IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF EXPLOSIVES to be as follows:-
Year: 1884

page_text: I CHARLES WILLIAM CURTIS of the firm of Curtis's & Harvey of 74 Lombard
Street in the City of London, Gunpowder Manufacturers do hereby declare the
nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF EXPLOSIVES
to be as follows:-
"
According to this invention I produce superior explosives which are especially
suitable for Military and other purposes, by using in the composition of the
explosives a charcoal made from cocoa nut fibre or other fibrous substances. The
charring of the fibres may be effected in the usual apparatus consisting of the outer
retort and the inner cylinder, which latter contains the material to be treated and
is movable for inspecting and regulating the degree of roasting or charring.

page_text: "
I, CHARLES WILLIAM CURTIS of the firm of Curtis's & Harvey of 74 Lombard
Street in the City of London, Gunpowder Manufacturers do hereby declare the
nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF EXPLOSIVES
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:—
Hitherto improvements in the manufacture of gunpowder have generally gone
in the direction of new or improved or more powerful or more safe combinations
of ingredients. My invention mainly consists in the manufacture and use in
gunpowders of an improved charcoal or one which shall be comparatively rich in
hydrogen while comparatively poor in carbon. By using this charcoal in the
composition of the gunpowders I produce superior gunpowders which are useful
for general purposes but especially useful for warlike purposes. I make the charcoal
from cocoa nut fibre or other fibrous substances. The charring or roasting of the
fibres may be effected in the usual apparatus consisting of the outer retort which
is set in brickwork or other nonconducting material and heated from the coke or
other fire, such as a gas fire, to a dull or dark red heat, and the inner cylinder
which latter contains the material to be treated, there being an annular space
between the cylinder and the retort. This cylinder is provided with a central pivot
or shaft at each end or otherwise so fitted as to be movable for inspecting and
regulating the degree of roasting or charring.
The mode of operation is as follows:-The material to be charred or roasted
having been put into the cylinder through the usual hinged lid provided for that
purpose; the cylinder is pushed back into its place in the retort. It is then
revolved slowly for two to six hours according to the nature and bulk of the
material therein. When for instance treating alder wood which may suitably be
cut up into small pieces say about three inches long by about one inch thick,
I find that four to six hours suffice. The retort being kept at a dull red heat the
process is continued until the material in the cylinder reaches a rich dark red
brown color, the fumes evolved escaping through the apertures provided for this
purpose. The proportion of the hydrogen to the carbon in the charcoal should be
about one to ten to one to eleven. To prevent over charring or roasting the
cylinder should every now and then be pulled out and the lid opened to admit of
inspection. When the process is completed so far, the cylinder is removed from
the retort and cooled down gradually. Its contents are then put into a well closed
receptacle until wanted. The charcoal is then ground up and mixed and incorporated
with the other ingredients and formed into the usual cake. The proportions of the
ingredients should preferably be about one of sulphur to five and twenty of nitre
and five and a half of the charcoal, When to be used for prismatic or other large
gunpowder it is subjected to heavy pressure in the ordinary manner.
The peculiar
advantages of gunpowders thus made are that they exert less strain in the gun
and at the same time impart a high velocity to the projectile and produce less
dense smoke.

page_text: Obviously the aforesaid gradual or partial charring or roasting may also be
effected in any other suitable form of movable apparatus such as one constructed
like a coffee roaster; or in an iron pan fitting closely over a coke or other fire, the
wood or other fibre being continually stirred with a self acting or handworked rake
or other implement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First In the manufacture of gunpowders the production and employment of
a charcoal comparatively poor in carbon and rich in hydrogen substantially in the
manner described.
Second-The improved prismatic and other gunpowders substantially as set
forth.