IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVES FOR FIRE ARMS, FOR BLASTING, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Hannan, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Merchant for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVES
FOR FIRE ARMS, FOR BLASTING, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES,”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Hannan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th October 1882.
ROBERT HANNAN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
Merchant, "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVES FOR FIRE ARMS, FOR BLASTING, AND
FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES,"
This Invention has for its object the manufacture of improved and efficient
explosives for fire arms, for blasting, and for similar purposes; and the improved
explosives can be handled with safety and are not liable to injury by atmospheric
changes.
The improved explosives are compounds made up of the ingredients and in the
manner hereinafter described, the proportions of the different ingredients being
variable to suit different requirements. One ingredient is yellow or red prussiate
of potash or a mixture of both; a second ingredient is nitrate of potash; a third
ingredient is chlorate of potash; and a fourth ingredient is vegetable or animal
charcoal or other suitable carbonaceous substance in a ground state. The first
second and third ingredients are dissolved and are mixed with each other and with
the fourth ingredient; and the water of solution is evaporated, the boiling action
serving as a simple means for thoroughly intermixing the ingredients. For the
purpose of binding together or agglutinating the ingredients they are mixed or
treated with paraffin or other oleaginous or fatty substances in a solid, liquid,
semi-liquid, or paste-like condition, and one or more of such substances being used.
Aromatic or resinous gums may also be used for binding or agglutinating the
ingredients.
The explosive compounds made as herein before described may be used alone, in
the form of lumps or blocks of any convenient size, or in a granulated or powdered
state; or they may be mixed with or have added to them charcoal, wood, cotton
paper, or other vegetable matter. Or the explosive compounds. may be spread as a
coating upon paper or cloth or other material.

page_text: +
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert Hannan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
April 1883.
ROBERT HANNAN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Merchant "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVES FOR FIRE ARMS, FOR BLASTINg, and
FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES"
My said Invention has for its object the manufacture of improved and very
efficient explosives, for fire arms, for blasting, and for similar purposes. The
improved processes of manufacture can be modified at pleasure to produce explosive
actions varying between wide. limits. Thus by increasing the amount of paraffin
which is an essential ingredient the initial velocity of explosion can be more or less
retarded to suit fire arms of various kinds.
.
My improved process of manufacture is exceedingly easy; and simpler and less
costly than that of ordinary gunpowder. The paraffin present in the improved
powder or explosive will effectually lubricate every particle so that the risks
attending dry friction will be avoided and greater safety ensured in transit and
handling. My improved explosives have more than double the penetrating power
of the same weight of ordinary gunpowder, and with them the quantity of sinoke
is comparatively small; whilst the recoil is less than with ordinary gunpowder, and
the precision in shooting is greater.
My improved explosives are compounds made up of the ingredients and in the
manner liereinafter described, the proportions of the different ingredients being
variable to suit different requirements. One ingredient is yellow or red prussiate
of potash (either being hydrous or anhydrous) or a mixture of both; a second
ingredient is nitrate of potash; a third ingredient is chlorate of potash; and a
fourth ingredient is vegetable or animal charcoal or other suitable carbonaceous
substance. The carbonaceous substance forming the fourth ingredient may consist
partly or entirely of paraffin.
According to one modification of the manufacturing process the first, second, and
third ingredients are dissolved and mixed with each other and with the fourth
ingredient, and the water of solution is evaported care being taken to keep the
compound in an agitated or well stirred condition to prevent crystallising action
from causing too great a separation of the ingredients. When the fourth ingredient
consists of charcoal or other carbonaceous matter which is of a dry nature or not
sufficiently adherent, the ingredients are bound together or agglutinated by having
mixed with them a small quantity of paraffin, or other oleaginous or fatty
substances in a solid, liquid, semi-liquid, or paste-like condition, of which
substances one or more may be used. Aromatic or resinous gunis may also be used
for binding or agglutinating the ingredients.
According to a second modification of the manufacturing process the ingredients
are taken in the dry state and are ground and mixed, being by preference first
ground separately and afterwards mixed in a grinding mill or otherwise. When
combining the ground ingredients a little water is added to promote adhesion;
and after thorough mixing heavy pressure is employed in compressing or caking
the compound.
As herein before stated the proportions of the ingredients may be varied in
different cases; but an efficient explosive of medium properties as regards initial
explosive velocity and local action can be made in a satisfactory manner with the
following proportions namely 17 parts (by weight) of hydrous yellow prussiate of
potash, 35 parts nitrate of potash, 70 parts chlorate of potash, 17 parts charcoal

page_text: and 7 parts paraffin. These proportions constitute an example of an explosive
suitable for small fire arms. In some cases charcoal or similar substances may be
entirely omitted even when the proportion of paraffin or analogous substance
present is not more than sufficient to properly bind or agglutinate the other
ingredients.
"
The explosive compounds made as hereinbefore described may be used alone, in
the form of lumps or blocks of any convenient size, or in a granulated or powdered
state; or they may be mixed with or have added to them charcoal, wood, cotton,
paper or other vegetable matter. When the explosive compounds are prepared for
sale or use in a granulated or powdered state I prefer to have them treated like
ordinary gunpowder with a small quantity of fine plumbago so that they may have
the finish and appearance now commonly required in a good gunpowder.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I have to state that I am aware that the various ingredients
employed by mne have before been used or proposed to be used in making explosive
compounds. but not, to the best of my knowledge and belief so as to form my
improved combination nor so as to yield such advantageous results as I have
obtained. What therefore I believe to be novel and original and claim as the
Invention secured to me by and in terms of the hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent is:
1. An explosive compound made by combining prussiate of potash, nitrate of
potash, chlorate of potash, and vegetable or animal charcoal or other suitable
carbonaceous substance substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. An explosive compound made. by combining prussiate of potash, nitrate of
potash, chlorate of potash and vegetable or animal charcoal or other suitable
carbonaceous substance, and by binding or agglutinating these ingredients by
means of paraffin or other oleaginous or fatty substance or by means of aromatic or
resinous gumis substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. An explosive compound made by combining prussiate of potash, nitrate of
potash, chlorate of potash, and paraffin or other analogous carbonaceous substance
substantially as hereinbefore described.
In Witness whereof, I, the said Robert Hannan have hereunto set my hand
and seal this tenth day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-three
Witness-
EDMUND HUNT.
Patent Agent.
Glasgow.
R. HANNAN. (L.S.)