IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FILLING, CLOSING AND RE-CAPPING CARTRIDGES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Bartram, of Sheffield, in the County of
York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FILLING,
CLOSING AND RE-CAPPING CARTRIDGES."
Sealed the 17th October 1868, and dated the 24th April 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Bartram at the
Office of the Commissioners, of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th April 1868.
I, WILLIAM BARTRAM, of Sheffield, in the County of York, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR FILLING, CLOSING, AND RE-CAPPING CARTRIDGES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates. to certain improvements in apparatus for the
purpose of filling or charging cartridges with powder and shot, and for
closing the same, and also for re-capping exploded cartridges.
The apparatus for filling or charging consists of an oblong or
rectangular metal case open at the sides and having a moveable top plate
capable of rising and falling by means of cheeks or flanges at each end,

page_text: which are slotted vertically and slide on screws inserted in the ends of
the case; the front edge of the lower plate is perforated with one or any
number of holes in the same row, and funnels are fixed below them
soldered to the under surface of the plate. Within the upper and
under plates of the case a second case is adjusted and to slide
within it backwards and forwards by means of a horizontal handle, the
top plate of the outer case having slots cut therein for set screws to
slide in fixed to the upper plate of the internal case, on the under
plate of which a corresponding number of cylinders are fixed to that
of the funnels and in the same relative positions. The under surface
of the inner top plate is also provided with cylinders which enter those
of the lower interior plate. Above the apparatus a hopper is placed of
the entire width of the apparatus; this is supplied with powder or
shot as required, and the top plate of the case is formed with apertures
above each cylinder in the moveable case, so that the powder or shot
falls through these apertures into the cylinders, when the handle being
pushed forwards so as to cause the moveable cylinders to come directly
over the fixed funnels, the charge falls through into the cartridge cases
into which the funnels are previously inserted; a spring then carries
back the sliding case under the hopper, and a fresh supply of powder
or shot is provided, which is in turn again charged in the cartridge
cases, and so on to any number of rows of cases. The charge is varied.
by the adjustment of the level of the outer top plate, which increases
the length of the cylinders by moving the internal one further out of
the exterior cylinder or vice versa; this adjustment is fixed by the
tightening screws. By this apparatus the cartridge cases may be filled
most rapidly and with unerring accuracy as to the charge.
The improvement in the apparatus for closing cartridge cases consists
especially in the manner in which the cartridge is prevented from
turning round in the barrel while the closing cone is revolving. In
order to effect this object I form a slot in the barrel and apply to the
exterior of the barrel beyond the extremity of the slot a flat steel spring
secured to the barrel by screws; this spring comes close up to
outside of the slot or groove. An arm or projection is formed on the
barrel to which a lever is jointed and provided with a fulcrum; this
hand lever is furnished with a pressing tooth projecting at right angles
below the handle, at such distance from the fulcrum as when the handle
is brought over the pressing tooth will come in contact with the metal

page_text: head of the cartridge case and prevent it from revolving while the case
is turned down to the wad; the edge of the tooth is curved and gears
against the spring, forcing it outwards but securing the pressing tooth
firmly in position.
The apparatus for re-priming or re-capping cartridge cases which have
been used consists of two vertical tubes set on a base plate, on one of
which an arm or lever is jointed to a bracket, the other tube is provided
with an outer cylinder which slides on the tube by means of a slot in
the cylinder, a screw on the tube, and an internal spring. A needle
is fixed on the tube, and when the cylinder is pressed down the needle
protrudes through an aperture in the top of the conical head of the
cylinder. The discharged cartridge case being placed on the needle
cylinder the handle is brought over and presses the case down, the
needle then forces out the detonator into a hollow recess of the handle,
the case is then removed and placed within the other cylinder, the
cap is placed in the hollow of the case, and the convex surface of the
lever is brought over it and pressed down, thereby forcing the cap to its
place.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Bartram in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 24th October 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BARTRAM, of Sheffield, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in tho thirty-first
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Bartram, Her special licence that I,
the said William Bartram, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others, as. I, the said William Bartram, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein ex-
pressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel

page_text: Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR FILLING, CLOSING, AND RE-CAPPING CARTRIDGES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Bartram, 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 immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Bartram, do hereby declare 1
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 Invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus for the
purpose of filling or charging cartridges with powder and shot, and 1
for closing the same, and also for re-capping exploded cartridges.
The apparatus for filling or charging consists of an oblong or
rectangular metal casc open at the sides and having a moveable top
plate capable of rising and falling by means of cheeks or flanges at
each end, which are slotted vertically and slide on screws inserted in 2
the ends of the case; the front edge of the lower plate is perforated
with one or any other number of holes in the same row, and funnels
are fixed below them soldered to the under surface of the plate. Within
the upper and under plates of the case a second case is adjusted and
made to slide within it backwards and forwards by means of a horizontal ?
handle, the top plate of the outer case having slots cut therein for
set screws to slide in fixed to the upper plate of the internal case, on
the under plate of which a corresponding number of cylinders are
fixed to that of the funnels and in the same relative positions. The
under surface of the inner top plate is also provided with cylinders 3
which enter those of the lower interior plate. Above the apparatus
a hopper is placed of the entire width of the apparatus; this is supplied
with powder or shot as required, and the top plate of the case is
formed with apertures above each cylinder in the moveable case, so
that the powder or shot falls through these apertures into the cylinders,
when the handle being pushed forwards so as to cause the moveable
cylinders to come directly over the fixed funnels the charge falls through
into the cartridge cases into which the funnels are previously inserted.;

page_text: a spring then carries back the sliding case under the hopper, and a
fresh supply of powder or shot is provided, which, in turn is again
charged in the cartridge cases, and so on to any number of rows of
cases. The charge is varied by the adjustment of the level of the
outer top plate, which increases the length of the cylinders by moving
the internal one further out of the external cylinder or vice versâ;
and this adjustment is afixed by the tightening screws.
By this
apparatus the cartridge cases may be filled most rapidly and with
unerring accuracy as to the charge.
The improvement in the apparatus for closing cartridge cases consists
especially in the manner in which the cartridge is prevented from
turning round in the barrel while the closing cone is revolving. In
order to effect this object I form a slot in the barrel and apply to the
exterior of the barrel beyond the extremity of the slot a flat steel
spring secured to the barrel by screws; this spring comes close up
the outside of the slot or groove. An arm or projection is formed
on the barrel to which a lever is jointed and provided with a fulcrum;
this hand lever is furnished with a pressing tooth projecting at right
angles below the handle, at such distance from the fulcrum as when
the handle is brought over the pressing tooth will come in contact
with the metal head of the cartridge case and prevent it from revolving
while the case is turned down to the wad; the edge of the tooth is
curved and gears against the spring, forcing it outwards but securing
the pressing tooth firmly in position.
The apparatus for re-priming or re-capping cartridge cases which have
been used consists of two vertical tubes set on a base plate, on one
of which an arm or lever is jointed to a bracket, the other tube is
provided with an outer cylinder which slides on the tube by means
of a slot in the cylinder, a screw on the tube, and an internal spring.
A needle is fixed on the tube, and when the cylinder is pressed down
the needle protrudes through an aperture in the top of the conical
head of the cylinder. The discharged cartridge case being placed on
the needle cylinder the handle is brought over and presses the case
down, the needle then forces out the detonator into a hollow recess
of the handle, the case is then removed and placed within the
other cylinder, the cap is placed in the hollow of the case; and the
convex surface of the lever is brought over it and pressed down,
thereby forcing the cap to its place.

page_text: From the foregoing description my Invention will be completely
understood by reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of the filling apparatus; Fig. 2 a
longitudinal vertical section; and Fig. 3 an end view of the same;
and Fig. 4 a side elevation. Similar letters denote the same parts.
a, is the rectangular case open at the sides; b, the moveable sliding
top plate; c, the handle; d, the slot; d', the vertical slot in the flange;
e, the spring; f, f, the flanges allowing of the rising and falling of
the upper and lower surfaces of the case; g, g, the cylinders; and
h, h, the funnels; i, the hopper.
Fig. 5 re-prosents an external view of the closing apparatus; a, is
the slot in the barrel; and b, the spring secured by screws; c, is the
arm hinged to the projection d; and e, is the pressing tooth (formed
in one piece with the arm c). which, when forced down to the barrel
comes in contact with the metal head of the cartridge and prevents
it from turning while the case is turned down to the wad; the tooth
is formed as shewn in Fig. 6, which is a section through the line a, b,
of Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 shews the apparatus for re-priming or re-capping cartridge
cases. a, b, are the vertical tubes; the arm c is jointed to the tube a
by the arm a¹; the tube 6 has an outer sliding cylinder d; e is
the needle fixed in the tube, the internal spring and slot is not
shewn. The cartridge case is first placed on the cylinder d, and
pressed with the hollow face of the lever c, which drives out the
exploded cap; the cartridge is then re-capped by placing it on the
tube a, and bringing the solid face of the lever over and pressing on
the top of the cartridge.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I would remark in con-
clusion that I do not limit myself to the precise details and con-
figuration of parts I have expressed and shewn, as the same may
obviously be modified without departing from the principles of the
Invention, but what I claim and desire to be secured to me by the
herein in part recited Letters Patent are,-
1stly. The apparatus for filling cartridges, as shewn in Figs. 1, 2, 3,
and 4 of the annexed Drawings.

page_text: 2ndly. The apparatus for closing cartridges as shewn in Figs. 5 and 6
with special reference to the pressing tooth e in connection with the
arm c and to the application of the spring b.
And 3rdly. The apparatus for re-capping cartridges as shewn at Fig. 7
with special reference to the vertical tube a, the arm or bracket a',
and the pressing arm or lever c in connection therewith, and the outer
cylinder on which the cartridge is placed for re-capping, all substantially
as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Bartram, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
JOHN ATTHERTON,
74, Wellington St.
Sheffield.
WILLIAM BARTRAM. (L.S.)