IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESSES OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF communicated to him from ab by Hermann COMPRESSED GUN-POWDER C CDL M1
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the firm of Haseltine Lake
& Co Patent Agents Southampton Buildings, London, for an invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESSES OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF
communicated to him from abroad by Hermann
COMPRESSED GUN-POWDER
C
CDL M1
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th May 1882.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESSES OR APPARATUS FOR
THE MANUFACTURE OF COMPRESSED GUN-POWDER [A communication to him
from abroad by Hermann Gruson, of Buckau-Magdeburg, in the Empire of
Germany.]
This invention relates to presses or apparatus for the manufacture of compressed
gunpowder in prismatic or other shaped pieces. The chief object of the said
invention is to remedy the defects of the present presses for prismatic powder,
which defects prevent them from meeting the increased requirements with regard
to density and uniformity of the pressed powder. In the presses heretofore con-
structed the pressure lasts for too short a space of time and the grains are forced
or caused to move about too much in the matrix during that pressure. As is well
known the presses used for prismatic powder are usually excentric presses. The
stamps or plungers are fixed or attached to two cross beams which are capable of
being moved in vertical guides by means of excentric rods in such a manner that
the stamps or plungers meet each other in the matrices of a table placed between
the said cross beams. The charging of the matrices is effected automatically from
a hopper by means of a slide, which is provided with holes or perforations. With
presses of this description there is obviously only one moment, in which the dies
or plungers are at a minimum distance from each other and in which they exert
the maximum pressure. To obtain a pressure of longer duration it is requisite to
[P1

page_text: 1.
render the plungers to a certain extent independent of the motion of the
excentrics.
This may be, effected by an elastic attachment of the plungers to the cross beams,
so that at a certain pressure produced by the mutual approach of the plungers the
Jatter are not required to follow their movement until the excentric has passed the
dead centre.
The elastic attachment or connection between the plungers and cross beams may
be produced indirectly by means of elastic packing in the bearings of the excentric
rods which may be either springs or other elastic bodies, or it may be produced
by hydraulic rams or buffers.
The plungers or dies may be made independent of the motion of the excentrics
by interrupting the motion of the cross beams. In this case the latter are caused
to be caught and arrested by the framing (which may have elastic packing or not
as desired) for which purpose the bearings of the excentric rods must have sufficient
play to continue the movement by themselves.
As an elastic packing or cushion I prefer to employ a hydraulic ram because
with it the pressure can be more effectually regulated.
According to one method of carrying the said invention into practice, the press
consists essentially of a framework, a table, a main shaft with excentrics driving
wheels and a cam secured thereon and it further consists of the upper and lower
cross beams with their excentric rods, a slide and hopper, and a shaft and other
parts by means of which the said slide is operated. The upper plungers or dies
are not secured firmly to the cross-beam but rest against hydraulic rams, or pistons
which move in suitable cylinders formed in the cross beam. These hydraulic
cylinders communicate by means of a channel with each other and also with an
accumulator. For this purpose a movable connection by pipes is also provided
which permits the cross beam to move up and down. By means of the accumulator
the pressure upon the rams or pistons and consequently the maximum pressure
of the dies can be regulated at will.
The cushion for the lower cross beam consists essentially of a single bydraulic
cylinder, the ram of which carries by means of columns a plate upon which the
crossbeam is supported. The said hydraulic cylinder is in communication with the
aforesaid accumulator.
A further improvement for the purpose of facilitating the operations of pressing
the powder consists in heating the moulds or matrices which I prefer to do by the
means hereinafter described. Experience has shown that the preparation of
prismatic powder is impossible when the temperature is below a certain degree.
To obviate the variation of temperature according to the said invention & con-
trivance is applied to the machine by means of which the necessary heat is supplied
to the powder whilst in the press. For this purpose a number of chambers are
formed into which steam or hot water can be admitted for the purpose of warming
the matrices. The same effect may be produced by surrounding the table by
steam or water heated pipes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th November 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESSES OR APPARATUS FOR
THE MANUFACTURE OF COMPRESSED GUNPOWDER a communication to me from
abroad by Hermann Gruson of Buckau-Magdeburg in the Empire of Germany.
This invention relates to presses or apparatus for the manufacture of compressed
gunpowder in prismatic or otherwise shaped pieces. The chief object of the said
invention is to remedy the defects in the present presses for prismatic powder,
which defects prevent them from meeting the increased requirements with regard
to density and uniformity of the pressed powder. In the presses heretofore con-
structed the maximum pressure upon the powder lasts for too short a space of time
and the grains are forced, or caused, to move about too much in the matrix during
that pressure. As is well known, the presses used for prismatic powder are usually
excentric presses; the dies or plungers are attached to two cross-beams, which are
capable of being moved in vertical guides by means of excentric rods in such a
manner that the dies or plungers approach each other within matrices in a table
placed between the said cross-beams. The charging of the matrices is effected
automatically from a hopper by means of a slide, which is provided with holes or
perforations. With presses of this description, there is, obviously, only one moment
in which the dies or plungers are at a minimum distance from each other and in
which they exert the maximum pressure. To obtain a pressure of longer duration
it is requisite to render the plungers to a certain extent independent of the motion
of the excentrics; this is effected, according to the present invention, by an elastic
attachment or connection between the plungers and the cross-beams so that, when
a certain pressure has been produced by the mutual approach of the plungers, the
latter are not required to follow the motion of the excentrics until after the same
have passed the dead centres
Another object of the said invention is to facilitate the operations of pressing
the powder, by heating the moulds or matrices by means of steam or water as
hereinafter set forth
The said elastic attachment or connection between the plungers and cross-beams
is obtained indirectly by means of elastic packing in the bearings of the excentric
rods (which packing may consist of springs or other elastic bodies) or it is obtained
by means of hydraulic rams or buffers.
The plungers or dies are sometimes made independent of the motion of the
excentrics by interrupting the motion of the cross-beams. In this case the latter
are caused to be caught and arrested by the framing (which may have elastic
packing or not as desired), and the bearings of the excentric rods must have
sufficient play to continue the movement by themselves.
As an elastic packing or cushion I prefer to employ a hydraulic ram because by
this means the pressure can be more effectually regulated.
In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a convenient and advantageous
mode of carrying the said invention into practice.
Figure 1, represents a vertical transverse section of the improved press or
apparatus.
Figure 2, represents a vertical longitudinal sectional elevation of the same.
Figure 3. is a diagram illustrating the operation of the said press or apparatus
A is the framework of the press; B the table; C the main shaft with the
excentrics D, driving wheels Ę and cam F secured thereon; G and I are the upper

page_text: and lower cross-beams having the excentric rods H connected therewith; L is the
slide and M the hopper; N is the shaft by means of which the slide L is operated.
The upper plungers or dies O are not secured firmly to the cross-beam G but rest
against hydraulic rams or pistons a which move in suitable cylinders 6 formed
in the cross-beam G. These small hydraulic cylinders communicate by means of
a channel P with each other, and also with an accumulator. For this purpose a
'movable connection by pipes is also provided which permits the cross-beam to
move up and down. By means of the accumulator, the pressure upon the rams or
pistons, and consequently the maximum pressure of the dies or plungers, can be
regulated at will.
The cushion for the lower cross-beam I consists essentially of a single hydraulic
cylinder U, the ram T of which carries, by means of columns, a plate R upon which
the said cross-beam is supported. The said hydraulic cylinder is in communication
with the aforesaid accumulator.
In Figure 3 the movements of the dies or plungers are illustrated by means of
a. diagram which shows clearly the working of the press or apparatus.
The
curve A. B C shows the movement of the upper dies or plungers and the curve
DE F the movement of the lower dies or plungers. At the point G the movement
of the lower cross-beam is arrested, at H the maximum pressure is exerted, and
this pressure ceases at I. As the pressure in the upper cross-beam, and in the
lower hydraulic cylinder, is correspondingly regulated the powder enclosed between
the dies or plungers receives an equal pressure from above and from below which
pressure continues until the cross-beams are again operated by the excentrics. It
will therefore be seen that the maximum pressure is maintained temporarily
constant, when the pressing is completed the granulated powder is forced out of
the matrices by the action of the lower cross beam in the ordinary manner.
Experience has shown that the preparation of prismatic powder cannot be
properly effected when the temperature is below a certain degree. To obviate or
prevent any variation of temperature I provide the following means whereby the
necessary heat is supplied to the powder whilst in the press, that is to say, I form
a number of chambers X Y, in the framework of the press, into which steam or
hot water is admitted for the purpose of warming the matrices. The same effect
may be produced by surrounding the table by steam or water heated pipes.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by
my Foreign Correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it
understood that I claim.
First. The improved press or apparatus for the manufacture of prismatic or
other compressed powder, the essential feature of which machine is the employment
of a cushion of elastic material or hydraulic pressure, as above described, to enable
the excentrics to perform a portion of their revolution without moving the plungers
and thereby maintain the maximum pressure upon the powder temporarily constant,
substantially as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Second. In a press or apparatus for the manufacture of prismatic or other
compressed powder, the moulds or matrices heated by steam or water, substantially
as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty fifth day of November in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and eighty two.