AN IMPROVED FIRE AND DAMP RESISTING RECEPTACLE FOR THE STORAGE AND CARRIAGE OF EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS AND ARTICLES OF VALUE." PROVISIONAL SPFICATION
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Chambers, of the City and
County of Edinburgh, North Britain, Deputy Commissary, H. M.
Control Department, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED FIRE AND
DAMP RESISTING RECEPTACLE FOR THE STORAGE AND CARRIAGE OF EXPLOSIVE
COMPOUNDS AND ARTICLES OF VALUE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry
Chambers at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 24th February 1875.
I, WILLIAM HENRY CHAMBERS, of the City and County of Edinburgh,
North Britain, Deputy Commissary, H. M. Control Department, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention of "AN IMPROVED FIRE AND
DAMP RESISTING RECEPTACLE FOR THE STORAGE AND CARRIAGE OF EXPLOSIVE
COMPOUNDS AND ARTICLES OF VALUE," to be as follows, that is to say:-
-
This Invention which relates to improvements in the construction of
kegs, portable magazines, and other receptacles designed to contain
explosive compounds or articles of value, has for its object to secure the

page_text: safety of the contents from the action of fire or damp and leakage. It
consists in the use of a non-conducting substance preferably plaster of
Paris in combination with some or any of certain substances and metals
as herein-after set forth.
The material to be stored or conveyed is placed in a receptacle of
convenient form and preferably made of zinc or other analogous metal,
and provided with a female screw for a short distance from its mouth,
into which is screwed a metallic cover, and this is surrounded by a layer
of corresponding form of plaster of Paris of about the consistency of
damp clay, and which speedily becomes solid; this again is embraced by
a metallic casing similar to that at the interior, and is in turn sur-
rounded by plaster of Paris in a broken or pulverized state, and bound
on the outside by a casing of sheet metal. Bands of leather or other
suitable material are passed round and secured to this exterior casing
and over the edges of the cover, which latter is constructed in every
respect similar to the body and is readily removed therefrom, it being
screwed therein and bound on the exterior by providing the sheet metal
casing with clips in the form of teeth fitting into corresponding grooves
on the outside casing of the barrel or kegs. The breadth or diameter of
the whole is but little in excess of those portable magazines or kegs now
in use, while the effect of so constructing them is to obtain a temperature
of about 219° Fahrenheit at the interior when exposed to fire sufficiently
fierce as to reduce the outer casing to a welding heat. Immunity from
damp is also obtained.
In order to further reduce the temperature of the interior when exposed
to fire a layer of cork dust or similar non-conducting substance is placed
next to the interior casing, and is itself surrounded by a metallic sheet
and the following order of casings or layers thereafter employed, viz*.,
solid plaster of Paris, sheet metal casing, a second layer of cork dust,
sheet metal casing, pulverized plaster of Paris, and exterior metal
casing. This order or number is, however, not .compulsory and may be
varied.
The order of layers and casings in the cover accords with that of the
body of the keg, magazine, or other receptacle so constructed, and any
explosive compounds, documents, or other valuable materials contained
therein cannot suffer in the least degree from a fierce fire or exposure to
rain or immersion in water of the receptacle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Henry Chambers in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 24th August 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HENRY CHAMBERS, late of the City and County of Edinburgh, North
Britain, but now of the Town of Woolwich, in the County of Kent,
Deputy Commissary, H. M. Control Department, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Henry Chambers,
Her special licence that I, the said William Henry Chambers, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Henry Chambers, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED FIRE' AND DAMP RESISTING
RECEPTACLE FOR THE STORAGE AND CARRIAGE OF EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS AND
ARTICLES OF VALUE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Henry Chambers, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Henry Chambers, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This Invention which relates to improvements in the construction of
kegs, portable magazines, strong rooms, and other receptacles designed
to contain explosive compounds or articles of value, has for its effect to

page_text: secure the safety of the contents from the action of fire or damp and
leakage. It consists in the use of a non-conducting substance preferably
plaster of Paris in combination with some or any of certain substances
or similar materials as herein-after set forth.
The material or merchandize to be stored or conveyed is placed in a
receptacle of convenient form, and preferably made of the metals herein
set forth, or other analagous metals. The receptacle is formed in the
following order, namely, galvanized or tinned wrought iron exterior
casing, preferably of 10 wire gauge in thickness, rounded and welded,
rivetted or dovetailed together, and cylindrical in form, pierced suffi-
ciently with only small holes in order to allow any moisture or steam to
escape when subject to heat, and filled or plugged up with red led to
prevent damp getting through the holes. Immediately next inside and
in contact with the outer casing is placed plaster of Paris formed in a
concrete state one inch thick, and coated inside with a thin layer of
Portland cement in a concrete state, say about 1/8 of an inch thick; next
to which is laid 1½ inches of pulverized plaster of Paris well pressed
down and dry; then a middle casing of galvanized or tinned wrought
iron, 14 gauge; next in order cork sheeting or ground cork one inch thick,
and an inner casing, made of zinc or gun metal, sheet, or plate, 14 gauge.
Compressed leather rings are also employed between the angle irons,
securing the two chambers of the lid, and also between the angle irons,
securing the inner and middle cylinders to prevent the conduction of
heat, so that every part of the magazine shall have the same non-
conducting power, videlicet, sides, top, and bottom. The lid or cover of
the receptacle is in the same order, with the exception that the outer or
top plate is made of galvanized or tinned wrought iron, preferably 3/16" or
" in thickness, made to fit flush with the top of outer cylinder. The
second or under chamber containing the cork is surrounded by a brass
or gun metal ring screw, which screws into a female screw ring of the
same metal, which is dovetailed and soldered or brazed on to the inside
of the inner zinc or gun metal chamber; and is so screwed into the
interior of the inner chamber of the receptacle resting on a rubber or
leather ring or washer " thick, making the interior of the receptacle or
magazine perfectly air-tight. The breadth or diameter of the whole
exterior being about 28" x 32" high, so that it is little in excess of those
portable magazines or receptacles now in use, while the effect of so
constructing them is to obtain a temperature of about 214° to 219°

page_text: Fahrenheit at the interior, when exposed to a fire sufficiently fierce as
to reduce the outer or exterior casing to a welding heat, so as obtain
perfect immunity from damp. The exterior of the magazine or receptacle
is fitted or surrounded by two half round wrought-iron hoops with slight
indentations under them made in the outer cylinder in two places, so
that hooks may be inserted for the purpose of hoisting the receptacle by
block and tackle in the storage, shipment, and transport of the same.
Each receptacle is fitted with two small iron depressions or cavities in
the lid or cover, and with the aid of an iron hand lever which has two
pins which fit into the iron depressions or cavities when the receptacle
requires to be opened or closed, the lid of the receptacle is also further
secured at the rim by large flush headed screws. The exterior of the
magazine or receptacle is painted bright red as a caution color.
I reserve the right of using in the construction of my improved
magazine or receptacle those materials herein-before set forth, and also
the right that the order, substance, or size of the receptacle in the
construction of the magazine or safe shall not be compulsory, and may
be varied in its manufacture as seems hereafter advisable to suit its shape
or size for its different requirements, for instance, the lid or cover
instead of screwing into the receptacle, might with advantage be made
to open with strong hinges and fitted with a suitable lock, in which
case the under chamber of lid containing the cork dust might be made
separately, and instead of a screw ring a ground seat might be employed,
and then this under chamber of lid could be rendered air-tight by just
making a half turn and locked with bayonet lock, in which case the
upper chamber containing the plaster of Paris would be fitted with
hinges and lock, and would be for some purposes to traders more
convenient, and equally secure against danger of all kinds. Or the
thickness or arrangement of the non-conducting materials or any
similar materials enlarged or reduced, according to required resistance
against the elements, sufficient to preserve the contents of the receptacle
in a complete state of preservation.
In some cases I should desire to employ my fillings of non-conducting
materials in their dry state without being concreted, for instance, should
it be found desirable to render the magazine capable of stowing twice or
three times the quantity of gunpoweder in made up flannel bags or
cartridges without any wooden barrel, the outer size or bulk need not of
necessity be much increased, but the non-conducting materials might

page_text: be diminished and filled in the chambers in their dry state, for instance,
say the combination of outer chamber one inch of plaster of Paris, and
inner chamber one inch of cork dust well pressed together, which
proportions I have proved by practical test to have been sufficient to
guard against a prolonged and severe fire. In the above mentioned case
it will be seen that the weight of the magazine is more than one half
reduced, and the capacity considerably increased.
Fig. 1 is section of improved magazine for the storage, shipment, and
transport of explosive compounds.
Fig. 2 represents a section of arrangements, whereby the lid is fitted
with hinge instead of screws.
**
A (Fig. 1), exterior casing of galvanized wrought iron 10 wire gauge
in thickness; said casing is pierced sufficiently with small holes for any
moisture to escape when subject to heat, and filled up with red lead to
prevent damp getting through the holes otherwise; B plaster of Paris
formed in a concrete state 1" thick, and coated inside with a thin
layer of Portland cement C, about one-eight inch in thickness; D
represents pulverized plaster of Paris, one and seven-eight inches
thickness, well pressed down and perfectly dry; E is middle casing of
galvanized wrought iron 14 gauge; F ground cork 1" thick, and an
inner case F made of zinc or gun metal sheet 14 gauge. The lid or
cover is in the same order, with the exception that the outer or top plate
G is made of galvanized wrought iron ¾" in thickness. The second or
under chamber of lid containing the ground cork is surrounded by a
brass ring screw H, about six threads, which screws into a female screw
ring H of the same metal, being dovetailed & soldered or brazed on
to the inside of the inner zinc or gun metal chamber F¹, so that when
the cover of the cylinder is screwed into the interior of the magazine it
rests on a rubber ring immediately above the female screw, making the
interior perfectly air-tight. I is hand lever which fits by pins i¹, i¹, at
pleasure into two iron cavities i, i, in the cover for opening or closing
magazine. The same letters in Fig. 2 indicate like parts as in Fig. 1,
but it will be seen that the parts marked D and C are not used in Fig. 2,
and also the lid or cover is hinged at a to the outer casing of the
magazine, and secured by any convenient mechanical contrivance. The
inner part of the cover F containing the cork may be either with a screw

page_text: ring as in Fig. 1, or rest in a ground seat as shewn, and a lever as in
Fig. 1 may be applied for opening; k is ring for facilitating lifting of
inner casing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and
object of the said Invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed or carried out in practice, I hereby declare that I claim the
Invention of "an improved fire and damp resisting receptacle for the
storage and carriage of explosive compounds and articles of value,"
substantially as the same is herein-before set forth and described, in
which Invention the important peculiar points are, the use of non-
conducting and fire resisting materials when combined and used together,
substantially in the order and manner herein-before set forth and
described, the use of metal being ancillary only, it being understood
that I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth and described,
but claim to vary the same as circumstances may require, always
maintaining substantially the nature and character of the Invention, as
herein-before described; and further, that I do not claim such details
except as constituents of my said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Chambers, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of August,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five
W. H. CHAMBERS. (L.S.)
Deputy Commissary,
H. M. Control Dept.
Witness,
T. MORGAN,
Secretary,
Inventors' Patent Right Association; Limited,
21, Cockspur Street,
Charing Cross,
S.W.