IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARTRIDGE CASES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE- ARMS."
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Thomas Eley, of Gray's Inn Road,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARTRIDGE CASES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-
ARMS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Thomas Eley
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 26th February 1869.
I, WILLIAM THOMAS ELEY, of Gray's Inn Road, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARTRIDGE CASES FOR BREECH-
LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates, first, to improvements in the construction of
cartridge cases for breech-loading fire-arms, in which the charge is ignited
by means of a pin projecting laterally from the cartridge. This pin is

page_text: so arranged as to enter a metallic recess or cap chamber secured in the
In this metallic recess the
paper base or packing of the cartridge case.
detonating mixture is placed in a cap or otherwise, so that upon the pin
being struck the detonating substance is exploded and the charge
ignited. This cartridge is well known as the "Lefaucheaux" or "pin-
fire" cartridge.
Now according to my Invention I arrange a metallic cup in front
of the
paper base or packing of cartridge cases of the description above
referred to, such metallic cup having an aperture of suitable form for
the insertion of the metallic cap chamber or recess. With the metallic
cup I combine an annular coil of metal so formed as to extend a suitable
distance along the interior of the cartridge case. The end of the annular
metallic coil is partly closed and fits within the metallic cup. There
is an aperture for the insertion of the metallic cap chamber or recess
formed in the end of the metallic coil similar to the aperture formed in
the metallic cup for the same purpose. After the paper base or packing
has been placed within the paper cartridge case provided with an external
metallic cap as hitherto practised the metallic cup and coil with the
metallic cap chamber are introduced and pressed into the cartridge cases.
By the application of pressure the parts are consolidated and the metallic
cap and coil securely held down by the flanges of the metallic cap
chamber. When applying pressure to the combined cartridge case the
metallic coil is enlarged so as to fit the interior of the case at that part
where the metallic coil extends beyond the paper lining of the cartridge
case.
When a cartridge case constructed as above described is exploded in
a gun the metallic cup and coil are expanded and then act to hinder the
escape of gas.
According to another part of my Invention I combine a metallic cup
and coil similar to that before described with the paper base or packing
of the "Pottet" or "central-fire" cartridge, or with cartridges of a
similar construction. A metallic cup and coil when employed in this
manner within the case acts to strengthen the case and prevent the
rupture of the external cap and consequent escape gas.
of

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Thomas Eley in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 26th August 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
THOMAS ELEY, of Gray's Inn Road, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and graut unto me, the said William Thomas Eley, Her
special licence that I, the said William Thomas Eley, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Thomas
Eley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
usc, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and, Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARTRIDGE CASES FOR BREECH-LOADING
FIRE-ARMS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Thomas Eley, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Thomas Eley, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say:
My Invention relates, first, to improvements in the construction of
cartridge cases for breech-loading fire-arms, in which the charge is
ignited by means of a pin projecting laterally from the cartridge. This
pin is so arranged as to enter a metallic recess or cap chamber secured
in the paper base or packing of the cartridge case. In this metallic
recess the detonating mixture is placed in a cap or otherwise, so that
upon the pin being struck the detonating substance is exploded aud

page_text: the charge ignited. This cartridge is well known as "Lefaucheaux" or
"pin-fire" cartridge.
Now according to my Invention I arrange a metallic cup in front of
the paper base or packing of cartridge cases of the description above
referred to, such metallic cup having an aperture of suitable form for
the insertion of the metallic cap chamber or recess. With the metallic
cup I combine an annular coil of metal so formed as to extend a suitable
distance along the interior of the cartridge case. The end of the
annular metallic coil is partly closed and fits within the metallic cup.
There is an aperture for the insertion of the metallic cap chamber or
recess formed in the end of the metallic coil similar to the aperture
formed in the metallic cup for the same purpose. After the paper base
or packing has been placed within the paper cartridge case provided
an external metallic cap as hitherto practised the metallic cup and
coil with the metallic cap chamber are introduced and pressed into the
cartridge case. By the application of pressure the parts are consolidated
and the metallic cup and coil securely held down by the flanges of the
metallic cap chamber. When applying pressure to the combined cart-
ridge case the metallic coil is enlarged so as to fit the interior of the
case at that part where the metallic coil extends beyond the paper
lining of the cartridge case.
When a cartridge case constructed as above described is exploded in
a gun the metallic cup and coil are expanded and then act to hinder
of gas.
the escape
According to another part of my Invention I combine a metallic cup
and coil similar to that before described with the paper base or packing
of the "Pottet" or "central-fire" cartridge, or with cartridges of a
similar construction. A metallic cup and coil when employed in this
manner within the case acts to strengthen the case and prevent the
rupture of the external cap and consequent escape of gas.
And in order that my Invention may be most fully understood and
readily performed or carried into practice, I will proceed to describe the
Drawing hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 shews a side view, Figure 2 a section, and Figures 3 and 4
end views of a "Lefaucheaux" <6
or pin-fire" cartridge made up in
accordance with my Invention. The exterior paper case a, the metallic

page_text: C,
base b, the paper base the paper lining c¹, the cap chamber d, and the
exploding pin e, are similar in arrangement and combination to cartridge
cases of this description heretofore manufactured, and as the same are
well known it will not be necessary to enter into any further description
thereof. In cartridge cases of this description as heretofore constructed
when the charge is exploded the gases arising from their explosion have
been liable to escape around the outer circumference of the paper basc
and thence through the aperture into which the exploding pin is inserted.
Now, according to my Invention, in order to hinder the escape of gas,
I
combine the chamber in which the cap is exploded with a metallic cup
and coil, by means of which the interior of the cartridge case is lined for
a suitable distance. The metallic cup and coil expand within the cart-
ridge when the charge is exploded, and so act to prevent the escape of gas
around the exterior circumference of the paper basc. Figure 5 shews a
section, and Figure 6 a plan of the metallic cap chamber d. This cap
chamber as well as the figures herein-after described are represented upon
an enlarged scale. Figure 7 is a section, and Figure 8 a plan of the
metallic cup f, which I combine with the metallic cap d. The cup fis
formed with a central aperture f¹, through which the cap d is inserted.
I combine the metallic coil g with the cap d and cup f so as form an
interior metallic lining for the hinder part of the cartridge case. The
metallic coil g is formed from sheet metal and the sheet may be cut into
various forms from which to make the coil g, but a rectangular piece of
sheet metal, as shown at Figure 9, answers the purpose. Figure 10
shews a side view, and Figure 11 an end view of the sheet of metal g
coiled up. After this coil is formed it is placed over a mandrel and part
of one end of the coil folded down over one end of the mandrel, as
shewn at Figure 12, where 9 is the coil, and g¹ the mandrel. Figure 13
shows a section, and Figure 14 an end view of the metallic coil after one
end has been folded down as above described. The metallic coil is so
folded down as to leave a central aperture gå for the insertion of the
cap d. Figure 15 shows a section, and Figure 16 a plan of the paper
base or plug c of the cartridge case, which is of the form heretofore
employed. Having formed the cap d, the cup f, and the coil g, I com-
bine them with the paper base c and the paper lining c' (when a paper
lining is employed), so as to form an interior metallic lining to the
cartridge case. The cup I place next to the paper base c, within the
cup I place the metallic coil g, and I then combine the cup f and

page_text: coil g with the paper base c by inserting the cap chamber d through the
apertures f¹ and g² into the central aperture formed in the paper base c,
the flanched edges of the cap chamber d acting to secure the metallic
cup and coil g. When pressure is applied to force the metallic cap d
into the base c the die employed for this purpose may have an enlarge-
ment or enlargements by which the metallic coil g is expanded or
partially expanded to the interior diameter of the cartridge case. The
operation of pressing the cap chamber d as above described into the
paper base c may be performed in dies h, h, h², as shewn in section at
Figure 17, where pressure is applied to combine the cap d, the cup f
and the coil with the paper base c, and paper lining c', sufficient
pressure being applied to combine these parts so that they may be after-
wards inserted into the cartridge case a, as shewn at Figure 18; or the
parts may be inserted into the cartridge case a, and combined by pressure
within such case. After the parts have been inserted as above described
the cartridge case is enclosed in dies i, i, shewn in section at Figure 19,
a die inserted into the interior of the cartridge case, and considerablo
pressure applied so as to consolidate the cartridge case and expand the
metallic coil g so as to fit the interior of the cartridge case, at the same
time that the cap d is firmly pressed into the paper base c and so as to
firmly hold the cup f and coil g, and give a suitable form to the cap
chamber d. After the cartridge case is formed as above described a
detonating cap is placed in the cap chamber d, and the exploding pin e
is inserted, and the cartridge case is then ready to receive the charge.
I would remark that I am aware that a metallic chamber has been.
formed or combined with a metallic cup and so pressed into the paper
base of a "pin-fire" cartridge as to form a metallic lining to the interior
of the base of the cartridge case, but such metallic cup did not admit of
sufficient expansion to effectually prevent the passage of the gases to the
exterior circumference of the paper base of the cartridge case, whereas by
the employment of a coil of metal g, in combination with a cupf, when
the charge is exploded the coil g is free to expand within the cup f and
within the cartridge case, so as to seal any aperture by which the gases
might escape to the exterior circumference of the paper base.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner in
which the same is carried into practice, I would have it understood that
what I claim is, combining in a "pin-fire' cartridge case the metallic cap
chamber with a metallic cup and metallic coil so as to form an ex-

page_text: panding lining to a "pin-fire" cartridge case, substantially as and for
the purposes herein-before described and shewn in the Drawing here-
unto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Thomas Eley, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of August, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
WILLIAM THOS. ELEY. (L.S.)
Witness,
CIAS. J. Gooсп,
Clerk to Messrs. Tongue & Birkbeck,
34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane,
W.C.