Improved Explosive.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improved Explosive.
We, LEYSHON DAVIES, Joint-Manager, Kames Gunpowder Mills, Kyles of Bute,
Argyleshire, and CHARLES WILLIAM CURTIS, Gunpowder Manufacturer, 74, Lom-
bard Street, London, E.C., do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
This invention has for its object to provide an inexpensive and practically
flameless explosive, suitable for blasting purposes, especially in mines where the
production of flame is objectionable, and also for guns and other small arms.
The improved explosive is composed of a mixture of nitrate of potash and
carbon in the form of lignite or brown coal in the proportion of about 85 per
cent. of the former to 14 per cent. of the latter, to which is or may be added
about 1 per cent. of sulphur.
The explosive may be prepared in the manner employed in the manufacture
of gunpowder, to which it is akin, but the operation of glazing may be omitted.
The explosive may be prepared and used in the loose granular form or may be
made up into cartridges, and fired like ordinary ("black") gunpowder.
1 0541 law of Inil 1808
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Of the Firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather,
Chartered Patent Agents,
Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicants.
Improved Explosive.
We, LEYSHON DAVIES, Joint-Manager, Kames Gunpowder Mills, Kyles of Bute,
Argyleshire, and CHARLES WILLIAM CURTIS, Gunpowder Manufacturer, 74, Lom-
bard Street, London, E.C., 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 has for its object to provide an inexpensive and practically
flameless explosive suitable for blasting purposes, especially in mines where the
production of flame is objectionable and also for guns and other small arms.
The improved explosive is composed of a mixture of nitrate of potash and
carbon in the form of lignite or brown coal in the proportion of about 85 per

page_text: cent, of the former to 14 per cent. of the latter in which is or may be added
about 1 per cent, of sulphur.
to
We have found that the quality of lignite best suited for this purpose is such
that the volatile matter in it does not exceed forty per cent. nor fall below thirty
per cent. of its weight and the per centage of ash ranges from about seven
ten per cent. In case the lignite in its natural condition does not conform to
these requirements it may be subjected to a carbonising operation at a very low
temperature in order to bring it into the desired condition, but it will be under-
stood that these proportions may be subject to some variation according to the
exact purpose for which the powder is to be used.
The explosive should be prepared in the manner employed in the manufacture
of gunpowder to which it is akin, but the operation of glazing may be omitted.
The explosive may be prepared and used in the loose granular form or may be
made up into cartridges and fired like ordinary ("black") gunpowder.
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:
-
An improved explosive compounded as hereinbefore described.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Of the Firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather,
Chartered Patent Agents,.
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicants.