Improvements in Damp-proof Cartridge Cases.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 30th May, 1890-Accepted, 5th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Damp-proof Cartridge Cases.
Wo, JOHN COPE BUTTERFIELD, of 7 Westminster Chambers, in the city of
Westminster, F.I.S., F.C.S., Analyst, and TELFORD CLARENCE BATCHELOR of 8 Barons
Court Road, West Kensington, in the county of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of cartridge cases preferably of metal
which shall be impervious to damp or water and consists in the employment of an
inner pocket in which the fuze is placed when the cartridge is to be exploded.
In one form the case is in one piece having the end opposite the pocket open.
The case is filled with the explosive by the open end and when full a cap is placed
over the end, a tight joint being made between the cap and the case by means of
solder, resin, paint or other suitable means. The case will then be impervious to
damp or water and the only step to be taken when the cartridge is to be fired is to
place the fuze in the pocket which when ignited will destroy the pocket and
explode the cartridge.
In a modification the case is formed in one piece having one end open; on to this
open end after the case has been filled with the explosive is fitted a cap in which is
the metal pocket; when desired to use the cartridge the fuze is placed in the pocket
as described above.
Generally though not necessarily the pocket would be cylindrical and concentric
with the axis of the case; it is manifest however that the form and position of the
pocket may be varied as desired; it may even be placed outside the cartridge
proper.
1000
Improvements in Damp-proof Cartridge Cases.
We, JOHN COPE BUTTERFIELD, Chemist, F.I.C., F.C.S., of 7 Westminster
Chambers, in the City of Westminster, and TELFORD CLARENCE BATCHELOR, Engineer,
of 8 Baron's Court Road, West Kensington, both in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
This invention relates to the manufacture of cartridge cases preferably of metal
such as lead, lead and antimony, or lead and tin but which may be made of vulcanite
or some such material and which shall be impervious to moisture and will be best
understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1 and 2 are
respectively opposite end elevations of one form of case constructed according to this
invention and of which Figure 3 is a central longitudinal section on the line a-b of
Figure 1; Figures 4 and 5 are central longitudinal sections of alternative forms of
the case shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, and Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal section of
another form of case constructed according to this invention and of which Figure 7
is a transverse section on the line c-d of Figure 6.

page_text: Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
With reference to Figures 12 and 3 A is the main enclosing casing which at its
closed end A¹, which is preferably in part with the rest of the case as shown, is
formed with a pocket A2 and is closed in at its other end by a cap B. After the
explosive is put into the case A the cap B is placed over its open end and a water or
damp tight joint between the parts A and B is made by a coating of paint, resin or
by soldering, screwing or other suitable means.
The cap B may either be of the form shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 of the
accompanying drawings or it may be in the form of a hollow recessed or solid plug to
fit inside the open end of the shell A. as shown in Figure 5.
In the case represented at Figure 4 the closed end A¹ of the case is made plain
and the pocket A2 is formed in or upon the cap B. In other respects both as regards
the manner of constructing, charging and sealing, the case shown in Figure 4 is like
that shown in Figure 3.
When either of the before described cartridges is to be fired all that is necessary
is to place the detonator in the pocket A² and when the said detonator is exploded it
will destroy the pocket and explode the cartridge.
In the case shown in Figures 6 and 7 the pocket A2 is in the form of a longitudinal
groove or indentation in the outside of the case A and when firing a cartridge con-
structed on this principle all that is necessary is to lay the detonator in the groove A²
and if desired secure it in such groove by binding or other means; or if desired the
case may have secured to it one or more preferably metal bands between which and
the surface of the groove A² the detonator may be placed when required for use.
This groove may if desired be placed in or across the cap B. The detonator thus
applied when ignited will destroy the contiguous part of the case A and explode
the cartridge.
Generally though not necessarily the case A would be cylindrical as also would
the pocket A when formed wholly within the case as indicated in Figures 1 to 4 but
these may be of any other desired shape, and although it is preferred to place the
detonator in a pocket such as is shown in Figures 1 to 4 and which may be either
concentric or eccentric within the case A yet it does not matter in what manner it
is applied so long as it is in direct contact with some part of the cartridge case
enclosing the explosive. For example it would suffice if the detonator were merely
bound to the exterior surface of the case without any special provision being made
for its reception. The metal should be as thin as practicable so as to ensure the
explosion taking place.
If desired the before described cartridge cases may be formed of three distinct
parts a central or body portion and two caps one on each end thereof, but this is
not so desirable a form as one of less parts as there are more joints to render water
or damp tight.
By the above described means a cartridge case is provided which does not require
to be cut, opened or tampered with in any way previous to firing, and one which may
be hermetically sealed when first made and is never unsealed until exploded; con-
sequently it may be kept in a damp place or even under water without damaging the
explosive or spoiling the cartridge.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The combination with a cartridge case of a pocket such as A2 formed in part
therewith substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
2. The combination with a cap of a cartridge of a pocket such as A² formed in
part therewith substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.

page_text: 3. A cartridge case or cap having an external groove or indentation such as A²
substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
4. The method of discharging a cartridge by a detonator outside the cartridge case
substantially as described.
190.
JOHN COPE BUTTERFIELD.
TELFORD CLARENCE BATCHELOR.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants.