Compressed Air Volume 20 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1915 Excerpt: ... consciousness, but had a vague realization of being gripped by the neck later and pulled out of the hull. An opening big enough to pull the man through had been cut in the steel hull with an oxyacetylene torch, the rescuers standing neck-deep in water for an hour while doing this work. DANGERS AND SAFETY CONDITIONS OF HIGH EXPLOSIVES The detonation of nitro-glycerine and its compounds, among which the best known are dynamite and gelatine-dynamite, can only be brought about by one of the two following causes: First, the elevation of the temperature of the nitro-glycerine to its explosive point, namely, in the neighborhood of 400 R, but this does not apply to the entire mass of the nitro-glycerine; it is only necessary for the smallest particle of nitro-glycerine. The heat liberated by the explosion of this smallest particle is quickly communicated to the adjacent particles and progressing with lightning rapidity, in geometric ratio, detonates the entire mass as if by a single impulse. Second, by the synchronous vibrations responding to a wave of detonation set in motion by an exploding mass of nitro-glycerine. This second cause may perhaps be referred to the first; for sound, heat, and light are all forms of energy and are convertible. Strange stories are often told regarding the erratic behavior of dynamite, and a veil of mystery is generally thrown about the resulting accidents. These stories are often correct, but there is no mystery. It must be borne in mind that dynamites, even those of the same grade or degree of strength, are often not the same, that is, they differ in composition. Again dynamites of identical grade and composition often differ as to their physical properties. For instance, take two dynamites of the same composition, in the one that ...