IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, &
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."
A com-
munication from abroad by Owen Jones, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United
States of America.
Sealed the 20th December 1878, and dated the 21st October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st October 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-
LOADING FIRE-ARMS." [A communication from abroad by Owen Jones, of Phila-
delphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to cartridges for breech-loading fire-arms, and in which a
hollow bullet or projectile is combined with an interior metal lining as herein-after
described.
The said bullet or projectile may be manufactured in any suitable manner, but is
essentially made hollow or provided with an interior recess or cavity extending in
a longitudinal direction. The said interior lining consists of a metal tube closed at
its forward end, and adapted in size and shape to snugly fit the recess or cavity of
the bullet. The latter is provided with a cap or shell, consisting of a short metal
cylinder with a head or flange at its rear end.
This cap is provided with the fulminating substance to explode the cartridge in
the usual or other proper manner. It serves also to pack the back of the cylinder
and prevent the escape of gas when the cartridge is exploded.
The said cartridge is made up by first inserting the lining in the bullet, then
filling the same with powder, and slipping on the properly prepared cap, the latter
being held in position by friction or by any other proper means.
The said cap Bo
overlaps the lining as to make the interior metal surface continuous.

page_text: The said cartridge when prepared is exploded in the usual manner. The bullet
and its lining will both be discharged from the fire-arm, so that only the short
shell will remain therein.
In some instances I make the said interior metal lining with two chambers, one
larger than the other. A fuse is arranged to extend from the rear or large chamber
into the forward or small chamber, and is designed to explode and accelerate the
movement of the projectile after the same has left the barrel of the fire-arm.
By the employment of the said interior lining it is possible to locate the powder
within the bullet, and explode the same without rupturing the bullet or materially
changing its shape, and it is practicable to use a short shell without impairing the
value of the cartridge. The employment of a short shell is advantageous, because
after the cartridge has been exploded it may be extracted much more readily than
a long shell, as the movement to eject the same is much less. Moreover by the
employment of a short shell the difference in length between an empty shell and a
loaded cartridge is largely increased, so that a movement amply sufficient to throw
out the former cannot by any possibility affect the lattor.

page_text: empty shell and a loaded cartridge is greatly increased, so that a movement amply
sufficient to throw out an empty shell cannot affect or disarrange a cartridge before
discharging the same.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim,-
The improvements in cartridges, consisting in combining with a hollow bullet or
projectile an interior metal lining and a short shell or cap at the rear end or base of
the projectile, as above described and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.