A NEW EXPLOSIVE MATTER AND METHOD FOR USING THE SAME
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Carl Pieper, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, resident
at 109, 110, Gneisenau Strasse, Berlin, S.W., Prussia, for the Invention of
"A NEW EXPLOSIVE MATTER AND METHOD FOR USING THE SAME." A com-
munication from Albert Hellhoff, Artillery Officer, resident at Mayence, Hessc,
German Empire.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Carl Pieper at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th March 1880.
CARL PIEPER, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, resident at 109, 110, Gneisenau-
strasse, Berlin, S.W., Prussia. "A NEW EXPLOSIVE MATTER AND METHOD FOR
USING THE SAME." A communication from Albert Hellhoff, Artillery Officer,
resident at Mayence, Hesse, German Empire.
This Invention relates, firstly, to a certain class of explosive compounds formed
by mixing together nitric acid with certain nitrates of naphtaline, toluole, xylole,
phenole, or benzole; and, secondly, to a mode of keeping these substances ready for
use in such a manner that they cannot mix with each other before the moment
when they are to do service.
The nitrates which the inventor uses for producing his explosive compounds
are the following:-Mono- bi- and tri-nitrate of naphtaline, toluole, and xylole,
mono- and bi-nitrate of phenole, and finally, bi- and tri- nitrate of benzole. Any one
of these substances, or several of them combined, when mixed in due proportion
with nitric acid of a proper degree of concentration will produce a compound of
highly explosive power and of a so-called "brisant" effect, similar to that of nitro-
glycerine.
"
For obtaining a maximum explosive power the proportions of the substances to
be mixed should be such that by the explosion the relatively greatest amount of
carbonic acid may be formed, which in every case may be ascertained beforehand
by calculation on the basis of the chemical constitution of the composing substances..
The following table gives the quantity of nitric acid of the highest degree of con-
centration, which has to be added to 100 parts by weight of any of the nitrates

page_text: named when a compound of maximum efficiency is to be produced. The table also
shows the chemical formulae of the different nitrates :-
A deviation from these proportions will diminish the efficiency of the compound
more or less. It may be taken as a rule that the increase of an excess of any of
the nitrates mentioned will cause the explosive power of the compound, as also the
facility with which it may be made to explode, i.e., its sensibility for detonating
fuzes or primers to decrease rapidly. An excess of acid will have a similar effect
on the explosive power, whereas it does not affect the sensibility of the compound
in the same degree. In some cases it may be advantageous not to adopt the most
efficient proportion of the ingredients, and in consequence the inventor does not
limit himself to the proportions given in the above table.
When one of the said mono-nitrates is mixed with nitric acid an increase of
temperature takes place, which is the more intense as the substances are less pure.
Especially are chlorine and sulphuric acid when contained in the nitric acid apt to
cause such increase, although their relative quantity be but small, and traces of
them are almost invariably to be found in the nitric acid. In general, a refrigera-
tion will be necessary when the said substances are mixed, as otherwise a
spontaneous explosion inay ensue. With the bi-nitrate of toluole no increase of
temperature can be noticed, and in case bi-nitrate of benzole is used the thermo-
meter will even show a considerable sinking of the temperature.
Considering that danger is connected with the transport and handling of
explosive compounds in general, the inventor has conceived a method of keeping
the ingredients of the compound ready for use in due proportions without their
becoming mixed before the moment they are to be employed.
For this purpose the two substances are each filled into a bottle, of glass,
porcelain, or other sufficiently fragile material, and these bottles are enclosed in a
case of convenient shape, made of metal, wood, or other material more resistant
than the former. The said case may then bo transported under ordinary circum-
stances without danger.
For a blasting operation for instance the case, which for this purpose will have
to be of tubular form, is opened and put into the bore-hole, and the bottles are
broken by plunging a rod into them or in any other convenient manner.
The two
substances will thereby become mixed, so as to be ready for explosion in a few
seconds. The explosive matter thus produced is then fired by a fuze, which may
have a primer attached to it, or by any other suitable means.
Instead of enclosing the two substances in two different bottles a single bottle
may be used, provided with a fragile partition, or the outer case may be constructed
with a partition of this nature. For preventing the substances (when not enclosed
in special bottles of glass, &c.) from acting injuriously on any case made of a

page_text: corrodible metal, the case may be enamelled or covered inside with any suitablo
protecting material.
Another mode of causing the substances to become mixed when they are stored
up in separate bottles or chambers is as follows:-
-
One of the substances is contained in the vessel A, Fig. 1, of the annexed Sheet
of Drawings, the other one in the vessel B. The former should not be completely
filled. The vessel B is provided with holes b, which are kept closed by the annular
plug D, made by preference of india-rubber enclosed in a thin envelope of tin for
the purpose of preventing the india-rubber being destroyed by the acid. C is the
outer case, which in the Drawing is supposed to consist of wood, but which may be
made of metal, strong pasteboard, or other suitable material. If a breakage of the
vessel containing the [acid or a leakage of either of the plugs should be appre-
hended, the case, which in consequence of such breakage or leakage, is apt to
suffer from the destructive action of the acid, may with advantage be made of paste-
board imbued with castor-oil, which is not affected by the acid. The case when
made of wood may be covered inside with a lining of similar material. The inside
form of the said case should be such as to prevent the vessels A and B from
shifting, and the latter may be moreover prevented from shifting within the plug D
by means of a plate E, Figs. 1 and 2, passed on the neck of B, as will readily be
understood from the Drawing. When the substances are to mix with each other
the cover of the case is taken off, the plate E removed, and the vessel B pushed
down, so as to cause the holes b, b, to become free of the annular plug D. Com-
munication is thereby established between A and B, so that the mixture of the
ingredients can take place. This mixture may be accellerated by introducing a
rod through the neck of the vessel B (after the same has been opened) and stirring
the substance. Finally, a fuze is inserted through the neck of B.
Instead of enclosing both vessels in the case C, the vessel A, if made sufficiently
strong, may remain unprotected by any outer shell, as shown in Fig. 3. The
case C¹, which in this arrangement surrounds the vessel B only, may be attached
to A by means of a strip of strong paper glued over the joint of the two parts.
Another arrangement of a similar character as the foregoing is shown by Fig. 4.
There is in this case but a single vessel having a contraction or neck at g, g, by
which the two chambers A and B are formed; D is a plug fitting into this neck.
When the substances are to mix the small plug F is withdrawn and the plug D
pushed down by a rod passed through the hole in plug G. This rod may also serve
as stirrer; finally, a fuse is inserted through the said hole. If the combined vessel
A, B, is made of strong material, as supposed with regard to the vessel A, Fig. 3,
the case C, shown in the Drawing, is not necessarily required.
According to the modification represented by Fig. 5 the outer case consists of
the two parts C and B, which are both made of metal and screwed together. The
lower part C contains a bottle A filled with nitric acid, whereas the other ingredient
is directly enclosed in the upper part, which is therefore equivalent to the vessels
or chambers B of the former Figures, and has in consequence been marked by tho
same letter. H is a valve screwed on the lower end of the tube I, which may be
rotated by the disk L fixed to the upper end of I. When the explosive compound
is to be formed the disk L is turned by hand, whereby valve H is screwed down
against the top of bottle A. In consequence hereof A is broken, and at the same
time communication opened between C and B, so that the ingredients may mix.
An exploding fuze is thereupon inserted into the tube I, and by its explosion breaks
the tube and sets fire to the compound.
The arrangements represented in the Figures referred to may be modified in
various manners; the main feature of this part of the Invention consisting in
providing one of the vessels with holes, which are uncovered by displacing the said
vessel with regard to the other one, or in establishing a separation between the
ingredients by a plug which may be removed, or a valve-like device which may be
opened when the mixture of the substances is to take place.
When large quantities of the substances are to be stored up in one outer case it

page_text: may be convenient to divide one of them, or both, in two or more bottles. In any.
case but a single one of the nitrates named may be used, or two or more of them
may be applied together. It is also possible to mix and store up a certain part of
the necessary quantity of acid with the nitrate or nitrates without incurring
danger.
The described method of generating compounds of a highly explosive character
at the moment when they are to operate may also be applied to projectiles of all
sorts; this part of the Invention however forins the subject-matter of another
Patent application.
Having thus described the nature and object of this Invention, and the manner
in which it is to be carried out in practice, as communicated to me by my
correspondent, I hereby claim as new and important features of the same,-
1. An explosive compound formed by mixing together nitric acid with one of the
above specified nitrates of naphtaline, toluole, xylole, phenole, or benzolo, or with a
mixture of two or more of such nitrates, as and for the purpose described.
2. The method of preparing, at the time when it is to be used, an explosive
compound from nitric acid on the one hand and one or more of the above specified
nitrates of naphtaline, toluole, xylole, phenole, and benzole on the other hand, by
thus storing up the substances in different vessels or chambers that their mixture
may be caused by breaking, removing, opening, or shifting the separating medium
or parts, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-
second day of March, in the year One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
CARL PIEPER.