PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE COMPRESSION OF GUNPOWDER

1389927 Consolidating black powder WASAGCHEMIE GmbH 22 June 1972 [3 Aug 1971] 29326/72 Heading B5A In a method of consolidating black powder (a mixture of potassium nitrate, sulphur and charcoal), the powder is deposited on to the lower run 3 of a double belt machine, consolidated by a pair of rollers 13 and then pressed in two stages by an initial press 5 and a final press 7, the final press exerting a greater pressure than the initial press. The presses, which are hydraulically operated, are movable along the length of the belts by means of rollers 10 guided in rails 11. By alternate actuation and movement forward of the presses, the pressed sheet is advanced through the apparatus, i.e. actuation of press 5 and its movement forward with simultaneous movement backwards of unactuated press 7, followed by actuation of press 7 and its movement forward with simultaneous movement backwards of unactuated press 5 (Figs. 3-5, not shown).