US1421187A - Explosive tablet for railway signal torpedoes - Google Patents

Description

APPLICATION FILED OCT-18,1918.

Patented June 2-7, 1922.

Z ..w M m m UNH STATE PTNT FRANK BUTCHER, OF VERSAILLES, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO CENTRAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPO- RATION OF NEW JERSEY.

EXPLOSIVE TABLET FOR RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDOES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2'7, 1922.

Application filed October 18, 1918. Serial No. 258,712.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK DUTCHER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Heretofore the explosives for torpedoes have been composed largely of chlorate of potassium, in quite large percentage of the compound, combined with sulphur, carbon and a gritty substance, such as sand. The chlorate of potassium is necessary in order to make the compound explosive by shock or pressure of the wheels of a locomotive. Chlorate of potassium has become quite expensive and the object of this invention is to construct the explosive tablet of a relatively cheap composition, and provide the tablet with a cavity or opening to receive a small quantity of chlorate of potassium and sulphur, which will ignite under pressure or shock and in turn ignite the composition of which the tablet is formed, thus causing the explosion of the whole tablet and obtaining a loud report with a much cheaper composition.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an explosive tablet embodying my improvement.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view of a modification.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 is an explosive tablet and 2 the ignition portion or pellet. As here shown this ignition portion or pellet 2 is preferably in the center of the tablet and is preferably placed in a cavity 3, formed in the tablet when it is molded. However, the tablet 1 may have an opening 4 entirely therethrough, as shown in Fig. 3, and in this instance, the explosive tablet or portion 2 will fill this opening.

I have here shown the tablet of circular form and with a dome-shaped top. I desire it to be understood, however, that the shape of the tablet is wholly immaterial to my invention, and may be of any desired shape, according to the shape and form of the torpedo case in which the .explosive is to be used. That is to say, the tablet will be made of a form corresponding to the interior shape or form of the torpedo case in which it is to be used.

In carrying out my invent-ion, the tablet 1 is preferably composed of nitrate of potassium about per cent; sulphur about 30 per cent, and carbon in the form of charcoal or lamp black at 10 per cent. These ingredients are mixed in a plastic condition and are then molded and dried to the desired form of tablet. The nitrate of potassium is much cheaper than the chlorate of potassium, but is not a chemical that can be depended upon to be exploded by pres sure or shock.

After the tablet is formed, with either the cavity 3 or opening 4:, the explosive compound 2 is placed therein. This explosive is made of a liquid form and is milked into the opening or cavity and permitted to dry and harden.

The explosive compound 2 consists essentially of chlorate of potassium and sulphur, combined with a suitable binder, such as shellac.

The ingredients composing the tablet 1 are inflammable and quick burning so that when the explosive compound or pellet 2 is exploded by pressure or concussion, the inflammable quick burning tablet 1 is instantly ignited and causes substantially a simultaneous explosion with that of the compound 2.

Owing to the fact that railway signal torpedoes sell practicall less than two cents apiece, leaving a small margin of profit per torpedo, a small saving in the cost of the torpedo is important, so that a reduction in the cost of the explosive tablet is an important factor in enabling the torpedoes to be sold so cheap and at a profit to the manufacturer.

While I have shown, and prefer that the tablet have a pocket to receive the explosive pellet, I desire it to be understood that the tablet may be formed without a pocket, and the explosive compound or pellet placed on torpedoes complete' within itself; com-pr'ising a dry tablet composed of a quick burning explosive composition which cannot beeX- ploded by'COnCuSSlOH and havlng-a I8C61V1I1g pocket, and an explosive Within the pocket which is 5 reliably ignited by concussion, for 1 the purpose described. prising a"body-portion,composed of-a quick Y All improyed'tablet for "ra'ilwayf ii torpedoes complete"Withinitself; comprising a 'drytabl'et-corn'po'sed of quick burning ex -plosive -conap'osi'tion Which 'c'ah'notbe 6X- ploded by concussion-and havingare'ceiving --pocket, and anexplosive in the' pocket-composed of chlorate" of potassium and sulphur and a binder,*=foi-'tl1'e*purposedes'cribed.

3. A dry tablet fon'railway;signaltor pedoescomplete within'f itself; composedof quick-burning explosivecom osition-which composition exploded; by concussion placed in the pocket while ina-plastic condition and permitted to dry therein, for the purpose described.

4. A dry tablet for railway signal torpedoeshaving a body portion composed essentially of nitrate of potassium, sulphur and earbonand'having a pocket and a composition Within the pocket composed essentially of chlorate of potassium and sulphur,=jfor the purpose described.

5; i-XHBXPlOSiVQ dry tablet for-railway signal 'torpedoes complete Within itsel-f, COInburning explosive -*'com'position Which I cannot be exploded by 'coneussloniand an explosive 'c'oni'pound -which can be reliably ignited by '--concussion applied to-the'"body' ofthe tablet, for the purpose described. ii ll'rt'estimony whereof-Lhere-untd-afiix my -'si.g'-nature 1n thepresence of two Witnesses.

I FRANK DUTO'HER.

'Witnessesz INEZ T. WALDEN, i *Limu L1 Bummm.

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