IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF EXPLOSIVE
COMPOUNDS.”—A communication from abroad by Johan Henrick
Norrbin and Johan Ohlsson, both of Stockholm, in the Kingdom
of Sweden.
Sealed the 31st December 1872, and dated the 18th September 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward
Newton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 18th September 1872.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for “IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION
OF EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS," to be as follows:-
The improved preparation which forms the subject of the present In-
vention consists mainly of pulverized nitrate of ammonia in combination
with some suitable carbonaceous matter such as charcoal or pulverized

page_text: coal or other combustible body and an explosive or fulminating com-
position such as nitro-glycerine. As the rapidity of the explosion of
the compound depends upon the proportions of the fulminate, it follows
that the proportions in which the several ingredients should be mixed
must depend upon the explosive character it is desired to give to the
compound. As an example I may say that a composition containing
80 parts by weight of nitrate of ammonia, 6 of pit coal, and from 14
to 20 per cent. of nitro-glycerine will produce satisfactory results, but
I do not confine myself to these proportions. As the compound above
mentioned is very hygroscopic it should be kept in air-tight cases made
of zinc, tin, glass, earthenware, or in waterproof bags.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 18th March 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Edward Newton, Her special
licence that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Edward
Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree 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 Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
“IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS," being a com-
munication to him from abroad by Johan Henrick Norrbin and Johan
Ohlsson, both of Stockholm, in the Kingdom of Sweden, upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said William Edward Newton, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and

page_text: 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 William Edward Newton, 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 (that is to say):
It is a well known fact that nitrate of ammonia cither alone or mixed
with combustible bodies decomposes but slowly when brought in contact
with fire, and this nitrate has therefore never yet been employed as an
explosive substance, but by subjecting this substance (in a finely divided
state) to the action of fire in a dense atmosphere it may be made to
detonate or explode.
In order to effect the object of the present Invention the nitrate of
ammonia in a dry state is reduced to a fine powder; then in order to
utilize (for the purpose of combustion) all the oxygen contained in this
salt from five to ten per cent. of its weight of pulverized charcoal, coal
dust, or other combustible substance is added thereto. The two powders
are then intimately mixed, at the same time adding from ten to thirty
per cent. of nitro-glycerine or other fulminate. The nitro-glycerine is
preferred because of its liquid form.
The whole of the ingredients must be well triturated so as to form a
homogenous pasty mass, in which state it is used or made up into
cartridges for all mining purposes.
A compound of eighty parts by weight of nitrate of ammonia, six of
coal dust, and from fourteen to twenty parts of nitro-glycerine will give
excellent results, but it will be easily understood that in practice these
proportions may be varied according to the nature of the rocks to be
operated upon. The more fulminate (nitro-glycerine for instance) the
mixture contains the more rapid will be the explosion. The rapidity of
the explosion of the compound may therefore be modified considerably
up to a certain point. In order to explode the compound a cap charged
pretty heavily with fulminate is employed. This cap is attached to the
end of a match, or the object may be effected in the manner usually
adopted for dynamite powder or for fulmi-cotton. The match communi-

page_text: cates the fire to the cap, and this latter on detonating explodes the
compound above mentioned.
The nitrate of ammonia being very hygroscopic very quickly absorbs
moisture from the air. In order therefore to make use of it as powder
it is absolutely necessary to efficiently protect it from moisture. This is 5
effected by packing or enclosing it in boxes made of zinc or tin, and closing
the same hermetically, or the powder may be enclosed in well stoppered
vessels made of glass or earthenware, or even in bags rendered water
and air proof by means of a varnish made of india-rubber or some other
suitable substance. Any other mode of keeping the powder from contact 1
with the external air may be employed if preferred.
Having now described the Invention that has been communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents, and having explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me by
Letters Patent as aforesaid. The use of nitrate of ammonia prepared 1
and combined in the manner herein set forth for the purpose of making
an explosive compound which may be used with advantage for blasting
or mining purposes.
In witness whereof. I. the said William Edward Newton, have here-
or mining purposes.
In witness whereof. I. the said William Edward Newton, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Eighteenth day of March, in the 2
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.