USRE6645E - Improvement in explosive compounds - Google Patents

Description

, produced in a way After this has been UNITED STATES CARL DITTMAR, OF

PATENT A OFFICE.

BOSTOX, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNQR T0. MARIA DITTMAR, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 145,403, dated December 9, 1873; reissue No. 5,759, dated February 10, 1874; reissue No. 6,645.

To all whom it may concern.- 1 Be it-kuown that l, UARL l)I'1T1lAlt,ot'B0ston, of the county of'butl'olk and State of Mars 1 sachusetts, have made a new and useful lml provement in Explosive Compounds, and in l the manufacturing thereof, and the prcpa-ra l tion of vegetable fiber for its conversion into such; and do hereby declare the same to be l fully described in the follou ing speciiication. i

My invention is a new or improved article of manufacture, or explosive com pound, made of vegetable fiber, converted into pulp and treated with acids, or such, and one or more othcrmatters, as hereinafter set forth. It further consists in"the art, mode, or process, hereinafter explained, of treating vegetable tiber for the purpose of rendering it explosive, such consisting in reducing the fiber to pulp, desiccating and reducing such pulp to grains-or powder or compact forms, and treating such with acids or such, and one or more other ma terials, as hereinafter mentioned.

In carrying out my invention I make use of any suitable kind of vegetable fiber, whether it be in the raw ornatural condition, Gr in a manufactured state, (as old linen or cotton rags, for instance,) and reduce such, by any well-known and suitable process, to a fine pulp. Mechanism usually adopted for making paper-pulp will generally suffice for the purpose of producing the pulp, which, in order to operate to tho best advantage, should be to render the vegetable fiber chemically pure or free from extraneous or foreign matter. After the pulp has been made it is to be desiccated, and cut up or reduced to grains or powder, to accomplish which it may be pressed into a sheet or sheets of suitable thickness, which are to be properly dried, and afterward subjected to the action of a punching, cutting, or grinding machine, capable of reducing the dry pulp to pieces, grains, or tine powder, as may be required. done the pulp in such a reduced state is to be treated with an acid or mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids, in the same way in which cotton is usually treated for converting it into the substance known as gun-cotton. During the drying process-the pulp may be stirred, to prevent it from formdat-ed $eptember 14, 18? 3'",

application filed May 22, 1875.

ing in too large lumpsr Prior to or after the desiccating processes, and before subjecting it to the bath of nitric and sulphuric acids, the pulp may be soaked in a solution of sugar, manuite, amylum, or inuline, care being taken to clear it of superfluous acid, which may be 'eii'ected by applying to it or soaking it in a so lution of alkali or soda. It may also be soaked in a solution of nitrate or chlorate of potash,it being carefully dried afterthe application of the solution or solutions. After the subjection of the pulp to the action of the nitric and sulphuric acids, and its subsequent desiccation, it will be ready for use.

For improving the manufacture for blasting purposes itmay be soaked in, or have poured upon or applied to it,

a quantity of nitro-glyccrinc; or soda and saltpeter may be added, in a fine state, after the drying process.

The combination or mixture of the vegetable fiber with the sugaumannite, amylum, or inuline produces a very powerful explosive compound, and overcomes the difliculty which results in preparing without the pulp either of such matters with acid or acids for conversion of it into an explosive material.

It desirable, the explosive powder or grains of pulp thus produced may be pressed into a mold or molds for beingconverted into charges or cartridges, which may be coated with waterproof varnish.

All the within-mcntitmed compoumls,fornuul without the u e of nitro-glycerine,can be used for the manufacture of fire-works, chiefly saloon and theater fireworks, as being better adapted for these purposes than common powder, in giving out neither smoke nor smell, and also for gunning or artillery purposes, in leaving no residuum and requiring no cleansing while in use. All these compounds can be kept \vet c any length of time, and therefore be stor d and tIal lSPOIted with safety in the largest quantities, like common merchandise, or even better than that, being impossible to be set on fire or cxplodedby concussion. Before use it may be dried by spreading the compound out in the sun or in a warm room, or by any other drying process. The grains remain whole if kept under water, which it is not the case when gun-cotton'is pnlped and grained. Grains marleby my process have also a greater resistance against any mechanical treatment by handling, transporting, &c., no dust resulting therefrom.

In preparing the vegetable fiber in the main 7 nor above describedfl make a verypovreri'ul cals, giving, therefore, more strength and uniformity; and, owing to the great elasticity of the materiah'it is-safer than any other similar explosive. .Being made up in grains. cylinders, or cartridges of any size or form, either cooked or not coated with a water-proof mate-- it is very convenient in Every one of the ahovm-described compounds can be fired by means of a percussioncap, or, like common powder, with a fuse,

. when well confined.

' being resolved in gases by the explosion.

I claim as my invention- 1. The process, substantially as hereinbefore described, of treating vegetable fiber to render it explosive, consisting in converting the fiber to pulp, desiccating it and reducing it,to grains, powder, or compact forms, and

treating the same with nitricor nitric and sulphuric acids, all as explained.

2. The process of preparing vegetable fiber for treatment by acids or other specified materials to render it explosive, the said process consisting in reducing the fiber to pulp, and subsequently desiccating. it, and reducing it to grains, powder, or compact forms.

The process described of treating vegetable fiber to render it explosive, which consists in converting the fiber into pulp, desiccating and reducing it to powder, grains, or compact forms, soaking it in astarchy or saccharine solution, and treating it with nitric or nitric and sulphuric acids and an alkaline solution, as set forth.

4. The process described of preparing vegetable fiber for being rendered explosive, which consists in converting it into pulp, drying it, and reducing it to grains, powder, or compact forms, treating it with nitric or nitric and sulphuric acids, and adding to it nitrate or chlorate of potash or nitroglycerine, all as stated.

5. As a new or improved manufacture, the described explosive compound, consisting of starch. sugar, nitrate or chlorate-of potash, or granular or compact I and acidi'ned vegetable fiber, as hereiubefore nitroglycerine, and the set forth.

CARL DITTMAR.

Witnesses;

R. H. EDDY, J. R. Snow.