IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOUNDS FOR DETONATING SIGNALS FOR USE ON RAILWAYS
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Phillips Thompson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th September 1883. A com-
munication from John F. A. Mumm a person resident at Dayton in the
county of Campbell and state of Kentucky, United States of America.
William PhillipS THOMPSON of the Agency for Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord
Street, Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, Fe'low of the Institute of Patent
Agents "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOUNDS FOR DETONATING SIGNALS FOR USE ON
RAILWAYS a communication from John F. A. Mumu, a person resident at Dayton,
in the county of Campbell and state of Kentucky, United States of America
The object of this invention is to provide a safe and positive compound to be
employed as the explosive property in railway signal torpedoes commonly known
in this country as fog signals.
It is customary on all railways for trackmen, switchmen and engineers to carry
torpedoes to be secured on the track in front of approaching engines, in case of
danger. These torpedoes are simply small tin cases containing fulminate powder,
and the design in this inventi n is to prepare a fulminate which will not absorb
moisture, and be at all times and under all circum-tances sure of being exploded by
the wheels of the engine. The ingredients used are chlorate of potash, gum-
tragacanth, alcohol, antimony, sulphur auratum antimonii or golden sulphuret,
sublimed sulphur or flowers of sulphur, French chalk and broken glass or gravel.
This is compounded in the following manner: Four (4) ounces of liquid gum-
tragacanth are first united with four (4) ounces of alcohol. Into this is put
one (1) pound of chlorate of potash and allowed to soak well. To this is added
twelve (12) ounces of pure antimony and well worked over, after which is added
two (2) ounces of sulphur auratum antimonii or golden sulphur, or two (2) ounces
of sublimed sulphur or flowers of sulphur, and one eighth (/) ounce of French
chalk. The whole is then thoroughly mixed and is ready to be placed in the case
or shell after drying. A number of small packages of gravel or broken glass are
now prepared. These are simply paper wrappers containing gravel etcetera.
Preparatory however to placing the fulminate which has been mixed in a moist
state into the shell, it is moulded into cakes in small moulds prepared for the
purpose and allowed to dry. When placed in the shell the fulminate cakes may
either be placed in whole or crushed to a powder.

page_text: In case the compound is made up in the form of cakes, the compound should be
rubbed into a mould before drying, and in case it is not made in the form of
cakes, the 4 ounces of Liquid of gum is not required. Instead thereof, 4 ounces of
water will answer the purpose.
After the compound is ready to be placed in the shell, a piece of waterproof paper
or waxed paper is laid on the lower half of the shell and the proper amount of the
fulminate placed into the shell and packed, or if made previously in cakes, the cakes
are put into the shell with the gravel packages interspersed, and the projecting ends
of the paper neatly folded over onto the fulminate and the cap of the case put on.
When the compound is placed in the shell in a powdered form, several of these shells
or packages are placed in or embedded in the fulminate, and the lid of the case or
shell put on.
By experiment it is found that three or four gravel packages in one
shell produce the best results. The relative proportion in bulk would be about
four of fulminate to one of gravel. The whole is then varnished or hermetically
sealed, as is now done with goods of this class. The object of the gravel is to
provide a frictional substance whereby the fulminate may be more readily ignited.