Year: 1886

page_text: I, ARTHUR HAMILTON DURNFORD, of the Dartford Conservative Club, 22 Spital
Street, Dartford, in the County of Kent, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention consists chiefly in the production and use in gunpowder of
a charcoal prepared from cork.
The cork is put into cylinders and subjected to a destructive distillation by
heating the cylinders to such temperatures as will produce the charcoal required..
The improved gunpowder is made from mixtures consisting of:-
=
First, saltpetre and cork charcoal in the proportions of about eighty and twenty
per cent., respectively.
Second, saltpetre, cork charcoal, and sulphur, the latter ingredient being in
a proportion varying from about one to ten per cent.
Hitherto, charcoals of comparatively low densities and inflammable natures
which have been used in the manufacture of gunpowder are highly hygroscopic.
The object of this Invention is to prepare a soft charcoal which shall have an
extremely light density, ignite at a low temperature, and exhibit very slight
hygroscopic properties, and by its use in the manufacture of gunpowder to produce
a gunpowder possessing the qualities of great energy and propelling power combined
with moderate pressures when fired in a gun.
The gunpowder thus produced is comparatively smokeless and non-hygroscopic.
Dated this 13th day of March 1886.
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, ARTHUR HAMILTON DURNFORD, of the Conservative Club, 22 Spital Street,.
Dartford, in the County of Kent, 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 :-
This Invention consists chiefly in the production and use in Gunpowder of
a charcoal prepared from "cork."
The "cork" is put into cylinders and subjected to a destructive distillation, by
heating the cylinders to such temperatures as will produce the charcoal required.
The improved Gunpowder is made from mixtures consisting of,
First, Salt petre and Cork Charcoal in the proportions of about eighty and
twenty per cent. respectively.
Second, Saltpetre, Cork Charcoal, and Sulphur; the latter ingredient being in
a proportion varying from about one to ten per cent.
Hitherto charcoals of comparatively low densities and inflamable natures which
have been used in the manufacture of Gunpowder, are highly hygroscopic.
The object of this Invention is to prepare a soft charcoal which shall have an
extremely light density, ignite at a low temperature, and exhibit very slight
hygroscopic properties, and by its use in the manufacture of Gunpowder, to
produce a Gunpowder possessing the qualities of great energy and propelling
power combined with moderate pressures when fired in a gun.
The Gunpowder thus produced is comparatively smokeless and non-hygroscopic.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Iuvention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim.is:-
-
The improvements in the manufacture of Gunpowder substantially as hereinbefore
shewn and described.