Front page & Index Current U.S. Class: 420/119; 2/255; 75/307; 75/560; 106/38.27; 148/26; 164/61
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HILAIRE  ANDRÉ LEVALLOIS, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STEEL


Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 134,685, dated January 7, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that I, HILAIRE ANDRE LEV­
ALLOIS, of Paris, France, have invented a new
and useful Improvement in the Manufacture
of Steel; and I do hereby declare the follow­
ing to be a full, clear, and exact description
thereof, which will enable those skilled in the
art to make and use the same.
  This invention relates to a compound pre­
pared from soft iron, tungsten, and nickel,
which forms a cast-steel of superior quality,
which is not liable to rust, and the cost of
which does not exceed that of ordinary cast-
steel of good quality.
  The proportions in which I mix the ingredi­
ents of my steel compound together vary accord­
ing to the desired quality.
  For the first quality I use soft iron, ninety-
three parts; tungsten, six and one-half parts;
nickel, one-half part.
  For the second quality I use soft iron, nine­
ty-fiveparts; tungsten, fourandoue-halfparts;
nickel, one-half part.
  For the third quality I use soft iron, ninety­
seven parts; tungsten, two and one-half parts;
nickel,one-half part.
  The furnaces and crucibles employed in pro­
ducing my steel compound are the same as those
ordinarily employed in the manufacture of cast-
steel. The tungsten and nickel are mixed to­
gether and inclosed, with a suitable flux in a soft­
sheet-iron tube, which is placed in the center
of the charge, said charge being sprinkled over
with a quantity of the flux, varying in propor­
tion to the quantity of the metal treated be­
tween one-half part and two parts of flux to
one hundred parts of metal. As soon as the
mass has become liquid it is run off in the usual
way into a sand or metal mold, the latter be­
ing lined with a mixture of clay and percar-
buret of iron. Before and during the process
of running off the fused metal a vacuum is
produced in the mold by covering the bot-
tom of the funnel with a, diaphragm of parch­
ment, which is destroyed by the contact of the
fused metal. When the alloy is run into a metal
mold the ingot is removed as soon as it be­
comes soliditied. It is then annealed in a
closed vessel, and allowed to cool gradually.
  The steel produced as above described may
be hammered in the same way as ordinary steel.
  The flux which I use, by preference in carry­
ing out my invention is composed of the fol­
lowing ingredients: Boric acid, or biborate
of soda, thirty-six parts; calcined silex, thirty­
two parts; carbonate of time, thirty-two parts.
  These ingredients are pulverized in a mor­
tar, and when thoroughly mixed together the
compound is placed in small quantities in a
crucible heated to a white heat, and, when
liquefied, it (the compound) is run off on a
flitted cast-iron plate; and, finally, the flux
thus obtained is crushed into small particles
before it is used.
  What I claim as new, and desire to secure
by Letters Patent, is-­
  A compound for steel, made of the ingredi­
ents herein specified, and mixed together sub­
stantially in the manner and about in the pro­
portion set forth. H. A. LEVALLOIS.
Witnesses:
H. BONNEVILLE,
H. GUITTERY.