AN IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGES FOR ORDNANCE, AND MECHANISM OR APPLIANCES FOR FIRING THE SAME AND EXTRACTING THE CASES THEREOF communicated him
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Denton Abel of N° 28 Southampton Buildings
Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of "AN
IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGES FOR ORDNANCE, AND MECHANISM
OR APPLIANCES FOR FIRING THE SAME AND EXTRACTING THE CASES
THEREOF communicated to him from abroad by Wilhelm Lorenz of
Carlsruhe, Baden, in the German Empire.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Denton Abel at the'
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th October 1883.
CHARLES DENTON ABEL of N° 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, "AN IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGES
"
FOR ORDNANCE, AND MECHANISM OR APPLIANCES FOR FIRING THE SAME AND
EXTRACTING THE CASES THEREOF [communicated to him from abroad by
Wilhelm Lorenz of Carlsruhe, Baden, in the German Empire]
This invention relates firstly to the manufacture of cartridges for ordnance with
metallic cases instead of cases of paper or woven fabric, as heretofore employed, and
secondly to mechanism or appliances for firing such cartridges.
In constructing metal cartridge cases for ordnance, the case may either be
stamped or drawn out of one piece of metal, or it may be composed of a cylindrical
part combined with a flanged cup shaped base. In the latter case the cylindrical
shell may be secured to the base either by having its lower rim bent slightly
inwards or outwards and inserted in a circular groove between two circular lips on
the base which are then closed in against the inner and outer surface of the shell.
Either the inner, or preferably the outer lip of the base is made to extend some
distance up the cylindrical shell, and the latter may be secured to it by soldering
or rivetting; in the latter case, a single lip alone may be used. The base is
formed with a recess or chamber for a pecussion cap and its anvil, as in small arm
cartridges. The cartridge case having been filled with gunpowder, its front end is
firstly closed by a wad of felt, or of wood, cork or other suitable material wrapped
round with felt and saturated with grease, and secondly a metal cap is secured to
the case over the wad by soldering. The cases may either be of a resisting metal
or alloy, such as steel, brass and the like, so as to be capable of being used
repeatedly, or they may be of a metal or alloy that readily melts at a low.

page_text: temperature, so that they will melt and be thrown out of the gun on firing, the base
being however made of a strong metal.
The interiors of the cartridge cases are by preference provided with a protective
coating that will prevent the gunpowder from being injuriously acted upon thereby
during long storage.
The projectile may be attached to the cartridge, in which case the cylindrical
shell is extended sufficiently beyond the wad to receive the projectile within it.
The cartridges are fired by means of a firing pin striking the percussion cap of
the cartridge and operating either alone or in combination with a separate
striking bolt. The arrangement of such firing pin and striking bolt may be
variously modified, according to the construction of the gun in which the system is
employed, but it consists in each case mainly of a firing pin, a spring for throwing
the pin forward, and mechanism for "cocking," or withdrawing the pin against
the action of the spring, for holding it in that position, and releasing it for firing.
In one arrangement the firing pin and striking bolt with its gear are placed
obliquely to the bore of the gun. When the invention is applied to a breech-
loading gun in which ordinary cartridges have been used with a rear packing for
preventing the escape of gas, this packing is replaced by a steel ring encircling the
base of the cartridge, which is made to bear directly against the breech plug of the
gun. In new guns the breech chamber will be made to fit the cartridge accurately
without such separate ring.
When the striking bolt is placed in an oblique position, the percussion cap of the
cartridge is formed with rim fire, that is to say, the fulminate is placed in an
annular cavity formed by a hollow rim of the cap, such rim being made to rest
against a shoulder of the cap chamber, which acts as an anvil for the oblique firing
pin to strike against. The actual firing pin is situated in an oblique cavity in the
breech block of the gun., and sliding with a small amount of play in two bushes
screwed into the ends of such cavity, the pin being held in its outer position by &
helical spring. The firing pin is acted upon by a striking bolt contained within a
casing which is screwed into an oblique bore in the breech end of the gun, in line
with the firing pin. When applying the arrangement to existing guns, the
ordinary vents may serve as the bores in which the firing pin and striking bolt are
placed. The bolt rests with a shoulder against the lower end of the cavity of
the casing, in which position the lower end of the bolt bears against the firing pin,
and it is urged into this position by a helical spring surrounding it in the said
cavity of the casing. The bolt passes through the upper end of the casing and
carries outside a head to which is secured a cylindrical cap fitting over the outside
of the part of the casing which projects beyond the breech of the gun. This cap
has ratchet teeth or notches formed on its lower edge, gearing with similar ratchet
teeth on the casing, so that when the cap is turned partly round by hand, the
inclines of the teeth cause the cap, and with it the striking bolt, to be pushed
backwards to an extent corresponding to the height of the teeth, in which position
the striking bolt is "cocked"; when, on the further rotation of the cap, its teeth
pass the ends of the teeth of the casing, the spring will throw the bolt forward
again, causing it to act on the firing pin and fire the cartridge. The teeth of the
cap are formed with a notch at an intermediate point of their inclined side, so that
when the teeth of the casing catch into such notches, the striking bolt is at "half
cock." The turning of the cap is effected by a cord passed round the same and
pulled at a distance, as with ordinary percussion firing.
According to another modification, instead of forming teeth on a rotatable cap,
the striking bolt carries a flat plate having a projecting tooth bearing against an
incline on a sliding piece in the casing, which sliding piece has an intermediate
notch, which holds the bolt at half cock, while, when the sliding piece is drawn out
to the full extent, the tooth of the bolt loses its support and the bolt is thrown
forward by the spring.
According to another arrangement, adapted for central fire, the entire firing
mechanism is fixed in an axial nosition in the breech block of the oun: In this

page_text: case, the separate striking bolt is dispensed with and the firing pin is itself
provided with the before described toothed cap, gearing with teeth on the casing.
In this arrangement it is the casing containing the firing pin and spring that is
rotated, the cap of the pin being guided in an outer casing so as to move only
backwards and forwards. For rotating the inner casing, a toothed wheel is geared
thereto by ratchet teeth, so that only the rotation of such wheel in one direction
turns the case, the rotation of the wheel being effected by a toothed rack sliding to
and in a lateral passage in the breech block, and actuated by a hook to which a
cord is attached. This hook is inserted in a groove formed partly in the rack and
partly in the passage, and it is kept in gear with a notch in the rack by a spring,
while a second spring on the rack forces it out of gear so as to separate the book
from the rack after firing. After the rack has been drawn out a certain distance
for firing, it is pushed in again, in which motion it merely rotates the wheel, owing
to the beforementioned ratchet connection between this and the cap.
According to another modification of this arrangement, the toothed wheel is
formed upon the firing pin itself, which is hollow and runs with a screw thread of
quick pitch upon a fixed screwed stud in the breech block. The screw threads of
the pin and stud are each half cut away so that on turning the pin through half a
revolution by means of the beforementioned toothed rack (whereby it is drawn
backward a certain distance), it is then thrown forward again by the spring so as
to fire the cartridge. The toothed rack is made with circular teeth, part of which
are cut away at one point, so that, after firing, the rack can be turned so as to
bring the part where the teeth are cut away opposite the wheel, in which position
the rack can then be pushed back without rotating the wheel and firing pins.
In both the last described arrangements the firing pin can be put at "half cock "
by a partial rotation of the cap in the first described case, and of the firing pin in
the last described case.
'
According to another modification of the last described arrangement the firing
pin has rack teeth formed upon it, with which gear the teeth of a wheel on a
spindle passing through the side of the breech block and provided with a crank
handle by which it can be turned. The wheel has teeth on only part of its
circumference, so that on being turned to a certain extent, and thereby drawing
back the firing pin, it releases the latter so as to allow it to be thrown forward by
the spring. A catch is provided to the spindle so as to hold it in position when it
has been rotated so as to draw back the firing pin and thus keep the latter at half
or full cock,
According to another arrangement the firing pin has two opposite studs that are
acted upon by inclines formed on a slide working in a lateral passage in the breech
block, the inclines being so arranged that when the slide is moved inwards, the one
incline effects the drawing back of the firing pin a certain distance, in which
position it is held by a spring catch in the slide, catching into a notch on the pin,
so as to keep the latter at half cock. The slide being now drawn outwards again a
certain distance, a second incline acts on the studs of the firing pin so as to draw
this still further back, in which position it is again held by the spring catch
entering a second notch thereon, thus keeping the pin at full cock. On drawing
the slide still further outwards, the spring catch is withdrawn and the firing pin is
thrown forward by the spring.
For extracting the cartridge cases after firing, an extractor is employed having
two thin spring arms with hooks at their ends. These arms are pushed down
grooves formed in the sides of the passage through which the cartridges are
inserted, until the hooked ends spring in underneath the rin of the cartridge base,
the outer face of the cartridge chamber being recessed at two points to afford
room for the hooks. The cartridge case can then be drawn out by means of the
extractor.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Denton Abel in the Patent Office on the 8th April 1884.
CHARLES DENTON ABEL of N° 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane
in the County of Middlesex "AN IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGES
FOR ORDNANCE, AND MECHANISM OR APPLIANCES FOR FIRING THE SAME AND
"
EXTRACTING THE CASES THEREOF A communication to me from Abroad by
Wilhelm Lorenz of Carlsruhe Baden, in the German Empire
This invention relates firstly to the manufacture of cartridges for ordnance with
metallic cases, instead of cases of paper or woven fabric as heretofore employed, and
Becondly to mechanism or appliances for firing such cartridges.
In constructing metal cartridge cases for ordnance the case may either be stamped
or drawn out of one piece of metal, or it may be composed of a cylindrical part
combined with a flanged cup shaped base. In the latter case the cylindrical shell
may be secured to the base either by having its lower rim bent slightly inwards or
outwards and inserted in a circular groove between two circular lips on the base
which are then closed in against the inner and outer surface of the shell. Either the
inner, or preferably the outer lip of the base is made to extend some distance up
the cylindrical shell and the latter may be secured to it by soldering or rivetting;
in the latter case, a single lip alone may be used. The base is formed with a recess
or chamber for a percussion cap and its anvil, as in small arm cartridges. The
cartridge case having been filled with gunpowder, its front end is firstly closed by
a wad of felt, or of wood, cork or other suitable material wrapped round with felt
and saturated with grease, and secondly a metal cap is secured to the case over the
wad by soldering. The cases may either be of a resisting metal or alloy, such as
steel, brass, and the like, so as to be capable of being used repeatedly or they may
be of a metal or alloy that readily melts at a low temperature, so that they will
melt and be thrown out of the gun on firing, the base being however made of a
strong metal.
The interior of the cartridge cases are by preference provided with a protective
coating that will prevent the gunpowder from being injuriously acted upon thereby
during long storage.
The projectile may be attached to the cartridge, in which case the cylindrical
shell is extended sufficiently beyond the wad to receive the projectile within it.
The cartridges are fired by means of a firing pin striking the percussion cap of the
cartridge and operating either alone or in combination with a separate striking bolt.
The arrangement of such firing pin and striking bolt may be variously modified
according to the construction of the gun in which the system is employed, but it
consists in each case mainly of a firing pin, a spring for throwing the pin forward
and mechanism for "cocking," or withdrawing the bolt against the action of the
spring, for holding it in that position, and releasing it for firing.
On the accompanying drawings Figs. 1 to 1 and Fig. 2 shew various con-
structions of the above described metal cartridge case. At Fig. 1 the case a is
secured between the outer lip d and the inner lip c of the base b, by being curved
slightly inwards, against which curved part the lips c and d are made to close
tightly by pressure after insertion, thus rendering soldering unnecessary for
forming a gas tight joint. On the explosion of the cartridge the gaseous pressure
tends still further to close the joint, and in expanding the case against the sides of
the cartridge chamber, and also pressing the base b against the locking part of the
breech, will produce an effectual gas tight closure. The projecting rim e serves as
a hold for the extraction of the cartridge case after firing.

page_text: At Fig. 1b the case a is turned slightly outward instead of inward between the
inner and outer lips, which are otherwise the same as before described.
At Figs 1 and 1d the larger lip d is formed inside the case a, and the smaller
one foutside, but this arrangement is not so effectual for producing a gas tight
closure of the base against the breech chamber as the preceding one.
As before
stated the gas tight connection of the case a with the base b may be further
insured by soldering, if desired.
:
In the arrangements at Figs. 1° and 1' the lip & is further secured to the case a
by rivetting, with or without soldering; at Fig 1 the outer lip is entirely
dispensed with.
Fig. 1 shews the entire metal cartridge case made of one piece by stamping and
drawing according to well known methods
Figs. 1, 1 and 2 shew the modes of closing the mouth of the cartridge after
filling with gunpowder. For this purpose a wad P is inserted, which is either
made entirely of felt or of a core of wood or cork wrapped round with felt or other
suitable material p saturated with grease. This lubricated wad in passing through
the bore of the gun on firing effectually clears it of the fouling from the previous
discharge.
Upon the wad is placed a metal cap m or m¹ which is securely soldered to the
mouth a¹ of the case a. The cap chamber e¹ being also effectually closed by the
percussion cap, the charge of the cartridge is thoroughly protected against
moisture.
As before stated, the cartridge cases may either be made of a fire resisting alloy
or of a tough steel, or when constructed as at Figs 1 to 1' the case a may be of an
alloy that will melt at the temperature produced on firing, so as to be destroyed
and thrown out of the bore. In this case the base b should be made of steel, using
by preference the form shewn at Fig. 1, so that it will remain intact, forming a gas
check, and being removed after firing. When the entire case is of fire resisting
metal it should be made sufficiently strong to admit of repeated re-filling for
exercise purposes.
As shewn at Fig. 2, the mouth of the cartridge case may be extended sufficiently
beyond the wad and cap for the reception of the projectile G¹
The ignition is effected by means of percussion caps of any suitable known
description, or by a special form of cap with rim fire to be presently described.
:
Fig. 2 shews one arrangement of the improved firing mechanism, adapted to be
inserted in the oblique vent of existing breech loading guns, the vent being
continued through the breech block K. When such guns have been used with a
rear packing for ordinary cartridges or powder bags, for preventing the escape of
gas, such packing is replaced by a steel ring b, encircling the base of the cartridge
case e, which is made to bear directly against the breech block K, with the inner
surface of its rim bearing against the ring b. For new guns, the ring b would of
course be made in one piece with the breech a. The cartridge is otherwise made
to fit the breech chamber as closely as is compatible with the ready removal of the
case after firing and consequent expansion.
The cap chamber & Fig. 2a is provided with one or more touch holes e and either
with an anvil for ordinary caps, or it is formed to receive the percussion cap j with
rim fire. This cap has a conically recessed head j and a projecting hollow rim h
containing the fulminate, bearing against a corresponding recess h¹ in the cap
chamber so that the oblique firing pin g will strike against the part of the rim so
supported, which is presented to it and thus fire the fulminate. The head of the
striking pin is formed as a flat surface coinciding with the inclination of the coned
recess so as to hit the latter with a square blow.
The striking pin g is secured in the breech block K by the screwed plugs 111,
through which its ends pass, and it is ordinarily held in the backward position by
a spring bearing against a collar thereon, the pin being free to move to and fro
to a slight extent in the space between the plugs U. As the striking pin does
not project beyond the breech block, it in no way interferes with the introduction

page_text: and removal of the latter. Should the touch holes of existing guns not be
sufficiently large to receive the firing pin and striking bolt, they are of course
enlarged to the required extent, and have the necessary screw threads cut in them.
The striking bolt i is contained within a casing m and is acted upon by a
spring o so as to bear with a collar against the end of the cavity containing the
spring. When in this position, the bolt i presses the pin g forward against the
action of the spring k, so as to fire the cap, as shewn at Fig. 2. The bolt i passes
through the screwed collar r closing the end of the casing, and is provided outside
with a head or button p, to which is seeured a cylindrical cap q having projecting
lugs t to which a draw cord is attached for effecting the rotation of the cap.
Within the cap q is screwed a cylindrical piece 8, shewn detached at Figs. 2° and 2ª,
the end of which is formed with inclines uu, fitting against corresponding inclines v
formed on the casing m. Thus on the rotation of the cap q and piece 8 the inclines
of the latter in acting against those v, cause the cap, and with it the striking
bolt i, to move outwards, against the action of the spring o, until the nose of the
incline v catches into the notch at u³, as indicated at Fig 2°, in which position the
striking bolt will be at half cock; on the further rotation of the cap, it will be
made by the inclines v to move still further outwards until it arrives at the position
shewn at Fig 2d, when the incline u will lose its support and consequently the
spring o will throw the striking bolt i forward so as to effect the firing of the gun.
There being two sets of inclines v and uu¹, it will be seen that the above operation
of bringing the striking bolt to half cock and full cock will be effected at every
balf revolution of the cap q so that the firing will be effected by merely fitting a
noose of the draw cord over one of the studs t and then pulling so as to turn the
cap half round. When turned into the half-cock position, the striking bolt will
be withdrawn sufficiently to allow of the removal or introduction of the breech
block K.
Figs 3, 3, 36 and 3° shew a modification of the above described arrangement, in
which the inclines u u¹ and v, are formed on flat surfaces, the former on a sliding
piece E, which is drawn out by the cord w while the incline or stud vis formed
on a slide F that takes the place of the cap q of the last arrangement; in this
arrangement it is of course necessary to replace the slide E in its original position
at Fig. 3° after each firing; Fig 3b shews the position at half cock. The slide E
works in the casing B and by its motion forces back the slide F and bolt i against
the action of the spring o, until the latter is free to throw the bolt forward again
on the end of the incline u passing the end of the tooth v. In this arrangement
the casing B is fixed on the outside of the gun by screws, and a screwed bush n
is introduced into the vent for the collar of the striking bolt to bear against. The
arrangement of the breech block and firing pin is assumed to be the same as
previously described.
It will be seen that the firing mechanism does not project so much beyond the
gun as in the previous case, the spring being made of a less length and propor-
tionately stronger. In the first arrangement by enlarging the bore of the vent
and employing a stronger spring, the mechanism may also be made of less length.
Figs 4, 4, 4b and 4° shew an arrangement adapted for a central bore of the
breech block K. In this arrangement the inclines u ul and v are formed on
cylindrical surfaces and in pairs, as in the first arrangement, so that the firing is
effected by the rotation of the one or the other sets of inclines. Such rotation is
in this case imparted to the inclines uu on the cylindrical piece m by means of a
toothed wheel z, gearing with a cylindrical rack T, to which longitudinal motion
is imparted by a draw cord as will be presently explained. The inclines or teeth v
are formed on the cap 8 to which the striking bolt C is attached, and which is
prevented from rotating by ribs n¹ fitting in longitudinal grooves of the casing I.
The toothed wheel is connected to the cylinder m by means of ratchet
teeth, as shewn at Figs 4 and 4°, these teeth being so formed that when the
rack T is drawn outwards, the rotation of the wheel is imparted to the piece m
by the said teeth, but when the wheel is rotated in the contrary direction on

page_text: the re-insertion of the rack, the inclines u and v being at that time locked together
so that m cannot turn; then the teeth x ride out of gear as at Fig 4°, so as to
leave z free to rotate. By the rotation of m the caps and pin C are pushed back
against the action of the spring o as shewn at Fig. 4b, until the inclines pass
each other, whereupon the striking bolt is thrown forward again and the charge
is fired. The toothed wheel has a cylindrical extension y within which is the
spring o that actuates the striking bolt which in this case also constitutes the
firing pin, its front end g being made, when in the forward position, to strike the
percussion cap of the cartridge.
When the breech block K is to be withdrawn, the pin 9 is drawn back into the
position shewn at Fig. 4, this being effected by causing the ratchet teeth of z to
ride out of those of m by the inward motion of the rack as above described,
thereby pushing m and the striking pin back to the extent of the depth of the
teeth as shewn at Fig. 4, this being the half cock position.
When a cartridge has been introduced and the breech block fixed in its place,
and it is desired to bring the mechanism into position for firing, the rack is drawn
slightly outwards so as to rotate the wheel somewhat, and bring the teeth xx
into gear again. By this motion however the extension y is caused in the first
instance to impart to the part m a slight rotary motion by means of a pin or other
contrivance, not shewn, before the teeth come into gear, and the cap & being thus
forced back somewhat by the action of the inclines uv, it follows that when the
teeth x drop into gear the pin g will have been pushed sufficiently far back to
prevent it in now advancing from coming in contact with the percussion cap.
The stem of the rack T has a projection t¹ which comes against stops in the
breech block at the end of each motion. For drawing it outwards a hook H
attached to the draw-rope is pushed into a groove formed in the rack stem, and is
caused by a spring f¹, to catch on to a notch on the rack stem, so that on pulling
the hook it will draw the rack outwards. On passing out of the breech block,
a spring on the rack stem will push the hook H out of gear with the
notch.
In the modification shewn at Figs. 6, 6 and 6b, the rack T¹ gears with a toothed
wheel ¹ formed on the firing pin g M which is formed hollow and fits with a screw
thread upon a threaded stem on the plug I¹. The screw threads are made of a
quick pitch and are half cut away both on the stem and in the hollow pin, so that
on imparting rotation to the pin by the rack T¹ and wheel z', the pin is during
one half revolution made to travel backwards upon the threads of I, while on its
further rotation, as the threads pass out of gear with each other the pin will be
thrown back again by the spring y, which is contained with the hollow of the pin g
and a recess in the screwed stem. As the toothed wheel z¹ travels backwards and
forwards with the pin g M, it is made of sufficient depth to enable it always to
remain in gear with the rack; the latter has part of its circular teeth cut away at
one point tFig. 6, so that when after drawing the rack outwards on firing this
flat part is turned towards the wheel ', the two are out of gear with each other
and the rack can freely be slid inwards again. This turning of the rack may be
effected automatically by means of a stud S Fig. 6* fixed to the breech piece,
entering a suitably formed groove in the stem of the rack.
In the arrangement shewn at Figs. 7, 7, 7b and 7° the firing pin or bolt M has
two opposite round studs M² M¹ which are acted upon by studs Z Z on the sliding
piece W shaped as shewn at Fig 7b. The bolt M is urged forward by the spring y,
and is prevented from rotating by the rib n sliding in a groove in the breech
block K, the rib having notches I and II formed therein. The sliding piece W has
an inner sliding piece W₁ which is pressed towards M by a spring y', and which
has at its end a stud III which, when the bolt M is drawn backward, engages with
one or other of the notches I and II and thus holds the bolt at half or full-cock.
When the bolt M is in the position at Fig. 7 the studs M¹ are in the position 1 at
Fig. 7 relatively to the studs Z¹ Z³. On now sliding W inwards the studs M², will
be acted upon by the stud Z¹ so as to be moved consecutively into the positions 2

page_text: and 3, whereby the bolt M will be drawn back to the half-cock position, and the
stud III will engage with the notch I, whereupon the breech piece can be withdrawn
and the loading effected.
On fixing the breech piece in position again for firing, the slide W is now moved
outwards again whereby the studs 2 cause the studs M¹ to assume consecutively
the positions 4, 5 and 6, thus drawing M back to full cock, and on moving. W still
further the studs M¹ will lose their support and the bolt M will consequently be
thrown forward and effect the firing of the charge. When the bolt M has been
drawn back to full cock the stud III enters the notch II and holds the bolt
securely at full cock, until 'by the further outward motion of W this support is
withdrawn.
In the arrangement shewn at Figs 5, 5ª and 5b, the cylindrical firing bolt M has
Tack teeth 5 formed upon it, with which gear teeth 4 on the rotatable stem P.
Only three teeth are shown on the rack and stem, but any greater or less number
may be employed. By turning P by means of a button Q, the bolt M will be with-
drawn against the action of the spring y which bears at one end against the hollow
of the bolt and at the other end against the screw plug I³. The bolt having been
drawn back to full cock, the stem P is held in this position by the catch R taking
into a notch on the button Q. Upon turning Q still further, the last tooth 5 of M
escapes the tooth 4 of P, and the bolt M is free to be thrown forward for firing.
This spring R¹ of the catch R at the same time serves to hold a catch O that secures
the locking arrangement O¹ of the breech block.
In all the above described arrangements with central fire the ignition may be
effected either by ordinary percussion caps or by caps with rim fire such as
previously described.
At Fig 2b, is shewn the construction and mode of operating of the extractor for
extracting the empty cartridge cases. It consists of a spring loop D having
hooks d d at its ends which catch behind the rim of the cartridge base. The
breech block having been withdrawn, the extractor is pushed in through the
cavity L until the hooks d catch behind the rim e so that on pulling back the
extractor it will draw out the case with it. The cavity L may have grooves N
cut in it through which the limbs of the extractor are made to slide, and the face
of the breech chamber has two recesses 61 cut in it to allow of the hooks d passing
behind the base rim of the cartridge.
Having thus described the nature of the said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent,
I claim :-
First The use for ordnance of metal cartridges either constructed of one piece as
described with reference to Fig. 2, or of a separate cylindrical case a secured to a
base b as described with reference to Figs. 1, 1, 1°, 14, 1º, and 1', such cartridges
after filling being closed firstly by a wad P of greased felt or of felt combined
with wood or other material, and secondly by a metal cap m or m¹, substantially
as described with reference to Figs 1, 1 and 2.
Second. The use for ordnance of metal cartridge cases formed of a metal or alloy
that will melt at the heat produced on firing.
Third Providing the metal cartridge cases for ordnance referred to in the preceding
claims with an internal coating of tin or other substance that will prevent the
production of galvanic currents in connection with the charge of the cartridge.
Fourth. The arrangements herein described with reference to Figs. 2, 2°, 2d and
Figs. 3, 3, 3b, 3º, whereby the vents or touch holes of existing guns are utilised for
the adaptation thereto of percussive firing mechanism.
Fifth. The adaptation of percussive firing mechanism to existing breech loading
guns with central fire as herein described with reference to Figs 4, 4*, 4° 4° and
Figs 6, 6 6 and Figs 7, 7°, 7b, 7°
Sixth. In combination with firing mechanisms such as are referred to in the t
preceding claims, the use of existing breech arrangements and of metal cartridge

page_text: cases having at the centre of their base percussion caps adapted either for rim fire
as described with reference to Figs. 2 and 2ª or for central fire as at Fig. 4.
Seventh. The construction of firing mechanism herein described with reference to
Figs 2, 2° and 2d, consisting of a casing m and cap 8 q having inclines u u¹ and v v
operating in combination with each other and with the striking bolt i and spring o
in such manner that by effecting the rotation of the cap q 8, the bolt i is alternately
drawn back to half-cock and full-cock and propelled forward so as to effect the
firing.
Eighth. In combination with the firing mechanism referred to in the preceding
claim the firing pin g confined in the breech block by screwed bushes and
actuated by the spring k as described with reference to Fig. 2.
Ninth. The construction of firing mechanism herein described with reference to
Figs. 3, 3* 3º, 3º, consisting of a slide E with inclines u ul operating in combination
with the tooth slide F spring o and striking bolt i so that by withdrawing the
slide the bolt i is first drawn back to half-cock and full-cock, and is then propelled
forward for firing
Tenth. In combination with the firing mechanisms referred to in the preceding
claims, the method of enlarging the existing vents or touch holes and providing
them with screw threads, for the reception of firing mechanism of increased
diameter and reduced length.
Eleventh. The construction of firing mechanism herein described with reference to
Figs 44, 44° consisting of the toothed wheel z and toothed rack T operating in
combination with the cylinder m with inclines u, cap s with inclines v, firing
bolt c g and spring o, so that on drawing the rack outwards the striking bolt is
first moved back to full cock and then propelled forward for firing, while by
pushing the rack inwards the firing bolt is brought to half cock, the wheel z being
free to turn in one direction independently of the cylinder m.
Twelfth. In combination with the rack T referred to in the preceding claim, the
use of a hook H connected to the draw cord and operating in combination with
springs ff so as to effect the drawing outwards of the rack and to be then
automatically disengaged therefrom.
Thirteenth. The construction of firing mechanism herein described with reference
to Figs 5, 5 5 consisting of the cylindrical firing bolt provided with a tooth or
series of teeth into which gear one or more teeth on the stem P so that by turning
the latter the bolt is first withdrawn to half cock and full cock, and is then
projected forward for firing by the action of the spring y.
Fourteenth. The construction of firing mechanism herein described with reference
to Figs 6, 6 6 consisting of the cylindrical firing bolt M, g, with toothed wheel z'
formed thereon in gear with toothed rack T¹, the firing bolt being provided with
internal segmental screw threads fitting corresponding segmental screw threads on
the stem of the plug I¹, so that on the rotation of the bolt by the rack, the former
is first screwed backwards and is then propelled forward by the spring y
for firing
Fifteenth. In firing mechanism such as is referred to in the preceding claim,
constructing the toothed rack T¹ with part of its teeth cut away, so that after
drawing the rack outwards for firing it can be turned round with its cut away
portion facing the wheel s¹, so as to be out of gear there with when it is pushed in
again.
Sixteenth. The construction of firing mechanism herein described with reference
to Figs 7, 7, 7b, 7%, wherein the firing bolt M is provided with studs M¹ that are
acted upon by studs or inclines z'z' on the sliding piece W, so as by the forward
and backward motion of the latter to be first drawn back to half-cock and full-
cock and then to be propelled forward by the spring y for firing.
Seventeenth. In combination with the firing mechanism referred to in the
preceding claim, the use of the spring slide W₁ with tooth III gearing with
notches I and II for keeping the bolt M at half cock or full cock.

page_text: Eighteenth. In the arrangement of firing mechanism described with reference to
Figs 3, 3 3 3º, the use of the cap or casing B for enclosing the mechanism and
acting as a guide for the sliding pieces F and E.
Nineteenth. The use in existing breech loading guns, of a ring 6 Fig 2 serving as
abutment for the base rim of the metallic cartridge.
Twentieth. The construction of percussion cap herein described with reference to
Figs 2 and 2, provided with rim fire and having a conically recessed head adapted
for being struck at right angles by the firing pin, the projecting rim of the cap
being supported by a corresponding circular recess in the breech of the gun.
Twenty-first. The construction of extractor D, Fig 2b, with hooked limbs d d that
are passed down grooves N N in the gun and catch behind the rim of the
cartridge case, recesses b¹ b¹ being provided in the face of the breech to allow of
their passing behind the rim.
In Witness whereof I the said Charles Denton Abel have hereunto set my
hand and seal this eighth day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-four.