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US4444606A
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Process for the manufacture of fine propellant powders by granulation, and powders thus obtained
Assignee: Societe Nationale des Poudres et Explosifs
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Filing: 1981-11-13
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Granted: 1984-04-24
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Expires: 2001-11-13
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of fine propellant powders by granulation, and, by way of products, to the fine powders thus obtained. The process according to the invention consists in granulating the base materials, wetted with solvent, in a granulating tray 11, in subsequently subjecting the granules thus obtained to a first partial drying in a drier 14, and in completing the finishing of the said granules in a rounder 16, optionally in the presence of solvent. The process according to the invention can be carried out continuously or batchwise, with a very high degree of operational safety. The propellant powders thus obtained possess a good activity and are suitable for small-caliber and medium-caliber weapons.
Inventors
- 👤 Yves Bertrand
- 👤 Remy Favrot
- 👤 Pierre Gaudilliere
- 👤 Jean-Charles Perennou
- 👤 Bernard Wiedemann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:56
CPC Classifications
C; C06; C06B; C06B21/00; C06B21/0033; C06B21/0066; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S149/00; Y10S149/118
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
Process for the manufacture of fine granular, completely gelatinized porous propellant powders from at least one solid base material which consists of an energy producing material, wherein said base material is ground to a particle size of less than 300 microns, containing about 20% water, is disintegrated, fed into a rotating apparatus while a solvent for said at least one solid base is sprayed thereon, the solvent being insoluble or little soluble in water, whereby the material is agglomerated and formed into granules, the granules thus obtained are subjected to a first partial drying at room temperature, the product is again shaped in a rotating apparatus, the total wetting level in respect of the solvent is between 60% and 140% with respect to the weight of the dry base material and the granules are dried.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
Process for the manufacture of fine granular, completely gelatinized porous propellant powders from at least one solid base material which consists of an energy producing material, wherein said base material is ground to a particle size of less than 300 microns, containing about 20% water, is disintegrated, fed into a rotating apparatus while a solvent for said at least one solid base is sprayed thereon, the solvent being insoluble or little soluble in water, whereby the material is agglomerated and formed into granules, the granules thus obtained are subjected to a first partial drying at room temperature, the product is again shaped in a rotating apparatus, the total wetting level in respect of the solvent is between 60% and 140% with respect to the weight of the dry base material and the granules are dried.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
Process according to claim 1, wherein said rotating apparatus is a granulating tray.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
Process according to claim 2, wherein said rounder is a granulating tray.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
Process according to claim 1, wherein said solvent is a solvent for nitrocellulose.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
Process according to claim 1 wherein said solvent is selected from the group consisting of methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, ethyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, isobutyl acetate and nitromethane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
Process according to claim 4, wherein a diluent is added to the said solvent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
Process according to claim 6, wherein said diluent is a volatile hydrocarbon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
10 words
Process according to claim 1, which is a batch process.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
8 words
Process according to claim 1, which is continuous.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process according to claim 2 wherein said granulating tray is kept inclined at an angle of about 57°-62° with the horizontal plane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein said solid base material comprises nitrocellulose, recovery powders, waste from the manufacture of double base powders and nitrocellulose/nitroglycerin mixtures.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein at least a member selected from the group of plasticizers and stabilizers is added to the solvent introduced into the granulating tray.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
146 words
A propellant in the form of granules of ballistic properties adequate for small caliber weapons which consists of a porous, completely gelatinized heterogeneous mass obtained by grinding at least one solid base material which consists of an energy producing material, containing about 20% water, to a particle size of less than 300 microns, disintegrating the ground material, feeding it into a rotating apparatus while a solvent for said at least one solid base material is sprayed thereon, the solvent being insoluble or little soluble in water, whereby the material is agglomerated and formed into granules, the granules thus obtained are subjected to a first partial drying at room temperature, the product is again shaped in a rotating apparatus, the total wetting level in respect of the solvent is between 60% and 140% with respect to the weight of the dry base material, and drying the granules.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
146 words
A propellant in the form of granules of ballistic properties adequate for small caliber weapons which consists of a porous, completely gelatinized heterogeneous mass obtained by grinding at least one solid base material which consists of an energy producing material, containing about 20% water, to a particle size of less than 300 microns, disintegrating the ground material, feeding it into a rotating apparatus while a solvent for said at least one solid base material is sprayed thereon, the solvent being insoluble or little soluble in water, whereby the material is agglomerated and formed into granules, the granules thus obtained are subjected to a first partial drying at room temperature, the product is again shaped in a rotating apparatus, the total wetting level in respect of the solvent is between 60% and 140% with respect to the weight of the dry base material, and drying the granules.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein the product is shaped in a rotating apparatus in the presence of a solvent.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-04-24 | 1987-10-24 | 1988-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-04-24 | 1991-10-24 | 1992-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-04-24 | 1995-10-24 | 1996-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |