Improved Apparatus and Process for the Manufacture of Nitro- glycerine.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 19th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 30th Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by La Compagnie FoRCITE, of No. 6, Rue Blanche,
Paris, in the Republic of France, Manufacturers of Explosives.]
Improved Apparatus and Process for the Manufacture of Nitro-
glycerine.
I, HENRY HARINGTON LEIGH, Fel. Inst. P.A., Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., practising as
Phillips & Leigh, of No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C., in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the manufacture of
nitro-glycerine, as well as in the process of such manufacture the objects of the
improvements being principally to effect the manufacture continuously. It relates
also to improved devices for effecting the combination of acid and glycerine, and for
providing for the due regulation of the temperature of the mass under treatment at
any level thereof.
In carrying the invention into effect, there is provided a closed tank of wood,
or other suitable material. The cover is provided with a sight-hole of convenient
size and construction adapted to admit of the inspection of the operation by the
attendant.
Within the said tank is supported a second, but open, tank of lead, the top of
which makes close contact with the cover of the outer tank. This second tank has a
gutter-shaped bottom, and is provided with suitable draw-off cocks. A chimney is
provided at the top for the escape of the fumes evolved during the progress of the
operation.
On the bottom of the inner tank stands a pot, the sides of which are perforated.
Two pipes deliver into this pot, one delivering the glycerine and the other the acid.
The mouth of the glycerine pipe is shaped so as to deliver the glycerine in the form
of spray. The mouth of the acid tube is bent so that the glycerine spray is injected
directly into the jet of acid.
For the purpose of cooling the contents of the inner tank, there are provided
a series of serpentine or other conveniently shaped tubes, at various levels, so
that any or all of the said contents can be cooled as may be required. Suitable ther-
mometers are provided for indicating the temperatures obtaining at the respective
levels.
For the purpose of rousing and cooling the contents of the inner tank, there
are provided pipes adapted to deliver currents of compressed air, and similar
pipes are adapted to deliver other currents into the draw-off cocks to keep them
clear.
A liquid guage is fitted to the apparatus to shew the level of the contents in the
inner tank.
The operation of the improved process of manufacturing nitro-glycerine by apparatus
described above is as follows:
Both tanks being closed, and the inner one filled about three quarters full with a
mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids, the glycerine is introduced through the
glycerine tube at the same time that further acid is being fed through the acid tube.
The nitrification of the glycerine is therefore effected in the pot, through the per-
forated sides of which currents of nitro-glycerine and excess acid flow away.
sulphuric acid, whose special function is to absorb the water produced, remains in a
dilute condition in the inner tank, and the nitrification of the glycerine goes on con-
tinuously in presence of the strong acid.
The

page_text: As soon as the operation ceases, the apparatus is left undisturbed. The nitro-
glycerine rises to the surface from which it is drawn off through draw-off cocks fixed
at different heights.
Dated this 2nd doma
1
7000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus and Process for the Manufacture of Nitro-
glycerine.
I, HENRY HARINGTON LEIGH, Fel. Inst. P.A., Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., practising as
Phillips & Leigh, of No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C., in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, 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 :-
The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the manufacture of
nitro-glycerine, as well as in the process of such manufacture, the objects of the
improvements being principally to effect the manufacture continuously. It relates
also to improved devices for effecting the combination of acid and glycerine, and
for providing for the due regulation of the temperature of the mass under treatment,
at any level thereof.
In order that this invention and the means by which the same is to be carried into
practical effect may be thoroughly understood I will now proceed to describe them in
detail, referring in so doing to the accompanying drawing, which is to be taken as
part of this specification and read therewith.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation.
Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation; and
Fig. 3 is a plan on the line ay of Fig. 1.
A is a closed tank of wood or other suitable material. B is the frame of a glazed
sight-hole, of convenient size, adapted to admit of the inspection, by the workmen,
of the process going on within the tank, without exposing them to the injurious
emanations from the nitro-glycerine. The frame of the sight-hole may be made a
removable in any suitable way, for the purpose of affording access to the inside of the
tank.
a, a are wooden supports adapted to carry a leaden tank C. The bottom of
this tank is gutter-shaped in cross-section, and sloped towards one end for the purpose
of allowing the liquid in the tank to run off when the draw off cock c is opened.
The top of the said tank is flanged and this flange is held between the top of the 3
tank A and its cover. D is a pipe provided to carry off the vapours given off during
the manufacture. E, E represent a series of serpentine lead pipes, arranged one
above the other within the lead tank, being supported therein by suitable cross-
pieces. Each of the serpentine pipes is fed from a pipe E¹, and discharges through
a second pipe E. They are intended to pass cold water, or other refrigerating agent, 4
during the continuance of the operation to cool the acids and the nitro-glycerine.
These serpentines are arranged in tiers for the purpose of rendering it possible to cool
either the whole contents of the tank C, or only certain levels thereof, as may be
required. F, F are thermometers descending to different depths for the purpose of
indicating the respective temperatures obtaining thereat. G, G are pipes adapted to 4
deliver currents of compressed air at the bottom of the tank. This air, as it rushes
from the pipes, rouses the liquor and cools it. G¹, G₁ are pipes adapted to deliver
compressed air into the draw off cocks to prevent them getting hot.
His a pot, perforated as to its sides, and supported by its feet on the tank-bottom.
Two pipes deliver into this pot. I is the pipe through which the glycerine is fed. 5
The mouth of this pipe is contracted, after the manner of an injector, so as to break
up the issuing glycerine into spray. The glycerine-spray meets a stream of acid
issuing from the bent mouth of the pipe K.

page_text: L is a level-guage in connection with the discharge c, and indicates the level of the
acid in the tank. M, M, M are cocks fixed at different levels for drawing off the
nitro-glycerine.
This invention works as follows:
:-
The tanks A and C having been closed down tight by fitting the frame B
securely in its seat, and the tank C filled about three quarters full with a mixture
of nitric and sulphuric acids, glycerine and acid are supplied simultaneously through
the injector I and the pipe K, respectively. The nitrification of the glycerine is thus
effected within the pot H, through the perforations in the side of which the nitro-
glycerine and the excess acid flow away. The sulphuric acid-the special function
of which is to absorb the water which is formed-remains in a dilute condition in the
tank, and the nitrification of the glycerine proceeds continuously in the presence of
strong acid.
By means of the thermometers, the temperatures obtaining at the respective levels
in the tank may be closely watched, and lowered as may be required by means of the
respective serpentines.
When the production of the nitro-glycerine has been effected, the apparatus is left
for its contents to settle. The nitro-glycerine rises to the top by reason of its
comparative lightness, and is to be drawn off through any one or more of the
cocks M.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An automatic closed apparatus for the manufacture of nitro-glycerine and its
separation from the acid, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the
accompanying drawings."
2. In an apparatus such as is claimed in the preceding claim, the use of a pot with
perforated sides inside the acid-tank and in which pot strong acid issuing from a pipe
meets the glycerine issuing from an injector, substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. In an apparatus such as is claimed in the first claim, the use of a series of inde-
pendent serpentines arranged in tiers and adapted to cool as may be required either
the whole bulk of acid or only certain levels thereof, substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 19th day of October 1980
HENRY H. LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.