AN IMPROVED CHEMICAL COMBINATION TO SUPERSEDE BLASTING POWDER
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes &
Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED CHEMICAL COMBINATION TO SUPERSEDE BLASTING
POWDER." A communication from abroad by Nicholas Rave, the elder, of
Curegham, near Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium.
Sealed the 22nd May 1860, and dated the 23rd November 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his l'etition, on
the 23rd November 1859.
I, EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes & Son, Patent
Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED CHEMICAL COMBINATION TO SUPERSEDE
BLASTING POWDER," a communication from abroad by Nicholas Rave, the
elder, of Curegham, near Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, to be as
follows:-
This mixture, which in commerce may be called oxygenic composition,
consists of reducing to powder chlorate of potash, carbonic acid (charcoal),
either separately or together, adding a little water, and mixing them to the
consistency of paste, and then passing it through a mill or other apparatus
suitable for grinding it, which operation must be continued until both sub-
stances are perfectly mixed, then the paste must be taken out and dried either
by fire, heat, steam or air; or the said composition may be made by dissolving
Di R

page_text: chlorate of potash inasufficient quantity of water to dissolve it, and introducing
powdered coal, allowing it to evaporate until it becomes the thickness of a
paste, and then withdrawing it and drying it as above described. The propor-
tions of the said substances may be varied according to the strength and force
required for different uses or applications.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,filed
by the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 23rd May 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents, 123,
Chancery Lane, London, W.C., send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, Her special licence that I, the said
Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, 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 veud, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "AN IMPROVED CHEMICAL COMBINATION TO SUPERSEDE BLASTING POWDER,"
a communication from abroad by Nicholas Rave, the elder, of Curegham,
near Brussels,in the Kingdom of Belgium, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and 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 Edward Thomas Hughes, 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): -
This mixture, which in commerce may be called "oxygenic composition,"

page_text: consists of reducing to powder, either separately or combined, chlorate of potash,.
carbonic acid (charcoal), adding a little water, and mixing them to the con-
sistency of paste, and then passing it through a mill or other apparatus suitable
for grinding it, which operation must be continued until both substances are
perfectly mixed, then the paste must be taken out of the mill and dried either
by fire, heat, steam, or air; or the said composition may be made by dissolving
chlorate of potash in a sufficient quantity of water to dissolve it, and introducing
powdered coal, then allow the mixture to evaporate until it becomes the
substance of a paste, and then withdraw it and dry it as above described; or
the carbonic acid may be replaced by any kind of ground vegetable matter,
especially wood, such as fir, beach, oak, or similar woods, by which a compo-
sition of great strength is obtained without being explosive. The said
substances must be ground separately and then mixed together in water
strongly gummed. The proportions of the said substances will vary according
to the strength required, but the average will be about 100 parts of ground
vegetable matter or carbonic acid to 200 parts of chlorate of potash. The
last-mentioned combinations are best adapted for cartridges used in coal mines
and all underground work in consequence of the little smoke they produce.
If considered necessary any required form can be given to the composition by
spreading it before a drying apparatus in beds or layers, and then dividing itor
shaping it in moulds or other suitable means.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, as communi-
cated to me by my foreign correspondent, I desire it to be distinctly
understood that I do not confine myself to any particular proportions of the
substances herein named, as they may be varied according to the strength or
force required for different purposes; but I claim the employment of chlorate
and all productions which will have that salt for the base mixed with com-
bustible matters tending to form similar combinations, and the use of such
composition as a substitute for blasting powder in mines, and for other
purposes where powder is necessary.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of May, One thousand
EDWARD T. HUGHES. (L.S.)