Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 13th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 30th Dec., 1887

page_text: Improv
1 JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been communi-
cated to me from abroad by Felix Engel of 21 Gaskeller Hamburg Germany Civil
Engineer and in what mannner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention has for its object to provide a new or improved manufacture of
explosives suitable for use in small-arms and ordnance and consists in the employinent
of a body such as woody matter or vegetable fibres or cellulose in a loose fibrous or-
reduced condition and nitrating it or them and completely dissolving it or them in
acetic ether or acetone or like solvents of equal strength so that their fibrous character
is completely destroyed and a gelatinous or paste-like mass is formed which may be
shaped or moulded as desired and then the solvents are removed either by drying the
mass or allowing it to dry or by distillation. By this drying or evaporation or
distillation the mass is somewhat reduced in bulk owing to contraction and it becomes
semi transparent somewhat resembling horn in appearance and very hard so that it
can readily be reduced to small pieces or granulated.
In the manufacture of gunpowder according to this Invention the hitherto resorted
to pressing of the substances employed is not necessary. After having been dried
and reduced to the required granular or other form the substance will be suitable for
use as Gunpowder. There may or may not be combined with it other ingredients
such as are used in making some gunpowders such as oxygen yielding compounds
with or without hydrocarbons. These are added to and thoroughly incorporated with
the mass whilst it is in a plastic state the mass being afterwards dried and reduced to
the required size or granulated. The mass may be reduced to small pieces whilst
it is in a plastic state before drying or after drying as may be most convenient.
The gunpowder made according to this invention is of a uniform quality and has
special properties as hereinafter mentioned. It is necessary or desirable that the
solvents used be as pure as possible as their effect would be diminished if they contained
impurities or were mixed with water or with other ethers.
In order that the invention may be well understood I will now more particularly
describe a manner in which it may be carried into practical effect.
Vegetable fibres woody matters cellulose or the like either in the natural or raw
state or after being partially roasted or charred are reduced to a finely divided
condition and are nitrated and washed (which may all be effected in the usual way).
They are then dried and afterwards they are macerated with and completely dissolved
in acetic ether or acetone or other like solvent or mixture of solvents of strength equal
to acetic ether or acetone.
The maceration and dissolving may be effected in any suitable vessel (such for
instance as a vessel like that used for kneading dough) until the mass assumes a thick
viscid paste-like or gelatinous consistency. The mass in this condition is well suited
for manufacturing Gunpowder it is capable of being kneaded and may be formed
into cakes or into cubes rods or sheets or into any other desired shape. The
mass is afterwards dried and when desired is divided into smaller pieces or
granulated.

page_text: To the plastic mass prepared in the said manner may be added before drying an
oxygen yielding compound such as nitrate of potash, nitrate of barium Chlorate of
Potassium picrates or the like. To this mass mixed in the said manner with the
oxygen yielding compound there may also be added naphtaline or other equivalent
hydrocarbon.
The oxygen yielding compound may be added in any proportion not exceeding
30 parts by weight to every 70 parts by weight of the aforesaid mass.
When a hydrocarbon is used the addition of about 10 parts by weight of naphtaline
or a similar hydrocarbon to every 100 parts by weight of the aforesaid mixture of the
mass with the oxygen yielding compound will answer well.
After being formed or moulded into the desired shape or size the mass is freed from
the solvent by drying or by being allowed to dry or by distillation. As the solvents
evaporate or are removed the substance contracts and solidifies and therefore no
mechanical pressing as hitherto practised in making gunpowder is necessary in making
gunpowder according to this Invention. The drying may be effected by evaporation
in the open air. If the drying be effected by distillation the distillate may be
condensed for the purpose of recovering the solvent. After the solvent has been
removed the dried bodies may be used as gunpowder and if they be not already in the
required form or size they can be reduced thereto, and if required may be glazed in
the usual way.
The new powder is of higher specific gravity and of much greater density or
hardness than any other nitro-compounds hitherto known. When broken it
shews no fibrous structuro (as the treatment with the solvent has completely
destroyed such structure) but exhibits a uniform horny and hard glassy character.
When properly stored the gunpowder made as above described does not lose its
uniformity of action, and if it should become damp, it will on drying regain its
original efficiency. This powder is well suited for shooting purposes. Charges, less
than those used of ordinary gunpowder, give a higher velocity to the projectile, whilst
the gas pressure is lower than with gunpowders hitherto used, and there is also from
the new powder produced according to this Invention very much less smoke and
residuo than from ordinary gunpowders.
The new powder burns away without explosion when ignited whilst it is
unconfined.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
First. The manufacture of an explosive suited for use in small arms or ordnance by
taking vegetable fibres, woody matters, cellulose or the like, either in the natural or
raw stato or partially roasted or charred, and in a loose fibrous or finely divided
condition and nitrating them and then completely dissolving them in acetic ether or
acetone or like solvents of equal strength, until they assume a gelatinous plastic
consistency, and forming the mass into suitable shapes, and drying or allowing to dry
or distilling off the solvent from the mass, and finally when required, reducing the
product to a powder or grannular or other required form, with or without the use
therewith of an oxygen yielding substance, or both an oxygen yielding substance and
a hydro-carbon all substantially as herein before described.
Secondly. The improved gunpowder hereinbefore described.