Improvements relating to the Waterproofing of Blocks, Charges, or Cartridges of Explosive Material, and to Apparatus therefor
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 6th May, 1390-Accepted, 19th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL DI MUITIVATIO
Improvements relating to the Waterproofing of Blocks, Charges, or
Cartridges of Explosive Material, and to Apparatus therefor."
I, CARL LAMM, of 11 Bibliotheksgatan, Stockholm, in the Kingdom of Sweden.
Manager of the Bellite Explosive Works, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
My said invention relates to a method of and apparatus for coating or covering
block charges or cartridges of explosive material with waterproofing or protective
compounds.
By my invention I provide for coating or covering blocks charges or cartridges of
explosive material in a solid form with any substance or compound which is insoluble
in water and which therefore protects the said blocks charges or cartridges from the
action of moisture. For this purpose I provide for immersing them in a bath filled
with the said waterproofing or protective material in a state of liquefaction in the
manner hereinafter described.
In some cases the said blocks, charges or cartridges are wrapped in thin paper
previously to being coated or covered with the said waterproofing or protective
material.
My said invention comprises moreover an improved machine or apparatus for coating
or covering tho said blocks, charges or cartridges.
In carrying my said invention into practice I provide a suitable inclined chute or
channel adapted to receive the blocks, charges or cartridges which roll down or are
fed in any convenient manner to two parallel endless belts, bands or chains, provided
with points or hooks. The said endless bands, belts or chains pass over pulleys
supported in a frame so arranged that it can be displaced between suitable guides
fixed to side-pieces or brackets. The bottom of the above mentioned inclined chute or
channel is provided, at its lower extremity with two slots or aperatures to permit the
passage of the hooks or points, so as to enable the latter to pass underneath the lower-
most block charge or cartridge in the said inclined chute or channel and raise or
remove it therofrom. The endless belts bands or chains receive motion directly
from the driving shaft of the machine, by means of a pulley or toothed wheel upon
I provide
the said shaft which gears with the said endless belts bands or chains.
morcover another pulley of similar form and in close proximity thereto, having two
pieces or discs with four or other suitable number of points or projections designed to
guide the said block charge or cartridge up to the moment when it is delivered to
suitable spring clamps which convey it into the bath containing the waterproofing or
protective composition. These spring clamps are fixed upon the faces of two discs or
wheels preferably formed with a common boss and firmly keyed or otherwise secured
upon a suitable shaft to which motion is imparted by means of toothed gearing from
the driving shaft. The said driving shaft is provided with a crank handle, when
intended to be driven by hand, or with a pulley for receiving motion from any suitable
source of power.
As cach of the spring clamps passes the said guide piece with the
points or projections the latter performs a quarter of a revolution and delivers a block
charge or cartridge to the said spring clamp which by the revolution of the said discs
or wheels carrying the said clamps is conveyed downward into the bath in which the
lower portions of the said discs or wheels rotate. This bath is preferably steam-
jacketted or provided with a double wall or bottom so that, if necessary, it can bo
heated to any desired temperature by means of hot water, steam, hot air or the like.
Suitable inlet and outlet apertures are moreover provided for admitting to the said
space, and permitting the discharge or escape therefrom, of the said hot water, steam,

page_text: hot air or the like. Upon the sides of the said bath are provided suitable bearings in
which is supported the shaft or arbor for carrying the clamp wheels or discs. Suitable
brackets or extensions are moreover provided upon one extremity of the said bath
which are designed to carry the other parts of the mechanism
The spring clamps for holding the blocks charges or cartridges consist of blades
arranged radially on the inner sides of suitable springs, pivoted to the outer extremities
of which are small toothed wheels or friction rollers to which an independent rotary
motion is imparted by means of suitable toothed segments. When the block charge
or cartridge has passed through the bath and is clear of the surface of the water-
proofing composition therein, the said block charge or cartridge is rotated upon its axis
at the same time that it is moved upward and is also at the same time lightly rubbed by
a thin flexible plate formed of iron or other suitable material which is secured by
means of highly sensitive springs to an adjustable rod. This rubbing action is
intended to distribute the waterproofing or protective material evenly or uniformly,
upon the cylindrical surface of the block, charge, or cartridge and to strike off any
superfluous waterproofing or protective material that may have accumulated thereon."
The blocks charges or cartridges are carried further upwards by the said clamp
wheels or dises during which time the waterproofing or protecting material thereon
cools and hardens to a certain degree, and are then delivered to another endless band
helt, or chain arranged above the one for feeding the said blocks charges or cartridges
to the said clamp wheels or discs. This latter endless band belt or chain conveys the
said blocks charges or cartridges away from the said clamp discs or wheels and
delivers them to any suitable place. For releasing the said blocks charges or
cartridges from the said clamps I provide guide bars by means of which the said
spring clamps are pressed or moved asunder the blocks charges or cartridges being
thus released drop upon the pins or hooks of the last mentioned endless belt band or
chain and are carried away thereby. The spring clamps are held apart by the said
guide-bars until they again reach the guide pieces or discs hereinbefore mentioned
when they again seize another block charge or cartridge. The herein before mentioned
wheel which transmits movement to the endless bands belts or chains also operates to
compress the ends of the said blocks charges or cartridges so as to make them level.
For this purpose I provide suitable pistons placed in corresponding cylindrical
recesses in the said wheel exactly opposite each other. The rods of the said pistons
carry on their outer extremities toothed wheels which are arranged to gear with
correspondingly toothed segments attached to the hereinbefore mentioned brackets or
extensions of the bath. These segments are provided with teeth upon each side
thereof.
When a block charge or cartridge has been delivered by the pins or hooks of the
endless bands belts or chains into such a position that its extremities are opposite a
pair of the said pistons, the latter are projected or moved outwardly by the action of
spinul-springs or other suitable means, and the toothed wheels upon the piston rods
engage with the said toothed segments and the pistons are turned or rotated while the
block charge or cartridge is held in position by the said pins or hooks. By arranging
the toothed segments as above described the pistons are caused to turn towards each
other thus acting much more efficiently upon the said blocks charges or cartridges.
The block charge or cartridge is carried in this manner for a certain distance and is
then suddenly released, the pistons being forced back to their normal positions by
suitable guide bars as soon as the toothed segments are passed.
The said block charge or cartridge by reason of its own weight then drops from the
said pins or books which are now turned or directed downwards, and may be arranged
to drop into a channel chute, receptacle or the like.
Dated this 3rd day of August 1889
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Waterproofing of Blocks, Charges, or
Cartridges of Explosive Material, and to Apparatus therefor.
I CARL LAMM of 11 Bibliotheksgatan Stockholm in the Kingdom of Sweden
Director, 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:-
My said invention relates to a method of and apparatus for coating or covering
blocks, charges or cartridges of explosive material with waterproofing or protecting
compounds.
By my invention I provide for coating or covering blocks, charges or cartridges
of explosive material in a solid form with any substance or compound which
is insoluble in water and which therefore protects the said blocks, charges, or cartridges
from the action of moisture.
For this purpose I provide for immersing or dipping the blocks, charges or
cartridges in a bath filled with the said waterproofing or protective composition or
material in a state of liquefaction, in the manner hereinafter described, that is to say,
the said blocks, charges or cartridges are first coated or covered with a film or skin of
the waterproofing or protective composition or material by dipping or immersing them
in, or passing them through the said liquid and are then rotated or turned upon their
axes, after leaving the said liquid and during the cooling or hardening of the coating
or covering of waterproofing or protective composition or material, and rubbed or
rolled upon or against a flexible plate to distribute the said composition or material
evenly over the same, and to strike off or remove any superfluous material therefrom.
The extremities of the said blocks charges or cartridges are then compressed to smooth
the waterproofing or protective composition or material thereon. The said coating or
covering of waterproofing or protective composition, or material is thus distributed
evenly over the entire surface of the block, charge or cartridge and caused to bear
tightly against the same.
In some instances the blocks, charges or cartridges are wrapped or covered with
thin paper previously to being coated or covered" with the said waterproofing or
protective composition or material.
My said invention comprises moreover an improved machine or apparatus hereinafter
described for coating or covering the said blocks, charges or cartridges.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how this part of my said invention may
be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan partly in horizontal section illustrating one form or modification
of my improved apparatus.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal central section on the line a Figure 1, and
Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line y y Figures 1 and 2.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
A is the frame of the apparatus, B is the bath trough or receptacle intended to
contain the waterproofing or protective composition or material. C, C, are cylindrical
blocks, charges, cartridges or pieces of explosive material which have been coated"
or covered with waterproofing or protective composition or material, D is the chute
or channel for conveying the said blocks, charges, cartridges or pieces to the
apparatus.
a, a are parallel endless hands helts or chains passing over pulleys b, the spindles b
of which are supported in bearings in the frame A or in pieces 6 secured thereto.
Two of the said bearings (preferably the ones nearest. the extremity of the chute or
channel D are formed adjustable so as to permit the tightness of the said endless
bands, belts or chains a to be regulated. The bands belts or chains a are provided
moreover with points or projections a' which pass through suitable slots or apertures D¹
provided in the lower extremity of the chute er channel 1) or the latter may be
cut away, so as to extend into the space between the said bands or belts and points
** .i1

page_text: or projections. The said chute or channel D is preferably set at a slight angle or
inclination so that the blocks charges or cartridges placed therein will roll down to
the said endless bands or belts which form an elevator or conveyor, any other convenient
means however may be employed for feeding the said blocks charges or cartridges to
the said elevator or conveyor. 63 are guides or guards one of which is provided
at each side of the said endless bands belts or chains a for maintaining the blocks.
charges or cartridges in position thereon. The spindle of one of the said pulleys b
is extended through the frame A and is provided with a crank handle for operating
the apparatus. caro star shaped wheels secured upon the spindle 6 of the roller
furthest from the chute or channel D. c is a guide or plate firmly secured to
the front extremities of the guides or guards & and in close proximity to but just
clear of the star-wheels c. The said star wheels c successively receive or remove one
of the blocks, charges or cartridges C from the points or projections a¹ of the
endless bands belts or chains a and retain it between their curved surfaces, and the
guide or plate c', until it is delivered to, or taken up by spring clips or clamps
hereinafter described, which convey the said blocks, charges or cartridges to the
bath of waterproofing or protective composition or material. ddare discs or wheels
firmly secured to or formed on a boss keyed or otherwise secured upon a spindle e
supported in bearings e in standards e secured to the sides of the bath, trough
or receptacle B. ff are springs arranged radially upon the sides of the said discs or
wheels and secured thereto by means of screws fl or otherwise. f are discs or
centres having points or projections ³, and the stems of which are supported in
bearings in the said springs so as to be capable of rotating freely therein. The
said springs for spring clamps or clips between the discs or centres of which
the blocks charges or cartridges of explosive material are adapted to be held in
position. are friction wheels or rollers secured to or formed on the stems of
the discs or centres f2 on one of the discs or wheels d. The said friction wheels or
rollers are adapted to bear during the rotation of the discs or wheels d against a
spring or path secured to one of the interior walls of the bath B. 9' is a thin
flexible plate attached to the extremities of springs g the other extremities of which
are attached to a rod g adjustably secured to the trough or receptacle B by means
of a screw g. The blocks, charges, or cartridges () secured in position between the
discs or centres f² of the spring clips or clamps f will bear lightly against the
flexible plate g (as shown in Figure 2) whilst the friction wheels or rollers are
engaged or in contact with the spring or path and are rotated thereby so as to also
rotate the blocks, charges or cartridges C and thus distribute the waterproofing or
protective material evenly upon the cylindrical surface of the said blocks, charges
or cartridges C, and to strike off any superfluous waterproofing or protective
material that may have accumulated thereon whilst passing through the bath, trough
or receptable B. The spring or path g and flexible plate g are preferably arranged
in such a position as to come into operation just as the blocks, charges or cartridges C
leave the waterproofing or protective composition or material contained in the trough
or receptacle B. Only those blocks charges or cartridges C which are in contact
with the said flexible plato y are shown in the drawing the others being removed
for the sake of clearness. hh are brackets firmly secured to the upper part of
the said bath, trough, or receptacle B and having inclined surfaces with which the
extremities of the spring clips or clamps engage during the revolution of the discs
or wheels d, and by which they are spread or opened to receive the cylindrical blocks,
charges or cartridges C and to release the latter after dipping. ii are other parallel
endless bands belts or chains having projections or hooks i¹ and forming a conveyor.
The endless bands, belts or chains are supported upon pulleys firmly secured in
any convenient manner upon a spindle j¹ supported in suitable bearings j' in the
frame A, and upon a roller & the spindle or gudgeons k¹ of which are adjustably
supported in suitable bearings provided in the forked extremity of a rod or bar 7 the other
extremity of which is journalled upon the spindle j. is a pin or bolt passed through
the said fork and through one or both of the brackets or through the frame A 50
as to maintain the said fork in the desired position. m is a ring firmly secured by

page_text: means of a bolt or screw m² to the frame A, and having an internally toothed portion or
segment m². m³ is another ring also firmly secured to the frame A by means of a bolt
or screw m and provided with an externally toothed portion or segment m³. The said
ring m³ is provided moreover with an extension in to which is secured one extremity
of a distance piece or stay bolt or rod m² the other extremity of which is secured to
the ring m. The pulleys are provided with flanges having cylindrical recesses j
in which are arranged pistons n acted upon by spiral springs n. The stems n² of
the said pistons n extend through holes provided in the said flanges and have firmly
secured thereon toothed wheels or pinions n³ those upon one side of the apparatus
engaging during a portion of a revolution of the said pulleys with the corresponding
internal teeth or toothed segment m' upon the ring m, and those upon the other side
of the apparatus engaging with the corresponding external teeth or toothed segment me³
upon the other ring m. By arranging the toothed portions or segments as above
described the pistons are caused to rotate in opposite directions or towards each
other thus acting very efficiently upon the extremities of the cylindrical blocks,
charges or cartridges, whilst the said blocks, charges, or cartridges are held in
position in the hooks or projections, and spreading the waterproofing or protective
material thereon so as to close the holes made by the points or projections f³.
inclined surfaces provided upon the rings mm adapted to engage with the edges or
sides of the toothed wheels or pinions 3 so as to permit the said pistons n to move
inwards or towards each other under the action of the spiral springs n and bear
against and compress the extremities of the blocks, charges or cartridges whilst the
toothed wheels or pinions n³ are in gear with the toothed portions or segments m² m³
and to move them outwards (compressing the said spiral springs n³) and remove them
therefrom at the proper time to permit the said blocks, charges or cartridges to fall
from the projections or hooks i. p p are toothed wheels firmly secured upon the
spindles e and and which gear with a pinion p' secured upon the driving spindle 6'.
The said toothed wheels are of the requisite dimensions relatively to the said
pinion p to impart the necessary rotary motion from the said driving spindle to
the spindles e and . A suitable channel chute, receptacle or the like may be
provided for receiving the blocks charges, or cartridges when they drop or fall down
the hooks .
I
◊ o are
The trough or receptacle B is preferably steam jacketted or provided with a double
wall or bottom B¹ so that if necessary it can be heated to any desired temperature by
means of hot water steam, hot air or the like. B2, B3 are inlet and outlet apertures
for admitting to the said space, and permitting the discharge or escape therefrom of
B is another aperture for
the said hot water hot air steam or other henting medium.
permitting the waterproofing or protective material to be run off or discharged from
the bath trough or receptacle B when desired.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows that is to say-The blocks charges or
cartridges Care fed in any suitable manner into the chute or channel D and owing to
the inclination of the said chute or channel D roll down to the parallel endless belts
bands chains or elevator each succeeding pair of the hooks or points a¹ whereof
passing through the slots or apertures D¹ and underneath the lowermost block charge
or cartridge in the said inclined chute or channel D raise or remove it therefrom and
convey it to the star wheels c by which it is in turn delivered to the spring clamps or
clips in the following manner eis. As each of the said spring clamps passes the
said guide piece they are opened or expanded by the inclined surfaces and the
star wheels c perform a quarter of a revolution so as to deliver a block charge or
cartridge between the discs or centres of the spring clamp or clip which by the
revolution of the discs or wheels d is brought into position the said spring, clamp or
clip is then permitted by the said inclined surfaces to close or move together so as to
firmly grip or hold the block charge or cartridges between the said centres.
After receiving the block charge or cartridge the said clamp passes on and the said
block charge or cartridge is conveyed downwards into the bath B in which the lower
portions of the said dises or wheels d rotate.

page_text: When each of the blocks charges or cartridges has passed through the bath and is
clear of the surface of the waterproofing or protective material or composition therein
the said block charge or cartridge is rotated upon its axis at the same time that it is
moved upwards by means of the friction wheels or rollers and friction spring or
path g and is also at the same time lightly rubbed against or rolled upon the thin
Hexible plate g so as to distribute the water-proofing or protective material evenly
upon the cylindrical surface of the block charge or cartridge and to strike off any
superfluous water-proofing or protective material that may have accumulated thereon,
as hereinbefore mentioned. The block charge or cartridge is then carried further
round during the revolution of the said clamp wheels or discs d during which time
the waterproofing or protective material thereon cools and hardens to a certain
degree.
When each pair of the said spring clips or clamps fagain engages with the inclined
surfaces they are spread or opened thereby and the blocks charges or cartridges are
successively delivered or dropped on to the hooks l' of the endless bands belts chains
or conveyor by which they are conveyed away from the said clamp discs or
wheels d'
The extremities of the said blocks, charges or cartridges are then compressed or
operated upon by the herein before described pistons n so as to smooth or level the
waterproofing or protective material or composition thereon and obliterate the marks
of the points or projections f³ on the discs or centres before being discharged or
dropped from the hooks ¹.
The said blocks charges or cartridges will drop or fall by reason of their own
weight from the pins or hooks which are at that point of the travel of the endless
bands, belts or chains i turned or directed downwards, and they may be arranged to
drop into a channel, chate, receptacle or the like as herein before mentioned, or an
elevator or another endless band belt or chain may be provided for removing them to
any required place.
It will be seen that the blocks charges or cartridges are successively delivered from
the inclined chute or channel D to the endless bands, belts, chains or elevator a and
from the latter to the star wheels c which deliver or transfer them to the spring clips
or clamps on the wheels or discs d, from which they pass to the endless bands, belts
or conveyor i, and from these to a suitable receptacle chute channel or other con-
venient. means for removing them from the apparatus. The operation of my improved
machine or apparatus is therefore continuous and automatic.
It is obvious that my improved apparatus may be arranged to be driven by power,
instead of, or as well as by hand if desired, and that I can somewhat modify the
construction thereof without departing from the nature of my said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that
I claim.
First. The herein described method of applying a waterproof coating to blocks,
charges, or cartridges of explosive material, consisting in iminersing or dipping the
block, charge or cartridge (with or without a wrapping of paper) in a heated bath of
the waterproofing material, and then rotating the block, charge or cartridge in contact
with a flexible plate or the like and pressing the ends of the said block, charge, or
cartridge, and thus uniformly distributing the said material over the surface of the
said block, charge, or cartridge, for the purposes above specified.
Second. The combination of the discs or centres for gripping the blocks, charges or
cartridges, suitable means for rotating the said discs or centres at the proper time,
and the adjustable, flexible plate or surface, substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination of the pistons acted upon by suitable springs, the toothed
wheels or pinions, the internally and externally toothed pieces or segments, and the
inclined surfaces, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. The combination with the endless bands, belts, chains or elevator for

page_text: raising or receiving the charges, blocks or cartridges, of means for delivering or
transferring the said blocks, charges, or cartridges to the clips or clamps substantially
as described.
Fifth. The improved machine or apparatus constructed substantially as described
with reference to the accompanying drawing and operating as, and for the purpose
hereinbefore specified.
Dated this on day of Day Lov.
CARL LAMM.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampion Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.