IM- PROVEMENTS IN BLASTING ROCKS AND OTHER MATERIALS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Douglas Symonds Sutherland, of No. 34, Great
George Street,. Westminster, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN BLASTING ROCKS AND OTHER MATERIALS."
Sealed the 4th March 1864, and dated the 12th September 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Douglas Symonds Suther-
land at the. Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 12th September 1868.
I, DOUGLAS SYMONDS SUTHERLAND, of No. 34, Great George Street,
Westminster, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BLASTING ROCKS AND OTHER MATERIALS," to be as
follows:-
The object of my Invention is the increase of the effect produced by powder
or other explosive compound, when used for blasting rock or other material, by
more effectually confining it in the chamber in which it is placed for ignition
than is at present the case, and also to bring to the assistance of the action of
the explosive compound the mechanical power of the wedge.
I effect this in the following manner :-In the chamber in which the powder
is confined I place (above the powder or other explosive compound) a wedge-
shaped block of metal or other suitable material. This block I form (by pre-
ference) in the shape of a perfect cone, and perforate it from apex to base with
a cylindrical hole of sufficient size to admit a fuse or wire (in the case of
explosion by means of electricity). This fuse or wire is secured to it in such a

page_text: way that the cone being placed base towards the powder or other explosive
compound the fuse shall be in contact with it. The chamber being then filled
around and above the cone with sand (by preference) the chamber is charged
and ready for the ignition of the fuse and charge. This being effected, force
is at once applied to the base of the cone, tending apparently to drive it out-
wards, but through the medium of the sand the pressure is entirely diverted,
and is instantaneously felt by the sides of the chamber_containing the charge
tending to burst them outwards or at right angles to the main direction of the
chamber. The explosive gas must seek another exit than by way of the
chamber, viz., through the rock or other material itself, while the action of
its force exerted on the base of the wedge or cone tends absolutely to burst
asunder the material against which it acts bringing the mechanical force of the
wedge to the assistance of the power exerted by the explosive agent in attaining
the object for which they are employed, viz., the bursting asunder of the
material confining each or both. This applies equally to the blasting of rock
or other materials by means of powder. or any other explosive compound con-
fined in vertical or horizontal cylindrical chambers, or chambers of any other
form or direction...
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Douglas Symonds Sutherland in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 11th March 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DOUGLAS
SYMONDS SUTHERLAND, of No. 34, Great George Street, Westminster, Civil
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Douglas Symonds Sutherland, Her spécial licence that I,. the said
Douglas Symonds Sutherland,' my executors, 'administrators, and assigns, or.
such others.as I, the said' Douglas Symonds Sutherland, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agrée with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use; exercise; and vend; within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Treland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN BLASTING ROCKS AND OTHER MATE-

page_text: RIALS," upon the condition (amongst others). that I, the said Douglas Symonds
Sutherland, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent."
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Douglas Symonds Sutherland, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
The object, of my Invention is the increase of the effect produced by
powder or other explosive compound, when used for blasting rock or other
material by more effectually confining it in the chamber in which it is
placed for ignition than is at present the case, and also to bring to the
assistance of the action of the explosive compound the mechanical power of
the wedge.
I effect this in the following manner :-In the chamber in which the powder
is confined I place (above the powder or other explosive compound) a wedge-
shaped block of metal or other suitable material. This block I form by pre-
ference in the shape of a perfect conė, and perforate it from apex to base with
a cylindrical hole of sufficient size to admit a fuse or wire (in the case of
explosión by means of electricity). This fuse or wire is secured to it in such a
way that the cone being placed base towards the powder or other explosive
compound the fuse shall be in contact with it. The chamber being then filled
around and above the cone with sand (by preference) the chamber is charged
and ready for the ignition of the fuse and charge. This being effected force is
at once applied to the base of the cone, tending apparently to drive it outwards,
but through the medium of the sand the pressure is entirely diverted, and
is instantaneously felt by the sides of the chamber containing the charge
tending to burst them outwards or at right angles to the main direction of
the chamber. The explosive gas must seek another exit than by way of
the chamber, viz., through the rock or other material itself. While the
action of its force exerted on the base of the wedge or cone tends. abso
lutely to burst asunder the material against which it acts, bringing the
mechanical force of the wedge to the assistance of the power exerted by
the explosive agent in attaining the object for which they are employed,
viz., the bursting asunder of the material confining each or both. This
applies equally to the blasting of rock or other materials by means of

page_text: Having thus stated
describe the means which in practice I have adopted for the carrying out of
the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a cylindrical chamber such as is ordinarily made in rocks
or other materials for purposes of blasting.
a is the charge of powder or other explosive compound; 6 is the cone; c
the fuse (or wire when electricity is employed for ignition); and d is the sand
(or other suitable filling). I prefer to make the cone of wood, and to prolong
the base in a 'cylindrical form, as shown. I have usually employed cones of a
length equal to three diameters of their bases, though this proportion may be
varied, as also may be the means of placing the fuse in connection with the
powder or other explosive compound. In this case the cone is placed in con-
tact with the charge but not connected with it (as shown at Figure 4, which
will be described hereafter) and it is important that it should closely fill the
hole in order that the sand surrounding it should not be subjected to the
pressure of the explosive gas in the line of the axis of the hole.
In cases where this is not practicable the methods shown by Figures 2 and 3
may be used with good effect. In Figure 2 a ring of india-rubber, leather, or
other suitable material is passed over the cylindrical base, and rests against the
shoulder at the base of the cone (in both of these cases the cylindrical part
being reduced in size). The ring is of greater external diameter than the
diameter of the hole, and when the cone is passed in completely fills it, as being
flexible it adapts itself to the reduced dimension. In Figure 3 a ring is placed
over and beyond the cylindrical base, so that the explosive gas may force it
against the sides of the chamber, and prevent the passage of the said gas to
and against the sand or other filling.
Figures 4 and 5 show chambers in the rock or other material made as by
the ordinary means. Figure 4 shows a cartridge made of paper or other
suitable material (waterproof when necessary) which contains the charge
and to which the cone is attached, the fuse or wire passing to the powder
or other explosive compound by a groove in the side. An air chamber
may be left between the powder and the base of the cone if desired. The
cartridge complete is then to be placed in the hole and sand or other
suitable filling above (or in front) and about it. By this means the
necessity for the cone so closely filling the hole is obviated, as the sand or

page_text: other material by its own gravity in a vertical hole, by mechanical means
in a horizontal one, fills whatever space may exist between the cartridge and
the sides of the chamber. The explosive gas presses the material surrounding
it at right angles to the axis of the hole, the outward force in the direction
of the axis being exerted on the base of the cone. In horizontal holes, and
when the saving of time in charging them is of importance, the method shown at
Figure 5 may be adopted with advantage; a cartridge is formed containing the
charge, cone, fuse, and sand or other suitable filling. And this requires
to be simply placed in the hole and the fuse ignited; if the holes vary
much in size the ring of leather or other material shown in Figure 3 may
be introduced with the cone in making up the cartridge. The gas propels
the cone forward until the surrounding filling is in contact with the sides
of the chamber, when it becomes a fixture as in the other cases.
In witness whereof, I, the said Douglas Symonds Sutherland, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
DOUGLAS S. SUTHERLAND. (L.S.)