Improvements in Explosives.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July 1891
Complete Specification Left, 30th May, 1892-Accepted, 2nd July, 1992
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Explosives.
We HENRY DE MOSENTHAL of Connaught Mansions in the City of Westminster
Consulting Chemist, ALFRED GORDON SALAMON of 1 Fenchurch Avenue in the
City of London Consulting and Analytical Chemist and JOHN JAMES HOOD of
21 Shepherds Bush Road in the County of Middlesex Analytical Chemist, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object, improvements in the preparation of explosives
by the use of certain substances containing oxygen available for chemical com-
bination which hitherto have not been thus employed. These substances are first
bichromate of ammonia, secondly oxides of manganese preferably hydrated and
more especially the substance known as "Weldon mud" from which the calcium
chloride has been carefully removed, and the resulting compound pressed and
suitably dried or dehydrated to a greater or less extent. The bichromate of
ammonia may be regarded chiefly as a substitute for nitrate of potash nitrate of
soda, nitrate of ammonia nitrate of baryta chlorate of potash and like substances
now used in the preparation of blasting and propelling explosives. The manganese
compound both serves as a vehicle for oxygen which is devoid of acid properties
and can take the place of the inert absorbents at present in use.
We may use either one or the other or both of these substances in substitution
for the corresponding substances in existing explosives.
Dated this 31st day of July 1891.
ERNEST SALAMAN,
Agent for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Explosives.
We HENRY DE MOSENTHAL of Connaught Mansions in the City of Westminster
Consulting Chemist, ALFRED GORDON SALAMON of 1 Fenchurch Avenue in the
City of London Consulting and Analytical Chemist and JOHN JAMES HOOD of
21 Shepherds Bush Road in the County of Middlesex Analytical Chemist, 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:―
This invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of explosives
by the use of substances containing oxygen available for chemical combination and
possessing a physical structure which allows of the free absorption of both the
liquid and gaseous substances commonly employed in the manufacture of explosives.
The substance which we prefer is the manganese compound known as Weldon
mud from which the calcium chloride is carefully removed and the resulting com-
pound suitably dried or dehydrated.
The thus prepared Weldon mud consists of a mixture (more or less hydrated
varying according to the extent of drying to which it is subjected) of manganese
dioxide (MnO2) manganous oxide (MnO) with a small proportion of calcic
oxide (CaO) and is for technical purposes a uniform product, the constituent
particles of which are in a state of extremely fine subdivision.
This manganese compound will absorb and retain 2 to 3 times its weight of
nitro-glycerine and can therefore be used with advantage in the manufacture of
dynamite with or without the admixture of kieselguhr or other absorbent material
rno77

page_text: as well as with the addition of inactive or active dopes, its available oxygen tending
to augment the enengy of the explosive substance or substances. We have also
found that the thus prepared manganese compound possesses the property of
absorbing or neutralizing the fumes developed when explosives containing sulphur
or its compounds are fired, which fumes are particularly objectionable in coal mines
or close workings.
The addition of from 5 to 20 per cent. of the above described manganese compound
to explosives (such as dynamite) containing sulphate of magnesia has a distinctly
beneficial effect in removing the irritating nature of the gases developed by their
explosion. In practice we have found that the addition of from 5 to 7 per cent. of
the manganese compound is sufficient but we do not limit ourselves to this
percentage.
In the preparation of those explosives containing sulphur we have also found
that the above described manganese compound when charged with a sufficiency of
sulphuretted hydrogen gas and subsequently exposed to the action of oxygen or air
so as to precipitate free sulphur in a finely disseminated condition in the said
Weldon mud may be employed in the preparation of explosives as an oxygen
bearing substitute for sulphur or its compounds.
The proportion in which this sulphuretted compound is to be added will depend
upon the amount of sulphur which it is desired to incorporate with the explosive
and to the percentage of sulphur introduced as above described into the above
described manganese compound.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
I. In the preparation of explosives the use of the artificially prepared manganese
compound substantially as described.
II. In the preparation of explosives the use of the artificially prepared manganese
compound incorporated with sulphur substantially as described.
ERNEST SALAMAN,
Patent Agent to the British and Foreign Patents and Trade Marks Society,
61 & 62, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for Applicants.