The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-15
CITY INTELLIG ENCE.
GUNPOWDER.

A New Mechanical MOtOr-An Important In
ventiOn-The GunpOwder Hammer and Pile
The application Of gunpowder as a mechanical
motor has been problem with engineers for many
years past, and the problem appears now to have
been solved, at least so far as the OF this mate
rial as substitute for steam and other sources OF
power in forging and pie-driving.
Some weeks ago we published description
Of some interesting experiments at the Franklin
vented vented by Mr. Thcmas shaw, which proved, as
concusively as was possible with a small model the
practcablity and great value of the invention.
Yesterday afternoon these experiments were re-
sumed on larger scale at the ship yard OF John w.
gneors and Others Interested in mechanical science
assembled to witness the performances of pre-
driving machine constructed on the same principle
as the gunpowder forge-hammer.
The experiments were conducted under the super
vision Of COMMITTEES composed Of Cnief Engineer
good, Esq, Inspector OF Boilers and H. L. Hofr,
Esq, OF Hon, Fontaine Abbott Eagle Iron Works,
who have kept an accurate record OF all the data
necessary to demonstrate the actual performances
OF the machine. 1t was the unanimous opinion not
only Of the committee, but OF all who were present,
that the invention was one of great Importance and
that it must ultimately lead to further Investigations
in the direction, whichwtll have Revolutionary
effect on the whole system at present In vogue Tor
the forging of metals. The gunpowder hammer
pushes well strikes and this quality OF its per-
formance suggests important consideration in the
manipulation of metals that engineers VIII be quick
Another important element in this gunpowder
machine is its cheapness and the economy with
which it can be operated. Krupp, the celebrated
Prussian gun founder, has row in course of con-
struction the largest steam hammer ever made To
obtain proper foundation for 1t he was obliged to
dig one hundred feet into the earth, and when COM
pleted the machine will cost over 100000 in gold
The inventor of the gunpowder hammer claims that
he can construct machine for $4,000 in currency
that Will do equally heavy work. at an almost
nominal cost after 1t is once erected. Indeed
the economy OF operating the machine is an impor
tant consideration; the powder used is cheap
compound of chloride OF potash and bltumlnous
coal and in operating plle,driyer such as was used
for fhp aN Nnprn
mated that the saving in the wear and tear of the
ropes of the oldfashioned pile-driver alone, will
more than cover the cost of the powder, doing away
| altogether with the steam engine, employing but
| two men, or man and Il boy, to operate II, and
| doing eight times the work with given ratio OF
The gunpowder forge hammer has for founda-
ton anvil block secured to two guide pillars be-
tween which the hammer is guided. There is also
secondary anvil which is suspended Immediately
over the anvil block, the weight of this secondary
anvil being supported two air chambers. The
bottom of this secondary anvil is provided with the
usual forging dies, varying with the Kind OF work to
lhe top Of this secondary anvil terminates in
cylinder OF diameter corresponding in size with the
plungeT Of the lower end of the hammer or ram.
The metal to be forged is squeezed and pounded
between these two anyis, and as there Is conslde-
rabe weight in the secondary anvil 1t is necessary
that it should be supported Off from the work when
not in operation. For this purpose the air chambers
| are provided. These consist OF two plain brass
cylinders firmly secured to the guide pillars, open at
the top for the reception Of the piston rods and ps-
tons fitting the bore of the cylinder making tight
| Joint, by what is known as hydraulic packing. The
| upper ends of these piston rods are secured to
cr6sshead from the secondary anvil If these pstons
are lifted entirely out of the cylinders, and then
| allowed to descend in them again, they would COM
press the air in the cylinders until II was sulcienty
contracted to cause pressure equal to the weight 1t
| has to support.
In case the bulk of air is too great thus supporting
| the anvil or too high above the work, safety-valve
| is provided, the spring Of which Is controlled by
| thumb-screw, which can be so regulated that the
secondary anvil can be supported at any desired dis
| tance above the work.
pipe connects the two air chambers, causing the
pressure to be the in each AS air escapes from
the safetyvave, however, there would be danger OF
having it all lost there provision for It's re-
newa, but this: provision is made in the following
at every stroke of the hammer, in the cylinder OF the
secondary anvil; here is an lneXhausti3e supply OF
air and gas, under pressure and all that is neces
sary is to tap this cylinder by pipe connected with
the piston rod, which is made hollow for the passage
check-valve for the retention of the gas.
BY means Of this supply and safety valve, the
secondary anvil can be raised and lowered at will
The hammer is caught and held between the guides
by long friction rod, secured by pivoted arms to one
of the guides in such manner that when the friG-
| ton rod is pulled down the distance between the
| guides is diminished, causing pinching upon and
friction to the hammer sufficient to arrest and hold
down stroke, for the up stroke pushes the friction
rod in a direction TO diminish the friction, allowing
the hammer to ascend freely, but holding it against
any attempt to descend, and thus playing very i'm
portant part in the operation OF the engine
In addition to this automatic action OF the friction
rod it is completely under the control of the opera
tor by means Of lever connected with the same
|
distance of the hammer, or can be made to catch
the hammer at every stroke.
The platform is placed some IS or 20 feet above
the ground and on 1t there is SUFFICIENT room for the
engineer and fireman to operate. The platform
placed at this distance permits the smiths to have
full room to operate without interfering with the
engineer
A piston rod and piston are held suspended from
a cross-beam at the extreme top OF the guide pill
lars and the top of the hammer Is bored for the
| reception of the piston. The object OF this is to
form air cushion to arrest the hammer and
throw 1t violently down again when doing heavy
work.
The hammer is worked in this wise "A small car
uldge OF powder Is thrown into the cylinder OF the
secondary anvil, and then the hammer is released
ana aowed TO fa forcing its punger into the cylin-
der, exploding the powder, which drives the ham
mer up again, and at the same time forces the
secondary anvil violently down upon the object TO be
forced, thus producing pressure Of 10000 pounds
for every square inch Of area of the hunger. and
this pressure is continued for prolonged period as
compared with ordinary pounding and affords the
kind OF pressure that is necessary for the production
OF homogeneous fOrgngs. The inertia OF the second
ary anvil is overcome before the explosion of the
poWdeT, by reason OF the pressure Of the confined
air forcing the anvil down upon the mass the sneed
thus obtained considerably augmenting the force OF
| the blow.
Ii is estimated that hammer falling twenty feet
weighing 5000 pounds provided with plunger six
| teen inches diameter entering chamber fort,
, inches deep, ignting one-fourth pound charge 0
l poWder, viii cause blow TO be struck equal TO
dead pressure of 35OOO 900 pounds, sufficient In fact
I | fora Our