IMPROVE- MENTS IN CHARGERS FOR POWDER FLASKS
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, Fel. Inst. P.A., of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CHARGERS FOR POWDER FLASKS" and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This Invention relates to the class of chargers used on powder flasks; and the
improvement claimed consists principally in operating an outer cut-off gate by its
connection in the manner shewn with the usual cut-off used on powder flasks;
whereby the exact charge desired is readily and accurately deposited in the gun, or
in an empty cartridge shell in loading cartridges, and at no time is there a
continuous passage from the outside to the inside of the flask, and the entire charge
is completely separated from the mass of powder in the flask before any whatever
is permitted to pass out, and the outer cut-off gate is shut and locked before any
powder whatever is permitted to enter the charger from the flask, rendering the
Hask safe and convenient.
"
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the Invention, showing the outer cut-off gate
closed as it stands at rest.
+
Fig. 2 is a perspective view with a portion of the outer cap-plate cut away to
show the position of the inner cut-off gate C and the dog J when the charger is
closed.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the Invention with the measuring tube extended,
a portion of the cap-plate being cut away to show the position of the inner cut-off
gate C, and dog J when the charger is open.
Fig. 4 is a plan view shewing the portion of the inner cut-off, and the dog when
the charger is closed.
Fig. 5 is a plan view shewing their position when the charger is open.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the spring catch V.
The charger consists of two tubes A and B the outer tube B telescoping upon
the inner tube A which is mounted upon the cap-plate H.
In the slide of the tube B and near its outer end there is a slot Q through which
the outer cut-off gate E is operated. This outer cut-off gate is rigidly attached to the
n
•

page_text: rod D, which is mounted upon the bearing U, and extends back through the outer
cap-plate H, and passes through the dog J. The lower part of this rod is squaro,
and fits the opening Q in the dog J so that the movement of the dog will operate
the outer gate E.
The inner cut off gate C is much the same as those on the powder flasks now in
ordinary use, except that the opening N is so situated that when the gate C is
held at rest by the spring S, this opening. N registers with the passage O into the
flask, (when in this position the charger will be filled with powder-the flask being
inverted), and that that position of the edge of the cut-off C which engages the
dog J when the cut-off is operated is the arc of a circle of which the pivot P is
the centre; at one end of this curve is the recess K, and the arm T;-at the other
end is a slight projection (L) from the curve, the object of which is to firmly lock
the cut-off E while at rest.
The outer cut-off gate E mounted upon the connecting rod D will be locked in
its closed position when the curve M or the projection L engages with the dog J.
When the cut-off C is rotated far enough to cause the arm T to engage the dog J,
the dog is turned into the recess K, and the rod D rotates, and opens the outer
cut-off gate E as shown in Fig. 3.
Now if
It will be apparent that the outer gate E will always be closed and locked,
except when the dog J is in the recess K, at which time it will be open.
the edge M of the cut-off C presses firmly against the dog J, it will occasion too
much friction in working the cut-off C; therefore the edge is made to fit nicely,
but not tightly, against the dog, and at the last part of the movement of the
cut-off C, the shoulder L is crowded against the dog J and tightly locks the outer
cut-off E.
A spring V, having a lug W (Figs. 5 and 6) upon its free end, is mounted upon
the outer tube B, so that the lug W passes through an opening in the outer tube
into notches on the inner tube A for the purposes of adjusting the same to
measure the charge required. The graduation marks shewing the different charges
being placed on the inner tube (not shewn in the Drawing).
The rod extends back into the flask through an opening in the inner plate I, so
that when the tube B is drawn out to increase the charge, the connection with the
dog J will be preserved.
The rod D may be made in two parts, one of which is rigidly attached to the
the dog J, and projects out and into a longitudinal socket formed in the other part.
of the rod, to which the outer cut-off is attached.
The operation is as follows:-
.
J
While the charger is not in use, the spring S holds the gate C in its open position,
and the gate E is closed, thus allowing the powder to enter and fill the charge tube
when the flask is inverted.
By pressing upon the thumb piece R, the gate C is rotated upon its pivot P, and
closes the opening at O, after which the arm T engages the dog J, and turns it
round into the recess K, thus, revolving the stem D, and opening the gate E, so that
the charge may pass out. The pressure upon the thumb piece is then removed, the
gate assumes its former position, the charger is allowed to fill as before, and the
operation is repeated.
By this means the powder in the charger is completely cut off from that in the
flask before any portion of it is allowed to escape, thus securing exact uniformity
in the charge.
As the outer gate does not begin to recede until the inner one is completely
closed, there is no possibility of leakage, and no danger of the explosion of the
powder in the flask, as at no time is there a continuous opening into the flask from
the outside.
A hood F is mounted on the outer gate E, and projecting therefrom along the
tube B toward the flask will close any opening through the slot G into the charger
that is not filled by the gate.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature. of the said
Invention as communicated to me and in what manner the same is to be performed,
I declare that what I claim is :-
1 The following elements in combination substantially as shown :-
The inner cut-off gate C pivoted at P, and having thumb piece R, hook T,
recess K, shoulder J having opening Q for the reception and operation of the
square part of the rod, the rod being square at one end, and to the other end is
rigidly affixed an outer cut off gate E on which gate is mounted the hook. F; the
charge tube A mounted on the face plate H, and projecting into the charge tube B,
and having indentations ; the outer tube B movably attached to the tube A;.
through which is cut the slot G and hole for the catch W, on which tube is mounted
the support U'in which the rod D rotates; the spring S; the face plates H.
and I, and the flask Z and the spring V, having catch W.
2nd The arm Don which is mounted the cut-off gate E, and having apron F, in
combination with the dog J having the hole Q, the cut-off C pivoted at P, and
being recessed at K, and having the arm T, shoulder L, and thumb piece R, the
spring S, the spring V having catch W, and the charge tubes A and B, substantially
as and for the purpose shown.
"
.
3rd The spring V mounted on the tube B and having rigidly affixed on its free
end the catch W which projects through a hole in the tube B into indentations x
on the inner tube A holding thereby the tube B in proper position on the tube A;
and being the means of properly regulating the charges, in combination with the
tube B and the tube A as shown.
4th The arm D having rigidly affixed thereon the cut-off E, and being mounted
on the side of the measuring tube B as shown, which arm D extends down into
the flask through the hole Qin the dog J, the dog J having opening Q in combina-
tion with the cut-off C having the thumb piece R and opening K, and being
pivoted on the screw P; the spring S, the measuring tubes A and B, spring V,
whereby, upon the pressure upon the thumb piece R, the opening O will be first
closed separating an, exact charge, and by the further movement of the thumb
piece, the cut-off E will be opened leaving the charge free to fall.
5th The charger for powder flasks consisting of the slotted charge tube, the outer
cut-off gate E mounted upon the connecting rod D, the dog J, and lower cut-off gate C,
having arm T, curve M, recess K and shoulder L all in combination substantially as
shewn, whereby the outer gate is opened by the rotation of the inner cut-off gate,
after the opening into the flask is completely closed.
6th The combination in a powder charger of the following elements :-
The adjustable tube A A, having slot G and bearing V, the cut-off gate E,
connecting rod D, dog J, spring S, and inner cut-off gate C having shoulder L,
curve M, recess K, and arm T, substantially as, and for the purpose shown and
described.
7th In a powder charger, the rotary rod D mounted longitudinally on the
measuring tube B, having an outlet cut-off gate E rigidly affixed to its outer end,
the inner end extending through the dog J, said dog being so arranged as to rotate
by its engagement with the arm T on the gate C, whereby the outer gate E will
be opened after the inner face C has closed the channel into the flask.
8th In a powder charger, the inner cut-off gate C having an irregular edge
substantially as shown, in combination with dog J operated thereby, and the rod D
supporting the outer rotary cut-off gate E, whereby said outer gate E is operated
by the movement of the inner cut-off.
9th In a powder charger having an inner and an outer cut-off gate, the inner
cut off gate C having its discharge opening L at such a point therein as to register
with the passage into the flask when the discharger is not being operated, and
connected with the outer cut-off gate by the rotary arm D, and dog J, substantially
as shown, whereby the measuring tube will contain an exact charge while the
operative parts are at rest.

page_text: 10th A powder charger having a measureing tube B, an.arm D mounted.longi-
tudinally thereon, and adapted to operate by rotation by means shown, an outer
cut-off gate which is rigidly affixed on said' arm; which arm is rotated by its
combination-as shown with an inner cut-off gate C, the inner gate in the first part
of its movement closing the channel from the flask to the measuring tube, after
which by its further movement the arm D is caused to rotate thereby opening the
outer.gate.
11th In a powder charger, the combination of a measuring tube, a cut-off gate at
or near the outer end, a rotating rod carrying said outer.cut-off gate, and provided
. at its inner end with a lateral arm, an inner cut-off gate provided with an orifice
which normally registers with the measuring tube, and with a curved recess K,
and a spring, serving to hold the inner cut-off gate normally open, the parts being
constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described, whereby a movement
of the inner gate is caused first to close the inner end of the tube, and then to open
the outer end, substantially as explained.-
12th In combination with tube B having opening G in its side, gate E passing
through said opening and limited in its inward movement by the tube rod. D
carrying gate E, and provided with dog S, and the inner cut-off valve C having
curved face M concentric with its. pivot and recess N all substantially as shown,
whereby the outer gate is locked shut until the slidé C, moves so far as to bring the
recess K opposite the dog S, whereupon the latter is permitted to move laterally
thereby carrying the gate E out of the tube as explained..
13th The combination, substantially as shown and described, of a tube B having
opening G, gate E, rod D, provided with dog S, and inner gate C having curved
face M, inclined shoulder L, and recess K, all substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
14th In combination with telescopic tube A B, gate E, and dog S, a polygonal
rod D carrying said gate E and passing freely through a polygonal opening in said
dog, and cap plates H, I, or equivalent supports one above, and the other below
the dog, whereby the tube may be lengthened and shortened without disconnecting
the gate and the dog.