IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Adam Froitzheim, of the Firm of Krebs Brothers
and Company, of Cologne, in the Kingdom of Prussia and Empire of Germany,
for the Invention of "IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Adam Froitzheim at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th May 1872.
JOHN ADAM FROITZHEIM, of the Firm of Krebs Brothers and Company, of
"IMPROVED MANU-
Cologne, in the Kingdom of Prussia and Empire of Germany.
FACTURE OF EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS."
"
This Invention relates to the manufacture of explosive compounds which I
propose to call
lithofracteur," and consists in preparing and mixing a series of
ingredients as hereafter described, and in such a manner that accidental explosions
are almost next to an impossibility during such manufacture.
The substances I propose to use for the production of nitro-glycerine are mixed
in a trough which is placed in another so as to be cooled through ice or through
cold spring water all round it. Whilst the glycerine is allowed to run slowly into
the interior trough, the mixture is carried on by a cast-iron "stirrer" slowly and
regularly. By the addition of cold water or ice which surrounds the trough the
temperature can be kept up to a certain degree, which must not exceed 30° centri-
grade. As soon as the glycerine is changed into nitro-glycerine the contents of the
trough are run through water, which is repeated several times with water and a
solution of water glass. By this means no accident has ever happened or can
happen in the preparation of nitro-glycerine.
The substances I propose to use for the production of infusorial earth are, the
small scale of fresh water fish mixed with carbonate of soda and nitrate of potash,
worked well together, well burnt, and when cold ground and sieved.
Lithofracteur is of a greyish black colour, and freezes at a low temperature, but
is soft at the usual temperatures. It will not explode when confined or loose on
being ignited by a fuse, light, fire, or other means, but will burns slowly away.
a temperature of 130° centigrade it burns without explosion.
At

page_text: These advantages are obtained by the following mode of manufacture and com-
position, viz., first, nitrates, manganese, double carbonate of soda, and prepared
sawdust are mixed in a solution of resin and spirits of wine in about the following
proportions:-70 parts nitrate, and the rest of the above-named materials. This
mixture is mixed in a damp state with the prepared infusorial earth. After this
second mixture is carefully prepared, a third mixture is made by sprinkling that
already obtained with a solution of sulphur or bicarbonate of sulphur, and then by
adding finely ground burnt bones or coal.
This mixture is then further manipulated in other rooms as follows:-Firstly,
it is mixed with bran and prepared sawdust, which are saturated with nitro-
glycerine; this is repeated most carefully with the hand until the requisite quantity
of nitro-glycerine is absorbed. The explosive is then formed into cartridges of any
required size in separate rooms, and then carefully packed.
The quantity of nitro-glycerine which is requisite for the perfecting of a good
lithofracteur is from 45 per cent. to 55 per cent., but we do not bind ourselves to
this quantity, as the amount of the nitro-glycerine will depend upon the nature and
tenacity of the material to be blasted.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said John Adam Froitzheim in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th
November 1872.
JOHN ADAM FROITZHEIM, of the Firm of Krebs Brothers and Company, of
Cologne, in the Kingdom of Prussia and Empire of Germany. "IMPROVED MANU-
FACTURE OF EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS."
This Invention relates to the manufacture of explosive compounds which I
propose to call "lithofracteur" or "Krebs' explosive," and consists in preparing and
mixing a series of ingredients as hereafter described, and in such a manner that
accidental explosions are almost next to an impossibility during such manufacture.
The substances I use for the manufacture of nitro-glycerine are mixed in a trough,
which is so placed in another as to be cooled through ice or through cold spring
water all round it. Whilst the glycerine is allowed to run slowly into the interior
trough, the mixture is carried on by a cast-iron "stirrer" slowly and regularly.
By the addition of cold water or ice which surrounds the trough, the temperature
can be kept to a certain degree, which must not exceed 30°1 centigrade. As soon
as the glycerine is changed into nitro-glycerine the contents of the trough are run
through water, which is repeated several times with water and a solution of water
glass. By this means no accident has ever happened, or can happen in the pre-
paration of the nitro-glycerine.
The substances I prefer to use for the infusorial earth consist of the small scales
of fresh water fish mixed with carbonate of soda and nitrate of potash, worked well
together, well burnt, and when cold ground and sieved.
"Lithofracteur" is of a greyish black colour, and freezes at a low temperature,
but is soft at the usual temperature. It will not explode when confined or loose on
being ignited by fuse, light, fire, &c., but will burn slowly away. At a temperature
of 130°1 centigrade it burns without explosion.
These advantages are obtained by the following mode of manufacture and com-
position, viz., first, nitrate of baryta, manganese, double carbonate of soda, and
prepared sawdust are mixed in a solution of resin and spirits of wine in about the
following proportions -70 parts nitrate, and the rest of the above-named materials.
This mixture is mixed in a damp state with the prepared infusorial earth. After
this second mixture is carefully prepared a third mixture is made by sprinkling that
already obtained with a solution of sulphur or bicarbonate of sulphur, and then by
adding finely ground burnt bones or coal.

page_text: This mixture is then further manipulated in other rooms as follows:-Firstly, it
is mixed with bran and prepared sawdust, which are saturated with nitro-glycerine;
this is repeated most carefully with the hand until the requisite quantity of nitro-
glycerine is absorbed. This explosive is then formed into cartridges of any required
size in separate rooms, and then carefully packed. The quantity of nitro-glycerine
which is requisite for the perfecting of good "lithofractèur" is from 45 to 50 or 55
per cent, but I do not bind myself to this quantity, as the amount of the nitro-
glycerine will depend upon the nature and tenacity of the material to be blasted.
"
The following example is sufficient to explain the proportional parts of the
ingredients used, and the method of manufacturing "lithofracteur' or "Krebs'
explosive," but I reserve to myself the right to vary those proportions, also the
suppression of any one or more of the ingredients in the manufacture of explosives,
as circumstances may dictate:-
--
20 parts of a mixture composed of 70 parts of ground nitrate of baryta,
10 parts manganese, 10 parts bicarbonate of soda, and 9 parts prepared
sawdust, with a solution of 1 part resin in 5 parts spirit. This
mixture is mixed with a second composition prepared of silica. To
prepare the same, 100 parts thereof are mixed with 21, parts car-
bonate of soda, and 21%, parts nitrate of baryta, which after being
mixed is heated dry, ground, and sifted if required.
17, parts after the above have been thoroughly mixed make a preparation
of 7 parts of sulphur dissolved in bisulphuret of carbon, which
contains
231
parts solution of sulphur added to
parts finely ground and sifted charcoal. To this mixture are then added
part prepared sawdust, and
part bran previously saturated with nitro-glycerine, adding the rest of
the nitro-glycerine in small quantities to the whole composition, until
What I claim as my Invention is, the combination of ingredients as herein-before
described for the manufacture of an explosive body or substance termed "litho⚫
fracteur ог "Krebs' explosive."
"
Also the method described, or any modification thereof, by which such ingredients
are mixed or combined for producing explosive compounds.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Adam Froitzheim, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of November One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-two.
JOH. AD. FROITZHEIM. (LS.)