US855603A - Apparatus for treating molten steel. - Google Patents

Description

No. 855.603- PATENTED JUNE 4, 1907. P. S. ADAM$.-

APPARATUS FOR TREATING MOLTEN STEEL.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1907.

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FRANCIS S. ADAMS, OF PUEBLO, COLORADO.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING MOLTEN STEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4;, 1907'.

Application filed March 11, 1907. Ser al NO- 361,814.

To a whom it 71716717.] concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS S. ADAMs, a citizen of the UnitedjdlStates, residing at Pueblo, in the county of Pueblo and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Treating Molten Steel; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an apparatus for treating molten steel.

The object of the invention is to desulfurize and dephosphorize molten steel in such manner as to effect a large saving of time,

'material and labor with the highest commercial results, and if desired, to convert molten pig iron into steel. Furthermore, to provide an apparatus for the above purpose, that shall be simple of construction, easy to operate and which shall not be apt to become deranged from long continued use.

l/Vith the above and other objects in view as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, and combination of parts of an apparatus for desulfurizing and dephosphorizing molten steel, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus and Fig. 2 is. a view in side elevation.

The apparatus embodies a converter 1 which isv built on the lines of the ordinary Bessemer converter, and is supported by trunnions 2 that work in bearings 3 secured -to the two side members 4 of the supporting frame. The trunnions 2 are provided to allow the converter to be swung from a horizontal to a vertical position with its mouth either up or down according to whether it is to becharged with molten material or to be discharged of the treated metal. In order to effect the tilting of the converter, there is combined with one of the trunnions a worm wheel 5 that is engaged by a worm 6 carried by the shaft 7 of a motor 8, herein illustrated merely in a conventional manner, as its particular construction is immaterial to the operation of the apparatus.

The frame members 4 are, as shown in Fig.

2, of channel iron and are connected with the end frame members 9 and 10, in any preferred manner, to present a rigid frame'capable of withstanding the weight of the converter and its appurtenances without yielding. In order normally to hold the converter against turning upon its trunnions, there is a locking device provided that embodies a socket piece 11 that is designed to engage with a stud or boss 12 on the rear end of the converter, the socket piece being'normally held in engagement with the stud by a coiled spring 13 that is mounted upon a bar 14 to which the socket piece is also secured, the said bar being projected beyond the frame member 10, and being disposed in the path of an electro-magnet 15 which, when energized, from a suitable source of electricity, retracts the bar against the'tension of the spring 13 and allows the converter to be turned upon the trunnions 2 when the motor 8 is started to drive the worm 6. I

The converter is lined with any suitable basic material 16 such as magnesite dolomite, lime and the like, either in brick form or in bulk, and operates in a manner that will presently appear rapidly to desulfurize and dephosphorize the molten metal in the converter.

The supporting frame is supported for rotation in a horizontal plane upon stud shafts 17 and 18 that are carried by flanged plates 19 and 20 bolted to the end frame members 9 and 10 respectively, as at 21. These stud shafts work in bearings 22 that are supported upon the foundation beams 23 of the frame, which latter parts may be of any preferred construction, the arrangement herein shown being merely illustrative of one in which results may be accomplished. As shown in Fig. 1, both of the stud shafts 17 and 18 are hollow, the former for the purpose of permitting the introduction of a pipe 23 to discharge oil and air or oil and gas into the converter and the latter to receive the bar 14 of the socket piece '11. The shaft 17 carries a gear wheel 24 that is engaged by a pinion 25 carried by the driving shaft of the motor 26 of any preferred construction. In order to protect the frame against the heat, ashield or guard 27 is combined with the pipe 23 as shown in Fig. 1.

In the operation of the device, the converter is brought to a vertical position with its mouth upward and molten steel from aBessemer converter is fed thereto, after which, the operation or rotation of the motor- 8 is re- ICC versed to bring the converter to a horizontal position after which the magnet 15 is denergized to permit the socket piece 11 to engage the boss 12, and thus lock the converter against movement on the trunnions 2. The motor 26 is now started, and the converter rapidly rotated, thereby bringing every particle of steel into intimate contact with the basic material, which as stated, may not only form a lining for the converter, but may also be placed loosely therein. During the time that the converter being revolved, the burner 23 is in operation, thereby maintaining the metal in a molten condition.

Generally it would not be feasible to supply pi iron to the converter direct from the blast furnace, for the reason that the silicon would be removed from it as well as the sulfur and phosphorus, and the silicon is necessary in order to oxidize and furnish heat for the metal, However, this could be overcome by adding ferro-silicon to the molten metal, but by treating the metal after coming from the Bessemer converter, this objectionable feature can be obviated.

By reason of the intimate contact between the molten metal and the basic material, the desulfurization and dephosphorization is effected in much less time than could possibly be secured with an open hearth furnace, thereby effecting a saving in time that will materially lessen the cost of production of the steel. Furthermore, by the simple construction and arrangement of the parts of the apparatus, liability of damage in use will be largely eliminated, so that cost of repairs will be minimizedc Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is,

1. An apparatus for the purpose described, comprising a frame, means for rotating the same, a converter supported forrotary movements within the frame, and an electric controlled locking device for holding the converter against movement relatively to the frame.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising a supporting frame, a converter,

trunnions carried by the converter and engaging bearings on the frame, a worm wheel carried by one of the trunnions, a worm meshing with the Worm wheel for swinging the converter through a desired arc, and means for imparting rotary motion to the converter.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANCIS S. ADAMS;

Witnesses:

FRED. 0. Root, GEO. H. HUBBARD.

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