IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRE- VENTING GUNPOWDER AND OTHER COMBUSTIBLES EXPLODING DURING STORAGE AND TRANSMISSION.
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herrmann Otto Albert Emil Grünbaum, Dentist, of
No. 10, Upper William Street, Stratford, in the County of Essex, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRE-
VENTING GUNPOWDER AND OTHER COMBUSTIBLES EXPLODING DURING STORAGE
AND TRANSMISSION.
"
ealed the 15th September 1877, and dated the 20th March 1877
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herrmann Otto Albert Emil
Grünbaum at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th March
... 1877.
HERRMANN OTTO ALRERT EMIL GRÜNBAUM, Dentist, of No. 10, Upper William
Street, Stratford, in the County of Essex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND
APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING GUNPOWDER AND OTHER COMBUSTIBLES EXPLODING
DURING STORAGE AND TRANSMISSION."
My said Invention consists in the construction of receptacles manufactured of a
variety of materials, iron, tin, or any other metal, stone, earthenware, leather, gutta
percha, india-rubber, or wood, the choice of material depending upon the extent of
protection, according to the condition of the contents and the exposure to fire and
shot, and each receptacle consists of one or more cases surrounded by a fireproof
composition, such as silicate, calcined dolomit, graphite, pumice, lime, or a loose
powder as an isolator, according to the demand as aforesaid, which composition
also insures the contents against the injurious effects of the atmosphere, electricity,
or damp.
The accompanying Drawing represents the apparatus according to my Invention.
A, wooden powder chamber; a, wooden lid with matrix or she joint, the dotted
line indicating the entrance to powder chamber, and is enclosed by the patrix or he
joint; B, composition case to be shut by a composition lid; C, top lid of outer case
fixed by inches; c, eyes for catching d or bolts fixed to outer case; E, matrix
for greased washer; f, upper rim of outer case, forming patrix for closing the
apparatus hermetically, and thus to permit immersion under water when needful;
F, outer case.
The apparatus can be made in any size suitable for every purpose, liquids or

page_text: solids; its construction is simple and sure to resist fire and water without detriment
to its contents. On the same principle entire powder magazines on land or board
ship can be constructed, or fireproof rooms, also barges, railway vans, or carriages of
or belonging to a train of artillery.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Herrmann Otto Albert Emil Grünbaum in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 26th September 1877.
HERRMANN OTTO ALBERT EMIL GRÜNBAUM, Dentist, of No. 10, Upper William
Street, Stratford, in the County of Essex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND
APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING GUNPOWDER AND OTHER COMBUSTIBLES EXPLODING
DURING STORAGE AND TRANSMISSION."
The object of this Invention is the construction of boxes, cases, and other recep-
tacles (herein-after included in the word "boxes") fire and waterproof or partially
so, for the safe storage and transmission of gunpowder and other combustibles. For
this purpose I construct the said boxes generally with an outer case of metal and an
internal case of wood, leaving a space. of half an inch (more or less) between the
said outer and inner cases, which I fill with calcined dolomite coarsely powdered and
mado into a stiffish paste with water or a silicate; or, instead of using silicate I
introduce into the powdered dolomite a few small pieces of alum.
As a substitute for the said dolomite paste I use a composition of equal parts (more
or less) of calcined limestone and coal ashes, either in dry powder or mixed as herein-
before described, with silicate. By preference I line and also cover the wood case
with strong calico, saturated with silicate, for the more effectual protection of the
contents thereof, and also for preventing leakage.
In order that my said Invention may be more fully and more clearly understood
and be more readily performed, I will explain the same with the aid of the
accompanying Drawing, which forms part of this Specification, reference being
made thereto by the numerals and letters marked thereon, and which reference
applies to each Figure of the said Drawing where the same index numerals and
letters appear.
Figure 1 shews my impoved box, with the lid open, in isometrical perspective;
Figure 2 is a vertical section through the said box.
The box now illustrated is calculated to contain about 100 lbs. of gunpowder;
a is the external inetal case; b, the fireproof material or composition; c, the internal
wood case; d, the lid of the box. The whole of the six sides of the box are
similarly formed and of the same materials. In order to render the box water-tight
at the junction of the lid d with the upper edges of the sides of the box, I provide
an india-rubber or greased cotton washer at e, covering the whole of such upper edges.
The lid d, as now illustrated, is fixed to the box by hinges (but it may be made
detached) and is secured at the front and side thereof by sliding bolts and eyes,
which bolts may be held in place by ordinary pegs, as shewn, or by locks at fas
desired. The joints of the outer metal case are not soldered, but are formed by laps
or folds and united by pressure. The parts of the wood case may be joined together
by groove and tongue, or by any other suitable and efficient means, except by the
use of iron, that will make a secure and tight joint. The three parts composing
the lid & are held together by metal screws or rivets, or by a metal band or bands
extending from one side to its opposite, and ther secured by rivets or otherwise.
My improved boxes may be made of other suitable materials besides metal and
wood as herein described, such as stone, earthenware, leather, gutta percha, india-
rubber, and the like, the choice of the material or materials depending on the
nature of the articles to be protected and the kind or degree of protection required.
The said boxes can be made of any size or shape suitable for the storage of

page_text: liquids as well as solids. They will afford protection to their contents against the
injurious effects of fire, water, the atmosphere, damp, and electricity. Such boxes
may even be submerged in case of need.
The construction of the said boxes being so simple and the cost of the dolomite
and composition so moderate, enables me to apply such materials in the erection of
powder magazines on land or on board ship, fireproof rooms, barges, railway vans or
carriages, ammunition wagons, and the like.
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention and
the method of performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine
myself to the size nor to the form of box, nor to the precise details thereof, as now
illustrated, as they admit of considerable variation without departing from the
principles and leading features of my said Invention; but I claim as my Inven-
tion and desire to secure by the herein-before mentioned in part recited Letters
Patent is,
Firstly. The use of calcined dolomite.
Secondly. The use of the composition of lime, coal ashes, and silicate.
Thirdly. The method of constructing boxes and other packages and receptacles
for protecting gunpowder and other combustibles during storage and transmission,
eacli and all substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shewn in the
Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herrmann Otto Albert Emil Grünbaum, have