Improvements in Explosive Compounds.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Explosive Compounds.
1, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of 52 Chancery Lane, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which
has been communicated to me from abroad by Addison Crittenden Rand, of
23 Park Place, in the City, County and State of New York, United States of
America, Manufacturer), and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
This invention consists in an explosive compound composed of a solid oxidant
ingredient and a fluid combustion ingredient; the said fluid ingredient being
incorporated with the powdered mass of the solid ingredient, which is usually
effected by causing the pulverent mass to absorb the fluid, and which may be doné
at the time and place of using the explosive.
Chlorate of potash, or its equivalents, perchlorate or permanganate of potash, in
a powdered state, either alone, or in mixture with mineral grains, as hereinafter
described, may be used as the solid ingredient; and a fluid hydrocarbon may be
used as the liquid ingredient.
Nitro-benzol may be used as the fluid hydrocarbon; or, which I find preferable,
the light-oil of coal-tar, obtained by the distillation of coal-oil, and refined, con-
taining benzol, toluol and xylol, in varying proportions, and which is nitrated to
have a specific gravity of from twenty-four to thirty-four degrees, Baume, may be
employed as the fluid ingredient.
When the light-oil of coal-tar, nitrated to have a specific gravity of twenty-eight
degrees, Baume, is used as the fluid hydrocarbon, (and I find this nitration of said
oil to be preferable for the purposes of this invention,) one part of said nitrated
oil, by weight, to four parts of the powdered oxidant ingredient, are the theoretical
proportions in which these ingredients are best combined to constitute an
explosive; but variations may be made, somewhat, from these theoretical pro-
portions, without substantially altering the character of the composition as an
explosive.
It is desirable to constitute the oxidant ingredient of a mixture of grains
of a dense, non-porous mineral substance with the powdered chlorate of potash.
The mineral substance may be one which is to some degree an oxidant, such
as manganese peroxide, or it may be one which is wholly inert in the compound.
A mixture of equal parts, by weight, of powdered chlorate of potash, and grains
of manganese peroxide, with which mixture is incorporated fifteen per cent., by
weight, of nitro-benzol forms an effective explosive. The proportion of manganese
peroxide may be increased in said mixture to about sixty per cent. thereof, or
decreased to about forty per cent., thereby diminishing or augmenting, respectively,
the dynamic force of the explosive.
A mixture of sixty per cent. of powdered chlorate of potash, by weight, with
forty per cent. of grains of an inert mineral substance, with which is incorporated
the aforesaid proportion of nitro-benzol, also forms an effective explosive. The
proportion of inert mineral grains in said mixture may be varied, somewhat, from
those stated, thereby varying the dynamic force of the explosive.
The oxidant ingredient of the compound is usually placed in a porous cartridge-
case and therein is caused to absorb the fluid hydrocarbon in the proper
proportion.
The mineral grains, when present, separate the powdered chlorate of potash in
the cartridge into groups or small masses, and also form interstices between said
masses; whereby the fluid quickly distributes itself throughout the cartridge; and,
whereby, when the cartridge is ignited, the heat developed quickly traverses

page_text: through the cartridge and ensures an explosion of the entire mass thereof. The
disintegration of the grains by the explosion causes attrition among the particles
thereof, thus developing additional heat and assisting in the completeness of
the explosion; while, when manganese peroxide is used to form the grains, the
particles into which the grains are disintegrated by the explosion, will not only
assist in developing heat by the aforesaid attrition, but will also yield some oxygen
under the action of the developed heat, thereby promoting the effectiveness of the
explosion.
When the light-oil of coal-tar, which is nitrated to have a specific gravity
between twenty-four and twenty-eight degrees, or to have a specific gravity
between twenty-eight and thirty-four degrees, Baume, is used as the fluid
mgredient, the proportion thereof to the oxidant may be, desirably, varied, in
the explosive compound; that is to say when the nitrated oil of the lower
degree of specific gravity is used, the quantity thereof in the mixture with the
oxidant may be proportionately decreased; and when such oil of the higher degree
of specific gravity is used, the proportion thereof in the mixture with the oxidant
may be proportionately increased, and an economically effective explosive be
obtained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. An explosive compound composed of an oxidant, such as chlorate of potash,
in a powdered state, and the light-oil of coal-tar nitrated to have a specific
gravity of from twenty-four degrees to thirty-four degrees, Baume, incorporated, in
about the proportions stated, in the pulverent mass of said oxidant, substantially as
specified.
2. A fluid hydrocarbon for use as the liquid ingredient of an explosive com-
pound, in mixture with a powdered solid oxidant ingredient, containing benzol,
toluol and xylol, in varying proportions, and nitrated to have a specific gravity
of about twenty-eight degrees, Baume, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
3. An explosive compound composed of an oxidant, such as chlorate of potash,
in a powdered state, and a dense, non-porous mineral substance, in the form of
grains, said grains being distributed, in about the proportions named, throughout
the mass of the powdered oxidant; and a fluid hydrocarbon, such as nitro-
benzol, incorporated, in about the proportions stated, with the mixture of
said oxidant and said mineral grains, substantially as and for the purpose
⚫ specified.
4. An explosive compound composed of an oxidant, such as chlorate of potash,
in a powdered state, and grains of manganese peroxide distributed, in about the
proportions named, throughout said powdered oxidant, and a fluid hydrocarbon,
such as nitro-benzol, incorporated, in about the proportions stated, in the
mixture of said oxidant and said grains, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
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