IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF POWDER FOR BLASTING AND OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I CAMILLE ESPIR of 37 Alexandra Road Wimbledon in the County of Surrey
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF POWDER FOR BLASTING AND OTHER ANALOGOUS
PURPOSES, to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to manufacture an improved kind of gunpowder
the manipulation of which is simple easy and rapid and the cost of which is
comparatively very low although the mixture is very powerful. Besides its low
price (its volume being about twice that of ordinary powder) the charge in pro-
portion to the volume is only half that of ordinary powder and the results are
superior.
In the open air it is perfectly harmless, and when fired it burns without explosion
but its explosive force is considerable when confined.
It does not ignite by friction.
When used for blasting, this powder rends the rock in large masses its action
being analogous to that of dynamite and can be used in quarrying stone marblo
granite slate coal iron and tin mines in fact wherever the use of blasting powder is
required and acts equally well in soft grounds.
It is adapted for the exploding of shells without the necessity of using the
ordinary cartridge, the ignition taking place through the wires from the electric
battery and can also be used for artillery and torpedoes-It also improves by
keeping.
In manufacturing the powder I mix the materials in the proportions following
66 per cent of un-refined nitrate of soda
12 per cent of refined & triturated sulphur
22 per cent of fine sawdust from hard wood.
These proportions being suitable for ordinary purposes but when a greater amount
of force is required I make an addition of 10 per cent of charcoal.
In other cases for certain purposes I mix in the following proportions
66 per cent of unrefined nitrate of soda
8 per cent of refined and triturated sulphur
21 per cent of fine sawdust from hard wood
5
per cent of charcoal.
The sawdust being an inert body is only intended to hear the explosive matter.

page_text: The charcoal is added chiefly for military purposes to increase the propulsive
force which is impeded by the sawdust.
In carrying out my invention I use a fine wire sieve to amalgamate the sawdust
with the sulphur, the amalgamation being effected in cylindrical cases lined either
with brass or zinc.
I dissolve the nitrate of soda in boiling water. The boiling is continued while
the nitrate to be dissolved is gradually added It is to be observed that the volume
of nitrate and the volume of water which is used to dissolve the same should be
equal volume for volume.
After the nitrate is carefully dissolved the liquid is gradually poured on the
mixture of sawdust and sulphur and the whole is then kneaded by means of wooden
shovels or flat spades.
The cylindrical cases are placed on the top of steam pipes which are kept at an
uniform heat In the cases I fit wooden rakes by which the mixture is constantly
stirred for about two hours after which the charcoal is gradually added the rake
being kept in motion during another quarter of an hour-The heat is then reduced
by shutting off the steam from the pipes and the whole contents of the case is
compressed at the bottom of the case the materials being then allowed to rest for
24 hours in order to obtain complete saturation after which the mixture is dried.
I use similar cases for the process of drying and when the mixture is almost dry
I sift it again through a small sieve but keeping always the rakes stirring.
The method of using my improved powder is very similar to that of the ordinary
_ powder For the loading I put in one third of the compound and two thirds
wadding The safety-fuse-is inserted after filling in a small quantity of the
mixture and the ramming is continued until the necessary-quantity is inserted.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I CAMILLE ESPIR, of 37 Alexandra Road, Wimbledon, in the County of Surrey,
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF POWDER FOR BLASTING AND OTHER ANALOGOUS
PURPOSES" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to manufacture an improved kind of gunpowder
the manipulation of which is simple, easy, and rapid; and the cost of which is
comparatively very low, although the mixture is very powerful. Besides its low
price (its volume being about twice that of ordinary powder) the charge in pro-
portion to the volume is only half that of ordinary powder, and the results are
superior.
In the open air it is perfectly harmless, and, when fired, it burns without
explosion but its explosive force is considerable when confined.
It does not ignite by friction.
When used for blasting, this powder rends the rock in large masses, its action
being analogous to that of dynamite, and can be used in quarrying stones marble,
granite, slate, coal, iron and tin mines; in fact wherever the use of blasting powder
is required, and acts equally well in soft grounds.
It is adapted for the exploding of shells without the necessity of using the
ordinary cartridge, the ignition taking place through the wires from the electric
battery, and can also be used for artillery and torpedoes. It also improves by
keeping.
In manufacturing this powder for blasting purposes I mix the materials in the
100
These proportions being suitable for ordinary purposes, but when a greater
amount of force is required I make an addition of 10 per cent of charcoal.
In other cases, for certain purposes, I mix in the following proportions
66 per cent of unrefined nitrate of soda
8 per cent of refined and triturated sulphur
21 per cent of fine sawdust from hard wood
5 per cent of charcoal,

page_text: In carrying out my invention I use a fine wire sieve to amalgamate the sawdust
with the sulphur; the amalgamation being effected in cylindrical cases lined either
with brass or zinc.
I dissolve the nitrate of soda in boiling water. The boiling is continued while
the nitrate to be dissolved is gradually added. It is to be observed that the volume
of nitrate and the volume of water which is used to dissolve the same, should be
equal-volume for volume.
After the nitrate is completely dissolved, the liquid is gradually poured on the
mixture of sawdust and sulphur, and the whole is then kneaded by means of
wooden shovels or flat spades.
The cylindrical cases are placed on the top of steam pipes, which are kept at an
uniform heat. In the cases I fit wooden rakes, by which the mixture is kept
constantly stirred for about two hours. After which the charcoal is gradually
added the rake being kept in motion during another quarter of an hour.
The heat is then reduced by shutting off the steam from the pipes and the
whole contents of the case is compressed at the bottom of the case, the materials
being then allowed to rest for 24 hours in order to obtain complete saturation,
after which the mixture is dried.
I use similar cases for the process of drying, and when the mixture is almost
dry I sift it again through a small sieve, but keeping the rakes continually stirring.
The method of using my improved powder is very similar to that of the
ordinary powder: For the loading.I put in one third of the compound and two
-thirds-wadding. The safety fuse is inserted after filling in a small quantity of the
mixture, and the ramming is continued-until the necessary quantity is inserted.
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 manufacture and was of blestium unw
GEO. DOWNING,
Agent for Applicant.