IMPROVEMENTS IN CANNON AND FIRE-ARMS, AND IN PERCUSSION CAP HOLDERS, AND CHARGERS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Hulett. of 55 and 56, High Holborn, Gas
Engineer, in the County of Middlesex, and Gottlieb Boccius, of Totnes,
in the County of Devonshire, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
CANNON AND FIRE-ARMS, AND IN PERCUSSION CAP HOLDERS, AND CHARGERS,"
Sealed the 22nd June 1860, and dated the 24th December 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Hulett and Gottlieb
Boccius at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 24th December 1559..
Wo. DAVID HULETT, of 55 and 56, High Holborn, Gas Engineer,. in the,
County of Middlesex, and GOTTLIEB BOCCIUS, of Totnes, in the County of
Devonshire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CANNON AND FIRE-ARMS, AND IN PERCUSSION CAP HOLDERS AND CHARGERS,"
to be as follows:-.
Istly, in making the chamber of the breech in cannon and fire-arms in the
form of a cone, the base of which faces the barrel, and the touch-hole or com-
munication from the percussion cap communicating at the apex. The object
of this shape is to cause a simultaneous ignition of the whole of the powder in
the chamber, and also to diminish the recoil.
2ndly, the application of the ordinary percussion cap to breech-loading
guns.
3rdly, forming a holder and charger so as to hold a quantity
Pricedr
or magazine of

page_text: caps, and so long as there is a supply, one cap shall, by a simple means, be
ready in a convenient position to be put on the nipple. The holder may be
made in various shapes, but the shape we prefer is a flat oblong or oval. It is
made as follows:-A top and bottom plateare held by the sides at a sufficient
distance apart to allow the caps to enter easily, but not to turn over or be
upset. One end of this chamber, formed as above described, is tapered off,
forming a mouth for the discharge of the caps. Within this mouth, starting
from each side of the chamber, are springs or plates (taking somewhat the
shape of an ordinary forceps), and made of any suitable metal or material.
These springs are sufficiently close at the mouth to retain one cap, and
prevent it from falling out, and the inclined or tapering sides serve as a guide
to the caps. Provision is made to allow of the insertion of the nipple of the
gun in the cap at the mouth of the holder and charger, which (the cap) when
removed is replaced by another from the magazine or chamber.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said David Hulett and Gottlieb Boccius in the Great Seal Putent
Office on the 23rd June 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, DAVID
HULETT, of 55, & 56, High Holborn, Gas Engineer, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, and GOTTLIEB BOCCIUS, of Totnes, in the County of Devonshire, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of December, in the year of
our Lord Oue thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said David Hulett and Gottlieb Boccius, Her special
licence that we, the said David Hulett and Gottlieb Boccius, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said David Hulett and
Gottlieb Boccius, our 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, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CANNON AND FIRE-ARMS. AND IN PERCUSSION CAP HOLDERS AND CHARGERS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that we, the said David Hulett and Gottlieb
Boccius, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under

page_text: our, 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 calet dar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said David Hulett and Gottlieb Boccius,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner.
the same is to be performed; to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
In making the chamber of the breech in cauuou and fire-arms in the form
of a cone, the base of which faces the barrel, and the touch-hole or communi.
cation from the percussion cap communicating at the apex. The object of
this shape is to cause a simultaneous ignition of the whole of the powder in
the chamber, und also to diminish the recoil.
Forming a holder and charger, so as to hold a quantity ormagazine of caps,
and so long as there is a supply one cap shall by a simple means be ready in a
convenient position to be put on the nipple. The holder may be made in
various shapes, but the shape we prefer is a flat oblong or oval. It is made
or constructed as follows:-A top and bottom plate are held by the sides at a
sufficient distance apart to allow the caps to enter freely, but not to turn over
or be upset. Oue end of this chamber formed as above described is tapered
off forming a mouth for the discharge of the caps; within thismouth, starting
from each side of the chamber, are springs or plates of metal (taking some-
what of the shape of an ordinary forceps) and made of any suitable metal or
material. These springs are sufficiently close at themouth toretainonecapand
prevent it falling out, and the inclined or tapering sides serve as a guide to the
remaining ones. Provision is made to allow of the insertion of the nipple of
the gun in the cap at the mouth of the holder and charger, which (the cap)
when removed, is replaced by auother from the magazine or chamber..
And that the same may be better understood, we will proceed to describe
the Drawings accompanying and forming part of this Specification.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a plan of the percussion cap holder and charger; Fig. 2a
longitudinal elevation of the same; Fig. 3 a longitudinal section; Figs. 4 & 5
end elevations; Fig. 6 a sectional plan, and Fig. 7. a plan with the top or
cover removed; Fig. 8 is an elevation of the breech of a rifle or gun con-
In each of the above described
structed according to our Invention.
Figures the same letters of reference indicate like parts.

page_text: The breech (see Fig. 8) may be screwed on to the barrel in the usual
manner, or made without thread or screw, and applied to breech-loading fire-
arms by raising the breech upwards and barrel at the same time in opposite
directions, and when they are again simultaneouslydropped intotheir position
the breech will slide into the barrel as far as the shoulder and form a con-
tinuous barrel. The conical forin of the chamber in the breech is shewn by
dotted lines. By making the chamber in this shape there is much greater
strength obtained, more perfect ignition of the gunpowder, and less recoil
than with breeches of the ordinary form. This conical-shaped chamber may
be rifled to the same pitch as the rifling in the barrel, and should form a con-
tinuation of the saine, and the nipple to be placed a little from the center on
the outside of the breech. The nipple may be placed at the end of the breech,
so as to obtain a direct and straight discharge from the cannon or fire-arm.
The magazine or receptacle for the percussion caps is marked A, which
we prefer to make of an oblong or oval shape, tapering towards the mouth
or discharging end, as shewn in the Drawings.
The caps are introduced through a small door at the end, a front elevation of
which is shewn in Fig. 4, marked F; this door is closed by a slide or any
other suitable means. The height of the receptacle is a little more than the
height of the caps, which permits them to slide freely upon thebottom plate H
(see Fig. 3) without obstruction from the top plate G, yet sufficiently low to
prevent the caps turning over or capsizing. They are introduced into the
receptacle or inagaine mouth downwards, that is, with the mouth on the
bottom plate H, and are kept in that position between the top and bottom
plates. Fastened to each side of the receptacle is a spring or plate of metal
or other suitable material E, E, which is bent in the shape shewn in the
Drawing; these plates or springs are brought sufficiently close at the mouth
of the holder and charger to retain or hold one cap as shewn, marked B. In
Figs. 3 & 7, C, C, C, are other caps in the receptacle, which are prevented
from falling out by the one B. A notch D is cut out of the bottom plate H
sufficiently large to permit a cap to pass through, and through which the
nipple is introduced into the cap at the mouth.
The following is the mode of charging the nipple of a gun or other fire.
arm The holder and charger being held in the hand, mouth downwards, the
caps sliding on the bottom plate H are guided to the tapered end by the
springs or plates E; E; when one takes the position shewn by B
The nipple
is then introduced into this cap, and a certain pressure is exerted on the
holder to force it well in if necessary. The holder and charger is next pulled
away, which draws the cap fixed on the nipple through the springs E, which

page_text: are sufficiently elastic to let the cap pass through. The place previously
occupied by the cap thus withdrawn is taken up by the one immediately
behind it, always supposing the mouth of the holder and charger to be held
downwards. A cap is thus constantly ready to charge the nipple so long as
one remains in the receptacle to keep up the supply. The ring shewn at the
end is for the purpose of attaching the holder and charger to any convenient
part of the dress, uniform, or person of the operator. The holder and charger
can also be used to thrust off the caps from the nipple after service.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the Invention and the
manner of carrying the same into practical effect, we would have it understood
that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details herein-before described
and shewn,as the same may be varied without departing from the principle of
the Invention, but what we claim as new is,-
Firstly, the making of the chamber of the breech in cannon and fire-arms
substantially as herein-before described.
Secondly, percussion cap-holders and chargers made substantially in the
manner as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said David Hulett and Gottlieb Boccius
have horeunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-second day of
June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
JOSEPH WILLCOCK.
(L.S.) DAVID HULETT. -
(L.S.) GOTTLIEB BOCCIUS.
Patent Agent & Consulting Engineer,
89, Chancery Lane, London.