US1190576A - Machine for assembling propellent explosive-containers and their projectiles. - Google Patents

Description

W. PAGE. MACHINE FOR ASSEMBL-lNG PROPELLENT EXPLOSIVE CONTAINERS AND THEIR PROJECTILES. APPLICATION FILED MAY I4. 1915.

l 1,1 90,576. Patented July 11, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES W. PAGE. MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING PROPELLENT EXPLOSIVE CONTAINERS AND THEIR PROJECTILES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I4, 1915.

l ,1 90,57 6. Patented July 11, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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1,1 90,576. Patented J1 1y11, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

//Y VE/Y 70/? WALTER" ym:

B) H T TQ/F/Yfy WALTER PAGE, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC,

CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO CANADIAN EXPLOSIVES LIMITED, OF MONTREAL, CANADA, A CORPORATION.

MACHINE FOB ASSEMBLING PROPELLENT EXPLOSIVE-CONTAINEBS AND THEIR PROJECTILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1916.

Application filed May 14, 1915. Serial No. 28,207.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WALTER PAGE, a c1t1- zen of the United States of America, an resident of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Assembling Propellent Explo'siveContainers and their Projectiles, and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to machines whereby the shell portion of an explosive charge for ordnance is securely positioned in the open end of the container or casing which has the propellent explosive therein.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine for both forcing the shell into the container and crimping the latter about the former.

Another object is to provide a machine wherein the, shell is forced into the container by fluid pressure.

A further object is to automatically center the shell with respect to and as it is being forced into the container.

A further object is to provide a device for crimping the container about the shell in such manner that the pressure during such operation is uniformly exerted upon all sides.

A still further general construction and efficiency chines of the identified type.

The above with other objects and advantages will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

For full comprehension of the invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar reference characters indicate the same parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the machine before the shell has been forced into the container and taken on line 1--1 Fig. 3; Fig. 2 is a view similar to but taken at right angles to Fig. 1 on line 2-2 Fig. 3 and showing the machine after the shell has been forced into the container; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 33 Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 and taken on line 4-4 Fig. 2.

Referring now to these drawings, 2 indi cates a suitably supported base plate and 3 object is to improve the of maand base plates a platform table secured. The curved edges of a top plate which is connected .to the base plate and supported by posts 4 the ends of the posts being reduced and assed through the plates which latter are clamped by nuts 5 against the shoulders formed by the reduced ends of the posts. Between the top 6 is located and formed with openings 7 at opposite sides through which the posts 4 pass. The openmgs are slightly larger than the posts to enable the platform to move as will be hereinafter explained, the posts serving as guides during such movement. A circular table 9 1s located upon the platform and loosely mounted upon a center pin 10 about which the table is adapted to be rotated as will be presently described.

When the explosive charge is to be assembled it is placed upon table 9 and I have provided a clamp for securing the charge in position which consists preferably of a member 14 fixed by screws 15 upon the table and a separate member 16 at the side of the fixed member and pivoted at one end at a point adjacent one end of the latter by screw 17. The inner adjacent edges of the clamp members are inwardly curved at 19 concentrically with the center pin 10, each member forming substantially a semi-circle so that when they are together a circular opening is presented for the reception of the base of the casing 20 of the charge and the centering of the latter with relation to the the members are undercut to form upper flanges 21 which overhang the annular base flange of the casing and prevent upward movement of the latter.

When placing the casing 20 in the clamp, the free end of pivoted member 16 is swung outwardly away from the fixed member (see dotted position Fig. 3) and the casing set in place, the member 16 being then swung back about the casing and clamped in such position by a dog 22 which is pivoted upon the table and engages an offset portion 23 of the member 16.

Upon the underside of top plate 3 is floatably mounted a downturned cap 24:, the opening of which is in vertical alinement with the center of table 9 and is of circular form with an outwardly flared outer end 25. The top of the cap is flat and adapted to bear fiat against the underside of the top plate,

the floatable mounting being secured by means of a bolt 26 passed from the interior of the cap, loosely upwardly through the top of the latter and through .plate 3 where it is secured by a nut 27: screwed upon its upper end, the distance between the head of the bolt and the underside of plate 3 being greater than the thickness of the top of the cap and this distance may be varied in accordance with requirements by means of the nut. 27. The head of the bolt upholds the cap and if desired a washer 28 may be placed upon the bolt between the head and top of the cap. 7 r

As shownin Fig. 1 the explosive charge,

' consisting of the container and shell 29 set loosely therein, is clamped upon table 9 and the latter with platform 6 is then moved up, bringing the top of shell 29 into the cap 24 and upon the engagement of the latter with the underside of the top plate which acts as an abutment, forcing the shell into the container as shown in Fig. 2.

The flared or beveled outer end of the opening of cap 24 conforms to the tapered sides at the top of shell 29 and such opening is deep enough to permit the entry of the top of the shell and the tight engagement of the tapered sides thereof with the cap without bringing the impact end of the shell into engagement with the interior end of the cap so that when the shell is being forced home such impact end is protected from pressure, which latter is thus entirely sustained by the sides of the shell. If, when engaging with the cap, the shell should be out of proper longitudinal alinement with the container, such cap, owing to the fioatable mounting thereof and by its engagement flat against the top plate, straightens the projectile and thus automatically centers it with respect to the container.

The platform may be moved upwardly by any desired device but I prefer to employ hydraulic or other pressure, such as air, steam, etc., and for this purpose provide a cylinder 30 which extends through plate 2 and isheld in position by a top flange 31 resting upon the plate. The cylinder is located preferably concentrically with table 9, is open at the top and has a ram 32 therein which is provided at the bottom with a washer 33 and secured to the underside of platform 6 by means of a screw stud 34 screwed upwardly into a tapped hole formed through such platform. For simplicity in construction I prefer to form an upward extension upon the screw stud 34 and this extension serves as the above mentioned center pin 10.

A pipe 35 leads from the bottom of cylinder 30 and connects by means of a threeway valve casing 36 with a supply pipe 37 and an exhaust pipe 38, the valve spindle being provided with a handle 39 for alternately connecting the cylinder with the supply and exhaust.

By turning the valve to open supply pipe 37 to the cylinder the ram is raised and through it the platform and to avoid sudden movement I set a partition 40 with a small aperture 41 therein in the supply pipe and in this manner retard the supply and introduce the water to the cylinder in a gradual manner. If desired a needle valve 42 may be set in the supply pipe to retard and regulate the flow therethrough.

When the projectile has been forced home into the shell, that is when the rim of the container reaches the bead 43 on the shell the three-way valve is reversed and cylinder 30 opened to the exhaust pipe, thus permit ting the platform to move down and lower the charge from the cap 24. The lowering of the platform brings the rim of the container opposite a device for bending, turning in or crimping or rolling in such rim upon the shell and into the circumferential inwardly curved or beveled groove 44 formed in the shell just below the bead 43. The crimping device is mounted upon a cross-piece 45 formed with openings at its ends through which the guides 4 pass, the cross-piece being adjustably secured upon the guides by means of set-screws 46 so that the crimping device may be brought to proper position with relation to charges of different heights.

The cross-piece is centrally recessed at 46 to give ample clearance for the charge and as mentioned above has mounted thereon the crimping device which consists of a twopart horizontally disposed ring 47, 48, one part 47 being loosely connected to the crosspiece by means of a pin 48 extending upwardly from the latter into a transverse slot- 48 in the part 47 and by a pair of guide buttons 49 each of which is secured at one end to the cross-piece, extends upwardly therefrom and projects. loosely at its free end over the part 47 to prevent upward dis placement of the ring. At one side of the ring the adjacent ends of the parts are pivoted together at 49, the free end of part 48 being formed with an offset portion 48 which is forked to receive a handle 50 pivoted to the free end of part 47. The handle loosely carries a pair of sleeves 51 and 52 respectively, between which a coiled spring 53, encircling the handle, bears, the spring being inclosed by a casing 54 which extends from one sleeve to the other. The outer sleeve 51 is formed with a shoulder against which the outer end of the casing bears and the inner sleeve 52 normally projects from the inner end of the casing and this projecting end is rounded. The outer end of the handle is screw threaded to receive a nut 54 which engages the sleeve 51 and serves to adjust the tension of spring 53 which tends to force the inner sleeve 52 inwardly along the handle, this movement being limited by the engagement of the sleeve with a shoulder 55 upon the handle adjacent to but spaced from ring part 47 so that a space is always maintained between the inner sleeve and the part 47 for the accommodation of the forked projection of part 48 and thus facilitating the swinging of the handle into engagement with the latter. The shoulder 55 is presented by forming the handle with a fiat laterally extending portion near its pivoted end and the end of the forked portion 48 is rounded at 56 so that, inasmuch as the flat portion of the handle readily fits in the forked portion and the rounded end of sleeve 52 easily rides up the rounded end of the portion 48, the engagement of the handle with ring portion 48 is still further facilitated.

The interior edges of ring parts 47 and 48 areformed with sets of intersectinghorizontal and vertical slots 57 and 58 respectively and a roll 59 is rotatively mounted in each set of intersecting slots, each roll being horizontally disposed and located in the horizontal slot with its trunnions 60 disposed in the vertical slot and held therein by clip bearing 61 fastened at one end to the top of the ring and formed at its opposite end with a depression 62 for the reception of the end of the top trunnion.

The rolls are so mounted that their periph cries project from the interior edge of the ring and the periphery of each roll is axially beveled or tapered from the top to conform substantially with the groove 44 of the shell. I prefer to employ three rolls and dispose same atequal distances apart circumferentially of the ring.

When the charge is lowered by the platform, the hinged part 48 of the ring (which has during the forcing of the shell into the container been swung open as indicated in dotted lines Fig. 4) is closed about the charge and gagement with the forked portion, the inner sleeve of the handle riding over the rounded endof such forked portion and through the influence of spring 53 forcing 'the parts of the sleeve together and so bringing .the rollers into tight engagement with the rim of the container. The charge is then rotated by means of the table 9 the edge of which is formed with teeth 63 intermeshing with a spur gear 64 mounted upon platform 6 by means of an operating handle 65 which is keyed to the gear and passes loosely down through the platform and carries a removable nut 66 upon its lower end.

The spring 53 provides a yielding mounting for the rolls 59 and as the charge is rotated these rolls under the influence of the spring gradually crimp the mm of the conthe handle 50 swung into entainer into the groove 44, the pressure during this crimping action being uniformly exerted upon all sides of the charge owing to the loose mounting of the crimping ring upon the cross-piece.

Upon the completion of the crimping operation the ring is opened and the charge withdrawn, the loose mounting of the crimping device enabling same to be moved back so as to be out of the way of the next charge to be acted upon and out of the vertical path of travel of same, the buttons 49 limiting and guiding the device when it is moved back.

What I claim is as follows:

1. In a machine for assembling propellent explosive containers and their projectiles, a support adapted to hold the container with the projectile set therein, an abutment, means for moving the support to carry the projectile against the abutment and a centering cap floatably' mounted upon the abutment and adapted to receive the end of the projectile.

2. In a machine for assembling propellent explosive containers and their tapered projectiles, a support adapted to hold the container with the projectile set therein, an abutment, means for moving the support to carry the projectile against the abutment and a centering cap suspended from the abutment and adapted to receive the tapered end of the projectile, such cap having a flared opening therein conforming to the taper of the projectile and of a depth to provide a space between the interior end of the cap, and the top or impact end of the projectile.

3. In a machine for assembling propellent explosive containers and their tapere projectiles, a support adapted to hold the container with the projectile set therein, an abutment, means for moving the support to carry the projectile against the abutment, a centering cap upon one side of the abutment and adapted to receive the tapered end of the projectile, such cap having a flared opening therein conforming to the taper of the projectile and of a depth to provide a space between the interior end of the cap and the top or impact end of the projectile, a headed bolt passed from the interior of the cap loosely through the end of the latter and through the abutment and a nut screwed upon the bolt and bearing against the opposite side of the abutment, the space through the platform, a circular table upon the platform and rotatably mounted upon said extension and means for rotating the table.

5. In a machine for assembling propellent explosive containers and their projectiles, a platform, a circular table rotatably mounted upon the platform and adapted to hold the container with the projectile set therein, teeth upon the edge of the table, a spur gear rotatably mounted upon the platform and meshing with the teeth of the table, a handle for operating the gear and rotating the table, an abutment, means for moving the platform to carry the projectile against the abutment and force such projectile into the container and a device for crimping the container about the projectile as the latter is rotated with the table.

6. In a machine for assembling propellent explosive containers and their projectiles, a support forholding the container with the projectile set therein, means for rotating the support, a loosely mounted ring adapted to encircle the container and spring controlled rolls carried by and projecting from the interior edge of the ring and adapted to en gage with the container and crimp same about the projectile.

7 In a machine for assembling propellent explosive containers and their projectiles, a support for holding the container with the projectile set therein, means for rotating the support, a ring adapted to encircle the container, a support for the ring, a pin and slot connection between the ring and its support and spring controlled rolls carried by and projecting from the interior edge of the ring and adapted to engage with the mintainer and crimp same about the projecti e.

8. In a machine for assembling propellent explosive containers and their projectiles, a support for holding the container with the projectile set therein and means for crimping the container about the projectile consisting of a ring and spring controlled rolls carried by the ring, projecting from the interior edge thereof and adapted to engage with the container.

9. In a machine for assembling propellent explosive containers and their projectiles, a support for holding the container with the projectile set therein and means for crimping the container about the projectile con sisting of a two-part ring, the parts of with the projectile set therein, and means for crimping the container about the projectile consisting of a ring, a portion of which is pivoted at one end to swing outwardly, spring mechanism for yieldingly holding the free end of the pivoted portion to the main portion of the ring and rolls carried by the ring, projecting inwardly from the interior edge of the ring and adapted to engage With the container.

11. In a machine for assembling propellent explosive containers and their projectiles, a support for holding the container with the projectile set therein and means for crimping the container about the projectile consisting of a ring part, a handle pivoted to one end of the ring part, sleeves upon the handle, a coiled spring bearing between the sleeves, a nut upon the handle and adapted to adjust the tension of the spring, a second ring part pivoted at one end to the first mentioned ring part and having its 0pposite end forked to receive said handle, such ring parts being formed with sets of intersecting horizontal and vertical slots and rolls mounted in said sets of slots and projecting outwardly from the interior edges of the ring parts. i

12. In a machine for assembling propellent explosive containers and their projectiles, a support for holding the container with the projectile set therein and means for crimping the container about the projectile consisting of a carrier, spring controlled rolls carried by the carrier, projecting from the edge thereof and adapted to engage with the container.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALTER PAGE.

Witnesses:

STANLEY 0. KING, JAMES C. FRASER.

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