Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 6th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 12th Oct., 1888
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :--
Ammonio-Nitrate of Copper, (4 NH³, Cu 2 NO³) is known as a compound, bu
has never been considered to possess explosive properties, and does not even burn
when fired by a spark. It has been found, however, that upon submitting it to the
influence of a very strong detonator (cap or tube charged with fulminate), it becomes
explosive, and exercises very considerable power.
A special advantage with which this compound may be credited, is, that it emits a
very short flame on exploding, and it thus offers greater security in mines charged
with fire-damp than any of the explosives hitherto employed. The use of this explosive
is very simple. Into a cartridge filled with powdered Ammonio-Nitrate of Copper, a
strong detonator, to which a common fuse has been attached, is inserted. When the
fire reaches the detonator, the Ammonio-Nitrate of Copper explodes with great violence,
and this it will do even if unconfined. The Ammonio-Nitrate of Copper admits, there-
fore, of being used for all sorts of blasting operations, as well as for charging shells
and torpedoes.
Mixed intimately with gunpowder or other well known explosive, Ammonio-Nitrate
of Copper also explodes, but with an energy which is controlled, or qualified, by the
nature of the material combined therewith. It can therefore be utilized (in admixture
with other explosives) for propelling projectiles.
3

page_text: I ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON of the Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, 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 :-
Ammonio-nitrate of copper (4 NH³ Cu 2 NO³) has long been known as a chemical
compound, but has never been understood to possess explosive properties, and cannot
be fired, even under confinement, by a spark or Bickford fuse. My communicant
has however succeeded, by subjecting it to the action of a very strong primer, con-
sisting of a cap or tube charged with fulminate, commonly called a detonator, or of a
gunpowder charge, in rendering the aforesaid substance explosive and capable of
exercising very great power.
Ammonio-nitrate of copper emits, on exploding, a very short flame of comparatively
low temperature, a property which renders it valuable as a substitute for gunpowder
or dynamite for use in coal mines charged with fire-damp, which it does not set off
under normal conditions, whilst gunpowder and dynamite bring about its explosion.
Ammonio-nitrate of copper is very little sensitive to concussion. Hence, shells
may be advantageously charged therewith. Like picric acid or moist guncotton, it
has to be set off by means of a special detonator attached to the shell.
On granulating ammonio-nitrate of copper in the same manner as gunpowder is
granulated, it has proved to be applicable for propelling projectiles, but it requires in
such case to be fired by means of a special primer consisting of a small charge of
gunpowder or other vivid explosive. In other respects, the charging is effected in
the same manner as with gunpowder, only that the quantity has to be reduced in
proportion as its power exceeds that of gunpowder.-The size of the aforesaid gun-
powder primer will of course vary with the size of the bore of the gun, but as the
bore is diminished, the greater should be the relative proportion of the priming charge.
Thus, in a rifle cartridge containing only 5 grammes of powder, the aforesaid primer
should not contain less than grauime of gunpowder, whilst an ammonio-nitrate of
copper charge for cannon, can easily be fired by means of a primer containing only
2 to 5% of its weight of gunpowder.
The mode of applying ammonio-nitrate of copper to the various uses herein set
forth is extremely simple.-For its use in mines, it is simply filled into a common
paper cartridge, and connected with a detonator (containing about. 0.6 gramme of
fulminate) and fuse. The loading and firing are effected as when dynamite is used.-
Electric fuses should be resorted to for use in mines charged with fire damp.
Cartridges for firearms are charged with granulated ammonio-nitrate of copper in
the same manner as with gunpowder, with this exception, however, that the charge
of gunpowder constituting the aforesaid primer, should be lodged so as to be fired

page_text: directly by the cap or other appliance adopted for igniting the charge. The primer
charge may be separated from the ammonio-nitrate of copper charge by means of a
small plug of paper or other suitable material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
The use of the improved explosive compound herein described in conjunction with
the means herein set forth for developing and regulating its explosiveness.
Dated this 6th day of Santomha. 1000
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.