag.
A basic flux is added when phosphorus and sulphur are to be removed from the
iron or other metal. An excess of combustible hydrocarbon is maintained in the

page_text: gases within the chamber above the molten charge in order to reduce the oxides
which would otherwise be carried off by the blast, to metal again, and thus
prevent their loss. This excess of hydrocarbon may be supplied from any one
of several sources, and it may either be in the form of hydro-carbon vapor or
gases.
When a reverbatory furnace is used, the fire in the furnace may be utilized to
furnish the necessary carbon by adding charcoal or other carbonaceous matter to the
fire, and at the same time reducing the draft in a measure, in order to prevent as
far as possible the loss of oxides, which in case a strong blast were used would be
carried away.
If for any reason it should be considered desirable, a separate furnace may be used
to furnish the supply of carbonaceous matter in the gases above the charge.
The air-blast through the charge should be so regulated as to burn out the foreign
substances which it is designed to remove, with as little agitation to the molten metal
as possible, and in the finishing stage of the process it should be reduced to a minimum,
in order to allow the flux to collect upon the top, where it will serve to absorb the
impurities.
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
First. The herein described improvement in the art of treating metal, which
consists in subjecting the molten metal in charges to a gentle air blast through the
sanie, and simultaneously therewith maintaining from a separate source an excess of
combustible carbonaceous matter in the gases within an enclosed chamber above the
molten charge, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Second. The process herein described. for treating impure iron for the manufacture
of wrought iron or steel; the same consisting in subjecting the impure iron while
in a molten state to the action of a blast of air, in order to oxidize and carry off the
impurities, and simultaneously subjecting the iron to the action of a reducing
atmosphere of hydrocarbon gas or vapor held above the surface of the molten metal,
substantially as specified.
Dated this 19th day of June 1888.