Year: 1897

page_text: I, THEODOR TEVLEV, Overseer of Mines, of Kisslovodsk, in the Province of Terek,
Northern Caucasus, in the Empire of Russia, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My new explosive consists of two distinct substances-a powder and a liquid.
The powder whose composition is described below must be carefully triturated and
mixed in a roller or ball mill. The powder is then placed in packets or cartridges of
paper the dimensions of which may be varied at will according to the object for which
they are required. This method renders very easy the charging of holes and bores
in rocks.
The powder is composed of potassium chlorate, iron oxide and manganese peroxide
in the following proportions:-
The paper for the cartridges should be strong and easily permeable by liquids.
The liquid consists of petroleum oil and oil of turpentine. In certain cases I add
to these some almond or other aromatic oil in the following proportions:
It should be noticed that each of these oils (with the exception of the almond or
other aromatic oil) may be used alone to impregnate the powder in the cartridges.
The liquid which is prepared separately is only mixed with the powder a short time
before use and is stored in metal watertight vessels containing about a pint. A
pound of my explosive is composed of twelve ounces of powder and four ounces of
liquid which is enough to impregnate the cartridges.
The cartridges before being impregnated cannot ignite spontaneously and do not
explode by shaking or blows even when struck between two steel surfaces. They can
be carried without danger on bad roads or by rail or boat. They are not affected by
frost or damp and do not alter by keeping, their composition remaining constant
under all circumstances; moreover they are not affected by sudden changes in their
surroundings.
The oil which I employ does not catch fire easily; when ignited however it burns
quietly with a large quantity of soot, after the manner of ordinary petroleum and can
be easily put out by water. In other respects this oil has the same qualities as the
powder above described.

page_text: It follows that the cartridges and the oil being kept separate the one from the
other are absolutely incapable of explosion and consequently do not require cellars or
special buildings for their storage.
The cartridges, when impregnated with the oil, which only takes ten to fifteen
minutes, burn quietly when set on fire with an intense white light and produce a
large quantity of gas. If struck between two steel surfaces they explode. They may
also be exploded by means of an ordinary primer such as is used for dynamite
cartridges. It is only under these circumstances that my cartridges produce an
explosion. It should be noticed that the cartridges, even when provided with primers
and placed near to others which are exploded, do not themselves explode; that is to
say, that the direct application of the shock and spark to the impregnated cartridge
is necessary to produce its explosion. Cartridges that have been impregnated but
afterwards dried recover the properties of unimpregnated cartridges and can be
used again.
It will easily be seen therefore that my powder only becomes explosive ten or
fifteen minutes before the charging of the bore holes in the rock to be blasted.
The method of employing my explosive is as follows:-ten to fifteen minutes before
the bore holes are to be charged, the cartridges are impregnated with the liquid
described; then the holes are charged in the same way as when dynamite is used.
The explosion is effected by means of a primer and wire in the ordinary manner.
The force of the explosion is at least equal to that of dynamite and is similarly
directed towards the greatest resistance. The explosive acts equally well in strong
and weak rocks, in fissured rocks and in water. After the explosion no soot is left on
the sides of the bore hole. The cartridges may be exploded in safety in presence of
explosive gases such as fire-damp.
The noticeable features of my invention are:-
a. The absolute safety and small cost of the explosive.
b. Oxygen is the only active element contained by the manganese peroxide; the
petroleum and oil of turpentine only contain hydrocarbons. Accordingly my explosive
consisting of a powder containing only oxygen, potassium, manganese and iron, and
of a liquid containing only hydrocarbons, is absolutely free from nitrogen, the com-
pounds of which are very energetic but very unstable.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, THEODOR TEVLEV, Overseer of Mines, of Kisslovodsk, in the Province of Terek, 4
Northern Caucasus, in the Empire of Russia, 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:-
My new explosive consists of two distinct substances-a powder and a liquid.
The powder whose composition is described below must be carefully triturated and 4
mixed in a roller or ball mill. The powder is then placed in packets or cartridges
of paper the dimensions of which may be varied at will according to the object for
which they are required. This method renders very easy the charging of holes and
bores in rocks.

page_text: The powder is composed of potassium chlorate, iron oxide and manganese peroxide
in the following proportions.
It should be noticed that each of these oils (with the exception of the almond or
other aromatic oil) may be used alone to impregnate the powder in the cartridges.
The liquid which is prepared separately is only mixed with the powder a short time
before use and is stored in metal watertight vessels containing about a pint. A
pound of my explosive is composed of twelve ounces of powder and four ounces of
liquid which is enough to impregnate the cartridges.
The cartridges before being impregnated cannot ignite spontaneously and do not
explode by shaking or blows even when struck between two steel surfaces. They can be
carried without danger on bad roads or by rail or boat. They are not affected by
frost or damp and do not alter by keeping, their composition remaining constant
under all circumstances, moreover they are not affected by sudden changes in their
surroundings.
The oil which I employ does not catch fire easily; when ignited however it burns
quietly with a large quantity of soot, after the manner of ordinary petroleum and
can be easily put out by water. In other respects this oil has the same qualities
as the powder above described.
It follows that the cartridges and the oil being kept separate the one from the
other are absolutely incapable of explosion and consequently do not require cellars
or special buildings for their storage.
The cartridges, when impregnated with the oil, which only takes ten to fifteen
minutes, burn quietly when set on fire with an intense white light and produce a
large quantity of gas. If struck between two steel surfaces they explode.
They may also be exploded by means of an ordinary primer such as is used for
dynamite cartridges. It is only under these circumstances that my cartridges
produce an explosion. It should be noticed that the cartridges, even when provided
with primers and placed near to others which are exploded, do not themselves
explode; that is to say, that the direct application of the shock and spark to the
impregnated cartridge is necessary to produce its explosion. Cartridges that have
been impregnated but afterwards dried recover the properties of unimpregnated
cartridges and can be used again.
It will easily be seen therefore that my powder only becomes explosive ten or
fifteen minutes before the charging of the bore holes in the rock to be blasted.
The method of employing my explosive is as follows:-ten to fifteen minutes
before the bore holes are to be charged, the cartridges are impregnated with the
liquid described; then the holes are charged in the same way as when dynamite
is used. The explosion is effected by means of a primer and wire in the ordinary
manner.
The force of the explosion is at least equal to that of dynamite and is similarly
directed towards the greatest resistance. The explosive acts equally well in strong
and weak rocks, in fissured rocks and in water. After the explosion no soot is left
on the sides of the bore hole. The cartridges may be exploded in safety in presence
of explosive gases such as fire-damp.

page_text: The noticeable reatures of my invention are:-
a. The absolute safety and small cost of the explosive.
b. Oxygen is the only active element contained by the manganese peroxide; the
petroleum and oil of turpentine only contain hydrocarbons. Accordingly my
explosive consisting of a powder containing only oxygen, potassium, manganese and
iron, and of a liquid containing only hydrocarbons, is absolutely free from nitrogen, the
compounds of which are very energetic but very unstable.
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. An explosive consisting of a powder and a liquid, the powder being a mixture
of potassium chlorate with manganese peroxide or ferric oxide or both and the
liquid being petroleum or oil of turpentine or a mixture of these with or without
the addition of almond or other aromatic oil substantially as described.
2. Enclosing the powder in a porous envelope and impregnating the same with
the liquid shortly before use substantially as described.
Dated this 12th day of January 1898
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.