An Improved Manufacture of Explosive Compound and the Preparation of Cartridges therefrom.
Year: 1886

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Manufacture of Explosive Compound and the
Preparation of Cartridges therefrom.
I, FRANCIS BOLTON, of No. 4, The Sanctuary, Westminster, in the County of
Middlesex, Knight, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-
.2.
My invention relates to an improved manufacture of explosive compound of
great power in such manner that it may be transported with perfect safety in a
divided state to the locality where it is to be used, where the production of the
compound is completed, when required for use: by soaking the one ingredient,
which is solid and is contained in porous or permeable receptacles constituting the
cartridge case, in the second ingredient which is liquid.
For this purpose I enclose a suitable chlorate such as, by preference, chlorate of
potash, reduced to a coarse powder in cartridge cases or tubes of the required size,
constructed by preference of woven material of an open texture, the chlorate being,
if necessary, mixed with saltpetre or other suitable nitrate.
The cartridges or charged receptacles thus formed may be safely carried by any
ship or other conveyance without the slightest risk.
cartridges are placed in a receptacle containing molasses, syrup, or other strong
When required for use these
solution of saccharine matter, or a mixture of pitch or resin and oil or spirits of
turpentine, kerosine camphine or other solvents of the same class, the cartridges
being allowed to soak in the solution until this has thoroughly penetrated into all
the interstices between the grains of the chlorate, or mixture of chlorate and
nitrate.
In order to insure the perfect and rapid impregnation of the cartridges with the
solution, I in some cases, close the receptacle hermetically and first exhaust the air
from it by any suitable means and afterwards admit the atmospheric pressure
thereto again, whereby all air contained in the interstices between the chlorate will
first he removed, and then the solution will be forced into its place.
The detonating fuses for firing the cartridges may either be inserted into the
artridges prior to their being soaked or they may be put in afterwards.
Dated this 10th day of February 1886
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant,
28, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Manufacture of Explosive Compound and the
Preparation of Cartridges therefrom.
I, FRANCIS BOLTON, of No. 4, The Sanctuary, Westminster, in the County of
Middlesex, Knight, 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:-
My invention relates to the manufacture of an explosive compound of great
power composed of a solid constituent and a liquid constituent, which being
non explosive in themselves, are capable, when necessary, of being transported
separately with perfect safety to any desired locality where the explosive com-
pound is produced by simply saturating the solid constituent with the liquid
constituent.
The solid constituent which I employ is a suitable chlorate, by preference
chlorate of potash, and the liquid constituent is a solution of a carbonaceous
material in a suitable solvent, for which purpose employ by preference Nitro
Benzole containing resin or colophony in solution, but other solvents, such as oil or
spirits of turpentine, kerosine, camphine and the like, and other carbonaceous
material, such as molasses, syrup, or other saccharine matter, may be used.
The mode in which I prefer to prepare and use the said solid and liquid con-
stituents is as follows.
The chlorate of potash, reduced to a roarse powder, is packed in cartridge cases
or tubes of any desired size, the filling being effected in a similar manner to that of
This central bore or
rockets, so that a central bore or space is left in the mass.
opening, may be protected by means of a lining of wire gauze, to avoid the crushing
in of the powdered chlorate, and to preserve the opening.
When a cartridge is required for use, a quantity of Nitro Benzole containing
resin or colophony in solution, to the extent of about 15% is poured into the
central tube or opening of the cartridge and allowed to soak into the powdered
chlorate. I prefer to use the weight of the chlorate of this solution to give a
good result. The cartridge thus prepared is now treated, in all respects, as if it
were charged with dynamite, the ordinary fuze and detonator which is used for
dynamite being inserted in the cartridge and used in precisely the same way with
my compound.
According to another mode of operating, the solid constituent is packed in porous
or permeable bags, constituting the cartridge, and these, when required for use, are
soaked in the carbonaceous liquid, for which purpose this is by preference con-
tained in an air tight receptacle from which the air is first exhausted and then
admitted again, so as to effectually and rapidly force the carbonaceous liquid
through the permeable bags and among the solid contents thereof by atmospheric
pressure.
Or, again, the solid and liquid constituents may each be transported in bulk to
the locality where they are to be used, where they are simply mixed together in
such proportions as to produce a damp powder, which is then charged into suitable
cartridge cases or receptacles.

page_text: The advantages gained by my invention are very considerable; as there is
absolute safety in transporting the materials in a separate condition and no risk
whatever of explosion until the mixture has taken place and the cartridges are
absolutely required for use.
The absorption of the liquid by the chlorate is rapid, and the operation of
preparing the explosives for use is simple and easily carried out by unskilled
workmen. Even when prepared the cartridges are less dangerous than dynamite
as there is no possibility of the exudation which makes dynamite dangerous.
Other chlorates or nitro compounds may be used, but I prefer for general purposes
the use of chlorate of potash and the solution of resin or colophony in nitro
benzole.
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
1. An improved manufacture of explosive material composed of a solid con-
stituent, such as chlorate of potash, or other chlorate or nitrate having analogous
properties, and a liquid constituent, consisting of nitro-benzole, or other solvent
having analogous properties, in which is dissolved a carbonaceous material such as
resin or colophony, substantially as herein described.
2. The method herein described, of preparing cartridges of explosive compound
by filling a solid constituent such as chlorate of potash or other suitable chlorate
or nitrate in coarse powdered form into bags or cartridge cases provided_with
internal or external means for effecting the saturation of their contents with a
liquid and after transporting these to the locality where they are to be used,
saturating them with a carbonaceous liquid such as a solution of resin or colophony
or saccharine matter in nitro-benzole or other similar solvents, substantially as
herein described.
Dated this 10th day of Veromsbian 1001
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.