Improved Machinery for the Manufacture of Explosive Cartridges.
Year: 1889

page_text: Late of Application, 3rd Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 19th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 30th Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by LA COMPAGNIE FORCITE, of No. 6, Rue Blanche,
Paris, in the Republic of France, Manufacturers of Explosives.
Improved Machinery for the Manufacture of Explosive Cartridges.
I, HENRY HARINGTON LEIGH, Fel. Inst. P.A., Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., practising as
Phillips & Leigh, of No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C., in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows :-
--
This invention relates to machinery for the manufacture of explosive cartridges,
and consists in a novel combination of screws by which the cartridge-material is
driven through the machine and delivered therefrom in a condition of even consistency
throughout itself; so that all the cartridges made by the machine which is the subject
of the present invention, shall be of the same strength, whereas cartridges made in
the ordinary way vary in strength, and the cause of this variance is the want of
consistency in the cartridge-material during its passage through the machine; for it
is clear that the material nearest the piston must be denser than that farthest from it.
A further feature of the invention is the use of more than one delivery screw, with
the result that the delivery of cartridge-material ready for being cut off into cartridges,
is multiplied accordingly.
In carrying the invention into effect, there is provided a cylinder, the piston of
which is held loosely upon its rod, so that while the latter is capable of both linear
and rotary motion, the piston has only the former motion.
The piston rod is screwed, and works through a bar mounted across the top of the
cylinder. This bar is pivotted to the cylinder-side so as to be capable of motion in
either a vertical, oblique, or horizontal plane; and suitable provision is made for its
being held in a horizontal position when the operation of giving shape to the cartridge-
material is being conducted. The piston rod is continued through the piston, and
this continuation carries an archimedian screw pitched so as to distribute the power of
the descending piston evenly through the cartridge-mass between the piston and the
screws underneath. The latter are mounted in a suitable case between which and
the piston-cylinder there is direct communication. The piston and last mentioned
screws work in planes preferably at right angles with each other.
The archimedian screw may also be fixed on a shaft running through the centre of
the piston shaft and actuated by a separate handle instead of being fixed to the
screwed shaft which drives the piston.
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
5 Improved Machinery for the Manufacture of Explosive Cartridges.
I, HENRY HARINGTON LEIGH, Fel. Inst. P.A., Assoc., M. Inst. C.E. practising as
Phillips & Leigh, of No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C., in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to machinery for the manufacture of explosive cartridges,
and consists in a novel combination of screws by which the cartridge-material is

page_text: driven through the machine and delivered therefrom in a condition of even con-
sistency throughout itself; so that all the cartridges made by the machine which
is the subject of the present invention shall be of the same strength, whereas
cartridges made in the ordinary way, vary in strength; and the cause of this
variation is the want of consistency in the cartridge-material during its passage
through the machine; for it is clear that the material nearest the piston must be
denser than that farthest from it. A further feature of the invention is the use of
more than one delivery screw, with the result that the delivery of cartridge-material
ready for being cut off into cartridges, is multiplied accordingly.
In order that this invention, and the means by which the same is to be carried
into practical effect, may be thoroughly understood, I will now proceed to describe
them in detail, referring in so doing to the accompanying drawing which is to be
taken as part of this specification, and read therewith.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation.
Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation.
Fig. 3 is a plan.
A is the cylinder, of circular or other convenient shape in plan, and of suitable
material; and B, its wood piston adapted to compress the cartridge-material or
explosive in bulk. The motion of this piston is effected by means of the screw (
to which the piston is connected so as to be unaffected by its rotation. The shaft
of the screw is continued through the piston, and has there a pug-mill screw D fixed
upon it so as to turn with it. "This screw which is the main characteristic of my
invention is provided for the purpose of pushing the cartridge-material downwards
as the piston moves downwards, aud to thereby prevent unequal compression. E is
a lever and through its centre the screw works. This lever is pivotted upon a
bracket F springing from the side of the cylinder. G is a second bracket on the
opposite side of the cylinder, and carries a fork adapted to receive the free end of
the lever E, which can then be fastened there by a pin H being passed through the
prongs of the fork.
The lever E is also pivotted upon the bracket so that it can be moved about the
pivot f.
is a cranked handle, or lever, fast upon the head of the screw C, and is provided
for the purpose of working the latter. I is a rectangular chamber upon which the
cylinder A stands, and with which it is in direct communication. Two Archimedian
screws J, J, are mounted within the chamber, and occupy its full length. They are
rotated through any suitable agency adapted to give them a delivery-motion
proportioned to the rate at which the piston B comes down. The object of these
screws is to receive the cartridge material and to carry it forward towards the mouth
pieces I, which latter are of a proper shape and size for shaping the cartridges. The
bottom of the chamber I is shaped according to the contour of the two screws, as
illustrated in Fig. 2, so that no portion of the cartridge-material shall escape the
action of the screws.
A machine constructed according to my invention works as follows:-
The piston being at the top of its travel, the lever is released from the fork, raised
and the piston with it, and turned to one side. This done, the cylinder A is filled
with cartridge-material, the lever replaced, fastened down, and the screw C turned.
As the latter descends, the piston pushes the material before it, the said material being
also kept in downward motion by the screw D. From the cylinder A it is delivered
to the screws J, J, which deliver it forwards and through the mouth pieces L L,
which it leaves in the form of round bars ready for being cut up into cartridges.
Reference to the drawings shews that the apparatus is duplex, and consequently
furnishes two rods simultaneously, although one man only can work the apparatus
easily. This increase in output is due principally to the diminution of resistance
on the part of the cartridge-material effected by the continuous action of the
screw D.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
In apparatus adapted for the manufacture of explosive cartridges, a screw under
the feeding piston and two Archimedian screws adapted to deliver two rods of
cartridge material simultaneously.
Dated this 10th day of October 1080
HENRY H. LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.