854 Transactions of the American Institute. 



at the bottom of the vessel is another aperture, which, during the 

 reducing process, should be plugged with fire-clay, for drawing off the 

 metal after reduction has taken place. It should be borne in mind 

 that the hot-air blast enters the reducing vessel just beneath the aper- 

 ture through which the stream of molten metal enters. A projection 

 or ledge is formed in the inner side of the vessel, from the edge of 

 which the molten metal is allowed to flow downward in a thin, uni- 

 form stream. Beneath the ledge or projection the blast is applied, at 

 an obtuse angle, upward against the thin flowing stream of molten 

 metal. The result is that the stream of molten is dashed to atoms by 

 the impinging blast. The blast is so directed from below, upward, 

 that the flying particles of molten metal strike the side of the con- 

 verting vessel about four feet above the spot where the metal enters. 

 By this means every particle of molten metal is brought into contact 

 with the free oxygen contained in the blast. 



By this arrangement of working on a thin stream of molten metal 

 only, a small amount of force per square inch in the reducing blast is 

 required. By this means of working on a uniform stream of molten 

 metal by a uniform blast, a homogeneous product is produced. So, 

 with a given stream of molten metal, by increasing or diminishing 

 the force and volume of the blast, a greater or less per cent of carbon 

 may be eliminated from the same. If desirable, a number of these 

 converting vessels may -be arranged one below another; the metal 

 passing from one to another in the process of reduction. In this 

 method malleable iron or steel may be very cheaply manufactured 

 from cast-iron. By this method an intermediate metal may be pro- 

 duced at a very slight cost, that will become invaluable in the arts. 

 By removing about one-half of the carbon from ordinary cast-iron a 

 product having nearly the malleability of ordinary malleable iron, 

 yet retaining the rigidity of cast-iron, .is the result. Tests have 

 determined that it possesses nearly double the tensile strength of ordi- 

 nary cast-iron without its liability to fracture. This metal, heated to 

 a dull cherry red, will draw considerably under the hammer. Its 

 susceptibility to take a " chill," as compared with ordinary cast-iron, 

 is increased rather than diminished. A chilled surface of this metal, 

 if the metal contains at the same time a proper proportion of tilta- 

 nium and clorine acid, nearly or quite equals the ordinary black dia- 

 mond as a material for cutting purposes. 



By the use of this metal, gearing of all kinds and a great variety 

 of machinery could be lessened in weight, while its strength and dura- 

 bility would be increased. 



