US843563A - Process of toughening or annealing steel, iron, and other metals. - Google Patents

Description

No. 843,563. PATENTED FEB. 5, 1907. W. F. L. FRITH.

' PROCESS OF TOUGHENING 0R ANNBALING STEEL, IRON, AND OTHER METALS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, 1902.

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UNITED AT PAEN IQ.

WILLIAM F. L. FREE, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

PROCESS OF IOUGHENING 0R ANNEALING STEEL. IRON, Arc OTHER METALS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 5, 1907.

Application filed February 24, 1902. Serial No. 95.468.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM FREDERICK LOWNDES FRITH, a citizen of Great Britain, residing at 24 Rood Lane Chambers, Rood Lane, London, E. 0., England, have invented a new and useful Improved Process for Tough ening or Annealing Steel, Iron, and other Metals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved process for treating steel, iron, and other metals, so as to give greater tenacity and elasticity and so as to render the metals treated highly resistant *to the penetration of projectiles and to the corrosive action of sea-water and the weather.

The invention consists generally in heating the metal to be treated within a closed receptacle and subjecting the metal to fluid-pressure, such as the pressure of mercurial-vapor, and allowing the metal treated to slowly cool While in the receptacle, an electric current being preferably passed through the [metal treated while in the receptacle.

The accorn anying drawing illustrates diagrammaticaly insectional elevation apparaetus employed to carry the invention into effect.

In carrying the invention into efiect I referably arrange the receptacle a upon W eels c, by means of which it may be conveniently run into the furnace b. j I provide the receptacle a of any suitable form and with a cover d, which may be tightl bolted into position, so as to be pressure-tig t.

The receptacle 0. is provided with an outlet by means of which the air within the'receptacle a may find egress. An outlet-pipe e communicates with the outlet and is carried through the walls of the furnace and has for convenience a tap, by means of which such outlet-pi e may be closed. The receptacle may furt ermore be provided' at its opposite ends or sides with electrodesf, by means of which current may be caused to pass through the metal plates or bodies 9 to be treated. The electrodes f may conveniently be arranged within non-conducting bosses or bus es 72., secured within the ends or sides of the'recepta'cle, and the electrodes may be oapable of adjustment therein.

The furnace b itself may be of any convenient kind and may derive its heat from any suitable source (not shownin the drawin and may be provided with a sliding door 1, cIosing an aperture through which the receptacle covers d are placed in position and screwed down tightly. The receptacle is then passed into the furnace b. and heated for about twelve hours to about 1,000 Fahrenheit. The receptacle is then withdrawn and its contents are allowed to cool slowly. The

duration of the heating and cooling periods vary with the different sizes and compositions of the articles to be treated. During heating or cooling a current may be sent through the apparatus, either constantly or intermittently, the quantity. depending on the'size of the lates or bodies to be treated and on the c emical constitution of' the metal. As the rece tacle becomes heated the valve on the out etpipe is opened, so as to. allow the heated air to iind egress, and the valve is maintained open until the vapor of mercury condenses and drops from the outlet-pipe. When thus an indication is afforded that the receptacle is filled with mercurial.

vapofl the valve' is closed, It will thus be seen that I do not employ a uniform r'essure of gas in the heating and cooling, ut that the pressure depends wholly upon the temperature to which the metal is subjected under treatment.

Instead of mercurial vapor air, steam, or other vapor or gas under pressure may be employed for the same purpose, and instead of providing a portable receptacle a fixed chamber may be provided in connection with a suitable furnace or other source of heat.

The tenacity, elasticity, and toughness of plates or bodies treated accordingto the invention are increased, and they are rendered highly resistant to the penetration of projectiles and to the corrosive action of sea-water or' the weather.

The process is not only applicable .for

treating steel, but also iron and other metals,

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What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A process of treating steel and other metals, comprising a subjection of the metal to heat and to direct action of metallic vapor under pressure in a closedreceptacle, said pressure varying with and corresponding to the temperature to which the metal is subj ected.

2. A process of treating steel and other metals, com rising a subjection of the metal to heat an to direct action of mercuric vapor under pressure in a closed receptacle, said pressure varying with and correspondin to the temperature to which the metal is su% jecte:l.

3. A process of treating steel and other metals com rising a successive heating and cooling of t e metal under pressure by the direct action of metallic vapor in a closed receptacle, said pressure varying with and corresponding to the temperature to which the metal is subjected.

4. A process of treating steel or other metals comprising a successive heating and cooling of the metal under pressure by the direct action of mercuric vapor in a closed receptacle, said pressure varying with and corresponding'to the temperature to which the metal is subjected.

5. A process of treating steel and other metals comprising a subjection of the metal to heat and to the direct action of vapor under pressure in a closed receptacle, said pressure corresponding to the temperature to which the metal is subjected, While an electric current is being passed through the metal.

6. A process of treating steel or other metals comprising a subjection of the metal to heat and to the direct action of gaseous vapor in a closed receptacle, said pressure corresponding to the tem erature to Which the metal is subjected, an the passing of an electric current through the metal while heated.

7. A process of treating steel or other metals, comprising a subjection of the metal to heat ancl'to direct action of mercurlc vapor in a closed receptacle, said pressure corre-

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