IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MAGAZINES FOR CONTAINING OR STORING GUNPOWDER OR OTHER EXPLOSIVE OR INFLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES
Year: 1874

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Edward Newton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th October 1874.-A communication from abroad by Max Gossi,
of Antwerp, in the Kingdom of Belgium.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lanc, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF MAGAZINES FOR CONTAINING OR STORING GUNPOWDER OR OTHER EXPLOSIVE OR
INFLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
The improved magazines, which form the subject of the present
Invention, may be constructed either on shore or on board ships, barges,
or vessels, and consequently may be formed either of wood, iron, brick-
work, or masonry, and if on shore may be constructed either above or
below ground.
The Invention is based upon the principle that the explosive or
combustible substances are to be enclosed in air and water tight
cases of any convenient form and dimensions, and which are to be sunk
in or covered by water, so that no spark or fire of any kind can by any

page_text: possibility obtain access to the cases.
These cases are to be enclosed in
magazines specially constructed for the purpose.
As an example of the Invention I will explain the mode of con-
structing a submarine or ship's magazine, but other magazines may be
constructed on the same principle. A. chamber or tank with water-tight
sides is constructed either with a close or open bottom, and is supplied
with water. At the top or open end of this chamber or tank is a cross
framing or open grating, which divides it into any convenient number of
parts. At all the intersections of the grating or cross framing there are
uprights, which extend from the top to the bottom of the chamber or
tank. These uprights are secured by diagonal and other bracings, and
there are also vertical plates or planks, which serve as guides. In this
manner the chamber is divided into compartments, in which the water-
tight cases containing the explosive or combustible substances are sunk
below the water contained therein. If the cases with their contents are
lighter than water they may be held down by springs, or by cross bars, or
other equivalent devices, which may be removed when it is required to
lift out one of the cases. If the latter are heavier than water then they
must be lifted out by means of a travelling crane, handles or hooks
being adapted to the cases for the purpose.
If it be desired to pile several cases on each other the compartments
may be provided with a moveable platform, which may be sunk to the
bottom to receive the pile of cases, and be raised up by means of chains
provided for the purpose.
be run.
On the top of the cross framing or open grating above may be placed
a railway, on which trucks to carry the cases or the portable crane may
If desired this open grating may be covered in with hatches or
scuttles, and further protected by felt or some other non-conducting
material to prevent the water in the tank or chamber from freezing in
winter.
The bottom of the tank may be provided with doors opening outwards,
so that in cases of urgent necessity the contents of the tank may be