Year: 1887

page_text: I EDUARD GRÜNE of Unterlüss, Hanover in the Empire of Germany, Manufac-
turer 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:-
It is a well known fact that nitroglycerine absorbed by kieselguhr (infusorial
earth) is very violently expelled again from the latter as soon as the mixture, or the
cartridges made therefrom, come into contact with water.
This behaviour of the kieselguhr dynamite (which hitherto has been manufactured)
in the presence of water, necessitates great precaution in storing it, and the blowing
up under water by means of kieselguhr dymanite, and the ramming of the loaded
blast hole with water, are rendered thereby essentially more difficult.
These inconveniences are avoided by the hereinafter described method of manufac-
turing kieselguhr dynamite, without reducing the absorbent capacity of the kieselguhr,
and without adding any substances which may reduce the explosive power of the nitro-
glycerine. The expelling power of the water is essentially reduced by using kieselguhr to
which have been added corresponding quantities of vegetable or animal carbon (such as
soot, wood charcoal, animal charcoal, blood-coal, and the like), or by employing vegetable
or animal substances (such as starch, sugar, cellulose and the like, blood, glue, casein,
and the like) carbonized in kieselguhr which has especially been added to the said
substances prior to the carbonization of the latter; the expelling power of the water
will entirely and completely be annihilated by using kieselguhr-carbon for manufac-
turing dynamite. Kieselguhr-carbon is obtained by heating to redness, without access
of air, kieselguhr in a washed or unwashed state, and mixed with a large quantity of
organic substances.
The carbon of the kieselguhr coal surrounds and penetrates completely into each
single particle of the kieselguhr, and gives so intimate a mixture of kieselguhr and
carbon, as never can be obtained by any mechanical means. Dynamite manufactured
with this kieselguhr-carbon is not subjected to any influence of water; the expelling
effect of the latter is completely destroyed.

page_text: Besides, the absorbent capacity of the kieselguhr-carbon is essentially superior to
that of most sorts of kieselguhr.
The advantages of this process are evident. Kieselguhr dynamite may, by my
invention, be kept and transported under water without any prejudice to its explosive
power. The congealing of the same is impossible when the cartridges are trans-
ported and kept in water having a temperature of from 30 to 60° C. Frozen
cartridges may easily be thawed in warm water without any danger. The blasting
under water without surrounding the cartridges with any case, and the ramming of
the loaded blast-holes with water, even if they shonld stand during several days, is
now rendered possible.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
animal
The herein described method of manufacturing kieselguhr-dynamite by mixing
nitroglycerine either with (1) a mechanical mixture of vegetable or animal carbon and
kieselguhr; or (2) kieselguhr in which especially added vegetable or
substances are carbonized; or (3) kieselguhr-carbon which is obtained by heating to
redness (without access of air) kieselguhr mixed with a large quantity of organic
substances, substantially as set forth.
Dated thia 22nd day of November 1887