An Improved Electro-chemical Explosive Device.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec.,
1897
Complete Specification Left, 21st Sept., 1898-Accepted, 21st Dec., 1898
[Communicated from abroad by GIOVANNI CORNARA, of Mantua, in the Kingdom
of Italy, Colonel of Artillery.]
An Improved Electro-chemical Explosive Device.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is the substitution of electrolysis for ordinary
explosives.
For this purpose I employ a vessel into which I introduce one or more appro-
priate substances which I submit to the action of an electric current, which decom-
poses them giving rise to products capable of recomposition and which reproduce
the original substances or produce new substances, liberating heat and causing an
explosion.
Ordinarily, the substance which I decompose by means of electrolysis is water,
which produces a compressed mixture of hydrogen and oxygen which is the most
powerful explosive at present known. I employ a reservoir capable of resisting
the internal pressures which are produced. I introduce into this vessel an insulated
anode having a sufficiently large surface within the same, the walls of the reservoir
preferably fulfil the office of cathode. Water is introduced into the reservoir,
filling it either entirely or only partially and this water contains in solution pre-
ferably either caustic potash or soda at 5 per cent. Although I do not limit my
invention to the employment of this electrolyte (an aqueous solution of an alkali)
I prefer to use it because I am thereby enabled to construct the reservoir of a
metal attackable by acids.
The reservoir is primed preferably above, by means of a cap, a fuse or a metallic
wire rendered incandescent by the passage of an electric current at the desired
moment. The anode may also be arranged in such a manner that, the electrolytic
decomposition of the requisite quantity of water having been effected the anode
leaves the water; by the continuance of the passage of the electric current, a
spark passes between the anode and the cathode and the explosion is produced
under the desired conditions. Only one hermetically closed aperture is necessary
in addition to that for the admission of the anode; in order to ensure the tightness
of the closing of these two apertures, they may both be covered by the water to be
decomposed.
In the accompanying drawings are represented by way of example only, some
of the arrangements which I usually adopt.
Figure 1 is a section of a reservoir for blasting holes formed in rock of great.
resistance.
Figure 2 is a section of a reservoir intended to be employed as a projectile
torpedo or the like or for introduction into blasting holes formed in rock of slight
resisting power and
Figures 3 and 4 show modifications.

page_text: Similar letters of reference designate in all the figures the parts having the
same functions.
Referring to Figure 1 which represents a reservoir for blasting holes formed
in rock of great resistance; the rock which it is desired to blow up, itself assists the
walls of the reservoir which are relatively thin to resist the internal pressure
which is developed prior to the ignition of the charge. The reservoir is strength-
ened in the direction of its longitudinal axis by means of a large tension rod A
provided with a nut B and counter-nut B₁ at one of its extremities.
a indicates the lateral wall of the reservoir which, being in electrical connection
with a sheet-iron cylinder c, constitutes the cathode of the current, produces the
decomposition of the electrolyte and serves to charge the apparatus.
dis the terminal of the anode of the same charging current and is in electrical
communication with the internal cylindrical surfaces e e.
ff are insulating parts, preferably of ebonite, are copper parts serving
either as packing for ensuring tightness of closing, or as contacts for establishing
electrical communication.
is the terminal of the anode of the current causing the ignition of the
charge.
ii are gas-checks connected with the respective anodes.
kis a copper wire which, when rendered incandescent, causes the ignition of
the charge.
Referring to Figure 2 the configuration of the surface e of the anode is obtained
by a copper sheet bent spirally, which owing to its elasticity may be introduced
by the opening C.
In the arrangement shewn in Figure 3 the explosion takes place immediately the
tension of the charging-current exceeds 60 volts and its intensity exceeds 20
amperes per square decimetre of anode.
In the arrangement illustrated in Figure 4 the explosion takes place immediately
the level of the liquid falls below the point s of the anode.
The dimensions of the anodes should preferably be calculated in such a manner
that the intensity of the charging current does not exceed 7 amperes per square
decimetre of surface.
The same current may be employed to charge several reservoirs at once. All
that is necessary is to insulate all of them excepting the last, to establish com-
munication between the anode of each reservoir and the cathode of the preceding
reservoir and to run to earth the last cathode or to connect it to the negative pole
of the source of electrical energy.
The explosive reservoir may thus be charged in an indirect manner by means of
a voltameter placed in communication with its interior. The elements of the
electrical action (resistance, intensity, electro motive force) undergo no variation
during the decomposition of the water in the closed vessels. The duration of the
electrolytic action, and the data which are known with regard to the current
supplied to the apparatus, the superficies of the anode and of the cathode, and
with regard to the quantity and the nature of the electrolyte, enable a computation
of the quantity of the gases produced and of the explosive force stored within the
reservoir.
The advantages resulting from the employment of electro-chemical reservoirs
are amongst others, the following; an enormous explosive force, the possibility
of utilising the motive force available in mines and even at times when it cannot
be used for other purposes, the absence of all danger to the workmen, the harmless
ness of the products of explosion, and finally the low cost.
Dated thin 011
1
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: An improved Electro-chemical Explosive Device.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 object of this invention is the substitution of electrolysis for ordinary
explosives.
For this purpose I employ a vessel into which I introduce one or more appro-
priate substances which I submit to the action of an electric current, which decom-
poses them giving rise to products capable of recomposition and which reproduce
the original substances or produce new substances, liberating heat and causing an
explosión.
Ordinarily, the substances which I decompose by means of electrolysis is water,
which produces a compressed mixture of hydrogen and oxygen which is the most
powerful explosive at present known. I employ a reservoir capable of resisting
the internal pressures which are produced. I introduce into this vessel an insulated
anode having a sufficiently large surface within the same, the walls of the reservoir
preferably fulfil the office of cathode. Water is introduced into the reservoir,
filling it either entirely or only partially and this water contains in solution pre-
ferably either caustic potash or soda at 5 per cent. Although I do not limit my
invention to the employment of this electrolyte (an aqueous solution of an alkali)
I prefer to use it because I am thereby enabled to construct the reservoir of a
metal attackable by acids.
The reservoir is primed preferably above, by means of a cap, a fuse or a metallic
wire rendered incandescent by the passage of an electric current at the desired
moment. The anode may also be arranged in such a manner that, the electrolytic
decomposition of the requisite quantity of water having been effected, the anode
leaves the water; by the continuance of the passage of the electric current, a
spark passes between the anode and the cathode and the explosion is produced
under the desired conditions. Only one hermetically closed aperture is necessary
in addition to that for the admission of the anode; in order to ensure the tightness
of the closing of these two apertures, they may both be covered by the water to be
decomposed.
In the drawings left with my Provisional Specification are represented by way
of example only, some of the arrangements which I usually adopt.
Figure 1 is a section of a reservoir for blasting holes formed in rock of great
resistance.
Figures 23 and 4 show modifications.
Similar letters of reference designate in all the figures the parts having the
same functions.
Referring to Figure 1 which represents a reservoir for blasting holes formed
in rock of great resistance; the rock which it is desired to blow up, itself assists the
walls of the reservoir which are relatively thin to resist the internal pressure
which is developed prior to the ignition of the charge. The reservoir is strengthened
in the direction of its longitudinal axis by means of a large tension rod A
provided with a nut B and counter-nut B¹ at one of its extremities. a indicates
the lateral wall of the reservoir which, being in electrical connection with a
sheet-iron cylinder c, constitutes the cathode of the current, produces the decom-
position of the electrolyte and serves to charge the apparatus.
d is the terminal of the anode of the same charging current and is in electrical
communication with the internal cylindrical surfaces e e.

page_text: ff are insulating parts, preferably of ebonite, g g are copper parts serving
either as packing for ensuring tightness of closing, or as contacts for establishing
electrical communication.
hh is the terminal of the anode of the current causing the ignition of the
charge.
are gas-checks connected with the respective anodes.
k is a copper wire which, when rendered incandescent, causes the ignition of
the charge.
carries
a
In Figure 2, a shows the lateral wall of the reservoir, acting as a cathode of the
charging current. The lid B is screwed into the opening C of the reservoir and
the connection is rendered tight by means of a copper wire packing 9.
The lid
rod el around which the anode
e is wound, such anode e
consisting of a copper sheet bent spirally, which, owing to its elasticity
in
be introduced into the opening
The end of
the rod e is connected to the terminal d for conducting the charging
current to the anode e. The rod e passes through the lid B and is made in the
form of a gas-check i which is pressed against the wall of the hole in the .said lid
in proportion as the internal pressure increases.
may
the reservoir.
The aforesaid rod is insulated from the lid B by a conical sleeve f of ebonite or
other equivalent insulating material.
A second anode k is connected with the lid B in the same manner as the end
of the rod e above described, and is intended to receive from the terminal h, the
current for causing the ignition of the charge.
This reservoir, which is intended to be employed as a projectile, torpedoes or
for introduction into blasting holes formed in rock of slight resisting power can
be operated as follows:
The negative pole of the source of electricity being connected with the casing a
and put to earth, the positive pole is placed in communication with the terminal d
whereby a current of convenient strength is caused to flow into the reservoir and
produce the decomposition of the electrolyte. The reservoir, thus charged for
instance with hydrogen and oxygen, may be caused to explode at any suitable
time by again connecting the wall a to earth and connecting the terminal h with
the anode of a convenient source of electricity.
Figure 3 shows a somewhat different form of reservoir and also a different form
of the anode e, which consists of a kind of gridiron formed of plates parallel to
each other and provided with numerous perforations whereby I obtain a large
surface of anode and also allow the gases produced at the lower part of the reservoir
to easily escape.
No special means for causing the ignition are provided as the
explosion takes place immediately the tension of the charging current exceeds 69
volts and its intensity exceeds 20 amperes per square decimetre of anode.
The arrangement of Figure 4, where the reservoir is supposed to be broken
and the lid applied to the upper part not shown in the drawing, differs from that
of Figure 3 inasmuch as it is not necessary to increase either the tension or the
strength of the charging current in order to cause the explosion.
The gridiron anode e is fitted at its lowermost part with a projecting point s
the distance of which from the opposite face of the cathode a is so calculated, that
when the electrolytic decomposition proceeds so far as to cause the level of the
liquid to fall below s, a spark flies over the gap and the explosion takes place.
The dimensions of the anodes should preferably be calculated in such a manner
that the intensity of the charging current does not exceed 7 amperes per square
decimetre of surface.
All
The same current may be employed to charge several reservoirs at once.
that is necessary is to insulate all of them excepting the last, to establish coin-
munication between the anode of each reservoir and the cathode of the preceding
reservoir and to run to earth the last cathode or to connect it to the negative pole
of the source of electrical energy.

page_text: The explosive reservoir may thus be charged in an indirect manner by means of
a voltameter placed in communication with its interior. The elements of the
electrical action (resistance, intensity, electro motive force) undergo no variation
during the decomposition of the water in the closed vessels. The duration of the
electrolytic action, and the data which are known with regard to the current
supplied to the apparatus, the superficies of the anode and of the cathode, and
with regard to the quantity and the nature of the electrolyte, enable a computation
of the quantity of the gases produced and of the explosive force stored within the
reservoir.
The advantage resulting from the employment of electro-chemical reservoirs
are, amongst others, the following: an enormous explosive force, the possibility
of utilising the motive force available in mines and even at times when it cannot
be used for other purposes, the absence of all danger to the workmen, the harmless-
ness of the products of explosion and finally the low cost.
Projectiles as well as torpedoes instead of being charged with the explosives
heretofore known, can be charged with the explosive compressed gaseous mixture
produced as above described, in order to attain a much higher explosive power.
The said apparatus are in this case fitted with a fuse of a known description;
torpedoes may be caused to explode by means of a wire k as shown in Figure 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
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 electro-chemical explosion device consisting of a closed receptacle within
which the electrical energy is stored under the form of potential energy, as a result of
the previous electrolytic decomposition, effected within the receptacle itself, of a
suitable electrolyte, thereby enabling the production of gaseous explosive mixtures
under high pressures capable of giving explosive results and likewise other mech-
anical thermic and other effects.
2. An electro chemical explosion device as described in Claim 1, in which the
charge arising from the electrolytic decomposition, is produced by previous elec-
trolytic decomposition effected in one or more separate appliances.
3. An electro-chemical explosion device characterised by the use of an electrolyte
consisting of an alkaline solution, thereby enabling the use of reservoirs capable of
resisting high pressures and anodes of a metal attackable by acids.
4. An electro-chemical explosion device similar to that described in Claim 1, in
which the walls themselves serve as electrodes.
5. The application of devices similar to those above described provided with fuses
or equivalent devices, causing the ignition of the internal charge either for mining
or quarrying purposes or in the artillery or military marine services or for any
other appropriate uses.
Dated this 21st day of Santambor 1808
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.