Process and Apparatus for the Manufacture of Explosives in the Form of Wires or Rods and for Forming the same into Cartridges.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 18th Apr., 1890-Accepted. 14th June. 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Process and Apparatus for the Manufacture of Explosives in the Form
of Wires or Rods and for Forming the same into Cartridges.
We, FREDERICK AUGUSTUS ABEL, of No. 1 Adam Street, Adelphi, in the County of
Middlesex, Knight, JAMES DEWAR of No. 1 Scroop Terrace, Cambridge, in the
County of Cambridge, Professor of Chemistry, and WILLIAM ANDERSON, of No. 3
Whitehall Place, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
:--
Our invention relates to a process and apparatus for the manufacture of explosives
in the form of wires or rods, which are produced by mixing together certain ingre
dients so as to form a plastic explosive compound, such as blasting gelatine and similar
compounds, and then converting such compound into a wire- or rod-like condition, as
described in the Specification to Abel & Dewar's application for Letters Patent
No. 5614 of 2nd April 1889.
According to our invention we produce the explosive in the requisite plastic form by
first kneading the ingredients together in a kneading machine and then discharging
them without exposure to the air into a pug mill or machine for charging the cylinders
of the wire- or rod-making machine; in this machine the plastic compound is forced
by pressure through a die so as to form a continuous wire or rod which is either at
once cut up to the desired lengths, or it is wound up on reels, and is then subjected to
heat for drying and hardening the same. Lastly, when it is desired to employ these
wires or rods as charges for cartridges, a number of such wires or rods are drawn from
their reels and collected to form a bundle or more or less twisted strand of suitable
size, which is inserted into a cartridge case and then cut off to the requisite length.
The construction and arrangement of apparatus which we employ for carrying out
the above described process, is as follows:-
The kneading machine may be of any kind in which the ingredients are thoroughly
mixed and incorporated, but, by preference, we use a form of apparatus much em-
ployed in preparing dough for bread making. The hopper or box in which the
kneading takes place must however be fitted with a sliding cover and should be
arranged so as to turn over and discharge its contents into a hopper of similar size
connected with a pug mill, and also provided with a sliding cover. The pug mill is
attached to the kneading machine and the sliding covers are so arranged that they
may be withdrawn simultaneously as soon as the two hoppers are in close contact.
The pug mill is of the ordinary form and consists of a cylinder attached to the hopper
above mentioned. In this cylinder is fitted an axle placed concentrically, and on the
axle are mounted a number of screw blades by the revolutions of which the ingredients
are intimately mixed, consolidated, and forced forward along the cylinder and away
from the hopper. The axle is caused to revolve either by hand or by power, directly,
or through the instrumentality of gearing. The end of the cylinder is closed with the
exception of one or more openings of much smaller diameter through which the ingre-
dients are forced either in the form of wires or rods or of sausages of considerable
diameter and may be forced direct into the cylinders of the wire or rod making
machine to be hereafter described.
The kneading machine may also be driven by hand or by power and the pug mill
may be so connected with it by suitable gearing that it may be worked together or
separately by the same driving band or motor.
As soon as the ingredients are sufficiently incorporated the kneader is turned over
upon the pug mill, the slides of both are withdrawn and the kneading motion con-
tinued till all the contents of the kneader have fallen into the hopper of the pug mill ;
the slides are then pushed in, the kneader is turned back into its original position and
fresh charge is commmenced..

page_text: The wire or rod making machine consists of a strong cylinder in which works a
close fitting ram. The cylinder is held in. a frame, and has one end closed with
the exception of a comparatively small hole made in a die which may be movable;
the size of the hole may be regulated to produce any required diameter of wire
or rod.
The ram which works in the cylinder is hollow and is tapped to receive a screw
which is set in motion by a train of wheel work so arranged that the advance of the
ram into the cylinder, when great power is required, is slow, while it can be with-
drawn quickly, the change of motion being operated by means of clutches and levers
or other convenient means. When the wires or rods are comparatively of large
diameter but little pressure is needed, and the screw and driving gear afford all the
power required, but if the wires are small, much more pressure is needed and in that
case we add a hydraulic cylinder, by means of which the ram is impelled, but we
retain the gearing above described for the purpose of regulating the rate at which the
wire is produced, because we find that such regulation is important in order to pro-
duce uniformity and smoothness in the wires.
The gearing may be driven by any motor which will run at a regular spoed or it
may be driven by a band from a shaft running at a tolerably constant rate.
The
ingredients forming the explosive are placed in the cylinder either by hand or by
means of the pug mill already described; the cylinder is laid in its place and the ram
is advanced by the means above described, when the pressure forces out the explosive
in the form of a wire or rod. This may then either be at once cut into the desired
lengths or it is led on to a reel which is set in motion by a shaft connected with the
gearing which regulates the rate of movement of the ram and consequently the rate of
production of the wire or rod, which is coiled upon the reel layer on layer, but as this
process continually enlarges the diameter of the reel it is necessary to vary its speed
of revolution and this is done by driving it, not directly, but by the agency of a band
travelling on counter-cones, the band being automatically shifted each time, a layer of
filament has been added. In order to reel the wire in a regular manner, it is passed
over a notch in a guiding bar which-is caused to traverse parallel to the axis of the
reel slowly backwards and forwards, being constrained to do so by a cam groove cut
on the surface of a short cylinder which is revolved at a proportionate speed with the
gear regulating the rate of production of the wire: This druin has also cams or wipers
on it, which actuate a ratchet motion by means of which the band on the counter cones
is shifted as each layer of wire is wound. Arrangements are made to return the band
quickly to its original position when a fresh reel is put 'on. The reeling tackle may
bave to be at some distance from the cylinder which produces the wire in order to give
a little time for it to dry and harden, or a trough may be interposed in order to
immerse the wire for the same purpose and to save some of the solvent. We do not
confine ourselves to this mode of driving. It may be practicable in some cases to let
the reels rest on a roller running at a uniform speed so that the reels are driven by
surface friction.
The reels are made as open as possible so as to permit the material to dry, and to
further this object they are, as soon as a sufficient amount has been wound on, inserted
into a drying apparatus which consists of a cylinder or pipe, of rather larger diameter
than the reels, surrounded by a hot water or steain jacket and fitted with ends or
doors which can be readily closed or opened. One end of the cylinder is connected
with an exhausting fan which may deliver the air and vapour sucked out into a
condenser in which the vapour may be condensed and recovered.. Air, either previously
warmed or in its natural state; is admitted into the other end of the cylinder so that the
reels placed in it are exposed to a continuous and rapid current of air, and are thus
thoroughly dried. As soon as the first reel put in is sufficiently dried it is taken out
by opening the door at the farther end of the cylinder and when a new reel is ready
it is introduced at the opposite end; and all the reels in the cylinder 'are pushed
forward one reel length. In this way the drying goes on regularly and continuously.
The reels, when quite dry, are placed in a frame to the number required for filling a
cartridge. The wires, say 60 in number are collected passed through eyes and
✔

page_text: gradually concentrated into the gathering tube of the cartridge-filling machine, or it
may be desirable to give the wires a slight twist; for this purpose a number of reels,
say 10, are placed in a revolving frame, the 10 wires are twisted into a strand and
wound on to a larger reel, six or more of which are then disposed in the frame which
supplies the cartridge filling machine.
The cartridge filling machine consists of a short metal gathering tube, a little larger
than the cartridge case, secured to a suitable frame. In this frame is a slide to which
is secured a spring lever-clip under which the bundle of wires is drawn and which can
be slid to and from the gathering tube to a distance corresponding to the length of
the wires suitable for the cartridges, or to some fraction thereof, the length of stroke
being adjustable by moveable stops. In line with the gathering tube and just beyond
the clip-lever is a second short or guide tube tapered so as to have a mouth slightly
smaller than the cartridge case. This is also secured to the frame and immediately
beyond it is a socket, also fixed to the frame, into which the empty cartridge cases are
slipped and brought with their open ends almost into contact with the end of the
guide tube. The bundle of wires is grasped by the lever clip, drawn through the
gathering tube and pushed through the guide tube into the cartridge case, a knife or
fine saw is then passed across between the guide tube and the case and the bundle of
wires severed; the cartridge is thus filled and ready to receive the bullet. The stroke
of the clip lever ensures a constant length, and therefore weight, being pushed forward
each time. These operations may be rendered automatic by suitable means.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1889.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Process and Apparatus for the Manufacture of Explosives in the Form
of Wires or Rods and for Forming the same into Cartridges.
We, FREDERICK AUGUSTUS ABEL, of No. 1 Adam Street, Adelphi, in the County
of Middlesex, Knight, JAMES DEWAR of No. 1 Scroop Terrace, Cambridge in the
County of Cambridge, Professor of Chemistry, and WILLIAM ANDERSON, of No. 3
Whitehall Place in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, 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 :-
Our invention relates to a process and apparatus for the manufacture of explosives
in the form of wires or rods which are produced by mixing together certain
ingredients so as to form a plastic explosive compound such as blasting gelatine and
similar compounds, and then converting the compound into a wire or rod like
condition. The ingredients of the explosive are in the first place thoroughly mixed,
for which purpose an ordinary kneading machine such as that used for dough, may
be employed; and the mixture is by means of pugging apparatus, forced out by
helical blades through a die in the form of a column which can be cut into suitable
lengths as in a brick making machine these lengths being afterwards operated on by a
machine, presently to be described, converting the material into flexible wires or rods
which are wound on suitable reels.
From the reels a number of the wires or rods are unwound and dried by passing
them through a steam jacketted tube or otherwise, and are then by means of a
suitable machine, hereinafter described, formed into bundles and introduced into
cartridge cases, to constitute their explosive charges. The accompanying drawings
represent machines such as we employ for treating the explosive after it is extruded
from the pugging apparatus, that is to say for converting the extruded blocks
into wires or rods, for winding these on reels, and for charging cartridge cases with
them.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a front view partly in section and Fig. is a side view partly in section
of one form of apparatus, in this case arranged vertically for forming the wires
or rods.
Fig. 3 is a side view and Fig. 4 is a plan partly in section of a modified form of
the apparatus, in this case arranged horizontally for forming and reeling the wires
or rods.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 6 a transverse section of the machine for
charging cartridge cases with bundles of the wires or rods.
Fig. 7 is a plan of the same, and Figure 8 is a plan as seen from below.
Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive shew details hereinafter referred to.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the framing of the machine consists of an upper
crosshead A and a lower crosshead A' connected by two tie bars A2 on which is fitted
to slide up or down (as far as permitted by sleeves A³ above and by collars A below)
a frame attached to the piston B₁ of a hydraulic cylinder B which forms part of
the upper crosshead A.
In this hydraulic cylinder, liquid, which may be water or oil,
under pressure, is always acting on the annular area under the piston B' tending to
raise it and the frame B.
The liquid under pressure can also, by means of a valve worked by hand, bo
admitted to act on the upper side of the piston B¹, but the pressure is limited by a
safety valve V the load on which can be adjusted. In the lower crosshead A' is fixed
a pressure cylinder C which is open at the top, but has a bottom C' fitted with a
die having a hole through it of the diameter required for the wire or rod that is
to be produced. The bottom and die are preferably made removeable as shewn in
part section by Fig. 10 and plan by Fig. 11 so that dies of various sizes may be used.
It is also preferred to fix in the cylinder a little above the bottom a porous sifting
fabric C³ held between two perforated and open frames such as are shewn in plan by
Figs. 12 and 13, this fabric preventing passage of any lumps such as might choke
the die. In the moveable crosshead B there is a thrust bearing B³ within which can
revolve a nut fitting a screw D. The nut has fixed on it a toothed wheel B* which
gears through an intermediate wheel B5 with a pinion B that can slide along but
must turn with a spindle 137 which can be driven in either direction by straight and
cross belts from any suitable motor. The screw terminates below in a socket to
which is attached the rod of a piston D', both the socket and piston rod being
secured to the frame B by a key so that they cannot revolve. From the crosshead B
projects a roller Bs which as the frame ascends and descends acts on a double tappet
lever B working a striking rod B so as to shift the straight and cross belts which
work the spindle B7 and thereby reverse its direction of rotation. D is a cylindrical
holder for the explosive which holder, being filled from the pugging machine, is
brought to the wire forming machine, and, when the piston D is in its highest
position is placed centrally over the cylinder C. The operation of the machine is as
follows. First by operating the valve the pressure above the piston B¹ is relieved;
and then by the pressure on its annular area below, this piston is caused to ascend
raising the crosshead B the screw D and piston D'. A vessel D² charged with the
explosive material being then placed over the cylinder C and under the piston D',
by shifting the valve b, the pressure is caused to act on the upper side of the
piston B thereby causing the frame B to descend and the piston D¹ to push
the explosive material from D' into the cylinder C. The pinion B being
now caused to revolve turns the nut on the screw D thereby forcing the
piston D' down the cylinder C and causing the explosive material to issue
through the die (in the form of a wire or rod. During this part of the
operation the frame B is held down by the pressure on the piston B, and
should the piston D' encounter any excessive resistance to its descent, the piston B
will ascend against the pressure of the liquid above it, discharging liquid through the
safety valve V. In the modified machine placed horizontally as shown by Figs. 3
and the parts corresponding with those in Figs. 1 and 2 are marked by simila
letters and the action is substantially the same. In this case, however, the spindle B

page_text: revolving always in the same direction is connected by clutches to either of two-
trains of gearing Bº B B or working the nut on the screw D in the one direction
or the other. The spindle B is continued onwards of smaller diameter 3 to work the
gear for reeling the rod or wire of explosive as it issues in a pliable condition. By
bevil gear E the spindle 8 drives one E of two oppositely tapered drums E3 and.E
connected by a belt E' capable of being shifted along them to vary the speed of the..
reel E which is on the spindle of E'; the spindle of E also by bevil gear e¹ and worm
gear gives slow revolution to a drum E having a helical groove engaging a roller at
the end of a sliding bar E. The belt E passes through a fork & attached to a chain
passing over a pulley to a weight e urging it in the one direction but which by
means of suitable pawls worked from the drum E and acting on a rack attached to
the fork e is moved step by step in the opposite direction. On the sliding bar E..
is fixed a guide eye for the thread of explosive issuing from C, leading it to and fro
on to the reel E so that it is wound thereon in uniform layers as determined by the
movement of the bar E resulting from the action of the helical groove in the
drum E. As layer after layer is wound on the reel, the fork e' is moved step by
step guiding the belt E to a larger part of the taper dram E! and to a smaller part.
of Ethereby lessening the angular speed of rotation of the reel as the circumference.
of the material wound on it becomes increased. The material may be dried as it.
is being reeled by casing over the reel E and sending a current of warm air
through the casing.
In the machine for charging cartridge cases with bundles of the explosive wires or
rods, as shewn in Figures to 8 inclusive, there is a funnel mouth F through which
a number of the wires or rods of explosive are led from the drying apparatus, being
gathered into a cylindrical column in line with a cartridge case F' placed in a saddle
against a stop against which the base of the cartridge abuts. F2 F3 are two loaded
clamping levers, F' being mounted on a stationary part of the framing and F³ on a.
longitudinal slide F. Both these levers are made with semicircular recesses in
flanges on their undersides which interspace with correspondingly recessed flanges.
below, so that when either lever is lowered it clamps the bundle of wires in the recesses.
Below the table of the machine there is a system of levers F' one of them
connected to a stem under the clamping lever F2 another on the opposite side.
connected to a yoke F having its horizontal part under the clamping lever F³.
These levers are worked by a rod G which extends down to a treadle below, this
treadle being counterweighted so as to raise the rod G when it is not depressed by the.
foot of the operator. In the rod G there is a slot engaging one arm G of a bell
crank lever the other arm G of which is linked to the slide F. Near the mouth.
of the cartridge case F is fixed a saddle H on which is pivotted a crank handle H¹
carrying a knife H2 which is preferably circular as shown. The machine operates.
in the following manner. The bundle of wires being led through the funnel F under
the clamping levers F2 and F3 and through the saddle H, the treadle is depressed
allowing the lever F to descend and clamp the bundle, and raising the yoke Fe
whereby the lever is raised, and then the arm G being depressed by the farther
descent of the rod G, the slide F is moved to the left. The treadle being now
released, its counterweight causes the rod G to ascend lifting the clamping lever F*
and allowing the clamping lever F to descend and clamp the bundle.
The rod then by its farther ascent raises the arm G₁ so as to move the arm G
and the slide F to the right, and the clamp on F1 pushes forward the bundle.
into the cartridge case F¹. When the bundle is quite home in the cartridge case, for
which in some cases several advancing movements are required, the knife H' is
brought down and cuts through the bundle. The charged cartridge case can then be
removed and the operation can be repeated for charging a fresh case.
Although we have described the explosive as being forced from the die in the form
of a wire or rod, obviously the dies employed may be shaped so as to give the material
extruded various forms in section such as that of ribbons or tapes.
Also by
providing the dies with suitable mandrils, the materia! might be extruded in tubular
form, as in the manufacture of metal pipes.

page_text: . Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is―
1. The herein described process for treatment of plastic explosive material by
forcing it under regulated pressure through a die so as to give it the form of wires
or rods, reeling the material thus formed, unwinding the wires tubes or rods from a
number of the reels, passing them through a drying tube or chamber, forming them
into a bundle, introducing the bundle into a cartridge case so as to chargo it, and
cutting the bundle forming charge from the continuous lengths behind.
2. The apparatus for forcing the explosive material through a die substantially as
described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
3. The modified apparatus substantially as described with reference to Figs.
3 and 4.
4. The reeling apparatus substantially as described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4.
5. The cartridge charging apparatus substantially as described with reference to
Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8.
Dated 15 f A1 1000
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.