Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Jan., 1887.
Complete Left, 27th Aug., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 27th Sept., 1887.
1, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The explosive substance which forms the subject of this invention contains neither
nitro-glycerine, nitro-cellulose, nitro-benzol, nor nitro-benzine, but consists of ammo-
niumnitrate, or ammoniumoxalate, together with a fluid and a solid hydrocarbon and
chlorate of potash or nitrolactine.
If ammoniumnitrate is used a part of it is replaced by ammoniumcarbonate.
For the fluid hydrocarbon what is known as astral oil is the best, and for the solid
hydrocarbon naphthaline, but any material of the like kind may be used, only bearing
in mind that the liquid hydrocarbon must not be easily vaporizable, benzine for
example being unsuitable.
The making of the explosive is effected in the following way;-the salts to be used
are finely powdered and well dried, so that they contain no hygroscopic moisture.
The solid hydrocarbon is first melted and is then mixed with the fluid hydrocarbon,
additional heat being applied if necessary. When the mixture is made it is divided
into two portions, one containing about two thirds and the other one third of the
entire quantity, and the ammoniumnitrate and ammoniumcarbonate or oxalate are
then mixed with the larger portion, whilst the smaller portion is in the same way
mixed with the chlorate of potash or nitro-lactine (milk sugar). The two mixtures are
then added together and the explosive is complete.

page_text: If it is wished to use a nitro compound with ordinary milk-sugar (nitro-lactine)
the following method can be used:-Dry and finely powdered milk-sugar is treated
for about fifteen minutes at ten to fifteen degrees Celsius, first with nitric acid of 1.40
or more (preferably 1.50) specific gravity, with or without mixing, and then at the
same temperature and for the same time with sulphuric acid of 1.84 specific gravity.
The best proportions are about part of milk-sugar, 3 parts nitric acid, and 6 parts
sulphuric acid.
The product thus prepared is washed until entirely free from acid and is then dried,
when it is ready for use.
Dated this 11th day of Tanu 1907

page_text: I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
do 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 (that is to say):-
The explosive substance which forms the subject of this invention contains neither
nitro-glycerine, nitro-cellulose, nitro-benzol, nor nitro-benzine, but consists of nitrate
of ammonia, or oxalate of ammonia, together with a fluid and a solid hydrocarbon and
chlorate of potash or nitro-lactine.
If nitrate of ammonia is used one part of it is replaced by carbonate of ammonia.
For the fluid hydrocarbon what is known as "astral" oil is the best and for the
solid hydrocarbon naphthaline but any material of the like kind may be used, only
bearing in mind that the liquid hydrocarbon must not be too volatile benzine for
example being unsuitable.
The making of the explosive is effected in the following way:-the salts to be used
are finely powdered and well dried, so that they contain no hygroscopic moisture. The
solid hydrocarbon is first melted and is then mixed with the fluid hydrocarbon
additional heat being applied if necessary. When the mixture is made it is divided
into two portions one containing about two-thirds and the other one-third of the
entire quantity, and the nitrate of ammonia and carbonate of ammonia or the oxalate
are then mixed with the larger portion, whilst the smaller portion is in the same way
mixed with the chlorate of potash or nitro-lactine. The two mixtures are then added
together and the explosive is complete.
In order to prepare a nitro-compound with ordinary milk sugar the following
method can be used:-Dry and finely powdered milk sugar is treated for about
fifteen minutes at 10 to 15 degrees Celsius first with nitric acid of 1.40 or more
(preferably 15.0) specific gravity with or without mixing, and then at the same tem-
perature and for the same time with sulphuric acid of 1.84 specific gravity. The
best proportions are about 1 part of milk sugar, 3 parts nitric acid and 6 parts
sulphuric acid.
The product thus prepared is washed until entirely free from acid and is then dried,
when it is ready for use.

page_text: 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 :-
An explosive, consisting of nitrate of ammonia and carbonate of ammonia, or
instead of these of oxalate of ammonia, a liquid and not too volatile hydrocarbon,
and a solid hydrocarbon, and chlorate of potash or nitrolactine; or the product
obtained by the treatment of ordinary milk sugar with acids, substantially as herein
described.
DL: 0711
1007
EDWARDS & Co.,
Agents for the Inventor.