Patent GB-190810426-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Cartridge Loading Machines.
Inventor: BOULT ALFRED JULIUS
Filed: 1908-05-13
Granted: 1909-05-13
Abstract: 10,426. Boult, A. J., [Donaldson, W. I.]. May 13. Moulding explosives.- Relates to machines for loading paper shells with dynamite. The shells are carried in shuttles 17, Fig. 7, in a drum 15. The shuttles have one side 18 arranged to open out for the insertion and removal of the shells. After the attendant has inserted the shells, the side 18 is closed by hand by means of a handle 190 and locked by means of a cam 19. After loading and folding-over, the rotation of the drum brings the handle 190 against a cam 20 and subsequently brings a projection 182 on the side 18 against another cam 200 whereby the side 18 is unlocked and opened out and the loaded shells discharged into a trough 21. The drum 15 is mounted on slides 160, 161 and is rotated by means of ratchet-gearing 56, Fig. 8, operated by a pneumatic piston 55 and is reciprocated by means of pistons 52 ; a shaft 53 with rack-and-pinion gearing 530 at both ends equalizes the motion of the slides 160, 161 ; the rotation is performed when the drum is lowered, the valve 541 being automatically controlled by means of pins 163 on the slide 161. The drum is stopped at the correct position by means of a latch 66, Fig. 9. When the drum is raised, a pin 660 passes over the bell-crank lever 70 ; when the drum is retracted, the latch is therefore unfastened temporarily until pins 690 on the rotating drum abut against the lever 70 and release the latch which falls and snaps the next projection 68. The folding-over press has hollow plungers 22, Fig. 7, for producing an initial crimping of the edge of the shells, and central plungers 232 for completing the folding over ; the pressure of these plungers is regulated by small piston buffers 220, 64 in permanent connexion with the source of pressure the whole is operated by means of a piston 24 controlled by a valve 60. The valve 60 is connected by links to a piston 76 and to a bellcrank lever 59 pivoted on the frame 100. When the drum rises, a lever 58 thereon engages the lever 59 and opens the valve 60 to the pressure supply 620 whereby the folding-over press is operated. When the folding is complete, an arm 65 pivoted to the press 23 releases the lever 58 from the lever 59 whereupon the piston 76 returns the valve 60 so as to open it to the exhaust 630, when the folding-press is retracted. The dynamite is fed by means of a conveyer 43 and a hopper 42 to a trough 14 where it is agitated by revolving shafts 25 having staggered projections 250. These shafts are geared together by wheels 255, 256, and are driven by means of a chain from a sprocketwheel 50 on the main shaft 11. The conveyer also is driven from the main shaft by means of a belt 45 and a friction clutch 470 operated by a piston 49 under control of a valve 491. The base of the trough 14 has nipples 140 adapted to fit inside the shells when the drum 15 is raised. The dynamite is pressed into the shells by plungers 130 attached by junction pieces 131 to a number of square-shaped rods 13, Fig. 1. The rods 13 are gripped frictionally in a cross-head 12 by means of spring- pressed feathers 120, the pressure of which can be adjusted by screws 122. The cross-head 12 is reciprocated by means of eccentrics 112 on the main shaft 11. As the shells become loaded, the rods 13 slip up in the cross-head 12 until, when the shells are completely charged, the eyes 135 in the rods are caught by spring-pressed pins in a cross-head 26. When all the rods 13 are thus arrested the operation is complete. While the drum is rotated one step, the rods have to be re-set to the original position in readiness for the next operation. This is performed as follows ; a valve 511 controlling the pistons 52, 35 is opened whereupon the drum is operated and a bell-crank lever 34 pushes a spring-controlled lug 320 in the path of a stem 33 on the cross-head 12, a cranked shaft 31 is rocked and in turn rocks levers 30 and removes pins 280, 290 from the cross-beads 26, 27. The cross-head 26 is moved outwards at once by springs 28 and liberates the rods 13. The cross-head 27 is moved inwards by springs 291, as soon as the rods 13 clear it, and obstructs the return of these rods at the next up-stroke so that they are depressed to the initial level. The cross - heads 26, 27 are now returned to their working positions by means of cranks 36, 37 and rods 38, 39 mounted on a bracket 40 on the cross-head 12. Simultaneously with the re-setting of the machine, a piston 75 raises the trough 21 which is hinged at 721 to allow the loaded shells to be removed without the necessity of stooping.