Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1886.
Complete Left, 13th Aug., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 13th Sept., 1887.
RESERVE
L, FREDERICK AUGUSTUS ABEL, Knight, of the Arsenal, Woolwich in the County
of Kent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the manufacture of an explosive suitable for artillery or
other purposes, particularly for quick firing machine guns, the principal object which
I have in view being to avoid to a great extent production of smoke or obscene
vapours. For this purpose, I dry any known nitrocellulose or solid explosive nitro-
compound in finely pulverised form and intimately mix it with about its own weight
of chemically dry finely pulverised nitrate of ammonia. I moisten the mixture with
petroleum oil or spirit, and mould it to any desired form, such as blocks, prisms or
cakes for subsequent granulation. By the pressure used in moulding, the principal
part of the moistening substance is squeezed out, and when spirit has been used, the
residue may be driven off by moderate heat. The blocks, prisms or granules produced
are then subjected to the action of any known agent having the effect of partially
dissolving and hardening nitro-compounds, this giving to the explosive a coating
impervious to moisture, which may be otherwise given by varnishing. The substances
used for giving a coating to the explosive may also he applied throughout the mass
by mixing them with the oil or spirit used for moistening the mixed powder.
Dated this 15th day of November 1886.
ABEL & IMRAY,
28, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, FREDERICK AUGUSTUS ABEL, Knight, of the Arsenal, Woolwich, in the County
of Kent, 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 :—
My invention relates to the manufacture of an explosive suitable for artillery or
other purposes, particularly for quick firing machine guns, the principal object which
I have in view being to avoid to a great extent production of smoke or obscure
vapour.
For this purpose I dry any known nitrocellulose or solid explosive nitro-compound
in finely pulverised form and intimately mix it with about from 10 to 50 per cent. of
its weight of chemically dry finely pulverised nitrate of ammonin. I moisten the
mixture with petroleum oil or spirit, or both combined, and mould it to any desired
form such as blocks, prisms, or cakes for subsequent granulation. By the pressure
used in moulding, the principal part of the moistening substance is squeezed out, and,
when spirit has been used, the residue may be driven off by moderate heat. The
blocks, prisms, or granules produced are then subjected to the action of any known
agent having the effect of partially dissolving and hardening nitro-compounds, this
giving to the explosive a coating impervious to moisten which may be otherwise
given by varnishing. The substances used for giving a coating to the explosive may
also be applied throughout the mass by mixing them with the oil or spirit used for
moistening the mixed powder.
Or the pulverised or pulped nitro-compound is converted into compressed masses in
the well known manner and is soaked in a solution of nitrate of ammonia of the
strength required to leave in the compressed mass the desired proportion of that salt.
The masses thus prepared are then dried and heated by one or other of the methods
above described.
The compressed nitro-compound thus used may be either produced in the form of
cakes or slabs which are cut up or broken into the required forms and sizes, or the
nitro-compound may be in the first instance formed into cubes or grains of the shape
and size required and then submitted to treatment with nitrate of ammonia substan-
tially as above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
11
The manufacture of an explosive consisting of a nitro compound mixed with nitrate
of ammonia and then treated with either petroleum oil, with or without admixture of
spirit, or with a solvent, or with a softening or water proofing agent, substantially as
herein described.