US380686A - lorenz - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. LORENZ.

METHOD OF YOOMPRESSING GUNPOWDIER OR' ANALOGOUS MATERIALS, No. 380,686. PatentedApr. 10 1 888.

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N. PETERS, Phclo-lJmogr-xphun Washington. D. C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Z N E R 0 L W (No Model.)

METHOD OF GOMPRBSSING GUNPOWDER OR ANALOGOUS MATERIALS.

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UNITED ra'rns PATENT ()FFICE.

WILHELM' LORENZ, F OARLSRUHE, BADEN, GERMANY.

METHOD OF COMPRESSING GUNPOWDER 0R ANALOGOUS MATERIALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380,686, dated April 10, 1888.

Application filed June 16, 1887. Serial No. 241,575. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, \VILHELM LORENZ, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, and a resident of Carlsruhe, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Methods for Cornpressing Gunpowder or Analogous Compressible Materials, of which the following is a specification.

My method may apply in compressing any compressible material in hollow bodies-as cartridge-cases,tubes, matrices, pots, &c. exerting the pressure in radial directions from the interior of the hollow bodies toward the exterior of the same.

My invention consists, essentially, in introducing dies, each provided with a concentric extension or lengthening piece extending into the interior of thefilling of the cartridge-cases, tubes, matrices, pots, or other hollow bodies, and pressingthe material in radial or obliquely-radial directions from the interior toward the periphery or walls by means of the said extension and its conical or curved intermediate portion between the die and the lengthening piece of the same, whereto may be added any desired form of die according to convenience for axial pressing. This method maybe employed in different ways and with differently-shaped devices. The filling may be previously pressed and provided with a central opening or canal for facilitating the introduction of the die audits extension; or the die may be introduced directly into the loosely-pouredin filling. For forming such a canal in the filling, a thin needle or spindle is introduced, either from above or from below, into the interior of the hollow case, and around this needle the powder or the other material lies. Nexta die provided with an axial bore corresponding to the diameter of the spindle is introduced from the mouth of the hollow body in its interior and forced against the filling of the same with so much pressure as is required to insure the cohesion of the filling material. After the retiring of the die and spindle a corresponding hole is left in the filling material. The spindle should be so proportioned relativcly to the hollow die for preliminary pressing that it reaches the bottom before the die has completely acted. The die can afterward spring may be set in the interior of the die to serve between the same and the spindle,which spring permits the advancing of the die after the spindle has been arrested, so that no greater force can be applied to the spindle than is due to the action of the spiral sprin Such preliminary pressing leaves ahole in the center, and thus facilitates the entrance of the subsequent dies by which the compression of the filling from the interior outward is to be effected. It further serves by imparting to the filling material such cohesion that the filling material will not escape under the more severe pressure applied at a late stage. It is conven ient to inclose the hollow bodies in suitable strong matrices as well at the'preliminary as at all the later pressings.

The pressingdies proper,which serve for the radial compressing of the powder from the interior, have each a cylindrical shaft and a taper extension having the same or a different motion with softly-rising curves. The dies are introduced with their extensions entering into the canal formed by the preliminary pressing and act from the interior outward. At the same time an axial pressure is effected by the die. Such a compression of the filling may be operated in sufficient force by one of such dies, or two, three, or more dies may press successively upon afilling. In the latter case each succeeding die is provided with a thicker extension. The conical or rounded shoulder'between the thick die and the thin lengthening of the same is successively varied in order that the dies may penetrate as deep as possible into the filling. After a filling has been sufficiently compressed radially and also axially there is poured in new filling material, and this is also ployed at the several succeeding fillings. .Morcover, the layers pressed one into the other may be coated with materials that aid the combustion or that retard the same when explosives are treated; or the layers may, by a coating of indifferent character, be separated from each other,whereby a means for regulating the time of combustion will be obtained.-

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification. All the figures are central vertical sections. Each principal figure shows a cartridge-case of copper inclosed in astrong guard of cast-iron.

Figures 1, 2, 2, 2", 3, and 3 show the preliminary pressing. Fig. 3 is the principal figure. The others are modifications. Fig. 4 shows the first stage of the subsequent compressing. Fig. 4 shows the next stage, and Fig. 4" shows the final stage, of the compressing of the first quantity of material. Fig. 5 shows two forms of die and extension, one shown by the strong lines and another by the dotted lines. Figs. 5, 6, 6, 6 7, 7, and 7" show modifications, the strong lines showing the form of an early die and extension,

and the dotted lines showing the form of dies and extensions used at later stages; and Fig. 8 shows the cartridge after three successive quantities of the same or of different powder have been introduced and compressed.

Theletters of reference must be distinguished with some care in the several figures.

In the drawings the instruments used in these methods ofcompressing are represented in several variations, and will be described as employed in compressing gunpowder in cartridge-cases. Itis understood that these forms, and especially the shoulders between the dies and their extensions,may be modified without defeating the objectof the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a cartridge-case, a, with flashhole, a, inclosed in a form, I). A needle, 0, is introduced from below through the bottom of the case into the same. In Fig. 2 such a needle, 0, is introduced from the open end of the case into the same. This needle has no swell, and allows a hollow cylindrical die, e, to pass over the same for preliminary compressing. It is set on the bottom a of the cup of the case.

In Fig. 2 the needle is shown provided with a tenon centered on the flash-hole a. In Fig. 2 the needle is passed through such hole. The cases are provided with the filling, d, which is to be compressed.

Fig. 3 shows the die 6 similarly bored out, having a plane pressing-surface for preliminary pressing of filling d forced against the same. Fig. 3 shows a die, 6, with widened bore 6, and a needle, 0, with disk 0". Be tween the disk and end plate, e ,a spiral spring, 5, is placed,which, after setting the needle on the bottom of the cup of the case, permits the advancing of die e without exposing the needle to any undue mechanical pressure.

' Fig. 4 shows in dotted lines the canalf remaining after the retiring of needles 0 c and die 6, and, further, a pressing-die proper, g. The same die is,.with its needle-shaped extension h, forced into the canal f as far as shown, having thereby pressed the filling d laterally to an extent corresponding to the thickness of the shaft Fig. 4 shows a second die, g g*, and Fig. 4 a third, each succeeding die having a thicker shaft and a shorter tapered portion of adjustment, K K between the cylindri cal shaft and the needle-shaped lengthening h h, and, further, a ring-die, e, for adding an axial pressing. Such ring may also be added tothe dies 9 and 9'.

Fig. 5 shows a die, Z, with its lengthening Z introduced into the loose filling and-the cylindrical shaft Z entered into the month of the case. Fig. 5 shows a second and a third of such dies (among which, eventually, as indicated by dotted lines, more dies may be employed) with their cylindrical shafts successively entered deeper into the filling,and thus forcing the same accordingly more laterally.

Fig. 6 shows a die, m, with lengthenings of successively-increased thickness m m m &c., and with a shaft entering equally deep into the mouth of the case. The curves of adjustment in this case, as well as with the dies in Figs. 5 and 5 and in Figs. 2, 4, 4, and 4, are made concavo-convex. These intermediate portions of adjustment may as well be shaped only concave, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 in dotted lines.

Fig. 6 shows similar dies to Fig. 6, but with concave portions between the shaft m and the extension of increasing thickness m m. Fig. 6 shows such dies with obtusely-pointed extensions m m 111?.

Fig. 7 shows a die havinga fixed extension, it, set in shaft 0. In this case it is screwed in. Figs. 7 and 7 show two-part dies having the shafts 0 o bored in order to receive either fixed or movable extensions of corresponding dimensions. Instead of being set upon the bottom of the cartridge,all these dies may engage by a tenon in a hole in the same, as shown in Fig. 2, or may passthrough a flash-hole in the bottom, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 5, 6, and 6.

Fig. 8 shows a case having three concentric layers of material compressed in the form of tubes d d' d They are pressed successively one in the other, and a canal of combustion, f, Figs. 4 and 5, is left in the center.

I may repeat that, instead of preparing the dies for successively penetrating more deeply into the filling, the dies may be so arranged as to penetrate always to the same depth. The extension of the die which shall perform the lateral compression may with each successive pressing be so chosen that the filling will be more compressed according to the difference in the cubic contents of these portions. Such dies may be made in one piece, or the extension may be in any convenient way firmly set in or may extend through a central hole bored in the hollow cylindrical shaft. In the latter case the annular die may be moved against the filling at the same time with the extensiondie, or one die after the other may be brought into operation. For example, with such twopart die there may, before, at the same time, or

. tension and the cylindrical shaft.

the partially-compressed material for facilitating the introduction of laterally-compressing dies may be dispensed with. Thus the axial introduction of a needle or spindle in the filling by means of annular dies may be omitted, and dies with conical or tapered or needleshaped extension may then be introduced directly into the loose filling. The extension in this case may taper to such a thin extremity. that the same passes through a corresponding hole in the bottom of the hollow body, whereby the die obtains a substantial axial guide; or the extension may simply be set on the bottom, or may, for centering the die, engage by a tenon in the hole in the bottom. When employing such dies on a filling which is not pressed preliminarily, the cylindrical shaft must be of a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the mouth of the case into which the shaft enters, in order to prevent the escape of the material outward during the lateral compression. Such dies may in the same way as above described perform the radial or lateral pressings, either by means of their extensions alone, or these pressings may be performed by the extension and the intermediate portions between the ex- In the first case the extension is made of a length corresponding to the length of the cases or to the height of the filling pressed or to be pressed therein. The compression of the filling is produced by the entering of the extension into the same, and an amount which corresponds to the cubic capacity of the extension. Such a compression may be operated in sufficient force with one of such dies, or there may two, three, or more dies be used successively to press a filling. In this latter case the following dies are, as above described, each provided with an extension of the same length but of greater thickness than that of the preceding die, so that the filling is each time more compressed according to the increasing cubic capacity of each succeeding extension die. The intermediate portion between an extension and its cylindrical shaft may be thicker or thinner, as required, and may be joined thereto by a curve, either concave or convexconcave; or the extension-die may be joined directly to the end of the hollow cylindrical die without any rounding off. It is understood that all siich diessuited for a filling that has not undergone a preliminary press ing may also be introduced into the canal or hole of a preliminarily -pressed filling. In either case it may be useful for pressing one and the same fillingwhich has been preliminarily pressed or notto employ various sorts of the above-described dies. For example, after one or more pressings with dies having convex-concavo-shaped joiningcurves between the extension-die and the cylindrical shaft, a pressing may be operated with a d1e having a concave joining-curve or having a straight annular pressing-surface, or there may follow a pressing by an annular die, according to the form which it is desired to give to the canal, or in order to add to thelateral pressing a greater or less axial pressing of the filling.

In the drawings the arrows indicate the d1- rection in which the die forms operate laterally and obliquely against the filling.

In comparison with the ordinary method of compressing, in which the pressing is only in an axial direction, this new method permits a greatly increased quantity of filling material-more than 'double the quantity introduced beforeto be compressed into the cases; or, employing the same quantity of compressed filling material as hitherto used, the cartridgecases (or other hollow bodies) may be of considerably smaller size, whereby the manufacture will be facilitated, the cost of making them diminished,the Weight reduced, and the transportation facilitated.

By this method, as applied to the compression of powder or explosives, the inner surface of the canal of combustion may be condensed more or less equally, according to the requirements and to the character of the filling material. This method of compression may be employed for any caliber of cartridgecases, tubes, matrices, pots, and other hollow bodies, and for any sort of gunpowder or other compressible explosive or other material -as, for example, chemical substances, conserves, 8w.

I claim as my invention- The herein-described method of filling hollow bodies-such as cartridge-shells, 8tc.- with compressed gunpowder or other compressible materials, which method consists, first, in filling such hollow body to a certain degree with the compressible material, then introducing a tapering needle into the center of such material for effecting a radial compression of the same and producing a longitudinal canal therein, then filling such canal with another charge of said material and repeating said process, and finally forcing a die into the open end of said hollow body for effecting the axial compression of the several annular-layers of radial] y-compressed material.

In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto set my hand, at Berlin, this 24th day of November, 1886, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

W'ILHELM LORENZ.

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