Year: 1886

page_text: I WALDEMAR VON RUCKTESCHELL of St. Petersburg, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows: —
This Invention relates to a new compound suitable for use in the impact motor
forming the subject of another application for Letters Patent of even date here-
with and numbered 15475 1885 and applicable also for various other purposes.
I will first describe the different properties, and then the mode of production, of
the new compound which in consequence of its structure and the manner in which
it is produced belongs to the nitro-cellulose group It resembles gun-cotton or the
group of nitro-products such as Di- Tri- Tetra- and Penta-Cellulose and is not
properly a nitro combination like Picric Acid as is proved by the action of con-
centrated sulphuric acid and potash or soda lye, nitrate of potash or soda being
precipitated and the cellulose separated. The new compound presents such
different qualities that it cannot be grouped with the known nitro-combinations
of cellulose. It is known that the best way of producing nitro cellulose is by
means of a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids. In the method of Lenk
(improved later on by Abel) Schönbein, Heeren, Knop, etc, a mixture is used
consisting of one part of nitric acid to three parts of sulphuric acid and eighty five
grammes of cotton are mixed with 300 times that weight of the acid mixture.
By this means, two kilogrammes are produced so that about twelve parts by
weight of the acid mixture correspond to one part by weight of cotton.
The new
nitro-cellulose compound is produced in such manner that for one part of ligneous
cellulose only one part of nitric acid and one part of sulphuric acid are used which
has never been done before. A further difference in the mode of production is
that instead of cotton, chemically pure wood fibre is used such as is produced for
the manufacture of paper. Before being converted into nitro cellulose it is first
boiled with potash and then with dilute nitric acid. The wood fibre not-
withstanding its analogy to the cotton cellulose presents different mechanical and
physical properties which is due to the fact that the cotton cellulose retains its
cellular character after having been converted into Pyroxilin whereas the wood
cellulose in consequence of the mode in which it is produced (crushing and
grinding) loses this character which has an important effect on the practical

page_text: question of power. By this new mode of producing a nitro-cellulose of the kind
herein described new properties are obtained which are quite different from the
known nitro-combinations of cellulose. Compared with gun cotton which in con-
sequence of its quick and easy explosibility is one of the most dangerous substances
the new compound of this Invention possesses the following qualities.-(1.) It does
not explode but burns with a yellow flame without leaving any residue. (2.) It
cannot be exploded by shock or percussion. (3.) It can be heated up to 150° or
200° C without burning or exploding.-When the compound is used for actuating
the impact motor above referred to the charge does not burn; it is decomposed
into gases by the electric current and these gases are generated instantaneously
and in consequence of heat being rendered, latent a lowering of temperature takes
place. The analysis of the gases produced by the combustion of gun cotton shows
that they are composed of 50' per cent of carbonic oxide and carbonic acid and
10 per cent of carburetted hydrogen. The proportions of the gases produced by
this new compound are quite different, being composed of 43 per cent of carbonic
oxide and carbonic acid and 17 per cent of empyreumatic carburetted hydrogen.
This can also be proved by the fact that the gases of the new compound, after its
decomposition by the electric current, burn in the open air a very long time with
a yellow flame. From this description, it is easy to perceive the difference of
properties between gun cotton and the new compound and the advantages of the
latter, both as regards its temperature of ignition and indifference to percussion.
The new compound consequently the best form of nitro cellulose for the working
of engines.
substances,
It is also produced more cheaply than other power producing

page_text: I WALDEMAR VON RUCKTESCHELL of St Petersburg, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention relates to a new combustible compound suitable for use in the
explosion engine forming the subject of another application for Letters Patent of
even date herewith and numbered 15,475 of 1885 and applicable also for various
other purposes. I will first describe the different properties, and then the mode of
production of the new compound, which in consequence of its structure and the
manner in which it is produced belongs to the nitro-cellulose group. It resembles
gun-cotton or the group of nitro-products such as Di- Tri- Tetra and Penta
Cellulose and is not properly a nitro combination like Picric Acid, as is proved by
the action of concentrated sulphuric acid and potash or soda-lye, nitrate of potash
or soda being precipitated and the cellulose separated.
The new compound presents such different qualities that it cannot be grouped
with the known nitro-combinations of cellulose.
It is known that the best way of producing nitro-cellulose is by means of a
mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids. In the method of Lenk (improved later on
by Abel) Schönbein, Heeren, Knop, etc, a mixture is used, consisting of one part of
nitric acid-to-three-parts-of-sulphuric acid, and eighty_five grammes of cotton are
mixed with 300 times that weight of the acid mixture. By this means, two
kilogrammes are produced, so that about twelve parts by weight of the acid
mixture correspond to one part by weight of cotton.
In the production of the new nitro-cellulose compound of this Invention, only
one part of nitric acid and one part of sulphuric acid are used for one part of
ligneous cellulose, which has never been done before. A further difference in the
mode of production is that, instead of cotton, chemically pure wood fibre is used,
such as is produced for the manufacture of paper.
Before being converted into nitro-cellulose by treatment with nitric and sul-
phuric acids as aforesaid, the wood fibre is boiled first with potash and then with
dilute nitric acid.
The wood-fibre notwithstanding its analogy to cotton cellulose, presents different
mechanical and physical properties, which is due to the fact that the cotton
cellulose retains its cellular character after having been converted into Pyroxilin,
whereas the wood-cellulose in consequence of the mode in which it is produced
(crushing and grinding) loses this character, which has an important effect on the
practical question of power.
By this new mode of producing a nitro-cellulose of the kind herein described,
new properties are obtained which are quite different from the known nitro-
combinations of cellulose. Compared with gun cotton, which in consequence of its
quick and easy explosibility, is one of the most dangerous substances, the new
compound of this Invention possesses the following qualities.
1. It does not explode, but burns with a yellow flame without leaving any
residue.
2. It cannot be exploded by shock or percussion.
3. It can ha heated up to 150° 200º C without hunning on ounlodin

page_text: 1
When the compound is used for actuating the engine above referred to, the
charge does not burn; it is decomposed into gases by the electric current and these
gases are generated instantaneously, and in consequence of heat being rendered
latent, a lowering of temperature takes place.
The analysis of the gases produced by the combustion of gun cotton shows
that they are composed of 50 per cent of carbonic oxide and carbonic acid and
10 per cent of carburetted hydrogen. The proportions of the gases produced by
this new compound are quite different, being composed of 43 per cent of carbonio
oxide and carbonic acid and 17 per cent of empyreumatic carburetted hydrogen.
This can also be proved by the fact that the gases of the new compound, after its
decomposition by the electric current, burn in the open air a very long time with
a yellow flame.
From this description it is easy to perceive the difference between the properties
of gun cotton and of the new compound and the advantages of the latter, both as
regards its temperature of ignition and indifference to percussion. The new
compound is consequently the best form of nitro-cellulose for the working of
engines. It is also produced more cheaply than other power producing substances.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said.
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
The manufacture of the new combustible compound herein described, by boiling
chemically pure wood fibre with potash and with dilute nitric acid and afterwards
treating it with a mixture of sulphuric acid and nitric acid in the proportions
stated, whereby it is converted into nitro-cellulose as specified.