Means of Igniting Fuses without Exposing Flame or Sparks.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 14th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 15th Nov., 1887
Means of Igniting Fuses without Exposing Flame or Sparks.
I MILES SETTLE of Darcy Lever near Bolton in the County of Lancaster, Mining
Engineer and Colliery Proprietor do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to avoid or minimize the danger of blasting or
"shot firing" in fiery mines or other places where there may be a possible accumu-
lation of inflammable or explosive gas or other matter.
And my invention consists of a shield or cover constructed substantially as here-
after described for preventing the sparks from the ignited fuse from coming into
contact and igniting the aforesaid gas.
I employ for this purpose a short tubo into which extends the end of the fuse which
is in connection with the explosive or blasting charge and which protrudes from the
blast hole the joint between this tube and the tamping in the blast hole being made
up with clay or other suitable material. The other end of this tube joins or forms
part of a casing for a short length of platinum wire to which the end of the fuse is
connected so that when the said wire is heated by olectricity as hereafter described
it will ignite the fuse.
The casing for the platinum wire is made by preference at right angles to the
short tube above named for convenience in connecting the fuse to the said wire; and
the latter is mounted upon a spindle provided with a suitable insulated handle which
closes the open end of the said casing and through which pass wires connected to the
platinum wire and through a switch (or other suitable device for making and breaking
contact) to a battery.
It will be evident that when the fuse is attached to the platinum wire and the
joint of the covering tube made good, the electric circuit may be completed by means
of the aforesaid switch, the platinum wire may be heated and being completely
covered, all contact with the outside atmosphere or gas is impossible as the holes in
the handle of the casing are so small that only the wires can enter thereby. Thus
the fuse may be fired with perfect safety and the operator may then remove tho
apparatus and withdraw prior to the exploding of the cartridge or its equivalent.
D
1
T
1007
GEORGE DAVIES,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Means of Igniting Fuses without Exposing Flame or Sparks.
I MILES SETTLE of Darcy Lever near Bolton in the County of Lancaster Mining
Engineer and Colliery Proprietor 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:
:-
The object of this invention is to avoid or minimize the danger of blasting or
"shot-firing" in fiery mines or other places where there may be a possible accumu-
lation of inflammable or explosive gas or other matter, and my invention consists of
a shield or cover constructed substantially as hereinafter described, for preventing the
sparks from the ignited fuse from coming in contact with and igniting the afore-
said gas.
The nature of my said invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed or carried into practical effect will be readily understood on reference to
the drawing hereunto annexed and the following explanation thereof.
The drawing represents partly in elevation and partly in section the end of a fuse
with my invention shown as applied thereto.
a, a is a short tube into which extends the end of the fuse b, b which is in con-
nection with the explosive or blasting charge and which protrudes slightly from the
blast hole, the joint between this tube a, a and the tamping, in the blast hole being
made good with clay or other suitable material.
The upper end a, a' of this tubo forms part of a casing or shield (which is by
preference at right angles to the tube a, a) and protects the short piece of platinum
wiro c, c which is in contact with the end of the fuse b, b so that when the said wire
is heated by electricity as hereinafter described it will ignite the fuse.
The tube and casing forming the shield a, a' may be made of ebonite or other non-
conducting material, or it may be made of metal and lined with ebonite or other
suitable non-conductor, and in it is fitted the spindle or piece d, d, (also of non-
conducting material) into which the the platinum wire c, c is embedded, a notch being
made in the underside thereof at ex, so that the platinum wire is bare or exposed at
that part to allow the end of the fuse to come into contact therewith. The spindle or
piece d, d may be provided with a suitable handle for the sake of convenience in use
if preferred, through which may pass the conducting wires e, e which are connected
to the platinum wire c, c and with a battery, being also provided with a switch or
other suitable device for making and breaking contact.
It will be evident that when the fuse b, b is placed in contact with the platinum
wire c, c and the joint of the covering tube a, a is made good, the electric circuit may a
be completed by means of the aforesaid switch or other similar device, when the
platinum wire c, c will become heated and ignite the fuse, and both the wire and
the fuse being completely covered by the shield a, a' all contact with the outside

page_text: atmosphere or gas is impossible as the holes where the conducting wires c, c enter
the spindle or piece d, d are so small that only the wire can enter thereby.
The fuse b, 6 may thus be fired with perfect safety.
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 :-
:-
The improved means of igniting fuses without exposing flame or sparks, consisting
of a shield for covering both the end of the fuse and the platinum wire substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings annexed.
DL: 10
1
1000
GEORGE DAVIES,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.