Improvements in Explosives.
Year: 1897

page_text: RONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Explosives.
I, DAVID WILLIAM NIGHTINGALE, of No. 152, Wyndham Road, Camberwell,
in the County of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven
tion to be as follows:-
:-
*My invention relates to 'the manufacture of explosives consisting mainly of
potassium chlorate combined with soda, saccharine' matter, and salt in various
proportions according to the purpose for which the explosive is intended. For
blasting purposes, for instance, I may employ from 55 to 58 per cent. of potassium
chlorate, with 35 to 30 per cent. of common washing soda, 8 to 10 per cent. of
sugar or any saccharine matter containing about that amount of sugar, with; it
may be 2 per cent. of common salt. These materials are all' ground together to
the consistence of a paste which may be moulded, pressed or granulated or allowed
to dry, in which condition it can be readily pulverised. An explosive of this
kind is ineffective unless it is heated up, which may be done by passing hot air
or products of combustion through a hollow cartridge, or by 'passing electric
currents through resisting wires imbedded in the cartridge. For an explosive
that will fire by detonation the proportions may be about 55 per cent. of potassium
chlorate, 33 per cent. of soda, 8 per cent. of sugar, 2 per cent. of salt with about
2 per cent. of soap.
Dated this 6th day of December 1897
ABEL & IMR'AY,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, DAVID WILLIAM NIGHTINGALE, of No. 152, Wyndham Road, Camberwell,
in the County of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to the manufacture of explosives consisting mainly of
potassium chlorate combined with soda, saccharine matter, and salt in various
proportions according to the purpose for which the explosive is intended.
For blasting purposes, for instance, or submarine mines, I may employ from
55 to 58 per cent. of potassium chlorate, with 35 to 30 per cent. of sodium carbonate
which may be prepared from common washing soda, 8 to 10 per cent. of sugar
[Price 8d1

page_text: or any saccharine matter containing about that amount of sugar, or carbonaceous
matter such as cellulose with, it may be, 2 per cent. of common salt.
The sodium carbonate may be obtained from common washing soda, by gradually
heating the soda crystals in a shallow pan or other suitable vessel until the water
of crystallisation is expelled, leaving sodium carbonate which on cooling is ready
for use.
These materials are all intimately mixed being preferably ground together
with a little water to the consistence of a stiff paste which may be moulded
and pressed.
The product may also be pulverised or granulated according to the purpose for
which the explosive is intended.
The explosive produced as above described owing to the presence of the
sodium carbonate in its composition, does not ignite spontaneously nor by friction
or pressure, nor does it ignite with explosive effect unless it is first heated to a
temperature above that at which common gunpowder explodes.
This heating
may be effected electrically in the following manner.
The explosive is placed in a suitable cartridge case, which may be of paper,
and throughout it are distributed fine wires, through which is passed a suitable
electric current sufficient to heat up the mass of explosive and ignite it.
The explosive may also be heated and fired by a detonator or fuse, but for this
purpose the explosive should have about 2 per cent..of soap added to the other
ingredients.
For firing by a fuse, the explosive, held in a cartridge case, is perforated with
numerous longitudinal holes and the fuse being arranged to open into a space at
one end of the cartridge in communication with the holes which open into a space
at the other end, the flame of the fuse in passing through the holes heats up and
fires the explosive.
I am aware that potassium chlorate and sugar or other carbonaceous matters
have been used in many explosives and therefore I make no claim to the use
of these substances except in combination with sodium carbonate for the purpose
of preventing explosion unless the compound is heated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
An explosive consisting of potassium chlorate and saccharine or other carbon-
aceous matter with sodium carbonate compounded with these for the purpose of
preventing explosion unless the compound is heated, the said explosive being
manufactured, substantially as described.
Dated this 6th day of Databer 1808
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.