Improvements in the Manufacture of Metallic Cartridges.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 4th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 4th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 5th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Metallic Cartridges.
I, ASA NORMAN WHITNEY, of 22 Harewood Square, Regents Park, in the County
of Middlesex, Captain in the Merchant Service, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the manufacture of metallic cartridges for rifles and other
fire-arms, and comprises the improvements hereinafter set forth
In making a cartridge according to my present invention, I form the tubular part
or body of the metallic case or shell by drawing the same from sheet metal, the lear
end being closed with the exception of a central hole The rim or flange of the
cartridge is formed by securing to the rear end of the tube or body a disc
stamped or otherwise produced from sheet metal and having a cap-chamber either
formed with it or inserted in or passed through it; in the latter case the said
cap-chamber will have a flange on the outside to keep it from passing entirely
through the disc This cap-chamber is inserted in or passed through the hole in the
rear end of the tube or body and is riveted on the inside by means of a punch or other
suitable tool.
By my invention I am enabled to dispense altogether with the thick paper pellets
heretofore used around the cap-chamber.
My said invention moreover affords the advantages that less metal than heretofore
is necessary in the manufacture of the cartridge, thus greatly reducing the cost of
manufacture of large quantities of such cartridges, and the manufacture of the
cartridge is facilitated by reason of the simplicity of the parts and the manner of
making them.
Dhin 4th d... 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Metallic Cartridges.
I, ASA NORMAN WHITNEY, of 22 Harewood Square, Regents Park, in the County
of Middlesex, Captain in the Merchant's Service, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to metallic cartridges for rifles, quick-firing guns and other
fire-arms, and is designed to simplify the manufacture of such cartridges and to reduce
the cost of the same as compared with those of equal capacity hitherto generally
used.
In making a cartridge according to my said invention I form the tubular part or
body of the metallic case or shell by stamping and drawing thin metal blanks of
comparatively large diameter. In the closed end of the hody or tubular part thus
formed, I bore a hole for the reception of the cap chamber. A disc preferably of
thicker metal than that of the body is secured to the said closed end, this disc or base
and the body or tubular portion are securely united by a flanged cap-chamber formed
with or inserted in a central hole in the said disc This cap-chamber is inserted in the
hole in the body or tubular portion of the cartridge-case and is rivetted over or
clinched on the inner side of the closed end of the said body or tubular portion, 50 as
to firmly secure the parts in their proper relative position, an inner disc
being also employed, if desired to strengthen the base or rear end of the cartridge
case.

page_text: Hitherto metallic cartridge-cases have been made by drawing thick metal blanks of
small diameter, so that not only is the pressure on the dies in the operation of drawing
or working the metal very great, but as the size of the blank is small relatively to the
ultimate size of the cartridge body, the metal requires a considerable amount of
drawing or working to bring it to the required shape and dimensions
According to my improved method, however, the metal blank or disc from which
the cartridge-body is formed is not only very thin compared with the blanks hitherto
employed, but it is of much larger diameter than the latter and before being drawn 19
partially worked or shaped by stamping, consequently the amount of drawing or
working of the metal and consequently the power required to bring the blank to its
final shape are greatly diminished.
It is evident, therefore, that by thus stamping and drawing the tubular portion or
body of the cartridge-case from a comparatively thin sheet of metal of large diameter,
1 effect considerable economy in respect of the time and power required for the
manufacture of the cartridges and also in respect of the cost of producing such
cartridges, the wear and tear of the dies being greatly diminished.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 represents in plan and side elevation, a sheet metal blank such as I employ
in making the tubular portion or body of my improved cartridge-case.
Figure 2 shows, in vertical central section, the separate parts of one form of my
improved cartridge-case.
Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in vertical central section, showing the said parts
put together ready for the riveting or clenching of the cap-chamber.
Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the said cartridge case
Figure 5 is a side elevation, partly in vertical central section, showing the completed
cartridge case.
Figure 6 represents in vertical central section, the separate parts of another
cartridge-case constructed according to my said invention.
Figure 7 is a rear elevation of the combined base and cap-chamber of the said
cartridge-case
Figure 8 is a side elevation, partly in vertical central section, showing the said
cartridge-case completed.
Figurs 9 is a longitudinal central section illustrating a further modification of my
improved cartridge case.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
A is the body or tubular portion of my improved cartridge-case; B is a disc forming
the head-or-base-of-the cartridge-;-c_is_the_cap-chamber.
In the closed end of the body A is bored a hole A¹ to admit the cap-chamber c.
The tubular portion A is preferably formed, as above described, by stamping and
drawing a thin sheet metal disc or blank of comparatively large diameter such as
that shown in Figure 1 by means of snitable dies until it assumes the form shown,
that is to say, the said blank is first stamped so as to form a shallow cup somewhat
smaller in diameter than the blank, and this cup is then gradually reduced in diameter
and elongated by successive stamping operations until it is of approximately the
required finished diameter of the cartridge-case, it is then drawn to bring it to the
required finished diameter and to condense the metal and smooth the surface
thereof.
The disc or base B is formed, by stamping or otherwise, from sheet metal preferably
thicker than that used for the body or tubular portion of the cartridge-case.
In the cartridge case illustrated in Figures 2 to 5 the said disc has formed in it
a central hole B the outer edge of which is bevelled or countersunk as shown and
which corresponds in diameter with the hole A. The said base-disc B should be
slightly larger in diameter than the body or tubular portion A so that when the
parts are fitted together as in Figure 3 it will project beyond the said tubular portion
and form a rim or flange for the cartridge. The cap-chamber e is provided with a
bevelled flange c¹ so that it will enter but cannot pass entirely through the holes B¹, A¹,
the said flange engaging with the bevelled or countersunk edge of the hole B'. This

page_text: cap-chamber is formed in one piece preferably from sheet metal by stamping or
pressing; the aforesaid flange may be formed either simultaneously or subsequently
as may be found most convenient. The actual dimensions of the cap-chamber will
vary according to the size and pattern of the cartridge; I prefer, however, that the
length of the said cap-chamber should be just sufficient to allow it to project far
enough inside the cartridge to permit of its being subsequently riveted or clinched
as hereinafter described.
The parts of my improved cartridge-case above described are united together as
follows, that is to say, the base-disc B is placed in its proper position in contact
with the closed end of the tubular portion A; the cap chamber c is then inserted
through the holes B', A¹, and the cartridge being placed with its base-disc downward
on a suitable anvil, and the cap-chamber is riveted or clinched by means of a
suitable tool inserted through the open end of the tubular portion of the cartridge-
case The said cap-chamber is in this manner riveted or clinched over the edge
of the hole A' as shown in Figure 5 thus firmly securing the base-disc to the tubular
portion of the cartridge-case. Other means may, however, be employed for riveting
or clinching the said cap-chamber, such for instance as a hydraulic press. The
cap-chamber is perforated either by the same or by a subsequent operation to form
a touch-hole or vent as at Figure 5. The cartridge-case is then ready to receive
the powder-charge, the cap and the projectile.
In some cases I form the cap-chamber and disc or base in one piece of metal as
shown for example, in Figures 6, 7 and 8. In this modification of my invention
the centre of the disc or base B, instead of being removed as in Figures 2 to 5 is
pressed or formed into a cup-shaped projection which corresponds to and takes the
place of the separate cap-chamber c. This cap-chamber is inserted in the hole A¹
until the base disc B comes in contact with the end of the tubular portion A, and
the said cap-chamber is then riveted or clinched as above described.
For some classes of cartridges I find it advantageous to insert an annular disc j
(Figure 9) in the tubular portion or body A before riveting or clinching the cap-
chamber. This inner disc strengthens the base or rear end of the cartridge case.
If desired, the body or tubular portion of the cartridge case may be "choked" as
indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 5 or in Figure 8, to suit any required bore.
The improved cartridge-case, although preferably formed of brass may, if desired,
be formed of any other suitable metal or alloy, or the separate parts may be formed
of different metals or alloys as may be found most advantageous.
It will be seen from the foregoing description that my method of manufacture
differs considerably from the method heretofore practised of making solid drawn
cartridge-cases. In the method hitherto adopted, the thick metal blank is drawn
successively through dies but slightly differing in diameter, until it is of the required
length. This method of manufacturing cartridge-cases, is unreliable for the reason,
amongst others, that the metal of the tubular portion cannot always be made of
uniform thickness. Moreover, in the cartridges heretofore made the cap-chamber
and the flange or head are usually formed by stamping the base or closed end of
the tube, which is left sufficiently thick for this purpose. In cartridges thus made
the head or flange is frequently not concentric with the tubular portion of the
cartridge-case. But by making the tubular portion or body of the cartridge-case
from thin sheet metal as herein before described and securing a separate base thereto
by means of a cap-chamber, I ensure uniformity of thickness of the metal in the
tubular portion and I am enabled with facility to secure the said base to the tubular
portion in such a manner that it will be concentric therewith.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 wish it understood that
I claim :-
First The method of manufacturing the tubular portion or body of a cartridge-
case, by stamping and drawing a thin metal disc or blank of comparatively large
diameter, substantially as herein before described.

page_text: Second-The method of manufacturing a cartridge-case, consisting in first forming
the tubular portion by stamping and drawing a thin metal disc or blank of com-
paratively large diameter, and then securing a separately formed base to the said
tubular portion by means of a cap-chamber, substantially as herein before described.
Third A metallic cartridge, the body or tubular portion of which is formed by
stamping and drawing a thin metal disc or blank of comparatively large diameter,
substantially as herein before described.
Fourth A metallic cartridge, the case of which has a seamless body or tubular
portion, and the base or head of which is secured to the said body or tubular portion
by means of the cap-chamber.
Fifth The improved metallic cartridge-case, the body or tubular portion, the
base-disc and the cap-chamber of which are formed separately and subsequently
united substantially as above described with reference to Figures 2 to 5 of the
drawing for the purposes specified.
Sixth-The improved metallic cartridge-case, the base-disc and cap-chamber of
which are formed in one piece and are united to the body or tubular portion
substantially as above described with reference to Figures 6, 7 and 8 of the drawing.
Seventh-The modification of my invention wherein I employ an inner strengthening
disc substantially as described with reference to Figure 9 of the drawing for the
purpose above specified.
Dated this 4th day of Morab 1800
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.