IMPROVEMENTS IN MATERIALS FOR CHARGING CARTRIDGES USED IN MINING OR OTHER OPERATIONS, ALSO IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CARTRIDGES AND IN OTHER APPARATUS AND ARRANGE- MENTS RELATING THERETO PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Smethurst of Landgate House Brynn near Wigan
Colliery Proprietor and John Collins of Bolton Analytical Chemist both in the
County of Lancaster, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN MATERIALS FOR
CHARGING CARTRIDGES USED IN MINING OR OTHER OPERATIONS, ALSO IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE CARTRIDGES AND IN OTHER APPARATUS AND ARRANGE-
MENTS RELATING THERETO
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Smethurst and John
Collins at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th October
1882.
WILLIAM SMETHURST of Landgate House, Brynn near Wigan, Colliery
Proprietor, and JOHN COLLINS of Bolton, Analytical Chemist, both in the County
of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MATERIALS FOR CHARGING CARTRIDGES USED
IN MINING OR OTHER OPERATIONS, ALSO IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CARTRIDGES
AND IN OTHER APPARATUS AND ARRANGEMENTS RELATING THERETO."
This invention relates to the employment of an agent or agents of a non-
inflamable and harmless nature as a complete substitute for Gunpowder, Gun-
Cotton, Dynamite or other dangerous explosive now used for mining Couls,
minerals or blasting rocks, and other like operations, and consists in forming
Cartridges charged with Caustic Baryta or Strontia in a state of compression or
otherwise, the same being introduced into bore holes in the said minerals.
This alkaline earth is thereafter brought into contact in a confined condition and
saturated with the Hydrate of Ammonium or Caustic Liquid Ammonia, after
which the contents of the Cartridge become hydrated, and by the pressure of steam
generated, together with the Ammonia Gas evolved, considerable force is produced,
ID 71

page_text: giving an eruptive force sufficient to effect the breaking down of the mineral
operated upon. By these means, in the case of Coal mines, a great advantage is
gained by effecting the breaking down of the Coal without danger of explosion of
fire-damp, and with considerably less small coal.
This our said invention may be carried into practice in a variety of ways, but
the following arrangement and mode of operating we employ by preference. The
Caustic Baryta or Strontia is ground fine and then consolidated by pressure or
otherwise into Cartridge form. Each Cartridge is provided through the centre or
otherwise with a hole, made by inserting a pin or pipe while in the cartridge
mould, in which is inserted a flexible tube or pipe. This tube is made in the forin
of a spiral spring of steel or other equivalents, perfectly closed with the inner end
made open or solid. The outer end is connected to a suitable pipe, through which
the Hydrate of Ammonium or Caustic Liquid Ammonia is supplied by pressure or
otherwise, by which action the flexible tube or spiral spring in the cartridge
expands or opens, thus allowing the liquid to flow and saturate the contents of the
cartridge.
By making the outlet of the pipe flexible, in the form of a spiral spring, the
outlet is considerably increased, thereby enabling the liquid to flow out in one
stream from end to end, or in its entire length, and to the full diameter of the pipe.
This dispenses with any liability to become hermetically sealed by the contents of
the cartridge of whatever formed, as is the case where pipes are used with
perforations or slits in connection with Lime or like substances. This arrangement
may be also applied to cartridges composed of any other substance or material.
The cartridges are enclosed in waterproof casings to protect them from damp,
and after they have been enclosed in the bore holes, either by tamping with clay
or other suitable material, the flexible tube or spiral spring is inserted in the hole
prepared for it, connected to the conducting pipe through which the Hydrate of
Ammonium or Caustic Liquid Ammonia is conveyed to the contents of the Cartridge
ly a force pump or other power.
It is not necessary to employ the Caustic Baryta or Strontia in the form of
consolidated Cartridges as described, as it may be rammed into the bore holes
themselves, either in a powdered state or in an unprepared condition, by placing a
rod or pipe in the bore hole in the centre or otherwise, while it is being ramined.
This rod or pipe is then drawn out and the flexible tube or spiral spring for
supplying the liquid being inserted in its place, as previously described.