CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF EXPLOSIVE COM
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Winiwarter, of 38, Red Lion Square,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF EXPLOSIVE COM-
Scaled the 3rd August 1853, and dated the 4th February 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Wini-
warter at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 4th February 1853.
I, GEORGE WINIWARTER, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF EXPLOSIVE
COMPOUNDS to be as follows:-
The first part of my Invention consists in the application of the
following explosive compounds as a charge for all descriptions of fire-
arms and guns in lieu of gunpowder.
The following ingredients are mixed in certain proportions, and
form three distinct compositions, marked respectively No. 1, 2, and 3.
No. 1. fulminating mercury, chlorate of potassa, sulphate of anti-
mony, charcoal and saltpetre, ferrocyanide of potassium, binoxide of
lead, etheroxylin.

page_text: No. 2, fulminating zinc, chlorate of potassa, sulphate of antimony,
binoxide of lead, ferrocyanide of potassium, etheroxylin.
No. 3, amorphous phosphorus, binoxide of lead, charcoal and salt-
petre, etheroxylin.
These materials, after being thoroughly mixed, they are moulded in
different shapes, regulated by the diameter of the bullet, as well as by
the power of the discharge.
The second part of my Invention consists in the application of the
above-described explosive compositions for shells. One of the forms of
shells which I construct is the following:-I make a bullet of the form
shewn in the sketch, of two parts b, and c, which are screwed together;
in the hollow chamber marked a, the explosive compound is placed.
The third part of my Invention. consists in the application of the
above-described explosive compounds for matches or primers, which are
fixed on paper at the same time when the composition is pressed in the
moulds of the primers themselves. The paper must be prepared like
gun-cotton, and after being converted in collodion it is to be put be-
tween the plates forming the moulds of the primers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Winiwarter in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 3rd August 1853.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto m, the said George Winiwarter, Her
special licence that I, the said George Winiwarter, my executors,
administrators, and assigns,. or such others as I, the said George
Winiwarter, 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 vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF Ex-
PLOSIVE COMPOUNDS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said George Winiwarter, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, 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 George Winiwarter, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and..ascertained>
in and by the following statement, accompanied by the Drawing
hereunto annexed, that is to say: "
The first part of my Invention consists in. the application of the fol
lowing explosive compounds as a charge or charges for all descriptions
of. fire-arms and guns, in lieu of gunpowder, as herein-after. described.
The following ingredients are mixed in the following proportions,:
according to weight, and form three distinct compositions, respectively.
marked No. 1, 2, and 3.
No. 1. 300 parts fulminating mercury,
288
"
312
27
:
60
chlorate of potassa.
sulphate of antimony.
charcoal and nitre. mixed in the proportions of

page_text: 23
"
6
"
900
"
• No. 2.
ferrocyanide of potassium.
binoxide of lead
etheroxylin, that is (75 pyroxylin dissolved in 150
sulphuric ether).
75 parts fulminating zinc.
4
"
chlorate of potassa.
15.
"
7 "
sulphate of antimony.
binoxide of lead.
1
2
ferrocyanide of potassium.
224
33
No. 3.
75
دو
64
وو
15
106
"
etheroxylin.
amorphous phosphorus.
binoxide of lead.
charcoal and nitre.
etheroxylin.
These materials, after being thoroughly mixed together in the same
manner and by means of the same machinery as described in a previous
Patent granted to my brother, Joseph Maximilian Ritter von Wini-
warter, 1851-52, they are moulded in different shapes, regulated by the
diameter of the bullet, as well as by the power of the discharge.
The second part of my Invention consists in the application of the
above-described explosive compositions for shells in such a way that
I charge the upper part of a common cylindro-conical bullet with these
compositions.
One of the forms how I use this part of my Invention is the follow-
ing-I make a bullet of the form shewn in the sketch, of two parts s
b, and c, which are screwed together; in the hollow chamber marked a,
the explosive compound is placed.
.. The third part of my Invention consists in the application of the
above-described explosive compounds for gun matches or gun primers,
fixed on paper when the composition is pressed in the moulds of the
primers, as described in the aforesaid previous Patent. The paper will
be prepared by the action of concentrated nitric acid so that it can be
dissolved in ether, forming a film of etheroxylin between the two plates,
the moulds for the primers.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, I wish to have it
understood that I claim,-

page_text: Firstly, the use of the above-described explosive compounds as a
substitute for gunpowder, and that I claim the mode of loading with
explosive compounds caked by means of etheroxylin or collodium,
instead of using granulated powder.
Secondly, the above-described method to use a bullet of the common
cylindro-conical shape as a shell.
Thirdly, the pressing gun primers upon paper which has been con-
verted in etheroxylin so that it burns off with the primer itself without
leaving any residue.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Winiwarter, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
GEORGE WINIWARTER. (L.S.)