IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE CARTRIDGES FOR BLASTING AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, GEORGE GATTON MELHUISH HARDINGHAM, of 191, Fleet Street, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE CARTRIDGES FOR BLASTING AND
OTHER PURPOSES" to be as follows:-
This invention consists of an improved manufacture of cartridges for blasting,
mining and similar purposes, the same being in certain forms adapted for use with
ordnance and other fire-arms. The principle embodied is further applicable to
shells, military mines and other appliances of a like explosive character.
A cartridge constructed according to this invention and intended for ordinary
blasting or mining purposes consists of a casing of paper or other suitable material
containing gunpowder, dynamite or other suitable explosive agent. In the same
casing, and by preference immersed in or surrounded by the material constituting
the explosive agent before referred to, is a vessel containing liquid ammonia. I
prefer to make this vessel in the form of a glass tube or vial, the same being
hermitically sealed with the aid of a blow pipe, or otherwise so as to prevent the
exudation of the liquid. Upon such a cartridge being fired, the liquid ammonia is
volatilised, and the gases evolved therefrom largely increase the effective power of
the gunpowder, dynamite or other explosive agent employed. Another advantage
consists in the flame which under ordinary circumstances is developed, being partly
or wholly quenched, and the danger arising therefrom in fiery mines being thus
modified or obviated. By the use of this invention, the deleterious vapours evolved
by the combustion of dynamite and similar explosive agents are to a great extent
absorbed and rendered harmless. For the liquid ammonia above referred to,
liquified carbonic acid gas or certain other non-inflammable liquids may be
substituted. For practical purposes, however, I prefer the two liquids specified.
Instead of a non-inflammable liquid, an inflammable one may, in certain
applications, be used with advantage. Of this class, I prefer alcohol, ether or
benzoline.

page_text: Instead of employing glass for the vessel containing the liquid the envelope may
be caoutchouc or other impermeable material.
According to one modification of this invention, instead of providing means for
keeping the liquid and the explosive agent separate, they may be mixed together.
Under such circumstances, I prefer tonite or gun-cotton for the explosive agent;
and to saturate same with ammonia, or with ammonia and alcohol combined. Such
a cartridge would require the addition for firing purposes of a primer of dry tonite
or other detonating means, as well understood in connection with the firing of wet
gun-cotton. A further advantage resulting from the combination last described is
that whilst the explosive effect of the material composing the cartridge is largely
increased, owing to the ammonia or other liquid being combined with tonite or
other explosive agent, the compound material, being in a wet state, is rendered safe
for transport and handling.
In the manufacture of the larger classes of cartridges for ordnance, instead of
making the glass or other vessels containing the ammonia or other liquid larger in
proportion, I prefer to employ several small tubes, vials or vessels for holding the
liquid, and to dispose these at different points in the length of the cartridge. Or a
series of such tubes may be formed into a group or bundle; or arranged round a
central tube, open at each end, with a view to allowing free communication for the
flame from that end of the cartridge where ignition takes place through such
central tube to the other portion of the cartridge. This central tube or space may,
if preferred, be filled with fine gunpowder, with a view to expediting the firing of
the entire charge.
According to a further modification in the mode of applying my invention, for
certain purposes--as for instance, pillaring slate rock-the case of the cartridge
may be dispensed with and the vessel or vessels containing the liquid inserted in
the bore-hole independently of the charge of explosive. In charging a bore-hole
according to this method I prefer, as a general rule, to insert the vessel containing
the liquid first, and then to introduce the dynamite or other charge of explosive
material; the combination of the two elements constituting my improved cartridge
being thus effected in the bore hole. Or the bore-hole may be so charged that
several vessels of the liquid alternate with several charges of explosive.
Dated this twenty fifth day of January 1884

page_text: I, GEORGE GATTON MELHUISH HARDINGHAM, of 191, Fleet Street, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE CARTRIDGES FOR BLASTING AND
OTHER PURPOSES" and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to
the accompanying drawings:-
-
This invention consists of an improved manufacture of cartridges for blasting,
mining and similar purposes; the same being in certain forms adapted for use with
ordnance and other fire-arms. The principle embodied is further applicable to shells,
military mines and other appliances, of a like explosive character.
A cartridge, constructed according to this invention and intended for ordinary
blasting and mining purposes, consists of a casing of paper or other suitable material
containing gunpowder or other suitable explosive agent. In the same casing, and
by preference immersed in or surrounded by the material constituting the explosive
agent before referred to, is a vessel containing liquid ammonia. Such a cartridge is
represented in Figure 1 where A is the casing, B the explosive agent, C the vessel
containing liquid ammonia, D a detonator cap with fuse E. I prefer to make the
vessel containing the liquid ammonia in the form of a glass tube or vial; the same
being hermitically sealed with the aid of a blow-pipe or otherwise, so as to prevent
the exudation of the liquid.
Upon such a cartridge being fired, the liquid ammonia is volatilised and the gases
evolved therefrom largely increase the effective power of the gunpowder dynamite
or other explosive agent employed.
Another advantage results from the fact that the flame, which under ordinary
circumstances is depeloved, is partly or wholly quenched; the danger arising
therefrom in fiery mines being thus modified or obviated. By the use of this
invention, the deleterious vapours evolved by the combustion of dynamite and
similar. explosive agents are to a great extent absorbed and rendered harmless.
For the liquid ammonia above referred to, liquified carbonic acid gas or certain
other non-inflammable liquids may be substituted. For practical purposes, however,
I prefer one or other of the two liquids specified.
Instead of a non-inflammable liquid; an inflammable one may, in certain
applications, be used with advantage. Of liquids comprised in this class, I prefer
alcohol, ether or benzoline.
Instead of employing glass as the material of the vessel for containing the liquid,
the envelope may be of caoutchouc or other impermeable material.
According to one modification of this invention, instead of providing means for
keeping the liquid and the explosive agent separate, they may be mixed together.
Under such circumstances, I prefer tonite or gun-cotton as the explosive agent
and to saturate same with liquid ammonia, or with ammonia and alcohol combined.
Such a cartridge would require the addition, for firing purposes, of a primer of dry
tonite or other detonating means,, as well understood in connection with the firing
of wet gun-cotton.
A further advantage resulting from the combination last described is that, whilst
the explosive effect of the material composing the cartridge is largely increased,
owing to the liquid ammonia or other liquid being intimately combined with tonite
or other explosive agent, the compound material, being in a wet state, is rendered
safe for transport and handling.

page_text: Figures 2 to 7 represent various modes of arranging and applying cartridges of
the character herein before described.
In Figure 2, which shews a cartridge arranged in a bore-hole and ready for
firing, the vessel C containing the liquid ammonia is of the full diameter of the
cartridge and is placed at the inner extremity thereof. The end of the bore-hole
may be tamped with a lining of soft clay F to form a cushion for the inner
extremity of the cartridge. A is the cartridge case, B the dynamite or other
.explosive agent, D the detonator cap with fuse E, as before; similar letters of
reference indicating corresponding parts in all the figures. G is a pellet of soft
clay placed on the top or outer end of the cartridge for safety; a tamping H of the
usual character being subsequently added.
According to the modification represented in Figure 3, the vessel C containing
the liquid ammonia is of annular form in cross section; the explosive agent B,
being arranged within the said tubular vessel C.
A further modification is represented in Figure 4, where the tonite or other
explosive agent is arranged within the cartridge A between two vessels containing
liquid ammonia. Each of these vessels is perforated longitudinally, to permit, in
the one case, of the passage of the fuse E, and, in the other case, of the flame
generated by the combustion of the charge B. The pressure of the gases within
the perforations or passages J J operates to burst the vessels C C on the ignition of
the explosive agent.
According to the variation represented in Figure 5, the cartridge case A contains
two pellets of compressed gunpowder, each of which is provided with a longitudinal
passage J. Portions of these passages are utilised for the reception of the vessel C
of liquid ammonia. The remaining portion of the passage through one of the
pellets serves for the insertion of the fuse E.
In Figure 6 is represented a bore-hole charged with loose gunpowder B
surrounding a series of liquid ammonia charged vessels C C C introduced at
intervals. E is the fuse and G the tamping.
In the further modification represented in Figure 7, the cartridge case A is formed
of glass and is provided at one end with a chamber or internal recess a. Within
this recess is placed the detonating agent D of tonite or dynamite. The other end
of the cartridge is formed with a neck al projecting inwards, through which the
cartridge may be charged with tonite B in a powdered state. This charge may
then be saturated with liquid ammonia; about five per cent of the latter being
a suitable proportion. Thereupon the neck may be plugged with a stopping a² of
plaster of Paris and shellac, and this end of the cartridge served with a coating of
shellac, gutta percha or suitable cement, with a view to preventing evaporation of
the ammonia. In instances where uncompressed gun-cotton is substituted for
powdered tonite, an addition of 30 per cent. of liquid ammonia will be found
suitable in ordinary blasting operations.
In the modification described with reference to Figure 7, it will be perceived
that, instead of the ammonia being employed in a liquid and separate state, it is
incorporated with the explosive agent or the greater portion thereof.
In the manufacture of the larger classes of cartridges for ordnance, shells, military
mines and similar applications, instead of making the glass or other vessels
containing the ammonia or other liquid larger in proportion, I prefer to employ
several small tubes, vials or vessels, for holding the liquid, and to dispose these at
different points in the length of the cartridge, substantially as described in reference
to Figure 6. Or a series of such tubes may be formed into a group or bundle.
Or they may be arranged around a central space or tube open at each end, with a
view to allowing free communication for the flame between that end of the cartridge
where ignition takes place and the other portion of the cartridge. This central
tube or space may, if preferred, be charged with fine gunpowder, with a view to
expediting the ignition of the entire charge.
It will be obvious that a further modification in the mode of applying this
invention may, for certain purposes, be devised-as, for instance, pillaring slate

page_text: rock-by dispensing with the cartridge case and inserting in the bore-hole the
vessel or vessels containing the liquid independently of the charge of explosive.
In charging a bore-hole according to this method, I prefer, as a general rule, to first
insert the vessel containing the liquid and then to introduce the dynamite or other
explosive; the combination of the two main elements constituting the improved
cartridge being thus effected in the bore-hole. Or the bore-hole may be so charged
that several vessels of the liquid alternate with several charges of explosive.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim:-
First The use, in explosive cartridges for blasting and other purposes, of a
non-inflammable liquid, such as liquid ammonia or liquified carbonic acid gas, in
conjunction with gunpowder dynamite or other explosive agent; substantially as
herein described.
Secondly The use, in explosive cartridges for blasting and other purposes, of
an inflammable liquid, such as alcohol ether or benzoline, in conjunction with
gunpowder dynamite or other explosive agent; substantially as herein described.
Thirdly The combination, in an explosive cartridge, of a vessel or vessels
containing a non-inflammable or an inflammable liquid of either of the kinds herein
specified, with gunpowder dynamite or other explosive agent; substantially as
herein described.
Fourthly-The combination, in an explosive cartridge, of a liquid of either of
the kinds herein specified, with gun-cotton tonite or other similar explosive agent;
the explosive material or a portion thereof being saturated with the said liquid and
fired by a suitable detonator; substantially as herein described.
Fifthly The use, in a bore-hole or other chamber where the explosive charge
is required to operate, of a vessel or vessels containing liquid of either of the kinds
herein specified, in conjunction with gunpowder dynamite or other explosive agent;
the two elements being introduced to the bore-hole or other chamber simultaneously
or consecutively; substantially as herein described.
Dated this 25th dox of October 1884
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London.