Improvements in or connected with Apparatus for Pressing Gun- cotton into Blocks.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Nov., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Aug., 1900-Accepted, 3rd Nov.,
1900
Improvements in or connected with Apparatus for Pressing Gun-
cotton into Blocks.
I, ALFRED HOLLINGS, of 57, High Lane, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
of
The object of this invention is to provide appliances whereby masses
guncotton for instance such as are prepared by the apparatus described in the
Specification to Letters Patent No. 198068 may be quickly compressed into
the finished form of charges for shells &c. without liability of flaws occurring
in the structure of the charge or of absorbtion of air which might impede full
detonation of the charge when used: and whereby the charge after compres-
sion may be readily extracted from the mould or die.
For these purposes I form or support the mass of guncotton in a perforated
container provided externally with a space into which water under pressure can
be introduced to prevent the guncotton entering the perforations and to allow
of the mass being easily forced out of the container. The container with the
mass of guncotton is placed in a holder or cradle preferably formed in two or
more pieces movable to and from each other and held together by hydraulic
rams or the like. The holder is situated on top or in front of the forming die
or mould into which the mass of guncotton can be forced from the container
by a hydraulic ram or, other desired means, and pressed. The die or mould is
formed of an inner lining in two or more pieces and a jacket in two or more
pieces and an outer casing. The interior surface of the casing and the exterior
of the jacket are made taper so that the pieces of the jacket and lining may
easily be wedged together so as to form tight joints. The lining, jacket,
and casing are provided with perforations and passages arranged in any con-
venient way to allow escape of water when the mass of guncotton or charge is
being pressed or to allow absorbtion of water if the charge should expand when
the pressure of the ram is taken off. The passages preferably disposed as rings
form a water space between the jacket and outer casing. A second ram is pre-
ferably provided to complete the pressing and also to slacken the jacket and
eject the lining with the finished charge. In some cases the inner lining
may be dispensed with, the jacket being made use of to form the charge. The
mould casing at about the point occupied by the charge when completely pressed
is surrounded by a water jacket or preferably the whole of the mould together
with the holder and container are submerged in water to prevent access of air
to the guncotton during the operation of pressing.
The mould and holder and connections are movable on slides or guides so that
they can be moved about in relation to the hydraulic rams as may be found
desirable.
Dated this Thonto third dow of November 1800

page_text: Improvements in or connected with Apparatus for Pressing Gun-
cotton into Blocks.
I, ALFRED HOLLINGS, of 57, High Lane, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, in the County
of Lancaster, 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, reference being had to the accom-
panying drawings:-
The object of this invention is to provide appliances whereby masses of gun-
cotton, for instance such as are prepared by the apparatus described in the
Specification to Letters Patent No. 19806 of the year 1898 may be quickly com-
pressed into the finished form of charges for shells etc. without liability of flaws
occurring in the structure of the charge or of absorption of air which might
impede full detonation of the charge when used; and whereby the charge after
compression may be readily extracted from the mould or die.
On the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of apparatus constructed
in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross section at the line A, A, on
Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the mould or die for forming
the charge. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line B, B, on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a
longitudinal section of the container for holding the mass of guncotton pulp
before being pushed into the mould and Fig. 6 is a transverse section at the
line C, C, on Fig. 5.
For the purposes of my invention I form or support the mass of guncotton
in a perforated container 2 by any convenient means, which container is carried
by means of rings 3 in an outer holder or casing 4 there being provided between
the container and such casing a space 5 into which water under pressure can
be introduced through a pipe 6 to prevent the guncotton entering the perfora-
tions in the container 2 and to act as a lubricant to allow of the mass being easily
forced out of the container 2 and into the mould or die 7 by a hydraulic ram 8
or other convenient means. The holder or cradle 4 is preferably formed in two
pieces movable laterally to and from each other and held together by hydraulic
rams 4 acting on levers 4b which press upon the sides of the holder as shown
when the container with the mass of guncotton is placed endwise into such
holder. The joint between the two pieces of the holder should be made water-
tight to prevent leakage of water from the space 5. The ram 8 slightly presses
the mass in the mould or die 7. Instead of the holder 4 being in two pieces it
may in some cases be found more convenient to make it in one piece and in
such cases it is moved with the container 2 to and from the machine which
forms the mass of guncotton in such container. Any convenient means for
moving the holder or container may be used, such as a crane. The mould 7
rests on a carriage 9 mounted on a swivel 10 carried in a block 11 movable
on slides 12. so that such mould can be swivelled from the position shown
by the dotted lines 7* to that shown by solid lines and can also be moved to any
position between the hydraulic rams 13 and 14 which are carried in cylinders 15
and 16 secured to the heads 17 and 18 which heads are connected together by
rods 19. The die or mould 7 is formed of an inner lining 20 divided longitu-
dinally into two or more pieces, preferably three as shown; a jacket 21 divided
longitudinally into several pieces, and an outer casing 22, which is preferably
wound with wire for strength. The interior surface 23 of the outer casing and
the exterior surface 24 of the jacket are made conical or tapering so that when

page_text: the pieces of the jacket are moved endwise in the outer casing in the direction
shown by the arrow, the pieces of the lining are tightly wedged together so as
to form tight joints. 25 are perforations in the lining and jacket, opening into
passages 26 preferably formed as annular channels between the jacket 21 and
outer casing 22 so that water may readily escape from the charge or mass of
guncotton during compression of such mass. The passages 26 are all connected
together by lateral openings 27 and to a pipe 28 leading to a tank placed in
any convenient position so that if the charge should expand when the pressure
of the ram is taken off water may flow back and be absorbed instead of air
being drawn in. The passages 26 may be however formed and arranged in
any convenient way so long as a water space surrounding the lining is provided
to prevent air being drawn into or absorbed by the guncotton. When the mass
of guncotton has been pushed into the mould by the ram 8 the mould is swivelled
into the position shown by the solid lines with the slightly projecting end of
the jacket and lining at 29 resting against the head 30 of the ram 13 and the
end of the outer casing resting against an annular ring 31 carried on the head 30.
The ram 14 is now caused to advance and press the mass in the mould to the
desired extent. The ram 13 may also be caused to advance to assist in the press-
ing by moving the mould 7 towards the ram 14. When the charge is completely
pressed the ram 14 is withdrawn and an annular head is attached which bears
only against the end of the casing 22, the ring 31 is removed from the head
of the ram 13 so that the ram 13 may be allowed to advance and push the
jacket 21 and lining 20 slightly endwise in the casing thus slackening the pieces
of such jacket and lining. The rams 13 and 14 are withdrawn and the mould
swivelled into the position shown by dotted lines when the lining 20 and com-
pleted charge can be easily pushed out of the jacket 21 on to a bracket 32 by
means of the ram 8 which is provided with an extension head for the purpose.
The pieces of the lining are then separated from the charge, replaced in the
jacket 21 and wedged up ready for the operation to be repeated. It is not
absolutely necessary to employ the lining 20 as the jacket 21 may be shaped
internally so as to form the charge but the use of a lining is preferable for
extracting the charge. Instead of the mould 7 being connected by a pipe to a
tank of water the whole of the apparatus may be submerged in a large tank of
water to prevent access of air but this is not so convenient for working. The
ram 8 and the holder 4 are supported on a bracket 33 secured to the bedplate 34
of the press.
I do not confine myself to the particular arrangements of parts described
as various modifications may be made without departing from the nature of
the invention, for instance the holder 4 may be placed in line with the ram 14
which may be used to push the guncotton into the mould, the holder being
afterwards removed.
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:-
1. In combination with apparatus for pressing guncotton into blocks, a per-
forated container for the guncotton, a holder for the container arranged with
a space between the holder and the container, and means for maintaining a
pressure of water between the holder and container, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
2. In a mould for forming blocks of guncotton or the like the combination
of an outer casing coned internally, and an inner jacket divided longitudinally
into several pieces and coned externally to fit the cone of the outer casing, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. In a mould for forming blocks of guncotton or the like the combination
of an outer casing coned internally, an inner jacket divided longitudinally into
several pieces and coned externally to fit the cone of the outer casing, and an

page_text: inner lining divided longitudinally into several pieces, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
4. In a mould for forming blocks of guncotton or the like the combination of
an outer casing coned internally, an inner divided jacket coned externally, water
spaces being arranged between the casing and the jacket, such jacket being
provided with perforations leading from the water spaces to the interior surface
of the jacket, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5. In a mould for forming blocks of guncotton or the like the combination
of an outer casing coned internally, an inner divided jacket coned externally,
and an inner divided lining, water spaces being arranged between the casing
and the jacket, such jacket and lining being provided with perforations leading
from the water spaces to the interior surface of the lining, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
6. In a mould for forming blocks of guncotton or the like the combination
of an outer casing coned internally, an inner divided jacket coned externally,
and an inner divided lining, water spaces being arranged between the jacket and
lining, such lining being provided with perforations leading from the water
spaces to the interior surface of the lining, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
7. In combination with a press, a mould, means for pressing the charge of
guncotton in the mould, means for slackening the lining of the mould and means
for ejecting the lining and, the finished charge substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
Dated this Twenty-second day of August 1900.
W. B. JOHNSON,
4, Clayton Square, Liverpool, Agent.