Patented Apr.

5, 1932

HARRY E. KAISER, 0F WTLMINGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR TO HERCULES POWDER

COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OI DELAWARE
PERCUSSION CAP
No Drawing.

Application diled June 24, 1931. Serial No. 546,675.

This invention relates to improvements in phenylenediamine in 35 cc. of ethyl alcohol

is mixed with a boiling or nearly boiling so

charge for percussion caps.

, Heretofore it has been suggested that dia lution of 32 grams of picric acid in 320 cc.
zodinitrophenol be used as an ingredient for of ethyl alcohol. The picric acid and para- '

charges for percussion caps in association phenylenediamine react to form paraphenyl~

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with various ingredients of such charges as enediamine dipicrate, which being only
previously formed, as for example, in asso slightly soluble in the alcohol, may be read
ciation with otassium chlorate or barium ni ily separated therefrom by cooling and ?ltra- .

trate and antimony sul?de or ground glass.

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The use of diazodinitrophenol as an ingre

lZlOIl;

The charge in accordance with this inven

dient for charges for percussion caps is of _ tion mayand desirably will include in ad
very de?nite advantage in that where diazo

dition to diazodinitrophenol and a dipicrate

dinitrophenol is used, mercury fulminate of paraphenylenediamine, or a picrate of

previously commonly used may be eliminated either of its isomers, the other ingredients

15

with elimination of the disadvantages of usually included in percussion caps or smoke

mercury fulminate arising from its extreme less powder primers, such for example, as an
sensitivity to friction and its poisonous na oxidizing salt as barium nitrate, potassium
ture.

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chlorate, etc., etc. or ground glass, antimony

While the use of diazodinitrophenol in sul?de, etc., etc.

_
charges for percussion caps is of de?nite ad
The charge in accordance with this inven
vantage, the charges produced are not in all tion may be combined in an desired man

respects entirely satisfactory in that with nor, but is desirably combined,by thoroughly
some smokeless powders such charges lack incorporating the ingredients, with the ex
su?icient heat to properly ignite the pow ception of ground glass where used, together
as .der, have a long ignition time and give lower by grinding, as in a ball mill, under, for ex
breech pressures.
ample, alcohol, then dried and reduced to a
Now it is the object ofthis invention to iowder between paper, groundv glass being
provide a charge for percussion caps which ?nally added where ground glass is desired
will contain diazodinitrophenol and hence to be included.
.
30 retain the advantages of the presence of
The charge in accordance with this in
diazodinitrophenol as an ingredient and, at vention will be loaded into a cap or primer in
the same time, which will contain an ingredi any usual manner in desired quantity and
ent which will o?set the indicated disad

so

compressed. If desired, the charge may be

vantages of charges containing diazodinitro wet with collodion and pressed into a cake.
85

phenol.

for loading or loaded and then pressed, be-, 85

The charge for percussion caps in accord ing ?nally dried for use.
ance with this invention includes as ingredi
In accordance with this invention the
ents diazodinitrophenol and a picrate of a charge may include diazodinitrophenol with
'phenylenediamine as, for example, para in about the range TWO-80% by weight and
phenylenediamine dipicrate and the .picrates picrate as paraphenylenediamine dipicrate 0
of ortho and meta phenylenediamine.
or a picrate of its isomers within the range _
A picrate of a phenylenediamine, as for MAJ-40% by weight. Various other ingre
example, paraphenylenediamine dipicrate, dients which, as has been indicated, may be

45

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may be produced by the method disclosed

in the application for patent of Jean Piccard,
Serial No. 510,772, ?led January 235, i931.
Thus, for example, for the production of
paraphenylenediamine dipicrate a boiling or
nearly boiling solution of 8 grams of para

included in the charge, may be in various

- amounts depending upon desired characteris

tics of the charge.

As illustrative of the practical adaptation
of this invention a typical chargehaviug de
sirable characteristics and giving desired re

.2.

1,852,054

as ingredients diazodinitrophenol about 45%

b weight and paraphenylenediamine di-

sults may be in accordance with the follow- .

ing formula:

Grams

plcrate about 15% by weight.

8. A charge for percussion caps including

Paraphenylenediamine dipicrate_____ 0.150 as ingredients diazodinitrophenol about 45%
Diazodinitrophenol ________ .._,_____ __ 0.450

5 Barium nitrate ___________________ __ 0.200

Ground glass _____________________ _._ 0.200

by weight, paraphenylenediamine dipicrate

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about 15% by weight and about equal per

The ingredients of the above formula may centages by weight of barium nitrate and

be blended together in a dry state and loaded

ground glass.

In testimony of which invention, I have

gredients with the exception of ground glass hereunto set my hand, at Wilmington, Dela

in any suitab e manner, or if desired, the in~

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may be ground together in a ball mill under ware, on this 18th day of June, 1931.
HARRY .E. KAISER.
alcohol, dried and reduced to powder between

paper, the ground glass being added to the

powder. The composition may be loaded in
-15

so

any suitable manner, as after wetting with

collodion.

'

It will be understood that from the broad

standpoint this invention involves the use of
diazodinitrophenol and a picrate of a phenyl

85

20 enediamine, as paraphenylenediamines, or a

dipicrate of either of its isomers, as ingre

dients of a charge for percussion caps with or
with or without the addition of other in
gredients such as are usually used in percus
sion caps. It will be understood that the

90

amounts of diazodinitrophenol and of pic

rate may be widely varied and that their use

in any suitable proportions is contemplated

as within the scope of this invention. Like

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wise, the amount of the composition in ac

cordance with this invention which may be ,

charged into a' percussion cap may be varied

to meet the varied requirements of the cap.
It will be understood that where in the

100

claims appended hereto the term paraphenyl

enediamine dipicrate is used, I intend such
term to cover and include ortho-phenylene

diamine picrate and meta-phenylenediamine

105

m picrate.

What I claim and desire to protect by Let- '

ters Patent is:

1. A charge for percussion caps including

as ingredients diazodinitrophenol' and a pic
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5 rate of a paraphenylenediamine.
o

2. A charge for percussion caps including ~

as ingredients diazodinitrophenol. and para
phenylenediamine dipicrate.

'

3. A charge for percussion caps including

as ingredients _d1azodinitrophenol,

para

phlenylen'ediamine dipicrate and an oxidizing

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'sa t.

4:. A charge tor percussion caps including

as ingredients diaz'odi'nitrophe'nol, para

phenylenediamine dipicrate, an oxidizing salt

and vground glass.

120

5. A charge for percussion caps including

as ingredients diazodinitrophenol, para

phenylenediamine dipicrate,-barium nitrate

and ground glass.

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6. A charge for percussion caps including

as ingredients diazodinitrophenol 5%.80%

by weight and paraphenylenediamine dipic

rate 1%'-40% by weight.

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'

7. A charge for percussion caps including

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