IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES FOR ORDNANCE
Year: 1884

page_text: I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL of N° 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in
the county of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES FOR ORDNANCE'
to be as follows :—
"
This invention relates to improvements in cartridges for ordnance and the
objects of the improvements aro to obtain a regulated gradual burning of the
powder contained in the cartridge; greater durability, and safety in storage and
transport, and a saving in the cost of production.
I attain these objects in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
in which fig. 1 is vertical section of a cartridge in accordance with this invention,
the section being taken through the line A-B of fig. 3; fig. 2 a part elevation
and part section through line C-D of fig. 3 and fig. 3 a sectional plan thereof.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
The charge of powder consists of various blocks a of compressed powder of
varying specific weight, fixed together by means of any suitable binding material,
so as to form a single mass of cylindrical shape, provided with a central cylindrical
passage b, and side air channels c the number and dimensions of the latter varying
according to the size of the cartridge; lateral spaces d are also formed in the
powder blocks, leading from the central passage b. Fine-grained, readily burning
powder is placed in the central cylindrical passage b, and spaces d; other lateral
spaces dare left open. The cartridge, thus far formed, is coated over with a
which
waterproof combustible varnish and enclosed in a combustible fabric
exactly fits the form of the cartridge. At one end of the cartridge is a base-cup f
of metal or other suitable hard material. In the case of guns constructed so as to
make the base-cup funnecessary, the cartridge may be used without it, or such
firearms may be altered to adapt them for use with the base cup on the cartridge,
At the base of the cartridge a percussion cap chamber g is firmly fixed in the
central cylindrical passage with its end closed by a cambric cloth diaphragm h
varnished or lacquered to make it waterproof,

page_text: Previous to introducing the cartridge in the bore or barrel of the gun, a
percussion cap i is placed in the capsule g. The cap i is caused to ignite by
means of a bolt-striking mechanism of any suitable known form. In the case of
guns to which this latter arrangement is not applicable, the cartridge may be
ignited by means of a fuse in the usual manner. In this latter case. the capsule g
is dispensed with, and then the back end of the cylindrical passage is closed by a
canvas diaphragm coated with varnish to render it waterproof, over which is a
cover provided with free ends for taking hold of. This cover is torn off previous
to loading the gun.
By reason of the compactness and firmness possessed by the cartridge in itself,
the advantage is obtained of dispensing with a metallic casing, thus allowing of
the cartridge proper occupying the whole of the diameter of the bore of the gun.
The through passages, the vacant spaces or cells and the addition of loose powder
have the effect of bringing about almost a simultaneous central and radial ignition
of the entire solid body of powder. By the employment of blocks of powder of
varying specific weight in determined arrangement, in conjunction with the
passages spaces and loose powder, the solid blocks of powder are caused to burn
gradually and radially in a direction from the interior to the exterior. This
manner of burning insures a diminution of the combustion that usually takes
place within and along tlie bore of the gun.
By coating the cartridge with varnish and providing it with a readily com-
bustible covering it is protected from atmospheric influences and from the
disadvantages arising from enclosure in a non-combustible casing. The above
described method of constructing the cartridge also affords means for accurate
regulation of the gaseous pressure and of the initial velocities of the projectile,
thus insuring more uniformity of action.

page_text: "
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL of N° 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES FOR ORDNANCE
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 improvements in cartridges for ordnance and the
objects of the improvements are to obtain a regulated gradual burning of the
powder contained in the cartridge; greater durability, and safety in storage and
transport, and a saving in the cost of production.
I attain these objects in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a cartridge in accordance with this inven-
tion, the section being taken through the line A B of Fig. 3; Fig. 2 a part elevation
and part section through lines CD of Fig. 3 and Fig. 3 a sectional plan thereof.
Similar letters refer to similar parts through the several views.
The charge of powder consists of various blocks a of compressed powder of
varying specific weight, fixed together by means of any suitable binding material,
so as to form a single mass of cylindrical shape, provided with a central cylindrical
passage b, and side air channels c the number and dimensions of the latter varying
according to the size of the cartridge; lateral spaces d are also formed in the
powder blocks, leading from the central passage b. Fine-grained readily burning
powder is placed in the central cylindrical passage 6 and spaces d; other lateral
spaces d' are left open. The cartridge, thus far formed, is coated over with a
waterproof combustible varnish and enclosed in a combustible fabric e which
exactly fits the form of the cartridge. At one end of the cartridge is a base cup f
of metal or other suitable hard material. In the case of fire arms constructed so
as to make the base cup f unnecessary, the cartridge may be used without it, or
such firearms may be altered to adapt them for use with the base cup on the
cartridge. At the base of the cartridge a percussion cap chamber g is firmly fixed
in the central cylindrical passage with its end closed by a cambric cloth diaphragm h
varnished or laquered to make it waterproof.
Previous to introducing the cartridge in the bore or barrel of the gun a
percussion cap i is placed in the capsule g. The cap i is caused to ignite by means
of a bolt-striking mechanism of any suitable known form. In the case of guns to
which this latter arrangement is not applicable, the cartridge may be ignited by
means of a fuse in the usual manner. In this latter case the capsule g is dispensed
with, and then the back end of the cylindrical passage is closed by a canvas
diaphragm coated with varnish to render it waterproof, over which is a cover
provided with free ends for taking hold of. This cover is torn off previous to
loading the gun.
By reason of the compactness and firmness possessed by the cartridge in itself,
the advantage is obtained by dispensing with a metallic casing, thus allowing
of the cartridge proper occupying the whole of the diameter of the bore of the
gun. The through passages, the vacant spaces or cells and the addition of loose
-

page_text: powder have the effect of bringing about almost a simultaneous central and radial
ignition of the entire solid body of powder. By the employment of blocks of
powder of varying specific weight in determined arrangement, in conjunction with
the passages spaces and loose powder, the solid blocks of powder are caused to
burn gradually and radially in a direction from the interior to the exterior. This
manner of burning insures a diminution of the combustion that usually takes place
within and along the bore of the fire gun.
By coating the cartridge with varnish and providing it with a ready combustible
covering it is protected from atmospheric influences and from the disadvantages
arising from enclosure in a non-combustible casing.
The above described method of constructing the cartridge also affords means for
accurate regulation of the gaseous pressure and of the initial velocities of the
projectile, and thus insuring more uniformity of action.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
Constructing cartridges of a number of separate pieces of solidified explosive
compound fixed together in cylindrical form so as to produce internal passages or
spaces communicating with a central igniting passage, by which the combustion is
effected gradually from the centre outwards, the outer surface being provided with
a combustible waterproof coating or covering, substantially as herein described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.