IMPROVEMENTS IN BLASTING AND. IN THE APPARATUS OR MEANS EMPLOYED. THEREIN
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to. John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention.
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BLASTING AND. IN THE APPARATUS OR MEANS EMPLOYED.
THEREIN." A communication from abroad by Eugène François
D
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 17th July 1869, pursuant to the 9th Section of
the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BLASTING AND IN THE APPARATUS OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREIN," and have
petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators,

page_text: solemn Declaration that the same is a communication to me from
abroad by Eugène François Desirè Ruggieri, of Paris, in the Empire of
France.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, that is to say :-
This Invention relates,-
Firstly. To certain improvements on the systems at present in use
for firing blasting charges.
Secondly. To the use of a special tubular fuse in substitution for the
well-known Bickford fuse.
Thirdly. To a system of firing a blast at a distance consisting of a
friction fuse in substitution for electricity.
Fourthly. To an improved cartridge consisting of a paper cylinder
containing the charge in a compressed state, by which means the
charging of the bore or hole with loose powder, which requires
considerable time, care, and expense, and necessitates the employment of
special workmen and the use of powder depôts in which a considerable
loss or waste of powder is incurred.
Fifthly. To a peculiar cartridge for use in blasting earth works.
Sixthly. To a friction rubber composed of a pallet coated or covered
with a mixture of amorphous phosphorous, and intended to operate upon
the chlorated powder which constitutes the improved primings, which
primings cannot become ignited except by contact with this material,
thus obviating all danger of accidental explosions.
As will be seen on referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings, the
first of these improvements consists of a simple means of igniting the
ordinary Bickford fuse. The fuse a introduced into the bore previously
charged and tamped in the ordinary manner is fitted with a small cup
or cylinder 6 of tarred cardboard, which contains a small quantity of fuse
composition o composed of twenty-two parts by weight of nitrate of potash,

page_text: two parts of sulphur, and two parts of charcoal, and which is primed
at the upper end with a composition. d consisting of sixty parts by
weight of chlorate of potass, twenty parts of fluor spar, twelve parts
of sulphur, and twelve parts of strong glue. This compound, which
constitutes one of the essential features of this Invention, presents all
the conditions of solidity and unchangeableness necessary in an
advantageous substitute for sulphur, antimony, or magnanese, and
being perfectly white may be readily tinted to any color. It is
moreover almost unimflammable by friction against the best prepared
surfaces, but on the contrary readily ignites when rubbed with the
amorphous phosphorous surface herein-before referred to.
The peculiar fuse composition herein-before mentioned is another
important feature of this Invention; it burns very slowly, and thus
affords sufficient time to avoid accidents arising from the explosion of
the charge. In order to protect these primings from the action of
moisture it is proposed to protect them by a paper disc covered with a
strip or ribbon of serge or other stout fabric, the whole being kept in
position by a cap of tarred paper. It is therefore simply necessary in
order to ignite the priming to pull at the projecting end of the ribbon,
which being glued both to the paper disc and to the casing of tarred
paper uncovers the priming d, which is then rapidly rubbed with the
pallet e covered with amorphous phosphorous (shewn at Figures 14
and 15).
Figures 3 and 4 represent another improvement whereby the Bickford
fuse is dispensed with. Such fuse is frequently difficult of introduction
into the bottom of the bore or blasting hole by reason of the descent
into the hole of dirt and debris, which produc the immediate contact of
the fuse with the powder. It is proposed to obviate this defect by
employing a tube or pipe enclosing an explosive mixture, the fire of
which is projected with considerable force to the bottom of the bore,
thereby ensuring the igniting of the charge, the flame penetrating the
interstices in the debris which may have accumulated in the bore,
This pipe is composed of a cylinder g of tarred cardboard containing
a charge of the fuse composition herein-before referred to, and which
burns at the rate of about half an inch in six seconds, so that it is
sufficient to vary the length of the charge in order to vary the duration
of combustion of the composition. The upper part of the charge
contained in the tube is strangled at k in order to diminish the flame

page_text: produced at the commencement of combustion. In this first tube or
cylinder there is fitted another tube i provided with an ordinary quick
match j, which conveys the fire to the blasting charge.
Figures 5 and 6 represent a mode of firing blasts at a distance without
the aid of electricity, which consists simply of a tube composed of a
metal socket or case'l containing two superposed layers of fulminate m
and fuse composition n. This fulminate m is composed of twenty
parts by weight of nitrate of potass, 40 parts of chlorate of potass, and
forty parts of sulphur or antimony. The fuse composition n is composed
of sixty parts by weight of nitrate of potass, twenty-five parts of sulphur,
and fifteen parts of charcoal. This fuse composition, by acting as an
isolating substance, permits of the work being carried on without risk of
accidental explosions. The centre of the metal casing. I is provided with
a friction igniter o of copper having a series of teeth or roughened
surfaces formed thereon and terminating externally in a ring; thus by
connecting a hook attached to a cord of any length with the ring of the
friction igniter o, and by suddenly and sharply pulling such cord, the
toothed part of the igniter o first traverses the protective fuse composition n,
and afterwards the fulminate or priming m, which by its explosion ignites
the quick match and fires the blasting charge. It may be remarked that
in order to avoid the danger of accidental discharges the friction igniter o
has its inner extremity sufficiently prolonged to be bent over the hinder
end of the metal case I, as shewn at p. By this arrangement the
igniter o cannot be displaced and encounter the fulminate m except by
a forcible pull on the cord attached to the ring or eye of the igniter. In
order still further to ensure perfect safety in handling and in transport,
the orifice of the metal case is closed by a layer of wax, which covers
the fulminate and protects it from accidental friction.
Figure 7 represents a b or blast hole, charged, tamped, and provided
with the firing fuse in the ordinary manner, the outer extremity of the
Bickford fuse being inserted into the improved priming cylinder or
cap 6 herein-before referred to, which it is simply requisite to rub with
the pallet covered with amouphous phosphorous represented at Figures 14
and 15 in order to fire the blasting charge.
Figure 8 represents a blasting hole which is charged and tamped in
the usual manner having the pipe or tube (shewn at Figures 3 and 4
herein-before described) inserted therein after the pin has been withdrawn

page_text: from the blasting hole. It is then simply requisite to rub the priming
with the pallet (Figures 14 and 15) in order to fire the charge.
Figure 9 represents a bore charged and tamped in the ordinary
manner and provided with the tube and friction igniter, shewn at
Figures 5 and 6, which may be fired at any distance by means of a cord
connected to the friction igniter o, as herein-before described.
Figure 10 represents a blasting hole, charged not in the usual manner,
but with a self-contained cartridge q (shewn in section at Figure 11).
inserted therein. This cartridge consists of a paper cylinder or envelope
of any suitable shape filled with compressed blasting powder r, thereby
reducing its volume by one-half whilst at the same time the useful effect
of the cartridge is considerably augmented. In this cartridge q there is
formed a space or channel 8 intended to receive the end of the pin which
serves to introduce the cartridge into the boring. After having bored
the hole the miner places the cartridge q on the end of the pin, and
by this means introduces it easily into the bottom of the hole, sub-
sequently tamping the hole with the usual precautions, and leaving the
pin in the hole or cavity a during the first part of the tamping. He
then fires the mine by the aid of the pipe or tube most suitable for his
purpose, using either the one shewn at Figures 3 and 4, and represented
also in Figure 10, or the one shewn at Figures 5 and 6.
It is necessary
before introducing the cartridge q into the hole to scratch the bottom of
the cavity & until the charger inside the cartridge is exposed or laid
bare. Should it be necessary to superpose several charges it will only
be requisite to expose the powder of the first cartridge.
Figure 12 represents a charged mine intended for earthwork. For
this description of mine a peculiar cartridge t is proposed, represented in
section at Figure 13, and consisting of a cardboard cylinder u charged
with powder v compressed between clay x and covered with an envelope
of woven fabric y coated or saturated with strong glue and tarred in
order to offer as much resistance as possible. When it is desired to use
one of these cartridges a hole is bored in the ground with an auger, and
the cartridge inserted therein, the hole being then tamped in the usual
manner with the most resisting materials at hand, the pin is with-
drawn, and the firing of the cartridge is accomplished by the aid of one
of the herein-before described pipes or tubes, preference being given to
the one shewn at Figures 3 and 4.

page_text: The pallet e which serves to ignite the primings of the various
systems of fuses, and which is represented at Figures 14 and 15, consists
of a flat piece of wood provided with a suitable handle; upon the flat.
sides of this pallet there is placed a sheet of paper or gummed calico
covered with a mixture of amorphous phosphorous f, powdered glass, and
binoxide of manganese in or about the following proportions, that is
to say, five parts by weight of amorphous phosphorous, four parts of
manganese, and five parts of pounded glass.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I con-
sider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention to be
secured to me is,―
First. The general construction of apparatus employed in blasting
operations, as herein-before described and illustrated by the Drawings.
Second. The application and use to and in the igniting of the
Bickford and other fuses, whether in the form of wicks or of pipes or
tubes, of a special priming, which is ignited by frictional contact with a
surface coated or covered with amorphous phosphorous.
Third. The herein-before described peculiar chemical composition or
compound constituting an improved priming which is capable of being
ignited only by frictional contact with amophous phosphorous.
Fourth. The peculiar tubular fuse, as herein-before described.
Fifth. The mode of firing a mine from any reasonable distance by the
aid of a roughened friction igniter acting upon an explosive mixture
which is protected by a layer or stratum of fuse composition, substantially
as and for the purpose herein-before described.
Sixth. The application and use of cartridges charged with compressed
blasting powder, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-
before described.
Seventh. The peculiar construction of cartridge intended specially for
operating on earthwork and the mode of employing or using the same,
as herein-before described.

page_text: Eighth. The peculiar rubber or friction igniter coated or covered with
amorphous phosphorous for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to
this my Specification set my hand and seal, the Sixteenth day
of July One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.s.)