The Iron Age 1900-02-08: Vol 65 Iss 6

‘THE IRON AGE. TuHuRspDay, Fresruary 8, 1900. The Most Perfect Machine Shop.*—VI. Building No. 16 of the Schenectady Works of the General Electric Company. BY S. D. V. BURR, Electrically Driven Bement, Miles & Co.’s Planer. Fig. 37 represents a large planer built by Bement, Miles & Co., having a stroke of 20 feet, and taking in proper is an electric clutch which adds to the efficiency of the machine in the most remarkable way. It is auto- matic in its operation. At the end of each stroke the reversal occurs instantly, so that there is absolutely no time lost in the driving mechanism picking up the load. This reversal takes place so accurately and so positively that there is no danger in planing to within the fraction of an inch of a shoulder. The efficiency of the machine by reason of the application of this clutch has been in- creased over 25 per cent., this being a most conservative statement of what has been actually accomplished on certain pieces of work with this drive in comparison with the original construction with belt drive. This planer, when driven by the belt, required 34.5 kw. on the quick reverse; by the present method it requires but 17.5 kw. Running free in direction of cut there is no great saving. It will, therefore, appear that a smaller motor will be needed to drive the planer when fitted up in this way than by the belted method. We regret that Fig. 37.—Bement, Miles & Co. s Planer with Motor at Side of Base. THE MOST PERFECT MACHINE SHOP. work 120 x 120 inches. The little motor, shown on top of one of the girders, is for raising and lowering the cross rail. Power for driving the planer is applied to the machine by a motor placed alongside ‘the base, as shown. Between the motor and the driving mechanism *See The Iron Age, January 4, 11, 18, 25 and February 1, 1900. at the present time we have not the privilege of more fully describing the design and construction of this elec. trie clutch. Slotting Machines With Different Drives, The next four views, Figs. 38 to 41 inclusive, repre. sent different types of slotting machines from different 2 THE IRON builders, and the designs of which required different or special applications of the motor in each individual case. The plan of the Bement, Miles & Co.’s machine was such as to readily lend itself to the placing of the motor di- rectly on top of the frame. This tool is one of the larg- est in the place, having a stroke of 60 inches and taking in work up to a diameter of 120 inches. But little altera- tion was demanded by the motor. The next engraving, a Putnam slotter, Fig. 39, re- quired the placing of the motor at the base on one side. Practically the same thing was done in the Bement slot- ter shown in Fig. 40, while we again find the motor AGE. February 8, 1900 were, of course, adapted to the motor, so that there are really two classes of machines—one modified by the com- pany to accommodate the electric drive and the other, new tools, which were ordered especially for this build- ing, and in which the necessary alterations were made by the builders. Whether or not the motor is in the best position, or the position which would have been adopted if the orig- inal design hac contemplated its use, was a question which could not be considered at all. The same is true of all the other standard tools in the building. The tool was there, and it was of a certain design, and the appli- Fig. 38.— Bement, Miles & Co.'s Slotter with Motor on Jop. THE MOST PERFECT MACHINE placed on top of the machine in the Bement slotter shown in Fig. 41. There are several Betts slotters and one Sellers slotter, all of which were more or less modi- fied by the builders to suit the motor drive. It must be remembered that these machines are all of standard design by several makers, and were intended to carry the ordinary belt drive. The alterations on all tools previously driven by belts in order to employ the motor were made in the General Electric Company’s Works; and, of course, each case had an aspect peculiarly its own, and which required treatment different from all the others. The tools which were moved from other departments into No. 16 were driven by belts, and when transferred SHOP. cation of power for its operation had to be placed in one particular location. The modification called for by the motor was restricted. To express it in another way, in each instance and in each design there was only one place in which the motor could be put without changing unduly the driving mechanism of the whole machine, and this varied in almost all the machines. It was different with the latest Newton machines, and the other new tools noted previously. They were de- signed with particular reference to a motor drive, and therefore the,position of the motor assumed prominence and the design was more or less changed in order to fit this requirement. (To be continued.) February 8, 1900 The Federal Bankruptcy Law. WASHINGTON, D. C., February 6, 1900.—E. C. Branden- burg, in charge of bankruptcy matters in the Department of Justice, has prepared a statement addressed to the Philadelphia Credit Men’s Association, in which he pre- sents some considerations in opposition to the movement now on foot looking to the repeal of the Federal Bank- ruptcy law. Mr. Brandenburg emphasizes some of the advantages both to the debtor and creditor which the law has already developed and calls attention to the necessity for the co-operation of the creditor class in order to secure the full benefit of the statute. “The great moneyed establishments,” says Mr. Bran- denburg, “ some of whom now seek the repeal of the law, THE IRON AGE. 38 alike, even to the extent that any conveyance or judg- ment obtained during the four months preceding the bankruptcy proceedings that works an illegal preference = er and may be set aside, inuring to the benefit of all. “‘ A merchant may now seil with confidence to the con- sumer, without fear that some other creditor, by sharp practice, may get an advantage over him, knowing that he will be placed upon an equality with every other creditor, aud that his rights will be fully protected. In this way, if in none other, the Federal Bankruptcy law is working out a result which is of inestimable value to the merchant and business man as a class. “It is very difficult at this stage for you to say whether or not the bankruptcy law has resulted in a re- duction of your losses. It might naturally be expected Fig 39 —Putnam Slotter' with Motor on Bagg THE MOST PERFECT MACHINE SHOP. having legal advisers in nearly every town in which credit was given, were first on the ground prior to the passage of the present law and those wholesalers with less capital and poorer facilities for watching their inter- est usually received their first notice of the insolvency of the debtor through the legal proceedings instituted by these big concerns. The result was that practically all the assets went to the first comer and the smaller creditor took what was left, which frequently was nothing at all. Under the present law priority under the institution of attachment or other proceedings can no longer work to the advantage of any one, but all are placed on an equality. “ Prior to the present statute under many of the State laws a merchant might make an assignment with pre- ferred creditors, who, as a rule, were none other than relatives, or friends, such preferences. ultimately accru- ing to the advantage of the insolvent. No such evil can result under the present law, for all creditors are treated that they would have largely increased, owing to the old debts being discharged. In this connection it is interest- ing to hear what the representatives of some of our larg- est houses have to say on this subject. The credit man for one of the largesi importing houses in the city of New York, doing many millions of dollars’ worth of business appually, told me, when in that city a month ago, that, notwithstanding the existence of the bankruptcy law, whether a coincidence or not, with the great magnitude of his business, the total loss for his firm during the year was the insignificant sum of $20 or $30. Another distinguished credit man, from a different portion of the Union, said that his losses during the past year were much less than for many years before; and that the mer- chants have confidence that they can go ahead with- out fear that some other creditor, by shrewd practice, may get the best of them. Still another says, ‘ we are in favor of the law, because the results during the past year bave been satisfactory, the dividends on suspended ac- 4 THE IRON AGE, counts being nearly double what they have been in years past.’ Still another says that the losses during the past year have been largely decreased, from what cause he cannot say. These are expressions from native business men who know whereof they speak. “T earnestly urge business men to have their repre- sentatives present at all creditors’ meetings of bank- rupts. The operation of the law has demonstrated the wisdom of this suggestion. Although the bankrupt’s schedule may show no assets a skillful examination, which is of incalculable value to the creditor, may dis- close some concealed or transferred property which should properly go into the estate of the bankrupt for the payment of dividends. You may be represented at a number of such meetings and no assets be discovered, and yet at another meeting sufficient property may be disclosed to amply compensate for all expenses previ- ously incurred for this purpose. If every bankrupt feels assured that he is to undergo a severe examination as to the disposition of his estate he is not as likely to schedule no assets, and the moral effect will be of incalculable benefit. The fact that as a rule when no assets are scheduled no trustee is appointed and no creditors appear Fig. 40 —Bement,- Miles & Co ‘s Slotter with Motor at Side. THE MOST to examine the bankrupt is an inducement to false state- ment by the dishonest debtor, which should not be tolerated.” WwW. L. C. _ = New Union Station at Pittsburgh —Luast week the Pennsylvania Railroad concluded the purchase of the last piece of ground necessary for the building of the new Union Station in Pittsburgh, which has been talked of for so many years. On Monday active work was commenced by the razing to the ground of the old Panhandle round house. Plans are also under way for the elevation of the tracks of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad. It is expected that at least $10,000,- 000 will be spent in the building of the new station, ap- proaches and the track elevations through Allegheny. The present offices in the old Union Station have been moved to the Mellon Building, on the opposite side of Liberty avenue. _ ——_—— The McClintic-Marshall Construction Company.— H. H. McClintic, formerly vice-president and general manager of the Shiffler Bridge Company of Pittsburgh. and Chas. D. Marshall, formerly secretary and engineer of the same company, resigned their positions on Feb- ruary 1, and have organized the McClintic-Marshall Con- struction Company, with headquarters in the Park Build- ing, Pittsburgh. The new concern will do a general line of iron and steel construction of all kinds. Plans are February 8, 1900 being prepared for a new plant for turning out work of this kind, which will probably be located in the Monon- gahela Valley, although the exact site has not yet been selected. _ New Steel Plant at Canal Dover, Ohio.— The rumor about a new steel plant at Canal Dover, Ohio, grew out of the possibility discussed at a recent meeting between some of the iron men around Canal Dover. It was sug- gested that it would be a good plan to buy Dover Fur- nace and attach a steel plant to it, the intention being to get subscriptions to the capital stock from the sheet mill owners of that district, which would include Canal Dover, Dennison, Cambridge, New Philadelphia, Dresden and Coshocton, making a total of 36 mills. It would re- quire at least 100,000 tons of slabs and sheet bars to keep this number of mills supplied during the year. The output of the Dover furnace is not over 70,000 tons of Bessemer pig iron per annum, and allowing loss in con- verting, there would be a considerable shortage of raw material. The proposed new plant would be dependent upon the lake carriers for ore, and. it-is understood.that the national Steel Company own 20 of the lake vessels. Fig. 41.—Bement, Miles & Co. s Slotter with Motor on Top. PERFECT MACHINE SHOP. The only native ore is black band, and the mine south of Canal Dover has been abandoned for several years. It was only recently that the rails connecting it with the Cleveland & Mariette Railroad were torn up and sold. If anything was to be done in the matter, it would re- quire a new furnace of modern design, and it is reason- ably certain that the Penn Iron & Coal Company would want a large price for their present furnace, and count- ing the cost of a new stack, and an up to date slab and sheet bar mill, the required investment would be over $1,000,000. It is not likely that the proposed plant, which probably has never been seriously regarded by the sheet mills mentioned, will be built. —— The Corporation Trust Company of Canada have been organized and incorporated under a charter of the Do minion Government, with a capital of $100,000, for the purpose of representing companies incorporated in New Jersey. The new company are identified with the Cor- poration Trust Company of New Jersey. Offices have been established in Montreal. A test was made at the Indian Head Proving Grounds last week of an armor plate, representing 442 tons of the turret armor of the battle ship “ Alabama.” The plate was 14 inches thick, and was fired at by a 10-inch gun. The first shot penetrated 414 inches and the second shot 10 inches, and both shells were smashed. The plate was accepted. February 8, 1900 THE IRON AGE. The Talbot Continuous Open Hearth Steel Process. Since September of last year there has been in opera- tion at the Pencoyd Iron Works of A. & P. Roberts Com- pany the continuous basic open hearth steel process in- vented and developed by Benjamin Talbot, who is widely known as a leading authority in this branch of steel making. It will be recalled that some years since Mr. Talbot carried through a series of highly interesting experiments in the desiliconizing of pig iron at Chatta- nooga, Tenn., and studied closely the problem, then un- solved, of producing steel from Southern pig iron. His present continuous process, which is bringing steel makers from different parts of the United States to Pencoyd, is the development along new and broader lines of the principles which germinated in the earlier work referred to. We believe that from a technical and economic point of view Mr. Talbot’s continuous process is of the very highest importance and that it is destined to accelerate the movement toward the ascendancy of the open hearth over the Bessemer process. From an economic point of view the Bessemer process suffers from the fact that the operation entails a heavy waste of iron, which is oxidized during the blow—a waste which is particularly telling when, as now, the cost of metal is high. The Bessemer process has had the advantage of a low cost of manipulation through the fact that the equipment is utilized steadily through the intensity of the operation. The open hearth as now handled has been placed in a much better position through the introduction of labor saving devices in charging, &c., but it is still relatively slow. The introduction of the basic lining has given it a wider sphere of usefulness, because it has enabled the steel producer to employ off grade and, therefore, cheaper irons, and because it has released it from re- strictions as to the quality of scrap. It is admitted that the lower cost of raw materials has placed the basic open hearth furnace practically on an equality as to cost with the acid Bessemer converter—the basic Bessemer converter being practically out of the ques- tion until now, in the United States, as an effective competitor. Mr. Talbot’s continuous process holds out such prom- ises as to reduction of cost and as to flexibility in ca- pacity to deal with a wide range of raw materials that it will cause an emphatic shifting toward the open hearth process, as compared with Bessemerizing, for soft steels. In this estimate of future developments no credit is taken for the admittedly better quality of basic open hearth steel over acid Bessemer steel for many purposes, nor is any account taken of the proba- bility that the product of the continuous process is mark- edly superior to the steel made in the basic open hearth furnace in the ordinary way. In a sense, the plant in which the Talbot process is being carried out at Pencoyd, Pa., is experimental, al- though it would be closer to the fact if it were desig- nated as tentative, in the direction of what would proba- bly be the equipment likely to bring out maximum efliclency. The furnace now installed takes a charge of 160,000 pounds. Mr. Talbot expresses the convic- tion, from the results of actual experience with it of months of commercial operation, that a furnace with a capacity of 240,000 to 300,000 pounds would be easily handled and yield a cheaper product, due to increased output. The Present Piant. The plant consists of an 80 net ton open hearth furnace of the Wellman tilting type, modified in some important respects by Mr. Talbot to meet his special requirements. It has a hearth 30 x 10 feet, the gas being admitted through a central flue, flanked on each side by an air port, the combustion taking place in the furnace proper. The flue cages are mounted on wheels, from which they are lifted by hydraulic cylinders to bring them into position to register with the furnace ports. When the furnace is to be tilted, the gas is cut off, the cage is let down upon the wheels and with- drawn from the furnace, on its track. The furnace is so arranged that it can be tilted either way. On the charging side there are three doors, one of which is fitted with a spout or runner from which slag may be discharged. The other doors are fixed so as to be able to receive a runner as a means for dis- charging liquid metal into the furnace. On the tapping side, the tap is arranged so that the metal is taken at a level 3 to 4 inches below the cinder. Originally the melting plant consisted of one 120-inch cupola, which discharges into a 15-ton ladle carried by an overhead electric traveling crane. A second cupola is being put in, so that the melting capacity is increased to 40 tons per hour. Room is provided for a third. With only one cupola it has been impossible to carry on the continuous process steadily with liquid metal, be- cause it was necessary to drop the bottom of the cupola on Saturday night. Sunday and a part of Monday were consumed in repairs and relining, so that molten metal has not thus far been available for the open hearth furnace until Tuesday morning. During that interval it has been necessary to charge the furnace with cold stock. With the second cupola, now building, in com- mission, the operation can be carried through continu- ously week in, week out. The furnace is charged on Sunday and not completely emptied until the following Saturday evening. The Process, Briefly, the process consists in adding to an initial bath of steel, charges of molten pig iron, or partly puri- fied iron, and charges of mill cinder or iron to enrich the slag as oxidized, and withdrawing an aliquot part of the steel and of slag whose oxidizing capacity has been exhausted. The process depends upon the desiliconizing, decar- bonizing and dephosphorizing action of a highly basic, ferruginous slag upon molten impure metal. This re- action takes place during the passage of the molten metal through the liquid enriched basic slag, and also through the contact of the impure metal with the super- natent slag, this being promoted through the fact that the incoming impure metal, being lighter, floats upon the finished, purified metal, which constitutes the great mass of the bath. The Operation, The first step is the preparation of an initial bath, the procedure being the same as that carried on in the ordinary practice. Usually this bath is equal to about 60 to 75 per cent. of the capacity of the furnace. A slag covering is created by the additions of mill cinder, iron ore and limestone. A dam of basic material is built across the slag runner, thé furnace is slightly tilted so as to be higher at the charging side, the iron runner is placed into position at the second charging door, by the charging machine, and then liquid metal is poured into the furnace, the gas having been cut off. In a brief time a very active reaction takes place, the boil being very marked. It is accompanied with the dis- charge of a very large volume of carbonic oxide gas, which bursts from the doors and escapes through the flues into the checker work, which incidentally it helps to heat. After the boiling has subsided some of the slag, whose capacity to oxidize the metalloids of the bath has become exhausted, is discharged from the furnace by tilting ‘it, the slag flowing into a car beneath the spout. Then begins the work of again enriching the slag 6 THE IRON AGE. * and bringing it back to the requisite basic condition, which is accomplished by the additions of iron ore, mill cinder, limestone, and sometimes manganese ore, to take care of sulphur. Thus charges of molten impure metal alternate with periods of enriching the slag and tapping exhausted cinder until the capacity of the furnace has been reached Then a part of the steel is tapped, the quantity de- pending upon the usual charges handled in the casting pit of the plant. The steel is tapped from a point several Inches below the slag level, so that clean metal alone is poured out by the tilting of the furnace. This does away with all the mess which usually attends, to a greater or lesser degree, the operation of tapping the whole charge from a furnace. It minimizes, too, the danger of reintroducing phosphorus into the steel, from the cinder, during the recarburizing. . The recarburizing is done in the ladle in the usual manner. The steel remaining in the furnace constitutes the initial bath for the next series of operations. It may be useful to follow A Typical Charge through the operation, by way of illustration. The bath consisted of 67,000 pounds of metal, the analysis of which showed the following: Per cent. RESETS RSE eee RR ee ek Se ee RO eS 0.0 SENS 45 cd cecau nee sethasscudiess ssh sb ses babbinysueenvabsverunesen 0.046 INS acs cubes Wiebe Ghbbinducebene os>benendeSaaere subaseee 0.038 CN ci oG a cache neo We calcd nuk. ccasiushaun: Easaee eee aweeeae 0.17 The tapping slag, with which the bath was covered, contained: Per cent. Sh Utne eS ECE necckG Rees sbqueubba guests eases cheaeeehs cnbieienne 10.29 Didnt relcheiehs cu ahekintkclseciakes 4ee% ees 15.39 TE roc cUis sobs acnuwisib eaieaincsssrhbenueuuiesasasees® 8.68 PD RID cos cc nannnnebsvbeutasesseaecssnsua'essseheenwernse’ 7,58 At 9.50 a.m. there was added 3600 pounds of mill scale and 300 pounds of ore, which enriched the slag to 23.14 per cent. of iron, the silica being down to 9.70 per cent. and the phosphoric acid to 6.30 per cent. ‘At 9.55 a.m. there was charged 15,700 pounds of liquid cupola metal, the analysis of which was: Carbon, 3.5620; sulphur, 0.04120; phosphorus, 0.796 per cent.; manganese, 1.34 per cent., and silicon, 0.52 per cent. This made the calculated carbon contents of the mixture in the bath 0.61 per cent. and the phosphorus contents 0.182 per cent. The reaction took place between 9.55 a.m. and 10.05 a.m. At the latter time an analysis of the metal showed: ‘. AT CREE DE RC La Ne ee ER a fice eee ear ae iat 048° EASE SRO Sg RR te Ble ebites 4 Reread 0 048 EE NOE PLEATS GR: 0.077 OEE ES ARE . 0.17 As the result of the reaction the iron contents of the slag were brought down to 15.77 per cent., the silicon rising to 12.96 per cent., and the phosphoric acid to 9.44 per cent. Then a part of the slag was tapped, and at 10.30 a.m 2700 pounds of cinder and 1300 pounds of limestone were added, which made the slag show 14 per cent. of iron, 15.25 per cent. of silica, and 10.01 per cent. of phosphoric acid. An addition followed of 14,000 pounds of cupola metal, carrying 3.60 per cent. of carbon, 0.036 per cent. of sulphur, 0.772 per cent. of phosphorus, 1.36 per cent. of manganese, and 0.55 per cent. of silicon, resulting in a calculated contents of the mixture of 0.75 per cent. of carbon and 0.158 per cent. of phosphorus. The bath, now having a weight of 96,700 pounds, at this time contained metal with: P. b Ssh el wekbubearh ribebunnsieet> bacnsenbuibeiesbuusnbeceksevenke 2 Om. TE can chanmikcnane . 0.0047 SI vse cna cere lcr nce Gc cax, abet bout anecceekkenbebecr ol 0.102 a aR le a a 0.18 The slag carried 18.91 per cent. of iron, 14.85 per cent. of silica, and 9.42 per cent. of phosphoric acid. After 10.35 a.m. there was an addition of 600 pounds of manganese ore, 2500 pounds of cinder, and 2600 pounds of limestone, the boiling down continuing until February 8, 1900 1.25 p.m. At that time the analysis of the metal of the bath was: Per cent. SR scndapabehib Gu shnsdevnd shapes Mannessesinesseecesnereboceaues 0.08 DT tidscnss snkeghoausirassbacssannensehe’. oon babes son ccccccee 0.05 PRT ccc kcnciabackesee iskesbthes -<eeubvis ests oueesieskssned 0.017 Manganese...........c00% enh ao: 2 iesuea teh SPaeeheen ssueaeeanes hee 0.18 The iron in the slag was down to 18.54 per cent. Then followed an addition of 4500 pounds of metal, and at 1.40 p.m. the analysis of the metal was: Per cent. DI cn van a cosewennnneaeksacungieccees¥tass*cuebenh seneuas©ee 0.10 ES Sea sbibbunhy6benbudseobawd inde pape retnee 0.047 PD nsensévesiecceees Kbeea bans *hednbueudannaee? OeRsenewennne 0.021 Manganese... aS pinne teaheebaenaneen cove ee 0.21 At as 45 p.m. the slag contained 15.52 per cent. of iron, 12.97 per cent. of silica, 6.58 per cent. of phos- phorie acid, and 10.82 per cent. of manganese oxide. ‘The final heat of the steel tapped at 1.45 p.m. con- tained by ladle test: Per cent. RR ee) ete eee See ee oe mas paaenuanens 0.14 URE. 00s cnccccencets+scegsence0ssecocsonscessesecees eaeeekaanens -086 PONE . onc scccccaczcnccosndcscescceosesecesctsecesencnes eeee 0,028 I i cactus hice Rachie shah eSGund odepaete corasneesiauthyrse 0.54 The quantity of steel tapped was 41,680 pounds. An excellent example of The Rapid Oxidizing Effect is furnished by a charge, in which the additions con- sisted of molten metal relatively high in silicon. The initial bath contained 0.06 carbon, 0.046 sulphur, 0.021 phosphorus, 0.09 managanese, and 0.009 silicon, the slag containing 25.14 per cent. of iron, 9.50 per cent. of silica, and 6.85 per cent. of phosphoric acid. A charge was poured in of 15,100 pounds of iron with 1.22 per cent. of silicon, 0.066 per cent. of sulphur, 0.668 per cent. of phosphorus, and 0.36 per cent. of manganese. The analysis of a sample of the bath taken ten minutes later showed: Silicon, 0.014 per cent.; carbon, 0.33 per cent.; sulphur, 0.054 per cent.; phosphorus, 0.047 per cent., and manganese, 0.13 per cent. Forty-five minutes later analysis of the metal showed: Carbon, 0.08 per cent.; sulphur, 0.058 per cent.; phos- phorus, 0.023 per cent.; manganese, 0.09 per cent., and Silicon, 0.014 per cent. Five minutes later an addition was made of 16,900 pounds of molten metal, whose silicon contents were 1.34 per cent., with sulphur, 0.58 per cent.; phosphorus, 0.68 per cent., and manganese, 0.36 per cent. A sample of the bath taken ten minutes later showed that the silicon contents had declined to 0.02 per cent., the carbon being 0.39 per cent.; the sulphur, 0.056 per cent.; the phosphorus, 0.061 per cent., and the manganese, 0.09 per cent. Another heat may be cited as illustrating The Quickness of the Reaction when small additions are made, so that moderate quan- tities of stee] may be drawn at frequent intervals. The bath of heat No. 10,305, containing 104,000 pounds of metal, was hot enough to tap at 9.45 a.m. At that time the bath analyzed: Per cent. CID one padhnskG ask onheuhasancndseShe. sas penepaNsbentehenente 0.06 ID snccutssbaces 5058 cbksghenssud Geeneebnss onsen sesetdseeces khan 0.012 Bupha. ... cccccccccccccccccccscccce. 00000ee seccccesseccvcceces cece 0.051 Phosphorus........ . :S/ RbEbbeeeeaucehy eee eheneens <abesneehaginahs 0.022 PRL. cc ccevccchbbbsshbabeebecuubes>saneukessncuesePtcyvecanes© 0.06 The slag at this time ontined 22.42 per cent. of metallic iron, 8.80 per cent. of silica, and 10.17 per cent. of phosphoric acid. At 9.54 a.m. there had been added 9300 pounds, or somewhat less than 10 per cent., of cupola metal, whicl analyzed 3.80 carbon, 0.47 silicon, 0.065 sulphur, 0.992 phosphorus, and 0.86 manganese. By calculation the mixture should contain 0.37 carbon and 0.102 phos- phorus. After adding 800 pounds of cinder to the charge the bath was hot enough to tap, at 9.57 a.m. At that time the metal in the bath analyzed as follows: bo Per ois n eee e eee eee tees CURR ee eee eee ee eee ea . econ ERAb sob —eabo Shubsbwakeeys eae nenceSndssdnnagn sbbuaaseeea1>e8 ay ~~4 Pp UP. covcccccccccce Seeeeee eet HTP H Ht were eaters See eeeeeeeeeeeeeee NS SEE LCL LAER IEE APE RATER boscn- Sonaendeedes 8 ooe Rs -ccctecasbsesensnkt phisuskoanssrseuwe imneae maul oesnne ae February 8, 1900 At this time the slag was down to 12.48 per cent. of iron, with 11.41 per cent. of silica and 13.08 per cent. of phosphoric acid. At 10.20 a.m. the heat was stopped, the steel in the ladle containing as follows: Per cent. Ce tsncernninenes COO POSS Se cere ess esseses FHF SESH SSHOOS OHSS SHEE ca ulp UP . ccccccccccetesseccccsseess TTT TICE eee . Phosphorus....... Laker Gandesedduiecccneeacdt eases! exqgetancorsyouseee ey MANGAN, 200 .ccce ccccceescccccccsccccescscseeces sees wniasian wkibade . Uniformity of Temperature, The principal consideration, that of attaining speed in the reactions, and thus increasing output per unit of plant and reducing cost, lies in the maintenance of the adequate temperatures. The open hearth furnace is not an economical or efficient apparatus for heating stock, and Its life is adversely affected by sudden or large fluctuations of beat. In the ordinary practice a plotting of the temperature variations would lead to a diagram resembling a series of saw teeth in form. Any method which tones down the fluctuations must neces- sarily have a favorable influence. The existence of a large body of metal in the bath and the introduction of the fresh charges in the liquid form are conducive to that end and tend to accelerate the operations. In the ordinary practice a long time is consumed in heating the scrap, its oxidation many times proceeding further than the subsequent reactions call for. The Wear of the Furnace. At the outstart the fear was entertained that the wear on the furnace might prove a serious obstacle and that notably in the region of the slag zone the corrosion might be frequent, extensive and troublesome. The tapping of a part of the bath and the subsequent addi- tions of hot metal cause a fluctuation in the level of the bath of about 4 inches, and this is what may be termed the critical zone. Experience during the last five months has shown that these fears are unfounded. The practice is to repair the lining, at the time im- mediately following the tapping of a charge of steel, by throwing in a mixture of crude dolomite and 5 per cent. of rosin. The presence of the bath of metal pre- vents the waste of material which takes place in patch- ing the emptied ordinary open hearth furnace by the rolling down of the material from the sides. Where repairs are most needed is at the jambs of the doors on the charging side. It may be hardly necessary to state that Mr. Talbot’s plans look to Charging Liquid Metal from the Blast Furnace. At Pencoyd, where pig iron is net manufactured, the iron must be remelted in the cupolas. The practice at Pencoyd, of course, establishes the principle of the great advantages of the continuous method, with liquid metal, whether it be taken direct, or remelted. While under Some circumstances it may prove feasible to carry the metal to a mixer and draw from the latter, as require- ments may dictate, it is probable that in the majority of cases it will prove more satisfactory to discharge the molten pig metal into a storage furnace, in which the metal is not alone mixed thoroughly but is also partially purified, thus relieving the steel furnace to some ex- tent. Mr. Talbot has been recently granted patents covering this combination of a reservoir furnace with the continuous open hearth process. Results Obtained. The continuous process has now been in steady opera- tion, furnishing its part of the steel supply to the Pen- coyd mill, since September last. During that time the furnace has put through about 7000 tons of steel. There have been made weekly from 26 heats as an average to 28 heats as a maximum. We have already explained that the necessity for weekly repairs to the cupolas has caused a return to cold stock in the early days of the week, It is believed that when molten metal is avail- able all the time the number of heats will be carried THE IRON AGE. 7 up to 32 to 34 heats weekly of 20 tons each. This com- pares with an average of 12 to 13 heats per week in the usual practice, in which each charge is finished and poured, starting with cold stock in tilting open hearth furnaces of 50 tons capacity. In the case of open hearth furnaces into which purified metal is poured from stor- age furnaces charged with direct pig from the blast furnace, mixed with 50 per cent. of previously heated scrap, the number of heats runs up to 16 to 17 per week. By doubling the size of the steel bath and working the same percentage of liquid metal, the present output will be doubled in the same time. It is this fact which opens up such great possibilities for this process, when compared with the intermittent method now in general use, One advantage of some moment in the case of the continuous process is that the slag poured off is lower in iron than that of furnaces operated in this manner. In the latter it carries from 15 to 16 per cent. of iron, in the former about 12 per cent. In spite of its great size, the furnace worked by the Talbot process does not suffer from the drawbacks which attend the operation of large units in ordinary practice, while it retains the advantages due to a lower- ing of labor cost. In the ordinary open hearth practice the whole con- tents of the furnace are emptied into the ladle, which must be increased in size as the capacity of the furnace - grows. Handling such masses of steel is no child’s play, and increases the dangers incident particularly to the weakest point of the casting apparatus—the nozzle. The Talbot continuous process can adapt its tapping charges to the equipment of the steel plant, keeping them within safer and handier limits. And, what is more, the flow of steel from the melting furnaces can adjust itself to the convenience of the mill much better. There is not that sudden rush of steel to the stripper, with the long waits during which the molds suffer and the metal be- comes unnecessarily cold. The steel reaches the pit heating furnaces in better condition and with greater regularity. Particularly when there intervenes between the blast furnace and the open hearth furnace a reservoir fur- nace, in which partial purification takes place, it is pos- sible to use iron with a very wide range of composition, thus making it possible to use off grade, and therefore cheaper, irons, although the same wide variation in the pig metal can be successfully handled by using a larger steel bath to dissolve it in, so that the chief utility of a reservoir furnace would be for storage. The point has been raised that the Talbot continuous process causes a departure from what many consider the chief function of the basic open hearth furnace as @ scavenger of scrap material. In many Jocalities the raison @étre of the open hearth furnace is its capacity to utilize and convert into merchantable product cheap local old metal. Mr. Talbot holds that the open hearth furnace is a very expensive apparatus to perform the function of melting scrap and that in the blast furnace the operation can be carried through very much more cheaply. —_—_—_— A Charcoal Furnace Record.— The Pioneer Fur- nace of the Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company, located at Gladstone, Mich., under the management of Austin Yarrell, was blown in October 2, 1899, after general re- pairs made necessary by a continuous blast of 40 months. The output for the month of November, 1899, averaged 122.4 tons daily; the average fuel consumption was 1660 pounds per ton of iron (2265 pounds), and the ore mix- ture through the furnace yielded 55 per cent. of iron. During the month there was produced 1438 tons of Scotch, No. 1 seft and No. 1 special—a trifle over 39 per cent. of the total output of pig iron. The remaining com- prised the ordinary grades of charcoal iron, ranging from No. 2 to No. 6. The furnace is 60 x 12 feet, and equipped with two 16 x 70 Cowper-Roberts fire brick stoves. The output of wood alcohol and gray acetate of lime from the chemical plant, running in connection with the furnace and also under the management of Mr. Farrell, was the largest in the history of the works. The Schumacher & Boye Electrically Driven Engine Lathe. An electrically driven 28-inch engine lathe is being built by Schumacher & Boye of Cincinnati, Ohio. The motor is of the Bullock type, making from 40 to 250 revo- lutions per minute. It is mounted directly on the spin- dle, which constitutes the armature shaft. No change whatever was made in the driving gear, the motor mere- ly occupying the place of the step cone, as shown in the detail views, Fig. 2. On the spindle, which is hollow, is placed a spindle upon which the armature is built up. The four poles, made of laminated plates, are cast direct upon the steel yoke of the motor. By means of a new system of variable speed control the motor is given a greater range of speed, without loss of torque, than is —<——— " 126 T. 6 P. 8 THE IRON AGE. February 8, 1900 Canadian News. Another Power Concession at Niagara Falls. Toronto, February 3, 1900.—At last the Ontario Power Company of Niagara Falls have succeeded in get- ting power rights on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. This company were incorporated by the Dominion Par- liament in 1887 as the Canadian Power Company, by which name they were known until last year, when their name was changed to their present form in order to make the distinction between their style and that of the Ca- nadian Niagara Power Company more marked. For vears the latter enjoyed rights that were in the way of the Ontario Power Company’s schemes, and efforts were made both at Toronto and Ottawa to secure legislation to enable the latter to go on with their plans. Upward of _+-6-94 FINISHED BOLTS WITH LOCK NUTS ‘\ \ \ YOKE TURNED AND HEADSTOCK “ / BORED 24%" DIA. | Mili) | Yj a} aE ~588 - a —-———- ee‘ | te +3 s = S Yy Yy Fig 2.—Details of Head Stock with Motor on Spindle. THE SCHUMACHER ordinarily accomplished by the step pulley, there being 16 speeds in each direction, including the back gear. The controller is placed on the side of the lathe directly under the head stock, and is operated by a splined shaft extending along the bed. This shaft is actuated by a handle carried by the apron on the carriage. By re- ferning to the half-tone engraving it will be seen that this handle is at the lower right hand corner of the apron. Since this engraving was made an improvement has been introduced which adds much to the convenient operation of the tool. The handle controlling the splined shaft has been placed at the upper right hand corner of the apron, and is always within easy reach of the operator. When the handle is in the central or neu- tral position the lathe is at rest. Moving it toward the left starts the lathe at its minimum speed, which in- creases the further the handle is moved until the maxi- mum is reached.’ Moving the handle from its neutral position toward the right drives the spindle backward, the speed increasing with the movement, as in the for- ward drive. All movements of the lathe are by this means placed under quick and perfect control by a han- «ile located in the best possible position. & BOYE ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN ENGINE LATHE a year ago, however, the Canadian Niagara Power Com- pany’s obstruction ceased, as, just as their franchise was about to expire unimproved, they consented to a new ar- rangement which ended their monopoly, and which still left them a very large concession. That, however, was not sufficient to enable the Ontario Power Company of Niagara Falls to go on. They had yet to get the neces- sary rights to develop through Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park. These have been the object of oft renewed negotiations. It seemed that the company had to satisfy the Park Commissioners that they had the requisite capital to complete the developments planned. Evi- dently they have been able to do this. General Geo. S. Field of Buffalo lately came forward as the representa- tive of a group of English and American capitalists to assure the Commissioners on that point. At all events an understanding has been arrived at here, and an agree- ment containing: the terms and: specifications has: been outlined and will shortly be signed. Its ratification by the Ontario Government is a matter of form, as the Park Commissioners’ recommendations are sure to be in line with public policy. What the terms are has not been announced, but it is safe to assume that they do not dif- February: 8. 1900 fer much, if at all, from those contained in the agree- ment with the Canadian Niagara Power Company. That corporation pays a fixed rental of $15,000 per annum, for which it is allowed to develop 10,000 horse-power. If it develops more the scale is as follows: $1 per annum per horse-power for the second 10,000 horse-power, 75 cents for the third and 50 cents for all in excess of the third. It is stated that the Field syndicate is negotiating with several large manufacturing concerns to take sites on land acquired by the company and to enter into con- tracts for power. The water is to be brought from Wel- land River, at a point a short distance from its mouth. This stream flows into the Niagara above the falls, but its waters are forced back up its channel by the greater volume and swifter current of the Niagara. That is, the Niagara would be tapped by a canal leading from the Welland at a point near the junction of the streams. By such a canal the company propose to develop the power. There will be two heads—one at the bluff overlooking the 1 rT) || Fig. 1.—Sectional Elevation, Showing Sealing of a Pipe at the End. . Fig 3. THE IRON AGE. 9 Refining Company, now well advanced toward comple- tion. Trade Items, John Bertram & Sons, Dundas, Ontario, have com- pleted a pulp machine for the new pulp mill at Hawkes- bury, Ontario. It weighs 120 tons. E. A. C. Pew, a Toronto promoter, with T. E. Hinck- ley, New York, BE. M. Bletz and J. H. Hardbeck, Pitts- burgh, waited on Premier Laurier on January 31, concern- ing the duty and bounties on iron and steel, representing that if their wishes were met they would erect a large iron furnace at Welland, to be supplied with ore from the West Hull mines. . The Globe File Company of Port Hope have bought out the file manufacturing department of the Ottawa Saw Company, and will move the machinery and stock to port Hope. The headquarters of the Mattawan Iron Company, Fig. 4. Fig. 5. Fig.6.—Hlbow Joint. Split Packing Ring. ee on S= Wi. WZ dead WW SSSI as) CL_—P ete CDDWMIGQI AN ey Za Fig. 7.—Pipes Coupled End to End. Fig 8.—Tapping One Pipe Into Another Fig. 9.—Section of Fig. 8. Without Disturbing the Latter, THE LINICH & KARLSON PIPE JOINT AND CONNECTION. Park. where 30,000 to 60,000 horse-power can be gener- ated; the other at the brink of the river bank, where 125,- 000 horse-power more can be developed. Nickel Company Increase Their Capital, The Nickel-Copper Company of Hamilton, recently in- corporated, have given notice of application to the On- tario Legislature for power to increase their capital from the present limit of $1,600,000 to $10,000,000. They also ask power to amalgamate with, or acquire shares in, other companies having similiar objects. Further, they ask to be empowered to construct railway switches, sid- ings and lines for connecting their works with a railway. As stated in a former letter some of the persons in this company are among the provisional directors of the Nickel-Steel Conipany:of Canada, and itis reported -that the new powers sought are with a view to the amalgama- tion of the two. The one having a Dominion charter and the other having a Provincial, the two combined would be able to exercise quite large powers. It is also under- stood that it is the purpose of the Nickel-Copper Com- pany of Hamilton to adsorb the works of the Hoeffner who are to erect smelters at Fort William, will be re- moved from Kingston to Torcento. ©. As Ce ae ii —_ The Linich & Karlson Pipe Joint and Connection. The accompanying drawings represent a novel pipe joint and connection, which by virtue of its simplicity of construction and easy application appeals to users in cases where a pipe joint is required to withstand heavy pressures, and which can easily be tightened or taken apart without cutting the piping or disturbing the adjacent connections. In applying this joint, a groove is cut in the ends of the pipes to be coupled, a pair of split. rings are put into the grooves, packing rings are placed next to the inner faces of’ the split rings, and flanges with bolts tighten the joint in place. No litharge or solder is required; no pipe tongs or wrenches are used, and the arduous labor of pipe fitting is dispensed with. Referring to the drawings, Fig 1 shows the sealing of the end of a pipe or cylinders, as would be used for any type of pressure tank. Fig. 6 represents an elbow; a tee would, of course, have another branch. Fig. 7 is a straightway coupling. Figs 8 and 9 respectively show a method of tapping a pipe main without disturbing it. Figs. 2 to 5 show details. This pipe joint is being intro- oo by De Bonneville & Johnston, 11 Broadway, New ork. a ete The Payne Ship Subsidy Bill. WaAsHINGTON, D. C., February 6, 1900.—The House Committee on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries has concluded an extended series of hearings on the so- ealled Payne Ship Subsidy bill and has taken the meas- ure up for consideration with a view to a favorable re- port. Chairman Grosvenor of the committee expects that a bill can be agreed upon within the next fortnight, but it is possible that the report may be delayed a few days in order to enable a canvass to be made of the House to determine the strength of the measure in its completed form. The interests of the American shipbuilders, ship own- ers and indirectly of American manufacturers: of iron and steel have been represented in the committee hear- ings by Lewis Nixon and Thomas Clyde, and Theodore C. Search, president of the National Association of Man- ufacturers. Mr. Nixon, speaking of the advantages that would be derived from the bill by the American ship- builder, said: Lewis Nixon’s Testimony. “‘I speak more from the point of the shipbuilder than the ship owner, although, of course, they go together, and unless the shipbuilder can get an increasing demand the shipbuilding industry must perish. However, the real development we are looking for from the shipbuild- ing point is the development of the American tramp, and that goes right with the views of this bill. The Ameri- can tramp carries the cargo. I am convinced, however, that we cannot get the American tramp without the forerunners in the shape of large passenger and freight ships. We have to establish the lines and have them able to compete with existing lines, which lines are sub- sidized or encouraged by other governments. Take the question in Germany. It was the wonderful force of character and industry of the German Emperor that has built the German lines to-day, and to-day in the har- bor of New York the fastest and finest ships in the world are those built in Germany by German workmen entirely. “They are encouraging their shipping interests there, andevery discrimination is made in favor of German built ships, because you can almost take it as an axiom that shipbuilding and ship owning will go together, and any policy which destroys the shipbuilding to build up the ship owning will destroy the commerce and business of the country. “From the point of view of the shipbuilder, however, 1 believe that 30 years will put us in the lead both in building and owning; but to-day you must understand we have a tariff that makes our steel cost far more than the steel costs in England, and we have an absolutely prohibitive tariff on labor. No matter how much a ship- yard, for instance, may need labor, under the contract labor law we cannot bring in any from abroad, and, as far as that is concerned, I do not want to. Those condi- tions exist. In England steel can be bought for some- thing like $35 a ton, and here it may be that we have to pay $60 a ton, and in the matter of labor they only pay 70 per cent. of what we have to pay. “There is nothing that seems to be so pertinent to the matter as the question raised here as to the cost of war vessels. Sixteen years ago we started to build a new navy, regardles of the cost, and you won't build up a merchant marine unless you do the same thing. Both political parti