Method and Apparatus for Charging Cartridges with Explosives.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 12th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by WESTFÄLISCH-ANHALTISCHEN SPRENGSTOFF
ACTIEN GESELLSCHAFT, of Coswig, Anhalt, Germany, Manufacturers.]
Method and Apparatus for Charging Cartridges with Explosives.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
in the County of London, Consulting Engineer, and Chartered Patent Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The action of solid granular explosives is dependent not only upon the chemical
composition thereof but also upon their density. The more lightly the particles of
an explosive powder are packed together, the slower will be the transmission,
throughout the mass, of the ignition temperature necessary for the explosion, and
the weaker will consequently also be the explosion. Closely packed explosive
powders on the other hand operate under the same conditions, that is to say,
with the same chemical composition and the same quantity with much greater force.
For the use of explosives in mines, quarries, and for other industrial purposes, it
is therefore desirable that the cartridges should contain the explosive always in
exactly the same condition of density, as otherwise either a too powerful, or a too
weak action will be obtained.
Thus with a too densely packed charge there might be obtained in place of the
mostly desired driving and splitting action a crushing action; or with a too loosely
packed charge, no bursting action at all might be obtained.
It is true, a skilful workman can, by lightly tapping the cartridge impart to the
explosive charge the necessary density for obtaining approximately the required
explosive, action; but this is only the case with very skilful and reliable operatives,
while most of the less experienced workmen make cartridges with greatly varying
degrees of density, this being no doubt caused not only by imperfect training but
also by a fear of the possibility of accidental explosions arising from injudicious
handling of the explosive.
The present invention has for its object a method and apparatus whereby
cartridges having a perfectly uniform and regulatable degree of density can be
produced, quite independently of the degree of skill possessed by the operative.
For this purpose the cartridge cases are subjected, while or after being filled
with a definite quantity of explosive, to the action of an automatical shaking
apparatus imparting thereto an up and down percussive motion which effects a
greater or less shrinkage of the explosive charge to a predetermined volume,
according to the extent of the motion and the number of the blows.
This may be effected, for example by placing a number of cartridge cases side
by side in a frame below which is arranged a can or wiper drum that has a certain
number of revolutions imparted to it by any convenient means during or after the
filling, and which gradually raises such frame through a certain height and then
allows it suddenly to fall back upon a support.
By means of the vibrating motion which is thus imparted to the particles of the
explosive by the impact of the frame with its support, such particles will be caused
by gravity to approach each other to such an extent that the total volume of the
explosive charge will be decreased by an amount that will depend upon the number
and strength of the blows.
In constructing an apparatus for carrying out the above described operation, this
may consist of a charging hopper in the discharge opening of which is fitted a

page_text: rotatable measuring drum, which at a certain fraction of a revolution delivers a
certain measured quantity of explosive into a cartridge case resting upon a frame
that is capable of vertical motion between guides. Below the frame is a cam disc
the axis of which is suitably geared to the shaft that rotates the measuring drum,
so that the cam in revolving a certain number of times for each discharge of the
drum, imparts a certain number of up and down movements to the frame and
cartridge case.
By preference several of the measuring drums are arranged side by side,
delivering into a corresponding number of cartridge cases on the frame. The
measuring drums deliver the explosive into separate nozzles which fit into the open
upper ends of the cartridge case, so as to prevent the dust caused by the shaking
operation from spreading about.
Or the nozzle may be of the same size as the cartridge case and be provided
with an outer sheathing that fits over the outside of the cartridge case.
The filling of the cartridge cases according to this invention requires no skill on
the part of the workman and involves less risk of explosion than the ordinary mode
of exerting pressure upon the charge in order to increase its density, and the said
risk can be still farther reduced by enclosing the whole apparatus in a protective
casing.
Dated this 13th day of April 1893
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Method and Apparatus for Charging Cartridges with Explosives.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
in the County of London, Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, 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 action of solid granular explosives is dependent not only upon the chemical
composition thereof but also upon their density. The more lightly the particles of
an explosive powder are packed together, the slower will be the transmission,
throughout the mass, of the ignition temperature necessary for the explosion, and
the weaker will consequently also be the explosion. Closely packed explosive
powders on the other hand operate under the same conditions, that is to say, with
the same chemical composition and the same quantity, with much greater force.
For the use of explosives in mines, quarries, and for other industrial purposes, it
is therefore desirable that the cartridges should contain the explosive always in
exactly the same condition of density, as otherwise either a too powerful, or a too
weak action will be obtained.
Thus with a too densely packed charge there might be obtained in place of the
mostly desired driving and splitting action, a crushing action; or with a too loosely
packed charge, no bursting action at all might be obtained.
It is true, a skilful workman can, by lightly tapping the cartridge impart to the
explosive charge the necessary density for obtaining approximately the required
explosive action; but this is only the case with very skilful and reliable operatives,
whilst most of the less experienced workmen make cartridges with greatly varying
degrees of density, this being no doubt caused not only by imperfect training but
also by a fear of the possibility of accidental explosions arising from injudicious
handling of the explosive.
The present invention has for its object a method and apparatus whereby
cartridges having a perfectly uniform and regulatable degree of density can be
produced, quite independently of the degree of skill possessed by the operative.

page_text: For this purpose the cartridge cases are subjected, while or after being filled
with a definite quantity of explosive, to the action of an automatical shaking
apparatus imparting thereto an up and down percussive motion which effects a
greater or, less shrinkage of the explosive charge to a predetermined volume,
according to the extent of the motion and the number of the blows.
This may be effected, for example by placing a number of cartridge cases side
by side in a frame below which is arranged a cam or wiper drum that has a certain
number of revolutions imparted to it by any convenient means during or after the
filling, and which gradually raises such frame through a certain height and then
allows it suddenly to fall back upon a support.
By means of the vibrating motion which is thus imparted to the particles of the
explosive by the impact of the frame with its support, such particles will be caused
by gravity to approach each other to such an extent that the total volume of the
explosive charge will be decreased by an amount that will depend upon the number
and strength of the blows.
In constructing an apparatus for carrying out the above described operation, this
may consist, as shewn on the accompanying drawing, of a charging hopper A in the
discharge passage of which is fitted a rotatable measuring drum B which at a
certain fraction of a revolution delivers a certain measured quantity of explosive
into a cartridge case E resting upon a frame D that is capable of vertical motion
between guides G. Below the frame is a cam disc F the axis of which is geared
by pitch wheels and chain to a shaft rotated by crank handle H which shaft is
geared by pitch wheels and chain to the measuring drum B so that the cam in
revolving a certain number of times for each discharge of the drum, imparts a
certain number of up and down movements to the frame D and cartridge case E.
By preference several of the measuring drums are arranged side by side, delivering
into a corresponding number of cartridge cases on the frame. The measuring
drums deliver the explosive into separate nozzles C which fit into the open upper
ends of the cartridge case, so as to prevent the dust caused by the shaking operation
from spreading about.
Or
Or the nozzle may be of the same size as the cartridge case and be provided
with an outer sheathing that fits over the outside of the cartridge case.
such outer sheathing may be applied to the first described form of the nozzle C,
as indicated by dotted lines at I, so that the mouth of the cartridge case is
enclosed both internally and externally. The cartridge case is only filled with
powder to the point to which the end of the nozzle C penetrates into it during
the up and down motion, the upper end of the case being turned over so as to
close the cartridge.
The filling of the cartridge cases according to this invention requires no skill on
the part of the workman and involves less risk of explosion than the ordinary
mode of exerting pressure upon the charge in order to increase its density, and the
said risk can be still farther reduced hy enclosing the filling apparatus in a
protective casing, so that it is separated from the driving gear, in which case even
if an accidental explosion should occur, it would be attended with less danger than
the ordinary mode of filling.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A method of filling cartridge cases with explosives, consisting in subjecting
the cases, while arranged in rows upon a vertically moveable frame, such as D, to
a vertical jigging motion while or after being filled with the powder, substantially
as described.
2. An apparatus for filling cartridge cases according to the method referred to
in the first claim consisting of a vertically moveable frame such as D receiving a
jigging motion by a cam such as F, or other suitable device and a hopper with

page_text: measuring drum and shoot, such as A, B, C, the lower end of which shoot is made
to fit into the mouth of the cartridge case on the jigging frame, so as to close the
same and prevent the escape of dust from the explosive during the filling,
substantially as described.
Doted this 19th dor of Ontabor 1902
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.