Improvements in aud connected with the Electro Metallurgic Pro- duction of Iron, Steel, and their Alloys with Chromium, Tungsten, Nickel, Manganese, and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in aud connected with the Electro Metallurgic Pro-
duction of Iron, Steel, and their Alloys with Chromium, Tungsten,
Nickel, Manganese, and the like.
I, ERNESTO STASSANO, of Via Porta Salaria, No. 7, Rome, Italy, Captain of
Artillery in the Italian Army, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in and connected with the electro
metallurgic production of iron, steel and their alloys with chromium, tungsten,
nickel, manganese and the like and consists in the utilisation of the heat radiating
from the voltaic are for primary determining the reduction of the oxide of iron
and other metals, so as to enable the carbon, added to the mineral, to effect the
reduction of the oxide, absorbing the oxygen of iron and changing itself in
volatile carbonic oxide, the mass afterwards accumulating at the bottom of the
furnace from whence it is run into moulds for ultimate industrial use.
For this purpose the ore, prepared as hereinafter described, is introduced into
an electric furnace and subjected therein to the heat which radiates from the voltaic
arc produced at the bottom of the furnace.
And in order that my invention may be more fully understood I have caused
to be appended hereunto one sheet of drawings marked with letters of reference
indicating like parts in the various figures, Fig. 1 being a vertical section and
Fig. 2 a plan of the furnace used.
Referring to the drawing the said furnace consists of a chamber A having the
form of a vertical double cone the large bases of which abut against each other.
The smaller inverted cone of the said chamber abuts against another slightly
conical chamber G which forms a pot.
At the joint of the said pot and smaller lower cone are employed two carbons c
which form the poles for the electric current between which the arc is formed.
The distance between the said carbons may be altered at will in any suitable
manner.
The pot G is formed with a hole through which the metallic fluid is run out.
The top of the furnace is closed by a hopper T having at its lower end a
valve operated by a pull lever o which permits of placing the ore into the
furnace without permitting air to enter the same. Near the top two holes are
formed in the furnace, furnished with tubes t which serve for the escape of the
products of reaction and which are connected with a hydraulic valve B, Fig. 2,
adapted to prevent the entrance of air when the internal pressure of the gases is
below that of the atmosphere.
The ore is prepared as follows:-
First of all the ore whatever it may be (oxide or carbonate) is carefully selected
by hand and then reduced and pulverised by any well known means.
After having sifted and washed the powder to the required extent and dried,
when its nature allows it, it is magnetically refined for the purpose of separating
the gangue which may remain mixed therewith, i.e. it is well known that oxide

page_text: or iron such as FeO, Fe203, is attracted by the magnet and in this invention the
mineral is thus, in a pulverised state, passed under a magnet in order to separato
it from the gangue as much as possible.
The ore is then carefully analyzed for the purpose of correctly ascertaining its
composition and to regulate the amount of carbon, lime, silica necessary to
promote fusion.
Calcareous products are added if the mineral is of a silicious nature and silica is
added if the mineral is. calcareous. Afterwards the substances aforesaid which
may be finely powdered, are mixed with the said mass; 5-10 per cent. water is
then added thereto and the paste subjected to a pressure of about 150-200 kilo-
grams per square centimetre.
The cakes thus obtained when dry are reduced to pieces of about 3-4 centi-
metres in size and the furnace is then charged with this material.
If it is desired to produce alloys of iron, the ore is mixed and melted with the
oxides of metal required for the production of the quality and kind of material
desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: :-
1st. The utilization of caloric energy of the voltaic are for primary determining
the reduction of oxide of iron and the metals to be combined therewith and after-
wards melting the metallic masses reduced, for the purpose of obtaining in a fluid
state the product desired, all substantially as set forth.
2nd. The method of preparing the ore, all substantially as described.
3rd. The general construction and combination of parts and method of closing
the furnace, all substantially as set forth.
Dated this 21st day of May 1898
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicant.