Improvements in or appertaining to Explosive Compounds.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1890-Accepted, 6th Sept., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Explosive Compounds.
A communication from abroad by SERGEY DARK SMOLIANINOFF, of No. 2428,
Fourteenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., United States of America, Civil
Engineer.
1, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex Civil
Engineer 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 :-
The invention relates to that class of high explosives which are insensitised, or
rendered less sensitive to agitation or concussion.
Mr. Smolianinoff has discovered that by adding to nitro-glycerine a proportion of
some one of the alcohols the resulting compound is insensitive to mere agitation or
concussion, and yet may be exploded at will by a fulminate.
In forming this insensitive compound, the ethers of the alcohols are the equivalents
of the alcohols; and in exploding it any detonating explosive is the equivalent of
the fulminate.
The degree of insensitiveness of the compound is in direct proportion to the
quantity of alcohol added, and its perfection is dependent on the purity of the
ingredients.
The best form of the new explosive compound, as determined by experiment, results
from adding one part by volume of methyl alcohol, or wood-spirit, to three parts by
volume of nitro-glycerine.
The best form of the compound containing an ether of alcohol is obtained by
adding one part by volume of acetic ether of glycerine to three parts by volume of
nitro-glycerine.
When
Mr. Smolianinoff has found by experiment that the union of the ingredients is
facilitated by moderately heating the nitro-glycerine. He has also found that the most
perfect compound results from what may be termed a saturated solution of nitro-
glycerine and methyl alcohol, and that the point of saturation depends upon the
temperature of the ingredients and their freedom from water or other adulteration,
varying slightly from the proportions above stated, as these conditions vary.
an exactly saturated solution is obtained, the compound is stable, and there is no
subsequent separation of the ingredients. With an excess of alcohol, there may be
a subsequent separation to the extent of such excess; but, with the proportions above
stated, such excess is comparatively slight, and impairs neither the strength nor the
safety of the compound.
By the admixture of the usual absorbents, that is, of such dry substances as will
take up the liquid by saturation or absorption, the compound is converted into a mass
resembling dynamite.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. An explosive compound consisting of a mixture of nitro-glyerine and an alcohol,
substantially as described.
2. An explosive compound consisting of a mixture of nitro-glycerine and methyl
alcohol, substantially as described.
3. The process of exploding a compound composed of nitro-glycerine and an
ID 437

page_text: alcohol by the detonation of a fulminate in or upon the same, substantially as
described.
4. The process of exploding a compound composed of nitro-glycerine and methyl
alcohol by the detonation of a fulminate in or upon the same, substantially as
described.
5. The combination of nitro-glycerine, an alcohol, and a fulminate, substantially as
and for the purposes described.
6. The combination of nitro-glycerine, methyl alcohol, and a fulminate, substantially
as and for the purposes described.
7. An explosive compound consisting of a mixture of nitro-glycerine an alcohol,
and an absorbent, substantially as described.
8. The process of exploding a compound composed of nitro-glycerine, an alcohol,
and an absorbent by the detonation of a fulminate in or upon the same, substantially
as described.
9. The combination of nitro-glycerine, an alcohol, an absorbent, and a fulminate,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 14th day of July 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.