IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GUNPOWDER, AND IN APPARATUS OR MACHINERY THEREFOR
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GUNPOWDER, AND IN APPARATUS
OR MACHINERY THEREFOR." A communication from abroad by the Rottweil-
Hamburg Powder Manufacturing Company, of Rottweil and Hamburg,
Germany
Sealed the 30th March 1880, and dated the 6th December 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th December 1879.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
GUNPOWDER, AND IN APPARATUS OR MACHINERY THEREFOR." [A communication
from abroad by the Rottweil-Hamburg Powder Manufacturing Company, of
Rottweil and Hamburg, Germany.]
This Invention relates to the manufacture of gunpowder in blocks or pieces of a
prismatic or polygonal form, that is to say, with six or any other number of sides,
which blocks or pieces are perforated with any convenient or desired number of
holes.
The main object of this improved manufacture is to furnish for heavy ordnance
powder in a form and condition which will ensure the best explosive effect, while
at the same time it will be safe and convenient in transport or handling, and well
adapted for charging heavy guns.
In carrying the said Invention into practice the grain powder from the granu-
lating machine is taken while wet and placed in a press provided with moulds or
dies, wherein the prisms are formed under great pressure, and at the same time
have the holes or perforations formed through them.
The said press is constructed with a table or bed containing any convenient
number of prismatic or polygonal moulds or dies. Above and below the said table
I arrange guideways for sliding stamps or plungers, which fit the said moulds and
move to and fro therein. In combination with the said sliding plungers I arrange
small rods which extend through the dies and plungers, and are secured to the
press frame. The said stamps or plungers are operated by suitable gearing or

page_text: mechanism to move to and fro in the said guide ways, and thereby exert great
pressure upon the powder in the moulds, and a prism of compressed powder is thus
produced in each mould at each revolution or stroke of the said machine. The said
small rods which extend through the moulds and plungers at the same time form
the perforations through the prisms.
It is obvious that the aforesaid table of the press may contain any desired or
convenient number of moulds or dies, and that the number of the small rods for the
moulds may be varied according to the number of perforations required in the
prisms. Each prism may be perforated with one hole or any desired number of
holes.
The prisms or polygons of powder after removal from the moulds are placed upon
plates or trays and taken to the drying house. After being properly dried the
prisms are ready for storage in the magazine.
The powder prepared in moulds under great pressure as above described will
have, irrespective of its form, great advantages over ordinary powder, as the pressure
so changes its condition as to render its explosion in the gun more effective, with
less strain to the gun than ordinary powder.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Harris Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
June 1880.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GUN-
POWDER, AND IN APPARATUS OR MACHINERY THEREFOR." A communication from
abroad by the Rottweil-Hamburg Powder Manufacturing Company, of Rottweil
and Hamburg, Germany.
This Invention relates to the manufacture of gunpowder in perforated blocks or
pieces of a prismatic or polygonal form. These blocks, pieces, or prisms may be of
any required diameter and height, and perforated with any convenient or desired
number of holes.
The main object of this improved manufacture is to furnish for heavy ordnance
powder in a forin and condition which will ensure the best explosive effect, while
at the same time it will be safe and convenient in transport or handling, and well
adapted for compactly charging or loading heavy guns.
It is obvious that a hexagonal form is the most advantageous for the purpose of
this Invention, but other polygonal forms may be used if desired.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I take wet or moist powder, say, in
the state in which it comes from a granulating machine, or sufficiently damp to
enable the grains to cohere, and place it in a press of a new construction provided
with moulds or dies, wherein the prisms are formed under great pressure, the holes
or perforations through them being produced at the same time.
The press or machine constructed according to the said Invention with the object
of being employed in the manufacture of prismatic powder consists mainly of the
following parts, vis. A table or bed containing prismatic or polygonal moulds or
dies, wherein the prisms are formed, sliding stamps or plungers which fit the said
moulds, and move to and fro therein opposite or in line with each other for com-
pressing the powder, and small stationary perforating rods which extend through
the dies and plungers.
The essential features or parts which in combination form my improved press are
embodied in the machinery shewn in the accompanying Drawings, which I will
now proceed to describe, and which shew the modifications thereof found most
advantageous in practice, although, as is obvious to mechanicians, many of the
parts may be varied without substantially altering the character of the machines.
In these Drawings,―
Figure 1 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, of the said machine; and
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line y, y, Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a plan or top view, partly in section, of a machine of slightly modified

page_text: The
main parts, viz., the upper part a, the middle part b, and the lower part c.
parts a and c are provided with guides for the upper cross-head d and the lower
cross-head e, which move up and down in these guides. The upper stamps or
plungers are secured by screws or otherwise to the upper cross-head d, and the
lower stamps or plungers g are secured to the lower cross-head e, as clearly shewn
in Figures 3 and 4. These stamps or plungers are preferably made of hard bronze
or steel. The said upper and lower stamps fand gare perforated longitudinally
with holes corresponding in number with the holes to be formod through the prisms
or prismatic blocks of powder and with the perforating rods hereinafter described.
The middle part or table b contains the moulds t, in which the powder is placed to
be compressed into prisms, the said moulds also being formed of hard bronze or
steel.
Below the cross-head e is arranged a fixed cross piece s secured to the part c of
the machine. This fixed cross piece carries perforating steel rods or pins h. These
rods are of slightly conical shape at their ends, and correspond in number and
diameter with the longitudinal perforations of the stamps and the holes to be formed
in the prisms. The pins are of such a length that they extend through the lower
stamps nearly to the top of the middle part or table b. The said pins hare rigidly
secured to the fixed cross-piece s, and remain stationary during the working of the
machine; the lower stamps g move up and down on the said pins without leaving
the moulds t, and these lower stamps g form the base of the said moulds t.
The main shaft is mounted in suitable bearings in the lower part c of the machine,
and this shaft on both sides of the press is provided with excentrics p, which through
the medium of the rods o cause the up and down movement of the lower cross-bar
e, and consequently the lower stamps g. The said shaft is also provided at its ends
with wheels in which are fixed crank-pins r, and these pins through the medium
of the connecting rods n effect the up and down movements of the upper cross-head
d and stamps f. The driving shaft i, which is mounted in suitable bearings on the
base of the machine, carries two wheels i¹ which gear with the wheels j¹ on the
main shaft j. The position of the excentrics and crank pins r is such that as soon
as the upper stamps f have reached their lowest position the lower stamps g have
already recommenced their upward movement.
The throw of the cranks r is greater than that of the excentrics p, consequently
the upper cross-head has a longer travel than the lower cross-head. The upper
cross-head d, after its pressure is exerted on the powder between the two stamps,
therefore rises more quickly than the lower cross-head e. By the upward motion
of the lower cross-head e, and consequently of the lower stamps g, the prisms formed
in the moulds or dies are pushed up out of the latter into a position to be removed
by the means bereinafter described.
The two cross heads d and e may be adjusted vertically by suitable devices for
varying the length of the connecting rods, or otherwise increasing or diminishing
the distance between the cross-heads and the shaft j, and by this adjustment the
height of the prisms can be accurately regulated.
The machine is provided with a hopper m and filling table for filling the moulds
with powder. The said table slides forward and backward on the top of the middle
part 6, and is provided with inserted powder-measures. The hopper m is stationary,
and at its base is the filling table l, which is operated through the medium of the
rod by the excentric q on the shaft j. The powder-measures in this table corre-
spond with the moulds t in the table b of the machine. The powder falls into the
measures at the moment when the filling table 7, in its backward movement, places
the measures under the hopper m.
At the
In each successive complete operation of the machine the said filling table moves
forward or in the direction of the moulds as soon as the pressure has taken place,
and the lower cross-head e has pushed up the prisms above the moulds t.
moment the prisms are raised from the moulds the filling table pushes the said
prisms forward; the powder-measures in the filling table then stand just above the

page_text: moulds & and discharge into the same the grained powder just previously received
from the box m.
The prisms removed from the moulds pass to a sloping plane, and are taken away
from the same by any convenient means.
Bushes of different diameters may be provided for insertion into the powder-
measures, and by using larger or smaller bushes, which hold more or less powder,
the weight of the prisms may be regulated as desired. The filling table separately,
or the entire press, can be immediately stopped by means of the disengaging
arrangement shewn at u.
Before starting the press the moulds, stamps, and perforating rods or pins should
be well lubricated with very fluid and pure oil; the hopper is then filled with
powder, the filling table is disconnected from its operative mechanism, and the
stamps are allowed to move up and down a few times without doing any work, to
ensure the proper lubrication of the parts. Then the upper stamps and the top
surface of the lower stamps are cleansed and the surplus oil is taken off, and finally
the table is set in motion.
After the press has been started the first two lots of powder pressed are removed,
because they will have absorbed too much oil, but the next lot is weighed and
measured.
At first only the height of the prisms is measured, as this measurement shews
whether the stamps are in the proper positions.
The amount of clearance between the stamps depends on the degree of elasticity
of the powder, the adjustment of the stamps being effected by suitable devices, as
above specified.
As the pressure exerted on the prisms by the upper and lower stamps ƒ and g is
momentary or of very short duration, the prisms after being pressed expand in the
direction of their height while their lateral expansion will be very slight; the
operator who attends to the press has to control the weight of each prism and its
height; the weight is regulated by inserting larger or smaller bushes or rings in
the powder-measures of the filling table 7, and the height by adjusting the cross-
heads vertically, as above specified.
The machine shewn in Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, will be readily understood without
particular description thereof. The parts are substantially the same as those
indicated by the same letters in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, but are slightly modified in
respect of some of the details of construction and arrangement. In both of these
examples of my Invention the pressure is applied to the powder by means of
excentrics, cranks, or cams.
In the second example the crank r for operating the upper cross-head is a part of
the shaft instead of a pin fixed in a wheel. The lower cross-head is operated by
a cam in place of an excentric, the connection between the said excentric and cross-
head being made by a plate o provided with the requisite adjusting devices for the
purpose above specified.
I may apply hydraulic power for the purpose of my Invention; in this case the
operation of the stamps and other parts of the compressing, shaping, and perforating
mechanism is substantially the same as in the presses above described.
The prisms as they come from the press contain a considerable quantity of
moisture; they have therefore to be dried or partially dried, that is to say, they are
allowed to contain such an amount of moisture as they, after having been
completely dried, would absorb from the air, viz., about 0.75 per cent.
For this purpose the prisms after having been brought from the press to the cold
room in the drying house are laid on drying plates and placed on the drying
frame.
The bottoms of the drying plates form narrow wooden ledges, which are separated
from each other by narrow spaces.
After the lapse of about 48 hours the prisms together with the drying plates
are brought into a room heated to about 35 or 40° Réaumur, and laid on drying
frames.

page_text: 24 hours are as a rule found sufficient to reduce the amount of moisture in the
prisms to 0.75 per cent., they are then ready for packing; they will not however
be injured if left longer in the heated room.
The specific gravity of the prisms in a dry state will be between about 1.62
and 1.80.
Prisms of low specific gravity are suitable for guns of small calibre, those of
higher specific gravity for guns of larger calibre.
I am aware that the powder in the form of solid or unperforated blocks has
already been used for heavy ordnance; but such form of powder is too explosive or
quick and causes a very severe strain upon the gun, whereas by forming the
powder into prismatic perforated blocks the same is rendered comparatively slow
burning, and by reason of the regular air spaces formed by the perforations of the
blocks the force which is comparatively moderate at first gradually increases to the
moment when the projectile leaves the gun, so that the latter is not exposed to
excessive strain.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and shewn how the same may be conveniently and
advantageously carried into practice, I wish it to be understood that I claim,
First. The improved manufacture of compressed gunpowder in the form of
perforated prismatic blocks or pieces by machinery constructed and employed
substantially as herein described.
Second. The mechanism or apparatus for the manufacture of the said prismatic
powder, consisting of the moulds or dies in which the grain-powder is received, the
upper and lower perforated stamps or plungers by and between which the powder
is compressed within the said moulds, and the perforating rods or pins constructed,
combined, and operating, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Third. The apparatus consisting of the said moulds, stamps, and perforating rods
combined, substantially as in either of the machines shewn in the accompanying
Drawings with suitable devices for feeding the powder to the moulds in measured
quantities, and removing the compressed blocks therefrom, and with mechanism for
driving or operating the several parts of such apparatus in the manner and for the
purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Harris Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty
HENRY H. LAKE. (L.S.)