Patented Aug.

25, 1931 is 1,820,567

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

LLEWELLYN J. W. JONES, or TACOMA, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR. To JAMES F. O'BRIEN,
OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
EXPLOSIVE
No Drawing. Application filed March 17, 1927. Serial No. 176,291.
My invention relates to explosives whose be overcome by the substitution in the above
characteristic ingredients are chlorates or outlined ingredients, of a part, or the whole,
perchlorates of an alkaline metal, or of am of the dinitrotoluene by an appropriate pro
portion of mononitrotoluene, specifically the
monium. --
I am aware that patents have been issued orthoisomer aswhich is liquid to as low a 55
covering the use of liquid oily dinitrotoluene. temperature -10° C. and remains liquid
at all higher temperatures up to its boiling
with chlorates or perchlorates of alkaline point, 2.18° C. The advantage of using the
metals, or of ammonium, together With car Orthonitrotoluene is that its readily dis
bonaceous substances, and with or without solves the dinitrotoluenes and, if used in 60
10 nitrates of the alkaline metals, or of am sufficient quantity, will prevent their crystal
monium, and restrainers such as silico
aluminous substances and carbonates of the lization and maintain the powder in its plas
alkaline earths, but it has been found that ticAtcondition indefinitely.
such powders are not constant in quality being filled, must time
the present
be
the cartridges, after
crimped by hand as it 65
15 with the lapse of time.
I particularly find that during the Winter packed on account of the swellingbeandloosely
is important that the powder
hard
months, when the temperature falls to the ening that results from its crystallization.
freezing point of Water and the atmosphere By the use of the orthonitrotoluene, how
is surcharged with moisture during the rainy ever, this crystallization is prevented and 70
20 periods, that the explosive qualities of the therefore it is possible to substitute an auto
powder are partly, and sometimes wholly, matic crimping machine for this manual
lost. labor, thereby attaining two important re
I have discovered that the reason for this
condition is that the commercial oily dinitro sults (a) a reduction in the cost, and (b) 75
avoiding the troublesome skin inflammation
25 toluene is not of sufficiently definite a com
position and that it has a solidifying point the (dermatitis) which constant contact with
varying, in different samples, from 30°C. to of the powder produces on the hands of some
66°C., and that when it solidifies it does so I findworkers. that it is possible to substitute the 80
in a crystalline mass.
30 in the practical manufacture of these completely, but forforotherthereasons,
orthonitrotoluene dinitrotoluene
particu
chlorate powders it is necessary to heat the larly
so-called oily dinitrotoluene to remove it prefer to use as small a quantity as posI
its poisonous effect on the workers,
from the steel drums in which it is shipped, sible. I find that a mixture of one-third
and to keep it in liquid condition for mix ortho- to two-thirds di-nitrotoluene gives us 85
35 ing the other powder ingredients therewith. very satisfactory results but it is to be under
No difficulties are experienced until after
the powder is made and packed into cart stood that the proportions can be varied to
suit the conditions of climate and tempera
ridges. - -
After being packed into cartridges, how ture In
as needed. . . . .
order to attain the
-
best results in the 90
40 ever, the strength of the powder rapidly falls
during the first two or three days, it then waterproofing of the powder I mix the
orthonitrotoluene first with the dinitrotol
remains fairly constant during the summer uene
months but, when the cold weather sets in, order (which has been liquefied or melted in
to remove it from the drums) in the 95
it loses its strength still more, occasionally desired proportions and I then pour this
45 even failing to explode. The reason for this
is that the powder loses its plasticity and Warm liquid mixture over the thoroughly
fails to transmit, with sufficient force and dryThewarm salts and other dry ingredients.
carbonaceous substance which I pre
rapidity, the heat and shock of the detonat fer to use is sawdust, but any of many others
ing cap. may be used with substantially the same re
50 I have discovered that these difficulties can
 2O
1,839,567
sults, such as charcoal, flour, starch, etc. As ceous substances; and a mixture of orthoni
restrainers I prefer to use either silico trotoluene with crystalline dinitrotoluene
aluminous substances, such as brickdust, liquefied by heat.
powdered clay, or sand, or carbonates of 3. An explosive consisting of chlorates of
the alkaline earths, particularly calcium alkaline metals; alkaline nitrates; finely di C
carbonate, such as limestone, and such re vided earbonaceous substances; and a mix
strainer being in a finely powdered eon tre of orthonitrototlene with crystalline
dition. dinitrotoluene liquefied by heat.
Miy improved explosive therefore com 4. An explosive consisting of sodium
prises chlorates or perchlorates of alkaline chlorate; finely divided carbonaceous sub 5
metals, specifically sodium or potassium, or stances; and a mixture of liquid orthonitro
of ammonium, with or without nitrates of toluene with crystalline dinitrotoluene lique
alkaline metals, specifically sodium or fied by heat.
potassium, or of ammonium, carbonaceous 5. An explosive consisting of sodium
substances, with or without silico-aluminous chlorate; sodium nitrate; finely divided car 80
substances or alkaline earth carbonates, and bonaceous substances; and liquid Orthonitro
Hiquid orthonitrotoluene, with or without toluene mixed with crystalline dinitrotoluene
liquefied or melted dinitrotoluene, the said liqtefied by heat.
dry substances being thoroughly mixed with 6. An explosive consisting of sodium
the said liquid, whereby each grain thereof chlorate, 70 to 80 parts; orthonitrotoluene, , crit
3)
is coated with the said liquid. 5 to 10 parts; melted dinitrotoluene, 10 to
The exact proportions of which the vari 13 parts; and sawdust 5 to 10 parts.
ous kinds of powders are composed will 7. An explosive consisting of sodium
:25 valry within rather wide limits, depending on chlorate, 5 to 50 parts; sodium nitrate, 5 to
the character of the work required of them, 50 parts: Orthonitrotoluene, 5 to 15 parts;
their cost, and the circumstances under dinitrotoluene, 5 to 15 parts; and saw-dust,
which they are to operate, for instance the 5 to 15 parts.
following would be typical powders:- LLEWELLYN. J. W. JONES.
30 Rock powder #1
Parts
Sodium chlorate---------------------- 78
Dinitrotoluene------------------------ 10
Orthonitrotoluene--------------------- 5
35 Sawdust -----------------------------
Rock powder #2
Parts
Sodium chlorate---------------------- 78
Sodium nitrate. ---------wn la' as '-mom m w- ''-." --
40 Sawdust ----------------------------- 5 05
Dinitrotoluene------------------------ 10
Orthonitrotoluene.--------------------- 5
Stumping powder EI
Parts
Sodium chlorate---------------------- 40 O
Sodium nitrate----------------------- 88
Sawdust------------------------------
Pinitrotoluene.------------------------ 10
50 Orthonitrotoluene.-------- ------------- 5
Stumping powder it 2
arts
Sodium chlorate---------------------- 88
Sodium nitrate----------------------- 40
Sawdust -------------------- a- - - ------- 9
Dinitrotoluene------------------------ 12 :20
Orthonitrotoluene.--------------------- 6
Having therefore described my invention
what I claim is:-
-60 1. An explosive composed of chlorates of
alkaline metals; finely divided carbona
ceous Substances; and the ortho-isomer alone
of mononitrotoluene.
2. An explosive consisting of chlorates of
alkaline metals; finely divided carbona