An Improved Mode of Preparing Explosive Compounds for Use.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 4th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 4th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by ALFRED NOBEL, of 53, Avenue Malakoff, Paris, in
the Republic of France, Engineer.]
An Improved Mode of Preparing Explosive Compounds for Use.
I, ALFRED VINOENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Ohancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Various attempts have from time to time been made to utilize, for propelling
projectiles, the explosive properties of ammonium nitrate mixed with charcoal and
granulated. But the hygroscopic character of the said nitrate has proved to be a
most serious drawback, especially since a slight absorption of moisture very materially
alters its explosive properties. In order to overcome such defect inherent in nitrate
of ammonium powder, it is now proposed to pack or enclose charges of this material
in explosive water-tight bags or envelopes prepared after the following manner :-The
bags may be made from thin sheets of collodion or soft celluloid, the joints being
secured by the application thereto of a volatile solvent, such as acetone, or an acetic
other. But a still more suitable substance for preparing such explosive bags, is the
material composed of nitro-glycerine, camphor, and nitro-cellulose described in my
patent, No. 1471, of the 31st January 1888.
It is rolled out into thin sheets, from which bags or envelopes are easily prepared,
even without the use of a solvent, by simply heating to 80° Centigrade the parts
which are to ho joined, and pressing them together. Seeing that the aforesaid
material is highly plastic at 70 to 80° Centigrade, the said bags may also be made by
compression in a suitable mould.
Whatever be the mode of preparing such bags, care should be takon to have them
free from holes which might give access to moisture. The bags, after trial shewing
them to be duly impermeable, are then filled with a granulated powder composed of
nitrate of ammonia and charcoal, or equivalent combustible. That done, the bags are
firmly tied at their upper end with a string, or, better still, made tight there also in
the same manner as described above, by compressing the two sides at a temperature
at which the material becomes sticky.
Thus packed, nitrato of ammonia powder is quite moisture-proof, and might be kept
immersed in water. Bosides, the explosive envelope acts as a primer, which, for
nitrate of ammonia powder, is necessary, in order to overcome its sluggishness to catch
fire, and consequent tendency to hang fire.
Of course, the explosive bags here described, will be found equally useful for any
kind of hygroscopic explosive. They may either be inserted into fire-arms entire,
being very inflammable, or they may be cut open just before charging the gun, so
as to bring the powder inside in still more immediate contact with the igniting
flame.
To remove any tendency to miss-fire or hang-firo, owing to the unavoidable distance
between the touch-hole of the gun and the aforesaid explosive bag, a small gunpowder
primer may be used, for the purpose of better conveying the fire to the said bag and
its charge.
Dated this 4th day of February 1889.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Mode of Preparin; Explosive Compounds for Use.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON of the Office for Patents, 6. Bream's Buii lings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, lo 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:
Various attempts have from time to time been made to utilize, for propelling
projectiles, the explosive properties of ammonium nitrate mixed with cur oal or
other combustible matter and granulates. But the logroscopie charter of the said
nitrate has proved to be a most serious travbuck, rapinally spesa saghta sorpio of
moisture very materially alters its. Splosive oroperoes, In air tuomith
defert, inherent in nitrate of ammonia power, it is propor d to pack or enclusa
charges of this material in explosive water-ti hit baps, enselig is, or vases, prepared
after the following manner :
Hope, or an
The bags may be male from thin sheets of voi'u lin or soft celluloid, the joints
being secured by the application thereto of a soatile sadvent, su fr
neetie ether. But a still more saltat he n' state for preparing with explosive bags,
is the material composed of nitro-glycerine and nitro-dialove, with or without the
addition of campher or other solvent, as describial in my patent No. 1171 of the
31st January 1888, and subsequently tiled provisional specifications respectively
numbered 4179* and 9361.
The moisture proof composition is rolled out into thin sheets, from which lags or
envelopes, or other suitable receptacles, are vasily prepare, even without the use of a
solvent, by simply heating to 80° C'enti: rade the parts which are to las joined, und
then pressing together the tacky surfaces. Seeing that the aforesaid material is
highly plastic at 70° to 80º Centigrade, the receptacles may also be made by com-
pression in a suitable mould. Said receptieles can also be easily made from sheets of
the said material by applying to the joints of the legs, cases, or other receptacles
formed from sheets of suitable size and thickness, a suitable salvent, such as acetone
or nectate of amyle, and then causing the adhesion of the moistened parts by
pressure.
Whatever be the mode of preparing the cases or receptacles, care should be taken
to have them free from holes, which might give access to moisture. The bags or
other receptacles, alter trial by air pressure under water, to test their impermeability
(the proof being that no air bubbles rise during immersion) are then filled with a
granulated powder composed of nitrate of ammonia and charcoal or other equivalent
combustible. That done, the bags are firmly tied at their upper end with a
string, or better still, made water-tight by the aid of a solvent in the manner
described above.
If cases of the said material are used instead of bags, as receptacles for said
nitrate of ammonia powder, a sheet of said material is first bent into cylindrical
shapo, and cemented at the lap joint. A bottom part is then secured in like
manner to the cylinder, and when the case is filled with the said powder, the lid is
secured in the same manner as the bottom, thus rendering the inside charge moisture-
proof.
Nitrate of ammonia powder thus socured is practically moisture-proof, and might be
kept immersed in water.
Besides, the explosive envelope nets as a primor, which, for nitrate of aumonia
powder is necessary in order to overcome its sluggishness to ignite, and tendency to
hang fire.
The explosive bags or receptacles above described will be found equally useful
for any kind of hygroscopic explosive. The filled receptacles may either be insertod
into fire-arms entire, being very inflammable, or they may be cut open just before
charging the gun, so as to bring the powder in immediate contact with the igniting
flame.

page_text: To remove any tendency to miss-fire or hang fire, owing to the unavoidable distance
between the touch hole of the gun and the aforesaid explosive bag or receptacle, a
small gunpowder primer, varying in weight and strength with the size of the gun,
may be used for the purpose of better conveying the fire to the said bag and its
charge.
The thickness of sheet of the said explosive substance or substances best suited for
use, will depend on the form of the receptacle chosen, and on the weight of the inside
charge.
For small charges, bags are very convenient, and may be made from sheets even us
thin as one-fourth of a millimetre, but for heavier charges, cases as herein before
described will be found suitable, which may be made from sheets of much greater
thickness, appropriate to the inside weight to be carried.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, as communicated to me from abroad, and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
Fucking nitrate of ammonia powders, and hygroscopic powders generally, in water-
tight receptacles made from an explosive and moisture-resisting compound, as above
set forth.
Dated th1000
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.