US86691A - Improvement in torpedoes for oil-wells - Google Patents

Description

Patented Feb. 9, 1869= E.l A. LQROBERTS.'

To'rpedo for Oil Wells.

UNITED STATES PATENT GEEIGE.V

EDWARD A. L. ROBERTS, OF TITUSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN TORPEDOES FOR OIL-WELLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 86,691, dated February 9, 1869.

To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. L. RoB- ERTs, of Titusville, in the county of Crawford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Explosion of Nitro-Glycerine Torpedoes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making a part of this specication, in which- Figure l is a vertical sectional view of my improved torpedo; and-Figs. 2 and 8 are outside views, somewhat enlarged, of the firing or exploding apparatus.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

My invention relates to the construction of torpedoes adapted or designed for subterraneous or submarine explosion, and more particularly to that class of torpedoes in which is used nitro-glycerine, or other article, mixture, or compound which may be exploded by percussion; and the nature of it consists in the use of a projectile, inserted in the lower end of a priming-chamber or iiring-tube, the joint of the projectile and tube being protected by a rubber tube, so as to be water-tight.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my improvement, I will proceed to describe its construction and manner of use.

a is a flask or can of any known or suitable construction, which is charged with nitroglycerine, or other like explosive, with or without gravel-stones s, for which use of gravelstones with explosive compounds I have already made an application for Letters Patent. The cap a at\the upper end of the flask a has a tapped or threaded barrel, b, into which, by a screw-thread cut on, the outside thereof, is screwed a metallic pipe or tube, b, open at both ends, and its lower end projecting down into the ask a any desired distance.

Intothe cylindrical opening of this ringtube b, near its upper open end, I screw a gunnipple, c, and on it place a percussion-cap.

The open space d below the nipple c is a priming-chamber, to be filled with gunpowder, or other like explosive substance, and the lower end ofthe priming-chamber d'is closed by a metallic plug or projectile, d', of such weight that when ejected from its seat by the ignition and explosion of the powder above, it will exercise sufficient percussive force to explode the nitro-glycerine in the ask a.

A hammer, f, is placed in the upper-open may be further secured, if found necessary,

by tying it tightly above and below the joint, as at ac.

The plug or projectile d', I usually make with a shoulder, as shown, so that while one end fits neatly inside the tube b, the other end will be flush or even with the outside of the tube b. j

' A collar g, on the firing-tube b, answers the double purpose of securing amore perfect joint between the tube b and barrel b', and

furnishing a place of attachment for the ends of the bail h, by which the torpedo is lowered to the place where it is to be exploded. The

cord or wire by which it is to be lowered isA attached to the bail h, passes through the open head of the hammer f, and after the torpedo has reached the desired point, an annular or tubular weight is slid down it, which, striking the hammer f, explodes the cap on the nipple c,rby which the powder in the chamber d is ignited, and this in turn drives out the plug or projectile d with such force as to explode the nitro-glycerine in the iiask a.

`Such a torpedo is easily and safely pr'e.

pared and used, and is exploded with almost absolute certainty. The chief use to which I apply it-is that of a torpedo for oil-wells. By exploding it in the oil-bearing strata, the veins in which the oil iiows are cleaned out or opened, or new veins are made, with a consequent increase in the productiveness of the well.

What I claim as my invention, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A projectile or metallic plug, d', inserted in the lower end of the firing-tube or priming chamber of a torpedo exploding apparatus, in combination with a filling of nitro-glycerine, with or without gravel, substantially'l as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I, the said EDWARD A. L.RoBERTs, have hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD A. L. ROBERTS.

Witnesses:

ELL TORRANGE, G. H. CHRISTY.

Images