IMPROVEMENTS IN PACKING GUNPOWDER FOR CARRIAGE OR TRANSIT
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Francis William Ticchurst at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th March 1876.
FRANCIS WILLIAM TICEHURST, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Gunpowder Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PACKING GUNPOWDER FOR CARRIAGE OR
TRANSIT."
My Invention consists in packing gunpowder for carriage or transit in the fol-
lowing manner, whereby the gunpowder enclosed in casks or wooden cases is
conveyed with greater safety than when packed only in the ordinary packages.
I construct a hollow cylinder or case of wrought iron open at both ends, the said
hollow cylinder or case having a size proper to receive the cask (or casks) of gun-
powder to be packed for carriage or transit. Upon the ends of this cylindrical case
I fasten lids or covers of wrought iron in the following way-The said lids or
covers are provided with circular flanges of a size proper to fit tightly upon the
exterior of the ends of the cylindrical case. On each end of the cylindrical case
are inclines having slots at opposite points, and on opposite points of the flange of
the lid and on the inner side thereof are pins or studs for engaging with the inclines
described on the end of the case. On fastening the lid or cover to the cylindrical
case, the pins on the lid are brought opposite the slots in the inclines, and the said
lid is depressed on the end of the case, the pins passing down the said slots. By
then giving the lid a twisting motion or a motion through part of a circle, the pins
or studs pass under the edges of the inclines and the said lid is drawn or forced on
the end of the cylindrical case. The lids or covers can by this arrangement be
readily fastened to and removed from the case, the lid, when connected as described,
being very secure.
In order further to effect the securing of the lid to the case, cross holes may be
nade in the lid and case, so that when the lid has been turned into its fastened
position the holes in the lid and case coincide. By passing plugs through these
coincident holes in the lid and case the return motion of the lid is prevented.
After the cask (or casks) of gunpowder has been introduced into the metallic case,
and before closing the ends thereof by the lids or covers, thick wads of felt or other
uninflammable material are placed against the ends of the cask, so that when the lids
or covers are fixed in their places the casks, besides being securely packed, are
rendered fireproof by the felt or other uninflammable discs.
The lids or covers inay be constructed and fixed in a variety of ways. For
example, the lid may be screwed on the end of the metallic cylindrical case or be
Price 201

page_text: fixed by screws and nuts. Or the lid may be hinged to the end of the case, and be
fixed when shut down by a padlock or other fastening; or half lids may be hinged
to opposite sides of the case.
I do not limit myself to making the cases and their lids of wrought iron, as the
When I make
said cases and lids may be made of copper, brass, or other metal.
the cases and lids of wrought iron I galvanize them by the ordinary galvanising
process.