IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF BLASTING OR RENDING COAL, ROCK, AND OTHER MINERALSSTAN, THE SAME BEING APPLICABLE TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Miles Settle, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster,
Mining Engineer and Colliery Proprietor for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MEANS OF BLASTING OR RENDING COAL, ROCK, AND OTHER MINERALS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Miles Settle at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th October 1882.
MILES SETTLE, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster, Mining Engineer, and
Colliery Proprietor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF BLASTING, OR RENDING
COAL, ROCK, AND OTHER MINERALS OR SUBSTANCES, THE SAME BEING APPLICABLE
TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
"
This invention relates to improvements in the means of blasting or rending coal,
rock, and other minerals or substances, and which improvements are also applicable
to other useful purposes in which it is desirable to extinguish the flame arising
from the combustion of gunpowder or other explosive substance as in the firing
of cannon or inortars; and the invention has especial reference to an improved
form and construction of water cartridge, by which the advantages attendant upon
the use of such a contrivance are more fully attained than in such cartridges as
hitherto constructed.
My Invention consists in constructing such cartridges in such a manner as that
a case containing the blasting substance or explosive charge is completely surrounded
by water, in lieu of having water at but one end or but partly around as hitherto,
and as an especial advantage of my improved construction, the complete extinction
of the flame follows immediately upon the firing of the charge, avoiding all danger
in the most fiery mines.
In one modification of my improved water cartridges, the blasting charge is
placed in a case closed at one end and over the open end thereof is passed a tubular
cap, with a central aperture for the passage of the fuse leading from the blasting
charge, and which aperture is subsequently closed with clay or otherwise, so as to
make the case containing the blasting charge watertight.

page_text: The closed end of the case is made with an open projecting end, and the outer
circumference of the case, or of the case and its cap, is made with projecting
diaphragmns which have through openings or are otherwise formed as to allow of
free communication from side to side.
The case containing the explosive charge is, (as thus or otherwise equivalently
fitted) inserted into the open end of a tube or outer case which is closed at the
other end, the said projecting end of the case being first inserted so as to leave the
fuse end outwards; the outer tube is then filled with water which, (owing to
the said projecting end of the inner case and to the perforated diaphragins thereof
which keep the explosive case central of the outer tube) completely surrounds the
explosive case; over the open end of the outer tube is then passed a tubular cap,
with a central aperture for the passage of the fuse, and which aperture, when all is
in order and ready to be used, is properly closed by a screw-cap or otherwise for
preventing escape of the water.
The water cartridge, (as thus or otherwise equivalently fitted) is then ready for
use and in its use it is inserted into the inner end of an ordinary bored hole in
the coal, rock, or other substance, and its fuse is led out at the open end, the hole
is then properly tamped with sleming, clay, or dirt, in the usual manner.
The improved water cartridge may then be fired or exploded in the usual
manner or it may be exploded by electricity or otherwise. Upon the explosion
occurring, the flame in passing out in all directions is everywhere met by the
surrounding water, and thus the desired rending action of the charge is attained
and all danger of communicating fire to the surrounding coal or any escaping gas is
avoided.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters, Patent filed
by the said Miles Settle in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th April
1883.
MILES SETTLE of Bolton in the County of Lancaster Mining Engineer and
Colliery Proprietor IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF BLASTING OR RENDING
"
COAL, ROCK AND OTHER MINERALS OR SUBSTANCES THE SAME BEING APPLICABLE
TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
"
This invention relates to improvements in the means of blasting or rending coal
rock, and other minerals or substances, which improvements are also applicable to
other useful purposes in which it is desirable to extinguish the flame arising from
the combustion of gunpowder or other explosive substance as in the firing of Cannon
or mortars; and the invention has especial reference to an improved form and
construction of water cartridge by which the advantages attendant upon the use
of such a contrivance are more fully attained than in water cartridges as hitherto
constructed.
My invention consists in so constructing such cartridges that a case containing
the blasting substance or explosive charge is completely surrounded by water, in
lieu of having water at but one end or but partly around as hitherto practised, and
as an especial advantage of my improved construction, the complete extinction of
the flame follows immediately upon the firing of the charge, avoiding all danger in
the most fiery mines.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention I will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be clearly understood
I have annexed hereunto a sheet of drawings illustrative thereof and have marked
the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the
following explanation thereof.
Fig. 1. in the annexed drawing is a longitudinal section showing one modification
of my improved water cartridges, the blasting charge is placed in a case a, a closed
at one end b, b and over the open end thereof is passed a tubular cap c, c with a
central aperture for the passage of the fuse d, d leading from the blasting charge,
which aperture is subsequently closed with clay or otherwise, so as to make the
case a, a containing the blasting charge watertight.
The closed end b,.b of the case is made with an open projecting tube e, e and the
outer circumference of the case a, a (or of the case and its cap) is made with pro-
jecting diaphragms f, f at the ends which have through openings see section Fig. 2.
so as to hold the case a, a in the centre of the outer casing g, g and at the same
time to allow of free communication from side to side. Instead of these diaphragms
longitudinal webs or vanes h, h as shown at sections Figs 3. and 4. or projecting pins
may be employed to keep the case a, a central so as to be surrounded by water on
all sides.
The case a, a containing the explosive charge is (as thus or otherwise equivalently
fitted) inserted into the open end of a tube or outer casing g, g which is closed at
the other end, the end of the case having the projection e, e being first inserted so
as to leave the fuse end outwards; the outer tube g g is then filled with water
which (owing to the said projecting part e, e of the inner case a, a and to the per-
forated diaphragms f, for webs h, h thereof which keep the explosive case a, a
central in the outer tube) completely surrounds the explosive case a, a; over the
open end of the outer tube g, g is then passed a tubular cap i, i with a central
aperture for the passage of the fuse d, d which aperture, when all is in order and

page_text: ready to be used is properly closed by a screw-cap h, k, or otherwise tamped with
clay as shown at Fig. 3. for preventing escape of the water."
The water cartridge (as thus or otherwise equivalently fitted) is then ready for
use; and in its use it is inserted and pushed up to the inner end of an ordinary bored
hole in the coal rock, or other substance see Fig. 1. and its fuse d, d is led out at
the open end, the hole is then properly tamped with stemming clay or earth in the
usual manner. The improved water cartridge may then be fired or exploded in the
ordinary way or it may be exploded by electricity, or otherwise. Upon the explosion
occurring, the flame in passing out in all directions is everywhere met by the sur-
rounding water, and thus the desired.rending action of the charge is attained and
all danger of communicating fire to the surrounding coal or any escaping gas is
avoided.
Having now described the nature and object of my said invention together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect 1 wish it to be understood that I claim as my invention the
construction of water cartridges (substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the drawings annexed) in such a manner thint the case containing
the explosive charge is completely surrounded on all sides and at botli ends by
water.
•
In witness whereof I the said Miles Settle have hereunto set my hand and
seal this thirteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty three