AN IMPROVED RECEPTACLE FOR HYGROSCOPIC EXPLOSIVES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of the Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer do hereby declare
the nature of the invention for AN IMPROVED RECEPTACLE FOR HYGROSCOPIC
EXPLOSIVES 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 this invention is to provide a suitable receptacle for blasting agents
or other explosives, the composition of which includes certain ingredients having
highly hygroscopic qualities, such for example as nitrate of ammonia and nitrate
of soda, whereby such blasting agents or explosives will be protected against
humidity.
To effect this object, waterproof cartridges have been proposed, but besides being
expensive, they offer this disadvantage, that it is difficult and inconvenient to attach
to them the fuse. Watertight boxes have also been devised, but they offer pro-
tection only during transit and storing. Once opened, such boxes afford no
protection, and the cartridges thus exposed to the action of a moist atmosphere,
especially in mines, are frequently spoiled and rendered unfit for use.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a receptacle
constructed according to this invention.
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, and
Fig. 3 a sectional plan view of the same.
a is a box made of cardboard, and soaked in a bath of melted paraffin or
analogous substance; b is a cardboard lid attached to the box by means of a strip
or strips of glued cloth or otherwise, cloth and lid being then paraffined as well as
the box. The inner face of the lid is covered with a piece of cloth or felt, which
bas been previously dipped or soaked in some non-volatile, and non drying oil, or
with other suitable material repellant to moisture. The lid thus fitted will, when
slightly pressed down onto the box, form an airtight joint, and the access of
humidity to the inside of the box will be prevented.
c is an india rubber spring secured at one end to the inside of the lid, and at the
other to the back of the box, and serving automatically to shut the lid when it has
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page_text: been opened. This arrangement provides for the taking of the cartridges out of the
box, for the miner's use, without deteriorating those which are left in the box, since
the small access of air, on opening the lid, can only introduce traces of moisture
which are of no consequence.
During transit and storage, the lid may be secured by a string or copper wire
passed round the box.
It will be evident that the material from which such receptacle is made may be
greatly varied, as well also as the form of the receptacle. Metallic springs may be
substituted for those of india rubber, or the lid may be fastened and tightly secured
by the miner, by means of any of the usual contrivances for such purpose, instead
of resorting to the use of a spring.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is
An improved receptacle for hygroscopic explosives constructed substantially as
herein shown and described, for preventing the access of humidity to the interior
thereof.