An Improved Method of Igniting Mining Cartridges and Discharging. Fire Arms.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1886.
Complete Left, 10th May, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 10th June, 1887.
An Improved Method of Igniting Mining Cartridges and Discharging.
Fire Arms.
I OTTO PAUL HERMANN AUGUST STRAUBE of Spandau in the Empire of Germany
Captain in the Prussian Army do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
AN IMPROVED METHOD OF IGNITING MINING CARTRIDGES AND DISCHARGING FIRE ARMS
to be as follows:-
:-
The dangerless ignition of explosive cartridges takes place generally by means of
tape fuse or more recently by an electric spark. The electric ignition, also on account
of its sure action at a great distance is a welcome aid to the technician, this method
has drawbacks, offering inconveniences for small concerns or if not often used.
The necessary electricity is not always at hand and the careful management of the
apparatus by simple work people creates very often difficulties.
These circumstances induced me to search for a new method of dangerless ignition.
The atmospheric air and other gases offer convenient means to transmit power to a
great distance.
If air enclosed in a tube is subjected to a pressure at one end of such tube by a piston
or other means, this pressure is felt at the other end and acts there upon a pin which
by a forward movement pierces the ignitable material of the cartridge or similar
objects, thereby causing an explosion.
The same result takes place if the air in the tube is not compressed, but a vacuum is
created with the difference that the opposite movement takes place..
The application of the apparatus to rifles, when being tested, is as follows:
If an india rubber ball, which is attached to the tube is compressed by the hand, a
pressure of the air is transmitted through the tube, another india rubber ball at the
end of the tube is expanded which presses against a lever which is connected with a
screw to which an adjustable spring is attached, which moves' the trigger of the rifle
and the discharge takes place.
The above arrangement I have modified to a certain extent for guns.

page_text: By the air pressure in the tube, the india rubber ball is inflated and presses against
a lever, thereby releasing the catch of a spring. The spring being now set in motion
withdraws the friction piece out of the tube, thereby igniting the friction matter, the
fire is transmitted through a tube and ignites the charge and the detonation then
takes place.
In order to ignite a dynamite charge in a boring, to the end of the india rubber ball
a small inflexible tube, made of paper wood or metal, which leads to the surface, to
.which easily a second india rubber ball may be attached, by which means a pressure
may be caused on the air in the first ball, whereby the piston in the tube is pushed
forward in order that it may enter a small opening of the spring, which on being
released must strike the igniting material. The fire of the latter is transmitted, as
already described, to the charge in the boring.
To ignite a row of charges simultaneously in a mine from a distant point.
If by means of an india rubber ball or other suitable appliance the air is compressed,
the pressure is transmitted through a flexible tube to an inflexible tube, from here the
pressure is transmitted through as many branch tubes as there are charges; each
branch tube acting in the same way as the main tube, as already described, thereby
causing ignition and explosion of the charges.
It is understood that the various parts of the air pressure apparatus can be combined
in a suitable way and parts of one apparatus may be replaced by parts of another, that
do the same work.
The detail arrangements may be modified and for each case the most suitable
material may be employed, thereby bringing the cost of the apparatus in exact
proportion with the service required, thus preventing too expensive arrangements for
the air pressure ignition in opposition to the arrangements for the ignition by tape or
electricity.
101 1
1000

page_text: An Improved Method of Igniting Mining Cartridges and Discharging
Firearms.
I, OTTO PAUL HERMANN AUGUST STRAUBE, of Spandau in the Empire of Germany,
Captain in the Prussian Army 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 dangerless ignition of explosive cartridges takes place generally by means of a
tape fuse or more recently by an electric spark.
The electric ignition also on account of its sure action at a great distance is a
welcome aid to the technicien; this method has however drawbacks offering incon-
veniences for small concerns if not often used.
The necessary electricity is not always at hand & the careful management of the
apparatus by simple workpeople creates very often difficulties.
These circumstances induced me to search for a new method of dangerless ignition.
The atmospheric air and other gases offer convenient means to transmit power to a
great distance.
If air is enclosed in a tube c fig. 1° & subjected to a pressure at the end A of such
tube by a piston p or other means this pressure is felt at the other end B of the tube c
and acts there upon a pin p' which by a forward movement pierces the ignitable
material m of the cartridge or similar objects, thereby causing an explosion. The same
result takes place if the air in the tube c is not compressed, but a vacuum is created
with the difference that the opposite movement takes place.
The application of the apparatus to rifles when being tested, is as follows:
If the india rubber ball Gas shewn in fig. 1 is compressed by the hand, a pressure
of the air is transmitted through the tube c' expanding thereby the india rubber ball G*
contained in a movable casing U with hinge d. The casing U is fastened to the trigger
guard E' in a suitable way & when G¹ is being expanded, it raises the upper part U₁
as shewn in fig. 2 to such an extent that the adjustable spring r moves the trigger T
of the rifle and the discharge takes place.
For guns of the new construction with central ignition the device as shewn in fig. 3
may be employed.
By inflating the india rubber ball G' as described the lever L is moved in such a way
that the nose N enters into the opening O of the spring F in consequence the latter
rebounds; the connecting chain y attached to Facts upon the rubber so that the
ignition takes place.
1
Fig. 4 shews a construction for igniting charges in mines. By inflating the ball G³
as described, the conical piston P is shifted; by this means the springs + are pressed
apart in such a way that they can enter the opening in the plate H.
The coiled spring F is then free to use its force to throw the anvil a connected
with against the ignition matter Z thereby causing the ignition to take place,

page_text: It is understood that the various parts of the air pressure apparatus can be combined
in a suitable way, and parts of one apparatus may be replaced by parts of another that
do the same work.
The detail arrangements may also be modified & for each case the most suitable
material may be employed, thereby bringing the cost of the apparatus in exact propor-
tion with the service required, thus preventing too expensive arrangements for the
Air Pressure Ignition in opposition to the arrangements for the ignition by tape or
electricity.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare what I claim is :
. 1. The method of igniting mining cartridges & discharging fire arms by a pneumatic
conductor which acts upon the pin, trigger or the like substantially as herein described.
2. The arrangement of the ball G connected by tube C¹ with the ball G' enclosed in
casing U screws and spring r substantially as herein described.
3. The arrangements for discharging guns consisting of the ball G2 the lever L the
spring F with the connecting chain y substantially as herein described.
4. The arrangement of the conical piston P plate H coiled spring F2 and springs
and anvil a substantially as herein described.
Dated this 10th day of May 1887
CARMAN & Co.,
Agents for Applicant.