US309540A

US309540A - Bessemer plant

Info

Publication number: US309540A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1884-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 1901-12-23

Description

(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 1.

.W. HAINSWORTH.

B-ESSBMER-PLANT.- No. 309,540. Patented Dec. 23, 1884.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR W 47 64 A i wq (Pm/ N. PETERS Fhcln'LZ lll l lllllll Ma ic",

, 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

W. HAINSWORTH.

BBSSEMB'R PLANT.

Patented Dec. 23, 1884.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets'Sheet 33.

W. HAINSWORTH.

BESSEMER PLANT. No. 309,540. Patented Dec. 23. 1884.

N. PETERS. Pholo-Lilhcgmphen Washin ton. D. C.

' 4-Sheets-Sheet 4. W. HAINSWORTH.

BESSEMER PLANT.

Patented Rs, Phumum n har, Wflshingtun, D c.

ilni w STATES lfla'rnivr @rrrca \VILLIAM HAINSXVOHTH, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

BESSEMEIR PLANT.

@PECIFICATIQIKT forming part of Letters Patent No. 309,540, dated December 23, 188%.

I I Application filed April 21, 1884. (No model.)

0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Hnnvswonrn, a citizen oftheUnited States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Besseiner Plants, of which improvements the following is a specification.

- In the accompanying drawings, which make part of this specifieat-iomF-igure 1 is a view in front elevation of a Bessemer converter mounted on hydraulic rams secured to a movable car or truck, one trunnion of the converter bein g connected to a blast-pipe. Fig. 2 is an end side elevation of a converter similarly mounted, the converter being turned down in position for pouring the metal into molds. Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the converter in the same position as in Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a modified form of the plant. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the crane shown in Fig. 4, showing the runncr-box suspended from the horizontal arm of the crane. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of the blast-pipe coupling. Fig. 8 is a detail view of a modified form of the blast-pipe. Fig. 9 is a view of my improved plant in elevation.

My invent-ion relates to improvements in Bessemer plants, whereby small sound castings may be easily and cheaply produced.

In the manufacture of Bessemer-steel cast ings it is customary to mount the converter on suitable stationary pillow-blocks, and to convcythe molten iron to be treated from the cupola or furnace to the converter in a ladle, and after the meta]. has been treated in the converter to pour the steel into another ladle,

in which it is carried to the molds, into which it is then poured. This method has not been objectionable heretofore, as the steel, has been cast in large ingot-molds, each having about one-fourth (more or less) of the capacity of the converter; but now, when it is desired to cast small articles from the Bessemer metal, for which purpose the steel should be in a very fluid condition, it is found that in the transfor of the metal from the converter to the comparatively cool ladle the metal is chilled to a considerable degree, and is consequently less fluid; and, as the sides of the ladle are comparatively thin, there is a constant and large loss of heat going on during the filling of the molds for these small articles, which, from their number and small capacity, prolong the casting operation. v

The object of my invention is to so construct and arrange the parts of a Bessemer plant that the metal is maintained at a high degree of heat throughout the casting operation; and to this end my invention consists in general terms in the construction and combination of parts forming the plant, all as more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The converter A is mounted in suit-ablyshaped bearings, 3, formed on the upper ends ol the plungers 2 of thehydraulic rams 1, which are secured to the platform of a car, B, adapted to run on rails 4, suitably arranged near the molding-floor of a foundry.

On one of the trunnions of a converter A is secured the gear-wheel 5, which, when the converter is in place, meshes with a worm, 6, mounted in abracket, 7, formed on or secured to one of the bearings 3. One end of this worm is suitably shaped to fit the socket of a hand wheel or crank, or a socket secured. to the end of a power-driven shaft, thereby providing for turning the converter by hand or by suitablydriven mechanism.

At some convenient point along the line of rails 41. is located a cupola, S, or suitable melting-furnace, from which the converter may be filled either by placing the mouth of the converter directly under the discharge'opening of the cupola or by arranging a trough between the discharge-opening and the mouth of the converter.

Along the line of rails 4, and in convenient proximity thereto, is arranged a blast-pipe, 9, which is provided with a branch pipe, 10, adapted to turn in a vertical plane on the blast-pipe. This branch pipe 10 is provided with the short horizontal branch 11, having a flange, 12. on its outer end, adapted to'fit against a flange, 13, on the end of the hollow trunnion of the converter.

Around the horizontal branch 11 is placed the flanged ring or collar 14, having the in clined lugs 15. Then the flanges of the trunnion and the branch 11 are brought together, zoo

the lugs of the collar let pass through notches 16 in the flange 13, which is a little 4 mouth of the converter.

larger in diameter than the flange 12, then byturning the collar 14 by the handle 17 the flanges are firmly locked together.

If desired, asuitable packing may be placed between the flanges, and in place of forming the lugs 15 with inclined inner faces inclined lugs may be formed on the rear side of the flange 13 adjacent to the notches 16.

In place of the above-described device any other suitable clamping mechanism may be employed to secure the flanges together. If desired, branches may be formed on the blastpipe at two or more points along the line of rails, each branch being provided with a suitable valve to shut off the blast when desired. If desired, the horizontal brench 11 may be made telescopic to adjust it up to the trunnion of the converter; or the branch pipe may be made of flexible material, the end thereof being provided with a suitable coupling for uniting it with thehollow trunnion of the converter. In one side of the converter near its top is formed a pouring-nozzle,19, through which the metal is discharged into the runnerbox b, which is pivotally mounted on a horizontal arm, 20, pivoted to the plunger of a hydraulic ram mounted on the car B at one side of the converter. This runner-box is provided with a receiving-basin, 22, and an outlet, 23, in which may be inserted a spout, 24. The runner-box might be dispensed with and the metal run directly from the converter into the molds; but I prefer to use the runnerbox, as it breaks the fallof the metallinto the mold, and can be more easily adjusted so as to direct the metal into the mold. Over the mouth of the converter is secured a semicircular plate, 25, which prevents the metal from escaping from the mouth when the converter is turned down, all the metal being drawn from the converter. through the nozzle 19. This plate is secured over the mouth of the con verter by bolts or clamps, which pass through or over the edges of the plate and a flange formed around the outer periphery of the This plate not only prevents the escape of the metal from the mouth of the converter, but also prevents access of cold air, while permitting of the escape of gases from the converter.

To preventthe car B from tipping during any of the manipulations of the converter, grapples or crabs 26 are secured to the sides of the car, said crabs being constructed to catch under the rail-heads and also slide alongthe rails as the ear is moved.

Along the line of rails 4 are arranged the molds a.

. The car carrying the converter is run in front of the cupola or furnace and the molten iron is poured into it. Then the converter is carried into position near one of the branch b1ast-pipes,which is then connected to the hollow trunnion. The blast is then turned on, and the converter is turned up, as is usual in the blowing operation. After the metal has been blown and treated the converter is turned down, the blast-pipe disconnected, andthe converter is then moved alongside of the molds. The runner-box is now swung around under the nozzle of the converter, and its outlet adjusted over the sprue of the mold. Then by slightly turning the worm, by hand or by power, the converter is tipped sufficiently to cause the steel therein to flow over and out the nozzle 19 and against the dam 25, thus presenting a supply of clean metal to the nozzle. As the upper end of the converter is gradually lowered during the casting operation, the runner-box is correspondingly lowered and moved inward toward the converter, so as to keep the basin 22 constantly under the nozzle. As each mold is filled the car is moved along by any suitable meansas, for instance, a worm and gear mechanism-applied to one of the axles of the car, as shown in Fig. 1. Before the cast-iron is charged into the converter the nozzle 19 is stopped up with alump of fire-clay,which is broken out after the blow ing operation is finished. The inner face of the dam-plate 25 should also be coated with fire-clay to prevent its being burned out by the fluid steel. When higher molds are used, the converter and runner-box are raised by admitting water under the plunger of the hydraulic rams, which are connected to a con veniently-located pump or accumulator by flexible pipes.

It will be apparent from the above that the steel is constantly protected from any chilling from the time itis produced until it is delivered into the mold.

During the blowing operation the inner walls of the converter, which are usually of fire-clay, ganister, or other suitable material, and which are highly heated before the molten iron is placed therein, are raised to a tempera ture equal to that of the steel produced therein, and these non-conducting walls, which are quite thick, retain their heat, and consequently prevent any material loss of heat in the steel, and keep it in that fluid condition necessary for the production of small castings or castings having small parts.

In using ladles or other equivalent devices in which a large body of the metal is poured during the casting operation it is impossible to keep the metal at the proper temperature, for the reason that the walls of the ladle are so thin that they cannot retain the heat, even if they be heated before the steel is poured into them; and, further, it is impracticable, if not impossible, to heat the ladle to the temperature of the steel within the converter; and,

IIO

further, the pouring of the steel from the conconverter, whose capacity is great] y in excess such that they expose a large surface of the l steel to loss of heat by radiation; but in the of the amount of metal placed in it, and whose shape is such as to prevent the access of any cold air to the surface of the metal, there is very little loss from radiation. In fact the walls ofthe converter will be constantly throwing heat down upon the surface of the metal.

Another advantage arising from the use of my improved plant is that if the metal should from any cause become too cool one of the blast-pipes could be attached to the converter and the metal again raised to the proper temperature, enough manganese and spiegeleisen being added after the blow to replace the carbon removed in the second blow; or, if it is desired to cast two different grades of steel it is only necessary to produce and cast the highest grade first and then attach the blastpipe again and blow the remaining metal until sufficient carbon has been removed to produce the next grade desired.

In carrying into effect the last two opera tions I may use a flexible pipe and keep it attached conslantlyqto the converter, so that the blast may be turned on at any time.

In Figs. l and 5 is shown a modified form of plant for carrying my method into operation. The converter is suspended from a movable block, 27, mounted on the horizontal arm 28 of the hydraulic crane 29, the block 27 be ing connected to the piston of the hydraulic cylinder 30, for moving the block and converter in and out along the arm 28. The worm in this plant is secured in a bracket formed on one of the arms of the suspending-bar 31. The melting furnace or cupola 8 is located at some point just outside of the circle described by the converter when carried around by the crane, andjust opposite said cupola, and within the sweep of the converter, are placed the eration is effected as above described.

pillars 32, having their upper ends forked to receive the trunnions of the converter, which are made sutliciently long to rest on said pillars outside of the worm and gear. Along side of one of the pillars is placed the blastpipe 83, so that the metal can be blown while the converterisrestingon said pillars. Around l the hydraulic crane is located the circular i line of track ll on which runs the car D, carrying the hydraulic rain 21, and on the plunger of this ram is pivoted the horizontal arm 20, on the outer end of which is pivoted the l runner-box b. The molds (t are arranged, around this track St, in such proximity thereto that the spout of the l'Lll'llJOF-lJOX may be adjusted ov 1' their sprue-holes.

In place of arranging the runner-box b on a car, it may be mounted on'the end of the horizontal arm 35 of an l shape bar, so. whose upper end is attached to a block, 37, sliding on thehorizontal arm of the hydraulic crane. The bar 36 is so attached to the block 37 that it may be raised or lowered, and the crane is provided with a screw, 38,1nounted in bearings on the horizontal arm thereof, and working in a threaded. opening through the block 37. The inner end of the screw is pro Vided with a wheel, 39, over which passes a chain, il), the lower part of said chain being within reach of an operator.

The operation of this form of plant is similar to that of the other plant. The converter is swung around in front of the cupola and lowered until its trunnions rest in the bearings of the pillars 32. The molten metal is then run into the converter, and the blast-pipe 33 is connected to the hollow trunnion. The converter is then turned up and blown as usual, and after the metal is blown and the manganese and spiegeleisen added the casting op- The sole function of the pillars is to steady the converter while being charged with molten metal and during the blowing operatiomwhich might cause an objectionable amount of swing ing or vibration to the converter.

I claim herein as my invention- 1.. In a plant for producing steel castings, a cupola or melting i'urnace,in combination with a series of stationary molds, a portable converter, means for conveying the converter from the n1elting-fnrnace successively to each mold of the series, and means for turning the converter, substantially as set forth.

2. In a plant for producing steelcastings, a cupola or other melting furnace, in combination with a series of stationary molds, a portable converter, means for conveying the converter from the melting-furnace to each mold of the series successively, means for turning the converter, and a portable runner box, substantially as set forth.

.5. In a plantfor producing steel castings. a cupola, in combination with a series of molds, a line of rails connecting the cupola and molds, and running along the series of molds, a car mounted on said line of rails, a converter mounted on said car, and means for turning the converter at each mold, substantially as set forth.

In a plant for producing steel castings, a cupola, in combination with aline of rails, a bl astpipe having branch connections arranged along said line of rails, a car, and a converter mounted in suitable supports on said car,sub- .stantially as set forth.

5. In a plant for producing steel castings, the combinzittion of a car, hydraulic rains se 5 cured to said car, with a converter mounted on the plungers of said rams, substantially as set forth.

(i. In a plant for producing steel castings, the combination of the car 3, the hydraulic rams]. and 21, the converter mounted on the plunger-s 1, and the runner box mounted on a horizontal arm pivoted to the plunger of the ram 21, substantially as set forth.

'7. In a plant for producing steel castings,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 1o my hand.

theoonverter A, provided with the pouring nozzle 19, formed in the side of the converter near its mouth, substantially as set forth.

8. In a plant for producing steel castings, the converter A, provided with the pouringi i WILLIAM HAINSWORTH.

nozzle 19, formed in the side of the converter Witnesses: v

DARWIN S. WoLoo'rr, OLIVER FULTON.

near its mouth, in combination with the plate 25, secured across the mouth of the converter,

, substantially as set forth.