Improvements in Explosives.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Explosives.
We, CHARLES HERBERT CURTIS, of 3, Gracechurch Street, in the City of London,
Explosive Manufacturer, and GEORGE GUILLAUME ANDRÉ, of Glenlean, Argyll-
shire, Scotland, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
:
The object of this invention is to secure in one explosive the quick shatter-
ing action of a detonating compound and the slow rending action of a mechanical
mixture of the gunpowder type. We effect this by mixing and incorporating
together two explosives suitable for blending one of the non-detonating; the other
of the detonating class. Of the non-detonating class we select the gunpowder
type as preferable, and we make an explosive mixture of nitrate of barium and
nitrate of potassium, or one of these, with paraffin coke and a low burned char-
coal such as slightly charred woodmeal, or with one of these. Of the detonating
class we prefer gun cotton, and we use the highest grades of that compound.
We have discovered that such gun cotton can be detonated when intimately
mixed with the non-detonating explosive described above in proportion so small
as 10 per cent. or even less of the gun cotton, and moreover such detonation may
be effected by the ordinary No. 6 detonator.
In carrying out our invention we proceed as follows;-
We first make, by the usual process of manufacture, the non-detonating
explosive mixture. We then mix with this, in the proportion of about 12 per
cent. of the total, the nitro-compound commercially known as best gun-cotton
and thoroughly incorporate under edge runners, or in some other suitable
manner.
**
The mill cake in its wet state may then be rubbed through sieves to granulate
the explosive, or it may be pressed into pellets as required.
When the explosive constituted in this manner is ignited by fuse no detona-
tion takes place. Ignition and combustion take place gradually and the effects
of the explosion are similar to those which are characteristic of gunpowder,
but when fired with a detonator the gun cotton detonates igniting simultaneously
every particle of the explosive mixture, so that the result is practically a detona-
tion of the whole. In this case the explosion is of course much more violent than
in the former.
The advantages of such an explosive are obvious for according to the method
of firing it is either a low" or a "high" explosive. When a slow rending
action is desired, as for example in breaking down coal, the explosive will be
fired by ordinary fuse, and when a quick shattering action is desired, as in rock
work, a detonator will be used.
Another advantage possessed by the explosive constituted in this manner we
have described is that it is cheap.

page_text: This constitutes the non-detonating mixture.
I then take 88 lbs. of this explosive and mix and incorporate with it 12 lbs. o
best gun cotton.
The resulting compound is granulated or pressed into pellets and dried.
Improvements in Explosives.
We, CHARLES HERBERT CURTIS, of 3, Gracechurch Street, in the City of London,
Explosive Manufacturer, and GEORGE GUILLAUME ANDRE, of Glenlean, Argyll-
shire, Scotland, Chemist, 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 to secure in one explosive the quick shatter-
ing action of a detonating compound and the slow rending action of a mechanical
mixture of the gunpowder type. We effect this by mixing and incorporating
together two explosives suitable for blending one of the non-detonating the other
of the detonating class. Of the non-detonating class we select the gunpowder
type as preferable and we make an explosive mixture of nitrate of barium and
nitrate of potassium or one of these with paraffin coke and a low burned char-
coal such as slightly charred woodmeal or with one of these. Of the detonating
class we prefer gun cotton and we use the highest grades of that compound.
We have discovered that such gun cotton can be detonated when intimately
mixed with the non-detonating explosive described above in proportion so small
as 10 per cent, or even less of the gun cotton and moreover such detonation must
be effected by the ordinary No. 6 detonator.
In carrying out our invention we proceed as follows:-
We first make by the usual process of manufacture the non-detonating
explosive mixture. We then mix with this, in the proportion of about 12 per
cent. of the total, the nitro-compound commercially known as best gun-cotton
and thoroughly incorporate under edge runners, or in some other suitable
manner.
The mill cake in its wet state may then be rubbed through sieves to granulate
the explosive, or it may be pressed into pellets as required.
When the explosive constituted in this manner is ignited by fuse no detona-
tion takes place. Ignition and combustion take place gradually and the effects
of the explosion are similar to those which are characteristic of gunpowder,
but when fired with a detonator the gun cotton detonates igniting simultaneously
every particle of the explosive mixture so that the result is practically a detona-
tion of the whole. In this case the explosion is of course much more violent than
in the former.
The advantages of such an explosion are obvious for according to the method

page_text: of firing it is either a "low" or a "high" explosive. When a slow rending
action is desired, as for example in breaking down coal, the explosive will be
fired by ordinary fuse and when a quick shattering action is desired, as in rock
work, a detonator will be used.
Another advantage possessed by the explosive constituted in this manner we
have described is that it is cheap.
The following is on crambla
This constitutes the non-detonating mixture.
We then take 88 lbs. of this explosive and mix and incorporate with it 12 lbs. of
best gun cotton.
The resulting compound is granulated or pressed into pellets and dried.
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:-
1. The production by the process and from the materials hereinbefore de-
scribed of an explosive capable of developing as and when required either the
quick shattering action of a detonating compound or the slow rending action of
an explosive of the non-detonating class.
2. The production of the hereinbefore described explosive by the blending
with gunpowder or with an explosive of the gunpowder class of a suitable explo-
sive of the detonating class, for example nitrocellulose the constituent materials
being compounded together substantially in the proportions and manner herein-
before described.
3. The herein before described explosive compounded of gunpowder of the
kind herein before particularly described in intimate admixture with guncotton
preferably of high nitration the constituents of the said explosive being pro-
portioned to one another as herein before set out.
4. The employment in the manufacture of an explosive such as is hereinbefore
described of a gunpowder or explosive of the gunpowder class containing as
one of its constituents a proportion of paraffin coke as hereinbefore specified.
Dated the 16th day of May 1900
THEO. MCKENNA,
17 & 18, Basinghall Street, London, Applicant's Agent.