IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING AND TREATING GUN COTTON AND OTHER EXPLOSIVES FOR SPORTING, MILITARY, AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Howard Trotman, of No. 228, Euston Road, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING
AND TREATING GUN COTTON AND OTHER EXPLOSIVES FOR SPORTING, MILITARY,
AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 16th September 1879, and dated the 24th June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Howard Trotman at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th June 1879.
HOWARD TROTMAN, of No. 228, Euston Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING AND TREATING GUN COTTON AND
OTHER EXPLOSIVES FOR SPORTING, MILITARY, AND OTHER PURPOSES."
It is well known that various means have been resorted to for retarding and
regulating the explosion of gun cotton by mixing with it various substances.
It is also well known that the hygroscopic character of such substances so admixed
as effected gun cotton unfavourably by not sufficiently controlling its rapidity.
Now my Invention consists of the intermixing of an anhydrous fibrous material
of an inert character with gun cotton or other nitro cellulose to modify the rapidity
of their explosion in such a degree as may be found desirable for the special purposes
to which they may be applied.
In carrying out my Invention 1 mix very intimately by means of suitable
apparatus gun cotton or order nitro cellulose in the condition of pulp with a
material known as fibrous silicate or silicate cotton.
This combined product is used for the ordinary purposes to which gun cotton or
other nitro cellulose are applied, as well as for sporting and ammunition purposes.
It is well known that all admixtures of organic substances have a tendency in a
greater or less degree to foul the barrels of guns and rifles, but this objection does
not apply to the substance I use in carrying out my Invention, which is in fact
inert matter, whilst organic substances more or less interchange elements with the
products of the gun cotton and other nitro cellulose.

page_text: I would here remark that the fibre of the gun cotton pulp should be of such
length as shall best suit the equalization of its admixture with the silicious fibre,
and also that the fibrous silica should be broken down into such lengths as shall
best secure an equal distribution when mixed or incorporated with gun cotton.
I have found that for use in sporting guns about 25 parts of the silicious fibre to
75 parts of gun cotton produces good results; the quantity used may vary with the
weight of the projectile or charge of shot from 25 grains and upwards.
It should be stated that I am aware that gun cotton has been reduced and that
admixtures of gun cotton and other substances have been made in the form of
paper, paper stuff, and cartridges, I therefore make no claim thereto.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Howard Trotman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st
October 1879.
HOWARD TROTMAN, of No. 228, Euston Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING AND TREATING GUN COTTON AND
OTHER EXPLOSIVES FOR SPORTING, MILITARY, AND OTHER PURPOSES."
It is well known that various means have been resorted to for retarding and
regulating the explosion of gun cotton by mixing with it various substances.
It is also well known that the hygroscopic character of such substances so
admixed has effected gun cotton unfavorably by not sufficiently controlling its
rapidity.
Now my Invention consists in the intermixing of an anhydrous fibrous material
of an inert character with gun cotton or other nitro cellulose to modify the
rapidity of their explosion in such a degree as may be found desirable for the
special purposes to which they may be applied. In carrying out my Invention I
mix very intimately, by means of suitable apparatus, gun cotton or, other nitro
cellulose in the condition of pulp or powder with a material known as fibrous silicate
or silicate cotton.
This combined product is used for the ordinary purposes to which gun cotton or
other nitro cellulose are applied, as well as for sporting and ammunition purposes.
It is well known that all admixtures of organic substances have a tendency in a
greater or less degree to foul the barrels of guns and rifles, but this objection does
not apply to the substance I use in carrying out my Invention, which is in fact
inert matter, whilst organic substances more or less interchange elements with the
products of the gun cotton and other nitro cellulose.
I would here remark that the fibre of the gun cotton pulp should be of such
length as should best suit the equilization of its admixture with the silicious fibre,
and also that the fibrous silica should be broken down into such lengths as shall
best secure an equal distribution when mixed or incorporated with gun cotton.
I have found that for use in sporting guns about 25 parts of the silicious fibre to
75 parts of gun cotton produces good results; the quantity used may vary with the
weight of the projectile or charge of shot froin 25 grains and upwards.
It should be stated that I am aware that gun cotton has been reduced, and the
admixtures of gun cotton and other substances have been made in the form of
paper, paper stuff, and cartridges, I therefore make no claim thereto.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and its special uses, I would
have it understood that I claim the combination of gun cotton and other nitro
cellulose with anhydrous fibres, by preference the silicious fibre herein before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Howard Trotman, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty fourth day of September, One thousand eight hundred
HOWARD TROTMAN. (L.S.)