IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS AND IN CARTRIDGES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, GEORGE GUILLAUME ANDRÉ of Havelock Cottage Dorking in the County of
Surrey Electrician and Chemist do hereby declare the nature of said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS AND IN CARTRIDGES " to be as
follows:-
According to this invention I prepare a compound which when liquefied by heat
is rendered available as an ingredient or element in the compounding of explosives
by saturation of certain oxidants in the said compound when liquefied. I compound
paraffine wax and linseed oil in about equal proportions by bulk or weight under
a gentle heat and while stirring. When this compound has cooled down it has
about the consistency of butter in cold weather. This compound which I call
"the combustible" forms a suitable and valuable element in the compounding of
various explosives and has the peculiar property of retaining its consistency to a
great extent when mixed with hydrocarbon liquids. In order to cheapen this
combustible I may without material detriment mix it with hydrocarbons such as
petroleum even to the extent of about four or five times its own bulk.
I employ this combustible for the manufacture of blasting gunpowder in the
following manner, I mix and incorporate saltpeter and sulphur in the usual
proportions and then granulate or pulverize the compound in the usual manner
now used for ordinary gun powder. I then make up this powder into permeable
cartridges and then soak them in a bath of the aforesaid combustible. I make this
bath by means of a hot water jacket.
When removed from the bath the contents of the cartridge will form a powerful
blasting compound in which the granules are coated and perineated with the
"combustible" and the interstices filled therewith. These cartridges may be
exploded by such fulminate detonators as are used for exploding gun cotton
compounds. Being a plastic mass it is conveniently applied to blasting holes of
irregular shape as it can be made to fill them; it is unaffected by moisture or
water; it has a very high specific gravity and therefore admits of concentrating
force in a much smaller space than ordinary blasting powder; it is perfectly safe
to handle and will not ignite by a flame unless exposed thereto for some time.
A small proportion of charcoal may be incorporated with the saltpeter and the
sulphur for facilitating the process of granulation and for rendering the powder
Drine 177

page_text: capable of being ignited by a common safety fuze. A cartridge filled with ordinary
gun powder may also with advantage be rendered quite waterproof by dipping it
in the aforesaid liquefied compound or combustible.
The saturating of the aforesaid compounds takes only about one to three
minutes all according to the size of the cartridge. The "combustible" is not
in itself explosive and may therefore be kept and transported with safety; it also
permanently retains its nature and form. The oxidants may also be kept and
transported without risk.
An important feature of this invention is that although the linseed and the
petroleum which constitute the main portion of the combustible are each naturally
liquid yet when combined in the manner before described they assume a semi-
solid state.

page_text: Improvements in Explosive Compounds and in Cartridges.
I, GEORGE GUILLAUME ANDRÉ of Havelock Cottage, Dorking in the County of
Surrey Electrician and Chemist do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS AND IN CARTRIDGES" and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
According to this Invention I prepare a compound which when liquefied by
heat is rendered available as an ingredient or element in the compounding of
explosives by saturation of certain oxidants that is to say nonliquid or dry
oxidants in the said compound when liquefied. I compound paraffine wax and
linseed oil or other vegetable drying oil in about equal proportions by bulk or
weight under a gentle heat and while stirring. When this compound has cooled
down it has about the consistency of butter in cold weather. The compound
which I call "the combustible" forms a suitable and valuable element in the
compounding of various explosives and has the peculiar property of retaining its
consistency to a great extent when mixed with hydrocarbon liquids. In order to
chenpen this combustible I may without material detriment mix it with hydro-
carbons such as petroleum even to the extent of about four or five times its own
bulk.
I employ this combustible for instance for the manufacture of blasting gunpowder
in the following manner, I mix and incorporate saltpeter and sulphur in the usual
proportions and then granulate or pulverize the compound in the usual manner
now used for ordinary gunpowder. I then make up this powder into permeable
cartridges and then soak them in a bath of the aforesaid combustible. I make this
bath by means of a hot water jacket.
When removed from the bath the contents of the cartridges will form a powerful
blasting compound in which the granules are coated and permeated with the
"combustible" and the interstices filled therewith. These cartridges may be
exploded by such fulminate detonators as are used for exploding guncotton
compounds. Being a plastic mass it is conveniently applied to blasting holes of
irregular shape as it can be made to fill them, it is unaffected by moisture or
water, it has a very high specific gravity and therefore admits of concentrating
force in a much smaller space than ordinary blasting powder; it is perfectly safe
to handle and will not ignite by a flame unless exposed thereto for some time.
A small proportion of charcoal may be incorporated with the saltpeter and the
sulphur for facilitating the process of granulation and for rendering the powder
capable of being ignited by a common safety fuze.
The saturating of the aforesaid solid compounds takes only about one to three
minutes all according to the size of the cartridge. The "combustible" is not in
itself explosive and may therefore be kept and transported with safety, it also
permanently retains its nature and form. The oxidants may also be kept and
transported without risk.
An important feature of this Invention is that although the linseed and the
petroleum which constitute the main portion of the combustible are each naturally
liquid yet when combined in the manner before described they assume a semi-
solid state.

page_text: A cartridge case filled with gunpowder or other granular explosive may also
with advantage be rendered waterproof by dipping in the liquefied compound or
combustible.
Having now particularly, described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. The use in the manufacture of blasting explosives of a combustible
ingredient such as herein described and which is of a semi-solid or stiff consistence
for the purpose of rendering the explosive safe for manufacture transport and use.
Second. The manufacture and use of a blasting cartridge consisting of a porous
envelope which contains the oxidizing ingredients of the explosive and which
together with the envelope is impregnated, with the herein before described
combustible ingredient while the latter is in a liquefied condition substantially
as set forth.
Third. The application of the semi-solid compound herein described for water-
proofing cartridges containing gunpowder or other granular explosive, as set forth.
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