US1169686A - Cartridge for exploding gasolene for breaking up land. - Google Patents

Description

J. F. SIMONDS.

CARTRIDGE ron EXPLODING GASOLENE FOR BREAKING UP LAND.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, l9l5.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

Zlrwmvtm; Simonds JUSTIN F. SIMONDS, OF RIVERDALE, MARYLAND.

CARTRIDGE FOR EXPLODING GASOLENE FOB BREAKING U]? LAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

Application filed June 25, 1915. Serial No. 36,274.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JUs'riN I SIMoNns, a citizen of the United States, residing at River-dale, in the county of Prince George and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cartridges for Exploding Gasolene for Breaking Up Land; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is an improved cartridge for exploding gasolene and adapted to be buried and exploded in soil for breaking up the soil for agricultural or horticultural purposes and to a greater depth than is practicable by the use of a plow or spade, the object of my invention being to provide an improved cartridge which is extremely cheap and simple and which is adapted for exploding the vapor of gasolene and hefice for the use of gasolene as an explosive agent in breaking up soil and enabling the same to be done very much more cheaply than is possible with the use of dynamite or other similar cartridges such as have been heretofore used for this purpose.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a vertical sectional View of a gasolene explosive cartridge constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view, on a smaller scale, showing the cartridge buried in the soil and provided with a charge of gasolene and with a percussion cap and fuse for igniting the charge and causing the cartridge to explode.

In the embodiment of my invention I provide a cartridge shell 1 which in practice is preferably cylindrical and is also preferably made of paper and at very slight expense. Any suitable material may be used within the scope of my invention and I would have it understood that I am not limited as to the particular material of which the shell is made. The shell is provided at its ends with heads. 2-3 which in practice are also preferably made of paper and inserted in the bore of the shell and secured thereto by a coating of a suitable material such for instance shellac varnish and which is indicated at the upper end of the cartridge at 4 and at the lower end of the cartridge at 5. The coating of shellac varnish is also applied externally of the cartridge shell at its lower end for a distance of about two inches more or less as shown, to make the lower portion of the cartridge waterproof. The intermediate portion of the cartridge is provided with outlet openings 6 suitably spaced and of which a suitable number may be provided.

In practice, when the cartridge, tube or shell is made of heavy straw board, two inches in diameter and nine inches long I extend the water proof coating 5 two inches above the lower end of the shell and make the openings 6 one fourth of an inch in diameter and about an inch apart. These proportions may be varied. The upper head 3' of the cartridge has a central opening 7, which is generally about one half an inch in diameter.

In the use of my improved cartridge a hole of the proper diameter and depth is bored in the earth either by means of an earth auger or a suitable iron bar and into the bottom of which hole I first pour two or three tablespoonfuls of gasolene. A like quantity of gasolene is poured into the cartridge shell through the opening 7 in the upper end thereof, a common blasting fuse 8 is inserted through the opening 7 and slot more than half way down into the cartridge shell and at the lower end of said blasting fuse there is an ordinary percussion cap 9.

The cartridge containing the gasolene with the fuse and percussion cap as above stated is lowered into the hole to the bottom, a wad 10 of paper, grass or other suitable material is then placed on the top of the cartridge to prevent the entrance of dirt thereinto and the hole is then filled with soil, 9. little at a time and tamped to make it solid to the surface. The vapor from the gasolene and the air within the shell form an'explosive mixture, some of which passes out of the shell through the openings 6 into the ground on all sides of the shell. The upper end of the fuse is then lighted and when it burns down to the percussion cap the latter explodes in the shell, thereby causing the explosive mixture in the shell and ground, to explode, the explosion being of such force as to loosen the ground for a considerable distance around the cartridge in every direction and very much more deeply and to a greater extent than can be done with a plow, hoe or spade. The openings 6 in the cartridge admit the entrance of air to mix with the vapor of the gasolene and form. the explosive mixture. \V1th1n the scope of my inventlon any sultable liquid hydrocarbon can be used.

Having thusdescribed my invention, I claim 1. -A cartridge of the class described comprising a shell closed at its lower and upper ends, provided at points intermediate its ends with outlet openings, having an opening at the upper end for the reception of a fuse, and adapted to contain a charge of volatile liquid hydrocarbon.

2. A cartridge of the class described comprising a shell closed at its lower and upper ends,v provided at points intermediate its ends with outlet openings, having an opening at the upper end for the reception of a fuse, and adapted to contain a charge of volatile liquid hydrocarbon, said shell being made of paper or straw board and being provided with an external waterproofing coating at its lower end.

3. A cartridge of the class described comprising a tube having outlet openings at points between its ends said tube being made of paper or the like, heads of paper or the like in the ends of said tube and the upper head being provided with a fuse receiving opening, and waterproof coatings on said heads and securin them at the ends of the tube, said tube belng adapted to contain a charge of volatile hydrocarbon.

4. A cartridge of the class described comprising a tube having outlet openings at points between its ends said tube being made of paper or the like, heads of paper or the like in the ends of said tube and the upper head being provided with a fuse receiving opening, and waterproof coatings on said heads and securing them at the ends of the tube, one of said coatings also extending up exteriorly of the tube from its lower end, said tubebeing adapted to contain a charge of volatile hydrocarbon.

5. The method of breaking up ground consisting in forming a hole in the ground, placing a perforated shell in the hole, placing a quantity of volatile hydrocarbon in the shell, closing the hole above the shell, allowing some of the mixture of air and hydrocarbon vapor formed in the shell to pass from the shell through the openings therein into the round about the hole, and exploding the mlxture of air and vapor in the shell and ground.

6. The method of breaking up ground consisting in forming a hole in the ground, placing a quantity of volatile hydrocarbon in the hole, placing a shell having an opening above its lower end in the hole, placing a quantity of volatile hydrocarbon in the shell, closing the hole above the shell, allowing some of the mixture of air and hydro-carbon vapor formed in the shell to pass from the shell through said opening in the ground about the hole, and exploding the mixture of air and vapor formed within the shell and ground. y

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JUSTIN F. SIMONDS. Witnesses:

G. Honens CARR, CHAS. A. RoBnisoN.

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