IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND ORDNANCE
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jacques Philippe Pieri, of Ghisoni, Corsica, now
of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London, formerly Major in the
Imperial French Army, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND
ORDNANCE
"
Sealed the 5th February 1875, and dated the 6th August 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jacques Philippe
Pieri at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 6th August 1874.
I, JACQUES PHILIPPE PIERI, of Ghisoni, Corsica, now of No. 8,
Southampton Buildings, London, formerly Major in the Imperial French
Army, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND
ORDNANCE," to be as follows:-
My said Invention relates to the manufacture of cartridges for breech-
loading firc-arms and ordnance with shells or cases formed of metal foil
and a caoutchouc composition combined, as herein-after specified.
Cartridges constructed according to my Invention offer the following
advantages, namely, the shell or case being composed partly of caoutchouc

page_text: or india-rubber or gutta percha, which are bad conductors of heat, the
cartridge chamber of the firc-arm or cannon will keep comparatively
cool. The material composing the case or shell being elastic the same
will not bind in or adhero to the said chamber after its explosion, and
therefore its extraction will be easy and certain. The said cartridges ||
being elastic cannot be broken or otherwise injured during transport or
have their shape destroyed by a blow. Each cartridge case or sholl may
be used many times.
The said cartridges will not be affected by changes of temperature or
climate, and consequently may be used in any part of the world. They
will not be broken by the action of the gases generated by explosion,
and they are impervious to water or moisture.
The case or shell of the said cartridges is composed of a piece of foil
rolled up into the form of a tubo or cylinder and an envelope of
vulcanized caoutchouc, preferably that known as Para caoutchouc mixed ]
with whiting, gravel, and powdered with sandarach gum or resin for the
purpose of moulding. The base, which is formed or fitted with a recep-
tacle or cavity for the striker and detonating cap, may be an iron disc
placed and secured on the end of the tube or cylinder, or a cup-shaped
piece formed of copper or other suitable metal, in which the end of the 2
said tube is inserted and secured.
In the manufacture of cartridges according to my Invention I proceed
as follows:-I take raw or unprepared caoutchouc, india-rubber, or
gutta percha, and amalgamate the same with gravel or argilaceous
earth, giving the compound a sheet form; then it is mixed with the 2
whiting and passed between parallel rollers to reduce it to a very thin
sheet. After this operation it is spread upon a slab or plate, and a
coating or covering of the sandarach is applied; then it is cut into pieces
of the required size. Each of these picces is rolled up with one of the
aforesaid pieces of foil upon a steel rod or mandril. This rod or mandril 3
with the foil and caoutchouc thus coiled upon it is introduced into a
steel cylinder or mould and subjected to a process of vulcanization for
about one hour or one hour and a quarter. When this operation is
finished the shell or case is withdrawn from the said mould and dipped
quickly in cold water and then in oil. Then the base is secured in place 3
by the aid of the apparatus or machine commonly used for this purposo
in the manufacture of cartridges.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Jacques Philippe Pieri in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th February 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JACQUES
5 PHILIPPE PIERI, of Ghisoni, Corsica, now of No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, London, formerly Major in the Imperial French Army, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of August, in the year
O of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto nie, the said Jacques Philippe Pieri,
Her special licence that I, the said Jacques Philippe Pieri, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Jacques Philippe Pieri, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully. might make; use, exercise, and vend; within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
) Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND ORDNANCE," upon; the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Jacques Philippe Pieri, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my;
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-.
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
•
:
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jacques Philippe Pieri, do hereby.
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the.
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
My said Invention relates to the manufacture of cartridges for breech-
loading fire-arms and ordnance, and consists in the construction of the
cartridges with shells or cases formed of metal foil and caoutchouc or

page_text: gutta percha, or a compound thereof, combined and vulcanized as
hercin-after specified.
Cartridges constructed according to my Invention offer the following
advantages, namely, the shell or case being composed partly of caoutchouc
or india-rubber or gutta percha, or any suitable compound of these 5
materials which are bad conductors of heat, the cartridge chamber of
the fire-arm or cannon will keep comparatively cool. The material
composing the case or shell being elastic the same will not bind in or
adhere to the said chamber after its explosion, and therefore its extraction
will be easy and certain. The said cartridges being elastic cannot be 1
broken or otherwise injured during transport or have their shape
Each cartridge case or shell may be used many
destroyed by a blow.
times.
-
The said cartridges will not be affected by changes of temperature or
climate, and consequently may be used in any part of the world. They 1
will not be broken by the action of the gases gencrated by explosion,
and they are impervious to water or moisture.
.
The caso or shell of the said cartridges is composed of a piece of foil;
rolled-up into the form of a tube or cylinder and with an envelope of
caoutchouc, india-rubber, or gutta percha, or a compound thereof. I 2
prefer to use the variety of caoutchouc known as Para caoutchouc, mixed
with chalk or whiting and gravel, and powdered with sandarach gum or
resin for the purpose herein-after specified. The base or end, which is
formed or fitted with a receptacle or cavity for the striker and detonating
cap, may be an iron disc placed and secured on the end of the tube or 2
cylinder, or a cup-shaped piece formed of copper or other suitable metal,
in which the end of the said tube is inserted and secured; or the said
shell or case may be combined with any other suitable base or end..
-
In the manufacture of cartridges according to my Invention I proceed.
as follows: I take raw or unprepared caoutchouc, india-rubber, or 8
gutta percha, or a compound of either, and amalgamato the same with
fine gravel or argilaceous earth and tale, giving the mass so produced a
sheet form; then it is mixed with the chalk or whiting or other suitable.
substance to diminish the elasticity of the caoutchouc, or india-rubber,
or gutta percha, or compound, and prevent its softening under the 8
influence of a high temperature of the atmosphere. The proportions of
these various ingredients should be about as follows, namely, caoutchouc

page_text: or other soft substance, as above specified, three parts; talc, one part ;
gravel or earth, one part; chalk or whiting, one part. It is then passed
between parallel rollers to reduce it to a very thin sheet. After this
operation it is spread upon a slab or plate and a coating or covering of
sandarach, talc, or other suitable powdered material is applied; then the
sheet is cut into pieces of the required size. Each of these picces is
rolled up with one of the aforesaid pieces of foil upon a steel rod or
mandril. This rod or mandril, with the foil and caoutchouc thus coiled
upon it, is introduced into a steel cylinder or mould and subjected to a
process of vulcanization for about one hour or one hour and a quarter.
The sandarach or other powdered material facilitates the moulding; or
I may dispense with the mould by binding the cartridge with a piece of
cloth or paper, which is removed after the vulcanization. When this
operation is finished the shell or case is withdrawn from the said mould
or-freed from its binding and dipped quickly in cold water and then in
oil. After vulcanization the caoutchouc, india-rubber, or gutta percha,
or compound of either of these materials will be so closely united to the
foil as to form one body with the same. Then the base is secured in
place by the aid of the apparatus or machine commonly used for this
purpose in the manufacture of cartridges.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it understood that I claim, a cartridge caso
or shell constructed of foil and caoutchouc or india-rubber or gutta
percha, or a compound of either of these materials, first coiled or rolled
together, and then subjected to vulcanization, for the purposes
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jacques Philippe Pieri, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
Witness,
W ROB. LAKE,
"
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
J. PIERI. (L.S.)