Year: 1883

page_text: I SILAS REYNOLDS DIVINE of Loch-Sheldrake, Sullivan County, State of Now
York, United States of America, by Arden Seymour Fitch of No 1 Suffolk Place,
Pallmall in the County of Middlesex, my Attorney at Law seek leave to amend
the Specification of Letters Patent, No. 5624 of 1883, as shown in red ink in the
copy of the original Specification hereunto annexed:-To strike out the Fourth
claim, page 4 lines 31 to 37 inclusive, and to strike out the word "Fifth " on line 38
same page, and to substitute therefor the word "Fourth."
My reasons for making this amendment are as follows:-Because doubts have
arisen as to whether the said claim is tenable in law.
In the matter of Letters Patent granted to Silas Reynolds Divine N° 5624 of
the series of the year 1883.
I hereby grant leave to the said Silas Reynolds Divine, by Arden Seymour
Fitch his lawfully constituted Attorney in that behalf to amend the Specification,
filed in pursuance of the said Letters Patent, in the manner proposed.
Dated 11. 10th 1
3004

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Silas Reynolds Divine, of Loch-Sheldrake, Sullivan
County, State of New York, United States of America, for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS AND PROCESSES FOR PREPARING
THE SAME FOR USE
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Silas Reynolds Divine at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th December 1883.
SILAS REYNOLDS DIVINE, of Loch-Sheldrake, Sullivan County, State of New
York, United States of America. IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS AND
PROCESSES FOR PREPARING THE SAME FOR USE.
My improved explosive compound is composed of two materials or ingredients,
the one a solid and the other a liquid, which are in themselves non-explosive, and
which upon being united in a simple mechanical mixture form an explosive. The
ingredients of the explosive are therefore capable of being manufactured, handled
and transported separately with entire safety, and of being delivered separately
to the user or consumer, and they may then be united by such user, at the time
when and the place where, the employment of the explosive is desired.
The improved processes for preparing the explosive for use, which I have
devised, are intended to be employed by the user when the union, or mixture of
the ingredients is desired for the purpose of forming the explosive, and these
processes furnish means whereby the said ingredients are united with accuracy as
regards their proper relative proportions, and with convenience and despatch, and
whereby the act may be performed by an ordinary laborer or unskilled workman.
As my improved explosive is intended for use chiefly in blasting operations, the
practical utility of these processes is obvious.
In carrying out my invention I employ chlorate of potash, in a crushed or
powdered state, as the solid ingredient of my explosive. Either perchlorate
or permanganate of potash may, however, be substituted for chlorate of potash.
I form an explosive compound of chlorate of potash as the solid ingredient and
the heavy-oil of coal-tar, or what is commonly known as "dead-oil," as the liquid
ingredient, the "dead-oil" being employed in its ordinary commercial state. The
theoretical proportions in which these solid and liquid ingredients combine most
effectively to form an explosive I consider to be about seven and one-half parts of
chlorate of potash to one part of "dead-oil" by weight; the exact theoretical
proportions need not however be strictly adhered to as a variation somewhat
therefrom may be had, and yet an effective explosive be secured.
I form an explosive compound of a solid ingredient of chlorate of potash, and
a liquid ingredient consisting of a mixture of "dead-oil" and nitro-benzole, or its
equivalent. The desirable proportions in which the "dead-oil" and the nitro-
benzole are mixed to constitute the liquid ingredient are about equal parts of
each; and the theoretical proportions in which the solid and thus formed liquid
ingredients unite most effectively to form the explosive I consider to be about four

page_text: to nve parts of chlorate of potash to one part of the mixture of "dead-oil" and
nitro-benzole. In this way an explosive of a power, or strength substantially
equal to one in which a nitro-compound, such as nitro-benzole, alone, is the liquid
ingredient, is formed at a reduced cost. The nitro-benzole may be made to
preponderate in the mixture constituting the liquid ingredient and the power, or
strength of the explosive be thus augmented; or the nitro-benzole may be
diminished in said mixture, and the power or strength of the explosive be thus
decreased; and in the former case it is desirable to somewhat decrease, and in
the latter case to somewhat increase the proportion of the chlorate of potash in the
explosive.
I. form an explosive compound of a solid ingredient of chlorate of potash and
a liquid ingredient of oil of turpentine; and the theoretical proportions in which
these ingredients combine most effectively to form an explosive I consider to be
about eight and one-third parts of chlorate of potash to one part of turpentine;
but as turpentine possesses a strong affinity for oxygen, when turpentine which
is aged, or has been more or less exposed to tho air, is used, the proportion of
chlorate of potash is desirably somewhat decreased in the explosive thus avoiding
an unnecessary preponderance and hence waste of oxygen in the compound.
Other fluid hydro-carbons which are practically non-volatile in a free state
at ordinary temperatures, say such as have a boiling-point above about 300°
Farenheit, may, for the purposes of my invention, be substituted for the "dead-
oil" herein named; and other fluid hydro-carbons which are highly volatile at
ordinary temperatures, and which have been treated with nitric acid to secure
their non-volatility, such treatment, however, not having been such as to render
them in themselves explosive, may be substituted, for the purposes of this invention,
as nitro-compounds in place of the nitro-benzole herein named.
The solid and liquid ingredients of my improved explosives, as described, may,
it is obvious be mechanically united by mixing previously weighed proportions,
in a suitable vessel by hand. But for the purpose of facilitating their union and
to enable the act to be performed with convenience and despatch, as well as
with entire accuracy as to the relative proportions of the ingredients, and without
the exercise of skill on the part of the workman, I have devised the following
described processes.
First The solid ingredient, chlorate of potash, encased in a cartridge-shell
composed of cloth, paper or other porous material, is first submerged in a bath
of the liquid ingredient for a certain predetermined length of time, and only until
there shall have been absorbed by the cartridge a proper proportion of the liquid;
then removing the cartridge from the liquid, and finally allowing the absorbed
liquid to become equally distributed throughout the mass of the solid ingredient
of the cartridge. In determining the length of time during which cartridges should
be thus submerged in order that they may absorb only the proper proportion of
the liquid, I find that cartridges of about 1 inches diameter should be submerged
during about three seconds; those of about 1 inches diameter, during about four
seconds; those of about 14 inches diameter, during about five seconds, and those
of about 2 inches diameter, during about six seconds. Cartridges of a greater or
lesser diameter than those named should, it is obvious, be submerged during a
proportionately greater or less space of time. Some reference should also be had
to the degree of fluidity of the liquid and also to the temperature and other
conditions of the atmosphere.
In practicing this process, the workman takes the dry cartridges of chlorate of
potash, which it is intended shall be furnished to him in this form, and preferably
places them in an open-work wire basket, or other perforated receptacle, and
lowers them therein into a bath of the liquid ingredient so as to submerge them
in said bath. The liquid ingredient being supplied to him in a suitable vessel, he
can form the bath by pouring the same into a deep pan or tub. He then permits
the cartridges to remain in the bath during the time indicated relatively to their
diameters, and then at once withdraws them from the bath and preferably takes

page_text: them from the basket and places them upon a suitable shelf or tray. He allows
them to remain thus for a short space of time, say from about ten to twenty
minutes, more or less, and until the liquid absorbed by the cartridge during its
submergence, and which is retained in the porous shell and that part of the
contained solid ingredient immediately contiguous thereto, is distributed throughout
the mass of the solid ingredient in the cartridge. The workman thus has to exercise
no skill in weighing or otherwise determining the proper proportions of the
ingredients, but a simple and effective means is afforded by which an ordinary
laborer can perform the act.
Second-The solid ingredient, chlorate of potash, contained in a cartridge-shell
or case, composed of cloth, paper or other porous material is first saturated with a
mixture composed of the liquid ingredient of the explosive and a volatile fluid;
the proportions of the constituents of the said mixture being such that the
quantity of the liquid ingredient of the explosive contained in the portion of the
mixture absorbed by the solid ingredient in the said saturation will be the proper
proportion of said liquid ingredient relatively to the solid ingredient in the
explosive compound; then removing the saturated cartridges from the mixture, and
finally allowing the absorbed volatile fluid to escape by evaporation from the mass
of the cartridge.
To enable the workman to practice this process it is my purpose and intention to
make and furnish to consumers, in suitable vessels, the described fluid mixture of
the liquid ingredient of the explosive and the volatile fluid. In determining the
proportions of the said constituents of this mixture I add to the quantity of the
liquid ingredient of the explosive which is the proper proportion thereof in
the explosive, relatively to the said solid ingredient, such a quantity of a volatile
fluid as will make a fluid volume equal to the total fluid absorbing capacity of
the said solid ingredient; as, for example I add to the proper proportion of "dead
oil," relatively to chlorate of potash, about an equal volume of the volatile fluid,
the total fluid absorbing capacity of chlorate of potash being about twice the
volume of the said proper proportion of "dead-oil." Where other fluid bydro-
carbons than "dead-oil" are employed as the liquid ingredient, the same rule
should be applied.
I find it preferable to use carbon bisulphide, or gasoline, as the volatile fluid in
composing the mixture described; but other analogous fluids, which possess the
quality of rapid volatility at ordinary temperatures, and which contain nothing
that will interfere with or embarrass the operation of the final compound as an
explosive may be substituted for carbon bisulphide, or gasoline, in said mixture.
In practicing this process the workman takes the dry cartridges of chlorate of
potash and places them in a bath of the described mixture and allows them to
soak therein until saturation takes place. The saturation will be accomplished
in from about twenty minutes to two hours, although a longer submergence in the
bath will not operate to injure the cartridges. The workman then removes the
soaked cartridges from the mixture and preferably exposes them to the air for a
short time, say from about fifteen to forty minutes, depending somewhat upon the
diameter of the cartridges, and the state of the atmosphere, when the volatile
fluid will evaporate and escape from the mass of the cartridges, and the ingredients
will be left united, in the cartridges in the exact proper proportions desired.
The efficiency and economy of this process for uniting the ingredients of the
explosive, in mining, quarrying and blasting operations are apparent.
The explosive thus formed, by the uniting of the solid and liquid ingredients by
means of either of the processes described, and in the form of cartridges as set
forth, is ready for immediate use. The cartridges may be at once seated in drill-
holes in rock, and confined by tamping, and then exploded by a detonator, or cap,
in the usual manner.
My improved explosive, formed as described, is comparatively insensible to
shock or percussion, and hence may be handled by the user without the liability
to accidental explosion. Owing to the fact that my explosive is not miscible with

page_text: water it is capable of employment to great advantage in sub-marine blasting
operations.
Having thus fully and completely described my Invention, what I claim as
new is:
First. An explosive compound composed of a solid ingredient consisting of
chlorate of potash, or its named equivalent, and a liquid ingredient consisting of
the heavy-oil of coal-tar, commonly called "dead-oil," or its named equivalent,
the said ingredients being mechanically united in substantially the proportions
specified.
Second. An explosive compound composed of a solid ingredient consisting of
chlorate of potash, or its named equivalent, and a liquid ingredient consisting of a
mixture of the heavy-oil of coal-tar, commonly called "dead-oil," or its named
equivalent, and nitro-benzole, or its named equivalent nitro-compound, the said
ingredients being mechanically united in substantially the proportions specified.
Third. An explosive compound composed of a solid ingredient consisting of
chlorate of potash, and a liquid ingredient consisting of oil of turpentine, the
said ingredients being mechanically united in substantially the proportions
specified.
Fourth.-The-described process for uniting the solid and liquid ingredients of an
explosive, which consists in first submerging the dry cartridges of the solid in a
bath of the liquid for a certain predetermined period of time, relatively to the
diameter-of-the-eartridges, and only until the cartridges have absorbed the proper
relative proportion of the liquid; then-removing the-cartridges from the bath, and
finally allowing the absorbed liquid to become equally distributed throughout the
mass of the cartridge, us-specified.
Fourth. Fifth. The described process for uniting the solid and liquid ingredients
of an explosive which consists in first saturating the dry cartridges of the solid
ingredient with a mixture composed of the liquid ingredient and a volatile fluid in
the proportions specified; then removing the cartridges from the mixture, and finally
allowing the absorbed volatile fluid to escape by evaporation from the mass of the
cartridge, as setforth.
In witness whereof I, the said Silas Reynolds Divine have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this twelfth day of October in the year of Our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty-three.
SILAS REYNOLDS DIVINE (LS.)

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Silas Reynolds Divinė, of Loch-Sheldrake, Sullivan
County, State of New York, United States of America, for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS AND PROCESSES FOR PREPARING
THE SAME FOR USE
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Silas Reynolds Divine at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th December 1883.
.
SILAS REYNOLDS DIVINE, of Loch-Sheldrake, Sullivan County, State of New
York, United States of America, IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS AND
PROCESSES FOR PREPARING THE SAME FOR USE
My improved explosive compound is composed of two materials or ingredients,
the one a solid and the other a liquid, which are in themselves non-explosive, and
which upon being united in a simple mechanical mixture form an explosive. The
ingredients of the explosive are therefore capable of being manufactured, handled
and transported separately with entire safety, and of being delivered separately
to the user or consumer, and they may then be united by such user, at the time
when and the place where, the employment of the explosive is desired.
The improved processes for preparing the explosive for use, which I have
devised, are intended to be employed by the user when the union, or mixture of
the ingredients is desired for the purpose of forming the explosive, and these
processes furnish means whereby the said ingredients are united with accuracy as
regards their proper relative proportions, and with convenience and despatch, and
whereby the act may be performed by an ordinary laborer or unskilled workman.
As my improved explosive is intended for use chiefly in blasting operations, the
practical utility of these processes is obvious.
In carrying out my invention I employ chlorate of potash, in a crushed or
powdered state, as the solid ingredient of my explosive. Either perchlorate
or permanganate of potash may, however, be substituted for chlorate of potash.
I form an explosive compound of chlorate of potash as the solid ingredient and
the heavy-oil of coal-tar, or what is commonly known as "dead-oil," as the liquid

page_text: ingredient, the "dead-oil" being employed in its ordinary commercial state. The
theoretical proportions in which these solid and liquid ingredients combine most
effectively to form an explosive I consider to be about seven and one-half parts of
chlorate of potash to one part of "dead-oil" by weight; the exact theoretical
proportions need not however be strictly adhered to as a variation somewhat
therefrom may be had, and yet an effective explosive be secured.
I form an explosive compound of a solid ingredient of chlorate of potash, and
a liquid ingredient consisting of a mixture of "dead-oil" and nitro-benzole, or its
equivalent. The desirable proportions in which the "dead-oil" and the nitro-
benzole are mixed to constitute the liquid ingredient are about equal parts of
each; and the theoretical proportions in which the solid and thus formed liquid
ingredients unite most effectively to form the explosive I consider to be about four
to five parts of chlorate of potash to one part of the mixture of "dead-oil" and
nitro-benzole. In this way an explosive of a power, or strength substantially
equal to one in which a nitro-compound, such as nitro-benzole, alone, is the liquid
ingredient, is formed at a reduced cost. The nitro-benzole may be made to
preponderate in the mixture constituting the liquid ingredient and the power, or
strength of the explosive be thus augmented; or the nitro-benzole may be
diminished in said mixture, and the power or strength of the explosive be thus
decreased; and in the former case it is desirable to somewhat decrease, and in
the latter case to somewhat increase the proportion of the chlorate of potash in the
explosive.
I form an explosive compound of a solid ingredient of chlorate of potash and
a liquid ingredient of oil of turpentine; and the theoretical proportions in which
these ingredients combine most effectively to form an explosive I consider to be
about eight and one-third parts of chlorate of potash to one part of turpentine;
but as turpentine possesses a strong affinity for oxygen, when turpentine which
is aged, or has been more or less exposed to the air, is used, the proportion of
chlorate of potash is desirably somewhat decreased in the explosive thus avoiding
an unnecessary preponderance and hence waste of oxygen in the compound.
Other fluid hydro-carbons which are practically non-volatile in a free state
at ordinary temperatures, say such as have a boiling-point above about 300°
Farenheit, may, for the purposes of my invention, be substituted for the "dead-
oil" herein named; and other fluid hydro-carbons which are highly volatile at
ordinary temperatures, and which have been treated with nitric acid to secure
their non-volatility, such treatment, however, not having been such as to render
them in themselves explosive, may be substituted, for the purposes of this invention,
as nitro-compounds in place of the nitro-benzole herein named.
The solid and liquid ingredients of my improved explosives, as described, may,
it is obvious be mechanically united by mixing previously weighed proportions,
in a suitable vessel by hand.. But for the purpose of facilitating their union and
to enable the act to be performed with convenience and despatch, as well as
with entire accuracy as to the relative proportions of the ingredients, and without
the exercise of skill on the part of the workman, I have devised the following
described processes.
First-
The solid ingredient, chlorate of potash, encased in a cartridge-shell
composed of cloth, paper or other porous material, is first submerged in a bath
of the liquid ingredient for a certain predetermined length of time, and only until
there shall have been absorbed by the cartridge a proper proportion of the liquid;
then removing the cartridge from the liquid, and finally allowing the absorbed
liquid to become equally distributed throughout the mass of the solid ingredient
of the cartridge. In determining the length of time during which cartridges should
be thus submerged in order that they may absorb only the proper proportion of
the liquid, I find that cartridges of about 1 inches diameter should be submerged
during about three seconds; those of about 1 inches diameter, during about four
seconds; those of about 12 inches diameter, during about five seconds, and those
of about 2 inches diameter, during about six seconds. Cartridges of a greater or

page_text: lesser diameter than those named should, it is obvious, be submerged during a
proportionately greater or less space of time. Some reference should also be had
to the degree of fluidity of the liquid and also to the temperature and other
conditions of the atmosphere.
In practicing this process, the workman takes the dry cartridges of chlorate of
potash, which it is intended shall be furnished to him in this form, and preferably
places them in an open-work wire basket, or other perforated receptacle, and
lowers them therein into a bath of the liquid ingredient so as to submerge them
in said bath. The liquid ingredient being supplied to him in a suitable vessel, he
can form the bath by pouring the same into a deep pan or tub. He then permits
the cartridges to remain in the bath during the time indicated relatively to their
diameters, and then at once withdraws them from the bath and preferably takes
them from the basket and places them upon a suitable shelf or tray. He allows
them to remain thus for a short space of time, say from about ten to twenty
minutes, more or less, and until the liquid absorbed by the cartridge during its
submergence, and which is retained in the porous shell and that part of the
contained solid ingredient immediately contiguous thereto, is distributed throughout
the mass of the solid ingredient in the cartridge. The workman thus has to exercise
no skill in weighing or otherwise determining the proper proportions of the
ingredients, but a simple and effective means is afforded by which an ordinary
laborer can perform the act.
Second: The solid ingredient, chlorate of potash, contained in a cartridge-shell
or case, composed of cloth, paper or other porous material is first saturated with a
mixture composed of the liquid ingredient of the explosive and a volatile fluid;
the proportions of the constituents of the said mixture being such that the
quantity of the liquid ingredient of the explosive contained in the portion of the
mixture absorbed by the solid ingredient in the said saturation will be the proper
proportion of said liquid ingredient relatively to the solid ingredient in the
explosive compound; then removing the saturated cartridges from the mixture, and
finally allowing the absorbed volatile fluid to escape by evaporation from the mass
of the cartridge.
To enable the workman to practice this process it is my purpose and intention to
make and furnish to consumers, in suitable vessels, the described fluid mixture of
the liquid ingredient of the explosive and the volatile fluid. In determining the
proportions of the said constituents of this mixture I add to the quantity of the
liquid ingredient of the explosive which is the proper proportion thereof in
the explosive, relatively to the said solid ingredient, such a quantity of a volatile
fluid as will make a fluid volume equal to the total fluid absorbing capacity of
the said solid ingredient; as, for example I add to the proper proportion of "dead-
oil," relatively to chlorate of potash, about an equal volume of the volatile fluid,
the total fluid absorbing capacity of chlorate of potash being about twice the
volume of the said proper proportion of "dead-oil." Where other fluid hydro-
carbons than "dead-oil' are employed as the liquid ingredient, the same rule
should be applied.
I find it preferable to use carbon bisulphide, or gasoline, as the volatile fluid in
composing the mixture described; but other analogous fluids, which possess the
quality of rapid volatility at ordinary temperatures, and which contain nothing
that will interfere with or embarrass the operation of the final compound as an
explosive may be substituted for carbon bisulphide, or gasoline, in said mixture.
In practicing this process the workman takes the dry cartridges of chlorate of
potash and places them in a bath of the described mixture and allows them to
soak therein until saturation takes place. The saturation will be accomplished
in from about twenty minutes to two hours, although a longer subinergence in the
bath will not operate to injure the cartridges. The workman then removes the
soaked cartridges from the mixture and preferably exposes them to the air for a
short time, say from about fifteen to forty minutes, depending somewhat upon the
diameter of the cartridges, and the state of the atmosphere, when the volatile

page_text: fluid will evaporate and escape from the mass of the cartridges, and the ingredients
will be left united, in the cartridges in the exact proper proportions desired.
The efficiency and economy of this process for uniting the ingredients of the
explosive, in mining, quarrying and blasting operations, are apparent.
The explosive thus formed, by the uniting of the solid and liquid ingredients by
means of either of the processes, described, and in the form of cartridges as set
forth, is ready for immediate use. The cartridges may be at once seated in drill-
holes in rock, and confined by tamping, and then exploded by a detonator, or cap,
in the usual manner.
My improved explosive, formed as described, is comparatively insensible to
shock or percussion, and hence may be handled by the user without the liability
to accidental explosion. Owing to the fact that my explosive is not miscible with
water it is capable of employment to great advantage in sub-marine blasting
operations.
Having thus fully and completely described my invention, what I claim as
new is :-
"
First. An explosive compound composed of a solid ingredient consisting of
chlorate of potash, or its named equivalent, and a liquid ingredient consisting of
'the heavy-oil of coal-tar, commonly called dead-oil," or its named equivalent,
the said ingredients being mechanically united in substantially the proportions
specified.
Second. An explosive compound composed of a solid ingredient consisting of
chlorate of potash, or its named equivalent, and a liquid ingredient consisting of a
mixture of the heavy-oil of coal-tar, commonly called " dead-oil," or its named
equivalent, and nitro-benzole, or its named equivalent nitro-compound, the said
ingredients being mechanically united in substantially the proportions specified.
Third. An explosive compound composed of a solid ingredient consisting of
chlorate of potash, and a liquid ingredient consisting of oil of turpentine, the
said: ingredients being mechanically united in substantially the proportions
specified.
Fourth. The described process for uniting the solid and liquid ingredients of an
explosive, which consists in first submerging the dry cartridges of the solid in a
bath of the liquid for a certain predetermined period of time, relatively to the
diameter of the cartridges, and only until the cartridges have absorbed the proper
relative proportion of the liquid; then removing the cartridges from the bath, and
finally allowing the absorbed liquid to become equally distributed throughout the
mass of the cartridge, as specified.
Fifth. The described process for uniting the solid and liquid ingredients of an
explosive which consists in first saturating the dry cartridges of the solid ingredient
with a mixture composed of the liquid ingredient and a volatile fluid in the
proportions specified; then removing the cartridges from the mixture, and finally
allowing the absorbed volatile fluid to escape by evaporation from the mass of the
cartridge, as setforth.
In witness whereof I, the said Silas Reynolds Divine have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this twelfth day of October in the year of Our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty-three.
SILAS REYNOLDS DIVINE (L.S.)