CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS FOR DIMINISHING THE RISK OF ACCIDENTAL Ex- PLOSIONS OF GUNPOWDER, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES WHICH ARE LIABLE TO EXPLODE OR IGNITE BY CONTACT WITH FIRE
Year: 1845

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN BLYTH, of Limehouse, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS I did, by Petition, humbly represent unto Her
present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, that I had invented
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS FOR DIMINISHING THE RISK OF ACCIDENTAL Ex-
PLOSIONS OF GUNPOWDER, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES WHICH ARE LIABLE TO
EXPLODE OR IGNITE BY CONTACT WITH FIRE ;" and Her said Majesty,
being willing to give encouragement to all arts and inventions
which may be for the public good, was graciously pleased, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, and
bearing date at Westminster the Twentieth day of December (One
thousand eight hundred and forty-five), in the ninth year of Her
reign, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, to give and grant unto
me, the said John Blyth, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I
or they, by myself or themselves, or by my or their deputies,
servants, or agents, or such others as I or they should agree with,

page_text: and no others, during the term of Fourteen years from the date of
the said Letters Patent, should, and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend my said Invention within that part of her United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her do-
minion of Wales, and town of Berwick of Tweed, and also within
Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, in such manner as
to me, my executors, administrators, and assigns shall seem meet,
and as that I or they should enjoy the whole profit and advantage
arising by reason of the said Invention during the suid Term of
Fourteen years. And whereas the said Letters Patent contain a
proviso obliging me, the said John Blyth, particularly to describe
and ascertain the nature of iny said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, and to cause the same to be enrolled in Her Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and im-
mediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, as in and by the
same (reference being thereunto had) will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I,
the said John Blyth, do hereby declare that my said Invention is
described and ascertained in munner following, and by aid of the
seven Sheets of Drawing hereunto annexed that is to say:
My said improvements are for the most applicable in the making
of gunpowder, but are also applicable in the preparation or treat-
ment of explosive substances used in the making of rockets and
fireworks, and consist in the application of cold water to those parts
of the machinery of powder mills which are most liable to friction,
in or to keep the said parts cool, and thereby prevent any dangerous
accumulation of heat from such friction, and also in the application
of gas or gases incapable of supporting combustion to form a sort of
artificial atmosphere around or above the gunpowder or explosive
substance, or around those parts of the machinery of powder mills
which are most liable to friction, in order, by such artificial atmo-
sphère, to prevent the transmission of fire to the gunpowder, and to
prevent fire taking place in such artificial atmosphere by collision of.

page_text: particles of gritty matter, which may by accident get into the
machinery which is operating upon the gunpowder or explosive
substances. And as to the said application of water, the mode of
inaking such application must be adapted to each particular casc.
So much of the main shafts or axes, and wheelwork, and first
moving parts of the machinery of powder mills as will admit of
working under water, may be wholly immersed therein; the water
for that purpose being contained in suitable pits, tanks, or reser-
voirs situated beneath or at the side of, or at some convenient part
of the room or space containing the machinery, or parts which are
directly operative upon the gunpowder or explosive substance, and
such of the connecting shafts or axes, or portions thereof, as are
necessarily required to be within the said room or place, and cannot
be conveniently included within tanks or cisterns containing water
as aforesaid. The said shafts or axes, or portions, may be made
with hollow passages through them for water to flow in a continual
current, for the purpose (by an internal application of water) of
keeping such shafts or axes cool at the several parts thereof which
are subject to friction. The said hollow passages may, according to
convenience, be only formed within the said several parts which are
exposed to friction; and the water which is to flow through the
passages may be conveyed thereto by small pipes or tubes of metal,
which are exterior to the shaft or axis, but connected with, sustained
by, and moving therewith; or the said passages may be continued
throughout the length of the shaft or axis. In either case, the
water may be supplied through a central part at one end of the
shaft or axis, or portion thereof, which is subject to friction, and
allowed to escape at a central or other convenient part at the other
end, so as to flow continually through: Or the escape of the water
may be from the saine end of the shaft or axis as the supply. And
in like manner respecting the fixed bearing parts, whereby such
shafts or axes are sustained, and which fixed bearing parts are
consequently subject to friction, the said parts may have hollow
passages in them for water to flow through, or the said parts may
be immersed in water, in order to keep such fixed bearing parts

page_text: cool, and which may be done in addition to the aforesaid internal
application of water within hollow passages in the moving parts,
which are sustained in such fixed bearing parts; so that both the
fixed as well as the moving parts, which are subject to friction by
their contact and mutual action of rubbing together, may be kept
cool by the aforesaid internal application of water to each sort of
parts respectively. Or the internal application of water may be
made in manner aforesaid to one or to the other of such sort of
parts, as may be found most convenient in each particular case.
And the details of the mode of application. must be varied to suit
the circumstances of each particular case. The total immersion of
the rubbing parts under water may in some cases be preferable; in
other cases, the internal application of water. For instance, in case
of a shaft or axis revolving in a vertical position, so that its weight,
and that of the wheels or other parts it may have upon it, will be
chiefly borne by the end of a pivot at the lower end of such shaft or
axis, resting and revolving in a step or bearing. The whole of such
bearing step may be placed within a small cistern, tank, or vessel,
which is kept filled with water; so that the lower part of the shaft
or axis and its pivot, and also the step or bearing wherein the pivot
works, will be immersed in the water, which will, in such case, keep
the rubbing parts cool, and will serve instead of oil or grease for
lubricating the rubbing surfaces of the pivot, and of its step or
bearing. The water may be supplied to such vessel through a
small regulating cock and pipe from an elevated reservoir, so as to
run constantly with a small stream into the vessel, and a like stream
out therefrom, through a suitable overflow pipe, so as to ensure that
such cistern shall always be kept full of cold water. In case of the
water being impure, either by containing gritty matter or corrosive
matter, such a direct application of the water to the rubbing sur-
faces by immersion therein may not be advisable; and it may be
more suitable to apply the water internally. In which case, the
upright shaft or axis aforesaid may be made with a central hollow
passage throughout its whole length, and continuing down into the
central part of the pivot, leaving the same unperforated for resting

page_text: on the bottom of its step or bearing as usual. Water being con-
stantly applied in a stream into the upper end of such hollow
passage, may make its escape laterally by a small spout projecting
out from the lower part of the shaft or axis, just above the
pivot and step thereof. The stream of water discharged by such
spout being carried round in a circular orbit, may be received in
an annular gutter formed concentrically around the step or bearing,
and from which gutter the water may run away waste. A constant
stream of water will thus be kept descending through the interior
of the shaft or axis from top to bottom thereof, in order to keep it
cool; but to ensure that, such stream of water shall descend into the
hollow within the pivot, and down to the verry bottom of that hollow,
the tube which forms the said lateral spout, through which the
water is to make its escape, must commence within the centre of the
hollow in the pivot very near to the bottom of that hollow; and the
said tube must ascend within the centre of the hollow to a proper
height, and there making an elbow bend, must pass through from
the inside to the outside of the shaft or axis to form the spout,
which projects out laterally from the lower part of the shaft or axis
as above mentioned. The vertical straight part of the said tube,
which is within the centre of the hollow within the pivot, inay be
small in diameter and of very thin metal, so as to occupy very little
space in the passage within the pivot; and the pressure of the
column of water within the vertical height of the shaft or axis will
cause it to run very rapidly in making its escape through the said
small thin tube of the vertical part of the spout, so as to have a
great effect in cooling the pivot. And the aforesaid supply of
water to the upper end of the vertical shaft or axis, should be
poured from a regulating cock, at the end of a pipe of supply, into a
funnel, the tube of which is fastened into the upper end of the
passage through the shaft or axis; so that the tube of the funnel
will be, as it were, a prolongation of the axis upwards, and revolving
with it, in order that the said funnel may increase the height of the
vertical column of water that is contained within the hollow of the
shaft or axis. And the regulating cock of supply must be opened

page_text: so much as will keep the funnel properly filled with water, in order
to insure that the whole of the internal passage within the shaft or
axis shall be kept filled with the water, which will run out at the
lateral spout below as fast as it is supplied into the funnel above,
but will stand within that funnel. The pivot or other place of
bearing and rubbing at the upper end or part of the said upright
shaft or axis, will be kept cool by the said flow of water within the
interior passage through the shaft or axis. The step or bearing
wherein the lower pivot of the upright shaft or axis works, may be
kept cool by application of water flowing continually. Such steps
or bearings are usually made with a socket of brass or gun metal in
one piece, to receive the pivot, and that socket fitted into a large
socket of cast iron. In such case, the water inay be applied in a
space between the cast iron and the brass or gun metal socket, so as
to surround the latter for keeping it cool, being supplied by a pipe
to the lower part of such space, and ascending therein around all
sides of the brass socket to as high a level (or higher) than the
rubbing parts of the pivot within the socket, and overflowing from
the upper part of the space by a suitable pipe or channel at the said
level. The brass socket having some kind of funnel shaped rim
around its upper part, which reaches so much above the level of the
said overflow for the water as to prevent any water getting into the
interior of the socket wherein the pivot works, leaving that interior
to be so supplied with oil as usual. The said water may be
supplied to the space around the socket from the waste pipe of the
annular gutter before mentioned, which is forined concentrically
around the step or bearing for receiving the water which is dis-
charged from the lateral spout aforesaid at the lower part of the
upright shaft or axis; that is, in case both the aforesaid applications
of water are used in concert, videlicet, within the interior hollow of
the shaft or axis, and also in the space around the socket within the
cast iron part of the step or bearing; but either of these applications
may be used without the other, or both may be used in concert, as
may be preferred. And as to the bearing for the pivot, or other
place of bearing and rubbing at the upper end or part of the said

page_text: upright shaft or axis, it is usual to make the brass or gun metal
socket for such bearing in two halves or parts, which are fitted into
corresponding parts of the cast iron of the bearing; and those parts
are held together by screw bolts and nuts, which are adjusted to
close the two half brasses together around the pivot or bearing part
of the shaft or axis, so as to fit correctly to the same.
The appli
plication of water may in such case be made within a hollow space
formed in the main cast iron picce of the bearing; or that piece may
be wholly of brass or gun metal instead of cast iron; and water
being supplied constantly to such space from a cock and pipe, and
making its escape from the same space by an overflow or waste
pipe, so as to keep the said main piece of the bearing cool. If such
main piece is made of brass or gun metal instead of cast iron, the
water will have more effect in so keeping cool. And for another.
instance, in case of a horizontal shaft or axis contained in bearings
at or near to the ends, an internal hollow passage may be formed
throughout the length of such horizontal shaft or axis; and water:
may be made to flow continually through that passage, being intro-
duced into the centre of the axis or of its pivot.at one extremity,.
and making its escape from the centre of the other extremity. The
water may be so introduced by means of a cranked tube acting as a:
revolving water scoop, whereof one part, which is straight, is
fastened in a horizontal direction into the extreme end of the axis.
or of its pivot at the centre thereof, with the said straight part con-:
centric to the horizontal centre line of the axis in prolongation
thereof, and so as to revolve therewith, and projecting horizontally:
a short way from the said extreme end, in order that the cranked:
part of the tube may go round with the axis in a circular manner,.
in order to dip into water contained in a small cistern, the said
cranked part extending out from the centre line in a spiral curve,
and being open at the end of that curve farthest from tlic centre,"
with an enlarged mouth, in a suitable manner for acting in the
inanner of a revolving spiral water scoop or horn, which will take.
up water when carried round with the axis in its circular motion, the.
concavity of the spiral curve and the large open end of the tube.

page_text: moving forward during such motion, and dipping down into the
water when the said large open end is proceeding through the lower
part of its circular motion, so as to become filled with water, which,
as the said large open end and spiral curve proceed through the
upper part of the said circular motion, will be raised so much as to
cause the said water to run into the centeral part of the spiral curve,
and thence through the straight horizontal part of the cranked tube
into the hollow within the axis, in order to supply the same as
aforesaid. The said cistern of water into which the scoop will dip,
for taking up water therefrom as aforesaid, may be a part of the
hollow space which is formed in the main piece of the bearing for
water to flow through, as already mentioned. The above instances
are only stated by way of example, of the mode of applying water to
revolving shafts or axes for keeping the rubbing parts cool, and
preventing any such accumulation of heat from friction as could
cause risk of explosion of gunpowder or other explosive substances;
and the precise mode of applying water may be varied from what has
been described to suit other cases; for instance, in the case of a
revolving crank on the upper end of a vertical axis, for giving a
circular shaking motion to a horizontal suspended frame, whereon
sieves are placed for corning or granulating gunpowder, by forcing
the same in grains through the holes of the sieves by action of loose
discs of wood resting by their weight on the powder contained in
such sieves, and sliding about therein, whilst those sieves are moved
with a circular (but not a revolving) motion, such as is given by
the revolving crank to the horizontal suspended frame whereon the
sieves are placed, as is well known in ordinary powder mills. The
said vertical axis and crank, and its crank pin, inay have an internal
passage through them for a flow of water to keep those parts cool,
which water may be introduced by means of a vertical tube joined
by a cranked part at is lower end to the upper end of the crank
pin, the straight vertical part coinciding with the vertical centre line
of the vertical axes in the manner of a prolongation thereof upwards
above the crank, and revolving therewith, and having a funnel on
the upper end of the vertical tube for water to be poured through a

page_text: regulating cock from a supply pipe. The water so supplied passing
down from the funnel through the vertical part of the tube, and
through its cranked bend into the passage within the interior of the
crank pin, and of the crank and of the vertical axis, and escaping
through a lateral spout from the lower part of the axis, will flow
through all the several rubbing parts of the crank pin and axis,
and keep those parts cool. The pivot at the lower end of the said
vertical axis, and the step or bearing therefor, may be kept cool by
the same flow of water, if it is caused to descend, in manner herein-
before described, to the very bottom of the hollow within the pivot,
and then to go upwards therefrom in the centre of that hollow
through a thin vertical tube, which is part of the lateral spout
aforesaid, at which water is to make its escape. Or the lower end
of the said vertical axis, with the pivot and the step or bearing
therefor may be wholly immersed in water in inanner hereinbefore
described, and also the cog or other wheel upon upon the said vertical
axis, by means of which it is turned round, may be wholly immersed
in the said water, together with the cog or other wheel, from which
motion is communicated to the said wheel upon the vertical axis;
and as to the aforesaid application of gas or gases incapable of sup-
porting combustion, to form a sort of artificial atmosphere around
or above the gunpowder or explosive substance. The most suitable
for that purpose will be carbonic acid gas; but nitrogen gas will in
some degree answer the purpose; and a mixture of carbonic acid
gas with nitrogen gas will be most readily obtained in practice; but
the combustion of well burnt coke or charcoal, with such a limited
quantity of atmospheric air for supporting the combustion, as that
the whole of the oxygen gas belonging to that quantity of atmo.
spheric air will be converted into carbonic acid gas during the said
combustion, and, by operation thereof, leaving only the nitrogen gas
belonging to the said atmospheric air, and that nitrogen gas mixed
with the said carbonic acid gas. The mixture of carbonic acid gas and
nitrogen gas so obtained will be incapable of supporting combustion,
and will therefore be suitable for the application aforesaid. And if
chalk (or other carbonate of lime) is mixed with the said coke or

page_text: charcoal, which is to undergo combustion in manner aforesaid, the
carbonic acid gas which belongs to the chalk or carbonate of lime will
be expelled therefrom by the heat of the combustion of the coke or
charcoal, leaving the lime in the state of quick lime amongst the
ashes of the coke or charcoal, and the carbonic acid gas so expelled
mixing with that carbonic acid gas which is produced as aforesaid
by the combustion of the coke or charcoal, as well as mixing with
the nitrogen gas of the atmospheric air as aforesaid. The mixture
of carbonic acid gas and nitrogen gas so obtained from the com-
bustion of coke or charcoal, mixed with carbonate of lime, will contain
a larger proportion of carbonic acid gas than will be contained in
the mixture of those gases obtained from the combustion of coke or
charcoal alone. The mode of making the aforesaid application of
the gas or gases must be adapted to each particular case; for
instance, to form an artificial atmosphere around so much of the
main shafts or..axes.and wheel work, and first moving parts of tho
machinery of powder mills as can be conveniently disposed beneath
the level of the floor of the room or space containing the machinery
or parts which are directly operative upon the gunpowder or ex-
plosive substance, or can be conveniently disposed in some place at
the side of or within such room, which place will admit of being
partitioned off therefrom. The whole of the said space beneath the
floor, or at the side, or within the said room or space, being com-
pletely enclosed, may be kept filled with the gas or mixture of gases
to form an artificial atmosphere thereof, wherein the said shafts or
axes, wheelwork, and first moving parts, will be wholly included;
and in case of heat being generated by undue friction of any of such
parts, or in case of collision of gritty particles, which may by
accident get into the machinery, the said gas will prevent any fire
from taking place in consequence of such heat or collission. This
node of applying the gas will be very similar to that first described
of applying water for totally immersing the like parts of the
machinery, only substituting the gas for water; and the same kind
of pits, tanks, or reservoirs as would be required for containing the
water would serve for containing the gas, except that for gas such

page_text: pro-
pits, tanks, or reservoirs must be securely enclosed at all parts,
although for water they might be left open at their upper parts. In
either case, suitable doors, made to shut very closely, should be
vided at suitable parts of such pits, tanks, or reservoirs, for opening
when required, in order to give sufficient access to the machinery
that is enclosed for examining and repairing the same from time to
time, as may be necessary, after the water or the gas has been re-
moved from the pit, tank, or reservoir. And note; the applications
of water as hereinbefore described, by total immersion of some of
the chief rubbing parts under water, or by internal applications of
water within the parts subject to friction, may be made in concert
with the application of gas as. aforesaid, to form an atmosphere all
around the same shafts or axes, wheelwork or machinery, to the
chief rubbing parts of which water is applied in the modes herein-
before described. The application of water will keep the rubbing
parts cool to avoid risk from heating, and the application of an ar
tificial atmosphere of gas will prevent fire taking place from collision'
of particles of gritty matter, which may by accident get into the
machinery. But the application of either water or gas may be
inade separately; and as to the application of an artificial atmo-
sphere of gas to surround the machinery, or parts which are directly
operative upon the gunpowder or explosive substance, the space oc-
cupied by the said machinery, or parts together, with the said
gunpowder or explosive substance, must be enclosed at all sides
suitably for retaining the gas securely within the said space, and
with such means of opening at all suitable parts of the enclosure as
may be requisite for giving so much access to the enclosed machinery
or parts, or to the gunpowder or explosive substance, as may be
necessary for the performance of the operation which the gunpowder
or explosive substance is undergoing, or for examination or repair
of the parts of the machinery from time to time, as may be neces-
sary. The node of making such an enclosure as will retain the gas
in such an artificial atmosphere as aforesaid around the machinery or
parts which are directly operative on the gunpowder or explosive sub-
stance, and with the means of opening where requisite as aforesaid,
.

page_text: must be adapted to each particular case; for instance, in the case of
the machinery called a pair of runners on edge, which are commonly
used for grinding and incorporating the mixed ingredients whercof
gunpowder is made, being two runners or heavy stones, or disks of
metal, disposed edgeways upwards in parallel vertical planes on a
horizontal bed, stone, or flat metal plate, the two runners being on
a horizontal axis, which passes across a vertical axis, which is turned
round by power of machinery; and thereby the runners are carried
round upon the bed with a circulating and revolving motion, so as to
roll over, and act, by their weight, to crush the mixed ingredients
which are laid upon the said bed, the crushing being also attended
with a grinding action, as is commonly known. The enclosure for
the gas may in such case be a circular or polygonal frame of wood
or metal, with openings at suitable places glazed with panes of
strong plate glass or with talc, or other suitable substance, in order
to form a close vessel of adequate dimensions for covering over and
enclosing the pair of runners on edge, and permitting of their
revolving motion without touching; the said vessel being open at
bottom, and its lower edge fitting into a circular or polygonal
gutter formed around the upper edge of the kirb or circular
wooden border to the bed on which the runners act; which gutter
may contain water, or a soft packing of cloth or of india rubber, to
form a close joint, in order to retain the gas. The said vessel being
suspended by one end of a chain, rope, or band, which, after passing
over pullies in the frame work of the roof, has a sufficient weight
suspended from the other end to balance the weight of the vessel,
and render it easy to lift it up from its fitting in the said gutter,
and to raise it so high up as to leave the pair of runners wholly ex-
posed; or when it is let down again, they will be completely
enclosed. The wheelwork by which the vertical axes of the pair of
runners is turned round, must, for the above plan, be beneath the
floor whereon the bed is sustained, the axes passing up through a
hole in the centre of the bed to such a height as inay be suitable for
the requisite connection with the horizontal axis of the two runners,
which axis, as already mentioned, passes across the vertical axes;

page_text: but the latter has no bearing or lateral support at its upper end,
being retained in its proper vertical position by a bearing near to
the part where the axes enters the hole in the centre of the bed, and
by a pivot at its lower end. With such an arrangement, there will
be nothing above the runners to prevent the said inclosing vessel
being let down over them, so as to enclose them, or being raised up
again to leave them quite exposed in manner above described. The
wheelwork by which the vertical axis is turned round being wholly
beneath the floor, may be enclosed, so as to retain either water or
gas for arounding the wheelwork in manner already stated; and the
passage of gas by the side of the vertical axes, where it passes up as
aforesaid through the hole in the centre of the bed, may be prevented
by a circular gutter around the said hole containing water, into
which dips the lower edge of a circular rim fixed to the axes, and
revolving therewith. The workman who attends to the operation
of the runners on edge, when grinding and incorporating the mixed
ingredients for the gunpowder, can see through the aforesaid panes
of glass or talc in the enclosing vessel, how the operation of the
runners is going on therein; and the usual tools, such as a shovel
and brush, which he requires to use, may be lodged on supporting
hooks within the said enclosing vessel; so that he can take hold of
one or other of them, and use the same in the usual manner when
and as often as he may require, by putting his arm through a hole
in the side of the said vessel into a loose sleeve of leather or india
rubber attached to the border of the said hole, and passing his hand
into a glove at the end of such sleeve, which, by its looseness and
flexibility, will allow him to work with such tool in the usual
manner, seeing through the glass or tale what he is doing therewith,
as if there was no enclosure around the runners; but the said sleeve
and glove prevent any escape of gas from the enclosing vessel
through the said hole at which the man introduces his hand and arm
into the vessel, so as to work in the usual manner with his tool
therein; and there may be as many of such holes with sleeves, and
gloves, as he can require. And in order to introduce water for

page_text: wetting the mixed ingredients for the gunpowder, as is usually
done, the requisite quantity of water may be poured into a funnel
at the upper part of the enclosing vessel, so as to run down through
the tube of that funnel into a suitable vessel fastened at the top of
the vertical axis in the centre thereof, and revolving therewith, and
having a pipe descending from it down towards the bed with a per-
forated nosle like that of a watering pot at the lower end of the
pipe; which nosle will sprinkle the water on the mixed ingredients
on the bed; and the nosle being carried round in a circular orbit
along with the revolving motion of the vertical axes and the pair of
runners, will be distributed over the said mixed ingredients all
round the bed in a more complete manner than is usually done by
means of a watering pot which the workman holds in his hand for
sprinkling the mixed ingredients. The gas is to be introduced into
the said inclosing vessel at the lowest part of the space inclosed by
means of a suitable pipe or pipes; and stop cock or cocks, from the
apparatus or gas holder wherein the gas is stored after it has been pre-
pared; and adequate apertures must be left open in the upper part of
the said enclosing vessel for permitting the escape of the atmospheric
air wherewith it will be filled at the commencement; but the gas
entering with rapidity through the pipe or pipes, and stop cock or
cocks, into the lowest part of the inclosed space, will displace the
atmospheric air therefrom through the said apertures at the upper
part of the said space; and when it is seen, by the quantity of
gas which has gone out of the gas holder, that the enclosed space
must have become quite filled with gas, then the stop cock or cocks
and the said apertures should be closed; which latter may be done
by shutting down over those apertures as many simple leather flap
valves loaded with weights, and then the runners on edge may be
put in motion for commencing therewith the operation of incorpo-
rating and grinding of the ingredients within the atmosphere of gas
contained in the enclosed space; and all that can be required to be
done by the workman during the operation in aid thereof, may be per-
formed by putting his hand or hands through the sleeves and gloves
in manner aforesaid. A similar mode of enclosion by a.vessel which is

page_text: suspended, so as to be drawn up and let down as aforesaid, may be
used for retaining an atmosphere of gas around other machinery
used in the preparation of gunpowder; such, for instance, as the
press, wherein the gunpowder, after the grinding and incorporation,
is pressed into solid cakes; or the revolving barrels, wherein powder
is glazed by a motion very similar to that of churning for butter in
a revolving barrel churn; or the said machinery, or other machinery,
may be inclosed within a box, case, or small room, or compartment
of such a room, capable of containing gas, with such doors for
opening to give access to the interior as may be necessary. This
will be suitable for the granulating machinery with revolving
rollers for breaking the pressed cake of gunpowder into grains;
also for the dusting machines, which operate with a cylindrical bag
of fine woven cloth, such as is used in dressing flour; or else with a
cylinder of fine wire cloth mounted around a revolving axis slightly
inclined to the horizon, so as to revolve with that axis, and the
gunpowder being supplied to the highest end within the revolving
cylinder of cloth or of wire. The dust and small particles of powder
pass through the interstices of the cloth or wire, and the larger
grains proceed down the inclination of the revolving cylinder and
out at the lowest end thereof. Such dusting machines are usually
closed within a case, to keep the dust from flying about; and a
similar case being made close to retain the gas, will serve to keep an
atmosphere thereof around the powder, and the same of the apart-
ments or compartments in powder magazines, where great quantities
of gunpowder is stored in barrels. The space around these barrels
may be filled with gas in the manner above described; and the
vacant space usually left in each barrel above the powder, as well as
in the interstices between the grains of the powder, may be filled
with gas instead of common air, by means of a flexible pipe with a
cock to supply the gas from a long fixed pipe communicating with
the gas holder. The gas being thereby forced into the lowest part
of the empty cask, will displace the atmospheric air from the interior
of the cask, and fill the same with gas; and then the powder may
be filled into the cask as usual; and after that a block of wood, of

page_text: a size nearly sufficient to fill the vacant space in the barrel above
the powder, may be put therein over the powder, and will displace
any remnant of the common air; and that block being slowly lifted
out again when more gas is supplied through the pipe above the
powder, and beneath the block, that gas will fill up all the space,
and the barrel may be immediately afterwards closed up as usual;
or each barrel, wherein gunpowder has been packed in the usual
manner, may be afterwards enclosed within another rather larger
barrel, leaving a space all round between the two to be filled with gas
in the manner hereinbefore described, and then the outer barrel to
be closed up. And note; in order more completely to remove the
common atmospheric air from any of the places where the gas is to
be introduced to form an artificial atmosphere as aforesaid, the air
may be drawn out from such place by a suitable branch or branches
from a pipe leading to a revolving fanner, or other like machine,
which will draw away air through such pipe, and its branch or
brunches, at the same time when gas is in the act of being supplied
by another pipe to the place from which the air is being so drawn
out. And by the saine means gas may, if required, be drawn out
from such place when it is about to be opened, or is in the act of
being opened; and thereby needless dispersion of the gas may be
avoided. The preparation of the gas by the combustion of coke or
charcoal, with or without mixture of chalk or carbonate of lime, may
be performed by enclosing those matters within an iron retort set
in a furuace, so as to be heated by fire applied to the outside of the
retort, in a manner very similar to the retorts used for making gas
for illumination; but the retort should have a passage or side pipe
for the introduction of atmospheric air to support the combustion
of the coke or charcoal which is enclosed within the retort, that
passage extending along the lowest part of the retort, with holes out
of that passage to let the air pass up therefrom into the interior of
the retort, at regular distances apart all the length of the retort ;
the air being supplied to the said passage by an air pipe from an
inverted moveable vessel or air holder suspended over water, similar
to the gas holder, commonly used for receiving and storing gas for

page_text: illumination, and commonly called a gasometer, rising and falling in
a water tank, with suspending chains and balance weights. The
said air holder being drawn up, by pulling down the balance weight
of its suspending chain, so as to raise it to its highest position, but
without quitting the water, will become filled with atmospheric air
through suitable inverted valves at the upper part of it, and the
balance weight being less than the weight of the moveable air
holder, it will, when allowed to descend again, act with its un-
balanced weight upon the included air, to force the same out
through the aforesaid pipe and passage beneath the retort, and up
therefrom through the aforesaid holes into the midst of the coke or
charcoal which is shut up within the interior of the retort, and with
an equal distribution of the air to all parts of that interior.
The
gas produced by the combustion is conveyed away by a pipe from
the upper part of the retort, to be received in another similar gas
holder in the same manner as gas for illumination. The heat given
to the retort by the fire beneath it will, under these circumstances,
cause the coke or charcoal to burn and consume the oxygen gas
contained in the air, or rather to convert that oxygen gas into car-
bonic acid gas, by the combination of the carbon of the coke or
charcoal with the said oxygen gas of the atmospheric air; which
combination is the combustion of the coke or charcoal. The nitrogen
gas, or incombustible portion of the atmospheric air, will remain in-
termixed with the carbonic acid gas so produced, as well as with
any further carbonic acid gas that may be expelled by the heat from
any chalk or carbonate of lime which may have been intermixed with
coke or charcoal when it was put into the retort; and the mixture
of nitrogen gas and carbonic acid gas is conveyed away by a suit-
able gas pipe from the upper part of the retort nearly in the same
manner as gas for illumination is conveyed from the retort to the
gas holder wherein it is to be received and stored.
Tlie apparatus
now describing being provided with a similar gas holder, also some
such refrigerating vessels as are commonly used in gas lighting,
may be interposed between the retort and that gas holder, for the
gas to pass through to such an extent as may be needful for

page_text: effectually cooling the hot gas, and receiving any liquid which it may
deposit in cooling. And after the cooled gas has been received into
and stored within the said gas holder (by raising the saine up out of
the water in its pit or tanks, as usual in gas lighting), then the
cooled and stored gas may be drawn off therefrom through any such
pipes with branches and stop cocks, as may be requisite for convey-
ing it to the several places where it is to be used for forming arti-
ficial atmospheres in manner aforesaid. And for further and more
complete explanation of the manner of carrying my said improvements
into effet, in some particular cases which will most commonly occur
in practice, I have in the annexed Drawings represented the modes
of application which I recommend as preferable in such cases. But
I wish it to be understood, that the said Drawings are only intro-
duced herein by way of examples of those particular cases; and that
the mode of application there represented will require to be varied
and modified to suit other cases, and to adapt my improvements to
to all the various kinds of machinery and apparatus, or parts of
such, which may be found in common use, as well as to new
machinery which may be constructed with the intention of applying
my said improvements thereto; all which variations and modifica-
tions can be easily made by a competent workman, who has made
himsel fully acquainted with the several examples of applications
hereinbefore described, and represented in the said Drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS HEREUNTO ANNEXED.
Sheet I., contains some examples of the applications of water.
Figure I, is a vertical section of a shaft or upright axis A, A,
having a hollow passage through its interior from top to bottoin,
and down into, but not quite through, its lower pivot a, which is
fastened into its lower end, and works in the brass or gun metal
step or bearing b, to support the axis A, A. The upper end of the
axes is sustained in a bearing B, shewn in plan in Figure 2,
which bearing B, together with the step b, retains the axes A, A,
in its intended vertical position, but allows it to revolve. The
upper end of the axis is prolonged upwards above the bearing

page_text: B, by the tube and funnel C, which is fastened to and revolves
with the axes, into the upper end of which funnel water is poured
through the regulating cock d, from a pipe of supply é: The water so
introduced into the upper end of the hollow passage through the
axis A, A, keeps the rubbing part that is within the bearing B,
cool, and, descending to the lower end, also keeps the lower pivot a,
cool. The said water descends very near to the bottom of the
hollow within the pivot d, and then ascends through a small central
tube f of thin inetal, which makes an elbow bend, and passes
through to the outside to form the lateral spout g, at which the
water makes its escape, and is caught in a circular gutter or
trough D, D; from the bottom part of which it runs away by a waste
pipe E. The said gutter D, D; is at the upper part of a hollow space
for water in the lower bearing F; wherein the step b, is fixed. That
water does not get to the rubbing surfaces of the pivot a, and its
step b, but oil is to be applied thereto as usual. The upper bearing
B, is also made with a hollow in it for water to keep it cool; the water
being introduced through a pipe h, and conveyed away by another pipe
i; which latter may ascend to form the pipe l, which pours the water
over into the funnel C; and the saine water will pass in succession
through the passage in the upper bearing B, then through the
hollow within that part of the axis that is within that bearing, and
then through the hollow within the lower pivot d; and lastly,
through the hollow in the lower bearing F, around the step b,
wherein the lower pivot works. The water must be kept pumped
up, or otherwise supplied, into an elevated cistern, from which the
supply pipe h, proceeds. m, is a hoop around the lower end of the
axis A, to strengthen it. The dotted line n, n; shews how an ex-
ternal pipe may be applied to convey water from the hollow within
the upper part of the axis that is within the bearing B, down to the
hollow in the lower part, and within the pivot a; in which case the
intermediate part of the axis A, A, need not be hollow. The
pipe n, n, would pass through or between the arms of any
that may be fastened on the axis A, A. Figure 3, is a vertical
section of a horizontal axis A, A, with a hollow through it for
wheel

page_text: water, which is introduced at one end pivot a, by means of the
revolving spiral water scoop r, which, as it is carried round with the
axis, dips its large open end into the water contained in the water
space around the bearing B, and raises up some water at each
revolution, so that it will run into the hollow within the axis, and as
much water will pass out at the other end pivot at s, into the water
space around the other bearing F. Figure 4, 5, and 6, shew the
bearing B, or F, which are both alike; and the hollow within them
for water is sufficiently shewn, and also the part of that space which
is open above for the revolving scoop r, to operate in. The said
water space within one bearing B, must be kept constantly supplied
to overflowing by a supply pipe 7, from the elevated reservoir; and
the surplus water must be carried away from the like space in the
other bearing F, by a waste over flow pipe E.
Sheet II. represents an example of the application of water and of
gas to runners upon edge, used for incorporating and grinding together
the ingredients for making gunpowder. Figure 7, is a lateral eleva-
tion, and Figure 8, a horizontal plan of two pairs of such runners on
edge worked by the same water wheel A, with intervening bevil wheel
work B, C, C, and E, F, as is plainly shown in those Figures, all the
wheel work being beneath the level of the floor G, G, of the room wherein
the runners are situated. The vertical axis H, H, of each pair of
runners is sustained by a pivot a, at its lower end, and a bearing b,
near the middle of its length. The whole of the space beneath the
floor G, G, may be kept filled with water, the cog wheels and axes
working therein; or, instead of water, the said space may be kept
filled with gas; or the step or lower bearing a, for each of the up-
right axes H, H, being at the bottom of an iron vessel Y, that
yessel may be kept filled with water to surround the lower pivot a,
whilst the rest of the space beneath the floor G, G, is kept filled with
gas; or each of the upright axes H, H, may have water applied.
thereto, and to its bearing, in the manner shewn at Figures 1, and 2.
Sheet I., and the space beneath the floor G, G, may be kept filled
with gas.
Figures 9, 10, and 11, Sheet III., represent (on a large scale)

page_text: one pair of the runners on edge, H, being the upright axis. E, F,
the mitre bevel wheels; I, is the bed stone; K, and L, the edge
stones; but cast iron disks may be used instead of stones. d, d, is
the horizontal axis of the two runners K, and L, passing through the
centres of both, the middle part of the horizontal axis d, d, being
received in an opening across the upper end of the upright axis H, so
as to compel the axes d, d, to go round, and to carry both the runners
K, and L, round, when the upright axis H, revolves; but the axes d, d,
is at liberty to rise or fall in the said opening according to the
thickness of the powder on the bed I, over which the runners are at
the time passing. The bed I, rests on a strong support M,
Figure 9, in the middle of which is the bearing b, e, e. Figures 9,
and 11, is a circular gutter for the reception of a circular rim
fastened around the axis H, and revolving therewith; and water
may be kept in the gutter to make a tight fitting to that rim, or a
soft packing of damp cloth or india rubber may be used. N, N, is
the kirb or circular wooden border around the bed I. O, O,
Figures 9, and 11, is the circular or polygonal gutta around the
circumference of N, N, for receiving and making a close joint with
thic lower edge of the enclosing vessel P, P, which is made of metal
or wood, with windows p, p, but close for retaining an atmosphere
of gas around the runners; f, is one of the branches and stop stocks,
through which gas is to be introduced from a main gas pipe, g, and
at h, k, are valves to permit the escape of the common air, when
the gas is introduced, or for that purpose there may may be a pipe
leading to a revolving fanner, as already mentioned, with a branch
or branches ascending within the inclosing vessel P, P, to near the
highest part thereof for withdrawing the common air as fast as the
gas is introduced, or for withdrawing the air when required; Q, is
the suspending chain which, after passing over pullies, has a weight
suspended to the other end of it, for balancing the greater part
of the weight of the enclosing vessel P, P. k, k, k, k, Figure 10,
are the holes with a sleve and glove to each for the workmen to
put his hands in, as already stated, to work with tools l, m, and n,
which are shewn in Figure 10, as being lodged on hooks inside the

page_text: inclosing vessel P, P, to be out of the way when not wanted, but
ready for the man to take hold of through one or other of the gloves
when wanted; R, Figure 11, is one of the scrapers called ploughs,
which is carried round with the revolving motion of the axis H, to
sweep around over the bed, and remove the gunpowder from the
central part of the bed outwards, and S, is the other plough together in
the gunpowder from the outer part of the bed towards the centre,
T. Figure 11, is the funnel through which water is poured when
required for damping the gunpowder, and it runs into the vessel V,
at the upper end of the vertical axis H; and thence down the pipe t,
in order to be scattered through the holes of a perforated nosle in
drops upon the powder as the said nosle v, is carried rounnлop r
the powder. W, Figure 9, is an opening in the circular kirb N, N, at
the circumference of the bed I, which may be used for discharging
the powder which is on the bed I, into a vessel X, when the plough
S, is lifted up and kept out of action, and the other plough R, acts
to remove the powder from the central part of the bed outwards, or,
if preferred, the inclosing vessel P, P, may be lifted up after the
motion of the runners is stopped, and the gas withdrawn, and then
the powder removed from the bed I, in the usual manner. The gas
may be withdrawn (every time that the enclosing vessel is about to
be lifted up) by the aforesaid branches and pipe and revolving
fanner.
Sheet IV., represents an example of the application of water and of
gas to a granulating or corning machine, by action whereof the
cakes into which gunpowder has been previously pressed arc broken
into small pieces by being passed through between pairs of revolving
rollers, and those pieces sorted into sizes by being passed through
woven wire cloth; Figure 12, is a horizontal plan; Figure 13, a
side elevation, Figure 14, a transverse vertical section, and Figure 15,
an end elevation; A, B, Figure 13, is an endless band circulating over.
revolving rollers to convey the cakes of powder up to the first pair
C, D, of revolving rollers, between which the said cakes are partially
broken, and the pieces drop down into the hollow revolving cylinder
E, E, of woven wire cloth, at one end thereof, and in passing

page_text: along all the length to the other end thereof, the smallest pieces
of the powder which passed through the wire descend to the
canister M. But the larger pieces going out at the end of the
cylinder E, E, pass through the second pair of revolving rollers
F, G, between which the pieces of powder are broken smaller, and
drop into one end of a second hollow revolving cylinder, H, H, and
the small pieces of powder which passed through the wire of the
second cylinder descend to the canister N. The larger pieces going
out of the other end of that cylinder H, they pass through the
third pair of revolving rollers I, K, between which they are further
broken, and drop into the lowest revolving cylinder L, L, and the small
pieces which pass out at the end thereof descend into the canister
O. The horizontal axis of three wire cylinders E, H, and L, are
desposed one above another in the same vertical plane as shewn at
R, R, R, Figure 14, and are connected by equal spur wheels
P, P, P, one on the end of each axis, and all three wheels gearing
together; as appears dotted in Figure 15, motion being given to the
middle of the three axis by a pair of mitre wheels, as shewn dotted
in Figure 13, and a spur pinion on the horizontal cross axis of onc
wheel of that pair, derives motion from a main spur wheel Y, on
the principal axis Z, which axis is turned round by the millwork,
to give motion to the whole machine. The main spur wheel Y,
turns three other spur pinions on the ends of the axes of the three
rollers D, G, and K, aforesaid, so as to actuate all three pair of rollers.
The endless band B, derives its motion from a spur pinion on the
axis of the roller D, turning a spur wheel on the axis of the
uppermost roller over which the endless band circulates. The
application of water to the above machine is shewn in Figure 14,
where Q, Q, is a tank or cistern (also dotted in Figure 13)
containing water, wherein all the three spur wheels P, P, P, are
wholly immersed, and their three axes R, R, R, pass through one
side of the cistern Q, Q, with collars or stuffing boxes, packed with
hemp or leather around each axis to prevent any escape of water,
and the axes R, R, R, are hollow throughout their length in order
that water from the cistern Q, Q, may run through them to keep them

page_text: cool at their bearing parts at their extreme ends and some water
escapes through small central holes in the said ends into the funnels
S, of three waste pipes which will convey the water away; a constant
supply of water is poured into the cistern Q, Q, through a cock froin a
supply dipe. The main spur wheel Y, and the four spur pinions
around it, which it turns, are all to be included in like manner in a
cistern similar to Q, Q. The axes of the said four pinions (three of
which are also the axes of the rollers D, G, and K,) pass through four
stuffing boxes at one side of the said cistern, and the principal axis
Z, of the main spur wheel Y, passes through a similar stuffing box
in the other side of the same cistern. The several axes of the said
four pinions, and the axis Z, of the main spur wheel Y, may be hollow
for water to run through in the same manner as above stated
respecting the axis R, R, R, in Figure 14. The application of gas
to the same machine, is by enclosing the whole within a case T, T, T,
capable of holding gas. The casing being provided with a suffi-
cient number of glasses for the admission of light, and doors to give
access to the machinery, but all such openings to shut close,
suitable hoppers are to be provided at U, U, U, with flexible bags
at the bottom of them, for introducing the powder cake into the
machine, without permitting any escape of gas, and separate
chambers, with doors X, X, X. Figure 13, are to be constructed
for the reception of the three canisters M, N, O, with communications
to the space within the casing. That space is to be filled up with
gas by the pipe and cock V, and the atmospheric air is to be allowed
to inake its escape at the valve W, until the casing becomes filled
with gas; and note, as fast as the gas enters through the pipe and
cock V, the air may be drawn out at that valve W, by a branch or
branches of a pipe proceeding therefrom to a revolving fanner, or
other machine capable of drawing out air as already mentioned
generally, and also particularly mentioned in the discription of the
valves h, h, Figures 9, and 11, Sheet III.; and when the canisters
M, N, and O, become filled with powder, and require to be removed,
the said communication is to be closed between the space within
the casing and that particular chamber belonging to the canister

page_text: which is to be removed, and the door ✗, of that chamber being
opened, a close fitting cover is to be applied on the canister, and
it is to be removed and another empty canister put into its place,
the door X, closed, and the said communication opened again; then
another full canister in like manner exchanged for an empty one.
Note. The casing T, T, may be made in two parts, an upper and
a lower, and may be suspended in the manner of the enclosing vessel
P, P, Sheet III., so as to lift up in order to give access to the
machinery. The junction between the said upper and lower parts
being made as already explained in reference to Sheet III., and, note,
it is not intended to describe or claim any new improvement in the
machinery for making or treating gunpowder represented in the
Drawings, Sheets II., III., and IV., (and V.,) but only to explain
how water and gas may be applied to such machinery for the purpose
of diminishing the risk of explosions therein, and in any other
similar machinery.
Sheet V., Figure 16, represents an example of the application
of water and of gas to a dusting machine for sifting gunpowder
in order to remove small particles or dust from amongst the
grains which the powder is intended to have. Figure 16, is a
longitudinal vertical section. A, A, is a revolving cylinder of woven
wire cloth, with its axis B, B, somewhat inclined to the horizontal.
The powder which is to be dusted is introduced from a hopper D,
into the highest end, and by the revolving motion of the cylinder
A, A, the powder is carried along the wire cloth, and the small
grains or dust of the powder passes through, but the larger grains
pass on, and fall out at the lowest end of the cylinder into a funnel
d, which conducts it down into a suitable canister E. The axis B,
is turned round by a spur wheel F, on its highest end, worked by
another larger spur wheel G, on the principal axis H, which is
turned round by the mill work. The large spur wheel G, also turns
a similar wheel to F, belonging to another like dusting machine,
standing side by side with that represented, and therefore hidden
behind it. The application of water to this machine is the saine as
already described in respect to Sheet IV. The spur wheels G, and

page_text: F, and the other wheel aforesaid, like F, are enclosed within a
cistern Q, Q, containing water, wherein all the three wheels are
wholly immersed, and the axes B, B, and H, of those wheels pass
through stuffing boxes in the sides of the cistern Q. Also the said
axes are hollow to allow water to flow through them, and it
escapes
from a small hole in the centre of the lowest end into the funnel S,
of a waste pipe, Figure 16, shews how pivots at the extreme ends
of the axes B, and H, may be sustained in suitable bearings T, and
V, wholly immersed in the water of the cistern Q, Q, instead of
the stuffing boxes forming the bearings, as represented in Sheet IV.
But note, such end pivots might be applied in Sheet IV. There are
moveable covers t, and v, Sheet V., opposite to each end pivot at T,
and V, to give access to the said bearings T, or V, when required.
The application of gas in Sheet V., is the same as already explained.
The casing N, N, is made close, to retain te gas which is introduced
by the pipe and cock w, and the atmospheric air escapes at the
valves W. The canister E, is placed in a small separate chamber,
having its door and communication m, with the said space within
the casing N, N, for the purpose already explained, in reference to
Sheet IV.
Sheets VI., and VII., explain the apparatus for preparing the
mixture of nitrogen gas and carbonic acid gas, from the combus-
tion of well burnt coke or charcoal (either with or without chalk
or carbonate of lime,) in manner aforesaid. Figure 17, Sheet VI.,
being a lateral elevation, and Figure 18, Sheet VII, a horizontal
plan, A, A, are two retorts, set horizontally side by side in the
brickwork B, of the furnace in which fire is made to heat the retorts.
C, is the air holder for the atmospheric air which is to be used for
the combustion, and D, the gas holder for receiving and holding the
mixture of gasses, which is obtained by the operation. Both air
holder and gas holder are constructed nearly alike, being large move-
able vessels C, and D, close at all their upper parts, but open at
their lower parts, which are received into water contained in the
pits, or tanks E, and F. The weight of the moveable vessels C,
and D, is suspended by chains a, b, passing-over pullies e, f; and

page_text: having balance weights at the ends of those chains, all which
being the same as commonly used in gas holders for gas
lighting requires no particular description, except that the
balance weight of the air holder C, is considerably less than
would balance the weight of the suspended air holder C, so
that it will have a tendency to descend into the water E, in order
thereby to expel the air from within it, and the air holder C, will
require manual force to raise it up out of the water, by pulling
down its balance weight. Also it has inverted air valves g, g, in its
upper part, which will admit atmospheric air to fill its interior, as
fast as it rises out of the water E, when it is so raised up, which
valves will close again by action of springs or weights, as soon as
the suspended vessel C, ceases to ascend, or begins to descend. Also
the pit or tank F, for water, into which the gas holder D, is to
descend, is filled up in the interior with brickwork G, or with a
smaller metal tank, so as to reduce the space F, for water to a
narrow annular channel just sufficient to receive the suspended
vessel without touching, but no more, in order that the gas may not
be exposed to contact with any considerable surface of water, as is
the case in ordinary gas holders, and in the air holder C. The air
pipe H, h, for conveying the atmospheric air from the interior of the
air holder C, descends at H, and then, after passing horizontally,
ascends again at h, to join to a horizontal cross pipe i, which com-
municates by branches k, k, with the retorts, at one end thereof, each
of those branches descending to join to the end of that pipe or
passage hereinbefore mentioned, as extending along beneath the
lowest part of each retort, and as being in communication with the.
interior of the retort, by several holes at equal distances apart,
along the length of the lowest part of the retort, in order to intro-
duce the air through those holes with uniformity at all parts of the
interior of the retort. The hot gas resulting from the combustion
is conveyed away from the retorts by branches I, l, from the other
end thereof, into a horizontal cross pipe L,, which connets by a
descending pipe M, with refrigerating vessels N, O, which are water
vessels, into the first of which N, the pipe M, may descend under.

page_text: the water it contains, and the second O, may contain pipes or
passages for the gas; those pipes or passages being immersed in the
water it contains, in order that the gas may become cooled in passing
through those pipes or passages which expose a large surface to the
water; and any vapour which the hot gas might contain, and which
would be deposited in a liquid state during such cooling, will remain
in the water contained in first vessel N, or clse at the lowest parts
of the said pipes or passages in the second vessel O, and may be
drawn off therefrom through suitable cocks or syphon pipes. And
the gas may pass into one end of a third vessel P, which is exposed
to the air without containing water; and from the other end of that
vessel the gas may descend by a pipe Q, R, which descends at Q,
outside of the pit or tank F, and then, after passing horizontally,
ascends again at R, to communicate with the interior of the gas
holder D. The ends of the retorts are made to open with doors S, S,
to introduce the coke or charcoal, and chalk, or carbonate of lime,
if any such is used, in which case it should be well mixed up with
the coke or charcoal, and after the retorts are so filled, the doors are
closed and luted as usual in making gas. T, T, are the fire-doors of
the furnaces at which fuel is introduced for heating the retorts, with
their contents; and when by action of the fire beneath them, they
are become thoroughly red hot, then the air holder C, which had
been previously kept up immoveably at its highest position, is left
to descend in order to force the air to pass in a gentle current
through the heated coke or charcoal in the retorts, for causing
combustion thereof, and the production of gas, as already explained.
The balance weight of the air holder C, must be regulated, or there
may
be a regulating cock in the air pipe h, or each of the branches
k, k, to limit the passage of the air through the coke or charcoal, to
such a rate as that all its oxygen will be completely converted into
carbonic acid gas, by the combustion that is at the time going on
within the retorts. The air holder C, being marked with a divided
scale, its descent through the divisions thereof will indicate the
quantity of air that is passed through the retorts in a given time.
The gas which is received and stored within the gas nolder D, is

page_text: conveyed away therefrom when wanted, to the several places where
the gas is to be supplied, for forming the artificial atmospheric, as
already explained. Having now described my said improvements,
I, the said John Blyth, do hereby declare that the new Invention
whereof the exclusive use is granted to me by the Letters Patent
herein before recited, consists: First, in the Improvements herein-
before described of applying water to those parts of machinery used
in the manufacture or preparation of gunpowder or other explosive
substances, which parts are subject to friction or rubbing, (and con-
sequently to heating by excess of such friction), in order by such
application of water to keep such parts cool, and avoid or diminish
the risk of explosion from undue friction and heating of such
rubbing parts. The said applications being made either by total
immersion of the rubbing parts under water, or by internal appli-
cation of currents of water through hollow passages, within the
rubbing parts, either the moving or the fixed rubbing parts, or
both as may be preferred; examples of which applications have
been hereinbefore described and in part represented in the Drawings
hereunto annexed, but which may require such modifications to suit
particular cases, and parts of machinery, as any competent workman
will be able to make after having read this Specification. But, note,
I make no claim to any such application of water, except for the
purpose of diminishing the risk of explosion of gunpowder, or
other explosive substances. Secondly, in the Improvement herein-
before described, of applying. gas or gases incapable of supporting
combustion, so as to form artificial atmospheres around gunpowder
or other explosive substances, or around those parts of machinery
or apparatus used in the manufacture or preparation or stowing or
keeping of gunpowder, or other explosive substances, which parts
are subject to friction or rubbing, or which parts are directly opera-
tive upon, or in proximity to, or in contact with, the gunpowder or
explosive substance, in order by such artificial atmospheres of gas
to prevent any transmission of fire to the gunpowder, or other
explosive substance, which is included in such artificial atmospheres,
and to prevent fire taking place by colission of particles of gritty

page_text: matter which may by accident get into the the gunpowder or other
explosive substance, or into the machinery or parts thereof, which is
or are included within such artificial atmospheres, examples of which
applications have been hereinbefore described and in part represented
in the Drawings hereunto annexed, but which may require such
modification to suit particular cases and situations as any competent
workman will be able to make after having read this Specification.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Blyth have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of June, Onc
thousand eight hundred and forty six.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Nineteenth day of June,
in the ninth year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the
said John Blyth came before our said Lady the Queen, in Her Chan-
cery, and acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all and every
thing therein contained and specified, in form above written, and
also the Instrument aforesaid was stamped, according to the tenor
of the Statute made in the fifty-fifth year of the reign of His late
Majesty, King George the Third.
Inrolled the Twentieth day of June, One thousand eight hun- 2
dred and forty-six.