IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVES FOR BLASTING, FOR USING IN FIRE ARMS AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Hannan, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Merchant, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVES
FOR BLASTING, FOR USING IN FIRE ARMS AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Hannan at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th December 1882.
ROBERT HANNAN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Merchant,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVES FOR BLASTING, FOR USING IN FIRE ARMS AND
FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
"
This Invention has for its object the manufacture of improved, powerful, and
efficient explosives for blasting, for using in fire arms, and for similar purposes.
The improved explosives are compounds in which small quantities of any one
or more of the higher metallic oxides, such as sesquioxide of iron, binoxide of
manganese, binoxide of lead, or other similar oxide are combined with salts of
potash and with charcoal or other similar carbon.
"
In one modification the oxide and carbon are combined with chlorate of potash,
nitrate of potash, and either yellow or red prussiate of potash; and in a second
modification the oxide and carbon are combined with chlorate of potash and nitrate
of potash. The proportions of the ingredients may be varied to suit different
requirements, and the ingredients may be combined, in various ways. Thus the
ingredients may be ground separately and be mixed when in the ground state; or
the potash salts may be dissolved and the mixed solutions be combined with the
oxide and carbon. In the latter case the water of solution may be removed by
evaporation, the mixture being well stirred during the evaporation to prevent
separation of the salts by crystallisation.. When the explosives are to be kept for
any length of time or to be conveyed to a distance a small quantity of paraffin.or
other suitable hydrocarbon may be combined with them to protect them from
injury through atmospheric changes and to render them not liable to accidental
ignition by friction
The improved explosives have a much more powerful action than equal weights
of ordinary gunpowder and they are well suited for blasting purposes or for use in
ordnance or large fire arms, whilst they can also. be used under certain conditions
in small fire arms.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Hannan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th June
1883.
_ROBERT HANNAN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Merchant
"IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVES FOR BLASTING, FOR USING IN FIRE ARMS AND FOR
SIMILAR PURPOSES
"
My said Invention consists in forming a new combination of ingredients so as
to obtain improved and very efficient explosives; which are especially suitable for
large fire arms or ordnance, and for blasting and similar purposes and which may
also be used for small fire arms. The improved explosives have been proved by
comparative trials to have more than double the penetrating power of the same
weight of ordinary gunpowder; the smoke they produce is comparatively small in
quantity; the recoil is less than with ordinary gunpowder; and, as has also been
established by careful trials the precision in shooting is greater.
In making the improved explosives, the ingredients employed are,-first, yellow
or red prussiate of potash, or a mixture of both; second, nitrate of potash; third,
chlorate of potash; fourth, paraffin of high melting point; and fifth, ferric oxide or
other suitable "higher oxide' It has previously been proposed to use the first,
second, and third ingredients in making explosives, together with some form of dry
or powdered charcoal and with other active chemical agents but the combinations
and the resulting compounds have been quite different from those constituting my
present Invention.
It has also previously been proposed to use an extremely
small proportion of paraffin or similar substance for the express purpose of rendering
the gunpowder or explosive waterproof, or insensitive to damp and also to act as a
lubricant, and by my présent Invention those properties of the paraffin are utilised,
but at the same time a much larger proportion of the paraffin is employed than
is necessary for those purposes, being made to take the place of the charcoal, used
in ordinary explosives with the advantage of very much improving the explosive;
the compound becoming more homogeneous or "uniformly and thoroughly mixed in
consequence of its use, and greater precision in shooting being attained by the
consequent more uniform action when exploding. An essential feature of the
improved compound is the use of the ferric or other higher oxide as an ingredient
which intensifies and sharpens the explosion so as to render the action very local a
property being thereby imparted which is very valuable for blasting. The use of
the paraffin instead of the charcoal ordinarily employed combined with the use of
the higher oxides forms a distinguishing feature of my present Invention and
renders the total combination essentially and materially different from any
previously known compound comprising the first, second, and third ingredients.
In carrying out my Invention the proportions of the several ingredients may be
varied to a small extent; but after careful trials the following proportions have
been found to give the best results, namely, in 1000 parts by weight, 120 parts
yellow prussiate of potash; 235 parts nitrate of potash; 470 parts chlorate of
potash; 160 parts paraffin; and 15 parts ferric oxide. The processes of manu-
facture may be substantially the same as those used in making analogous compounds.
According to one plan solutions of the soluble ingredients are mixed, and heated
so as to evaporate a large portion of the water, the paraffin and ferric oxide being
added and thoroughly intermixed by means of rotating agitators whilst the
evaporation is being completed. Or the ingredients may be combined in the dry
state, the first, second, third, and fifth being ground separately if necessary and
then combined in a grinding mill, a little water being added by preference during

page_text: the conjoint grinding or combination to promote adhesion. The fourth ingredient-
the paraffin-may also be combined with the other ingredients in a suitable mixing
and grinding mill with or without the aid of heat to soften it; or it may be
melted and be combined with the other ingredients after they have been thoroughly
intermixed. The compound is afterwards compressed, in which operation a heavy
pressure should be employed; and may then be granulated or otherwise finished
for use in any desired manner. A little fine plumbago may be applied in finishing
the explosive as is done with ordinary gunpowder so that it may have the color and
appearance now commonly required in a good gunpowder.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein before described but that what I believe to be novel and original and
claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is :-
An explosive compound made by combining prussiate of potash, nitrate of
potash, chlorate of potash, paraffin, charcoal or other similar carbon and ferric oxide
or other higher oxide substantially as hereinbefore described.
In Witness whereof I, the said Robert Hannan, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twelfth day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-three.
Witness.
EDMUND HUNT.
Patent Agent.
Glasgow.
R. HANNAN. (L.S.)