Bessemer Process.&gt

—A method of producing mild steel directly from cast iron. The proce is carried on in a converter, an egg-shaped retort, swinging upon trunnions, through which a powerful current of air is blown. The converter is charged with molten iron from the blast furnace while in a horizontal position, and is swung into the vertical as the blast is applied. The silicon floats as slag on the surface and is removed separately; the oxygen of the air burns away other impurities and combines with the carbon. The spectroscope is used to watch the mouth of the converter, to notify when the carbon disappears from the spectrum of the flame; when freed from carbon. the converter is swung through a small are and a measured quantity of ferro manganese or spiegeleisen added to insure the right percentage of carbon, the blast being once more applied to effect thorough inc or oration. Subsequently the converter is lowered orizontally, and emptied into ladles, whence its contents are cast as ingots.