Improvements in and relating to Blasting Cartridges.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Aug., 1889-Accepted, 12th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Blasting Cartridges.
We, JOHN COPE BUTTERFIELD of 7 Westminster Chambers, in the City of
Westminster Analytical Chemist and TELFORD CLARENCE BATCHELOR of 8 Baron's
Court Road, West Kensington, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of cartridge cases preferably of. metal in
lieu of paper cases (previously waterproofed by being dipped in melted paraffin or
some similar body) and wads of cardboard. We have discovered that these paper
cases are liable to become damaged and also the presence of the paraffin and paper
tend (when the explosive is fired) to give off sparks &c. which is not desirable when
shots are made in Collieries.
The method we prefer to employ to render the material of the cartridge water-
proof and at the same time to diminish the fear of sparks, and also to ensure better
detonation of the explosive is to take a metallic tube of sufficient length and diameter
made either of lead (or lead and antimony) tin (or tin and lead) or other suitable
material to contain one or more cartridges of explosive material. The metallic tube
is dropped into the hole of the press plate and is supported all round and at its base
by the iron plate-the material forming the explosive is then dropped in from a
charging funnel, the mandril is allowed to descend and the pressure is applied. On
opening the press the cartridge and case are removed; perfect in every detail, no paper
wad is required to act as a bottom to the cartridge, the thin metal forming the closed
end. When withdrawn from the press, the loose explosive material required to
explode the compressed cartridge and which fills the hollow centre is filled in, and a
small cap formed of the same material as the case is then placed on the end and
rendered water-tight by a slight coat of paint or resin. This cap is provided with a
stuffing box of any suitable kind with preferably a rubber packing ring and through
this the fuse is passed and the gland screwed up tight and a perfectly water and damp
proof case is thus produced.
When on account of the expense or for other reason it is not desirable to use the
stuffing box we use a plain cap with no opening in it, and in lieu of the stuffing box
in the cap we provide an excrescence at the closed end of the tube when making it;
when the fuse is to be inserted a knife is passed round this excrescence and the closed
end of it removed and into the hole thus produced the fuse &c. is inserted.
cardboard or other cover can then be fitted on and made tight by dipping or other-
wise and these cases will do good service where they have not to remain too long
exposed to moisture.
A
These cases can be used either with compressed cartridges as described above or
with a loose uncompressed explosive.
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Blasting Cartridges.
We, JOHN COPE BUTTERFIELD, of 7 Westminster Chambers, in the city of
Westminster, F.I.S., F.C.S., Analyist, and TELFORD CLARENCE BATCHELOR, of
8 Baron's Court Road, West Kensington, Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to the manufacture of cartridge cases preferably of metal in

page_text: lieu of the ordinary paper cases (previously waterproofed by being dipped in melted
paraffin or some similar body) and wads of cardboard. We have discovered that these
paper cases are liable to become damaged and also the presence of the paraffin and
paper tend (when the explosive is fired) to give off sparks &c..
The method we prefer to employ.tor render the material of the cartridge waterproof
and at the same time to diminish, the fear of sparks, and also to ensure better
detonation of the explosive is to take a metallic tube of sufficient length and diameter
made either of lead (or lead and antimony) tin (or tin and lead) or other suitable
material to contain one or more cartridges of explosive material. The metallic tube is
dropped into the hole of the press plate and is supported all round and at its base by
the iron plate the material forming the explosive is then dropped in from a charging
funnel, the mandril is allowed to descend and the pressure is applied. On opening the
press the cartridge and case are removed; perfect in every detail, no paper wad is
required to act as a bottom to the cartridge, the thin metal forming the closed end.
When withdrawn from the press, the loose explosive material required to explode
the compressed cartridge and which fills the hollow centre is filled in, and a small cap
formed of the same material as the case is then placed on the end and rendered
water-tight by soldering or by a slight coat of paint or resin. This cap is provided
with a stuffing box of any suitable kind with preferably a rubber packing ring and
through this the fuze is passed and the gland screwed up tight and a perfectly water
and damp proof case is thus produced.
When on account of the expense or for other reason it is not desirable to use the
stuffing box we use a plain cap with no opening in it and in lieu of the stuffing box
in the cap we provide an excrescence at the closed end of the tube when making it;
when the fuze is to be inserted a knife is passed round this excrescence and the closed
end of it removed and into the hole thus produced the fuze &c. is inserted.
These cases can be used either with compressed cartridges as described above or
with a loose uncompressed explosive.
In the accompanying drawings-
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of one form of the cartridge case charged and
ready for use; Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same and without the fuze or match;
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of an alternative form of the cartridge case shown
in Figs. 1 and 2, and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of an empty cartridge case of a
slightly modified form.
With reference to Figs. 1 and 2 A is the main enclosing portion which together
with the closed end A¹ preferably made in part with it is herein termed the "shell"
of the cartridge and B is the cap which partly closes the other end of it.
B¹ pre-
ferably formed in one with the cap B is a stuffing box and B2 is its gland and Cits
packing which may be of india-rubber or the like. D is the explosive material which
may be wholly loose as indicated in Figure 1 or by any suitable means partly com-
pressed into a solid which under such construction would preferably be as shown in
Figure 2 in the form of a hollow cylinder with some of the said loose explosive
material contained within it, E is the electric or other fuse and detonator which passes
through the stuffing box and into the explosive D.
When constructing the cartridge the explosive D is introduced through the then-
open end of the shell A and the cap B is afterwards placed over the said end, a tight
joint being made between the parts A and B by means of soldering or resin or other
suitable means. The fuze or match E is then placed in position as shown in Figure 1
and the gland B2 screwed further on to the stuffing box B so that the packing C presses
tightly around the said fuze and completes the hermetic closing of the cartridge which
is thereby rendered impervious to moisture.or water.
Instead of forming the stuffing box B₁ on the cap B as shown in Figures 1
and 2 we may form it on the closed end A¹ and use a plain cap as shown in Figure 3.
In the shell A which we have represented in Figure 4 the closed end A' is slightly
domed and is formed with an excrescence A2 the thickness of the material being
practically uniform throughout. The cap B in this example is plain and fits over the
open end of the shell A.

page_text: After the shell has been filled with the explosive the cap B is placed over the open
mouth of the shell and a suitable water-proof joint made between the said cap and
shell; the cartridge thus prepared is fit for use at even a remote date as moisture
cannot be admitted. When the fuze is to be inserted a knife is passed round the
cylindrical portion A³ of the excrescence A² and the closed end of it removed and into
the hole thus produced the fuze or match is inserted.
Instead of forming the excrescence A' on the permanently closed end of the shell A
it may be formed on the cap B with equally satisfactory results.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The combination with a cartridge case of a stuffing box substantially as described
for the purpose of making a tight or damp-proof joint around the fuze or match.
2. In a cartridge the combination with a shell having one permanently closed end
of a separate cap provided with a stuffing box for closing in the other end substantially
as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination with a cartridge case of an excrescence formed in part therewith
and adapted to be cut off substantially as herein described.
4. The combination with a cartridge case of a separate cap formed in part with an
excrescence which is adapted to be cut off substantially as herein described.
Dated this 21st day of August 1889
JOHN COPE BUTTERFIELD.
TELFORD CLARENCE BATCHELOR.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants.