Tri-nitro-glycerin: As Applied in the Hoosac Tunnel, Submarine Blasting, EtcRobinson, 1872 - 97 pages |
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accident AFFIDAVIT agent Alfred Nobel Alvah Crocker ammonia Blasting Oil Company blasting purposes bottom cartridge cent Central Shaft cerin chemical chemist claim compound concussion confined congealed containing contractors copper cubic depth described detonation diameter dredging drill holes dualin East End east heading effect Erie experiment exploding Nitro-Glycerin explosion of Nitro-Glycerin factory February 19 feet fire foreman fulminate fuse gases glass Glycerin gun-cotton gunpowder gutta-percha heat Hoosac Tunnel inches inserted insulation JAMES DICKEY manufacture mercury method miners mixture mode Mowbray Mowbray's Nitro-Glycerin Mowbray's patent nitrate nitric acid Nitro Nitro-Gly nitrous fumes Nobel patent North Adams obtained Oil City Oil City Tunnel operations over-sensitive percussion cap pounds of Nitro-Glycerin powder priming produced Railroad re-issued patents rock safe safe priming Shaffner silver fulminate Sobrero sulphuric acid Superintendent tamping temperature tion Titusville torpedo Tri-Nitro-Glycerin tube United States Blasting West End West Shaft whilst wooden
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Page 95 - It is demonstrated experimentally that the result cannot be ascribed to the direct operation of the heat developed by the chemical changes of the charge of detonating material used as the exploding agent. An experimental comparison of the mechanical force exerted by different explosive compounds, and by the same compound employed in different ways, has shown that the remarkable power possessed...
Page 96 - ... those vibrations, either determine the explosion of that substance, or at any rate greatly aid the disturbing effect of mechanical force suddenly applied, while, in the instance of another explosion, which...
Page 32 - The effect of the explosion was that fortysix panes of glass of the windows of the laboratory were smashed to atoms, the saucepan was hurled through a brick wall, the stout iron stand on which the vessel had been placed was partly split, partly spirally twisted, and the tube of the Bunsen burner was split and flattened outwards. Fortunately, none of the three persons present in the laboratory at the time were hurt.
Page 95 - Most generally, therefore, the degree of facility with which the detonation of a substance will develope similar change in a neighbouring explosive substance may be regarded as proportionate to the amount of force developed within the shortest period of time by that detonation, the latter being, in fact, analogous in its operation to that of a blow from a hammer, or of the impact of a projectile.
Page 35 - The surface of the sulphuric acid is then marked, and threefourths of a cubic inch of solution of sulphate of iron, recently boiled, let up into the jar. The gas is rapidly absorbed, except a small portion at last, which must be left several hours to the action of the solution, or be well agitated in a smaller tube with a fresh portion of it. No correction of the nitric oxide has to be made for moisture ; for the mixture of acid and water which I employed, as I ascertained by direct experiment, has...
Page 95 - ... susceptible of several modifications by variation of the circumstances under which the conditions essential to chemical change are fulfilled. Excellent illustrations of the modes by which such modifications may be brought about are furnished by gun-cotton, which may be made to burn very slowly, almost without flame, to inflame with great rapidity, but without development of great explosive force, or to exercise a violent destructive action, according as the mode of applying heat, the circumstances...
Page 95 - ... requires the fulfilment of special conditions for the development of its explosive force. Its explosion by the simple application of heat can only be accomplished if the source of heat be applied, for a protracted period, in such a way that chemical decomposition is established in some portion of the mass, and is favoured by the continued application of heat to that part. Under these circumstances, the chemical change proceeds with very rapidly accelerating violence, and the sudden transformation...
Page 95 - ... (and very readily in some instances, especially in the case of gun-cotton) by means similar to those applied in the case of nitroglycerine. The manner in which a detonation operates in determining the violent explosion of gun-cotton, nitroglycerine, &c., has been made the subject of careful investigation.
Page 32 - Dr. E. Kopp, bearing upon the conditions under which nitroglycerine explodes or burns off quietly. When nitroglycerine is caused to fall drop by drop on a thoroughly red-hot iron plate, it burns off as gunpowder would do under the same conditions ; but if the iron is not red-hot, but yet hot enough to cause the nitroglycerine to boil suddenly, an explosion takes place.
Page 95 - ... rapidly accelerating violence, and the sudden transformation into gaseous products of the heated portion eventually results, a transformation which is instantly communicated throughout the mass of nitroglycerine, so that confinement of the substance is not necessary to develope its full explosive force.