Improvements in or relating to Explosive Cartridges.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 31st Mar., 1890-Accepted, 17th May, 1890
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Explosive Cartridges.
We, JOHN COPE BUTTERFIELD of 7 Westminster Chambers, in the city of West-
minster, and TELFORD CLARENCE BATCHELOR, of 8 Baron's Court Road, West
Kensington, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of explosives which are known to chemists as
high explosives" of the nitro compound class the explosive consisting essentially of
the mixture of an oxidizing agent e g. as a nitrate with a certain proportion of a nitro
hydrocarbon or nitro-substitution product-that is a body produced by the action of
nitric and sulphuric acids upon a hydro-carbon. Dr. Sprengel in 1871 the original
inventor of this class of explosive patented the general idea of their use and application
and many persons have followed in his foot-steps and taken out patents for an
explosive consisting essentially of nitrate of ammonia and nitro naphthaline or one of
the nitro products--the object of the patentees in every case being to protect the
bygroscopic nitiates from the action of moisture by encasing in some fatty material
or coating it over with a varnish, gutta-perela &c., collodion, great prossure and heat
to cause the fatty material to exude and coat the particles of nitrate with a protective
coating and afterwards plunging the cartridges into melted paraffin and finally
wrapping up the same in paper. Now by none of the foregoing methods have the
various inventors been succes-ful in absolutely preventing the absorption of moisture
by the cartridges when the same are exposed to the damp atmosphere and rough usage
of ordinary mining-unless the very expensive method of using gutta-percha envelopes
has been employed. Compressed cartridges although well wrapped up in paraffined
paper will not stand damp atmospheres for any length of time while the compressed
cartridges if very strongly compressed will not explode under the influence of an
ordinary fulminating cap and without the use of nitro-glycerine or dynamite.
when any of the foregoing explosives are fired in a confined space as in the levels of a
colliery or mine-great flame and smoke is given off from the combustion of the paper
wrapping and paraffin with which they are enveloped and the production of flame or
sparks is thus engendered, which is especially in the case of collieries-desirable to
avoid. Now by the moans adopted by us in the manufacture of our improved
explosive the absorption of moisture is rendered impossible and the cartridges so made
will keep for any length of time in any climate and require only an ordinary cap to
ensure their detonation and secondly there being no paper wrapping or paraffin used
in their manufacture the liability of danger arising from the giving off of flame or
sparks is reduced to a minimum.
Also
The method of manufacturing the explosives is as follows:-Thoroughly dry and
pure nitrate of ammonia is ground to fine powder under edge runners, which are kept
hot by means preferably of steam, and when the necessary degree of fineness is
attained the requisite per cent. of mono mitronaphthaline or nitro-benzine is added in a
melted condition, and the rollers continue grinding and mixing the two ingredients
together, until they are thoroughly amalgamated. This point can easily be determined
hy any person conversant with the manufacture. The hot material is now removed
from the mill and passed through a hot sieve, and the sifted material is placed at once
on tables which are kept warm by means of steam or hot water, it being essential that
the explosive is kept warm until it is placed into the metallic cases and sealed otherwise
it will absorb moisture and become valueless as an explosive agent.
The metallic case consists of a thin hollow cylinder of lead or the like composition
closed at one end and having at the other end a screw thread run upon the metal.
The cases are of various lengths and diameters to suit the various sized holes used in
blasting. The operator takes the case in one hand and using it as a scoop fills it

page_text: gradually by pushing the warm explosive powder into it by means of a light wooden
rammer, when quite full the outside of the case is carefully wiped and passed on to a
second operator, who slips on the screwed end of the case a small cap of metal which
has been dipped in quick drying waterproof paint or equivalent. The paint inserts
itself between the screw threads and the excess exudes and forms a waterproof ring
which when dry absolutely provents the absorption of moisture. The cases can be
filled by machines if desired and soldering may be employed instead of the paint to
close the cases. In order to fire the material it is only necessary to insert a knife into
the non screwed end of the cylinder and push in the detonator and cover up the hole
so mado with a little tallow or clay and the cartridge is ready. If it is necessary to
employ more than one cartridge at the same time two or more can be fired by the
same detonator by simply unscrewing the caps and joining the two cartridges together
end to end, keeping them tight against each other by a piece of clay placed over the
Junction. In this manner 16 or 18 cartridges can be fired at once.
By employing these metallic cases it becomes possible to use explosives containing
a highly hygroscopic salt which explosives up to the presont time has never been
possible to use practically though it is well known that such combinations possess
many advantages, the principal being their great safety and non-liability to explosion
either from sources of fire or concussion it being nearly impossible to cause explosion
by either of those methods. Another great advantage in the use of these explosives
is the freedom from flame and noxious fumes when fired.
Dated this 1st day of Anonst. 1889.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Explosive Cartridges.
We, JOHN COPE BUTTERFIELD of 7 Westminster Chambers, in the city of
Westminster, F.I.C., F.C.S., Analyst, and TELFORD CLARENCE BATCHELOR of
8 Barons Court Road, West Kensington, 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:—
This invention relates to that class of explosive compound which are known to
chemists as "High Explosives" the explosive consisting ossentially of the mixture
of an oxidizing agent for example a nitrate with a certain proportion of a nitro
hydrocarbon. Many patents have been granted for explosive compounds consisting
essentially of nitrate of ammonia and nitro-naphthaline or one of the nitro products-
the object of the patentoes in every case being to protect the hygroscopic nitrate
from the action of moisture by encasing it in some fatty material or coating it over
with a varnish, gutta-percha, or collodion, sometimes using great pressure and heat
to cause the fatty material to exude and coat the particles of nitrate with a
protective coating and afterwards plunging the cartridges into melted paraffin and
finally wrapping up the same in paper. Now by none of the foregoing methods
have the various inventors been successful in successfully preventing the absorption
of moisture by the cartridges when the same are exposed to the damp atmosphere
and rough usage of ordinary mining. Also when any of the foregoing explosives
are fired in a confined space as in the levels of a colliery or mine, great flame and
smoke are given off from the combustion of the paper wrapping or other protecting
material or paraffin with which they are enveloped and the production of flame or
sparks is thus engendered, which it is especially necessary to avoid in the case of
collieries where gas is present. Now by the means adopted by us in the manufacture
of our improved cartridges the absorption of moisture is rendered impossible and the
cartridges so made will keep for any length of time in any climate and require only
an ordinary cap to ensure their detonation; and secondly there being no paper
wrapping or paraffin used in their manufacture the liability of danger arising from
the giving off of flame or sparks is reduced to a minium.

page_text: The method of manufacturing the explosive compound is as follows;
Thoroughly dry and pure nitrate of ammonia is ground to fine powder under edge
runners, which are kept hot by means preferably of steam, and when the necessary
degree of fineness is attained the requisite percentage of mono-nitronaphthaline or
nitro-benzine is added and the rollers continue grinding and mixing the two
ingredients together, until they are thoroughly amalgamated. This point can easily
be determined by any person conversant with the manufacture. The hot material is
now removed from the mill and passed through a hot sieve and the sifted material is
placed at once on tables which are kept warm by means of steam or hot water, it
being desirable that the explosive compound is kept warm until it is placed into the
metallic cases and sealed; otherwise it will absorb moisture and become valueless as
an explosive agent.
The metallic case consists of a hollow cylinder made of thin sheet metal such as
lead or other metal or alloys having the requisite ductility and toughness; the
cylinder is closed at one end and has at the other a screw thread run upon the metal.
The cases are of various lengths and diameters to suit the various sized holes used
in blasting. The operator takes the case and using it as a scoop fills it gradually by
pushing the warm explosive powder into it by means of a light wooden raminer ;
when quite full the outside of the case is carefully wiped and passed on to a second
operator, who slips onto the screwed end of the case a small cap of metal which has
been dipped in quick drying waterproof paint or equivalent. The paint inserts
itself between the screw threads and the excess exudes and forms a waterproof ring
which when dry absolutely prevents the absorption of moisture. The cases can be
filled by machines if desired and soldering may be employed instead of the paint to
close the cases. In order to fire the material it is only necessary to insert a knife
into the non-screwed end or cut off the projecting end of the cylinder and push in
the detonator. If it is necessary to employ more than one cartridge at the same
time two or more can be fired by the same detonator by simply removing the caps
and placing the two cartridges together end to end. In this manner a great number
can be fired at once.
By employing these metallic cases and charging them in the manner above
directed it becomes possible to use explosive compounds containing a highly
hygroscopic salt, which explosives up to the present time it has never been possible
to use practically, though it is well known that such combinations possess many
advantages, the principal being their great safety and non-liability to explosion
either from sources of fire or concussion. Another great advantage in the use of
these explosives is the freedom from flame and noxious fumes when fired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is ;-
1. The manufacture of cartridges having metallic air-tight and damp-proof cases
substantially as described.
2. The method of charging high explosives in suitable metallic cases so as to form
damp-proof cartridges substantially as described.
Dated this 21st day of March 1800
CIT ADRIAN
חב זה זזות
TELFORD CLARENCE BATCHELOR.
JOHN COPE BUTTERFIELD.
Per his Agents,
W. P. Thompson & Boult.