An Improved Machine for Compressing Gunpowder for use in Cartridges.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 6th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 31st May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
"An Improved Machine for Compressing Gunpowder for use in
Cartridges.
1, JOHN ROBB, of 18 Linden Place, Loanhead, in the County of Midlothian,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is, by lateral and vertical pressure, to make the gun-
powder of sufficient density and cohesion to be suitable for use in cartridges for small
bore or other arms, and in accordance with Government requirements.
This is effected by means of four or more sliding pieces, made of phosphor bronze
or other suitable metal, simultaneously acted upon by a disc, which may be made of
steel, gun metal or phosphor bronze, the interior face of which is formed into eccentric
segments, corresponding in number to the number of the sliding pieces. This disc
is worked either by hand or power; and the eccentric segments, in their travel in
one direction, compress equally the sliding pieces upon a fixed quantity of gunpowder
contained in a cavity in the centre of the machine, which cavity is also a measure of
the gunpowder required. The pressure on the gunpowder forms it into, a cylinder,
the density of which is regulated by the travel of the eccentric segments. upon the
sliding pieces.
After the gunpowder has been compressed, the disc is made to travel in an opposite
direction, thus withdrawing the pressure from the sliding pieces, and relieving the
compressed charge of gunpowder, which drops out. The sliding pieces are also
operated upon and brought back to their former position by springs or cams. During
its compression, the gunpowder is retained in the cavity by a bottom piece, auto-
matically worked. This bottom piece is withdrawn when the gunpowder has to be
released, and is again put in position before the cavity is filled with a new charge of
gunpowder. The machine can be made to fill, measure, compress and discharge
automatically.
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COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine for Compressing Gunpowder for use in --
Cartridges.
I, JOHN ROBB, of 18 Linden Place, Loanhead, in the County of Midlothian,
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 :-
The object of my invention is, by lateral and vertical compression, to make the gun-
powder of sufficient density and cohesion to be suitable for.use.in.cartridges for small
bore, and other arms.
This is effected by means of four or more sliding pieces, made of phosphor.,bronze
or. other suitable material, which are acted upon simultaneously.by a disc or ring,
which may be of steel or other suitable metal. The interior face. of the..disc or
ring is formed into eccentric segments, corresponding in number to the number of
the sliding pieces.
*When the ring or disc is made to travel in one direction; the eccentric segments
compress the sliding pieces upon a fixed quantity of meal or grain gunpowder
contained in a cavity in the centre of the machine, which cavity is also a measure of
the gunpowder required to form the compressed pellet or cartridge. The pressure, on
Price 8d1
1

page_text: the gunpowder forms it into a cylinder, the density of which is regulated by the
travel of the eccentric segments upon the sliding pieces, and by the resistance
offered to the elongation of the pellet by the filling and bottom pieces of the
machine..
My said invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings. Figures 1 and 2,
on sheet No. I, are respectively a plan in section, and an elevation, also in section,
of the arrangement referred to above. In Figure 1, A A A A are the sliding pieces;
B is the disc or ring; C C C C are the four eccentric segments formed on the
internal face of the disc or ring, which compress the sliding pieces A A A A,
during the forward motion of the disc or ring, upon the gunpowder, which is placed
at D.
After the gunpowder has been compressed, the travel of the disc or ring B is
reversed, which withdraws the pressure from the sliding pieces A A A A, and also
from the gunpowder at D, and permits the sliding pieces to return to their original
position by means of four spiral or other springs, marked e e. e e.
During compression, the gunpowder is retained in the central cavity by means of
a bottom piece marked F in Figure 2. The position of this bottom piece is changed
by the operation of a cam and spring. The cam pushes it forward, and the pellet or
compressed cylinder of gunpowder drops out of the central cavity into a receptacle
prepared for it. Immediately on this taking place, the springs, e. e. e. e return the
sliding pieces to their original position for filling and compressing a new charge.
The machine is made to fill, measure, compress, and discharge the gunpowder
automatically.
Figure 2, sheet No. I, shows section through centre of the filling piece G, which
is acted upon in the same manner as the bottom piece. The size of the cavity for
measuring and compressing the gunpowder is regulated by the travel of the disc or
ring B. The top or cover, marked H, Figure 2, keeps the sliding pieces A A A A,
the disc or ring B, and the filling piece G in their proper positions.
This machine may be worked either by hand or
power and Figure 3,
sheet No. II, shows an arrangement for working it by power, a description of which
is as follows.
Motion is transmitted to the machine by pulleys marked J on sheet II, power
being developed through the fast pulley J to countershaft K, and then through the
spur wheel and pinion marked L to crank shaft M. On the outer end of crank
shaft M is keyed crank disc N, with moveable crank pin O. From crank pin O to
slipper guide Q, power is transmitted through connecting rod P. On the front end of
slipper guide is fitted swivelled gun metal bush R, through the centre of which is
fitted the projecting arm of eccentric disc marked B.
The travel of eccentric disc B is regulated by the position of crank pin O, on crank
disc M. The connecting rod P can be lengthened or shortened by the nut
marked S.
the
By altering the position of crank pin O, the travel of eccentric disc B can be
increased or diminished; and by lengthening or shortening the connecting rod P,
working position of eccentric disc B can be changed so as to take up wear or
regulate the size and density of the pellets.
Motion is given to the countershaft T, by the spur wheel U. On this counter-
shaft are keyed the cams V for changing the positions of the sliding pieces F
and G (shown clearly on Figure 2 sheet I). The cams V are arranged to change
the position of each sliding piece at the proper time, to enable the cavity in centre
of machine to be filled and discharged.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
I. Compressing grain or meal gunpowder in the form of a pellet or cylinder, of
given diamatos Tonath and da

page_text: II. The diameter and density of pellet can be regulated within certain limits, at
will, by the operation in the above machine.
III. The machine fills, measures, compresses and discharges automatically.
Dated this Twenty-sixth day of March 1800
JOHN ROBB.