Improvements in Cartridge Cases.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Oct., 1889-Accepted, 9th Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cartridge Cases.
We, BORLASE CHILDS, of Liskeard, in the County of Cornwall, Captain and
Honarary Major in the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light
Infantry, and Tom BELL BURNS, of Camelford, in the same County, Quarter Master
Sergeant in the samo Battalion, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to the construction of cartridge cases and consists of improve-
ments whereby are secured, more perfect combustion and speedy ignition of all the
powder in the cartridge, whether for rifles, sporting or heavy guns.
As a consequence, direct advantages in greater velocity of disebarge and penetration
of the projectile-in economy of and less space required for the powder or other
explosive in the shortening of the cartridge and consequent smaller bulk for the
carrying or storage of the cartridges, are obtained.
To obtain these advantages, the cartridge case may be made of metal, paper, or
metal and paper, or other suitable material, with a cap or detonating chamber
terminating with a tube of suitable dimension and length leading to the front part of
the charge of powder or explosive.
The said tube provided with an aperture at the extreme end alone, or with an
aperture at the extremne end and other side perforations or apertures at suitable
intervals, as may be convenient, to convey the flame from the cap or detonating
material to the front part of the powder or explosive material, and also if the side
perforations are employed, to the whole of the powder or explosive charge
simultaneously.
The cartridge cases so constructed would be suitable for ordinary gunpowder, nitro-
compounds or other explosive, and may be applied for use in all varieties, of military
or sporting rifles or guns, as well as in big guns and artillery.
Dated this 1st day of December 1888.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cartridge Cases.
We, BORLASE CHILDS, of Liskeard in the County of Cornwall, Captain_and
Honorary Major in the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light
Infantry, and ToM BELL BURNS, of Camelford, in the same County, Quarter Master
Sergeant in the same Battalion, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the construction of cartridge cases for ordnance, machine,
field, and other military guns, military and sporting rifles, and sporting guns, in
reference to the method of ignition, and consists of improvements whereby perfect and
complete combustion of all the powder in the cartridge is secured.
This special construction of cartridge has the following very important ad-
vantages:-
1st. That the powder chamber and rifling of the gun, or rifle, or the cylinder of a
smooth bore, are not subjected to the severe and excessive strains when using our
improved cartridge, which now occur when the ordinary cartridge is employed; for
by our invention a portion of the explosive charge is ignited, and converted into gas
immediately in rear of the projectile or load of shot, which gas then acts directly on
the projectile or load of shot, without undue or excessive pressure upon the structure

page_text: of the gun, and sets the projectile in motion.; and the powder or other explosive is so
arranged in the cartridge case, that while the projectile or load of shot is travelling
along the interior of the cannon, rifle, or gun, with an ever increasing velocity, as
more gas is generated, the whole of the powder or other explosive is converted into
gas within the chamber, increasing in. pressure to the maximum amount just as or
before the projectile leaves the muzzle of the gun, and consequently the structure of
the gun is relieved from the excessive strains that must occur where a large quantity
of explosive is suddenly converted into gas before the inertia of the projectile has been
over-come.
Secondly. In consequence of the before mentioned advantage, larger powder
chambers and heavier charges can be used without unduly straining the gun.
Thirdly. A considerably increased muzzle velocity of the projectile, and a consequent
lower trajectory, are obtained, together with greater range and greater penetrating
power of the projectile.
In order that our invention may be the better understood, we now proceed to
describe the same in relation to the drawings hereunto annexed, reference being had
to the letters and figures marked thereon.
Figure 1. is a longitudinal section of our ball cartridge, twice full size.
Figure 2. is a section on the line of the same.
We have found by experiment that the flame produced by exploding a detonating
cap is conveyed a considerable distance along a narrow tube, and this we take
advantage of in carrying out our invention. The cartridge case A may be made of
metal, paper, or a combination of the two, or of any other suitable material and has at
the back end "B" of the powder chamber a detonating chamber or cap chamber "C."
Into the forward end "D" of this detonating chamber a small open ended tube "E,”
of solid drawn or sheet metal, or other suitable material, is inserted which extends to
the front end of the powder chamber, passing through the centre of the cartridge.
Tho
The powder chamber is filled around the Tube "E" with explosive such as
gunpowder, nitro compounds, or other such explosives in the usual manner.
forward end of the tube may be compressed, and at the forward end "H" of the
powder chamber, where the small' tube "E" ends, we sometimes finish the charge with
a small quantity of meal powder, cotton dust, gun cotton, or other suitable igniting
medium.
Now, it will he readily understood that when the cap "F" is exploded the flame
passes from the detonating or cap chamber "C" along the tube "E" igniting the
powder or igniting mixture at the front end "G"; the powder being so arranged
that burning from the front end in a backward direction, and generating sufficient
gas, in the first place, to over come the inertia of the projectile, by the time the
projectile has reached the muzzle of the gun, the whole of the powder or other
explosive will have become ignited, and the gas then acting on a body already in
motion, the maximum pressure will be developed immediately before the projectile
leaves the gun, giving it at greatly accelerated muzzle velocity, with consequent
greater range, a lower trajectory, and greater penetrating power.
The principle may be applied to any cartridge of any pattern now in use, for
any military gun, or rifle, machine gun, or for any sporting rifle or gun.
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 :-
A cartridge provided with an open empty tube of metal, or other suitable material,
leading from the detonating or cap chamber, containing the detonating cap and
extending to the forward end of the powder chamber, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
2003
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicants..