US417577A - Explosive compoundv - Google Patents

Description

tree States -i arnrtr Urrrcn.

JOHN F. A. MUHM, OF DAYTON, KENTUCKY.

EXPLOSWE COM PQU N D.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,577, dated December 17, 1889.

Application filed September 24, 1889, Serial K0. 32 L,923. (No specimens.)

To (all 2071 0121, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN F. A. MUMM, of Dayton, in the county of Campbell and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Explosive Compounds, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention consists in a new composition of matter or explosive compound suitable for railway fog-signals or torpedoes, for charging bombs and grenades, and for blasting and shooting purposes. I

. My composition consists of the following in gredients, combined in or about the proportions stated, viz: chlorate of pot-ash one pound, (sixteen ounces;) antimony, (pure needlepowderei) eight ounces; charcoal, one

1 ounce; refined flowers of sulphur, two ounces;

glycerine, one ounce; collodion, one ounce; sulphuric acid, four drops; nitric acid, two drops; alcohol, three ounces water, two to 3' three ounces.

In the preparation of this compound I first put the alcohol and water in a mortar and then add thereto the glycerine and the sulphuric and nitric acids and mix thc'whole together. I then introduce into this mixture the chlorate of potash and allow it to soak for ashort time. In a separate vessel or mortar I also mix the antimony, charcoal, and

weight, onto boards covered with pasteboard or other paper, to remove moisture by absorption, which operation may be repeated upon another like-covered board'till the compound is dry and ready to put up for use. Forrail: way fog-signals or torpedoes I usually put it tup in tin boxes lined with waxed n1anila tissue-paper to keep the box from rusting and the composition dry, and to give increased safety during transportation, by keeping the metal surface of the box free from contact and friction with it. Said box, however, is not wholly filled with the compound, but the latter has placed upon the top of it a frictional substance, as usual in torpedo-like signals, to provide for the fulininate being more readily ignited-such as a few loose pieces of broken glass, in preference to pelletsafter which the whole is covered with waxed manila paper and the box closed as tight as itis practicable to make it.

To use the compound for making bombs or grenades, it should be put in the shells with a leather or rubber funnel and provision made for. lighting the explosive either by a fulminate cap or by a time-fuse.

For blasting purposes, the compound should be putup in cartridge-shells and the same be exploded either by electricity or tuse;

For gunning or shooting purposes, the compound should not be used loose, but in car tridges, which may be exploded by fulminate caps. It may be used for guns of all kinds, including fowling-pieces, rifles, revolvers, and

cannons.

The compound will be found to be much more powerful than ordinary gunpowder, safer to make and handle than dynamite, nitro-glycerine,'and the like, and is not liable to separate.

I am aware that several of the ingredients named in this compound have before been used indifferent combinations for the making of explosives. Such, therefore, separately considered, I do not claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The within-described explosive com ound, made of or from a mixture of the tol owing ingredients, substantiallyin the proportions specified, to wit: chlorate of potash, antimony, charcoal, [lowers of sulphur, glycerin'c, collodion, sulphuric acid, nitric acid, alcohol, and

JOHN F. A. MUMM.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR J SMITH, R. l}. Wnson.