Dynamite, Blasting-gelatine, and similar Explosive Compounds, and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 19th Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 20th Dec., 1887
Dynamite, Blasting-gelatine, and similar Explosive Compounds,
and to Apparatus therefor.
I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 57" Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to dynamite, blasting-gelatine, nitro-gelatine and similar
explosive compounds, and its object is to diminish their liability to accidental
explosion.
Dynamite and blasting-gelatine, as heretofore manufactured, contain a large pro-
portion of air which is imprisoned or enclosed in the interstices or between the
particles of the material, or is present therein in the form of bubbles. The result is
that, when these explosive compounds are subjected to impact, the sudden compression
of the air contained therein generates heat, which, in some instances, is sufficient to
ignite and explode the said compounds.
I have discovered that, by removing or eliminating this air from the said
compounds subsequently to their manufacture, and filling the interstices with a non-
compressible fluid such as water, or otherwise rendering the entire mass of the
material inelastic or incompressible, or by excluding air during one or more of the
different stages in the manufacture of such compounds, I can diminish the liability of
the said compounds to accidental explosion to such an extent that they may be handled
with impunity.
I can employ various means for effecting the object of my invention, that is to say,
for excluding or eliminating air from the said compounds. I will hereinafter describe
some of the methods which I now consider to be the most advantageous.
To remove or eliminate the air from blasting-gelatine, I proceed as follows, that is
to say, I place the material under water or in a vacuum or partial vacuum, and
subject it to the action of rotating knives operating in combination with fixed or
stationary knives, or to the action of suitable kneading or stirring devices; or 1 press
or force the said material through numerous small holes thus forming it into fine
[P11

page_text: threads or strips. When treated in this manner in a vacuum or partial vacuum, the
said material is thoroughly exhausted of all the air contained therein. When treated
under water, the air is forced out of the said material and rises to the surface of the
water. In some instances, I compress the material into a solid mass while still in a
vacuum.
In treating dynamite or similar compounds, I place them in a vacuum and then
compress them into a solid inelastic mass, or I fill the interstices of the material with
water and thus force out the air contained therein.
A convenient form of apparatus for the treatment of the explosive compounds
comprises a cylinder in which works a piston provided with suitable means for
operating it. This cylinder is provided at one end with numerous small holes or
perforations. The perforated end of the cylinder is connected with a chamber, which
is in communication with an air-pump or other apparatus whereby it may be
completely exhausted of air.
The explosive material is placed in the said cylinder between the perforated end
thereof and the piston. Then, by means of the said piston, the said material is forced
through the perforated end of the cylinder into the vacuous chamber, and, being
thus formed into fine threads or strips, is easily exhausted of the air which it contains.
The whole may then, while still in the vacuum, be compressed into a solid mass.
The said explosive compounds may be advantageously treated for the purpose of
my invention while in the course of manufacture. For instance, I exclude air from
blasting-gelatine, which consists of gun-cotton dissolved in nitro-glycerine, by mixing
or incorporating these substances in a vacuum. Or I effect one or more of the later
stages in the manufacture of the explosive compounds either in a vacuum or under
water according to the nature of the ingredients employed.
In any case, I either exclude or eliminate air or compressible gases from the said
compounds, thereby diminishing their liability to accidental explosion.
My invention is applicable generally to nitro-glycerine compounds. It is, however,
chiefly designed for the manufacture or treatment of blasting-gelatine or nitro-
gelatine.
Dated this 19th day of February 1887
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements relating to the Manufacture and Treatment of
Dynamite, Blasting-gelatine, and similar Explosive Compounds,
and to Apparatus therefor.
1 HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 57 Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Mechanical Engineer, 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:—
My invention relates to dynamite, blasting-gelatino, nitro-gelatine, and similar
explosive compounds, and has for its object to diminish their liability to accidental
explosion.
Dynamite and blasting-gelatine, as heretofore manufactured, contain a large pro-
portion of air which is imprisoned or enclosed in the interstices or spaces between the
particles of the material, or is present in the said material in the form of bubblos.
The result is that when these explosive compounds are subjected to impact or
percussion, the sudden compression of the air which they contain generates heat, in
some instances sufficient to ignite and explode the said compounds.
I have discovered that, by excluding or eliminating this air and other compressible
gases from the said compounds, can so far diminish their liability to accidental
explosion that they may be handled with comparative impunity; and I can accomplish
this result without impairing their efficiency when acted upon by a detonator
sufficiently powerful to cause the explosion. I effect the desired result by removing
or eliminating the air and other compressible gases subsequently to the manufacture
of the said compounds and then filling the interstices with an incompressible fluid
such as water, or otherwise rendering the entire mass of the material inelastic or
incompressible. Or I exclude air or other compressible gases during one or more of
the different steps or stages in the manufacture of such compounds.
I can employ various means for effecting the object of my invention, that is to say,
for excluding or eliminating air or other compressible gases from the said compounds.
I will hereinafter describe some of the methods which I now consider to be the most
advantageous.
To remove or eliminate the air from blasting-gelatine, I proceed as follows,
that is to say, I place the material under water or in a vacuum or partial vacuum,
and I subject it to the action of rotating knives operating in combination with fixed
or stationary knives, or to the action of suitable kneading or stirring devices, or I
press or force the said material through numerous small holes, in the end of a cylinder
for example, thus forming it into fine threads or strips. By this treatment in a
vacuum or partial vacuum, the said material is thoroughly exhausted of all the air
previously contained therein.
When treated under water, the air is forced out of the said material and rises to the
surface of the water.
In some instances, I compress the explosive material into a solid mass while still in
a vacuum or while under water.
In treating dynamite or similar compounds, I place them in a vacuum and then
compress them into a solid inelastic mass, or I fill the interstices of the material with
water and thus force out or expel the air contained therein.

page_text: A convenient form of apparatus for the treatment of explosive compounds in the
manner above set forth is shown in the accompanying drawing.
A is a cylinder in which works a piston provided with a screw-threaded rod C.
At the outer end of this rod is an eye D into which a bar may be inserted for the
purpose of rotating the said rod.
A screw-threaded cover or nut E is securely fastened to the upper end of the
cylinder A by means of bolts a passing through the flange A' of the cylinder A and
through the flange 6 of the said cover or nut. The cylinder A has fixed in its
lower end a hollow plug c having formed in the bottom thereof numerous small holes
or perfortions c¹.
The cylinder A is mounted upon a chamber F to which it is firmly secured by
means of bolts d. This chamber is to be put in communication with an air-
pump or other apparatus (not shown in the drawing) whereby it may be completely
exhausted of air.
The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows, that is to say :-The
explosive material is to be placed in the cylinder A between the perforated plug c
and the piston B; the air-pump is then to be operated until a vacuum or partial
vacuum is created in the chamber F. Then, by rotating the screw-rod in the proper
direction, the piston B is moved downward in the cylinder A until the material is
forced through the perforations c¹ into the vacuous chamber F. The material being
thus formed into fine threads or strips, is easily exhausted of the air which it
contains.
Blasting-gelatine (which consists of gun-cotton dissolved in nitro-glycerine) is
advantageously treated for the purpose of my invention while in the course of manu-
facture, as hereinafter described, that is to say :-I exclude air therefrom by mixing
or incorporating the gun-cotton and nitro-glycerine in a vacuum or partial vacuum.
In some instances, I carry on one or more of the latter steps or stages in the
manufacture of the explosive compounds either in a vacuum or partial vacuum or
under water according to the nature of the ingredients employed.
In any case, I either exclude or eliminate air or other compressible gases from
the said compounds and thereby diminish their liability to accidental explosion as
above specified.
My invention is applicable generally to nitro-glycerine compounds. It is, however,
chiefly designed for the manufacture or treatment of blasting-gelatine or nitro-
gelatine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood
that I claim :-
First. The method hereinbefore described of treating explosive compounds to
diminish their liability to accidental explosion, consisting in excluding or eliminating
air or other compressible gases from the said compounds in or subsequently to the
manufacture thereof.
Second. The improved apparatus consisting of the parts constructed and combined
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing for the
purpose specified.