Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 26th Oct., 1895
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1, BENJAMIN CORY PETTINGELL, of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada,
Gentleman, 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 :-
My composition and powder aforesaid consists of the following ingredients
combined in the proportious herein stated and in the following manner,
substantially:
63 parts
Raw nitre
Mineral coal dust or powder or mineral coke.
20 parts
dust or powder
15 parts
Crude sulphur
2 parts.
Wood pulp
I find that sixty three (63) parts of the nitre give the best results in a total of
100 parts as above described. but the proportion of the nitre may be varied within
a range of from 58 parts to 70 parts in the whole, the same quantity, positive, of
the other ingredients, respectively, being preserved, the number of parts in the
whole being thus varied in such case.
The dust or powder prepared from mineral coal is to be preferred to that from
mineral coke, as giving better results, and that prepared from bituminous coal
gives better results than that from anthracite coal, brown coal or shale, which may
be used, however. The wood fibre is employed to give to the mass of the powder
whether pressed and compacted or not greater porosity and thus to insure greater
rapidity of combustion and it is not used as a carboniferous element as it is not at
any time carbonized.
A proper way, and 1 suggest as the best way, to mix these ingredients and
prepare my said composition is as follows: Dissolve the raw nitre in sufficient
water in a steam jacketed kettle, or other proper vessel, by the application of heat,
and when at the boiling point, add the coal dust or powder, or coke dust or
powder, and continue the heating or boiling until the mixture is thoroughly dried,
the water and moisture being evaporated; to this dried product the sulphur is
then added, and this mixture thoroughly ground together, then to this add the
wood pulp the whole to be then mixed and mingled, and the powder is then ready
for use, the process of its manufacture being fully completed. The mixing and
grinding of these ingredients, subsequent to the mixing of the nitre and coal or
coke dust is done in a cold condition.
For use or storage this finished product may be pressed and granulated or may
be stored and used in its original pulverized form.
What I claim as points of superiority and advantage of this, my new composition
of matter and powder as a low explosive, over any other low explosive ever
manufactured, or upon the market, are: 1. A greatly diminished cost of product.on.
an explosive agent. 3. A greatly
2. Its greater strength and effectiveness as
lessened danger to the lives and the health, of those engaged in its manufacture.
4. A greatly lessened danger in mining operations from its use therein, as its
explosion is not attended by any flame, produces little if any smoke and gives off
no noxious fumes, so that the air in the workings is either vitiated nor deprived
of its oxygen, and the explosive and dangerous gases so common in mining

page_text: operations cannot be ignited by it while its ordinary handling is attended by much
less danger.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
--
1. The herein described composition of matter and powder for use as a low
explosive for all blasting and mining purposes where low explosives are used and
employed, consisting of raw nitre, mineral coal dust or powder, or mineral coke
dust or powder, sulphur and wood pulp, mixed together in the proportions and way
herein before described.
2. My described process of mixing and combining the nitre in heated aqueous
solution with the carboniferous or other constituents, in the manufacture of low
explosives.
3. The use and employment of mineral coal dust or mineral coke dust or powder,
as the carbonaceous element in the composition of low explosives.
Dated this 7th day of September 1895.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.