US987704A - Process of and apparatus for treating molten metal. - Google Patents

Description

S. S. DEEMER. PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING MOLTEN METAL.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 14, 1908.

Patented Mar. 28, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N m u n EN METAL.

Patented Mar. 28, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 2 EEMER.

OR. TREATING MOLT ED OCT. 14,1909.

S. S. D

APPARATUS APPLICATION r1 PROCESS OF AND Q/Vi Muses SELDENrSCRANTON DEEMEZR; OF NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE;

PROGESS'OF AND APPARATUS FOR- TREATING MOLTEN METAL.

Specification)! Letters Patent, Patented Mar 28,- 1911,-

lpplication filed October 14, 1908 Serial No. 457,720

To-all whom-it may concern:

Be. it knownthat- I, SELDEN SORANTON DnnMnn, a,citizen of the. United States,-re-

sidingat New Castle, in the county of Newcastle and State of Delaware, have" invented certain new and useful Improvements in.

Processes and A' paratusfortTreating Molten Metal, of which the following is a specification My, invention relates to: treating molten metal, and particularly the-conversion of ironintosteel, and especially to that .type of.

process. and apparatus. in, which the conversion is .eifected by means .ofa surface blow. In this process as heretofore practiced, and such apparatusdevised prior to my. invention, there has .been. considerable loss by inefiiciencydue to thesluggish move-.

ment of the fluid metal under the influence of the air currents, resulting in retardation of the process with consequent waste inoxidizing metal and burningiout of the con- Verter lining. A further difiioultyisfound in the introduction into the fluid metal at different stages of the blow, of suitable reagents for desulfurizing, dephosphorizing,

decarburizing, and recarburizing the metal,

particularly where the body of moltenmetal treated is comparatively small, as in small and moderate sized converters.

The objects of my invention are to facilitate the movement of the molten metal by improving the form of the converter bottom or hearth, and provide for a more effective delivery of the blast to the metal, thereby securing a rapid and efficient conversion; to provide means for introducing reagents at the proper stages in the blow in such manner as to secure their thorough and rapid incorporation in, and reaction with, the molten metal, and at the same time augment the blow and facilitate the movement of the metal; to provide for the ready and efiicient control of the introduction of such reagents; and to improve the air pressure connection with the converter.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a preferred apparatus for carrying my process into effect, but it will be understood that various changes may be made in details of construction without departing from the invention.

In these drawings, Figure 1, is a central vertical section vthrough the converter; Fig. 2, is view in side elevation, the bearing being shown in section; Fig. 3, is a horizontal and inner lining,

section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, 1s fragmentary view in vertical section showingthe arrangementof the twyers; Fig. 5, is .a similar view showing. a; slight modification of the same; and Fi 6, is a frag- Inentary View showing the c arging-box and air pressureiconnections infront elevation.v

Referring to the drawings, A is the bod of a converter having the usual outer she I and having a lengthmuch greater. than its. width; The bottom or hearth, a. is .made rounded in the direction of its width, and preferably semi cylindrical, so as to friction as posslble to the revolving move? ment of the molten metal.

Above the bottom or rounded portion are located the twyers B for supplying a blast of oxidizing agent to the molten metal, preferably against and across the surface thereofso as to constitutea surfaceblow. These twyers extend substantially entirely alon oneside of the converter and are arranged to deliver the blast over the whole surface of the bodyof the metal in the direction of its width, This main blast maybedelivered by a seriesnof individual twyers B, as shown in Fig. 4,011 by a single long one in the form of a narrow slot, as shown at B in Fig. 5, and is supplied with oxidizing agent under pressure such as air, from a wind box G which communicates by duct 0 with one of the hollow trunnions, D. The lower portion of trunnion D is provided with slotted openings d, to register with air connection d running up through the center of housing d and its bearing, this housing being connected at the bottom with a wind box leading from the blowing engine, not shown. Slotted openings d preferably overlap opening d in the hearing, so that pressure may still be supplied in full force when the converter is tilted to the proper angle for the blow. The other trunnion D has no air pressure connection, but carries the worm wheel (not shown) and cooperates with suitable mechanism for tilting the converter.

In order to provide for the introduction of suitable reagents for desulfurizing, dephosphorizing, decarburizing and recarburizing the metal efficiently at the proper stages in the blow, I'arrange a charging box E upon the front of the converter above the Wind box C, and connected with the interior of the converter by charging twyers e above main twyers B. Charging box E present as littlev resistance or is provided with a suitable cover e by which it may be hermetically closed, and is preferably divided into compartments for the reagents, as shown in Fig. 6, one for each charging twyer. Each compartment is supplied with pressure through a pipe 6", connected with the source, as at the wind box C, and controlled by a valve 6 The charging twyers .are preferably arranged to deliver their blast, containing the pulverized or comminuted reagents, to the surface of the molten metal at an oblique an le greater than, and to supplement that of, the main blast delivered by the twyers B.

The operation will be readily understood from the foregoing. Molten low grade metal such as pig iron, being introduced into the converter to the proper depth, and pulverized reagents to be used in the process having been placed in the compartments of the charging box E, the converter is preferably tilted slightly. The air blast is turned on and is delivered from the wind box through twyers B, acting on the molten metal and causing it to circulate rapidly across the converter, down around the bottom and up again. This motion is greatly facilitated by the rounded or semi-cylindrithrough twyers 6 against the molten metal, this blast aiding the main blast besides thoroughly incorporating the reagcntswith the metal. When the blow is completed the converter is tilted and its contents discharged in the usual way.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- 1. The process of converting molten metal,. which consists in supplying a main blast obliquely across the surface of the molten metal, and supplying an auxiliary blast containing comminuted reagents to the surface of said molten metal obliquely in the same general direction and at a greater angle to the surface.

2. In a converter, twyers for supplying a blast to the surface of a charge of molten metal, a wind box with which said twyers communicate, a reagent charging box, additional twyers fordelivering the contents of said charging box to said metal, and controllable air pressure connection from said wind box to said charging box.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

J. ERNEST SMITH, EDWARD T. PRICE.

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