US2404434A - Apparatus for packing explosive in cartridges - Google Patents

Description

1945- .1. L CLARK gnu.

APPARATUS FOR PACKING EXPLOSIVE IN CARTRIDGES Filed May 25, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

FIG.

INVENTORS Joseph L. Clark Carly/e M Linden Y- C/oyd J Chg/'7 my. (.WTORNEY 194& J. L. CLARK ETAL 9 3 APPARATUS FOR PACKING EXPLOSIVE IN CARTRIDGES Filed May 25, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F E E 55 INVENTQRS Joseph L. Clark Car/y/e M Linda/7 C/oyd J. Oberl' 1% ATRNEY y 1946 J. 1.. CLARK ETAL. 2,404,434

APPARATUS FOR PACKING-EXPLOSIVE IN CARTRIDGES Filed May 25, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS Joseph L. C/ark BY Carly/e M L/hden TTORJEY Patented July 23, 1946 APPARATUS FOR PACKING EXPLOSIVE IN CARTRIDGES Joseph L. Clark, Wilmington, Del., Carlyle M.

Linden,

Chattanooga,

Tenn., and Cloyd J.

Obert, Bessemer, Ala., assignors to Hercules tion of Delaware Powder Company, Wilmington, DeL, a corpora- Application May 25, 1942, Serial No. 444,456

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for packing explosive in cartridges and, more particularly, to the packing of cartridges with semiplastio explosive, so that the portion first packed is firm, the portion packed adjacent thereto is soft and the portion last packed is firm.

Heretofore, attempts to pack a portion of a cartridge firm and the remainder soft or to pack the entire cartridge soft have been unsatisfactory, due to the fact that the end or ends of the soft packed cartridges, mushroom, wrinkle and/or collapse.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for packing cartridges wherein an intermediate portion of the cartridge is soft packed.

Another object of this invention is the provision of mechanism for efiectively, safely, and expeditiously packing cartridges with a soft central portion.

Another object of this invention is the provision of automatic actuating mechanism for the tamp rods, whereby the difiiculty of releasing accidentally stuck rods is eliminated along with the dangers inherent therewith.

Still another object of the present invention resides in rendering the tamping rods immediately inoperative whenever exigencies occur.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

This invention resides in a new and useful improvement comprising a triple-purpose dogging bar to be used in machines for packing explosive in cartridges and the particular embodiment of the invention is illustrated in conjunction with a Hall cartridge-loading machine similar to the machine disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 601,138 to H. P. Hall. Certain improvements in the Hall machine have been made from time to time, and the illustrations depict a Hall machine of recent origin, however, the fundamental principles disclosed in the above mentioned patent to Hall are still retained and are well known in the art. The present invention is described in conjunction with a modern Hall machine and is clearly understood in reference to the above mentioned patent.

Generally described, the present invention comprises apparatus for packing a cartridge with semi-plastic explosive in such a manner that the lower portion is firm, the central portion soft, and the upper portion firm. This method of packing is accomplished by a triple-purpose bar whose functions are: 1) to automatically cause the tamp rods after they have packed a couple of strokes in the normal way, i. e. have firmly packed the bottom portion, to slip up and to then loosely pack the cartridge by merely pushing explosive into the cartridge without tamping, as the resistance of the explosive in the cartridge builds up, the tamp rods keep slipping up until the cartridge is full, thereby giving a cartridge having a soft packed central portion; (2) to provide a-safety feature whereby the bar is automatically actuated between packing cycles to prevent any tamp rods from accidentally sticking down in such manner as to interfere with the rotation of the drum which carries the cartridges; (3) to provide a manually operated device which enables the operator to dogup the entire set of tamping rods to the inoperative position whenever accidents or other exigencies occur. I

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein like reference symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur:

Fig. 1 is a part front elevationalview of the cartridge packing machine with a part of the revolving shell holder shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a'sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

. Fig. 3 is a part rear elevational view'of the triple-purpose bar;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; I

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the triplepurpose bar and appurtenant actuating mechanrsm;

Fig. 6 isa transverse sectional view of the trir le-purpose bar with an elevational view of a dogging element shown therewith.

In Fig. l and Fig. 2,-A frames l are rigidly braced by tierods 3and as an integral structure is supported by suitable sub-structure shown out of function. Driving means (not shown) drive gears 5 which engage gears I which have one end of connecting rods 9 pivotally connected thereto and the other end of the rods pivotally connected to a horizontal cross-head 'II. The

cross-head II reciprocates with an up and down motion as imparted by the connecting rods 9 and i in frictional engagement with a plurality of tamp-rods 13 thereby likewise reciprocating the plurality of tamp-rods. preferably made in several sections and extend from the top of the machine, usually in an upper story down through the floor to a story below,

The tamp-rods I 3 are tamp-rods and the operating devices for the tamp-rods and all metallic surfaces associated therewith are kept in the upper story away from the lower floor where the loading of explosive is effected. The lower sections i3a'of the tamp rods are preferably "made of non-metallic and/or non-pyrophoric material. The sections l3a are secured at their upper ends into metal tubes i317, which extend through the floor. The metal tubes I310 are in turn secured to square metal sections (.30 which extend to the top of the machine. Crossbars such as the cross-bar represented by l5 are positioned throughout the length of the tamprods l3 and serve to guide and space them. The extreme lower end of section I30, of the tamprods is tapered and is slightly larger in crosssection at the lower extremity, so that air is permitted to escape when the tamp-rods descend into their respective shells and also to prevent undue suction when the tamp-rods ascend from their respective shells. The lower ends of the !-3 work through non-pyrophoric "metalnipples H, which are afiixed to the bottom of explosive hopper l9 and penetrate the shells being loaded. Theshells are held in 'a rotatable shell holder 2|, provided with shell holding cav ities 2m, which rotates-about a horizontal axis and reciprocates vertically in cooperation with appurtenant mechanism (notshown) well "known in the art. It is readily seen that the revolution of the shell holder 21 is to permit each series "of shells to be successively and concentrically positioned beneath the tamp-rods 1'3, while the vertical reciprocation of holder 2| is to permit the holder to -be raised when the shells are concentrio with the-tamp-rods, so that the empty -shells (not shown) in the'shell holder 2| engage the nipples l! -thereby-eliminating any possibility of losing" explosive during the filling operation. .After the shells have been filled, the shell holder 2! is lowered and revolved, and the shells are crimped,-closed and-ejected by means (not shown) well known in the art, thereby augmenting a continuous mode of operation as empty shells are continuously fed to the shell holder 21. In connection with feeding the explosive to the hopper l9, any suitable means, such *as'continuous conveyors (not shown) may be employed. In connection with the shell filling operation suitable safe methods for agitating the explosive in the hopper must be provided toinsur uniformity in packing the shells. Asuitable and vwell known expedient for accomplishing this purpose is the utilization of mechanical means (not shown) within the explosive hopper 19, whereby friction in the explosive is kept to a minimum.

The apparatus for independent operation of .the tamp rods and means for loclnnganyoneof them stationary, as soon as its respective .shell is filled, without stopping the action of theothers will now be described with particular reference to Figs. 1 and 2. Each of the plurality of tamprods I3 is reciprocated vertically by cross-head II which has a plurality of friction clamp-plates or gibs 23 held into engagement with the tamprods 13. These gibs '23 are individually regulated by thumb screws '25 as to give any desired degree of frictional contact to its respective tamprod I3. This frictional connection of the tamprods with the cross-head causes the latter to reciprocate the tamp-rods, but still leaves them slidably independent thereof, so that they may slide when packing conditions so necessitate. A hand wheel 21 is also provided for general adjustment of the cross-head II, which is customarily utilized to compensate for temperature variation, thereby rendering it unnecessary to adjust all the thumb screws 25 individually. Below the cross-head ll there is a dogging device 29 whose function is to look any one ofthe tamp-rods I3 as soon as it fills its respective shell and has risen to a point where its action is no longer needed. This function is accomplished by having a plurality of dogging pins 38 slidably secured in .the dogging device 29, which are compressively maintained in an operative position by springs 3'3 respectively, and which operate when a swing bar 35 actuates fluid cylinders M" to move the dogging device "29 forward so that the dogging pins 3| engage apertured inserts 39 integral with the tamp-rods l3, thereby locking the latter in a fixed position. To disengage the dogging pin 3| from the inserts 39 push rods M are actuated by constant pressure fluid cylinders 43 when the swing bar 35 is forward as a result of all of the pins having engaged theirrespect'iveinserts, and fluid cylinders 31 have been exhausted. "This moves the dogging device 29 backward to its inoperative position and, accordingly, the dogging pins 3! assume their respe'ctive'inoperative .positions.

Each time thetamp-rods Hare raised by frictional engagement with the cross-:head "H, they do not all stand, necessarily, on :the same vilevel, due to different quantities of explosive :having been packed in the various shells. They are brought to the same level, however, before starting on the initial downward3st'roke'byralcushioned correcting bar '45 which limits *operative position is disposed directly albove the tamperods 1313.116. against which the tamp-rods strike and areil'evele'd just above the cross-ihead H to give a, full initial stroke. This causesiall ofth'e independent tamp-rods to have an "equal advance stroke through the explosive at the initiation .of teach filling cycle. The correcting bar 45 is moved to its operative position by constant pressure, fluid cylinders 41 and 'is actuated "to its inoperative position when increased pressure :is supplied to fluid cylinders 49. Cross-head 'bala ncecylinders 5| under constant pressure have associated. members (not shown) cormected'totheorosshead "H and serve to balance the 'cross-headiagainst frictional and gravitational forces as ?it' reciprocates up and 'down 'inguides. Acheckbarfifii "located near the top *of the A frames 1 :serves to :limit the travel of the 'tamp-rods upwardl :under all conditions.

W'hen the shells of the cartridgesrare -packed with explosive, it will be seen'that if'all the tamprods are connected rigidly together, any oneof the shells is liable 'to be filled in advance "of the others, andif its tamp-rod continued toactgthe explosive would be compressed too hard in that particular shell, while the others would be imperfectly filled; but when the tamp-rods are each independent in their action, whenevera tamp-T'cd which has filled its shell in advance of theothers, rises to a, given point, this tamp-rod is locked stationary 'while all the others continue to work until they have filled their respective shells 'at which time the same "action takes place with them. When the shells are being packedw'ith explosive by successive reciprocation of the tamprods, every movement of each tamp-rod packs a definite quantity of explosive into the shell and each tamp-rod must, as the shell becomes filled, rise; but when the cross-head comes down for the next stroke, the tamp-rod is driven down just as far as it had heretofore risen'from the growin bulk of explosive in the shell, therefore it will be seen that when the tamp-rod has reached its extreme height from a perfectly filled shell, at this time only do the tamp-rods come into registry with the dogging pin and are securely locked.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, the apparatus improvement comprising the present invention will be set forth and as generally described will be referred to as a tri lepurpose bar. Apparatus for uniformly packing a shell with explosive to form a cartridge has been disclosed above, however, when it is desired to pack a, shell having afirm initial portion, a loose central portion and a firm final portion, a dogging element 55 is affixed to each of the tamprods I3. A triple-purpose bar 51 is slidably mounted between angle brackets 59, which are afiixed to the A frames I, and the bar 51 engages the dogging elements 55 in a manner hereinafter described. The triple-purpose bar 51 comprises a body member 6I having reinforcing members 63 and 65 affixed to the top and bottom side, respectively, of the body member. Interposed between the reinforcing member 63 and the body member 6I is a cover plate 61. A plurality of spring urged detents 69 each having a compression spring H and each of which is adapted to engage its respective dogging element 55, is slidably secured to the body member 6 I by bolts 13, sleeves 15, nuts 11, pins 19 and plates 6| which are alfixed to the body member by screws 83. Fluid cylinders 85 and 81, affixed to the frames I, move the triple-purpose bar 51 forward to a position, represented by 51' as limited by the piston stroke of cylinders 85 and 81. Fluid cylinders 89 and 9|, adjacent to cylinders 85 and 81 respectively, move the triple-purpose bar further forward to a position, represented by 51" as imparted by the piston stroke of cylinders 89 and 9| and as limited by the piston stroke of cylinders 93 and 95, adjustably affixed to the frames I. With forward movement of the bar 51 to operative position 51', latchin heels 55a on dogging elements 55 are engaged. When the cylinders 85, 89, and 81, 9| are exhausted, the piston rods 91 and 99, respectively, engage seats I05 and I91, respectively, which are aflixed to the bar 51, and the bar is returned to its inoperative position by cylinders 93 and 95. When cylinders 93 and 95 are exhausted and cylinders 89 and 9| are filled with motive fluid, bar 51 moves to the operative positon 51" and latching heel 5512 on dogging elements 55 are engaged. The top portion of dogging elements 55 is bevelled and the engaging end of detents 69 is beveled in a compatible manner so that the latching heels 55a during the ascending stroke of the tamp-rods I3 push the slidable detents 69 backwards as the elements 55 slip by, when the bar 51 i in position 51'.

An example of the operation of the invention is given for packing an eight inch cartridge, wherein it is desired to pack the initial two inches firm, the next four inches loose and the remaining two inches firm. After the tamp-rods I 3 have executed a couple of strokes in the conventional manner, whereby the explosive is firmly packed in the bottom two inches of the shell, cylinders 85 and 81 actuated by fluid pressure move the triplepurpose bar 51 to position 51' (Fig. 6). In this position the latching heels 55a on the descending stroke engage the detents 69 of the bar 51 and on the ascending stroke slip by the detents as explained, supra. With the bar 51 in this position, the tamp-rods I3 merely push explosive loosely into the shell without packing it firm. When the explosive has been loosely packed for approximately four inches the explosive builds up to a point where the tamp-rods I3 are again packing firm, due to the fact the latching heels a are no longer engaging the detents 59. These latter two inches are, therefore, firmly packedsimilar to the initial'two inches and this firm packing in the end of the cartridge facilitates crimping the ends, whereby such deleterious effects such as, mushroomed ends, telescopic wrinkling, and collapsing of the cartridges are eliminated. When the cartridges have been fully packed, the dogging pins 3| engage the inserts 39 of the tamprods I3 in the conventional manner, as explained,

supra.

A safety feature, comprising one of the functions of the triple-purpose bar 51 is utilized independent of the other functions, that is, whether soft packing or not. Each time the shell'holder 2| drops, fluid pressure is exhausted from cylinders 93 and 95 and cylinders 99 and 9| actuated by fiuid pressure, thereby move the bar '51'to safety position'51" (Fig. 6) whereby the tamprods are dogged" and cannot enter their respective shells. As soon as the shell holder 2| has turned and has raised so that the shells engage nipples I1, the cylinders and the fluid pressure previously exhausted is again applied to cylinders 93 and 95, and they bar 51 returns to its inoperative position.

There are numerous factors which will influence conditions for the most satisfactory operation of the invention, the actual limits of which cannot be established except by detailed study of each set of materials and the intermediate and finished products involved, however, it is seen that the functions of bar 51 are three-fold and adapted to provide means for automatically soft packing, automatically preventing from accidentally sticking down in such manner as to interfere with rotation of the shell holder, and manually dogging up the entire set of tamping rods to the inoperative position whenever necessary due to accidents or other exigencies. It is further seen that a method of soft packing cartridges is provided wherein the cartridges are so packed that crimping is accomplished without deleterious distortion in the body of the cartridge.

It will be seen, therefore, that this invention actually may be carried out by the use of various modifications and changes without departing from its spirit and scope.

What we claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for filling shells having a series of independent tamping rods and driving mechanism frictionally engaging the tamping rods to reciprocate and permit them to independently retrogress as the shells become filled, the improvement which comprises a dogging element afiixed'to' each of the independent tamp rods; a dogging bar having independent detents adapted to engage the independent dogging elements;

means for moving the dogging bar to a first position to engage the dogging elements and restrict downward travel of the tamp-rods into their respective shells; and means for moving the dogging bar to a second position to engage the dogging element and prevent the tamp-rods from entering their respective shells.

2. In a machine for packing cartridges with explosive having a series of independent tamping rods and driving mechanism frictionally engaging the tamping rods to reciprocate and permit them to independently retrogress as the car- 85, 81 and 89, 9| are exhausted any tamp-rods tridges become filled, the improvement which comprises a dogging element aflixed to each of the independent tamp-rods, said dogging element having an upper step and a lower step, the upper step having a beveled top portion adjacent thereto; a dogging bar having independent spring urged detents adapted to engage the dogging elements, each detent having a beveled portion operatively contiguous with the beveled top portion of a respective dogging element, to permit the dogging element to slip by the detent when its respective tamp-rcd ascends; means for moving the dogging bar to a first position wherein the detents engage the upper step of their respective dogging elements, thereby restraining the descent of the tamp-rods into their respective cartridges; and means for moving the dogging bar to a second position wherein the detents engage the lower step of their respective dogging elements, thereby preventing the tamp-rods from entering their respective cartridges.

3. In combination with a machine for filling shells a dogging mechanism which comprises a series of independent clogging elements each of which is aifixed to a respective tamp-rod of a series of independent tamp-rods, each of said dogging elements having an upper step and a lower step, the upper step having a beveled top portion adjacent thereto; a dogging bar having independent spring urged detents adapted to engage the dogging elements, each detent having a beveled portion operatively contiguous with the beveled top portion of a respective dogging element, to permit the dogging element to slip by the detent when its respective tamp-rod ascends; means for moving the dogging bar to a first position wherein the detents engage the upper step of their respective dogging element's, thereby restraining the descent of the tamp rods into their respective shells; means for moving the dogging bar to a second position wherein the detents engage the lower step of their respective dogging elements, thereby preventing the tamp-rods from 20 entering their respective shells.

JOSEPH L. CLARK. CARLYLE M. LINDEN. CLOYD J. OBERT.

Images