IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Stenhouse, of Rodney Street, Pentonville, in the
County of Middlesex, Analytical Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS."
Sealed the 9th November 1877, and dated the 29th August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Stenhouse at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th August 1877.
JOHN STENHOUSE, of Rodney Street, Pentonville, in the County of Middlesex,
Analytical Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF EXPLOSIVE COM-
POUNDS."
This Invention has for its object to improve explosive compounds of the kinds
formed by combining nitro-glycerine with other materials in any of the modes
described in the Specifications of Letters Patent granted to William Edward Newton,
and dated 7 May 1867 (No. 1345), of Letters Patent granted to William Edward
Newton, and dated 12 February 1869 (No. 442), and of Letters Patent granted to
Alfred Vincent Newton, and dated 30 April 1873 (No. 1570), and is also applicable
to other nitro-glycerine compounds.
The Invention consists in employing carbonate of ammonia in the said manu-
facture, and in carrying it out according to one modification, by preference, from
one to three parts by weight of carbonate of ammonia, which may be the ordinary
commercial carbonate, are taken for every. hundred parts of the nitro-glycerine
employed, and are mixed with the kieselguhr or other ingredients, preferentially
prior to the combination of the nitro-glycerine therewith.
Other proportions of carbonate of ammonia besides those stated may be used in
some cases, and the carbonate of ammonia may be mixed with the kieselguhr or
other ingredients in any convenient way.
The mixture may be made sufficiently intimate by mixing the ingredients in a
finely powdered state by hand, or by rubbing or passing them through a sieve.

page_text: Prior to combining the nitro-glycerine with the kieselguhr or other ingredients,
and after it has been purified by washing with water and a solution of the
carbonates of potash or soda in any known way, I give it an additional washing
with a solution of carbonate of ammonia.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said John Stenhouse in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st February
1878.
JOHN STENHOUSE, of Rodney Street, Pentonville, in the County of Middlesex,
Analytical Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF EXPLOSIVE COM-
POUNDS."
My said Invention has for its object to improve explosive compounds of the
kinds formed by combining nitro-glycerine with other materials in any of the
modes described in the Specifications of Letters Patent granted to William Edward
Newton, and dated 7 May 1867 (No. 1345), of Letters Patent granted to William
Edward Newton, and dated 12 February 1869 (No. 442), and of Letters Patent
granted to Alfred Vincent Newton, and dated 30 April 1873 (No. 1570), and is also
applicable to other nitro-glycerine compounds.
My Invention consists in employing carbonate of ammonia in the said manu-
facture, and more particularly as an ingredient of the final compound or product.
In practically carrying out my Invention according to a preferable modification I
take from one to three parts, by weight, of carbonate of ammonia, which may be
the ordinary commercial carbonate, for every hundred parts of the nitro-glycerine
employed, and I mix the carbonate of ammonia with the kieselguhr or other
ingredients prior to the combination of the nitro-glycerine therewith.
The mixture may be effected in any convenient way, and it may be made
sufficiently intimate by mixing the ingredients in a finely powdered state by hand,
or by rubbing or passing them through a sieve.
The nitro-glycerine may be combined in the ordinary manner with the kieselgubr
or other ingredients; but before effecting such combination and after the nitro-
glycerine has been purified in the ordinary way, first, by washing it with water,
and then with solutions of carbonate of potash or of soda, I prefer to give it an
additional washing with a solution of carbonate of ammonia, I find that a solution
containing five parts per centum of carbonate of ammonia answers for this purpose,
but I do not restrict myself to that strength of solution.
One object of employing the carbonate of ammonia is to act beneficially on
impurities if any accompany the nitro-glycerine employed, and insure perfect and
permanent freedom from acidity in the explosive compounds. The included
carbonate of ammonia has also the advantage of slightly increasing the explosive
force of the compounds. For any of the purposes thus indicated other proportions
of carbonate of ammonia besides that herein-before stated may be employed when
thought desirable.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that what I believe to be novel and original,

page_text: and claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, the including of carbonate of ammonia in explosive compounds
made with nitro-glycerine, as and for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Stenhouse, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twentieth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
JOHN STENHOUSE. (L.S.)