IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS AND BLASTING CARTRIDGES AND MEANS FOR PREPARING THE SAME
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Silas Reynolds Divine of Loch-Sheldrake, Sullivan
County, State of New York, United States of America, for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS AND BLASTING CARTRIDGES AND
MEANS FOR PREPARING THE SAME
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Silas Reynolds Divine at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th December 1883.
SILAS REYNOLDS DIVINE of Loch-Sheldrake, Sullivan County, State of New
York, United States of America, IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS
AND BLASTING CARTRIDGES AND MEANS FOR PREPARING THE SAME,
My invention relates to an explosive compound composed of two ingredients,
the one a solid and the other a liquid, such, for example as crushed or powdered
chlorate of potash, or its equivalent as the solid ingredient, and the heavy-oil of
coal-tar, commonly called "dead-oil," or other fluid hydro-carbon which is non-
volatile in a free state at ordinary temperatures; or nitro-benzole, or other
equivalent nitro-compound; or a mixture of said "dead-oil" and nitro-benzole ;
or oil of turpentine, as the liquid ingredient; the said ingredients being in
themselves non-explosive, but when mechanically united forming an explosive
mixture.
My invention has for its object to provide means whereby an explosive
compound of this character is "sensitized" and is given an increased susceptibility
to explosion under various conditions of confinement, so that it may be readily
and effectively exploded in loose or "* rotten rock, or shale, or in hard or soft
earth, whereby the usefulness of an explosive of this character, in blasting and
quarrying operations is greatly increased.
My invention consists, first, of an explosive compound of this character, with
the ingredients of which is mechanically united nitro-glycerine, or its fluid
equivalent, in the manner and for the specific purpose herein after set forth;
and my invention also consists in the hereinafter described composition of matter,
consisting of a mixture of the liquid ingredient of the explosive, a volatile fluid
and sulphur in a finely powdered state in solution, in the definite proportions

page_text: hereinafter named and designed for use in preparing the explosive in the manner
hereinafter recited; and my invention further consists in the improved blasting
cartridges hereinafter particularly described.
In forming an explosive of the character named, in accordance with this
invention, I form the liquid ingredient of a mixture either of the heavy-oil of
coal-tar, commonly called " dead-oil," nitro-benzole, or partly of both, and nitro-
glycerine. Any other fluid hydro-carbon which is non-volatile in a free state at
ordinary temperatures, or which has been made so by suitable treatment, and
which is a solvent of nitro-glycerine may be used with nitro-glycerine in forming
the liquid ingredient. I find it desirable that either the "dead-oil" or the nitro-
benzole, alone, should be united with nitro-glycerine, to form the liquid ingredient,
in the proportions of about two parts of the former to one part of the latter; and
that when "dead-oil" and nitro-benzole are used together that they should be
mixed in equal volumes of each, and to about two parts of this mixture should be
added about one part of nitro-glycerine. The proportion of nitro-glycerine may
be increased or diminished, but it is not desirable that it should be increased to
above fifty or sixty per cent of the mixture, as the "sensitizing" effect is thereby
too great for the purposes of this invention; and it is desirable that such pro-
portion should not be diminished below twenty per cent of the mixture, as the
66 sensitizing " effect then apparently disappears. The theoretical proportions in
which the solid ingredient of the explosive, as for example chlorate of potash, and
the thus constituted liquid ingredient, I consider to be from about nearly four to
five parts of the solid to one part of the liquid; that is to say when the liquid
ingredient is composed of a mixture of nitro-benzole and nitro-glycerine, nearly
four parts of the solid to one of the liquid, or to the saturation of the solid by the
liquid when the liquid ingredient is composed of a mixture of "dead-oil" and
nitro-benzole and nitro-glycerine, about 4 parts of the solid to one of the liquid;
and when the liquid ingredient is composed of "dead-oil" and nitro-glycerine
about five parts of the solid to one of the liquid. The increase, or decrease of the
nitro-glycerine in the mixture constituting the liquid ingredient will operate to
respectively augment or diminish the power, or strength, of the final compound,
and hence the power of the explosive may by this means be "graded," more or
less, at pleasure. It is desirable, when the proportion of nitro-glycerine is
increased to some what decrease the proportion of the chlorate of potash, and
vice-versa.
The liquid ingredient of the explosive, thus formed, is in itself comparatively
insensible to shock or percussion, and hence it may be handled and transported
with safety. The explosive compound thus formed, by mechanically mixing the
described solid and liquid ingredients may be readily and effectively exploded
by a detonator, or cap, in the usual manner, under various conditions of con-
finement, as for example, in loose or "rotten" rock, or shale, or in earth.
"
For the same purpose I have devised a composition of matter, in a fluid form,
which it is intended the user of an explosive of this character should employ
when it is desired to produce an explosive having "sensitiveness or increased
susceptibility to explosion, as indicated. It is intended that this composition of
matter shall be made and put up in suitable cans or receptacles in which it may
be transported to and delivered to the user, and be by him employed, in forming
the explosive, as occasion may arise. In fabricating this composition of matter I
take a volatile fluid such as carbon bisulphide or gasoline, or other solvent of
sulphur, and in it I dissolve a certain quantity, as hereinafter named, of sulphur
in a finely powdered state. I then add to the quantity of the liquid ingredient
("dead-oil" etc) of the explosive, which is the proper proportion relatively to the
solid ingredient (chlorate of potash) for an effective explosive, such a quantity or
volume of this sulphur solution as will make a total fluid volume equal to the full
fluid absorbing capacity of the solid ingredient, chlorate of potash. The proportion
or quantity of sulphur in said solution should be such as will be equal to about
one to three per cent of the mass of the chlorate of potash with which it is to be

page_text: combined, as hereinafter described. This fluid composition of matter is in itself
inexplosive and may therefore be manufactured, handled and transported with
safety.
The designed use of this composition of matter is as follows:-The workman
takes a dry cartridge of the solid ingredient, composed of a cartridge case, or
envelope; of cloth, paper or other porous material containing the solid ingredient,
and soaks it in the fluid composition until the cartridge is saturated therewith.
In the process of this saturation the dry cartridge will be rendered wet by the
fluid, and at the same time the sulphur in the solution will be carried into the
cartridge and distributed thoroughly throughout the mass of the cartridge. When'
the saturation is complete the workman withdraws the cartridge from the fluid'
composition and exposes it in some convenient place to the air, when, in a few
minutes the volatile fluid of the composition, absorbed by the cartridge in the
saturation, will evaporate and escape from the mass of the cartridge, and the
chlorate of potash and "dead-oil," or other liquid ingredient will not only be left
in proper relative proportions in the cartridge, but the sulphur will also remain
disseminated throughout the mass of the cartridge and. in intimate mechanical.
mixture with the combined ingredients-And owing to the permanently wet, or
moist condition of the cartridge, the sulphur will be introduced into the presence of
and remain in mixture with the chlorate of potash without the liability to
accidental explosion which would ensue if sulphur were brought in contact with
chlorate of potash in a dry state.
"
The explosive compound thus formed has an increased "sensitiveness or
susceptibility to explosion by detonation, although it is comparatively insensible
to percussion or shock, and hence may be handled without hazard; and cartridges
prepared by means of this described fluid composition may be readily and
effectively exploded by a cap, in the usual way, in loose or "rotten" rock, or
shale, or in earth, and therefore possess great utility in blasting and quarrying
operations.
I have also devised an improved blasting cartridge, for use for the purposes
indicated, which consists of a cartridge-case, or envelope, of cloth, paper or other
porous material, which contains the solid ingredient, such as chlorate of potash,
and which together with said contained solid ingredient is impregnated with the
liquid ingredient, as for example "dead-oil," of the explosive, and has sulphur in a
fine powder adherent to its exterior and more or less filling the interstices of the
porous case or envelope.
To prepare this cartridge I take a dry cartridge, as described, containing the
chlorate of potash, and impregnate it and its porous envelope with the proper
proportion of the hydro-carbon forming the liquid ingredient of the explosive.
I then sift the sulphur powder over the wet cartridge, or roll the cartridge in the
sulphur powder, so that a thin film or coating of the sulphur will cover the
cartridge. Owing to the wet, or moist and sticky condition of the cartridge the
sulphur will adhere to its exterior and will more or less fill the interstices of
the cartridge case, or envelope-Cartridges thus formed have an increased
"sensitiveness or susceptibility to explosion by detonation.
"
Having thus fully and completely described my invention, what I claim as
new is
First. An explosive compound composed of a solid ingredient of chlorate of
potash, or its equivalent, and a liquid ingredient consisting of a mixture of the
heavy-oil of coal-tar, commonly called " dead-oil," or its equivalent, or nitro-
benzole, or its equivalent, or both, and nitro-glycerine, the said ingredients being
mechanically united in substantially the proportions specified.
Second. The herein described fluid composition of matter, consisting of a mixture
of the liquid ingredient of the explosive and a volatile fluid and sulphur in a finely
powdered state, in solution, the constituents of the said mixture being united in
substantially the proportions specified, and the mixture being adapted to be placed
in a suitable vessel and therein transported to the consumer, and to be then

page_text: employed by the user in preparing an explosive compound of an increased
"sensitiveness or susceptibility to explosion in the manner specified.
"
Third. The herein described blasting cartridge composed of a solid ingredient of
chlorate of potash enclosed in a case, or envelope of cloth, paper or other porous
material, which together with said case or envelope, is impregnated with the
liquid ingredient of the explosive, and with sulphur, in a finely powdered state
distributed throughout, and in intimate mechanical mixture with, the wet or
moist mass of the said solid and liquid ingredients in the cartridge, as specified.
Fourth. The herein described blasting cartridge consisting of an envelope, or
case, of cloth, paper or other porous material which contains the solid ingredient
of the explosive, and which, together with the contained solid ingredient is
impregnated with the liquid ingredient of the explosive, and which has sulphur,
in a finely powdered state, adherent to the exterior of the cartridge-case and
more or less filling the interstices thereof, as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof I, the said Silas Reynolds Divine have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twelfth day of October in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty-three.
SILAS REYNOLDS DIVINE (L.S.)