IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES OF COMPRESSED GUNPOWDER AND IN THE MACHINERY FOR COMPRESSING THE BAME, SOME OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO ORDINARY GON- POWDER IN GRAIN AND TO OTHER EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS."
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Simon Davey and James Watson, of Rouen,
Manufacturers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES
OF COMPRESSED GUNPOWDER AND IN THE MACHINERY FOR COMPRESSING THE
BAME, SOME OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO ORDINARY GON-
POWDER IN GRAIN AND TO OTHER EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Simon Davey and
James Watson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 29th July 1874.
WC, SIMON DAVEY and JAMES WATSON, of Rouen, Manufacturers,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS.
IN CARTRIDGES OF COMPRESSED GUNPOWDER AND IN THE MACHINERY-FOR Com..
PRESSING THE SAME, SOME OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO ORDINARY
GUNPOWDER IN GRAIN AND TO OTHER EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS," to be as
follows
--

page_text: For paraffine, according to its greater or less facility in melting, an
average temperature of 85° is required, and wo apply this temperaturo
preferably in a water bath heated either with hot water or steam.'
1: .)
The length of time during which the cartridge is steeped depends
both upon its volume or thickness and, upon tho more or less fluid state
in which the hydrocarbon bath employed may be in order to suitably
proportion the absorption of hydrocarbons according to the quantity of
saltpetre or other abundantly gaseous material enclosed by the cartridge
on which it operates: And as we have already pointed out this propor-
tion for the powders of ordinary mines would be from 8 to 10 per cent.,
but we may vary it according as circumstances or necessities arise.
If the bath employed is very fluid, and if the cartridge is gently
removed therefrom even by employing melted paraffine the surface of the
cartridge will be proper and without any falty coating, and in this
condition the ordinary safety match will serve very well to inflame it in
the tamp hole; but for the better preservation of cartridges from tho
damp, and to render them still more impermeable to water, we prefer
always, whatever may be the composition of the first bath, to dip them
again into a bath composed of melted paraffine, stearine, or wax or
spermaceti also melted, or of other hydrocarbon or mixture of hydro-
carbons possessing similar proportios.
For cartridges destined to be exploded under water we give a greater
thickness to the outer coating produced by this second bath, which we
obtain by removing them very quickly from the bath and redipping
them once or twice if necessary and then removing them. The cartridge
thus prepared can be discharged under water in the usual manner, cither
by means of a fulminating cap at the end of the impermeablo wick, or
by a charge of fine powder in the centre of the cartridge, and at the end
of the wick hermetically protected from the water.
We desire also to provide charges already prepared and even furnished
with their wicks or matches and ready to be employed, enveloped in
linen or paper cases suitably varnished, and for these charges we prepare
cartridges compressed into special forms, that is to say, cylindrical at tho
exterior, but with a central hole below and in the middle, and grooved
at the side in the top part of the charge. This arrangement of cartridges
of different forms in a single-charge permits the application of the safety
match at the side of the tamp-hole, and where-it-does-not-liinder-tho

page_text: filling, and enters at the side of the case and passes through the groove
at the side of the upper cartridge into the hole at the centre of the
middle cartridge where the explosion takes place simultaneously in all
the parts of the charge thus combined. This arrangement of compressed
cartridges of special form in a single casc, ready for use both in an
ordinary mino and under water, is equally applicable to other explosives
as well as powder without the previous absorption of hydrocarbons, and
we claim it as our Invention.
The miners' match can be put into its place at the time of finishing
the cartridge, or else the end of the case can be left open so as to bo
able to introduce the match at the moment when it is about to be
used.
Wo would observe that in the numerous experiments which we have
conducted the absorption of hydrocarbons in suitable proportions had
the effect of augmenting the explosive force of the powder, while giving
to the latter the faculty of resisting a higher temperature without
.exploding. This is more especially the case when employing bydro-
carbons which require a somewhat high temperature to volatilizo into
gascous vapours. Thus, there necessarily results greater safety in the
storing and handling of powders and cartridges thus prepared.
By the absorption of hydrocarbons effected as above described in
'suitable proportions and in baths repeated or combined at need, we aro
able to obtain complete security from the injurious effects of dampness
upon powders with nitrate of soda for their base and other deliquescent
powder, and by this simple process it will henceforth be casy to preserve
in perfect condition these economical powders, so excellent for practical
use, since there will be nothing to fear from damp. The various powders
thus prepared by the suitable absorption of hydrocarbons can also be
used for warlike purposes, for mines or torpedoes, as well as for fire-arms,
the hammers and breeches of which they will deteriorate much less
than the powders now generally in use. The grave defect of dampness
in powder provided in the field will bo henceforth obviated.
Our process can be applied at a slight cost to powders already manu-
factured and stored, and it should be noted that according to the degree
of penetration of the hydrocarbons which are employed for the powders a
a superficial layer or crust will be obtained upon cach grain impermeablo
and slower than the powder at the centre of the grain which has not

page_text: been reached by the hydrocarbon. The thickness of this hydrocarbonated
crust can be augmented or diminished at pleasure, according to the
greater or less length of time during which the powder is left exposed to
the action of the bath or the hydrocarbon vapours, and in consequenco
it will be possible to graduate the powders at will, rendering them as
slow or as rapid as may be desired, according as the volume of tho,
hydrocarbon crust is greater or less in relation to the normal powder at
the centro of the grain.
The simplified and improved machines which we employ for the com..
pression of the cartridges are constructed as follows:-Upon a shaft aro
two excentric cams, one of which is intended to give an ascending
movement to a rod which produces the compression in the moulds which
are successively presented to it. The excentricity of the cam is such,
that the ascending movement of the rod is very rapid at first, but:
becomes gradually slower, until it is very slow at the last part of its!
course, thus proportioning the degree of force exerted by the cam to the
degree of resistance offered by the charge under pressure, which becomes
greater as the compression becomes more complete: Six moulds aro
carried by an hexagonal frame which turns freely around a strong rod.
At the interior of each mould is a lower piston and an upper piston.
For cartridges with a central hole the lower piston is prolonged through
a central hole which passes into a hole pierced in the axis of the upper
piston. The upper piston is held by a plate above. This plate can be
mounted or dismounted at will by means of a screwed rod governed by a
nut above the strong cross piece. This cross piece is held in its turn by
nuts upon rods which traverse the arcs. These arcs are connected by
strong bolts to a socket which is itself solidly bolted to the frame. Tho
shaft being carried upon pedestals cast upon the socket the rods and the
arcs maintain the cross piece always at the same separation from the-
shaft, and the rotating movement of the cam by causing the diminution
of this separation gives the desired compression upon the pistons-held
by the cross piece. By unscrewing a nut and introducing washers
between the plate and the cross pieco the separation can still further be
diminished, and the compression of the charge thus augmented, while at
the same time increasing the length of the pistons and the amount of
charge to compress. Upon the rods are the guides which hold-the rods
in their vertical movements. A cross piece is held at-tho-desired-height
-by-catches which traverse the rods, whilst the guide is maintained-in-the
·

page_text: The rod which can be lengthened or shortened at will serves to
remove the compressed cartridges from their moulds. It receives its
movement from the second cam and impels the piston at the top of the
moulds. The moulds are free in the hexagonal frame, so that under
the impulse of the rod which throws the pistons into the charge to be
compressed the latter by pressing against the front partitions of the
mould lifts the mould itself, which then slides the length of the upper
piston. It results therefore that the chargo can be compressed at tho
top as well as at the bottom (just as if one set of pistons obeyed a
descending movement at the same moment as the other set of pistons
rose), which gives the desired regularity to the compression in the whole
charge. But when under the influence of the second cam the rod
pushes the piston upwards the mould is held by an extractor which is
connected to the cross piece by a nut. The compressed charge is thus
expelled from the mould and is picked up by the workman who has
charge of the machine and who we call the gunner, who puts tho
piston in place ready to receive a fresh charge in the mould. The lower
part of the piston being of a smaller diameter traverses a carefully mado
hole in the disc, which is fixed at the desired height upon the frame.
The pistons only descend to the support presented by their larger
diameter in front, and thus close the bottom of the mould hold into
which a fresh charge is paid out by an india-rubber pipe. The upper
piston is then put in place by the attendant, and the mould thus charged
is ready to pass (by a rotating movement imparted to the frame by the
attendant) between the rod and the plate to receive the compression. The
charge which falls in the india-rubber pipo has been previously measured
in the telescopic measurer, which is moved by a handle to the right or
left. When the measurer is at the end of its course on one side its lower
orifice communicates with a flexible pipe, and at the other end of its course
its upper orifice communicates through the tube with a funnel which
encloses the powder or other material to be compressed, and is held in
place by a curved arm fixed upon a claw cast upon one side of the cross
piece; another little claw upon the same cross piece holds tho rod which
serves as a support for the measuring apparatus. The upper part of the
telescopic measure carries a wing or plate, which serves as an obturator
to the orifice of tho tube, and a spiral spring around the rod which holds
the two parts of the telescope at the desired height for an exact
measuring, whilst the nut allows them to be rescrewed together, if
necessary.

page_text: We frequently couple two machines, which machines will receive tho
rotating movement necessary for their cams from a single intermediate
shaft, which communicates with the shafts by a coupling; the shaft
carries a large fixed pulley, to which a strap serves to transmit the
motive force. In order to equalize the effort required from the motive
force the two presses are coupled in such a manner that when the cams
upon the shaft rise to operate their work the two cams upon the other
shaft are ready to pass below, and the rods fall to the bottom of their
course by their own weight. In the case when the presses are thus
coupled the two cams upon each shaft are habitually upon the same line
of the same side of the shaft, and exert their efforts (of compression upon
one charge and of expulsion upon another charge) at the same time,
which is found sufficiently convenient in practice; but when the work
is not sufficiently considerable to permit the employment or installation
of coupled presses, and when in consequence a machine must always act
singly, then in order to equalize the effort required from the motivo
power the compression cam can be on one side of the shaft, and tho
expulsion cam on the opposite onc. The compression cams dip at each
revolution into oil contained in a cup arranged for the passage in tho
socket.
upon
The shafts are of the best soft iron, the cams are of steel, the com-
pression one is soldered to the same shaft, the expulsion one is keyed
beneath. The lower parts of the vertical rods which bear
the cams
are also of steel, soldered to the ends of rods of forged iron. The rods
working the cross piece and their nuts aro of iron; the cross picce, tho
frame, the disc, the moulds, their pistons, the plate, the curved arms,
and the measuring apparatus are all of bronze; the funnel is of copper;
and the upper parts of the rods working the cross pieces between them
arc provided with sheaths of copper; the bronze of the moulds and of
the pistons is specially made of a very resisting quality.
sockets, the framic, and the cross pieces are of cast iron.
The ares, the
A screen abuts upon the large pulley and all the moving parts of the
two coupled presses. This screen forins a table at the height of the
cross pieces, upon which the cartridges are placed in proportion as
the moulds are withdrawn, and all the visible parts of the mechanism
above this table are as has just been explained of bronze or copper,
except the ends of the rods which rise through the holes across the table.
We can preserve the same arrangements of the parts of the mechanism

page_text: visible above the table in order to replace the rods actuated by the cams
by other rods, put in motion by the hydraulic press, which can be applied
either by an ordinary hydraulic press or by the action of a reservoir of
hydraulic force, transmitted by pipes with little pistons of the desired
diameter in order to provide the compressing force necessary at the same
time as the vertical movement under the pistons. In the latter case the
opening of the valves, necessary to regulate the movements of theso
bydraulic presses, is effected by a mechanical transmission communi-
cating with the motive force.
We can replace the frame of hexagonal form by a frame of straight or 1
curved form, sliding upon rails across the table under the cross piece;
but in ordinary practice we prefer the arrangement formerly described.
We can also suppress upon cach shaft the second cam, whose function
it is to expel the compressed cartridge from the mould by effecting this
service by means of a rod attached to the principal rod which gives 1
the compression to the charge and which receives its movement from the
first cam. We can also in the frame put another number of moulds
than thoso indicated, but we prefer the number six, which on the one
hand leaves the time desired to recharge the moulds after the expulsion
of the cartridge and before becoming again under the action of the rod 2
which compresses the charge, while on the other hand the charge which
has just been compressed remaining in the mould during two consecutivo
movements of the cam becomes consolidated, and does not swell after
its expulsion from the mould as it is liable to do if the expulsion takes
place too quickly after the compression.
We can also dispense with the cast-iron arcs by placing the rods in
front and behind the cam and in the line of its rotating movement, but
then the two rods while directly connected to the socket are also moro
separated one from the other, and the cross piece of bronzo which unites
them and receives all the effort of the cam is required to be of larger 3
dimensions.
We can command the movement of the shaft by means of gearing
wheels, but we prefer to do so by a strong leather strap upon the large
pulley, thus avoiding any risk of accident arising from the powder
getting between the teeth of the gearings.
· We can also drive each press separately without intermediate shafting.
We can employ for the moulds any substance other than hard bronze
3

page_text: as well as for the pistons; or else we can provide the rubbing surfaces
with any substance possessing sufficient resistance to the work, and of
a nature to diminish the heating effect of the friction upon the powder
or other charge to be compressed, but in practice in compressing powder
we do not find any inconvenience from the hard bronze.
We can for measuring the charge replace the movable telescopic
chamber, of which the area can be augmented or reduced at will
either by a movable partition, or by an elastic fitting actuated by a
screw.
We desire to reserve to ourselves the power of modifying the form or
the surface of the pistons or moulds, especially so as to produce
cartridges with vertical grooves on one side and with inclined grooves at
the lower part, in order to be put into the upper part of the case of one
combined cartridge. We can thus construct the machines with the
shaft carrying the cam above the moulding apparatus instead of being
below, as we can construct them with two shafts and double cams, the
ono above and the other below.
In order to reduce as much as possible the danger resulting from the
prosence of grain or dust powder around the machines wo take care to
cover the floor of the room in which our machines are installed, and
even the passages and paths in the establishments where the compression
of powder is being carried on with a sufficient layer of wasto tan, and to
renew this layer when necessary.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Simon Davey and James Watson in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 28th January 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, SIMON
DAVEY and JAMES WATSON, of Rouen, Manufacturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in
the thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Ierself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto us, the said Simon Davey and

page_text: James Watson, Her special licence that we, the said Simon Davey and
James Watson, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said Simon Davey and James Watson, our exccutors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein |
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CARTRIDGES OF COMPRESSED GUNPOWDER AND IN THE MACHINERY FOR COMPRESSING
THE SAME, SOME OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO ORDINARY GUN-
POWDER IN GRAIN AND TO OTHER EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said Simon Davey and James Watson,
or one of us, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under our, or one of our, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner 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 Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that wo, the said Simon Davey and James Watson,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
These improvements consist in the production of compressed cartridges
capable of being fired under water without exterior envelope for their
protection from water, in the complete protection of powders having for
their basc nitrate of soda and other deliquescent powders against the
effects of damp, in obtaining greater safety in the storing and employ-
ment of explosive materials, in simplifying and ameliorating the
machines employed for the compression of cartridges, and in the con-
struction of compressed cartridges of special form in a single case ready
to be employed in tamp holes.
We employ the various gascous hydrocarbons in their normal con-
dition or in a vapourous liquid or liquifiable state, cither by licat or by
the action of dissolvants possessing a similar action, and we cause a
certain proportion of the bydrocarbon to be absorbed by the charges or

page_text: 8 to 10 per cent., but we may vary it according as circumstances or
necessities arise.
If the bath employed is very fluid, and if the cartridge is gently
removed therefrom even by employing melted paraffine, the surface of
the cartridge will be proper and without any fatty coating, and in this
condition the ordinary safety match will serve very well to inflame it in
the tamp hole. But for the better preservation of the cartridges from
tho damp, and to render them still more impermeable to water, wo
profer always, whatever may be the composition of the first bath, to dip
them again into a bath composed of melted paraffine, stearine, or wax,
or spermaceti also melted, or of other hydrocarbon or mixtures of hydro-
carbons possessing similar properties.
For cartridges destined to be exploded under water wo give a greater
thickness to the outer coating produced by this second bath which we
obtain by removing them very quickly from the bath and redipping them 1
once or twice if necessary and then removing them. The cartridge
thus prepared can be discharged under water in the usual manner,
by means of a fulminating cap at the end of tho impermeable fuso wick
or by a charge of fine powder in the centro of the cartridge, and at the
end of the fuse wick hermetically protected from the water.
either
2
We desire also to provide charges, already prepared and even furnished
with their safety fuse wicks or matches and ready to be employed,
enveloped in linen or paper cases suitably varnished, and for these
charges we prepare cartridges compressed into special forms (sco
Figures 5 to 10 of the Drawings), that is to say, cylindrical at the 2
exterior but with a central hole below and in the middle, and grooved at
the side in the top part of the charge. This arrangement of cartridges of
different forms in a single charge permits the application of the safety
fuse or match at the side of the tamp hole, and where it does not hinder
the filling, and enters at the side of the case and passes through the 3
groove at the side of the upper cartridge into the holo at the centre of tho
middle cartridge, when the explosion takes place simultaneously in all
the parts of the charge thus combined. This arrangement of compressed
cartridges of special form in a single case ready for use, both in an
ordinary mine and under water, is equally applicable to other explosives 3
as well as powder, without the previous absorption of hydrocarbons, and

page_text: we claim it as our Invention (see Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, of the
accompanying Drawings).
The miners' fuse or match can be put into its place at the time of
finishing the cartridge, or else the end of the case can be left open so as
to be able to introduce the fuse at the moment when it is about to be
used. In the latter operation and in order not to have to remove from
the case more than one cartridge, when it is desired to introduce the
fuse, we preferably form the upper cartridge in the form shown at
Figure 10, but in other cases when we put the fuse in its place in tho
workshop we prefer the manner shown at Figure 6.
We would observe that in the numerous experiments which we have
conducted the absorption of hydrocarbons in suitable proportions had
the effect of augmenting the explosive force of the powder while giving
to the latter tho faculty of resisting a higher temperature without
exploding. This is more especially the case when employing hydro-
carbons, which require a somewhat high temperature to volatilize into
gascous vapours. Thus there necessarily results greater safety in tho
storing and handling of powders and cartridges thus prepared.
By the absorption of hydrocarbons effected as above described in
suitable proportions, and in baths repeated or combined at need, we aro
able to obtain complete security from the injurious effects of dampness
upon powders with nitrate of soda for their base and other deliquescent
powders, and by this simple process it will henceforth be easy to preservo
in perfect condition these economical powders so excellent for practical
use since there will be nothing to fear from damp. The various powders
thus prepared by the suitable absorption of hydrocarbons can also be
used for warlike purposes, for mines, or torpedoės, as well as for fire-arms,
the hammers and breeches of which they will deteriorate much less than
the powders now generally in use. The grave defect of dampness in the
powder when provided for use in the field will be henceforth obviated.
Our process can be applied at a slight cost to powders already manu-
factured and stored, and it should be noted that according to the degroo
of penetration of the hydrocarbons which are employed for the powders
a superficial layer or crust will be obtained upon each grain imperméable
and slower than the powder at the centre of the grain which has not
-been-rcached-by-the-hydrocarbon. The thickness of this hydrocar
bonated crust can be augmented or diminished at pleasure according to
"

page_text: the greater or less length of time during which the powder is left
exposed to the action of the bath or the hydrocarbon vapours, and in
consequence it will be possible to graduate the powders at will, rendering
them as slow or as rapid as may be desired, according as the volume of
the hydrocarbon crust is greater or less in relation to the normal powder
at the centre of the grain.
The simplified and improved machines which we employ for the com-
pression of the cartridges are shown in the accompanying Drawings at
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4. Upon a shaft a are two excentric cams c, c³,
one of which c is intended to give an ascending movement to a rod d
which produces the compression in the moulds which are successively
presented to it. The .excentricity of the cam is such that the
c
ascending movement of the rod d is very rapid at first but becomes
gradually slower until it is very slow at the last part of its course, thus
proportioning the degree of force exerted by the cam c to the degree of
resistance offered by the charge under pressure which becomes greater
as the compression becomes more complete. Six moulds fare carried by
an hexagonal frame g which turns freely around a strong rod n. At
the interior of each mould fis a lower piston e and an upper piston i.
For cartridges with a central hole the lower piston is prolonged through
a central holo which passes into a hole pierced in the axis of the upper
piston. The upper piston is held by a plate / above. This plate can bo
mounted or dismounted at will by means of a screwed rod governed by
a nut y above the strong cross piece 2. This cross piece is held in its
turn by nuts m, m, upon rods n, n, which traverse the arcs o. These
arcs are connected by strong bolts to a bearing o' which is itself solidly
bolted to the frame o". The shaft a being carried upon pedestals cast
upon the socket o¹, the rods n, n, and the arcs o, o, maintain the cross
piece always at the same distance from the shaft a and the rotating
movement of the cam c by causing the diminution of this distance gives
the desired compression upon the pistons held by this cross piece 7. By
unscrewing the nut y and introducing washers between the plate k and
the cross picce the distanco can still further bo diminished and tho
compression of the charge thus augmented, which result may also be
attained by increasing the length of the pistons or the amount of charge i
to compress. Upon the rods n, n, are the guides n", ", which hold the
rods d, d, in these vertical movements. The cross piece n¹ is held at
the desired height by catches which traverse the rods n, n, whilst the
guide n¹¹ is maintained in the arcs o by strong nuts p.

page_text: of
The rod & which can be lengthened or shortened at will serves to
remove the compressed cartridges from their moulds. It receives. it's
movement from the second cam c' and impols the piston e to the top o
the moulds f. The moulds fare free in the hexagonal frame, so that
under the impulse of the rod d which throws the pistons into tho
charge to be compressed, the latter by pressing against the front
partitions of the mould f lifts the mould itself, which then slides along
the upper piston i, as shown in the elevation, Figure 1, when the cam c¹
is at the top of its course. It results therefore that the charge can bo
compressed at the top as well as at the bottom (just as if the one set of
pistons i obeyed a descending movement at the same moment as the
piston e rose), which gives the desired regularity to the compression in
the wholo charge. But when under the influence of the second cam c³
the rod d pushes the piston e upwards, the mould is held by an
extractor p' which is connected to the cross picco by a nut. Tho
compressed charge is thus expelled from the mould and is picked up by
the workman who has charge of the machine, who puts the pistion e in
place ready to receive a fresh charge in the mould. The lower part of
the piston e being of a smaller diameter traverses a carefully made holo
) in the disc which is fixed at the desired height upon the frame g.
The pistons e only descend to the support presented by their larger
diameter in front, and thus close the bottom of the mould hole into
which a fresh charge is led by an india-rubber pipe v, v. The upper
piston i is then put in place by the attendant, and the mould thus charged
is ready to pass (by a rotating movement imparted to the frame g by
the attendant) between the rod d, and the plate to receive the
compression. The charge which falls in the india-rubber pipe v, v,
is previously measured in the telescopic measurer u, u', which is
moved by the handle u to the right or left. When, the measure is at
O the end of its course on one side its lower orifice communicates with the
flexible pipe v, v, and at the other end of its course its upper orifice
communicates through the pipe with a funnel which encloses tho
powder or other material to be compressed, and is held in placo by a
curved arm fixed upon
a claw cast upon one side of the cross piece 2,
another little claw upon the same cross piece 2 holds the rod which
serves as a support for the measuring apparatus. The upper part # of
the_telescopic measure carries a_wing_or_plate which serves-as-an
obturator to the orifice of the tubo 8, and a spiral spring around tho
-rod-o which holds the two parts of the telescope at the desired-height
q
•
÷
. }

page_text: for an exact measuring, whilst the nut x allows them to be rescrowed
together if necessary.
The Drawing shows two machines connected, both receiving the
rotating movement necessary for their cams c, c³, and c", c", from a
single intermediate shaft b, b, which communicates with the shafts a, a¹,
by the coupling 6" and ""; the shaft b, b, carries a large fixed pulley b
to which a strap serves to transmit the motive force. In order to
equalize the effort required from the motive force the two presses are
coupled in such a manner that when tho cams c, c', upon the shaft a
rise to operate their work, the two cams c", c, upon the other shaft a¹
are ready to pass below and the rods a", d", fall to the bottom of their
course by their own weight. In the case when the presses are thus
coupled the two cams upon cach shaft are habitually upon the same line
of the same side of the shaft and exert their efforts (of compression upon
one charge and of expulsion upon another charge) at the same time,
which is found sufficiently convenient in practice, but when the work is
not sufficiently considerable to permit the employment or installation of
coupled presses, and when in consequence a machine must always act
singly, then in order to equalize the effort required from the motive
power the compression cam can be on one side of the shaft, and the
expulsion cam on the opposite one, as shown in clevation in Figure 1.
The compression cams c, c", dip at each revolution into oil contained in
a cup arranged for the passage in the bearing o'.
The shafts are of the best soft iron, the cams are of steel, the
compression one is welded to the same shaft, the expulsion one is keyed
bencath. The lower parts of the vertical rods which bear upon the
cams are also of steel welded to the ends of rods of forged iron. Tho
rods n, n, and their nuts p, p, aro of iron, the cross piece 7, the frame g,
the disc h, the moulds f, their pistons e and i, the plate k, the curved
and the measuring apparatus are all of bronze. The funnel ris
of copper and the upper parts of the large rods 1, 2, between the cross
picces and are provided with sheaths of copper. The bronze of the
moulds f, and of the pistons e and i is specially made of a very resisting
quality. The arc o, o, the sockets o', the frame o", and the cross
piece n", ", are of cast iron.
arms
..
screen which is shown in section at Tricusos 1 and 2 Nation in th–

page_text: caps.
screen forms a table at the height of the cross piece n', upon which the
cartridges are placed in proportion as the moulds are withdrawn, and all
the visible parts of the mechanism above this table are, as has just been
explained, of bronze or copper, except the two ends of the rods d, d',
which rise through the holes across the table, and are covered by bronze
We can preserve the same arrangement of the parts of the
mechanism visible above the table in order to replace the rods actuated
by the cams by other rods put in motion by the hydraulic press, which
can be applied either by an ordinary hydraulic press or by the action of
a reservoir of hydraulic force transmitted by pipes with little pistons of
the desired diameter in order to provide the compressing force necessary
at the same time as the vertical movement under the pistons e. In the
Intter case the opening of the valves necessary to regulate the move-
ments of these hydraulic presses is effected by a mechanical transmission
communicating with the motive force.
We can replace the frame of hexagonal form by a frame of straight
or curved form sliding upon rails across the table under the cross piece Z;
but in ordinary practice we prefer the arrangement. formerly described.
We can also suppress upon cach shaft the second cam, whose function it
is to expel the compressed cartridge from the mould by effecting this
service by means of a rod attached to the principal rod, which gives the
compression to the charge and which receives its movement from the
first cam.
We can put other numbers of moulds than those indicated in
the frame, but we prefer the number six which in the one hand leaves tho
time desired to recharge the moulds after the expulsion of the cartridge,
and before becoming again under the action of the rod which compresses
the charge, while on the other hand the charge which has just been
compressed remaining in the mould during two consecutive movements
of the cam becomes consolidated, and does not swell after its expulsion
from the mould as it is liable to do if the expulsion takes place too
quickly after the compression.
We can also dispense with the cast iron arcs o, o, by placing the rods
n, n, in front and behind the cam and in the line of its rotating move-
ment, but then the two rods n, n, while directly connected to the socket
o' are also more separated one from the other, and tho cross piece of
bronze which unites them and receives all the effort of the cam is
required to be of larger dimensions..

page_text: We can command the movement of the shaft b, b, by means of gearing
wheels, but we prefer to do so by a strong loather strap upon the large
pulley 6', thus avoiding any risk of accident arising from the powder
getting between the teeth of the gearings.
Wo can also drivo cach press separately without intermediate shafting.
We can employ for the moulds any substance other than hard bronze,
as well as for the pistons, or else we can provide the rubbing surfaces
with any substance possessing sufficient resistance to the work and of a
nature to diminish the heating effect of the friction upon the powder or
other charge to be compressed, but in practice in compressing powder
we do not find any inconvenience from the hard bronze.
We can for measuring the charge replace the movable telescopic
chamber ', ', by a movable chamber, of which the area can be
augmented or reduced at will either by a movable partition or by an
elastic partition or by an elastic fifting actuated by a screw.
We desire to reserve to ourselves the power of modifying the form or
the surfaces of the pistons or moulds especially so as to produce
cartridges with vertical grooves on one side and with inclined grooves at
the lower part in order to be put into the upper part of the case of our com-
bined cartridges, as shown in the Drawings, Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.
We can construct the machines with the shaft carrying the cam above
the moulding apparatus instead of being below, as we can construct
them with two shafts and double cams, the one above and the other
below, but in consequence of its greater simplicity, economy, and
safety we prefer the arrangement shown in the Drawing, Figures 1, 2,
3, and 4.
In order to reduce as much as possible the danger resulting from the
presence of grain or dust powder around the machines, we take care to
cover the floor of the rooms in which our machines are installed, and
even the passages and paths in the establishments where the compression
of powder is carried on, with a sufficient layer of waste tan, and to
renew this layer when necessary.
And having now described the nature of our said Invention and tho
manner in which the same is to be performed, we declare that wo
claim,―
First. The application to explosive materials, especially to gunpowder

page_text: in grain or in compressed cartridges, of various hydrocarbons in a liquid
or gascous state and in one or moro baths in the manner described.
Secondly. The application of these processes to deliquescent or hygro-
scopic powders with a base of nitrate of soda and other salts.
Thirdly. The combination in a single case of compressed cartridges
of the special forms herein-before described and shown in Figures 5 to
10 of the Drawings, each case being provided with a miner's safety fuse
match ready to be put in the tamp hole.
Fourthly. The application of hydrocarbons to graduate at will the
quickness or slowness of the action of gunpowder for warlike and similar
purposes, as herein-before described.
Fifthly. The construction of the machines or presses to compress the
cartridges, as herein-before described and as shown in Figures 1 to 4 of
the accompanying Drawings.
Sixthly. The application of excentric cams, the eccentricity of which
is in relation to the progressive force to be exerted to the compression of
gunpowder and explosive charges, as herein-before described, and as
shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Seventhly. The application of frames carrying various moulds, all
capable of moving freely in a vertical direction independently of tho
frame for the purpose of compressing gunpowder and explosive charges,
as herein-before described, and as shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Eighthly. The means, as described and shown in the accompanying
› Drawings, for removing the cartridges from the moulds and for refilling
the moulds with material to be compressed.
Ninthly. The coupling, in the manner described and shown in the
accompanying Drawings, of two presses with their alternate cams in
order to equalize the effort required from the motive force.
Tenthly. The addition to the compressing presses of a funnel or barrel
for containing the powder or other material to be compressed, having a
graduated measuring apparatus, as described and as shewn in the accom-
panying Drawings.

page_text: Eleventhly. The general combination and arrangement of the
apparatus and cartridges, as berein-before described, and as shewn in tho
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whercof, we, the said Simon Davey and James Watson,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twentieth day of 5
January, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
SIMON DAVEY. (L.S.)
JAMES WATSON. (L.S.)
Witness,
· CH. ARNENGAUD,
Oivil Engineer,
Boulevard de Strasburg, No. 23,
à Paris,