The Iron Age 1891-12-03: Vol 48

‘THE THuRSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1891. IRON AGE Mammoth Hydraulic Riveting Machine. The riveting machine shown in the ac- companying engraving was designed aud built by William Sellers & Co., (Incorpo- rated), for theBaldwin{Locomotive Works, both of Philadelphia. It has a gap of 198 inches measured from the center of the riveting dies to the base of the throat, and the distance between the frames or stakes is 4 feet 6 inches. The ram is operated by hydraulic pressure and is capable of exert- ing variable pressures of 25, 50 or 75 tons upon the rivet, at the will of the operator, from a fixed accumulator pres- sure of 2000 pounds per squareinch. These va- riations are obtained directly at the machine itself by a valve of spe- cial construction and by the simple move- ment of asingle lever conveniently located. The stakes are of cast steel, and the requisite spread is obtained by means of the massive cast-iron box at the base, the whole being securely tied together by the large through bolts shown. The cyl- inder is also of cast steel and has cast with it the bearing for the riveting ram, which bearing is necessarily prolonged by the large overreach. Special care was ob- served to insure easy ac- cessibility of all the packings, so that the repacking of any of the valves can be accom- plished in the shortest possible time. The ma- chine, instead of being placed in a pit, as is frequently the case, so as to make the floor line form the working plat- form, is set with the bottom of the throat level with the shop floor, and a platform {not shown) is attached to the main stake so as to bring the operators at the most convenient distance to the dies. The rivet heating fur- nace is carried upon this platform and to it are led the chains for racking the boiler in two directions. The hoisting machinery, which was also furnished by Wm. Sellers & Co. (Incorporated), has a capacity of 10 tons, and consists ofa vertical hy- draulic plunger with multiplying sheaves, located back of the riveting machine, from whence the chain is carried over sheaves to a crane carriage upon a swivel- Ing wrought iron jib with a radius of about 25 feet. The valve for controlling the hoist is placed upon the riveting ma- chine next to the one for moving the ram, and the hoisting and lowering are thus under the direct and full control of the men at the dies. _ The machine has met the fullest expecta- tions of both the purchasers and the build- ers, and is, we believe, the largest riveting machine that has yet been produced for this class of work. An inspection of this machine in opera- tion in the boiler shop of the Baldwin Locomotive Works showed it to have heen admirably designed for the work: The shell to be riveted was easily and quickly handled, and the riveting performed rap- idly and without delay from any cause. The shell to be riveted was brought to the base of the machine, the chains depending from the crane carriage were attached and Experiments With High-Tension Currents. At the Frankfort Exhibition a number out by Siemens & Halske with alternating currents of high electromotive force. These were performed by Dr. Berliner, and excited the admiration of all who saw them. The region of alternate currents of great potential is almost unexplored, the shell lifted and finally lowered over| but the researches that have been made the outer arm. Having been adjusted so|show that it is full of possibilities of —_ fo WO eu a 3 3 : L MAMMOTH HYDRAULIC RIVETING MACHINE, BUILT WM. SELLERS & CO. as to bring the row of holes opposite the ram, the heated rivet is inserted, and the valve turned, when the ram is forced out. The platform upon which the men stand and from which all the various operations of the machine are controlled is about 3 feet below the center of the ram. nn The Knights of Labor at Toledo in- structed the General Executive Board to further the agitation in favor of ‘‘the en- forcement of the law under which the charter of the New York Central Railway would be forfeited.” Since the trouble that grew out of the alleged misconduct of Lee the Knights have had an account to settle. | of very beautiful experiments were carried (INCORPORATED). which no one can yet form any accurate con- ception. At present, says Engineering, we are only on the verge of the subject, which is so encircled with practical difficulties that no sys- tematic experimental in- quiries have been made. The few phenomena which have been shown have been so brilliant, and withal so unexpect- ed, that an intense curi- osity has been evoked for further information, and many minds turned to the subject. While Siemens & Halske were delighting their friends with exhibitions reach- ing up to 20,000 volts Siemens Brothers of London had already pushed their experi- ments up to 45,000 volts, and had at the Naval Exhibition an apparatus capable of delivering a current of 2 amperes at this enor- mous pressure—that is, of dealing with the ener- gy of 120 horse-power. For various reasons there have been very few demonstrations of the power of the appa- ratus, but it is intended that it shall form a prominent feature at the Crystal Palace Exhibi- tion, where, doubtless, all who appreciate its importance will en- deavor to see it. It is almost impossi- ble to convey by words any 1dea of the visible phenomena accompany- ing the efforts of a 40,000-volt current to bridge an open space, but we will attempt a description of what we saw one evening last week. Upon a table there was fixed an electrode, some 3 inches in diameter, connected to one terminal of a transformer. Over it there was mounted a large sheet of glass 3 mm. thick, and above the glass there was a second elec- trode terminating in a sharp point, the distance between the electrodes beirg 3 cm. When the current was turned on to the primary coil of the transformer there first appeared a purple haze at the upper electrode, streaming toward the glass. As the current increased this haze grew in fullness and definition and began to throw out feelers which dartea outward, and as quickly withdrew. As the electromotive force augmented still further these feelers gathered power un- BY - = i ae) (= See = aa oe wn y ’ eab ys 5 - 968 - THE IRON AGE, December 8, 189} Building, corner of Sixth and Olive streets. The office will be in chargeof Mr. A. Morse, recently of the firm of English, Morse & Co., of Kansas City, Mo. The company are prepared to furnish on short notice Sioux City Corliss and Giddings’ automatic engines with suitable boilers and make a specialty of complete steam plants for any service. til they beat themselves on the glass as if they would force themselves through it in their mad desire to reach the other electrode. The whole space below the pointed conductor be- came alive with them, and exhibited a mass of leaping, crackling threads of pur- ple fire, which writhed and twisted in im- potent attempts to burst through the bar- rier, and failing that, spread themselves along its surface, endeavoring to rush over its edges, and so reach their goal by a cir- cuitous route. But this was beyond their eee until the electromotive force ap- proached 45,000 volts, when suddenly the entire appearance was changed. The cur- rent overleaped the edges of the plate and flowed completely around it in all direc- tions. At that moment the intense purple color of the spark disappeared, and was replaced by white light of the greatest brilliancy, which surged and scintillated in a way that produced acute fatigue of the eyes in an extraordinarily short time. Although steadier than before, the dis- charge still kept up its spark-like charac- ter, enfolding the glass plates in gleaming corruscations, which glistened and flashed until the spectators were fain to turn away their bedazzled gaze. A change in the arrangement was then made, The upper pointed electrode was replaced by a brass disk 3 inches in diameter. This was laid over the surface of the glass plate with three very thin washers of vulcanite intervening between the two. The current was then turned on, in the same gradual] manner as before. The space between the two disks immedi- ately filled with purple light, which had sufficient motion in it to recall the flame of a Bunsen burner, spread out under the bottom of a beaker. Sparks then began to appear at the edges, and, as they gath- ered strength, to radiate a little beyond them. ae they became streamers stretching out along the surface of the plate, in curved fancitul forms, which twined and twisted and weaved them- selves into a glistening filigree, compared by an imaginative spectator to an agonized Japananese chrysanthemum. This exper iment had not the brilliant refulgence of the one that preceded it, but was character- ized by a quivering irradiation which wreathed and tossed like a bird beating itself at the bars of its cage. In spite of its less formidable appearance, however, it proved destructive to the glass, which presently flew in pieces with a crash. Several sheets were tried in succession, but each was pierced and broken, and al- lowed the current to attain its object of flowing directly from one electrode to the other. The last demonstration showed an arc under pressure of 44,000 volts. When the electrodes approached to within 5 inches the arc established itself, but instead of the flames bridging the space they streamed out in two thin tongues at right angles to the electrodes and parallel to each other. If the electrodes were pushed nearer to- gether the flames deserted their extremi- ties and wandered back along their stems, evidently repelling each other. The light produced was, of course, very small indeed. In conclusion, we may add that the volt- age was reached by two transformations. Ap 80-volt current was first raised to 2000 volts by one of Siemen’s cable transform- ers, consisting of a long core of wire rope, composed of soft iron wires covered with a layer of specially prepared insulating ma- terial, around which are wound two insu- lated conductors, one forming the primary and the other the secondary circuit of the transformer. The secondary current was then raised to 45,000 volts by a transformer of the usual type. _—_ The Sioux City Engine Works of Sioux City. lowa, have opened a branch office at St. Louis, Mo., Room 319, Commercial Lr The Western Bituminous Coal Trade. For a number of years past the Western bituminous coal trade has been in very unsatisfactory shape for the mine owners. The production of coal has been in excess of the demand, and the markets have been so glutted that the business has been one of the worst for either a capitalist or a workingman to be connected with. The tad condition of the trade has, of course, been intensified by the substitution of nat- ural gas for fuel in important manufactur- ing sections. It is now claimed that the tide has turned and consumers are seeking favors at the hands of the mine owners. The Indiana coal miners’ strike was the last thing needed to bring out the facts. It has caused a coal famine ina part of the West, consumers finding that they cannot so readily as of yore turn to other coal- producing sections for their bituminous fuel. W. P. Rend of Chicago, one of the largest operators in the country, was in- terviewed last week on the subject and made a very interesting statement, which is as follows: . While in Pittsburgh in the early part of the week I read in the public papers a dis- patch to the effect that there was a coal famine in Chicago. This report I regarded at the time as highly sensational, or at least an exaggeration of the true facts of the situation. On my return home, however, I find that this public — is not only true but falls far short of describing the great scarcity of soft coal here and elsewhere throughout the Northwest. Figuratively speaking, manufacturers, railroad purchasing agents and large coal consumers are begging and imploring on their bended knees the be- wildered coal operator and coal dealer to let them have a supply of coal that will keep their industries and interests from suffering serious loss and injury. Many of the appeals for coal are coming in the shape of thé most urgent entreaties. On my desk there is,now a stack of letters and dispatches from dealers at various places in several States clamoring for fuel. To illustrate their general tenor, I will re- peat the words of distress from a coal dealer in Indiana. He cries: *‘ For hu- manity’s sake I beg of you to send me some coal. The people of my town are famishing for fuel.” The tone of many other letters and telegrams is no less ear- nest. Railway general managers in many cases are sending dispatches urging for- ward fuel and expressing fears that unless shipments are increased at once their trains will be forced to stop. In fact, there is not bituminous coal enough at present to satisfy the enormous and phenomenal de- mand. The coal dealer is fairly at bis wits’ ends trying to care for the various large industrial end other interests requiring coal for their operation. The production of coal is now greater than ever before in the history of the coun- try, but great as it is the demand is much in excess of the output and of the means of transportirg it tomarket. The causes of this condition of things are numerous and complex. The general scarcity of coal affects most of the Northwest, but in our local market this is greatly intensified by the strike in the ill diadene of Indiana. A vast quantity of this coal is sold in Chi- cago. ‘The late sudden strike in the ex- tensive coal producing region of Brazil, Ind., shuts out the shipment of that coal from this market, and forces those who have been using it to purchase Illinois and other coal in its stead. In Ohio and Western Pennsylvania there is now a home market for nearly all that can be produced in those sections, and little of this Eastern coal can be spared at present forthe West. The failure of gas, or its greatly diminished supply, in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana has forced its abandonment by manufacturers in Pitts- burgh, and, in fact, almost every place in Pennsylvania, and in such places in Ohio as Dayton, Columbus and Springfield, and in Indianapolis and almost all the manu- facturing towns of Indiana. The coal re- quired to take the place of natural gas amounts to a vast tonnage. The stocks of coal in Cincinnati laid in last spriug and summer from shipments down the Ohio and Kanawha rivers from ° Pennsylvania and West Virginia are about depleted and that city has not now a week’s supply ahead. The Ohio River has been low for months, and no coal has been or can be floated down its stream to Cincinnati, Louisville and other places getting their supply in this way. The railroads every- where are taxed to their utmost limit in moving the crops of the country and other merchandise required for general use. This vast traffic requires vast quantities of coal for locomotive purposes. Cars for the transportation of coal are insufficient, and as a consequence almost every colliery in the country is unable to get the full complement of cars required to keep it in full operation or that will enable its oper- ators to take care of orders pouring in upon them. There is in most places also a scarcity of miners. During the last two or three years comparatively few miners have come here from Great Britain or from the Continent of Europe. In Eng- land, Scotland and Wales during the — Ihave named the hours of labor ave been reduced and rates of wages have been greatly increased. As a conse- quence the inducements offered to miners to iromigrate to this country are not what they used to be, and the supply of skilled miners from abroad has of late grown less for the coal fields of this country. There are other causes not necessary to particularize operating upon the coal situ- ation and upon the coal mining industry affecting the supply and demand. I can add, however, that the présperous condi- tion of the country causes an increased consumption of coal as well as of other commodities for domestic and other uses. Suffice it to say, bituminous coal is now wanted, and wanted badly, and especially so in Chicago. ec Making Machine Guns.—Within the last month there has been commenced at the Cramps shipbuilding works in Phila- delphia a new branch of industry, the making of rapid firing machine guns. These guns are of the Driggs Schroeder type. They have been adopted by the United States as part of the secondary armament of the new war vessels. A con- tract has been made by the Government with the Driggs-Schroeder Company for 50 of these guns of the six pounder caliber. Hitherto the Colt Arms Company of New Haven, Conn., have made the guns, but they are unable to turn them out fast enough and the Cramps have undertaken the manufacture of a number. TT Julian Kennedy, the well-known engi- neer and contractor, of Pittsburgh, has closed a contract with the Stewart Lron Company, Limited, of Sharon, Pa., for the erection of thr: e Kennedy-Cowper hot- blast stoves 18 x 70 feet in size. These stoves are to replace others which have been dismantled, and are of the same type illustrated in The Iron Age some months since, December 3, 1891 The Monarch Lathe Chuck. The Oneida (N. Y.) Mfg. Chuck Com- pany lately placed on the market the lathe chuck of which we here present engrav- ings. The body is composed of a single piece and is recessed for the face plate, thus bringing the work very close to the lathe spindle. The face is slotted for bolts, which permits using the chuck asa lathe face plate. As the work is applied the jaws are forced against the face of the chuck, and the harder the pressure upon the jaws the more positive is this effect. This action makes it impossible for the jaws to lift off the face of the chuck in use or to pull outward. This effect is accom- plished by the manner of attaching the movable jaw to thecarrying nut. The nut chas a projection above the face of the chuck which enters a corresponding open- Fig. 3.—Back Vi ew. THE MONARCH ing in the jaw. Through these parts pass a hardened steel pin, exactly fitting the hole through the jaw, but not the nut, which has a V-shaped hole, pointing up- ward. The pressure upon the jaw in either direction forces the pin against the wedging sides of this hole with inevitable results. This pin coupling between the nut and jaw not only does this remarkable gripping, but is also the means of making what is claimed the quickest reversal of jaws ever yet inverted. The accompany- ing drawings show the working parts and their arrangement. ——— EEE This Government is giving more atten- tion to improved fire arms and cartridges. The Army Board, under Colonel Robert Hall, at Frankford Arsenal, is investiga- ing the serviceability, reliability of action and general worth of all the various fire arms recently invented in England, France and Germany as well asin this country, and proposes to make an exhaustive study of all the various phases of the subject, in- cluding explosives and projectiles, before making a report to the War Department. THE IRON AGE. 969 Experiments are being made in the manu- facture of cartridges, and it appears to be pretty well settled that German silver will be the metal adopted for the small arm projectile of the future. It is the purest of all substances yet proposed for this pur- pose, is less affected by the heat of the arm in reloading, and does not deteriorate to any great extent by contact with the at- mosphere. rr Swedish Iron Statisties. From the official report just issued of the mining and metallurgical industries in Sweden in 1890, we learn that the num- ber of iron mines worked was 300, when 940,428 tons of ore were raised, as against 393 mines and 983,600 tons in 1889, and 485 mines and 937,000 tons in 1888, and Fig. 2.—Combination Lathe Chuck. Fig. 4.—Working Parts. LATHE CHUCK. 655 and 884,000 tons in 1887. It appears, therefore, that the number of mines worked is gradually decreasing, which chiefly refers to small mines. In addi- tion, 812 tons of lake and bog ore were raised in the provinces of Jénképing and Kronoberg, against 2290 tons in 1889. Coming to the Swedish pig iron industry in 1890, we find that 154 furnaces were in blast, turning out 456,100 tons, of which 4659 tons were castings, produced direct from the furnaces. In 1889 the number of furnaces was 150, and the output 420,700 tons. The number of furnaces in opera- tion, as well as the manufacture of pig iron, in Sweden is decreasing year by year, which is, of course, due to the declining demand and wretched prices for this kind of iron of late years. The number of workmen employed in the pig iron indus- try in 1890 was 3862, as against 3823 in 1889. In the resmelting of pig iron into castings 119 works were engaged, turning out 32,970 tons, as against 122 works re- turning 33,000 tons in 1889. The total production of all kinds of iron castings last year was 39,022 tons, returned as fol- lows: Direct from furnaces, 4659 tons; | resmetting of pig iron, 32,970 tons; Bes- semer castings, 169 tons; Martin castings, 1224 tons. Turning to the Swedish bar-iron indus- try in 1890, we find that 157 works with 445 hearths were engaged in the same, turning out 281,832 tons, while in 1889 181 works with 473 hearths produced 274,- 400 tons, the increase in the year being therefore 7400 tons, and in 1889 there was an increase of no less than 26,000 tons. At 99 works 225,630 tons of blooms were turned out, of which 57,500 tons were drawn into bars at other works. In 1889 the make of blooms amounted to 226,000 tons. The quantities and methods of man- ufacture of bar iron were as follows: Bes- semer, 49,232 tons (1889, 40,200 tons): Martin, 40,068 tons (1889, 33,600 tons) ; Walloon, 6466 tons (1889, 6090 tons); Lan- cashire, 178,345 tons (1889, 177,000 tons); Franche Comté, 6644 tons (1889. 8900 tons); puddling, 758 tons (1889, 650 tons) ; Uchati, 317 tons (1889 —). The total make of Swedish bar iron during the period 1886-1890 was as follows: 1886, 232,000 tons; 1887, 250,000 tons; 1888, 248,000 tons; 1889, 274,400 tons; 1890, 281,830 tons. In 1890 the product of steel in Sweden was 94,239 tons of Bessemer steel, 72,989 tons of open-hearth steel and 2055 tons of other kinds of steel, a total of 169,283 tons. In 1889 the figures stood: Bessemer, 80,810 tons; open hearth, 135,980 tons, and other kinds 1920 tons, a total of 218,210 tons. As regards the manufacture of finished iron and steel goods, we find that last year 153 works were occupied in this industry, turning out 78,990 tons, as against 152 works and 74,000 tons in 1889. The man- ufacture embraced 28,928 tons of plates (in 1889 27,400 tons); 12,142 tons of nails (in 1889 12,070 tons); 10,105 tons of rails (in 1889 8900 tons); 6118 tons of tools and agricultural implements (in 1889 5600 tons); and 21,704 tons of sundry iron and steel wares (in 1889 20,100 tons). The fig- ures referring to rails ure worthy of note, as in 1888 65,000 tons were turned out, but in 1887 none. It was in 1888 that the Riksdag decided upon giving a bounty to this industry. In the above industry and manufac:ure of steel 9991 persons were employed, as against 8919 in 1889. The total number of persons employed in the iron and steel ir dustries was 23,615, as against 23,051 in 1889. There were 51 accidents in iron mines, 21 being fatal, as against 42 and 18 respectively in 1889. The number of steam engines employed in the industries was 144 of 8023 horse- power. —————— EES In the case of the Chicago Sugar Refin- ing Company against the Casualty Com- pany of Baltimore, which Judge Gresham of Chicago has had under advisement for the last six months, he has handed down a decision in favor of plaintiff for the sum of $44,241. Especial interest was mani- fested in the case by insurance men, as it was a test case for the form of policy is- sued by the Casualty Company. All kinds of accidents to employees, in the nature of boiler explosions, &c., were covered by the licy. The accident which caused the death of the sugar refin- ing company’s employees and for whose deaths the company claimed $100,000 from the Casualty Company arose from an explosion of dust. The cause was said to be spontaneous combustion. Because of the pvature of the cause of the accident the Casualty Company denied the sugar refin- ing company’s right to recover. Several workable coal veins have been opened at Niga Islands, Alaska, anda tramway built to tidewater. It is asserted that cargo lotscan be solid in San Fran- cisco at $4 per ton. : ee eee Sree wm twee enter se — 970 THE IRON AGE, December 3, 1891 a e_e_ee_eel_e_=$S$S=Eqm@m=———e—eEeG_ee_eeS=_oq_=eSaQanqR—~e>==eE=E=E=E==EeEeE>=>=>=>=>=E==—eoEoOoO—————— Graphic Method for Calcu- lating Slags. BY A. J. ROSSI, NEW YORK. The method of reduction to lime and silica of all the elements of a slags affords, as we have had occasion to explain, a rapid manner of calculating the charges of a blast furnace, and, at any rate, is an expe- ditious one for comparing slags together. - It may prove convenient to operate such transformation by a graphic construction. Outside of the principal constituents—lime, alumina and magnesia—blast furnace slags contain but a relatively small percentage of oxides of iron and manganese and al- kalies, with sometimes a little baryta when eertain ores are used. Even when special products,such as ferromanganese and spie- geleisen, are manufactured, manganous and ferrous oxide are the only elements of which the importance becomes serious out- side of the earthy bases. The equivalence in lime of manganous and ferrous oxides being 0.78, that of al- kalies on an average of 0.75 (soda 0.90, tash 0.60), it can be readily seen that y adopting a figure such as 0.78 for the equivalence in lime of all the elements of a slag or ores and stone, other than the three bases alumina, magnesia and lime, a sufficient approximation can be obtained. Suppose that the horizontal line A B, divided into 100 equal parts (subdi- vided if wished), be taken as representing 100 per cent. of alumina, magnesia or in general 100 per cent. of any base, R O, whatsoever. Draw a line, A C, perpen- dicular to A B, and having divided it in the same manner as A B has been, draw by the points of division of A B and A C ver- tical and horizontal lines, carrying the division of A C beyond 100. We thus ob- tain a rectangle, AB C D, divided in a number of squares as small as desired. Profile paper is very well adapted for such urpose, such for instance as is divided into millimeters. Let the equivalence in lime of a certain base R O be 0.78; 1 pound of RO = 0.78 lime, 100 R O = 78 lime. If,then, we carry or read at B, on the vertical B D, BE = 78 and join A E, the latter line will be what we may call the line of equivalence of the base R O. If we have to find how much a certain percentage, A G (say 50 per cent.), of this base R O is equivalent in lime, we see that the vertical line G H, erected at G, in- tersects the diagonal A E at H, and we read immediately, by following the nearest horizontal line ery by H, or apprecia- ting between which horizontal lines of the diagrams does fall the horizontal line passing by H, or even scaling G H, if referred, that A G, equal to 50 per cent. of ase R O, is equivalent to 39 per cent. lime. Since 1 magnesia = 1.40 lime, 100 magnesia = 140 lime; carrying or reading en B D, B P = 140, and joining A P we have, at the intersection of the diagonal A P with any. vertical line, G K, corres- ponding to a certain percentage of mag- nesia, such as A G (50 per cent.), read on the horizontal line A B, the equivalence of any quantity of magnesia in lime. We read at once in this case G K = 70, hence AG = 50 per cent. magnesia = 70 per cent. lime as far as saturation for silica. In the same manner, since 1 pound alumina = 1,63 lime, 100 alumina = 163 lime. Carrying on B D, B D = 163, and joining A D we have in the diagonal A D the line of equivalence of alumina. For instance, AM = (25 percent.) alumina, corresponds to M N of lime, which reads very nearly 41 per cent. lime; the exact calculation would give 40.80. With divisions of +}{5, subdivided in half, as can be readily ob- tained with the kind of section paper men- tioned, the results could be very closely read. It is evident that if we do not wish to as- sume for all the elements of a slag other than alumina, magnesia and lime an aver- age satuation of 0.78, we can just as easily and in the same manner construct a diagonal representing ferrous and mangan- ous oxides (of which two substances the equivalence in lime is the same), another for potash (1 potash = 0.60 lime), another for soda (1 soda = 0.90 lime), in fact, one to represent any basis whatsoever for which the equivalence in lime for 1 pound is Suppose that, using the preceding dia- gram of equivalence, we have found the analyses of the materials at our disposal, transformed in lime, to correspond in hundreths of a ton to: Stone, unknown Ore, 1ton. Fuel, } ton. quantity. Silica a Silica a’ Silica a’ Lime } Lime 0’ Lime }” (in 1 ton) and assuming } ton of fuel for 1 ton of ore we have to calculate the quantity of limestone to be added to obtain a slag of such a type, of such a character of EQUIVALENT IN LIME known. If one line is constructed specially for manganese, and iron at 0.78 equivalence, the alkalies potash and soda can be taken as equivalence at 0.75 on an average, or at their respective values. With such diagram we can tben trans- form at once in silica and lime a slag, or, in general, any given analysis of the materials coal, stone and ores entering in the charges of a blast furnace and the fur- ther calculations of the quantities of lime- stone to be added to 1 ton of ore anda corresponding assumed quantity of fuel could be easily carried on. These calcu- lations can even be avoided by using a proper and special diagram, as we will see further. basicity, as explained previously, that its analysis reduced to lime and silica would be: Silica m, Lime n = 100 — m; @’ and }’ represent the hundreths of a ton of silica and lime in the actual quantity of fuel assumed to be used with 1 ton of ore, and these quantities a’ b’ are re- duced from the amount of these constitu- ents in 1 ton of fuel, applying the assumed proportion of fuel to ore. Let z be the unknown quantity of lime required for 1 ton of ore and the propor- tional quantity of coal assumed. The total amount of silica which can enter the slag is represented in ton and / ” fraction of aton by -4. + “4+ “_* the 100 100 = 100 December 3, 1891 THE IRON AGE. 971 sum of the different amounts of silica in the; to contain 36 per cent. of silica (as the | materials to be used in a furuace trans- quantities of ore, fuel and stone used. The total weight of the materials entering in the slag, in tons, is evidently a a’ b b/ a" 2 omer tae tt i 100 100 100 =100 100 100’ being the sum of all the silica and of the earthy basic elements transformed into lime entering in the composition of ores, fuel and stone according to the proportion of each. Hence the amount of silica to be a kd = 2 G Ww a uw z ° & an Ww = 4 a ° z ° BE uw ° ” = K wu x a z 2 = SILICIA 1" stone/ yf ' mK + --f wi wiOIneS Wios r ans FP BNO wi S38VG vO awit Wwiol b’ 2 | type), M _ %6 _ 0.36 ton. 100 ~ 100 If it is 40 enn = it is per cent silica 100 = i00= 0.40 ton. This equation solved gives (a +a’) — m’' (a + a’ +b + DB) + hb”) — a” } — m (a SCUVMNMCO OV3y VIDINS ¥ SILICIA ADOPTED = M, | oT = 50 = % le M ‘ {5077 0-50 = M. expected in 1 ton of slag is equal to total umount of silica =(‘ +a’'+a’" *) total amount of slag \ 100 (= + @ +O+O +a 2 + z 100 ) a¢+a+a"e ~ @+t¢a+he+el +a’2z2+b' 2 But since the type of slag expected re- duced to lime must contain Silica, M per cent. Lime, J per cent. : M in 1 ton of such a slag there must be 100 of silica, putting —_ — yw’ oe eo We have the equation ee x a+a+b+0+a e+ hz i0~ ~ M 100 is found immediately. If the slag is —-—-—- - + and we have the*following rule to calculate slags: Rule.—Having first transformed into lime and silica by means of the diagram all the analyses in lime, applying the proper corrections for assumed amount of coal: 1. Add together the lime and silica of the ore (1 ton) and fuel (corresponding as- sumed quantity), multiply this sum by the num ber of hundredths of silica intended to be obtained in the type (0.36 if the type is to contain 36 per cent. silica ; 0.35 if it is to contain 35 per cent, silica) and subtract this product from the sum of silica in ore and fuel used. 2. On the other hand, multiply the sum of silica and lime in the stone by the num- ber of hundredths of silica expected in the slag, subtract from the product the silica of limestone, and divide the first quantity calculated as in 1° by this remainder. The quotient is the amount of lime required. We will illustrate it by one example: For instance, suppose that the analyses of the ' silica. formed into lime be as follows: In 1 ton fuel. Sio?. .5.333 Lime.4.00 In 1 ton ore. Silica. 20.00 Lime. 10 00 Stone, 1 ton. Sio*.. 5.00 Lime. 50.00 We have assumed, say, } ton of fuel per ton of ore. Hence, in this quantity of 3 ton of fuel there is only, in fraction of a 5.333 3 ton : 4 100 ton x 4= ton and 100 * 4 100 ORE & FUEL # SILICIA IN SLAG ™% |, TOTAL BASES OR LIME IN ORE 3 3 4— 100 ses of materials used, and in the quantities of the same, 1 ton ore, } fuel, in hundredths of aton: lime, and we have for the analy- Stone, unknown Ore. Fuel - quantity. Silica.20.00 Silica.4.00 Silica. 5.00 ) per Lime.10.00 Lime.3.00 Lime.50.00 { ton Suppose that we have decided to obtain a slag of such a type that it will contain: Silica, 50; lime, 50; a neutral slag, monobasic; 50 silica take up 50 lime; 1 silica take up 1 lime; 1 lime saturates 1 By reasoning as explained in a previous article we may say the 10 of lime in ore saturating 10 silica leaves 20 — 10 = 10 free silica, and the 3 of lime in fuel saturating 3 silica leave 4 — 3 = 1 free silica. Total free silica in ore and fuel = 11, which will take 11lime. The 5.00 silica of stone will take up 5.0 of lime, leaving in stone 50 — ! 45 free lime, We require 11 lime to satu- ~ eer Sree hee ems ocaee tee .* var on ~ ae ad 2a eee nee: aa’ rare wv here , Pee PH F Fae OO ‘ OO” camel 2 Sn a eae 972 THE IRON AGE, December 38, 1891 rate the 11 free silica of ores and fuel. We dispose of 45 free lime in 1 ton of limestone. We want of limestone, then, 11 for 1 ton ore and 4 fuel, 5 = 0.244 ton of limestone. Let us now apply the preced- ing rule and formula without any of the pre ceding reasonings: We add together siiica and lime of ore and fuel. This gives 20 + 4 + 10+ 3 = 37. We multiply this num- ber by 0.50. Since the slag is to contain 50 per cent. silica, we have 37 x 0.50 = 18.50. We subtract 18.50 from the sum of silica in ore and fuel, which is 24.00: this gives 24 — 18.50 = 5.50. On the otber band, we add the silica and lime of stone, therefore 5 + 50 = 55. We multiply this by 0.50, the percentage of silica adopted in slug, and obtain 27.50, and from this number we subtract the silica of stone, which is 5; the remainder is 27.50 — 5 = 22.50. ° _ §.50 850 55 11 The quotient 99°50 = 2250 — 225 = 45 = 0.244 ton is the quantity of limestone required for 1 ton of ore and } ton of coal. The above formula and resulting rule has the advantage that it applies also to the case in which, not using the method of reducing to lime the elements of the ore, fuel and stone, the charges are calcu- lated by fixing beferehand a certain per- centage of silica in the slag to be obtained in the complete analysis, using the analyses of the materials without transformation to lime. Rule.—In this case the rule is virtually the same and can be given as follows: 1. Add together all the constituents of the ore and fuel, whatever they may be (carbonic acid and water excepted, of course), as given by the analyses, multiply the sum by the number of hundredths of silica to be contained in the slag (if the slag is to contain 36 per cent. silica, mul- tiply by 0.36, and so on) and subtract the product from the sum of the silica in ore and fuel. 2. On the other hand, multiply the sum of all the constituents of the limestone (carbonic acid and water excepted, of course) by the number of hundredths of silica aimed at in the slag, subtract from the product the silica of stone and divide the first quantity obtained as in 1° by this remainder; the quotient is the quantity of limestone required in ton. Care must be taken to reduce the amount of silica and other constituents in 1 ton of coal to the quantity of coal assumed per ton of ore. But, as we have had occasion to show pre- viously, 36 per cent. silica in the complete analysis of aslag may not and does not necessarily with all kinds of ores corres- pond toaslag of a sufficient basicity to accompany certain grades of iron, while 36 per cent. of silica in the analysis of a slag transformed into lime and silica (cor- responding thus to 64 per cent. lime) will most invariably accompany the darkest grades of pig iron. A graphic construc- tion can be given for the preceding formula, and a special diagram constructed 80 as to avoid even these calculations. Such a diagram can be easily constructed as follows: . Draw two lines, O B, O D, at right angles to each other and divide them into 100 equal parts, each division being itself sub- divided into 2 or 4 parts, which can be easily obtained by using, as already said, ‘*section paper,” on which paper lines as close as 1 mm. apart are ruled at right angles to each other. Taking for instance on such paper 2mm. = 1 per cent. silica, 1 mm. will represent 4 per cent. silica, and even the half millimeter can be readily es- timated, thus giving, in fact, .25 per cent. of silica. Assume A B to represent the number of hundredths of silica in the slag expected; we wish to calculate the charges of a furnace with the ores, fuel nd stone of the composition quoted above, and in such a manner tbat the slag O M, in the same manner, would be resulting reduced to lime and silica (the| taken to represent the sum of the silica type) will contain 50 silica, for instance, | and of all the same basic elements in the consequently 50 lime. Carry or read above O on AD, OE = 20 = silica of ore in 1 ton and E F = 4 = silica in } ton fuel, (or any other pro- portion adopted per ton of ore); O F = 24 silica in ore and fuel =a+a’. Carry be- low O, O V = 10=limein ore. VX =3 = lime in fuel, orO X = 13 = lime in ore and fuel. The percentage adopted being 50 silica in slag (transformed in lime)—that is, 7°,°;—sceale, or readO T = 50. The ver- tical line passing by T intersects the hori- zontal Jine (24—24), representing the sum of silica in ore and fuel at H, and this line (24—24) intersects the vertical line BC at U, which reads also 24, of course. Draw U X and by H draw H K parallel to V X; it intersects O D at the point K and gives us the line O K to be used further. This line OK is the numerator of the formula; it reads 5.50. Carry or read on OB, O M = sum of lime and silica of limestone =,55, the vertical line M N (55--55) intersects D C at N (55). Carry to the left of O D, O Q = silica in stone. Draw N Q by the point P where the vertical line 55—55 intersects the hori- zontal line 50—50, corresponding to the per cent. of silica adopted (read down- ward from N in this case); draw P R parallel to N. Q; this gives the point R. O R is the denominator of the formula, Join together the two points K R, the ultimate objects of the con- struction. By B draw BG parallel to K R; O Gis the per cent. of a ton of Jimestone required for 1 ton of ore and three-fourths fuel. We read easily even on this approxi- mate diagram OG = 25—that is, ,*,5, ton of stone to be added; the direct calcula- tion has given us 0.244. It may and will happen that this parallel B G intersects O D beyond the point D (100). For instance, for a per cent. of silica adopted of 30 silica in the slag, it would de so. If the divis- ions of O D are prolonged beyond D (100), as it should be; then in such case were such a point as W obtained, read- ing, for instance, 115, it would show that to 1 ton of ore and } fuel, in order to ob. tain 30 per cent. of silica in the slag re- duced to lime and silica, it would be ne- cessary to use 445 ton of limestone or 1.15 ton stone. All the distances could be scaled di- rectly, instead of being read, but with the section paper ruled at a sufficiently large scale, nothing else is required but to con- struct on the proper frame the auxiliary lines which finally give the hight O G, representing the amount of limestone to be used. The reasoning has been made in the sup- position that all the analyses of ores, fuel and stone have been reduced to lime; but, as we have shown, the formula applying also to the case in which such transforma- tion in lime has not been made, the con- struction would be identically the same, without transforming to lime the basic elements of the materials of the charge. Were the calculations of the charges to be made by assuming a certain percentage of, say, 36 per cent., or any otber figure, such as 50, in the complete analysis of the slag and not avy more in that of the slag re- duced to lime and silica as above. Only, in this case, wherever the word lime occurs it has to be understood to in- clude and to mean all the basic elements of the materials, lime included. Hence: O F representing always as be- fore the sum of silica of ore and fuel, and O T, equaling 36 or 50, the percentage of silica adopted, O X would, in such case, be taken equal to the sum of all the basic elements of the ore and fuel—that is, equal to the sum of alumina, magnesia, lime, baryta, alkalies, &c., in ore and fuel without transformation in lime. stone, lime included, not transformed in lime. The constructions would be identi- cal; but, again, it might happen, as it has been already insisted upon, that the quan- tity of limestone thus found required for 1 ton ore and fuel, though furnishing a slag of such a composition as intended— that is, one in which would be found 36 per cent. of silica in the complete analysis— may not be sufficient to give a slag of a sufficient basicity for certain grades of iron, while a slag based on a type con- taining 36 per cent. of silica and 64 of lime in the analysis transformed in lime, would certainly insure a certain character of basicity desired. LE The Basie Process in Austria. Very complete data has been printed in the Oesterreichische Zeitschrift fir Berg- und Hiitten Wesen by Professor Franz Kupelwieser, on the progress of basic steel in Austria and Hungary. The pro- duction of Bessemer steel has been as fol- lows: Austrian Production of Bessemer Steel. Metric tons, Year. | Acid. Basic. Total. 1879 87,202 | 3,500 90,702 1880 | 87,831 17,885 105,716 1881 | 116,709 31,889 148,598 1882 | 134,015 57,714 191,729 1883 | 141,554 88,429 | 229,983 1884 | 135,502 70,987 | 206,489 1885 149,557 76,821 | 226,378 1886 | 111,122 105,839 =| =. 216,961 1887 | 114,783 118,379 =| 238,162 1888 | 149,220 139,127 288,347 1889 | 133,001 141,416 274,417 1890 | 149,660 138,021 287,681 | It will be observed that the basic and the acid share nearly alike in the output. The manufacture of basic open-hearth metal began much later, but developed far more rapidly. Austrian Production of Open-hearth Steel. Metric tons. Year. Acid. Basic. Total. 1879 eee be pene 34,186 1880 | a eee ee 28,502 ae . ee LC. axiins 39,763 1882 BD BO eat 48.043 1883 Pe. 2 “sesees 59,641 1884 2 52,428 1885 a ae 52,405 1886 | 29,062 13,944 43,006 1887 | 22,508 48,522 66,030 1838 | 28,672 75 794 104,466 1889 | 35,921 106,174 142,095 1890 | 33,904 178,015 211,919 * In 1880 basic steel constituted 13.4 per cent. of the whole product, while in 1890 it rose to 63.2 percent. Of the whole prod- uct of 499,600 metric tons in 1890, acid Bessemer had 29.9 per cent., basic Besse- mer 27.6 per cent., and open hearth 6.9 per cent., and basic open hearth 35.6 per cent. —_ As yet no settlement has been reached between the members of the Shenango and Mahoning Valley Pig Iron Manufacturers’ Association and the Car Service Associa- tion, over the demurrage rates claimed by the railroad operators for the delay in unloading cars. As was stated some time ago, these demurrage charges aggregate a very large amount, and it is possible that a settlement will not be reached with- out the aid of the courts. Several meet- ings have been held recently in Youngs- town between the parties interested, but without results. December 8, 1891 THE IRON AGE. 973 Blast Furnace Plant. ITS EQUIPMENT AND DESIGN. H. Pilkington, general manager of the Midland Coal and Iron Company, Apedale Works, Newcastle, North Staffordshire, England, has recently delivered u presi- dential address before the South Stafford- sbire Institute of Iron and Steel Works Managers, from which we quote the fol- Jowing, since it well illustrates modern English practice, and gives credit for pro gressive development to American engi- neers, rather unusual with English iron masters. The General Plant, As all iron works must now be laid out with railways, even if served by canals, a comparatively level works is desirable. If low-lying land be adjacent for tbe dis- posal of the slag, itis all the better; but locomotives will ascend moderate inclines without difficulty, and as it is more eco- nomical to have all railways of the stand- ard gauge, the locomotives are available for other purposes. The furnace bottoms are now always raised 10 or 12 feet above the ground level, in order to get the slag bogies well under the tapping hole and the pig beds level with the tops of the trucks; moreover, such pig beds and fur- pace bottoms can be well drained, and any break-out of metal or slag has an opportu- nity of flowing away, instead of being blocked up against the furnace. The fur- naces are, or should be, further apart— double the distance formerly considered sufficient—or they are built in pairs with separate bogie holes, which have sufficient accommodation to do away with night tappers. This allows plenty of room round the furnaces, ample pig beds and room behind for ample stove power. In clines are now displaced by the more rapid and efficient double lifts, fitted with proper safety tackle. It the incoming materials have not to be calcined itis much more economical to have three or four through railways behind the furnaces, and for the fillers to unload the trucks straight into their barrows. Gantries are not economical, as there is extra work involved in lifting the mate- rials off the floor plates into the barrows, apart from the cost of unloading the wagons. Filling direct from the trucks is also quite as economical as filling from bunkers provided with shoots, even if they are served with hopper. bottomed wagons; but the bunkers have the advantage ot holding stock. Where a works is served by canal there is an inevitable additional expense in raising the materials out of boats into turnace barrows, and itis seldom that within a reasonable distance all the mate- rials can be raised from boats without handling a large portion of them twice. When the ores have to be calcined the nearer the kilns are to the furnaces the better, and they should be served from the mines with hopper-bottomed wagons and drawn at the bottom straight into the furnace barrows by means of shutes prop- erly fitted with screens. In the case of blackband ores or tap cinder it is of course impossible to calcine them in kilns, and it is invariably better to calcine these waterials in heaps at the place where they are produced, and then to transport them to the furnaces in trucks. American Practice. Turning now to the actual working plant, it ig quite evident to all of us that the influence of American practice is mak- ing itself felt more and more in this country, and in my opinion it is only a question of time with us as to the adoption of their system of separate furnaces, sepa- rate blowing engin: s, separate blast mains, separate stoves and separate lifts, in order to place each furnace entirely independent of its neighbor, and make it possible to give it any treatment that may be deemed necessary without affecting the other furnaces in any way whatever. It is always convenient to group the engines and boilers together, the latter being fired from a flue common to all works, which does not at all effect the isolation of the furnaces. In modern works, with fire brick stoves, a gas flue is undoubtedly a more convenient means of supply than an over- head tube, and the gas is much easier of control; but in any case for the sake of safe and easy control the boilers should be at one end of the flue or main. And it is very easy to see that if the stove supply has to descend from an overhead main, it will be necessary to keep the gas at some amount of pressure, which is not always an easy or very desirable matter. Boller Firing. The application of gas to boiler firing is of very great importance, and the correct method of its application has been a some- what neglected point; evidence of this is easily found in the many very crude appli- ances seen at different works. If we go to the root of the whole matter, it is evident that, to get the best duty out of the gas, it is necessary to obtain complete combustion at the highest possible temperature; and this, of course, means the highest initial temperature. Now, if we turn gas into a boiler flue, or under an egg-ended boiler, with an inadequate or, on the other hand, an excessive supply of air, and allow it to come into immediate contact under what is, comparatively speaking, a cold boiler, it may be taken for granted that that gas will never reach a high initial tempera- ture, that there will be no complete com- bustion, and therefore a bad duty. In othe