TRUVIDIAAL DI The Manufacture of a New Explosive.
Year: 1898

page_text: TRUVIDIAAL DI
The Manufacture of a New Explosive.
I, PAUL CORNET, of 89, Placa des Minières, Verviers, in the Kingdom of
Belgium, Powder-maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention consists in the composition, and mode of manufacture, of an
explosive which I term "minolite" having as its base nitrates and nitro-naphtha-
lene. It has for its object to enable the manufacture of the explosive to be
carried out in the cold, the power of the said explosive being regulated as desired
by proportioning the elements thereof.
According to the invention I add to suitable nitrates, such for instance, as the
nitrates of ammonium, potassium, sodium or barium and a nitrated naphthalene,
resin dissolved in alcohol for the purpose of enabling the mixture to take place
in the cold, and Quebracho sawdust designed to absorb a portion of the carbon
monoxide generated by the decomposition of the products during explosion.
After having ground, dried and sifted the nitrates and the naphthalene, these
substances are mixed in the cold, the proportions of the nitrates being varied
according to the explosive force which it is desired to obtain, the ammonium
nitrate serving to increase its force and the barium nitrate to reduce or deaden it.
The sawdust of Quebracho is also pulverized.
These three substances are mixed together and the mixture is sprinkled with
dissolved resin; the whole having been carefully mixed is compressed in moulds
to the form of cartridges or it is introduced into impermeable paper tubes, the
tightness of the folded ends of which is ensured by covering them with a layer
preventing the introduction of air.
The mапитаССИ
I, PAUL CORNET, of 89, Place des Minières, Verviers, in the Kingdom of
Belgium, Powder-maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement : —–
My invention consists in the composition, and mode of manufacture, of an
explosive which I term minolite" having as its base nitrates and nitro-naphtha-
"

page_text: lene. It has for its object to enable the manufacture of the explosive to be
carried out in the cold, the power of the said explosive being regulated as desired
by proportioning the elements thereof.
According to the invention I add to suitable nitrates, such for instance, as the
nitrates of ammonium, potassium, sodium or barium and a nitrated naphthalene,
resin dissolved in alcohol for the purpose of enabling the mixture to take place
in the cold, and Quebracho sawdust designed to absorb a portion of the carbon
monoxide generated by the decomposition of the products during explosion.
After having ground, dried and sifted the nitrates and the naphthalene, these
substances are mixed in the cold, the proportions of the nitrates being varied
according to the explosive force, which it is desired to obtain, the ammonium
nitrate serving to increase its force and the barium nitrate to reduce or deaden it.
The sawdust of Quebracho is also pulverized.
These three substances are mixed together and the mixture is sprinkled with
dissolved resin; the whole having been carefully mixed is compressed in moulds
to the form of cartridges or it is introduced into impermeable paper tubes, the
tightness of the folded ends of which is ensured by covering them with a layer
preventing the entrance of air.
To enable my novel process of manufacture to be fully understood I will proceed
to describe it in detail and by indicating the kind of machines to be preferably
used therefor.
The constituent elements of minolite viz. nitrates of ammonium, sodium,
potassium or barium, nitrated naphthalene, Quebracho sawdust and resin dissolved
in alcohol, are mixed in the cold in a machine comprising a vessel having a false
bottom in which rotates a shaft provided with agitating blades.
The intimate mixture of the explosive composition is effected by the action
of these blades and the explosive thus prepared being more or less wet a jet of
steam is introduced into the double bottom of the apparatus, the temperature
however, not being raised above about 12° Centigrade, this being sufficient for
removing the dampness of the explosive. The explosive when well dried is put
up into cartridges. For this purpose I preferably employ tubes formed of a sheet
of sufficiently thick paper covered upon the inner surface with a layer of tar or of
another impermeable substance which is then covered with a second sheet of thin
paper preferably tissue-paper which, adhering to the tar encloses the latter between
the two sheets of paper. The cartridge sheet thus formed is then rolled into a
tube and cemented, the outer sheet of paper being covered over by the inner
sheet of tissue-paper.
The explosive is then introduced into the tubes thus formed and the cartridges
are made, not by compression as with other explosives nor by means of apparatus
of the kind employed in the case of dynamite, but by tapping by means of a 4
machine called a "tapper" and comprising a board or the like perforated with a
large number of holes adapted to receive the cartridge tubes which are first closed
at one end by doubling in the ends of the tubes. This board is rapidly shaken
whereby the consolidation of the explosive substance is effected. The other end
of the tube is closed in a similar manner, the joints being suitably coated to render 4
them tight, and the cartridge is then ready for use.
The cartridge thus formed presents outwardly the appearance of ordinary paper
which permits the easy application of a mark for example, and which is not
exposed, under the influence of heat, to the flow of the substance designed to
make the paper impervious. This material being held between two sheets of 5
paper protects the explosive without being able to come in contact with it; it
cannot make the manipulation of the cartridge disagreeable as would be the case
if the tar were exposed on the outside of the cartridge and it avoids the liability
of the cartridges becoming stuck together during their carriage.
Furthermore, there is no danger of breaks or cracks appearing in the impervious 5
layer during the work of closing the ends of the tube, the tar not being able to
escape from between the two sheets of paper which enclose it.

page_text: 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:
1. The described process for manufacturing in the cold compounds of nitro-
naphthalene and of nitrates having an explosive force which can be regulated
as desired, the said process consisting in adding to the mixture of these materials
resin dissolved in alcohol to enable the said materials to be agglomerated in the
cold and Quebracho sawdust designed to absorb a portion of the carbon monoxide
disengaged on explosion, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. Explosives having the composition herein stated and manufactured as herein-
before described.
CLETTA
of December IOJO.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant