Year: 1885

page_text: I, HAROLD IMRAY of No. 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
In the Specification N° 10986 of 1884 is described the manufacture of an
explosive compound by dissolving gun cotton in a nitro compound of certain
hydrocarbons to the condition of a jelly, mixing therewith chlorates and nitrates,.
and afterwards mixing with the whole sulphur or sulphur compounds. The present
invention relates to an improvement in this manufacture for the purpose of simpli-
fying it and rendering the product less dangerous, by dispensing entirely with the
sulphur or sulphur compounds, the presence of which was previously considered
essential.
According to the new process, nitro-cellulose such as gun cotton or its analogues
is dissolved in a nitro compound of benzene or of an equivalent in the aromatic,
group of coal tar derivatives, in such proportions that the solution forms' a tolerably
viscid jelly.
With this is thoroughly mixed a large proportion of finely powdered chlorate,
preferably potassium chlorate, producing a plastic mass which can be exploded by.
a detonator, developing great force. The proportions of the ingredients may be
varied within certain limits; a good composition is as follows:-With about.
20 parts of jelly composed of 100 parts of commercial nitrobenzene and 5 parts of
nitro cellulose, are mixed about 80 parts of potassium chlorate. For a portion of
the chlorate another oxidizing agent may be substituted.
Dated thin writh day of October 1885.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agenta for the Applicant.

page_text: I, HAROLD IMRAY of N° 28 Southampton Buildings,, Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent 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:-
In the Specification N° 10986 of 1884 is described the manufacture of an
explosive compound by dissolving guncotton in a nitro compound of certain hydro-
carbons to the condition of a jelly, mixing therewith chlorates and nitrates, and
afterwards mixing with the whole sulphur or sulphur compounds. The present
invention relates to an improvement in this manufacture for the purpose of
simplifying it and rendering the product less dangerous, by dispensing entirely
with the sulphur or sulphur compounds, the presence of which was previously
considered essential.
According to the new process nitro-cellulose such as gun cotton or its analogues
is dissolved in a nitro compound of benzene or of an equivalent in the aromatic
group of coal tar derivatives in such proportions that the solution forms a tolerably
viscid jelly. When guncotton and nitro benzole are used, about 5 parts of the
guncotton are dissolved in 100 parts of the solvent; when other forms of nitro-
cellulose that are more freely soluble, are employed, the proportion of solvent
can be advantageously reduced, thereby proportionally reducing the quantity of
oxidising agent required to be added.
With this is thoroughly mixed a large proportion of finely powdered chlorate,
preferably potassium chlorate, producing a plastic mass which can be exploded by a
detonator, developing great force. The proportions of the ingredients may be
varied within certain limits, a good composition is as follows:-With about 20 parts
of jelly composed of 100 parts of commercial nitrobenzene and 5 parts of nitro-
For a
cellulose such as gun cotton are mixed about 80 parts of potassium chlorate.
portion of the chlorate another oxidising agent may be substituted, such as Nitrate,
Bichromate, Permanganate and the like, or an oxide such as that of iron or
manganese. The portion thus substituted should not exceed ten per cent, as a
larger proportion renders the compound less sensitive and impairs its efficiency as
an explosive.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
The manufacture and use of an explosive compound consisting of an intimate
admixture of finely pulverized oxidising agent wholly or principally potassium
chlorate with a jelly formed by dissolving nitrocellulose in nitrobenzene or
analogous solvents, the mixture and solution being substantially in the proportions
herein described.
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