US977922A - Converter. - Google Patents

Description

RK BAGGALEY.

CONVERTER. APPLIOATIN FILED 00T.6, 1906. RENEWBD 00T. 22, y1910.

977,922. Patented 1390.611910.

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APPLIUATION FILED oom, 190e. RENEWBD 001222, I1910.

Patented Deo. 6, 1910.

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INVENTOR WITNESSES R. BAGGALEY.

CONVERTER.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.0, 1906. RBNBWED 0012.22, 1910.

Patented Dec. 6,1910.

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CONVERTER.

APPLICATION FILED 0016, 1906. RBNBWBD 001222. 1910.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

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R. BAGGALEY.

CONVERTER.

APPLICATION FILED OGTG, 1906. RENEWED OCT. 22, 1910.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

Application iled October 6, 1306, Serial 110,337,725. Renewed Getober 22, 1910. Serial No. 588,534.

To all whomalt may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH BAGGALEY, of Pittsburg, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Converter, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a longitudinal crosssection of my primary or ore-dissolving converter, intended to do without carbonaceous fuel the work now accomplished in the ordinary blast furnace, with carbonaceous fuel. It also illustrates a portion of the forehearth, with its inclosed drop tube; Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line II-II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line III-III of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-section of my secondary or iron-eliminating converter; and Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line V-V of Fig. 4.

The object of my invention may be brieiiy stated to be, to provide apparatus capable of withstanding the severe service and the intensely corrosive action of low grade mattes permanently, ordinary wear and tear excepted; which service I have found to be inseparably connected with the process of extracting the mineral values from copper, gold and silver ores by utilizing the natural fuels contained in the ores themselves described in United States Patents :M

No. 746,241, dated December 8th, 1903;

No. 766,654, `August 2nd, 1904;

No. 789,133, May 9th, 1905;

No. 794,272, July 11th, 1905,

No. 789,648, May 9th, 1905;

No. 830,039, September 4th, 1906;

No. 796,174, August 1st, 1905;

No. 822,712, June 5th, 1906;

No. 806,045, November 28th, 1905; No. 806,046,

` No. 796,175, August 1st, 1905;

No. 806,047, November 28th, 1905; No. 830,040, September 4th, 1906,

from ores, conducted by me at Butte, Montana, I utilized special apparatus invented by me for the purpose, as fully illustrated and described in United States Patents No. 746,238, dated December 8th, 1903, and NO. 830,040, dated September 4th, 1906, as illustrated in Fig. 8. These tests developed certain defects in the apparatus referred to and the object of my present invention may be specifically stated to obviate and to correct all such defects and to provide what I consider to be practically perfect apparatus to withstand this severe service and to be permanent, ordinary wear and tear excepted. For instance, in the use of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 4 of United States Patent No. 746,238, wherein there is a heavy, basic lining, supplemented by an outside waterjacket, the fact has been developed by test that if a basic lining be utilized say in the ordinary sheet steel converter that it is only a question of a comparatively short time until such basic lining will slough 0E and be entirely dissolved. These basic linings are very expensive. Unless some outside controlling influence therefore be exerted for the protection of such basic linings the cost of renewing same becomes so great as to seriously militate against the economy of my new smelting process. -Where, however, an outside cooling influence, capable of being regulated and tempered at will, is exercised it will be apparent an absolute limit is placed on the travel of this corrosive action on the internal lining of the vessel so that when the heat and the corrosive action of the smelting process on the inside exactly equals the cooling influence of the flow of water through the jackets on the outside, all corrosion will cease and thereafter the basic lining of the vessel will remain practically permanent, as it now does in the case of a lined waterjacleted forehearth. In conducting the tests above referred to I found however, that my trouble did not consist in sufficiently cooling the outside surface of the basic lining, through the medium of flowing water, but it consisted in reducing this flow sufficiently to prevent it from eXertin too much of a cooling influence. This I ound to be particularly the case toward the later stages of the smelting and rening process, or in other words, when the oxidizable elements and compounds had been largely eliminated from the bath through the action of the blast and at or about the time that blister copper was forming. At this stage of the process, indeed from the time White metal had resulted and until the clean blister copper had formed, I found that it was better to shut off the flow of water through the outside jackets entirely and to allow the water in them to heat up, even to thel steam generating point, because the vent from these waterjackets was open to the atmosphere through a large pipe and as a consequence no pressure whatever could generate. rlhe jackets also could not be injured because the water level. in this vent pipe was so high that it could not during this portion of the process lower the water through the generation of steam to a level where the jackets could burn. In the use of the apparatus illustrated in United States Patent No. 830,040, issued. September 4th, 1906, it was found that so long as these heavy metal walls were protected by an interior basic lining the results generally speaking were entirely satisfactory. On one occasion, when blister copper had formed and when the twyer punchers had failed to do their work properly so that a mass of congealed copper formed on the interior wall of the lining at the twyer entrances, the subsequent punching and opening of these twyers had the effect of somewhat loosening the basic lining and of separating it from a close contact with the interior metal wall. As a consequence the blast in .large volume escaped between the lining and the outside metal walls and entered the converter at the top of the lining, on one side of the vessel. It so happened that at the same time, while experimenting with a force of unexperienced workmen that the vessel had been overcharged with matte so that the level of the molten bath was above the top of the interior basic lining. This combination resulted in a converting action against the side wall of the heavy steel casting top or nose of the vessel. Nithin an hours time this converting action resulted in dissolving a solid steel casting sixteen inches thick so that the molten matte overflowed through this orifice onto the twyer-box. I also found that even with the interior basic lining at or near the blast entrance a steady destruction of the interior lining at this one point occurred. The lining at all other points of the Vessel lasted apparently without injury for a period of eight months and was still good at that time, excepting only in the immediate vicinity of the blast entrance; indicating that a greater cooling influence at this point of the vessel was necessary in order to protect the lining from destruction. Briefly stated, the objections I found to this form of apparatus were as follows :-1st.-'I`he eX- pense of renewing the basic lining at the blast entrance, for the reasons above described. 2nd,'I`he great cost of the apparatus. 3rd-The great weight of the apparatus. 4th,-The reduced interior area and as a consequence matte and ore holding capacity of the vessel, due to the thick walls, which in this particular apparatus that I tested were twenty-one inches thick. 5th,- The possible destruction of the solid metal nose, as herein described, when the matte level by accident or otherwise happened to be above the level of the interior basic lining.

My tests also developed other important points. For instance,-a. Then the nose of the converter in either apparatus was tilted to the rear, in order to deliver the fumes into the hood as shown in both illustrations, a shoulder was formed at the junction point of the solid metal nose, with the body of the converter. I found by test that corrosion at this point was somewhat greater than elsewhere and that for this reason it was desirable to utilize apparatus that did not have this shoulder. I found it desirable to provide an ample space above the level of the molten bath as a means of preventing undue corrosion at all upper portions of the vessel. I found it desirable to extend the basic lining so high above the level of the molten bath as to render it impossible for the un converted molten matte to come into contact with bare metal walls.

My present invention is designed to meet and to obviate all of the difficulties above enumerated.

Referring to the drawings, it will be noted that the apparatus consists of a cradle, preferably composed of steel channel bars 2, firmly secured to the heads 3. lVithin this cradle a succession of ribs di are placed to constitute outside walls of the vessel, the ribs being preferably made in two parts and bolted together at the bottom. I prefer to make these ribs of soft, openhearth steel, because it cannot be split or cracked by the pressure or by the varying temperatures, and it is very strong and tough and fully capable of withstanding without injury the heavy weight of the bath. These ribs I prefer to make twelve or fourteen inches wide and. from two and one-half to four inches in thickness, as may be preferred.

In such heavy cast metal blocks as those shown in United States Patent No. 830,01f0, issued September l-th, 1906, Fig. 8, pipes cannot be cast successfully where steel castings are used, because the great heat of this large body of molten metal dissolves or crushes the pipe. This is one reason why in my present construction I use a soft, malleable cast metal rib, that bears such a suitable relation to the water pipes that are cast in it that such pipes will not be dissolved or crushed; because the volume of cast metal is not sufficient to render this possible.

Each rib, say fourteen inches in width, is provided preferably with four three-quarter inch pipes 5 each provided with a regulating cock 6, which receive the inflow of water at the bottom of the vessel, as illustrated in the drawings. The water gradually becoming heated has a tendency to rise and finds an outlet through the side mains 7 on each side of the vessel, at or near the top of the basic lining. The water mains 8 underneath the vessel are protected from harm, as shown in the drawings, by reason of their location. The top or outlet water mains are preferablyT protected against injury and from possible splash of matte or slag, by plate metal shields or covers 9, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5.

I have found in my tests that the solid metal nose 10 as illust-rated in Fig. 3, works well and is a practically indestructible part of the apparatus. If preferred the top or nose may also be water-jacketed, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. It is desirable that the basic lining 11 in the ends of the vessel be safeguarded against corrosion,by water-jacketed exteriors or ends 12. This result may be accomplished either in the manner illus trated in Fig. 1 or as illustrated in Fig. 4. I prefer the latter method, because in it I use a stiff plate 13 of soft steel casting, in which are cast a number of circular waterpipes 14. At the bottom holes 15 are drilled and tapped into these for the water inlet; and the water outlet is provided at the top of the Vessel, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Doubtless many modifications in this apparatus will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, since `What I claim is 1h 1. In a converter of the character' described, an exterior shell composed of a succession of circumferentially extending ribs of relatively soft, tough cast metal, each of said ribshaving one or more water pipes cast in them, means for supplying water to said pipes, and for separately controlling the supply to different pipes to temper and regulate the cooling action thereof at any desired place, and a basic lining within said shell and contacting therewith; substantially as described.

2. In a converter, an exterior shell composed of a succession of circumferentially extending ribs of relatively soft, tough cast metal having each one or more water pipes cast therein, means for admitting water to said pipes and for controlling the same to give a greater cooling action at some times than at others, said pipes being all substantially equi-distant from the outer surface of the shell, and a basic lining for said `shell in contact with its inner wall; substantially as described.

3. In a converter, an exterior shell composed of a succession of curved ribs of cast metal, said ribs having each a plurality of water spaces or passages therein, means for supplying` water thereto, a basic lining within said shell, and-a solid metal unlined nose together with means whereby lthe supply o-f water to the said spaces or passages can be controlled to reduce the cooling action; substantially as described.

4. In a copper converter, an exterior shell composed of a succession of curved ribs of cast metal having each a plurality of water circulating pipes cast therein, said pipes being all substantially in the same circular plane, a solid metal nose, and means for applying a cooling` medium to the nose; substantially as described.

5. In a converter for use in dissolving ores in al low grade, corrosive matte, an inner basic lining, and an outer metal shell composed of a series of circumferentially extending ribs of relatively soft, tough metal in contact with the outer surface of the lining, and having separate water circulating passages thereto, together with means whereby the water circulation therein can be controlled to temper and regulate the cooling actie-n of the water on the lining in accordance with the requirements during the different stages of the smelting and refining process; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

RALPH BAGGALEY. lVitnesses:

Jol-IN MILLER, H. M. ConwIN.

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