US253649A

US253649A - Exploder for firing blasts

Info

Publication number: US253649A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1882-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 1899-02-14

Description

No mael.)

A. WATSON. EXPLODER PORPIRING BLASTS.

Patented Feb. 14,-1882.

. stout sheet-brass or other suitable metal.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER WATSON, or sar FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

EXPLODER FOR FIRING BLASTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 253,649pdated February l l, 1882,

To all whom it may concernr Be it known that I, ALEXANDER WATSON,

of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improved Method 0f Firing Nitro-Glycerine and other Explosives; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to a novel methodof firing explosives, especially of that class known as high explosives, of which nitro-glycerine and its compounds are representatives; and it consists in the employment of a metallic cylinder having in its lower part an anvil to receive an explosive cap, while above it a piston or hammer slides within the cylinder, being actuated by a stout spring. The hammer has a'stem or spindle, the upper end of which is Application filed November 5, 1831. (No model.)

upper part of the cylinder has a projection, G, into or through which the stem E projects, so as to be secured there, when the hammer is drawn up, by asolder of any metal which is susceptible of being attacked by quicksilver. Over this head a cap, H, is screwed, and this cap has a drop of the metal placed in it, when it is reversed. The head G is then screwed and the quicksilver out of contact with the solder or cement. In this position the device may remain and be transported with safety.

When it is to be-used the cylinder is turned over and inserted into the charge of nitro-glycthen lie upon and in contact with the solder, and will at once attack it, dissolving it, so that secured at the upperpart of the cylindrJWh'eiTflfi'Etih"Ewillbe released and theh'a'niiiii r the hammer is drawn up, by any solder or composition which may be acted upon by quicksilver. A cap screws down over this joint. The; cap has a drop of quicksilver placed within it, and the device is kept bottom up until needed, so that the quicksilver may not touch the joint. When it is to be used, the cap be ing placed on the nipple or anvil, the apparatus is reversed, so that the quicksilvermay' rest upon thejoint, when it will attack it and loosen it, so that the hammer may fall and explode the cap and the charge into which the cylinder is introduced. The time is regulated .by the amount of solder or cement, so that it acts like a time fuse or mechanism.

Referring to the accompanying-drawings for amore complete explanation of my invention,

it Figure 1 is a view of my apparatus. Fig.2 is

a vertical section.

A is a cylinder, which is preferably made of At 4.0 the bottom of this cylinder is a nipple or anvil,

of the cylinder. A stem, E, extends upward, and is surrounded by a stout spiral spring, F,

which, when compressed, serves to actuate the hammer and force itilown upon the anvil. The

will fall, and, striking the cap, will explode it, and with it the cylinder, so as to produce such a concussion as to explode the charge,

the amount of thematerialused as a solder, and this may be so regulated that the explosion will occur at the exact moment desired.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by-Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cartridge-exploder, a soldered firing device, in combination with a cap or receptaa body of tirercuryforthe purpose of releasing the firing device, for the purpose set forth.

2. The cylinder A, having within it, the anvil B, the hammer D, and the spiral or other spring F, against which the hammer is forced back, andheld by a solder or cement, as shown, in combination with a receptacle, H, to contain quicksilver, and by which it may be applied to the solder, so as to release the hammer, substantially as and for the purpose hereindcscribed.

In witness-whereof I have hereunto setmy hand.

ALEX. WATSON.

Witnesses:

S. H. NoUnsE, FRANK A. BROOKS.

crime or other explosive. The quicksilver will The time of the explosion is determined by into it, so that the apparatus remains reversed Having thus described my invention, what cleadapted to receive and apply to the solder