Improvements in the Manufacture of Explosives applicable for Use in Coal or other Fiery Mines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 27th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 27th Nov., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Explosives applicable for Use
in Coal or other Fiery Mines.
I, WILLIAM JAMES ORSMAN of Gathurst in the County of Lancaster Analytical
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In the manufacture of detonating compounds it is well known that the introduction
of chlorine in such a manner that the products of detonation shall contain bydro-
chloric acid, has the effect of stifling the flame. Hitherto the chlorine has been
introduced by chlorinating some nitrated hydrocarbon and this is then mixed with
nitrate of ammonia or other alkaline nitrate by the application of heat. The
melting of certain hydrocarbons most applicable for this purpose such for instance
as di-nitro-benzol is attended with great difficulties owing to the poisonous nature of
the fumes produced and consequent danger to the workmen.
For the purpose of producing an explosive capable of easy detonation I add to a
mixture of some chlorinated hydrocarbon with an alkaline nitrate some finely
powdered sufficiently nitrated hydrocarbon and intimately mix them together.
This operation is performed cold as by using a low temperature the nitrated hydro-
carbon if solid at ordinary temperature is prevented from melting. As an example,
I treat 100 parts of nitrate of ammonia or other alkaline nitrate with from two to
five parts of highly chlorinated napthalene containing about 50 per cent. of chlorine.
When cold this is intimately mixed with about 13 parts of finely powdered meta-
di-nitro-benzol, or other nitrated hydrocarbon. In this way I have a simple mixture
of the oxydisable and combustible components in a fine state. The particles of
chlorinated napthalene and nitrate of ammonia not being coated in any way with
the combustible nitrated hydrocarbon. It will be seen from this that the main
principle of my invention is the formation of a safety explosive containing chlorine
without the application of heat during the process of manufacture to melt the
nitrated organic compound whereby the escape of fumes which may be dangerous
to breathe is avoided and of course the handling of such explosives while in the
heated condition is thereby done away with altogether.
Dated the 26th day of November 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Explosives applicable for Use
in Coal or other Fiery Mines.
I, WILLIAM JAMES ORSMAN, of Gathurst in the County of Lancaster, 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:-
In the manufacture of detonating compounds it is well known that the introduc-
tion of chlorine in such a manner that the products of detonation shall contain
Improvements in the Manufacture of Explosives applicable for Use
in Coal or other Fiery Mines.
I, WILLIAM JAMES ORSMAN, of Gathurst in the County of Lancaster, 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:-
In the manufacture of detonating compounds it is well known that the introduc-
tion of chlorine in such a manner that the products of detonation shall contain

page_text: hydrochloric acid, has the effect of stifling the flame on explosion. Hitherto
the chlorine has been introduced by chlorinating some nitrated hydrocarbon which
is then heated to melting point and in that state mixed with nitrate of ammonia
or other alkaline nitrate. But the melting of certain of the nitrated hydrocarbons
most applicable to this purpose (such for instance as di-nitro-benzol) is attended with
great difficulties owing to the poisonous nature of the fumes produced and the
consequent danger to the workmen.
Now my invention is designed to make a detonating compound of this nature
without melting the nitrated hydrocarbon during the process of manufacture,
whereby I obviate the escape of fumes which may be dangerous to breathe and
also any danger from the handling of such explosive in a heated condition. For
this purpose the substance that I chlorinate is not a nitrated hydrocarbon but a
naphthalene or some other easily chlorinated non-nitrated hydrocarbon, and in this
way I produce a viscous mass of low melting point. This is then incorporated with
the alkaline nitrate and the resulting product mixed with the nitrated hydrocarbon.
Or I take a mixture of the alkaline nitrate and the nitrated hydrocarbon and
incorporate there with the chlorinated hydrocarbon. These operations are performed
at a low temperature, that is to say at a temperature below the melting point of the
nitrated hydrocarbon. As an example, I take 85 parts of nitrate of ammonia in a
dry and finely powdered condition. I then mix it with from two to five parts of
highly chlorinated naphthalene containing about 50% of chlorine at a temperature
sufficient to prevent the absorption of moisture from the atmosphere during the
operation (say 40 degrees Celsius). I continue the mixing operation until the
chlorinated uaphthalene is thoroughly incorporated with the nitrate of ammonia.
Next I allow the mixture to cool, and then intimately mix with it about 13 parts of
finely powdered meta-di-nitro-benzol or other sufficiently nitrated hydrocarbon. Or
another method which I have found advantageous is as follows:-
I take in the first instance 85 parts of nitrate of ammonia dry and in a powdered
condition and 13 parts of di-nitro-benzol in a powdered condition and mix them
thoroughly together at a temperature of say 40 degrees Celsius and then incorpo-
rate therewith 2 parts of chlorinated naphthalene, the whole being thoroughly
mixed together by stirring.
In this way I produce a mixture of the oxidising and combustible components in
a finely divided state, containing chlorine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The manufacture of a safety detonating compound of great explosive force by
mixing together at a low temperature a highly chlorinated hydrocarbon an alkaline
nitrate and a finely powdered sufficiently nitrated hydrocarbon.
2. A safety detonating compound consisting of a highly chlorinated hydrocarbon
and an alkaline nitrate mechanically mixed with a finely powdered nitrated hydro-
carbon substantially as described.
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this 20th day of August 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London, Patent Agents.