IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COM- PRESSING GUNPOWDER FOR BLASTING OR OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR BLASTING
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Horatio Sutherland, of No. 34, Great George Street,
Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, and Edward Sutherland, of
No. 64, Albany. Street, Regent's Park, Executors of Douglas Symonds
Sutherland, of No. 34, Great George Street, aforesaid, Civil Engineer,
Deceased, for, the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COM-
PRESSING GUNPOWDER FOR BLASTING OR OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN CARTRIDGES
FOR BLASTING."
Sealed the 9th May 1865, and dated the 11th November 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Douglas Symonds Suther-
land at. the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 11th November 1864.
I, DOUGLAS SYMONDS SUTHERLAND, of No. 34, Great George Street, West-
minster, Civil Eegineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMPRESSING GUNPOWDER FOR BLASTING OR
OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR BLASTING."
The object of this Invention is, first, the economical application of hydraulic
power to the compression of gunpowder for blasting or other purposes; by

page_text: means of the machinery employed any desired number of charges may be
compressed simultaneously.
The machine consists principally of a series of hydraulic presses, placed by
preference vertically, and the stroke of whose pistons or rams are in that case
below the fixed partition of the presses.
Under the pistons or rams are arranged a corresponding number of fixed
holders or rests, which receive and support cylinders open at top, and closed
below by moveable bottom pieces. These bottom pieces have cores attached
for forming a hole in the compressed charge for the reception of the fuse, or
other suitable means may be adapted for its attachment. The cylinders being
filled with powder are placed on their rests, the bottom pieces reposing on a
slidė. Downward motion is then given to the pistons which enter the cylinders
and compress the powder below them. The slide sustaining the pressure of
the bottom pieces is perforated with holes corresponding to the interior
dimensions of the cylinders, and so arranged, that being drawn, the holes
occupy a position in line with the axos of the cylinders, and the bottom pieces
are then unsupported.
When the powder has been suitably compressed the motion of the ram is
arrested and the slide drawn; the pressure is again applied, and motion given
to the pistons, which drive the compressed charges and bottom pieces out of
the cylinders into chambers prepared for them. The motion of the piston is
then reversed, either by the pressure of water or an annular ring near the
head of each piston, or by balances suitably arranged.
The cylinders are then removed from their rests to be cleaned and oiled;
the slide is re-set, and other cylinders filled with powder are placed in the
rests, and the operation as above described is repeated as often as may be
desired.
The dyes for compressing the powder may be fixed, and the cylinders
containing it pressed upwards against them; or either of the above methods
may be modified by being arranged horizontally, or there may be more than
one die and corresponding cylinder to each ram, that is, each ram may be
made to compress at each stroke one or more charges of powder.
My Invention also relates to the manufacture of blasting cartridges; for
this purpose I enclose in a case of paper or suitable material the charge of
moulded gunpowder, together with a cone of wood or similar substance, the
base of which rests on the charge, and is of such a diameter as just to enter
the blast hole bored in the rock; this cone serves to convey the pressure on
the explosion of the charge uniformly to the sand with which the hole is filled
above the cartridge, and to prevent the gases penetrating between the grains,

page_text: as is described in respect to blasting with powder in grains in theSpecification
of a former Patent granted to me, and dated the 12th September 1863,
No. 2251.
In cases where the blast hole is horizontal, or nearly so, there is difficulty
in filling the sand properly around the top of the cartridge, and in these cases
I employ acartridge which does not require a sand tamping. In place of the
cone above-mentioned, I employ a cylinder cut diagonally from end to end, so
as to divide it into two wedges. I make these wedges up into a cartridge,
together with tho charge by enclosing them together in a paper or other
I also place gravel or similar material between the charge and the
wedges, so that on the explosion this is immediately driven into any crevices
there may be between the wedges and the side of the hole, the crevices are
thus stopped, and the wedges rendered secure. In place of gravel, an ex-
panding wad, it may be of felt or other material may be omployed, which by
fitting tightly against the sides of the hole prevents the flame and gases
passing.
This construction of cartridge is also applicable when using powder in.
grains, and also when using gun cotton.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Horatio Sutherland and Edward Sutherland in the Great
Seal Patent Office ou the 11th May 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HORATIO
SUTHERLAND, of No. 34, Great George Street, Westminster, in the County of
Middlesex, and EDWARD SUTHERLAND, of No. 6-4, Albany Street, Regent's
Park, Executors of Douglas Symonds Sutherland, of No. 31, Great George
Street, aforesaid, Civil Engineer, Deceased, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patont, bearing date the Eleventh day of November, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of Her reign, after reciting
that the said Douglas Symonds Sutherland, did by his Petition humbly
represent to Her said Majesty, that he was in possession of an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMPRESSING GUNPOWDER FOR BLASTING
OR OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN CARTRIDGES FOR BLASTING," which the Petitioner
believed would be of great public utility, that he was the first and true
Inventor thereot, and that the same was not in use by any other person
or persons to the best of his knowledge and belief, and that the Peti-

page_text: tioner therefore most humbly prayed that Her said Majesty would be
graciously pleased to grant unto him, his executors, administrators, and
assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the sole use, benefit, and advantage
of his said Invention within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands,and Isle of Man, for the term of fourteen years pursuant
to the Statute in that case made and provided, and reciting that the said
Douglas Symonds Sutherland, departed this life on the Thirtieth day of
January, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, leaving us, the said
Horatio Sutherland and Edward Sutherland, joint executors of his Will,and
that Her said Majesty being willing to give encouragement to all Arts and
Inventions which might be for the public good, was graciously pleased to
grant to us, the said Horatio Sutherland and Edward Sutherland, as such
executors as aforesaid, Her Royal Letters Patent, and did give and grant
unto us, the said Horatio Sutherland and Edward Sutherland, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, Her especial license that we, the said Horatio
Sutherland and Edward Sutherland,our executors,administrators, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said Horatio Sutherland and Edward Sutherland,
our executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
of years therein oxpressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, the said Invention within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said Horatio Sutherland and Edward Sutherland, or one
of us, should by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or under
the hand and seal of one of us, particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manuer the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Lettors
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Horatio Sutherland, on behalf of myself and the said Edward Sutherland, as
such Executors as aforesaid,do hereby declare thatthe nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed,are particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
The object of this Invention is, first, the economical application of hydraulic
power to the compression of gunpowder for blasting or other purposes, by
means of the machinery employed, any desired number of charges may be
compressed simultaneously.
The machine consists principally of a series of hydraulic presses placed, it

page_text: may be vertically, and the stroke of whose pistons or rams are, in that case,
below the fixed position of the presses.
Under the pistons or rams are arranged a corresponding number of fixed
holders or rests, which receive and support cylinders open at top and closed
below by moveable bottom pieces. These bottom pieces have cores attached
for forming a hole in the compressed charge for the reception of the fuse, or
other suitable moans may be adapted for its attachment. The cylinders being
filled with powder are placed on their rests, the bottom pieces reposing on
slides. Downward motion is then given to the pistons which enter the cylinders
and compress the powder below them. The slides sustaining the pressure of
the bottom pieces are perforated with holes corresponding to the interior
dimensions of the cylinders, and so arranged that being drawn, the holes
occupy a position in line with the axes of the cylinders, and the bottom pieces
are then unsupported.
When the powder has been suitably compressed the motion of the ram is
arrested and the slides drawn, the pressure is again applied, and motion given
to the pistons, which drive the compressed charges and bottom pieces out of
the cylinders into chambers prepared for them. The motion of the piston is
then reversed, either by the pressure of water on an annular ring near the
head of each piston, or by balances suitably arranged.
The cylinders are then removed from their rests to be cleaned and oiled, the
slides are re-set and other cylinders filled with powder are placed on the rests.
and the operation as above described is repeated as often as may be desired.
The dies for compressing the powder may be fixed, and the cylinders con-
taining it pressed upwards against them; or either of the above methods may
be modified by being arranged horizontally, or there may be more than one
die and corresponding cylinder to each ram; that is, each ram may be made
to compress at each stroke one or more charges of powder.
The Invention also relates to the manufacture of blasting cartridges. For
this purpose we enclose in a case of paper or suitable material, the charge of
moulded gunpowder, together with a cone of wood or similar substance,
the base of which rests on the charge, and is of such a diameter as just to
enter the blast hole bored in the rock; this cone serves to convey the pressure
on the explosion of the charge uniformly to the sand with which the hole is
filled above the cartridge, and to prevent the gases penetrating between the
grains, as is described in respect to blasting with powder in grains, in the
Specification of a former Patent granted to the said Douglas Symonds
Sutherland, deceased, and dated the 12th September 1863, (No. 2251.)
In cases where the blast hole is horizontal, or nearly so, there is difficulty

page_text: supported underneath by the casting I; L is the ram head; M, M, two steady
pins screwed into the ram head, and fitting into corresponding holes in the
casting I constantly in the same place; K, k, bolts, they act as steady pins
for the cylinders G; N, the lever, by which the press is worked; O, handle of'
screw valve to relieve the pressure, and let the water back into the reservoir.
Theoperation of compressing the powder is as follows:-The core H is put
into the cylinder G, and the cylinder is filled with powder. The slide J being
shut, the cylinder is put in its place against the steady pins K, k, the hole of
the cylinder being directly under the plunger F. Power being applied to the
lever N, the ram head forces the cylinder containing the powder upwards
against the plunger F, and as the cylinder is pressed upwards, the core H
passes into the hole drilled in the plunger F. When the powder is considered
sufficiently pressed,relieve the pressure by the valve O sufficiently to allow the
slide J to be turned out on its hinge K, leaving the powder in the cylinder
unsupported, when by renewing the pressure the powder is forced out of the
cylinder and falls into the open space I* in the casting I. Unscrew the valve O
and the ram head will sink again to the level of press, when the empty
cylinder G will be taken away, the slide J again shut, and a loaded cylinder
being placed in position against the steady pins K, k, the operation can
be repeated.
We claim as respects this part of the Invention, the cylindrical mould G,
working as described in combination with the moveable bottom piece, and
core H and H*, the slide J, and the hollow I* beneath.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of a cartridge, made according to the
Invention, with a charge of compressed powder. a is the paper case; b, the
charge of compressed powder; c, the cone, by preference of wood, and d,
the fuse; it passes down through a small hole, bored in the centre of the cone,
or it may be ou one side, to the charge of compressed powder below. The
cartridge is placed in the blast hole bored in the rock, and the hole is filled up
with sand over the cartridge.
We claim as respects this part of the Invention, the combining in a case,
so as to make a blasting cartridge, a charge of compressed gunpowder with a
cone of wood or other material, as described.
Figure 3 is a cartridge suitable for blasting a hole, which is horizontal, or
nearly so, and which cannot conveniently be filled with sand; in this case a
split cylinder is employed in place of a cone. a is the case; b, the charge of
powder; c, c, the split cylinder, by preference of wood; d, the fuze; e, gravel
placed between the charge 6 and the split cylinder c. An expanding wad of

page_text: felt may be used in place of the gravel e, the wad should in thickness be at
least equal to the diameter of the cartridge.
We claim as respects this part of the Invention, the combining in a case,
so as to make a blasting cartridge, a charge of powder or other explosive
material with a split cylinder or wedges, and also with gravel, or it may be an
expanding wad, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Horatio Sutherland, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
HORATIO SUTHERLAND. (L.S.)