Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 2nd June, 1899
I, FRANKLIN KNOWLES YOUNG, of No. 2, Baldwin Street, in the City of Boston
and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Journalist, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained, in and by the following
statement:
My invention relates to cartridges and is illustrated in the accompanying
drawing in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cartridge, embodying my invention;-
Figure 2, a view thereof partly in central longitudinal section and partly in
clevation;
Figure 3, a similar view of another form of cartridge embodying my
invention;-
Figure 4, a like view of the forward portion of another form of my cartridge;
Figure 5, a detail view, partly in section and partly in side elevation, of a form
of bullet which can be used in my cartridge;-
-
Figure 6, a side elevation of another form of bullet.
Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.
The object of my invention is the provision of a cartridge constructed for use
more especially with automatic guns, and to this end, said invention
Consists in the cartridge having the construction substantially as hereinafter
specified.
The cartridge forming the subject matter of this invention is devised for use
with guns of any description.
In the embodiments of my invention illustrated herein, the shell is shown as
made in two parts A and A1, the former being a hollow cylinder with one end
open and the other end forming the cartridge base or head a, and the part A¹, a
hollow cylinder, enclosing and closely fitting the other, and provided at one end
with interior screw thread to engage exterior thread on the end of the part A,
near the base or head a. The other end of the outer part A¹ is contracted in
diameter, beginning at the bottom end of the inner part A, and has secured
within it the bullet or projectile B. Within the base a is formed an annular
groove a, for engagement by an extractor.
Placed centrally within the cartridge is a longitudinally movable rod or
plunger C, whose rear end passes through a central opening in the base or
head a, and which has an annular enlargement that forms a head or piston D,
fitting and movable in an axial direction within a cylindrical passage a² formed

page_text: in the inner shell part near the base or head a. The charge of powder, or other
explosive E, is placed between the piston and the rear end of the bullet, and it
is fired by means of a primer F that is exploded by the front end of the
plunger C, which reaches to a point in the front part of the charge. As shown
in Figure 2, the primer, being in the form of a cap, is placed over the front end
of the plunger, so that by the forward movement of the latter, it will be struck
against the rear end or base of the bullet. Instead of being placed upon the
plunger end, such a form of primer can (as shown in Figure 5) be applied to
the bullet, by being placed upon an anvil b formed in the base thereof. In
Figures 3 and 6, the primer is shown in the form of a pellet, which, in the
former case, is shown attached to the end of the plunger, and in the latter case
to the end of the bullet. As shown in Figure 4, the primer consists of a percus-
sion disk resting against the base of the bullet.
When the firing pin of the gun strikes the rear, exposed end of the plunger C,
the forward movement thus given to the latter, will cause the firing of the
primer, and ignite the charge of explosive. The pressure of the gases generated
by the ignition of the charge, acting on the piston D, will then force the plunger
rearward, and the latter being in-engagement with the firing pin of the gun
will carry said pin rearward, and produce the operation of the breech mechanism.
It is to be understood that the cartridge can be of any desired type, and the
shell can be made in the usual, or any desired way, but I prefer the two part
construction shown, because it enables the easy provision of the piston passage a³,
and the most convenient priming and loading of the cartridge. It is also desir-
able, as it results in a shell that is good, strong and durable, and capable of
being re-loaded and used repeatedly, without injury. When fired in a gun, the
pressure of the gases of explosion expands the inner part against the walls of the
outer part, so that there can be no leakage of gas rearward and outward, between
the two.
While I have shown and described my cartridge as arranged to be fired by a
primer ignited by the forward end of the plunger, within the cartridge, I do not
limit myself to the use of such an arrangement, but contemplate, when desired,
employing other means for igniting the explosive charge.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. A cartridge having a passage in its rear part, and an interior plunger
having a head made movable in such passage, and exposed directly on the for-
ward or inner side to the rearward pressure of the gases of explosion within the
cartridge, substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. A cartridge having a base with an opening therethrough, and an enlarged
interior passage connected with such opening, and a movable plunger adapted
to be engaged by the firing pin of a gun in which the cartridge is used, and
having a portion fitting in and closing the enlarged passage, with its forward or
inner side exposed to pressure of gases of explosion within the cartridge, so that
such pressure will move the plunger rearward or outward when the cartridge
is fired, substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. A cartridge having a base with an opening with both ends unclosed, and an
interior passage connecting with such passage, but made larger than the same,
and a plunger having a part movable in the opening in the base, and having
a head movable in the passage, substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. In a cartridge, in combination with a shell having a base with an opening
through it, and an enlarged passage at the inner end of the opening, an igniting.
plunger having a part to move in the opening and a head fitting in the passage,
a projectile held in the shell, and an igniter or primer between the end of the
igniting plunger and the projectile, adapted to be exploded against the base of

page_text: the projectile by forward movement of the igniting plunger, substantially as
and for the purpose described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.