Improvements in Machinery for Manufacturing Shell and Cartridge Cases.
Year: 1887

page_text: Improvements in Machinery for Manufacturing Shell and
Cartridge Cases.
I ARTHUR GREENWOOD of Albion Works, Leeds in the County of York, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The machinery which I employ for making shell and cartridge cases may be
described as consisting of a compound hydraulic press so arranged and fitted with
suitable dies as to provide for the stamping out from sheet metal of discs, from which
the cases are to be made and of converting the discs, by a series of punchings and
drawings first into a cup shape and ultimately into a cylinder tapered or not at its
open end and closed at its other end to form a solid" head, such head being indented
at its centre to form a cap chamber and flanged when required.
The press head which is carried by four columns carries two vertical double acting
hydraulic cylinders and rams viz. one of large dimensions, placed in a central position
in relation to the four columns, and a smaller one for lighter operations placed on one
side. These two cylinders are each fitted with independent distribution valves which
are easily under the control of the workman. The bed or lower portion of the press
is provided with one double acting vertical hydraulic cylinder and ram placed
immediately below and in a line with the smaller of the two upper cylinders and also
with a double acting horizontal hydraulic cylinder and ram placed in a line with the
centre of the press for the purpose of moving the die-block backwards and forwards
in guides so as to bring it under either of the vertical rams. This motion is required
in the operations of drawing indenting and heading. These two lower cylinders are
each fitted with independent distribution valves easily under control.
In the centre of the lower part of the press is fitted a steel block resting upon an
inclined surface and provided with a screw adjustment this block is for the purpose
of supporting the inner punch during the operation of heading cartridge cases and
also to allow of a slight vertical adjustment of the punch.
The press is arranged so that two sets of operations may be going on simultaneously
thus the large upper cylinder may be employed for the purpose of punching out
blanks, or for forming cups and the smaller upper cylinder may be employed for

page_text: drawing cases to length. The horizontal cylinder serves also to move the drawing
die-holder to a position in line with an opening provided in the bed of the press so
that the case after being pushed through the die may fall away. For this purpose a
lengthening piece is connected to the end of the horizontal ram and passing through
an opening provided in the lower part of the blank punching die-holder connects with
the drawing die-holder.
When the press is being used for the heading of a cartridge case all the hydraulic
rams or cylinders will come into play. Thus the case is placed with its closed end
upwards partially into the die by hand when the die holder is under the smaller of
the two vertical rams. The small upper ram is then brought down so as to push the
case well into the die then the horizontal ram is used for the purpose of moving the
die-holder into a central position immediately under the main ram which is then
brought down to form the head of the cartridge case the inner punch resting upon the
face of the adjustable steel block. This being effected the horizontal ram again comes
into play and moves the die holder into line with the smaller vertical rams.
lower vertical ram now raises the inner punch with the case to such a position as will
permit of the upper vertical ram (fitted for the purpose with extractor claws) taking
hold of the head of the cartridge case and with the assistance of the vertical rain
extracting the case from the die on the sliding block.
The
The attendant has then merely to release the finished case from the gripping claws.
It will be understood that the compound press will be provided with a series of dies
which will graduate the operations of punching and drawing to suite the character of
the metal nnder treatment.

page_text: Improvements in Machinery for Manufacturing Shell and
Cartridge Cases.
I ARTHUR GREENWOOD of Albion Works, Leeds in the County of York, 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:-
The machinery which I employ for making shell and cartridge cases may be
described as consisting of a compound hydraulic press so arranged and fitted with
suitable dies as to provide for the stamping out from sheet metal of discs from which
the cases are to be made, and of converting the discs, by a series of punchings and
drawings, first into a cup shape, and ultimately into a cylinder, tapered or not at its
open end, and closed at its other end, to form a "solid" head, such head being
indented at its centre to form a cap chamber, and flanged when required.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the compound hydraulic press constituting the subject
of my invention, in which press the cases are formed from sheet metal by a series of
stamping and drawing operations.
Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, and
Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view, taken in the line 1, 2 of Fig. 1.
In these figures, A is the bed of the machine, and A' is the press head carried by
vertical columns A2, to which the head and base are made fast by screw nuts.
The press head is adjustable vertically, and carries two pendent hydraulic
cylinders BC, furnished with double acting rams B' (", for carrying respectively a
punch, stamper, or plunger, according to the work in hand. The cylinder B, which
is of much larger dimensions than the cylinder C, and is used for the heavier
operations, is placed in a central position in relation to the four supporting columns,
and the smaller one, C, for lighter operations, is placed on one side of the columns.
These two hydraulic cylinders are each fitted with independent distribution valves,
which are easily under the control of the workinan. The bed A, or lower portion of
the press, is fitted with a pendent hydraulic cylinder D and double acting ram D¹.
This cylinder is situate immediately below, and in line with the cylinder C, and is
designed to release the case from the finishing die. The bed A is also fitted with a
horizontal hydraulic cylinder E and double acting ram E¹ placed in a line with the
centre of the press, for the purpose of moving a die block backwards and forwards in
guides a made fast to the bed plate, the traverse of such die block being for the

page_text: '
purpose of bringing it under either of the vertical rams B₁ C, or over a discharge
opening a in the bed A, as circumstances may require. This movement of the die
block is needed in the operations of drawing, indenting, and heading, and discharging
from the finishing die. The two lower cylinders D and E are each fitted, like the
cylinders B and C, with independent distribution valves.
In the centre of the lower part of the press, immediately under the cylinder B, is a
steel block G, which is inclined on its under face to fit a corresponding incline
forming the bottom of a recess in the bed A.
This block G is capable of being traversed over the inclined surface which carries
it, in order to adjust its height, and bring it, if need be, flush with the face of the
hed A, for the purpose to be presently explained.
This traverse of the block G is effected by means of a screwed rod g (see the cross
section Fig. 4), connected therewith, and passed through a screwed nut g', which is
made fast to the bed A.-The outer end of the screwed rod is squared to receive a
handle g, by which it is rotated when a traverse motion is to be given to the steel
block G. Upon this block G, during the indenting and heading of shell or cartridge
cases, rests a counter die, which is fitted to the traversing die block, and is adjusted
in its height by means of the block G.
bed and e are the distributing valve boxes for their respective cylinders B C D
and E, and b c d and e¹ are the pipes for supplying and discharging the water to
and from the opposite ends of their respective cylinders.
2c2d2 and are the handles for working the press.
In the manufacture of shell or cartridge cases from sheet metal, it is well known
that a series of operations is required to convert the punched out disc of metal into
a headed case.
Now my object is, by means of the improved press, to carry out all these operations,
but to do this, it is requisite to shift, from time to time, the die blocks, dies, punches,
and other tools required for the manufacture of the metallic case.
The press I sometimes arrange so that two distinct operations may be going on
simultaneously. Thus, the cylinder B may be employed for the purpose of punching
out blanks, or for converting the same into cups, while the cylinder C is used for
drawing cases to length, but for effecting all the operations, four die blocks will be
required. These blocks are flanged at foot to enter the guides a, which serve to hold
them firmly to the bed A.
Figs. 5 show in three different views the die block F employed for punching out
the blanks for the case, which operation may be carried on simultaneously with the
drawing of the cases.
Figs. 6 show the manner of arranging two die blocks when required to be used
together for carrying out two distinct operations simultaneously.
In these figures F is a die block fitted with a cup shaping die, and F2 is a die
block fitted with a drawing die.
In the general views, Figs. 1, 2 and 3 F3 represents the die block used when
heading and indenting cartridge cases, and Fig. 1 shows this block in vertical
section, with the dies used for forming a flanged head with a percussion cap chamber.
This die block, when in use, admits only of a single operation being performed by the
press. The block F³ is directly attached to the ram E, for the purpose of being
traversed over the bed A, from the cylinder C to B, and back again to that cylinder,
a pair of gripping claws being at the time of its use fitted to the ram C' (see Fig. 1),
for the purpose of withdrawing the headed case from the die block.
The block F2 (see Figs. 6) is connected with the ram E' through a coupling rod E2,
and to permit of this, the block F is arched, thus allowing the connecting rod E to
pass freely below it to the die block F2, for the purpose of giving it a traverse motion
along the guides a, and bring it immediately over the opening a¹ in the bed A, when
the drawn case is required to be discharged from the block.
The punching block F, Figs. 5, is also arched for the same object. It is formed
with guides to facilitate the feeding of sheet metal to the punch carried by the

page_text: ram B, and its face is rebated to receive a steel bolster corresponding to the size
of the punch. An inclined opening is made in the side of this die block for the
discharge of the metal blanks as they are punched out. The block F, Fig. 6, fitted
with the cup forming die, has an opening in its side, through which the cups, as
they are stamped, are discharged.
Figs. 7 show, in side and plan views, a finishing die with the flanged head cartridge
case therein, the end of the case being tapered by the act of forcing it into the die.
I will now proceed to explain the manner of working with my hydraulic press, to
produce flanged head cartridge cases :-
Before starting the operation I fit in the guides a of the bed A, two die blocks F
and F, setting the block F immediately under the plunger B, and connecting the
block with the ram E³, as shown in Figs. 6, when that block will be immediately
under the ram C¹.
Having provided suitable strips of sheet metal for punching into disc blanks, and a
number of cupped discs, two attendants may simultaneously feed the two die
blocks FF, and bring down their respective punches to act upon the metal, the one
punching out in rapid succession disc shaped blanks, and the other drawing out or
elongating the cups, and discharging them from the die, by first traversing the block
over the opening a', and then forcing out the elongated cup by hand into a receptacle
below the press, from which it is taken to repeat the drawing.
The hydraulic press E being again put into action, will return the die block F² to
its former position, to repeat the action of drawing on a fresh cup supplied to
the die.
When the attendant, at the block F, has punched out a given number of blanks, he
may remove that die block, and substitute for it the block F', containing the cupping
die. A suitable punch having replaced the cutting punch on the ram B¹, the attendant
can then proceed to cup the blanks without interfering with the drawing operation
carried on by the action of the ram C¹.
When, however, the flanging of the head of the drawn case is required to be
effected, the die block 13 must be applied to the press bed, as shown at Fig. 1, and
attached to the horizontal ram E'.
A heading punch, fitted at its centre with an indenting punch, having been applied
to the ram B, as shown at Fig. 1, the operation of heading the cartridge case may
then be proceeded with.
For this work, all the hydraulic cylinders and rams will in turn come into play.
The drawn case is inserted by the attendant, with its closed end upwards, in the die
fitted to the die block, and below this die stands a punch H (see Fig. 1) made to
slide freely in the die block, and fit the case to be headed. The head of this punch is
recessed to receive the metal of the head of the cartridge case when a cap chamber is
to be formed therein.
At the time of inserting the case into the heading die, the die block is under the
ram C. This ram is then brought down so as to push the case well into the die.
The horizontal ram E¹ is next used for the purpose of moving the die holder into a
central position immediately under the ram B', as shown in Fig. 1, and thereby
bringing the loose punch H in the die block onto the adjusted block G, which block
determines the height of the punch that is to assist in sustaining the head of the case
against the pressure of the heading die. The ram B' is then brought down to form
the head of the cartridge case. This having been effected, the horizontal ram again
comes into play, and moves back the die holder into line with the smaller vertical
rams and D
The attendant now brings into action the ram D¹, causing it to raise the inner
punch, with the case, to such a position as will permit of the ram C₁ (fitted for the
purpose with extractor claws) taking hold of the head of the cartridge case, and
extracting it from the die on the die block.
The attendant has then merely to release the finished case from the gripping
claws.

page_text: It will be understood that the compound press will be provided with a series of dies
which will graduate the operations of stamping and drawing to suit the character of
the metal under treatment, and various sizes of case, whether flanged or not, that are
required to be made.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
The arrangement of compound hydraulic press fitted with traversing and removable
die blocks, as above described, for making shell and cartridge cases by the aid of
suitable punches and dies.