Improved Primers for Breech Loading Guns.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 16th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 17th Dec., 1892
We,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Primers for Breech Loading Guns.
Edward William LLOYD, formerly a Commander in the Royal Navy,
and GEORGE STUART, Engineer, both of Elswick Works, Newcastle on Tyne, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a primer which can be fired by friction,
but which is free from the risk of being set in action or fired by concussion such as
may arise from the slamming of the breech screw of the gun. Although the
invention might be applied to other guns, it is particularly applicable to guns using
brass cartridge cylinders, which contain primers.
The invention comprises a special primer having the above features, and an
arrangement which would preferably be carried in the breech-block for setting
the primer in action, and it is also claimed that this latter arrangement is very
suitable for alternative methods of firing such as electric or percussion.
We construct such primers on two principles, first on what we term the revolving
principle and secondly on the pushing principle.
In the revolving primer the primer is constructed as follows:-A central portion
or spindle is roughed for a portion of its front end and in the rear end is formed a
hole of square or other convenient shape into which the arrangement for setting
the primer in action, generally called the firing pin, enters and fits like a key into
a lock when the breech of the gun is closed. To fire the primer the firing pin is
sharply revolved by suitable means and thus the central portion or spindle of the
primer is similarly revolved. In the normal position of the spindle the portions of
the front end which are roughed correspond with and fit into blank portions of the
detonating cap whilst opposite to the portions in this cap which are filled with
detonating composition the spindle is reduced so that it cannot come accidentally
in contact with the composition. When however the spindle is turned as when it is
desired to fire the primer, the roughened portions of its end pass over the com-
position and by friction ignite it, the flame being communicated to the magazine in
the primer, and by this means to the powder charge of the gun.
In our second method or pushing principle we preferably employ a spindle or
central portion which causes the necessary friction by being pushed instead of
revolved.
We employ for this purpose a gas check in the rear of the primer into which a
block tin cup coned on its outside fits. When it is desired to fire, the firing pin,
preferably by means of a spring crushes the tin cup and pushes on the gas check
which being in contact with the spindle pushes it and so fires the composition.
The back rush of gas is prevented by the action of the gas check. The necessary
amount of force to put the primer into action is regulated by a split ring which is
sprung into an annular groove in the spindle and must be opened and ride over that
groove before the spindle can move forward.
Dated this 17th day of February 1892.
ODDALA TI
Co
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Primers for Breech Loading Guns.
We, EDWARD WILLIAM LLOYD, formerly a Commander in the Royal Navy
and GEORGE STUART, Engineer, both of Elswick Works, Newcastle-on-Tyne, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of this invention is to provide a primer which can be fired by friction,
but which is free from the risk of being set in action or fired by concussion such as
may arise from the slamming of the breech screw of the gun. Although the inven-
tion might be applied to other guns it is particularly applicable to guns using brass
cartridge cylinders, which contain primers.
The invention comprises a special primer having the above features, and an
arrangement which would preferably be carried in the breech block for setting the
primer in action and it is also claimed that this latter arrangement is very suitable
for alternative methods of firing such as electric or percussion.
We construct such primers on two principles, first on what we term the revolving
principle and secondly on the pushing principle.
In the revolving primer the primer is constructed as follows:-A central portion
or spindle is roughed for a portion of its front end and in the rear end is formed a
hole of square or other convenient shape into which the arrangement for setting
the primer in action, generally called the firing pin, enters and fits like a key into
a lock when the breech of the gun is closed. To fire the primer the firing pin is
sharply revolved by suitable means and thus the central portion or spindle of the
primer is similarly revolved. In the normal position of the spindle the portions of
the front end which are roughed correspond with and fit into blank portions of the
detonating cap whilst opposite to the portions in this cap which are filled with
detonating composition the spindle is reduced so that it cannot come accidentally
-in contact with the composition. When however the spindle is turned as when it is
desired to fire the primer, the roughened portions of its end pass over the com-
position and by friction ignite it, the flame being communicated to the magazine in
the primer, and by this means to the powder charge of the gun.
This primer is represented by the Figures 1 to 5. a is the shell of the primer,
it has a thread upon it at a adapted to screw into the base of the cartridge.
bis a spindle fitted into the shell a and able to turn freely. The spindle has a
head fixed securely upon it and in the head there is a square tapered hole b².
The head b¹ is contained in a cavity in the shell a and it is fixed therein by a soft
. metal pin c so that it cannot be turned accidentally but yet will turn when sufficient
force is applied. The inner end of the spindle is made as is shown in Figure 5 with
two quadrants of its face roughened file like; the other two quadrants are plain.
The roughened quadrants project and the plain quadrants are recessed as is seen in
Figure 1. and in them holes are formed as seen in Figures 1 and 5 to receive a key
which is used in inserting the spindle into the shell before the head is fixed upon
it.
d is a cap charged with fulminating composition; it is shown in plan at
Figure 3 and in section at Figure 4-the section is taken on the line Â. B in
Figure 3. The fulminate is applied in two patches dd each occupying a
quadrant and beneath the patches there are flash holes d' for the fire to pass out
from the cap. Normally the roughened quadrants of the spindle are not in contact
with the patches of fulminate these being opposite to the plain or recessed
quadrants of the spindle end. The cap fits as is shown on to the end of the spindle
and also into a cavity in the shell; it is provided with wings d³ which prevent it
turning in the cavity. e is a perforated nut which screws into the cap cavity to

page_text: confine it in its place. f is the priming charge contained in the shell and confined
in front by a cork disc f¹. When the spindle is rotated the fulminate ignites and
the flash passing through the holes in the nut e fires the priming charge.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of mechanism lodged in the breech block for
the purpose of rotating the spindle 6 of the cartridge primer when it is desired to
fire the gun. g is a portion of the breech block and h is a portion of the base of a
cartridge with its primer in place in the gun. is the firing pin and k is a holder
within which it is contained. I is a spring box fixed within the breech block. m is
a coiled spring enclosed within the spring box and abutting upon a collar k¹ upon
the firing pin holder k which it presses forward and holds in place but the part k is
able to yield and will do so if on closing the breech the firing pin meets with any
impediment. The firing pin has a square nose at i adapted to enter the square hole
in the spindle of the primer; it also has at its rear end a barrel 2 on which a cord i³
may be wound by turning the pin by its head it. The gun is fired by pulling the
cord or lanyard 3 smartly which causes the rotation of the firing pin and of the
spindle in the primer.
We also have devised a frictional primer which may be fired by ordinary firing
mechanism in which the movement of the firing pin is longitudinal.
In our second method or pushing principle we preferably employ a spindle or
central portion which causes the necessary friction by being pushed instead of
revolved.
We employ for this purpose a gas check in the rear of the primer into which a
block tin cup coned on its outside fits. When it is desired to fire, the firing pin,
preferably by means of a spring crushes the tin cup and pushes on the gas check
which being in contact with the spindle pushes it and so fires the composition. The
back rush of gas is prevented by the action of the gas check.
The necessary
amount of force to put the primer into action is regulated by a split ring which is
sprung into an annular groove in the spindle and must be opened and ride over that
groove before the spindle can move forward.
Figures 7 and show a primer adapted to be fired by friction on receiving a push
or thrust. I is the shell, it is perforated in rear for the passage of the firing pin.
m is a gas check fitted into a cavity in the shell. n is the spindle its head abuts on
the gas check; it is roughened file like on the sides and it passes through a metal
sheath o.
The sheath is lined with fulminate and it is fitted into a central hole in
a nut p which serves to hold the sheath in place and also forms a partition between
the gas check chamber and the magazine or chamber which contains the priming
charge. r is a bottomless cup of tin which keeps the gas check in place and
prevents accidental movement but which yields to the strong forward thrust of the
firing pin. ss are two split rings which embrace the spindle n one in front and the
other in rear of the sheath o; these rings lie in shallow grooves formed in
the spindle n so that it requires some force to displace them, they ensure safety
whilst at the same time they yield freely to the thrust of the firing pin.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A cartridge primer substantially as described containing a spindle which is
roughened in parts and fulminating priming so presented to the roughened parts of
the spindle that on the rotation of the spindle the roughened parts come into
contact with the fulminate and ignition ensues.
2. Priming mechanism for breech loading guns consisting of a rotating firing pin
in the breech block engaging with a spindle in the primer of the cartridge and
turning the same thereby bringing parts into contact which determine the ignition
of the charge.
3. A. cartridge primer substantially as described containing a spindle roughened
on the sides and passing through a sheath lined with fulminate, such pin abutting

page_text: upon a gas check against which the firing pin thrusts; premature movement of the
spindle being prevented by suitable appliances.
4. The cartridge primers shown by the annexed drawing.
Dated this 12th day of November 1892
EDWARD W. LLOYD.
G. STUART.