USRE4818E - Improvement in useful compounds containing nitro-glycerine - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED NOBEL, OF HAMBURG, GERMANY, ASSIGNOB TO THE UNITED STATES BLASTING-OIL COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

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Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 50,617, dated October 24, 1865; reissue No. 3,380, dated April 13,

1869; reissue No. 4,818, dat ed March 19, we.

Division D.

Srncirroiirron.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that ALFRED NOBEL, of the city of l-lamburg', Germany, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Nitro-Glyeerine and certain compounds thereof, and in the utilization, as explosives, ot' nitroglycerine and the analogous substances known as nitrates of ethyl and of methyl and nitromanite.

The improvement in the manufacture of nitro-glycerine is the subject of a separate specification; this specification having reference to certain modes of utilizing, as explosives, nitro-glycerine and the analogous substances above mentioned.

' There is a class of explosives long known, but not at the date of NOBELS invention applied to technical purposes, in consequence of practical dii'liculties in procuring their explosion. Such substances are nitro-glycerine, the nitrates of ethyl and of methyl and nitromanite. These substances are liquid at ordinary temperatures, and. by that characteristic are distinguishable from solid explosives, such as gunpowder, gun cotton, &c.; and they have also the property that lire may be applied to them without their explodin g. Nitro-glycerine, for example, if ignited in an open space, is slowly decomposed and takes fire, but the flame is apt to die out when the match is withdrawn; hence it cannot under ordinary circumstances be looked upon as a ready explosive agent, for while gunpowder and other substances used as explosives prior to NoBELs invention, always explode or deflagrate throughout their whole mass when fire is set to them, nitroglycerine and the analogous substances before named will not explode from the mere contact of flame. So, also, if a drop of nitro-glycerine be poured on an anvil, the blow of a hammer causes it to explode, but only that part is involved which has received the blow, so that in this case the explosion is merely a local one.

A principal object of NOBELS invention consists in the removal of this obstacle to the ,use of nitro-glycerine and the analogous substances before named, as explo si'ves. For this end two diii'ercntfmethods' have beeninv ehfted byNonnL for promoting the explosion of nitro I glycerine. One method, which formsthe sub ject of this patent, relates to a compound with nitro-glycerine of other more easily explosive substances; and the other method, which is described in a separate specification, relates to the means of efl'ecting the explosion.

NOBEL discovered that the'diificulty experienced in eflect-ing the explosion of nitro-glycerine, and the analogous substances before mentioned, could be overcome by mixing or combining them with gunpowder, gun-cotton,

or other similar substance. This mixing may i be cfl'ected in any convenient manuer andthe' proportions in which they are to be combined may be varied to suit the pleasure or convenience of the user or manufacturer.

der or gun-cotton, either of which will absorb a considerable quantity of nitr glycerine say thirt-yper cent, more or lessm such proportions as to make the compound either wet or comparatively dry. If mixed with gunpowder, it may be either absorbed with it by pour ing the nitro-g-lycerine on the mass of gunpowder, or the two may be mingled togeth or by tiituration, the powder in the nitro-glycerine.

The eii'eet ofthesc combinations will produce an explosive especiallysuitablefor certain blasting purposesfor example, in crevice rockand greatly superior either to gunpowder or, gun-cotton in explosiveforce, and quite readily exploded, so that it may be fired and exploded by means of match or electric spark in like manner as -gunpowder or gun-cotton alone. By means of-this combination with gunpowder, gun-cotton, or other similar readily explosive substances, of nitro-glycerine, and the analogous substances before named, which are liquid at the ordinary temperature, these substances which had not at the date of NOBELS invent-ion been applied to any technical use as explosives, owing to their difliculty of explosion, have been introduced from the domain of science into that of practical use in the arts, and have rendered of commercial value what was previously known as a mere chemical curiosity.

We therefore claim as the invention of said- The nitro-glycerine may be mixed with gunpow- ALFRED NOBEL, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, in the na me of the United States Blasting-Oil Company, {is assignee of said NOBEL:

1. The utilization, as explosives, of nitroglyeerine, and the analogous liquid substances hereinbefore mentioned by combining therewith gunpowder, guncotton, or other similar substance developing it rapid heat on combustion, substantially as hereinbefore described.

2. The combination of gunpowder with i-iitroglyeerine, nurnoses hereinbefore described.

substantially as and for the 3. The combination ofgnn-eotton with nitroglyeerine, substantially poses hereinbefore described.

In witness whereof the said THE UNITED STATES BLASTINGOIL COMPANY, by TAL. P. SHAFFNER, PIGSld6I1tl13VC hereunto set their hand. i

THE nniigicn STATES BLASTING-OIL 00., By TAL. P. SEAFFNER, President.

Witnesses: I OCTAVIUS KNIGHT, EDM. F. BROWN:

as and for the pur-