Year: 1896

page_text: We, GEORGE KYNOCH AND COMPANY LIMITED, and ALLAN THOMAS COCKING, both
ut Lion Works, Wittou, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the production of cordite and other explosives, our
object being to provide an improved apparatus for rapidly and safely drying such
material and for effectually recovering the solvent used in its manufacture.
In the application of our invention we employ a drying chamber consisting of a
cylindrical vessel of cast iron or other material containing a number of copper or
other pipes of such a length and so coiled that each pipe several times traverses
the chamber in a longitudinal direction. Each of the coils are preferably inde-
pendent and each has inlet and outlet cocks on the exterior of the chamber. The
coils are supported in a horizontal position within the chamber by a framing
consisting preferably of light channel or angle iron bars suitably connected
together.
The cordite or other material to be dried is packed in removable trays which
rest upon and are thus in direct contact with the coils within the chamber. When
the full trays are placed in position the hinged end cover or door of the chamber
is closed and secured, and a vacuum is then created within the chamber by means
of a duplex type or other suitable vacuum pump. Hot water is then admitted to
the coils by the inlet cocks the temperature of such water being regulated to suit
the different stages of drying. The vacuum or drying chamber is fitted with a
suitable thermometer to register its interior temperature, and also with a safety
valve.
The acetone or other solvent vapour is driven off by the heat transmitted by
conduction from the hot water pipes or coils to the material and such vapour is
drawn away from the vacuum chamber through a suitable main to a condenser
wherein it is cooled and a partial condensation effected, and from thence it passes
into the vacuum pump. The solvent condensed flows into a receiver where it
accumulates and is drawn off when necessary.
The vapour passing through the vacuum pump is delivered into a second. con-
denser which is open to the atmospheric pressure and thus the acetone or other
vapour is more readily condensible then in the first or preliminary condenser.
The solvent from this condenser passes into the receiver connected with it to be
drawn off as required. The air escaping from the top of the receiver if containing
any vapour may be conveyed to a water scrubber.
The hot water for the coils within the vacuum chamber is supplied from a
suitably elevated tank wherein the water is heated preferably by means of a steam
coil. The cold or return water from the vacuum or drying chamber flows into &

page_text: low level tank or sump from whence it is returned to the high level tank by a pump
or steam jet to be again used as a means for conveying heat to the crying chamber.
We isolate the drying or vacuum chamber of our improvod apparatus and we so
arrange the vacuum pump, condensers, receivers, and other parts as to permit of
very ready and effective control.
By our invention we dry the cordite directly by conduction, the hot water pipes
heat the gauze by conduction and the gauze heats the cordite also by conduction.
This feature we find to be necessary to successfully dry cordite.
By our invertion we also secure the maximum of work for the dimensions of the
vacuum pump, using the condenser before as well as after the vacuum pump.
Dated this 6th day of October 1896.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Explosives.
We; GEORGE KYNOCIL AND COMPANY LIMITED, and ALLAN THOMAS COCKING, both
of Lion Works, Witton, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturers, 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:-
This Invention relates to the production of cordite and other explosives, our
object being to provide an improved apparatus for rapidly and safely drying such
material and for effectually recovering the solvent used in its manufacture.
In the application of our invention we employ a drying chamber consisting of a
cylindrical or other vessel of cast iron or other material containing a number of
lodges or shelves in metallic connection with the walls of the drying chamber.
This drying chamber we surround with a water jacket, which water jacket can be
-heated to any desired extent, but we find 150 degrees F. to be the best temperature
of the water for producing the maximum rate of drying with safety. We prefer
to use a number of drying chambers all having one water jacket in which they are
immersed or having water jackets supplied with hot water from one tank.
The cordite or other material to be dried is packed in removable trays which
rest upon and are thus in direct contact with the metallic conducting surfaces
within the chamber. We preferably use perforated conducting shelves to allow
of free circulation within each chamber, and we also arrange that our removable
tras are perforated, or sometimes formed of a material such as wire gauze...
The acetone or other solvent vapour is driven off by the heat transmitted by
conduction from the hot water jacket, and the vapour is drawn away from the
vacuum chamber through a suitable main to a condenser wherein it is
cooled, and a partial condensation effected. Thence it passes into the vacuum
pump. The vapour passing through the vacuum pump is delivered into a
second condenser which is open to the atmospheric pressure, and thus the
acetone or other vapour is more readily condensible than in the first or: preliminary
condenser. The solvent from this condenser passes into the receiver connected
with it to be drawn off as required. The air escaping from the top of the receiver
if containing any vapour may be conveyed to a water scrubber.
The hot water for the water jacket surrounding the vacuum chamber is supplied
from a suitably elevated tank wherein the water is heated preferably by means

page_text: of a steam coil. The cold or return water from a vacuum or drying chamber flows
into a low level tank or sump, from whence it is returned to the high level tank
by a pump or steam jet, to lie again used as a means of conveying heat to the
drying chamber.
By our invention we dry the cordite directly by conduction the hut water jacket
heats the walls of the chamber and the metallic shelves are heated by .conduction
from the walls, and so the cordite trays themselves are heated by conduction from
the shelves and the cordite is dried. This feature of heating the cordite by
conduction from the metal surfaces we find to be necessary for successfully drying
cordite. We prefer, however, to pass a small air current through the apparatus,
as we find that this assists in carrying away the vapour and drying the cordite.
Referring to the two accompanying sheets of drawings which illustrate one
method of carrying our invention into effect.
Figure 1 is a section through a vacuum drying chamber, showing the water
jacket surrounding the chamber, and the pipe connections to the vacuum main.
Figure 2 is a front elevation, showing one of the closing doors in position, and a
front view of the vacuum chamber with its shelves and the door removed.
Figure 3 is a front view of the door with its bolts on a larger scale.
Figure 4 is a vertical section through one pair of bolts and the central handle;
and
Figure 5 is a section through a separator intended to separate out nitro-glycerine
from the vapours as they pass on their way to the vacuum pump.
The vacuum chamber A, Figures 1 and 2, has metal shelves A' arranged in
metallic contact with its walls. The chamber is surrounded by a water jacket B,
which jacket is preferably continuous, surrounding a series of chambers such as A.
A connecting pipe A2 connects the interior of the vacuum chamber A. by way of a
stop valve A with the vacuum main C. This main leads into the separator D,
and the vacuum pump exhausts from that separator by way of a pipe E, Figure 5.
The arrangement, however, may be reversed, and the vacuum pump may exhaust
by way of the bent pipe at the top of the separator, and the vapours may enter
the separator at E.
The vacuum chambers A are provided with strong air tight doors F made air
tight by suitable rubber packing, and these doors are held in position by foun
tapered bolts F, which bolts are simultaneously shot into position by means of
one handle F. Each vacuum chamber is supplied with a vacuum gauge G and a
thermometer H. The thermometer preferably passes through into the water jacket.
The apparatus acts as follows:-
Upon the shelves A are laid a number of metal trays containing the cordite or
like material to be dried. The door F is then placed in position and firmly
fastened. Connection is then made with the vacuum main by way of the valve A³
and the vapour at once begins to rise from the conlite in the metal trays. The
temperature of the water jacket is raised preferably to 150 F., and at this
temperature the cordite rapidly dries without blistering or other inconvenience,
the heat being supplied to the cordite by the metallic contact of the trays with
the shelves, and the metallic contact of the shelves with the walls of the chamber.
Some slight amount of nitro-glycerine is carried through the vacuum main C, and
it is deposited in the separator 1). The acetone vapour then proceeds to the vacuum
pump and is condensed after compression and cooling in a separate condenser.
As any suitable vacuum pump and condenser may be used for the purpose of
this invention, no drawing has been supplied of either.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1. In cordite and like drying apparatus heating the condite within a heated
vacuum chamber by metallic contact with the cordite and that chamber,
substantially as herein described.

page_text: 2. The method of and apparatus for drying cordite and like substances under
reduced pressure, substantially as herein before described.
Doted this fith day of July 1897
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., &
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Aplicants.