IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FILLING FLASKS, CANISTERS, AND OTHER RECEPTACLES WITH GUNPOWDER
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Haycraft at the Office of.
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st November
1867.
I, GEORGE HAYCRAFT, of Lombard Street, in the City of London, do hereby
déclare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
FILLING FLASKS, CANISTERS, AND OTHER RECEPTACLES WITH GUNPOWDER," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for filling flasks,
canisters, and other receptacles with gunpowder. For this purpose I employ
a circular stand capable of holding a number of flasks, canisters, or receptacles,
the circular stand is supported by and capable of revolving around a fixed
central pivot (by preference of brass) projecting up from a table or bench.
The revolving stand is composed of a wooden spindle carrying two discs, one
at its upper end and the other at its lower end; a hole is bored upwards
through the centre of the spindle, passing up from the lower end nearly to the
upper end thereof, and at the upper end of the hole is fixed a brass cup
which is to rest on the top of the fixed brass spindle; the wooden spindle is of
such a length that the disc carried at its lower end shall be at a distance
above the table or bench. The lower end of the hollow spindle is made to
fit closely to the bottom of the fixed metal spindle, so that the frame may turn
truly in a horizontal plane around the spindle without swaying or oscillating,
by this arrangement for supporting the revolving frame all risk of explosion
is avoided, as the metal bearing which supports the frame and upon which it

page_text: turns is surrounded and enclosed by the hollow wooden spindle. The upper
and lower discs of the frame are at a distance apart from one another
somewhat less than the height of the flasks, canisters, or receptacles to be
filled. Through the upper disc holes are bored at equal distances apart from
one another around its outer circumference; as many holes are bored through
the disc as the number of flasks, canisters, or receptacles the frame is
intended to hold. Above each of these holes is a funnel with a descending
tube which passes down through the hole in the disc; on the upper surface
of the lower disc are placed radial divisions, between which the lower ends of
the flasks, canisters, or receptacles to be filled with powder are held. To
place flasks into the frame the mouth of a flask is first placed over the lower end
of the tube descending from one or other of the funnels carried by the upper
disc, the lower end of the flask is then moved inwards towards the central
pivot to bring the flask into a vertical position. The bottom of the flask
will then rest on the upper surface of the lower disc; to allow of the flask
being so inserted the upper outer edge of the lower disc is bevilled off, a
guard ring or hoop is fixed around the hollow spindle to act as a stop to
prevent any of the flasks being pushed in too far. When using this apparatus
for filling flasks the revolving stand is first filled with as many empty flasks
as it is constructed to hold, measured quantities of powder are then poured
in succession into each of the funnels carried by the revolving stand; and
this is readily done as the person filling the flasks can bring them round in
succession to receive their charge of powder.