AN IMPROVED BREECH-LOADING CARTRIDGE WITH LUBRICATING BALL
Year: 1869

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Downing at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th
December 1869.
I, WILLIAM DOWNING, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Engine
Fitter, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED BREECH-LOADING CARTRIDGE WITH LUBRICATING BALL," to be as
follows:-
The present Invention is designed to obtain a readier and more efficient
'means than hitherto of rapidly firing from an ordinary rifle or breech-
loading gun without the frequent necessity of cleaning the barrel, which
ordinarily with the cartridges now in general use becomes in a more or
less degree foul, thereby causing frequent delay and an erring aim.
The outside case of the improved cartridge together with the "bonnet"
are constructed of common tin, and both are rivetted to the flange. The
"bonnet" has a thin lining of brass immediately next and in front of it
to protect and keep the fire from the ignited powder damaging the tin.
The cap chamber and flange are each solid and made of malleable
iron; so that they do not require any rivetting like the "Boxer." The

page_text: cap chamber has a hole through it about one-sixteenth of an inch in
diameter, and has at the bottom a brass seat flayed out in the same way
as the anvil, which is of sheet iron. The hole is intended to receive a
hollow ended punch to be used for pushing out the old cap anvil and
seat after the cartridge has been fired, which will last a great length of
time and can be used again after being recharged. If the case of the
cartridge by any accident gets damaged the end plate with cap chamber
on can be taken out and used again, being fitted to another case.
The improved cartridge is provided with a lubricating bullet fitted
with two pegs of wood differing in position and form. One of these
closes up the grease holes, so that the grease will not work out from the
interior of the bullet, as it frequently does in ordinary cartridges when
used in hot climates. In making up the bullet to be placed in the
cartridge this peg is fixed in its place first, then a little grease is put in,
after which the hinder or taper peg is pressed in. When the cartridge
is fixed in the rifle or gun the pressure of the gases from the ignited
powder on the large end of the taper peg forces forward the same and
with it the other peg, thus forcing the grease to pass through the small
holes, herein-before mentioned, to the outside of the bullet, and so
lubricate and make easy its passage, this action at the same time closing
up the rear hole of the bullet to prevent escape of grease in that
direction. Grooves are formed on the outside of the bullet, which
reduce in a great degree the recoil of the rifle, diminish the friction,
and clear away the fouling of the preceding shot. The grease from the
bullet keep the barrel in good order, and prevents the rifle grooves from
leading up. The sharp point of the bullet cuts the air very effectually,
enabling the bullet to reach the object fired at both speedily and
accurately.
"Boxer" and other cartridges can readily and easily be altered or
converted and adapted to my Invention. The cartridges can be used
for any breech-loading gun (of whatever bore) provided with a needle
or plunger.