IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FINISHED IRON, APPLICABLE FOR SHIP, BOILER, TANK, AND OTHER PLATES, AND MERCHANT BARS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Cooke, of Sheffield, in the County of
York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
FINISHED IRON, APPLICABLE FOR SHIP, BOILER, TANK, AND OTHER PLATES, AND
MERCHANT BARS."
Sealed the 12th July 1872, and dated the 16th January 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Cooke at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th January 1872.
I, HENRY COOKE, of Sheffield, in the County of York, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF FINISHED IRON, APPLICABLE FOR SHIP, BOILER, TANK, AND
OTHER PLATES, AND MERCHANT BARS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture of
finished iron, the object being to utilize the Bessemer steel rail ends, and
to assist manufacturers in the increase of their out-put of finished iron
and plates, and also avoiding the necessity of putting down a large

page_text: puddling plant. But beyond this object there are others which are
herein referred to.
In carrying out the Invention a pile of iron is arranged. For ex-
ample, a pile for plates may be composed with the top and bottom of
puddled iron bar, the inner or middle portion of the pile to be composed
of alternate layers of Bessemer steel rail ends (flattened) and puddled
iron bars, piled either longitudinally or transversely until the weight
or dimension of pile required is obtained, by which method an amalgam
is produced which cannot otherwise be obtained. The iron being more
adhesive or weldable than steel unites with greater ease and certainty
than by placing the two bodies of stecl together. The thickness of the
puddled bar placed between the steel bars must be regulated according
to the finished iron to be produced. It is consequently evident that
superior results can be obtained from rolling off than could otherwise
be secured by hammering.
Now in order to shew examples of the process, I propose to use
Bessemer rail ends slit and rolled into flat bars or otherwise, with iron
puddled bars, placing the iron puddled bars top and bottom, and every
alternate layer with Bessemer bars or scrap. The rail ends are taken
after being slit, and are piled together; the iron puddled bars are piled
thereon or thereunder, either longitudinally or transversely, and again
the Bessemer slit rails are piled, and so on alternately in layers to the
depth required; they are then rolled to form an amalgam of finished
iron. The Bessemer steel uniting with the iron with great facility, a
portion of the carbon of the steel combining with the iron, thus forming
a tough mass free from brittleness, especially applicable to the manu-
facture of plates for ship building, for boilers and tanks, and also for
armour plates. So in like manner by using Bessemer rail ends slit and
rolled with flat bars or otherwise with iron puddled bars, placing the
iron puddled bar top and bottom, and every alternate layer with
Bessemer bars, or scrap, the object of the Invention will be attained.
Or by taking top and bottom of iron puddled bars, and filling up the
inside of the pile with Bessemer bars or scrap, or by taking the Bessemer
rail end or scrap when sawn from the rail. (without slitting) and by rolling
it into a flat bar and making the pile as above.
Finally, by working up Bessemer scrap with iron scrap, by ball
furnacing, and, thus making bars, which when piled together produce

page_text: By these improvements the Bessemer rail ends can be worked into
finished iron of any desired section, thereby improving the quality of
the finished iron, and moreover considerably reducing the make of iron
puddled bars.
filed by the said Henry Cooke in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 16th July 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
COOKE, of Charlton Iron Works, Sheffield, in the County of York, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in
the thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Henry Cooke, Her
special licence that I, the said Henry Cooke, my executors, admin-
istrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Cooke,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FINISHED IRON, APPLICABLE FOR SHIP,
BOILER, TANK, OR OTHER PLATES, AND MERCHANT BARS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Cooke, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture of
finished iron, the object being to utilize the Bessemer steel rail ends, and
to assist manufacturers in the increase of their out-put of finished iron
and plates, and also avoiding the necessity of putting down a large
puddling plant. But beyond this object there are others which are
herein referred to.
In carrying out the Invention a pile of iron is arranged. For ex-
ample, a pile of plates may be composed with the top and bottom of
puddled iron bar, the inner or middle portion of the pile to be composed
of alternate layers of Bessemer steel rail ends (flattened) and puddled
iron bars, piled either longitudinally or transversely until the weight
or dimension of pile required is obtained, by which method an amalgam
is obtained which cannot otherwise be produced. The iron being more ]
adhesive and weldable than steel, unites with greater ease and certainty
than by placing the two bodies of steel together. The thickness of the
puddled bar placed between the steel bars must be regulated according
to the finished iron to be produced. It is consequently evident that
superior results can be obtained from rolling off than could otherwise?
be secured by hammering.
Now in order to show examples of the process I propose to use
Bessemer rail ends slit and rolled into flat bars or otherwise, with iron
puddled bars, placing the iron puddled bars top and bottom, and every
alternate layer with Bessemer bars or scrap. The rail ends are taken :
after being slit, and are piled together; the iron puddled bars are piled
thereon or thereunder, either longitudinally or transversely, and again
the Bessemer slit rails are piled, and so on alternately in layers to the
depth required; they are then rolled to form an amalgam of finished
iron. The Bessemer steel uniting with the iron with greater facility, a
portion of the carbon of the steel combining with the iron, thus forming
a rough mass free from brittleness, especially applicable to the manu-
facture of plates for ship building, for boilers and tanks, and also for
armour plates. So in like manner by using Bessemer rail ends slit and
rolled with flat bars or otherwise with iron puddled bars, placing the
iron puddled bar top and bottom, and every alternate layer with
Bessemer bars or scrap, the object of the Invention will be attained.
Or by taking top and bottom of iron puddled bars, and filling up the

page_text: inside of the pile with Bessemer bars or scrap, or by taking the Bessemer
rail end or scrap when sawn from the rail (without slitting) and by
rolling it into a flat bar and making the pile as above.
Finally, by working up Bessemer scrap with iron scrap, by ball
furnacing, and thus making bars, which when piled together produce
bars and plates as required.
By these improvements the Bessemer rail ends can be worked into
finished iron of any desired section, thereby improving the quality of
the finished iron, and morcover considerably reducing the make of iron
puddled bars.
Having now fully described the nature and object of my said In-
vention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire
to claim by the herein in part recited Letters Patent, my " Improvements
in the Manufacture of Finished Iron applicable for Ship, Boiler, Tank,
and other Plates, and Merchant Bars," as lierein substantially described
and set forth.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-two.
Witness,
AZARIAH GRIFFITHS,
127, Carlisle Road,
Grimesthorpe,
Sheffield.
HENRY COOKE. (L.S.)