Improvements relating to Explosives and their use.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Explosives and their use.
I, GEORGE HODGES HOSIE, of Innellan, in the County of Argyle, North Britain,
Chemical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has for its object the manufacture and use of safety cartridges
or powder, designed to reduce the temperature or flame derived from the exploding
of the detonator, primer or primers, or the charge, used in shot-firing in a mine
or wherever such flame or heat is a source of danger.
I select a salt or salts, compound or mixture of compounds such may be ammo-
nium, magnesium, & like-acting salts, absorbents of mineral & vegetable origin,
size, or suitably compressed gas or gases which absorb heat in the act of their
decomposition or destruction, and mould or compress the uncompressed substance
or mixture into any convenient shape or size, or I may prefer it in the loose,
powdered, or granulated state, suitably wrapped up or without wrappings.
The cartridge may be formed without or with a centre tube, or a side-long
slit, to carry the electric fuse wires.
This safety cartridge or powder may be placed over, upon, or around the primer
or detonator, or, the latter may be embedded in the powder or cartridge aforesaid.
Dated this Fifteenth day of February 1898.
Improvements relating to Explosives and then use.
I. GEORGE HODGES HOSIE, of Innellan, in the County of Argyll, North Britain,
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 follow-
ing statement:-
-
My invention has for its object the manufacture and use of safety cartridges
or powder, designed to reduce the temperature or flame derived from the explod-
ing of the detonator, primer, or primers, or the charge used in shot-firing in a
mine or wherever sucli flame or heat is a source of danger.
In carrying out my invention I select a salt or salts, compound or mixture

page_text: of compounds (such may be ammonium, magnesium and like-acting' salts, as
the sulphates, chlorides,, tungstates, binoxolates, hydrates, and the like compounds
of ammonium and magnesium, soda crystals, Glauber's salts, borax, and the
alum compounds; absorbents of mineral and vegetable origin such as clays, infuso-
rial earths, asbestos, or charred organic matter and the like; or suitably com-
pressed gas or gases, such as nitrogen, ammonia, carbonic anhydride, or air,) sub-
stances which absorb heat in the act of their decomposition or destruction, and
I mould or compress the uncompressed substance or mixture into any convenient
shape or size.
The salt, compound, or mixture chosen is best employed in a finely crushed
condition. When anyone of the above-named substances is applied in contact
with explosives purity or freedom from acidity is essential. The substances
above-mentioned can be used individually or when mixed with one or more of
their number. An example of mixture is Epsom salts compounded with fire-
clay, or china clay, or asbestos, or infusorial. earth,, or charred matter, or with
two or more of these substances; another example is Epsom salts compounded
with soda crystals, or the alums, or other of the aforesaid salts, or with two or
more of them; further, Epsom salts may be compounded with one or more of the
aforesaid salts and one or more of the aforesaid minerals or organic substances,
in any proportions.
The compressed gas or gases are rendered available for use in metal cases
suited to the dimensions of the bore-holes, which cases being placed over the
charge are rent by the explosion of the shot-charge, whereupon the gas emerges,
expands, and reduces the temperature of the hot gases derived from the explo-
sives, at the same time aiding the force of the explosion, indeed the use of such
compressed gas tends to lessen the amount of explosive proper required for a
shot.
For convenience in use the aforesaid safety compounds, or mixtures thereof,
are made up in the form of cartridges, having diameters suited to the boreholes.
One form of cartridge consists of those compounds moulded or compressed
into fluted, solid, or hollow cylinders, the central hole being used to carry the
fuse or electric wires; another form of cartridge has an external sidelong channel
to carry the fuse or electric wires. The base or the ends of these cartridges may
be formed with a cone-like depression, series of holes, or corrugations, or other
known device to expose as large a surface as possible to the action of the flame
or hot gases.
"
.+
In practice it is convenient to place one of the aforesaid safety cartridges atop
of the explosive or primer, and to enclose both in a common wrapping or case.
For this purpose the central-holed form is suitable, since it admits of the ready
insertion of the fuse or detonator through itself into the explosive proper and
thereafter of rapid tamping.
It is sometimes convenient to adjust or insert the detonator or fuse into the
central-holed safety cartridge and secure it in a suitable manner, so that, when
about to be used, this combination can be placed over or upon the explosive
charge and the usual tamping proceeded with.
This combination affords a source and method of protection to detonators
hitherto unpractised. If desired the detonator or fuse can be readily removed
from the safety cartridge, inserted in the explosive proper, the safety compound
crushed and well rammed over the charge, whereby it accomodates itself to any
irregularities in the borehole, and the further tamping completed as usual.
In ordinary use when the charge is rammed home and the detonator inserted,
one or more safety cartridges, are introduced and well stemmed and thereafter
the usual tamping proceeded with.
The quantity of safety compound used varies with its particular ingredients,
but it is not advisable to depend for success on less than one ounce, while some
shot-charges will require three or more ounces of the safety compound, especially
when the borehole is of large dimensions,

page_text: The absorbents of mineral and vegetable origin may be used in the dry or
wet state. The salts are intended to be used with their water of crystallisation.
I am aware that it has been previously proposed to place in front of explosive
charges, or around them, compounds or substances, of various kinds including
some of the substances I have mentioned, with a view to quenching the flame
produced by the explosion and I make no claim to the use of such substances
otherwise than in the manner described.
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:-
(1.) The use of one or more of the hereinbefore-mentioned salts or compounds
(viz. Glauber's salts, soda crystals, the alum compounds, borax; the hydrates,
chlorides, sulphates, tungstates, and binoxalates of ammonium and magnesium;
minerals such as clays, infusorial earths, asbestos, charred organic matter; moulded
or compresed into a convenient shape and nitrogen, ammonia, air, and carbonic
anhydride in a compressed state,) for safety tamping or reducing the temperature
of shot-firing in a dangerous place, substantially as, and for the purpose, herein-
before described.
2. The manufacture and use of safety cartridges composed of one or more of
the aforesaid compounds, moulded into the form of fluted, solid, or hollow cylin-
ders, with or without a conelike depression, holes, or corrugations on their bases
or ends, and with or without an external sidelong channel, substantially as, and
for the purpose, hereinbefore described.
3. The combination and use of explosives, primers, or detonators, with the
aforementioned safety compound or compounds, moulded or compressed as afore-
said substantially as, and for the purpose, herein before described.
4. The manufacture and use of metal cylinders or cases containing the afore-
said gases in a state of compression, substantially as, and for the purpose, herein-
before described.
O
1000