USRE5798E - Improvement in methods ofjxploding nitro-glycerine - Google Patents

Description

A NoBEL l Methods` ,Uf Exploding: Niltroglycerine'.

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WIT'N ESSES INVE'NTOR 'a 'u 'noipnmsm 'mun-mow "oo sansa muon :u

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED NOBEL, or HAMBURG, GERMANY,'AssIGNOR-, BY MEsNE AssIGN.

MENTs, To THE ATLANTIC GIANT-POWDER CISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN METHODS 'oEExPLoDlNG ANrrRo-eLvCERuvE.

Specification forming part of :Letters Patent No. 50,617, dated October 24,1865.; reissue No. j3-,377, dated April 13, w69; reissue No. 4,815, dated March 19, 18724; reissue No. 5,621, dated October 2l, 1873 reissue No. 5,798, dated March 17, 1874; application ledMurch 1l, 1874.

` To all lwhom it may concern:

of Electing the Explosion of Nitro-Glycerine;y

and that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

lrior to the date of NoBELs invent-ion nitrogl ycerine was known as an explosive substance, butliad not been applied to technical purposes, in consequence of practical diiiculties in procuring its explosion. This substance is characterized by the property that lire may be'appled to it without el'ecting explosion. If ignited in an open space, it is slowly decomposed and takes fire, but the. llame is apt to die out when'the match is withdrawn; hence it cannot, under ordinary cirCu1nstances,-be vlooked upon as auready explosive agent, for, while gunpowder and other substancesused as explosives prior to NOBELS invention always explode or deflagrate throughout the whole mass when re is set to them, nitro-glycerine will not explode from the mere Contact of flame; and that, while the tiring of a cap explodes gunpowder, it does so by mea-ns of .the dame produced, while in the case 'of nitro-glycerine it is the detonation, and not the flame, which produces the explosion; so, also, if a drop of nitro-glyoerine be poured on an anvil, the blow of a hammer causes it to explode, but only that part is involved which -has receivedthe blow; so, also, 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 as. an explosive. For this end two di'erent methods were invented by NOBEL for promoting the explosion of nitroglycerine; one method, which forms the subject of a separate specification, relates to the combination, with nitro-glycerin@ -of other more easily explosive substances; land the other method,which is the subject of this patent, relates to the means of effecting the explosion without such combination. This is accomplished by the application of heat, or heat and pressure, or by an initial explosion, which involves the whole mass ill-explosive decomposition, or-.by creating an impulse of explosion by means of concussive agitation, the means employed being in'such relation tothe mass of nitro-glycerine to be exploded as that the latter shall be within the influence of such initial explosion, or impulse of explosion.Y

vinitial explosion-as, for instance, when placed in a bore-hole for blasting, or otherwise confinedreceives and propagates the initial pressure through its whole mass, and the first impulse of explosion is communicated throughout the whole charge, effecting its instantaneous decomposition and explosion. By the term impulse of explosion is meantmotio'u produced to ei'ect the explosion by suddenly communicated force. There are many ways of obtaining this impulse of explosion, such asploded in a tube'or case'of any suitable material which will hold it, and' surrounding this tube with gunpowder, gun-cotton, or any readily-exploding substance, which, being easily fired by any of the well-known means, will i11- stantaneously cause the explosion ofthe nitroglycerine in the tube; or, by reversing this process, and pouring the nitro glycerine into 'the bore-hole for blasting, and inserting into the nitrO-glycerine a tube charged-With gunpowder, or gun-cotton, or other easily-exploding substance, when, by iring the charge 'in the tube, the nitro-glycerine also is exploded. When used for the purpose of blasting, the

. nitro-glycerine may be poured directly into the COMPANY, OE sAN ERAN- First, by placing nitro-glycerine to be exbore-hole, which may be closed above, for which purpose loose 'sand will do, or the upper part of the bore may be left entirely open. .It not convenient to pour the nitro-glyeerine directly into the bore-hole, it may be yplaced in eases ot' paper, or metal, or other suitable material, open or closed at top, as maybe preterred.

Second, by the use of what NOBEL calls ignit-crs or burnersfl being a small tube of glass, paper, or other material, tilled or charged with gunpowder or other easy explosive, and furnished with a fuse or other means of igniting the same byiire, or by an electric spark. The burner ma,Y be introduced into the nitroglycerine, and, eing tired in any convenient manner, its explosion gives to the nitro-glycerinetlle requisite impulse of explosion. These iguiters may be greatly varied inconstruction, but in their simplest form they consist of a wooden cylinder, hollow inside, and lled with gunpowder, being eorked at one end, and connected with a fuse at the other.k Vhen the nit-ro-glycerine has been poured into the bore or blast-hole, the cylinder is let down by its fuse until it swims in the nitro-glycerine, and then, it' desired, the upper part ot' the bore is iilled with loose sand, and nothing remains but to ignite the fuse. rlhe fuse in its turn lires the explosive contained in the wooden cylinder, and the whole mass immediately explodes.

In the drawing, AI`i \;ure 1 illustrates one of these igniters, in which a is the wooden cylinder; e the cavity, filled with gunpowder, and closed by the cork or .plug j'; and g the fuse. The nitro-giycerine in the bore-hole is represented at c.

Third. A third method is to heat a minute portion ci' the charge of nitro-glycerine to its pointof explosion by inclosing a minute portion oi' nitro-glyceriue in a tube filled' either with rocket-powder, (which, being easily ignited, is fired in any convenient way,) or with lime and water, or some other chemical agents adapted io combine gradually, and, by their reaction, create the necessary heat. The explosion in the tube will give the requisite impulse to explode the charge of nitro-glycerine.

y Fourth. Still another method is by means of a capsule, (more commonly termed in military art a percussion-cap,) which, being exploded in any c venicnt manner, gives by its detonation the requisite impulse to explode the charge of nitro-glyeerine.

Fifth. A fifth mode to produce an initial explosion by means of a spark, or by heat developed by a powerful current of electricity within the charge of i'litro-glycerine, which is so inclosed as not to atl'ord an escape to the gas developed thereby. Figs. 2' and 3 illustrate the apparatus for thus effecting the explosion. h is the case for holding the chL rge of nitro-glycerinc, which is closed at top. 13 i `are two wires, which pass through glass tubes k 70,01' other insulating substance, in the plug or cap of the case, the wires being immersed in the nitro-glyccrine, and their lower ends connected by a line platina wire, e'. The wire .e heilig heated by the passage'of theelectric current, the liquid in contact with the wire is decomposed, giving the heat and pressure requisite to explode the contents of the case.

Sixth. 'lhc necessary impulse of explosion may also be effected by means of.' an ordinary blasting-fuse. This will do in a closed space and under sufficient resistance; but, it" the gases of the portion ot' nitro-glycerine decomposed by the heat ol` the fuse, are enabled to escape before they accu mulate to such -a pressure as to effect the requisite impulse of explosion, the nit-ro-glyeerinc is slowl y decomposed and the lire generally goes ont before the whole is consumed.

In View ot' the fact that nitro-glyeerine had not, at the date of NoBELs inventiombeen applied to any technical use as an explosive, and that, by his invention, he introduced this substance from the domain of science into' that of practical use in the'arts,

W'hat we claim as the invention of ALFRD NOBEL, and desireto secure by Letters latent,iu the name of THE ATLANTIC GIANT- IoWDEuOoMrANY, as assignee of said N BEL, isy 1. A charge ot' gunpowder, gun-cotton,- or other easily igniting and exploding substance surrounding a tube or ca -se `containing the charge of nitroglycerine, as a means of cxploding the same, substantially as hereinbefore described.

2. A charge of gunpowder, gun-cotton, or other easily ignitingl and exploding substance surrounded by a nitro-glycerine charge, and combined therewith as a means of exploding` the same,substantiall y as and for the purpose hcreinbcfore described. A

8. A nitro-glycerine ignitcr or exploder consisting of a tube or ease inclosing a minute portion of nitro-glycerine, together with lime and water, or other equivalent substances, which by combining will evolve the requisite heat to explode the nitro-glyeerine therein, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.

4. An igniter or exploder consisting of a tube or case, containing rocket-powder mixed with a minute portion ot' nitro-glycerine, and furnished with a fuse or other means of setting fire to the igniting charge, substantially as hereinbetore described.

5. An electric spari; or heat generated by electricity, within the charge oi' nitro-glycerine, as a means of promoting an impulse of plosion therein, substantially as hereinbct'ore described.

6. A capsule or percussion-cap furnished -with a suitable means of ring or exploding the same, and suitably arranged in' relation to the nitro-glycerine, so as by its detonation to explode the chargeof nitro-g1ycerine,substa11 tially as hereinbefore described.

7. -An igniter for producing the 'explosion of nitro-glycerine, consisting of a case of wood or other suitable material for holding the initial explosion-charge, closed with a cork or plug, and a fuse or other means of ignition,

substantially as hereinbefore described.

In witness whereof the said THE ATLANTIC GIANTPOWDER COMPANY has caused to be axed hereunto the corporate seal of the said company and the signature of their president.

THE ATLANTIC GIANT-P By GEO. C. nICKoX, President. Witnesses:

EL PIoHoIs, JoURDAN W. RoPER.

OWDER Co., .[L 5.1

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