AN IMPROVED EXPLOSIVE COMPOUND
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"AN IMPROVED EXPLOSIVE COMPOUND." A communication from abroad by
John Malcolm Lewin, of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th November 1880..
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED EXPLOSIVE COM-
POUND." [A communication from abroad by John Malcolm Lewin, of Paris,
France.]
This Invention relates to a new or improved explosive compound, which consists
essentially of nitro-glycerine with cellulose and saltpetre dissolved therein.
According to this Invention, I prepare the said explosive compound as follows,
that is to say :-
Cotton is by successive treatment with alkali and acids freed from any impurities
which it contains. It is then reduced to a fine powder by means of a reducing
cylinder or otherwise, and submitted to the action of steam at high pressure until
reaction takes place; the operation is then arrested, the gelatinous mass so obtained
is allowed to cool, and can be preserved for any length of time if kept under water.
This gelatinous mass is dissolved in nitro glycerine, which easily absorbs about
5 per cent. thereof, and a kind of gelatine is thus obtained.
The nitro-glycerine, the gelatinous cellulose, and the saltpetre united in the
proportions of 75, 7, and 18, will produce a compound of good quality, which is
a compact plastic mass, and offers the following advantages over other explosives
viz. :-
The nitro-glycerine is so mixed with the other components that it cannot be
separated either by sulphuric ether or by alcohol, and water will not affect it;
consequently the nitro-glycerine will in this compound retain all its properties.
The power of this explosive compound is equal, and in some respects superior to
that of nitro-glycerine; its manipulation is less dangerous than that of any known
explosive, and its manufacture less expensive than that of any other material which
contains nitro-glycerine. Moreover the said compound can be preserved for an
indefinite length of time, even under water, without undergoing any change.
'

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th May 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED EXPLOSIVE COM-
POUND.' A communication from abroad by John Malcolm Lewin, of Paris,
France.
"
This Invention relates to a new or improved explosive compound, which
consists essentially of nitro-glycerine with cellulose and saltpetre or nitre dissolved
therein.
In the manufacture of the said explosive compound, which I term "forcite," I
proceed as follows, that is to say :-Cotton is by successive treatment with alkalies
and acids freed from any impurities which it contains. It is then reduced to a fine
powder by means of a reducing cylinder, a beater, or otherwise, and submitted to
the action of steam at high pressure until the reaction takes place; the operation
is then suspended, and the gelatinous mass which is obtained, and which can be
preserved for any length of time if kept under water, is allowed to cool. This
gelatinous mass is then dissolved in nitro-glycerine, which readily absorbs
about 5 per cent. thereof, and a kind of gelatine or gelatinous celluloid is thus
obtained.
My improved explosive compound consists of nitro-glycerine of the gelatinous
cellulose above described and of saltpetre.
These substances when combined in the respective proportions of 75, 7, and 18,
will produce an effective compound which consists of a compact plastic mass, and
offers the following advantages over other explosives, viz.:
-
The nitro-glycerine is so perfectly surrounded by or mixed with the other com-
ponents that it cannot be separated therefrom, either by sulphuric ether or by
alcohol, nor does water affect it, consequently the properties of the nitro-glycerine
in this compound will remain unchanged. The power of this explosive compound
is equal to that of nitro-glycerine, whilst its crushing force is much superior to the
latter. Moreover the manipulation of my improved compound is less dangerous
than that of any other explosive material, and its manufacture is less costly than
that of any other explosive material which contains nitro-glycerine. In addition
the said compound can be preserved for an indefinite length of time, even under
water, without undergoing any change.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,-
The above described explosive compound, consisting of nitro-glycerine, cellulose,
and nitre or saltpetre, combined in or about in the proportions above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.