Charges and Combustibles.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Mar., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 24th Mar., 1887.
Charges and Combustibles.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E., 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 :-
This invention relates more particularly to an improved method of igniting the
explosive charge in shells and torpedoes through the direct action of the water in
which the shell may drop or in which the torpedo (whether stationary or movable)
is immersed. It may also be used with advantage however in life-buoys, life rafts, or
other life saving apparatus for the purpose of igniting signal lights sounding high
water alarms and for numerous other purposes where it is desired to ignite an
explosive charge or other combustible material instantaneously through the direct
action of water. And for this purpose it makes no difference whether the water is
salt or fresh so that this invention is equally well adapted for use on the open ocean
and on inland lakes and rivers.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown this invention as applied to an
explosive projectile, and to an anchored or stationary torpedo viz
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a shell provided with the so-called
[[ water-primer."
Figures 2, 3 and 4 illustrate some of the different methods of protecting the water
primer in the shell.

page_text: •
Figure 5 is a sectional detail view of a fuse for shells, torpedoes or other purposes
equipped with this water primer and
Figure 6 is an illustration of this invention as applied to a stationary torpedo.
Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures.
At the outset I will state that one of the advantages of this improvement is that it
may be applied to all kinds of explosive shells without regard to whether these are
equipped with percussion primers or with time fuses. In such cases where the
primary object is to explode the shell at the moment of contact with the ship or other
object aimed at this improvement assumes the form of an auxiliary device for causing
the explosion of the shell if it drops into the water. Experience with target practice
with heavy ordnance has demonstrated the difficulty of squarely hitting a movable
target such as an iron clad vessel or other ship moving rapidly under steam and it
frequently happens that the shell either falls a little too short of its mark or goes a
little too far beyond it. Or it may drop into the water a little ahead or astern in
either of which cases it will simply sink to the bottom without doing any damage
either to the ship directly aimed at or to surrounding boats.
Now by providing a shell with this auxiliary fuse or "water primer "as I call it
I do not in the least interfere with the prompt explosion of the shell by percussion if
it does strike the vessel; but if through failure of the percussion device to act, it
should drop from the side of the ship into the water without exploding or if through
error of aim or from other causes it should not hit the ship at all but drop in the
water then this method and device will cause the shell to explode instantly the
moment, it reaches the water scattering its fragments over a large area of water
surface and subjecting vessels at a considerable distance even to the disastrous effects
of the air wave or concussion resulting from the explosion of a charge of dynamite or
other powerful explosive with which the shell may be charged on the surface of the
water. If one of these shells should drop in the water in the midst of a flotilla of gun
boats or torpedo boats for example without hitting any one of them it will instantly
explode and probably prove far more destructive than if it had struck any one of the
boats comprising the fleet.
This object is accomplished by providing the shell with an auxiliary or supplemental
fuse and priming the same with material which possesses a stronger chemical affinity
for oxygen than the affinity which exists between the two components of water viz :-
oxygen and hydrogen (H, O). Of such materials several are known to chemistry
among others sodium (Na) strontium (Sr) and potassium (K). The last named
metal is particularly adapted to this purpose owing to its excessive chemical affinity
for oxygen and as it is a commercial product which can readily be obtained it is used
in preference to other material.
This material is known in chemistry by the symbol "K" (equiv. 39 sp. gr. O. 865)
and is one of the most interesting alkaline metals. It is usually obtained by the so
called Brunner process as improved by Maressa and Dormé by the distillation of a
mixture of carbonate of potassium (K, CO₂) and charcoal at a white heat in an iron
retort. It floats on water which it instantly decomposes on account of its great
affinity for oxygen with the following reaction K, + 2 H, O 2 K HO + H. The
evolved hydrogen is kindled by the heat devolved by the action and burns with a
violet or rose coloured flame as long as any metal remains while the hydrate is
retained in solution.
1
This so-called "water primer" consists in a thin plug disc or film of this material
or its equivalent as shown at A on the drawings. The letter B denotes the body of
the shell which may be of any desired shape or construction and charged with any
suitable explosive and Cis the usual percussion device and primer instead of which
a time fuse may be used if desired. The auxiliary fuse may be made by simply
boring a hole through the shell as at D leading to the chamber E containing the
explosive material and charging this hole with gun powder gun cotton or any
other suitable explosive.
In my foreign correspondent's experiments he has used quickly burning gunpowder

page_text: with very satisfactory results. The hole and fuse is then plugged or covered with a
thin disc or film of potassium as shown at A which to protect it from oxidation may
be placed in a glass tube G open on the lower side where it is contact with the powder
in the fuse. If the shells are to be stored for any considerable length of time before
using a thin film or coating of paraffine; petroleum paste or similar material
containing a minimum of oxygen in its chemical composition may be applied to
the under side of the disc of potassium as indicated at H. When this is used
it will effectually prevent oxidation of the under side of the primer disc which
is exposed to the gunpowder in the fuse.
Instead of using the device shown in Figure 1 for protecting the water primer
from the action of the atmospheric air other devices may be employed for the same
purpose and some of these are illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings.
In figure 2 I have shown a plug F fitting air-tight in the aperiure D and
bearing with its inner end against the primer inserted in said aperture, when
the shell is to be fired this plug is moved or it may be made of material which
will be fractured by the explosion when the shell is fired from the cannon or it
may be of some soluble material which will dissolve instantaneously when the
shell comes in contact with the water; and again in Figure 3 the potassium
primer is protected from atmospheric influence by a covering in the nature of a
plaster shown at L which may be removed when the shell is fired or it may be of
material which will be instantaneously dissolved when the shell touches water. For
practical purposes where this method is adopted for the purpose of protecting the
water primer my correspondent has found that a piece of canvas treated with a
composition of paraffine rock oil and cement will answer the purpose admirably and
will protect the water primer for an indefinite length of time. When the shell is
fired this plaster can readily be torn off so as to expose the primer to the action of
the water. Again in figure 4 I have shown the shell constructed with a primer
consisting of a complete fuse fitting into the aperture D into which it is not inserted
until the moment when the shell is to be fired. Where that construction is to be
adopted these fuses primed with potassium are kept separate from the shells one being
inserted in each shell as it is required.
In figure I have indicated by dotted lines marked with a dotted D how the fuse
channel may be made to communicate with the percussion primer instead of with the
chamber E in the body of the shell; and in Figure 2 I have shown how the primer
may be used in combination with a time fuse by drilling a hole D' which communicates
with the time fuse. Thus it will be seen that this device may be used in combination
with a percussion fuse or with a time fuse if desired instead of using it. in direct
combination with the body of the shell.
When the shell is to be used but not before the potassium primer is exposed by
breaking or removing the envelope in which it is enclosed. Should the shell drop in
the water the chemical action of the exposed primer A results in the instantaneous
explosion of the shell the moment the primer touches the water through the chemical
reaction hereinbefore referred to. That is to say, the primer is instantly ignited (or
to be more exact it ignites the hydrogen of the water which is liberated by the
chemical affinity between the potassium and the oxygen of the water or as we have
seen K, +2 H, O: 2 K HOH) the heat being more than sufficient to ignite the
fuse and explode the charge within the shell even before this has been completely
immersed in the water. By graduating the thickness of the primer disc however the
fuse may be constructed if desired that explosion will not take place until the shell
has been fully immersed.
-
In Figure 6 I have outlined how this invention may be applied for the purpose of
exploding a torpedo the letter I denoting the body of the torpedo and J the fuse
which may conveniently be constructed of a piece of gas pipe filled with any suitable
material adapted to be used as a fuse. The upper part J of the pipe or tube J
however is made of glass or other fragile material and inside of this is placed a
suitable quantity of the water primer. It is preferable to use a glass tube like a

page_text: barometer tube scaled at the top and filled or partially filled with potassium care being
taken that the glass tube is connected watertight to the metallic tube or fuse so that
water can only enter the device and ignite the potassium if the glass tube is broken or
fractured. This will happen however when a vessel passes over it and touches the
glass tube which will then instantly be broken thus exposing the potassium to the
action of the water when an instantaneous explosion follows. If the torpedo and
fuse are made properly so as to be impervious to water a torpedo of this construction
may be immersed any length of time without deteriorating it in the least and again,
it is exceedingly difficult to pick up these torpedoes by means of the so-called
torpedo-finders because the least touch of a pole will break off the glass end of the
fuse and thus cause explosion of the torpedo with the usual disastrous results.
"
"
I desire it to be understood that the foregoing illustrations of the applicability of
this invention cover only a few of the very many purposes for which this is adapted.
It may be used among other purposes on life buoys so that a Roman candle or signal
light will be ignited through the direct action of the water the moment the buoy is
thrown into the water or it may be used in the construction of shells filled with a
suitable combustible and adapted to float on the water and primed with one of these
water primers so that the shell will take fire when it strikes the water and when the
contents become ignited and the burning shell is floating around on the surface of the
water it will serve as a light to expose the position of an enemy's vessels among
which these shells are thrown. The very many purposes where this water primer
may be applied to advantage in warfare as well as in the peaceful arts will very
readily suggest themselves and do not require enumeration here.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner the same
is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The method of igniting explosives or other combustibles by the direct action of
water through the medium of an igniting device composed of material possessing a
stronger chemical affinity for oxygen than the affinity which exists between oxygen
and hydrogen in the formation of water.
2. The method of igniting explosives and other combustibles by the direct action of
water through the medium of an igniting device composed wholly or in part of the
metal known as potassium.
3. A "water primer" or igniting device adapted to be ignited by contact with
water composed of material possessing a stronger chemical affinity for oxygen than
the affinity which exists between oxygen and hydrogen in the formation of water.
4. A "water primer" or igniting device adapted to be ignited by contact with
water composed wholly or in part of the metal known as potassium.
5. The combination with an explosive shell of a primer or igniting device composed
of material possessing a stronger chemical affinity for oxygen than the affinity which
exists betwen oxygen and hydrogen in the formation of water whereby the shell is
exploded on contact with water.
6. The combination with an explosive shell of a primer or igniting device composed
wholly or in part of the metal known as potassium whereby the shell is exploded on
contact with water.
7. The combination with a percussion primer of any desired construction of an
igniting device composed of material possessing a stronger chemical affinity for
oxygen than the affinity which exists between oxygen and hydrogen in the formation
of water whereby such primer is exploded on contact of the igniting device with
water.
8. The combination with a percussion primer of any desired construction of an
igniting device composed wholly or in part of the metal known as potassium whereby
the primer is detonated by contact of the igniting device with water.

page_text: 9. The combination with a time fuse of any desired construction of an igniting
device composed of material possessing a stronger chemical affinity for oxygen than
the affinity which exists between oxygen and hydrogen in the formation of water
whereby such fuse is fired on contact of the firing device with water.
10. The combination with a time fuse of any desired construction of an igniting
device composed wholly or in part of the metal known as potassium whereby on
contact of the potassium with water the fuse is ignited as set forth.
11. A fuse adapted to be ignited by contact with water consisting of any
suitable combustible confined within a tube or other envelope and provided with
a primer or igniting device enclosed air tight within a suitable envelope said
primer or igniting device being composed of material possessing a stronger chemical
affinity for oxygen than the affinity which exists between oxygen and hydrogen
in the formation of water.
12. A fuse adapted to be ignited by contact with water consisting of any suitable
combustible confined within a tube or other envelope and provided with a primer
or igniting device enclosed air tight within a suitable envelope said primer or
igniting device being composed wholly or in part of the metal known as potassium.
1901