IMPROVEMENTS IN DETONATORS AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF THE SAME
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Joseph Mackie, Camille Alphonse Faure, and
George Trench, all of Faversham, in the County of Kent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DETONATORS AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF THE SAME."
Sealed the 29th June 1877, and dated the 15th January 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Joseph Mackie
Camille Alphonse Faure, and George Trench at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents on the 15th January 1877.
SAMUEL JOSEPH MACKIE, CAMILLE ALPHONSE FAURE, and GEORGE TRENCH, all of
Faversham, in the County of Kent. IMPROVEMENTS IN DETONATORS AND IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF THE SAME."
Hitherto the composition of detonating tubes or detonators has been either
fulminate of mercury alone or mixed with chlorate of potash, or with picrate
of lead and chlorate of potash, or some such compositions as belong to the gun-
powder class properly. Now we make our detonators by mixing together the
fulminate of mercury while wet with very finely ground gun cotton and some
chlorate of potash, about in the proportion of six parts of fulminate and one part
each of gun cotton and chlorate of potash.
The water in which the fulminate of mercury is usually stored is first drained off
and replaced by displacement by ether or alcohol or a mixture of the two. While
the fulminate of mercury is still moist with ether the gun cotton and chlorate of
potash are added, and the mixture well rubbed together. This compound is next
distributed in the tubes or detonator shells standing in a frame, and each detonator
is put separately in the machine for pressing the paste firmly in the tube.
This machine consists in a metallic table or disc rotating npon a central pivot,
and the circular motion is given to it by a pedal arrangement, such as is employed
in foot lathes. The disc or table stands horizontally and is perforated by vertical
holes upon its circumference; these are the holders for the detonators; over each
detonator holder and fixed in a guide carried by the table are spindles or pressing
plungers which will press the mixture inside the detonators. These spindles are
pressed down by springs, but their descent is regulated by an oscillating disc through

page_text: which they pass; this oscillating disc is carried round on the same axis as the table,
and is kept at an angle with this axis by two rollers placed at the opposite end of
the diameter to which the operator stands, the object being to obtain a gradual
pressure and at the same time to protect the operator from any explosion of the
tubes while under pressure.
The machine discharges the loaded tubes by a system of bottom spindles.
mounting upon a side roller as they pass by in the rotation of the table.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Joseph Mackie, Camille Alphonse Faure, and George Trench
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th July 1877.
"
SAMUEL JOSEPH MACKIE, CAMILLE ALPHONSE FAURE, and GEORGE TRENCH, all of
Faversham, in the County of Kent. IMPROVEMENTS IN DETONATORS AND IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF THE SAME."
Hitherto the composition of detonating tubes or detonators has been either
fulminate of mercury alone or mixed with chlorate of potash, or with picrate of lead
and chlorate of potash, or some such compositions as belong to the gunpowder class
properly. Now we make our detonators by mixing together the fulminate of
mercury while wet with very finely ground gun cotton and some chlorate of potash,
about in the proportion of six parts of fulminate and one part each of gun cotton
and chlorate of potash.
The water in which the fulminate of mercury is usually stored is first drained off
and replaced by displacement by ether or alcohol or a mixture of the two. While
the fulminate of mercury is still moist with ether the gun cotton and chlorate of
potash are added and the mixture well rubbed together. This compound is next
distributed in the tubes or detonator shells standing in a frame, and each detonator
is put separately in a machine for pressing the paste firmly in the tube.
This machine consists in a metallic table or disc rotating upon a central pivot,
and the circular motion may be given to it by a pedal arrangement, such as is
employed in foot lathes. The disc or table stands horizontally and perforated
by vertical holes upon its circumference, these are the holders for the detonators;
over each detonator holder and fixed in a guide carried by the table are spindles
or pressing plungers which will press the mixture inside the detonators. These
spindles are pressed down by springs, but their descent is regulated by an oscillating
disc through which they pass; this oscillating disc is carried round on the same axis
as the table, and is kept at an angle with this axis by two rollers placed at the
opposite end of the diameter to which the operator stands, the object being to
obtain a gradual pressure and at the same time to protect the operator from any
explosion of the tubes while under pressure.
The machine discharges the loaded tubes by a system of bottom spindles
mounting upon a side roller as they pass by in the rotation of the table.
A vertical section and part front view of this machine are shown at Figures 1
and 2 of the Drawings hereunto annexed; Figure 3 shows various sections of the
rotating table.
A is the table turning with the vertical axis B, this table carries a number of
spindles C corresponding to the holes D in which the detonators containing the
powder are put for the purpose of being compressed. The spindles C are in rotation
brought down into the caps by springs H, their motion being controlled by the
oscillating disc E which is kept at a fixed angle by the rollers F. By rotating the
table A it is evident that all the spindles will alternately be depressed as they
travel towards G, and lifted as they travel towards D, so that the workman may
stand in front of the machine, without fear of any cap injuring him by explosion;
I, I, are other spindles below the holes D. As the table rotates the lower ends of

page_text: these spindles come in succession against the periphery of the lifting wheel K, and
are thereby lifted and caused to eject the loaded tubes from the holes D. The
motions for rotating the table may be of any convenient kind; the arrangement
shown is however very suitable for the purpose.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention and the manner of performing
the same, we would have it understood that we claim,-
First: The construction of detonators with a detonating compound formed of
fulminate of mercury, gun cotton and chlorate of potash, substantially as described.
Second. The combined arrangement of apparatus for pressing detonating com-
pounds into the tubes of detonators, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Samuel Joseph Mackie and Camille Alphonse
Faure, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this 12th day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.