IMPROVEMENTS IN CRIMPING OR CORRUGATING AND CLOSING METALLIC CARTRIDGE CASES AND APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Alfred Alexander Thorn, trading as Charles
Lancaster, of 151, New Bond Street, in the county of Middlesex, Gunmaker
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CRIMPING OR CORRUGATING AND
CLOSING METALLIC CARTRIDGE CASES AND APPARATUS THEREFOR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Alfred Alexander
Thorn at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th January
1883.
HENRY ALFRED ALEXANDER THORN, trading as Charles Lancastor, of 151, New
Bond Street, in the county of Middlesex, Gunmaker "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CRIMPING OR CORRUGATING AND CLOSING METALLIC CARTRIDGE CASES AND
APPARATUS THEREFOR"
This invention relates to the construction of an improved apparatus for
longitudinally crimping or corrugating and closing loaded metallic cartridge cases
whereby the crimping or corrugating and the closing or compressing of the
corrugated end of the cartridge case are effected in one and the same operation and
the wad seated in a better and more expeditious manner than heretofore.
In crimping or corrugating (longitudinally) the ends of metallic cartridge cases
by the apparatus hitherto in use, it has been found necessary for the proper seating
of the wad and fixing of the charge to subsequently compress or close the
corrugated end by means of a separate apparatus or appliance, but this operation
has been imperfectly effected as no means have been provided for regulating the
amount of the compression.
By my improvements these defects are obviated and the cartridge case is
crimped or corrugated and closed in one operation and the wad properly seated
and therefore the charge held securely.
In carrying out my invention I employ a cylinder having the usual bevilled and
inclined studs near the bottom thereof either formed in the cylinder or on a
separate ring fitting into the cylinder; but beyond the said studs I form the
[Price 6d1

page_text: cylinder (or the ring) in the form of a hollow cone. I employ a mandril or
plunger of smaller diameter than hitherto the end thereof being tapered for the
purpose hereinafter described and I provide an adjusting screw arrangement on the
cylinder bottom for regulating the backward play of the mandril so as to adjust
the mandril to the varying charges contained in the cases.
By this arrangement, if the charged cartridge case be inserted in the cylinder
and pressed in the usual manner either by hand or by a lever, the end of the case
will not only be corrugated as hitherto by the projecting studs, but the end of the
case being also pressed into the hereinbefore described hollow cone will be
compressed or closed over the tapered end of the plunger which by its adjustable
screw arrangement can be set to suit the charge contained in the case. By closing
the end of the case over the plunger an opening is always left through which can
be seen the marks on the top or shot wad.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Alfred Alexander Thorn in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 10th July 1883.
HENRY ALFRED ALEXANDER THORN trading as Charles Lancaster of 151 New
Bond Street in the county of Middlesex, Gunmaker "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CRIMPING OR CORRUGATING AND CLOSING METALLIC CARTRIDGE CASES, AND
APPARATUS THEREFOR
"
This invention relates to the construction of an improved apparatus for longi-
tudinally crimping or corrugating and closing loaded metallic cartridge cases
whereby the crimping or corrugating and the closing or compressing of the
corrugated end of the cartridge case are effected in one and the same operation and
the wad seated in a better and more expeditious manner than heretofore
In crimping or corrugating (longitudinally) the ends of metallic cartridge cases
by the apparatus hitherto in use, it has been found necessary for the proper seating.
of the wad and fixing of the charge to subsequently compress or close the
corrugated end by means of a separato apparatus or appliance, but this operation
has been imperfectly effected as no means have been provided for regulating the
amount of the compression.
By my improvements these defects are obviated and the cartridgo.case is
crimped or corrugated and closed in one operation and the wad properly seated and
therefore the charge held securely.
In carrying out my invention I employ a cylinder having the usual bevilled and
inclined studs near the bottom thereof either formed in the cylinder or on a
separate ring fitting into the cylinder; but beyond the said studs I form the
cylinder. (or the ring) in the form of a hollow cone. I employ a mandril or
plunger of smaller diameter than hitherto the end thereof being tapered for the
purpose hereinafter described and I provide an adjusting screw arrangement on the
cylinder bottom for regulating the backward play of the mandril so as to adjust
the mandril to the varying charges contained in the cases.
.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will proceed to
describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which figure 1 is
a front elevation and figure 2 a longitudinal section of an apparatus for crimping
or corrugating and closing metallic cartridge cases, constructed according to my
improvements and operated by a lever; figures 3 and 4 similar views of a hand
apparatus; figure 5 elevation of a hand apparatus with a side set screw for fixing
the mandril; figure 6, side elevation and figure 7 end view of a cartridge case
crimped or corrugated and closed by my improved apparatus. Similar letters in
all the figures represent similar parts.
In the apparatus shewn in figures 1 and 2, a is the usual cylinder and b, the
usual bevilled and inclined studs near the bottom thereof the said studs being
formed in a ring c, fitting the cylinder a, as shewn in the drawing; or they may
be formed in the cylinder itself; d, is the hollow cone formed in the ring c, imme-
diately beyond or forming a continuation of the studs b; e, is the mandril or
plunger of smaller diameter than hitherto; e', the tapered end of the mandril
formed with a shoulder at e³,; f, is an adjusting screw which screws in the cap g,
of the cylinder; the mandril e, slides in the adjusting screw f, its backward play
being limited by the shoulder e, coming against the inner end of the adjusting
screw f, so as to allow of adjusting the mandril to the varying charges contained
in the cartridge cases; h, is the usual lever handle pivotted at i, for pressing the
cartridge case into the cylinder a, by means of the plate j, which I form convex on

page_text: its face and with a longitudinal groove as shown so as to prevent it coming in
contact with the cap contained in the base of the caso also to prevent damage being
done to the base of the case.
By this arrangement if a charged cartridge caso be inserted in the cylinder a,
and pressed in the usual manner by the lever h, the end of the case will not only
be corrugated as hitherto by the projecting studs b, but the end of the case being
also pressed into the hollow cone d, will be compressed or closed over the tapered
end e', of the plunger e, which by its hereinbefore described adjustable screw
arrangement can be set to suit the charge contained in the case. By closing the
end of the case over the plunger, an opening is always left through which can be
seen the marks on the top or shot wad as will be seen by reference to figures 6
and 7 which shew a side and end view respectively of a cartridge case crimped or
corrugated and closed by my improved apparatus.
The hand machine shewn in figures 3 and 4 is constructed substantially in the
same manner as that herein before described except that the lever h, is dispensed
with and that the taper mandril e¹, is formed on or fixed to the adjusting screw f;
or the mandril may slide in the cap g, of the apparatus as shown in figure 5, and
be fixed or adjusted in any desired position by the set screw f; a set screw of
this description may also be applied to the apparatus shewn in figures 1 and 2.
The operation of the hand apparatus shewn in figures 3, 4 and 5 is the same as
that shown in figures 1 and 2 except that the cartridge is pressed into the
cylinder a, by hand instead of by a lever, and the cartridge case operated on will
have the same appearance as that shewn in figures 6 and 7.
Having thus described my invention and the best means I am acquainted with
for carrying the same into effect I wish it to be understood that what I
claim is
Firstly. In an apparatus for crimping or corrugating and closing metallic
cartridgo cases the combination with the usual bevilled and inclined studs of a
bollow cone arranged as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and represented
in the accompanying drawing.
Secondly. In an apparatus for crimping or corrugating and closing metallic
cartridge cases the use in combination with a mandril or plunger of an adjusting
screw arrangement as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and represented
in the accompanying drawing.
Thirdly. The manufacture and use of the improved apparatuses for crimping or
corrugating and closing metallic cartridge cases as hereinbefore described and
represented in figures to 5 of the accompanying drawing.
In Witness whereof I tho said Henry Alfred Alexander Thorn have hereto set
my hand and seal this ninth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three
HOWDY
MHAK