Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 22nd Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 27th Dec., 1887
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the county of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
--
This invention relates to implements which load cartridge shells with powder, shot
and wads.
A frame is provided having two magazines mounted on the top thereof; the left
one being for powder and the right one for shot.
These magazines rest upon a horizontal plate through which there are two openings:
one beneath each magazine. Beneath this plate is pivoted a horizontally moving slide
containing two chargers, one for powder and the other for shot; the slide is provided
with a handle by which it can be inoved to and fro. The slide rests upon a horizontal
platform having a charge conducting chute extending downward from the slide to the
front part of the frame. The distance between the chargers in the slide equals half
the distance between the openings from the magazines; and the charge conducting
chute is situated beneath a point midway between the openings into the magazines.
At the front of the frame above the opening of the charge conducting chute is
mounted a vertically reciprocating spring pressed rammer or plunger.
Upon the frame beneath the chute, a wad platform is pivoted having a hole
therethrough immediately beneath the rammer. The upper part of this hole is formed
like a funnel. The wad platform is so pivoted that the part provided with the funnel
can be moved up
and down. Directly beneath the hole a stationary shell platform is
mounted upon the frame at about a distance from the wad platform equal to the length
of the shell to be loaded.
The machine is operated by filling the powder and shot magazines; placing a shell
apon the shell platform beneath the wad platform, then moving the slide so that the

page_text: left charger therein will be under the opening into the powder magazines. The
powder flows through, filling the charger; the slide is then moved to the right so as
to bring the charge directly above the charge conducting chute. This allows the
powder to flow down into the hopper and thence into the shell. A wad is then
pushed along the wad platform into the hopper and the reciprocating plunger is
pressed down thus ramming the wad down upon the powder. The plunger is then
raised by the spring; the slide being pushed to the right allows the charge of shot to
be deposited into the right hand charger in substantially the manner described in
regard to the powder; another wad is then placed within the shell as before described,
and rammed into place; thus completing the loading of the shell.
The shell platform is mounted upon a vertical standard to which it is attached by
means of a clamp; so that it can be elevated and lowered to allow shells of different
lengths to be placed beneath the wad platform.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1887.

page_text: I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E. 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:-
My invention relates to implements which load cartridge shells with powder, shot
and wads.
The object of my invention is to construct a loader of small size, with as few parts
as possible, by means of which the cartridges may be loaded with accurately guaged
charges of powder, shot and wads.
My invention consists principally in the peculiar construction and arrangement of
parts whereby a special convenience of operation is secured.
It also consists in the peculiar mechanism for holding the shells in position while
being loaded.
Also in the form and position of the device for guiding the wads into position.
Also in the peculiar construction of the shot and powder measuring devices.
Also in the device for adapting the machine for cartridges of different lengths.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my loader clamped
to a table with shell and wads ready for loading.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the loader with the magazine cans removed.
Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section of the same on line a―a.
Fig. 4 is a cross section of the wad platform and hopper on line x-x, Fig. 2, A is
the frame which clamps upon the table.
B is the charge carrier; C is the magazine plate; D is the charge chute; E is the
powder magazine; and F is the shot magazine, which consists of ordinary glass cans
screwed into the rims R, R' on the magazine plate.
Holes G G connect the respective magazines with the charge carrier B.
The charge carrier is provided with two chargers, I, I'¹; each of which is provided
with the gauge J (J¹) held in position by the friction screw M, which slides in the
slot K.
"These gauges" have broad faces at the upper and lower ends where they come
into contact with the plates C and A¹ and the face of the upper end is graduated as
shown in Fig. 2 to indicate the size of the charge.
A handle is attached to the charge carrier upon the right hand, or shot side, by
which the carrier can be moved to and fro.
The magazine plate is secured to the frame by the screws S, S, which screw into the
posts P, P, which are attached to the frame; and the charge carrier plate Qis
pivoted to the magazine plate C, by the pivot N, which passes through the end of the
arm Q1, so that the carrier can be moved to and fro in the arc of a circle.
The upper end of the chute D is situated directly beneath a point inidway between
the holes G, G', and the distance between the charges is equal to half the distance
between the holes G, G', so that when one charger is beneath the opening into one of

page_text: the magazines the other charger will be directly over the open end of the
charge chute.
The charge carrier fits closely between the parallel faces of the magazine plate C
and the platform A¹, of the frame. The posts P and P¹ form stops against which the
arm Q strikes to stop the charge carrier at the proper place to receive and drop
the charges.
The gauge slides J are graduated upon the top as shown in Fig. 2, to indicate the
size of the charges, and by moving the slides back and forth the charge may be
increased or diminished at will.
Upon one side of the upper jaw T of the clamp, is pivoted the arm U of the
combined hopper, shell clamp and wad platform; A round bar L extends downward
from below the clamp to receive the bearing of the shell-supporting platform W which
is secured thereto by a thumb screw X and may be raised or lowered thereon.
The hopper Y is situated beneath the open mouth of the chute D and in the under
side of the hopper a seat d, is reamed out to receive the open end of a shell and the
right hand side of the under face of the wad plate b, within which the hopper is mounted, is
bevelled as at Z, so that when the operator attempts to place a shell upon the platform
beneath the hopper, the shell striking against the bevelled portion of the plate will
elevate the plate thus allowing the shell to be pushed between the plate b, and the shell
platform W.
There is a raised stop e upon the platform W and a side stop h, upon the frame and
a barrier i upon the shell platform, which in connection with the seat d in the bottom
of the hopper, will stop the shell at the proper place and hold it in position to be
loaded.
The wad platform b, is so mounted that its top is level with the top of the table; so
that wads may be pushed from the table onto the platform and into the hopper without
lifting or handling them.
A barrier K¹ extends around the edge of the platform to assist in guiding the wad
to the hopper.
Immediately above the hopper is mounted the spring elevated rammer 7 which is
provided with a hand knob m, on top and also with a wire n, Fig. 2, which is secured
to the knob and drops down therefrom and has a cord r, attached to the lower end
which may be looped to allow the rammer to be operated by the foot. If desired, this
may be dispensed with and the rammer operated by the hand alone in the ordinary
way as shown in Fig. 1.
The charger plate Q is sufficiently long to extend beyond the opening G, in the
magazines, so that the openings are closed thereby at all times except when the chargers
are beneath the openings.
The top of the plate upon the shot side is covered with a sheet of rubber w, which
by its elasticity prevents the shot from clogging, which might prevent the machine
from working.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-
:-
Powder and shot are placed in the magazines E and F, which may be ordinary glass
fruit jars. The loader is turned upside down and the jars screwed into their respective
rims or seats R and R': The loader is then turned right side up and clamped to
the table as shown in Fig. 1, care being taken to have the charge carrier pushed to
the left as shown in Fig. 2, so that a charge of powder will be deposited in the powder
charger.
The shells are placed upon the table at the right of the machine and the wads at the
left; a shell is then placed upon the platform W, beneath the hopper with the right
hand, and the handle O, is then moved to the right; thus moving the powder charger
into position above the chute D, through which the powder falls into the shell. The
operator then pushes a wad from the table onto the wad shelf and into the hopper
with the left hand. A blow upon the rammer is then given with the right hand which
seats the wad. The carrier is then moved to the left carrying a charge of shot to the
chute through which it falls into the shell. Another wad is then pushed into the hopper
and the rammer again forced down and the shell is loaded.

page_text: The loaded shell is then removed by the left hand of the operator or another shell is
pushed onto the platform beneath the hopper thus forcing out the loaded shell, after
which the operation is repeated as described.
It will be readily seen that the position and arrangement of parts is such that but
few unnecessary movements need be made by the hands in loading the shell.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare what I
claim is :-
1. In a cartridge loader substantially such as described, the combination of the
following elements as set forth the magazine plate C, provided with the holes G, G³,
extending up into the magazines; the pivotally-mounted charge carrier B, having the
arm Q, and provided with two chargers I, I situated at a distance apart equal to half
the distance between the holes G, G₁, in the magazine plates; the platform A',
situated beneath the charge carrier and provided with the chute D, extending down-
ward therefrom and located beneath a point in the path of the chargers midway
between the hole G, G₁; the gauge slides J, J' provided with broad faces at the top
and bottom thereof, and movably adjusted to slide back and forth in the chargers
between the magazine plate C, and the platform A'; stops substantially such as the
posts P, P, situated upon opposite sides of the arm Q¹ as set forth, and the handle O,
mounted upon the charge carrier.
2. In a cartridge loader substantially such as described, the combination of the
charge carrier provided with the charger I, and the horizontal slot K; and the gauge
slide J, having broad faces at the upper and lower ends, and provided with the friction
screw M, for the purpose set forth.
3. In a cartridge loader substantially such as described, the device for holding the
shell in position while being loaded; consisting as set forth, of a fixed platform W,
and a shell clamp pivotally attached to the frame by one end and provided at the other
end, upon the under side of the clamp, immediately above the platform W, with an
annular seat d, of proper size to receive the open end of the shell, and also provided
with an opening therethrough, and a hopper within and above such annular seat as
set forth.
4. In a cartridge loader substantially such as described, a wad platform pivoted to
the frame of the loader and fixedly attached to the loading hopper, and forming, with
the top of the table, a plane and continuous surface extending to the mouth of the
hopper.
5. In a cartridge loader substantially such as described, the combination of the
frame of the loader provided with the stop h, projecting therefrom; a shell clamp pivotally
mounted upon the frame above the stop h, and provided upon its under side with
an annular shell receiving seat d; a shell sustaining platform secured to the frame of
the loader below the clamp and the stop h, and provided upon its upper side with the
curved elevation or stop e, and the barrier i, as set forth.
6. In a cartridge loader substantially such as described, the combination of the
frame of the loader; a shell platform rigidly mounted thereon; and a shell clamp
pivotally mounted on such frame above such platform and provided upon the under
side with an annular seat for the open end of the shell, and a beveled surface Z,
extending from the annular seat to the side of the clamp, as and for the purpose set
forth.