IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International
Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS."-A communication from
abroad by Joseph Hafenegger, of San Francisco, California, United
States of America.
ealed the 12th March 1869, and dated the 17th September 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 17th September 1868.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office,"
No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS," a communi-
cation, to be as follows:-
In the manufacture of my powder the same general combination of
ingredients is employed in each modification with one or two exceptions,
in which cases a change of from one to two of the agents is made, as,

page_text: for instance, where a weaker or stronger or a self-explosive compound
is wanted.
In order that my Invention may be more fully understood I designate
the different qualities by numbers as follows:-
Powder No. 1 is composed of nine (9) pounds chlorate of potash, one
fourth () pound of sulphur, and one-fourth (t) pound of light charcoal
I prefer willow charcoal. The potash and charcoal are first pulverized
and mixed, and then the sulphur is added and the whole thoroughly
incorporated together. Or six (6) parts of chlorate of potash, four
(4) parts of charcoal, and one (1) part of sulphur may be employed,
and form a very good powder, but its strength is not so great as the first,
neither is it quite so safe. These compounds when so formed make a
very good and cheap blasting powder when saturated with a liquid
which I will describe below.
Powder No. 2 is prepared with two (2) pounds of chlorate of potash,
one (1) pound of fine dry white sugar, and one (1) pound of ferro-
prussiate of potash; I pulverize the potash and add the sugar and ferro-.
prussiate of potash in rotation. This is self-exploding in from one-half
()to two (2) hours, according to the temperature in which it is kept or
exposed to the air, that is to say, when saturated with the liquid
mentioned below. This liquid which I term a self-igniting match,
or liquid consists of one (1) or two (2) more or less parts of phosphorous
and two (2) parts of bi-sulphide of carbon, and its effect is more or
less instantaneous upon the compounds according to the degree of
saturation; for instance, if the compound is thoroughly wetted with
the liquid it will explode much later than when partially saturated.
Powder No. 3 is composed of four (4) pounds of chlorate of potash,
one-fourth (th) pound of charcoal, one pound of sulphur or sugar, and
one (1) pound of ferro-prussiate of potash. This compound forms a
good shooting powder, and may be used with or without my self-
igniting liquid. If saturated with this liquid it will be of much
greater strength. A compound made of three and one-half (3) pounds
of chlorate of potash, one (1) pound of ferro-prussiate of potash, and
one (1) pound of sulphur may also be employed to form a good and
cheap shooting powder, with or without the liquid. This powder is
also good for exploding shells.
⚫ Powder No. 4 I prepare with four (4) pounds of chlorate of potash,
four (4) pounds of sugar, one-fourth (th) pound of charcoal, more or

page_text: less, and one-fourth (+) pound of sulphur. This powder is also used
for blasting and shells.
Powder No. 5 is prepared by using one part of chlorate of potash
and one (1) part of sugar. This is a very good self-exploding compound
when the fluid is added. It will not explode by the direct action of
fire, but will do so when it is saturated with the self-igniting liquid
in about half an hour, more or less, according to the temperature.
Powder No. 6 is composed of cleven (11) pounds of chlorate of
potash, one-fourth (+) pound of sulphur, one-fourth (f) pound of char-
coal. This compound is a very good one for shells, its explosive effect
when it is saturated with the liquid being very great, even when placed
in an aperture so small that if the aperture were filled with gunpowder
and ignited it would have no practical effect. In this case where a
match is wanted, the opening leading to the chamber is filled with
gun cotton, which may be saturated with my self-igniting fluid, and
care should be taken to ensure that the gun cotton touches the compound,
the latter will then ignite in the desired time without the aid of fire.
This compound will be found very effective and cheap for blasting in
mincs, as dampness or water will not greatly impair its efficacy. The
case and safety with which it can be transported is another great
advantage, as it can be mixed at the place where it is to be used by
unskillful hands. The fluids of which the match is composed should
be transported in separate flasks, as the quantity of each to be used
can be determined after a little practice.
Powder No. 7 is composed of one (1) part of chlorate of potash and
one (1) part of charcoal (willow or pine) saturated with the liquid.
This compound will explode with a terrible effect in from one-half (#)
hour to one (1) hour.
Powder No. 8 which consists of chlorate of potash pulverised and
saturated with the liquid, is self-igniting and will explode in about
half an hour. This compound forms an excellent match in war,
where mines are to be exploded and cities destroyed, for it can be so
timed that the explosion need not take place until the dislodged army
is a great distance away, and powder magazines in the enemy's country
may be exploded by a spy or other individual with little danger of
detection. Tissue paper wetted with it will soon take fire and be
consumed even in the highest wind, where common matches would
fail

page_text: All the powders above mentioned when compressed are of much
greater strength than when loose. If either of the said powders when
saturated with the liquid should take fire immediately after adding
the liquid thereto, then it will only burn with less danger than loose
gunpowder, the powder being of great strength after the liquid gets
dry. The powder No. 3 will explode by a slight tap with an iron or
a wheel passing over it on a stone or iron roadway, but not until after
it has been saturated with the fluid above described and thoroughly
dried. This compound without the liquid will make good cartridges
that will explode by percussion.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th March 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, nse,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors or ad-
ministrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal

page_text: Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said 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 manufacture of my compounds the same general combination
of ingredients is employed in each modification with one or two
exceptions, in which cases a change of from one to two of the agents
is made; as, for instance, where a weaker or stronger or a self-explosive
compound is wanted.
In order that my Invention may be more fully understood I
designate the different qualitics by numbers as follows:-
Powder No. 1 is composed of nine (9) pounds of clilorate of potash,
one-fourth (4) pound of sulphur, and one-fourth (+) pound of light
charcoal; I prefer willow charcoal. The potash and charcoal arc
first pulverized and mixed, and then the sulphur is added, and the whole
thoroughly incorporated together. Or six (6) parts of chlorate of
potash, four (4) parts of charcoal, and one (1) part of sulphur may be
employed and form a very good powder, but its strength is not so
great as the first, neither is it quite so safe. These compounds when
so formed make a very good and choap blasting powder when
saturated with a liquid which I will describe below.
Powder No. 2 is prepared with two (2) pounds of chlorate of potash,
one (1) pound of fine dry white sugar, and one (1) pound of ferro-
prussiate of potash. I pulverize the potash and add the sugar and ferro-
prussiate of potash in rotation. This is self-exploding in from one-half
()to two (2) hours, according to the temperature in which it is
kept or exposed to the air, that is to say, when saturated with the liquid
mentioned below. This liquid, which I term a self-igniting match or
liquid, consists of one (1) or two (2) more or less parts of phosphorus
and two (2) parts of bi-sulphide of carbon, and its effect is more or
less instantaneous upon the compounds, according to the degree of
saturation; for instance if the compound is thoroughly wetted with
the liquid it will explode much later than when partially saturated.
Powder No. 3 is composed of four (4) pounds of chlorate of potash,
one-fourth () pound of charcoal, one pound of sulphur or sugar, and
one (1) pound of ferro-prussiate of potash. This compound forms

page_text: a good shooting powder, and may be used with or without my self-
igniting liquid. If saturated with this liquid it will be of much
greater strength. A compound made of three and one-half (3) pounds
of chlorate of potash, one (1) pound of ferro-prussiate of potash, and
one (1) pound of sulphur may also be employed to form a good and
cheap shooting powder with or without the liquid. This powder is also
good for exploding shells.
Powder No. 4 I prepare with four (4) pounds of chlorare of potash,
four (4) pounds of sugar, one-fourth () pound of charcoal, more or
less, and one-fourth. (+) pound of sulphur. This powder is also used
for blasting and shells.
Powder No. 5 is prepared by using one part of chlorate of potash
and one (1) part of sugar. This is a very good self-exploding compound
when the fluid is added. It will not explode by the direct action
of fire, but will do so when it is saturated with the self-igniting
liquid in about half an hour, more or less according to the temperaturo.
Powder No. 6 is composed of eleven (11) pounds of chlorate of
potash, one-fourth (t) pound of sulphur, one-fourth (+) pound of charcoal.
This compound is a very good one for shells, its explosive effect when it
is saturated with the liquid being very great, even when placed in
an aperture so small that if the aperture were filled with gunpowder
and ignited it would have no practical effect. In this case where a
match is wanted the opening leading to the chamber is filled with
gun cotton, which may be saturated with my self-igniting fluid, and
care should be taken to ensure that the gun cotton touches the
compound; the latter will then ignite in the desired time without
the aid of fire. This compound will be found very effective and
cheap for blasting in mines, as dampness or water will not greatly
impair its efficacy. The ease and safety with which it can be
transported is another great advantage, as it can be mixed at the
place where it is to be used by unskillful hands. The fluids of
which the match is composed should be transported in separate
flasks, as the quantity of each to be used can be determined after
a little practice.
Powder No. 7 is composed of one (1) part of chlorate of potash
and one (1) part of charcoal (willow or pino) saturated with the
liquid; this compound will explode with a terrible effect in from
one-half (4) hour to one (1) hour.

page_text: Powder No. 8, which consists of chlorate of potash pulverized and
saturated with the liquid, is self-igniting, and will explode in about
half an hour. This compound forms an excellent match in war, where
mines are to be exploded and cities destroyed, for it can be so timed
that the explosion need not take place until the dislodged army is a
great distance away, and powder magazines in the enemy's country
may be exploded by a spy or other individual with little danger of
detection. Tissue paper wetted with it will soon take fire and be
consumed, even in the highest wind, where common matches would
fail.
All the powders above mentioned when compressed are of much
greater strength than when loose. If either of the said powders when
saturated with the liquid should take fire immediately after adding
the liquid thereto then it will only burn with less danger than loose.
gunpowder, the powder being of great strength after the liquid gets
dry. The powder No. 3 will explode by a slight tap with an iron or
a wheel passing over it on a stone or iron roadway, but not until after
it has been saturated with the fluid above described and thoroughly
dried. This compound without the liquid will make good cartridges
that will explode by percussion.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent I claim,-
The within described explosive compounds, consisting of Nos. 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 made of the ingredients enumerated mixed or
compounded in about the proportions specified.
I also claim the self-igniting match compounded of the liquids or
fluids enumerated, whether applied separately or mixed with the
explosive compounds or materials sought to be ignited or exploded
substantially as described.
In witness whercof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of March,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)