Improvements in the Manufacture of Gunpowder and other Explosive Compounds by the Use of an Improved Material in the coid Manufacture
Year: 1884

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Gunpowder and other
Explosive Compounds by the Use of an Improved Material
in the coid Manufacture
We, THORSTEN NORDENFELT of 53 Parliament Street in the City of Westminster
Civil Engineer and Captain VICTOR ALGERNON MEURLING of Christianstad,
Sweden do hereby declare the nature of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF GUNPOWDER AND OTHER EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS BY THE
USE OF AN IMPROVED MATERIAL IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of gunpowder
and other explosive compounds.
We replace charcoal in gunpowder and like compounds by cotton or other like
vegetable fibre, and this we reduce to the state of a fine powder. For this purpose
wo expose the cotton or fibre to hydrochloric gas; it is placed in a suitable closed
vessel, and a current of the gas is passed through amongst the fibre.
When the process is complete, and after any remaining acid has been removed
by a current of air or neutralized with ammonia or in other suitable manner, the
cotton or fibre is found in a friable state and it is readily disintegrated by friction.
In place of using the acid in a gaseous state, liquid hydrochloric acid may be used.
The cotton or fibre is then boiled in the acid, and is afterwards freed from
remaining acid by washing or other treatment.
After the fibre thus prepared has been dried it can be readily pulverized, and
is then ready for use in the manufacture of gunpowder. The pulverised cotton or
fibre is combined with the sulphur and saltpetre in the required proportions, and
the manufacture of gunpowder is proceeded with in the ordinary manner; or it
may be in the manner described in our Patent application bearing even date with
the present.
Cotton or other fibre which has been reduced to a state of powder by the means
described above may also be treated with nitric acid or its equivalent, and may
thus be converted into nitro-cellulose or gun cotton.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Gunpowder and other
Explosive Compounds by the Use of an Improved Material
We, THORSTEN NORDENFELT of 53 Parliament Street in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, and Captain VICTOR ALGERNON MEURLING of Christianstad,
Sweden, do hereby declare the nature of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
33
THE MANUFACTURE OF GUNPOWDER AND OTHER EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS BY THE
USE OF AN IMPROVED MATERIAL IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of gunpowder
and-other-explosive-compounds.
We replace charcoal in gunpowder and like compounds by cotton or other like
vegetable fibre, for instance such wood fibre as is used in paper making and this
we reduce to the state of a fine powder For this purpose we expose the cotton or
fibre to hydrochloric gas; it is placed in a suitable closed vessel, and a current of
the gas is passed through amongst the fibre.
When the process is complete, and after any remaining acid has been removed
by a current of air or neutralized with ammonia or in other suitable manner, the the
cotton or fibre is found in a friable state and it is readily disintegrated by friction.
In place of using the acid in a gaseous state liquid hydrochloric acid may be used.
The cotton or fibre can then be boiled in the acid, and is afterwards freed from
remaining acid by washing or other treatment, but if fairly strong acid be employed
boiling will not be found necessary.
A convenient mode of doing this is to put the acid into large wooden vessels or
tubs with lids to about one-third of their capacity, then to put in the cotton or
fibre stirring it about with wooden spokes or spades, until the tub is full, when the
lid is closed and the contents left for some two to four days. Then stir again with
the wooden spokes or spades let the cotton or fibre sink to the bottom and pour off
the superfluous acid which can be again used. Then wash the cotton or fibre by
pouring water over it while stirring or in any other well known manner.
After the fibre thus prepared has been dried it can be readily pulverized and is
then ready for use in the manufacture of gunpowder.
The first step of its use for gunpowder is to roast or burn the cotton or fibre
which can be done in heated iron retorts which can be revolving while the fibre is
stirred inside.
The pulverized cotton or fibre is combined with the sulphur and saltpetre in the
required proportions, and the manufacture of gunpowder is proceeded with in the
ordinary manner or it may be in the manner described in our patent application
bearing even date with the present.
Cotton or other fibre which has been reduced to a state of powder by the means
described above may also be treated with nitric acid or its equivalent and may
thus be converted into nitro-cellulose or gun cotton.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
The use in the manufacture of gunpowder and other explosive compounds of
vegetable fibre disintegrated by means of hydrochloric acid either in the gaseous
or liquid state.