.IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to François Jules Manceaux, of Paris, in the Empire
of France, Manufacturer, for the Invention of ".IMPROVEMENTS IN
CARTRIDGES."
Sealed the 2nd March 1860, and dated the 6th September 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said François Jules Manceaux
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 6th September 1859.
I, FRANÇOIS JULES MANCEAUX, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CARTRIDGES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in placing a pasteboard, card, or other washer or
washers, saturated with grease or other lubricating material, at the back of
the bullet in cartridges for muzzle-loading, rifled, and other arms, as hereafter
explained. The washer is made of a diameter to correspond with that of the
base of the bullet, and has a hole formed in its centre through which the gases
pass on the discharge of the arm into the conical or other chamber at the rear
end of the bullet. The washer forms a seat for the bullet, and keeps it in

page_text: the centre of the bore of the gun. The base of the bullet is kept from direct
contact with the gases, and does not become distorted. The quantity of gas
which enters the chamber at the rear of the ball, through the central hole in
the washer, becomes regulated, and produces a uniform expansion into the
grooves of the arm. The washer lubricates and materially diminishes the
fouling of the barrel. The powder is contained in a tube, which extends
down to the conical part of the bullet, and the powder, ball, and washer are
held together by an outer casing. To load with my cartridges, tear off the
upper part of the outer covering, pour the powder into the barrel, then intro-
duce the washer and bullet, which are still held together and surrounded by
the outer covering; when the bullet has descended about two-thirds of its
length, more or less, tear off the paper or other covering above the bullet,
and force it home with the ramrod.
In some cases I make use of two washers, one of the shape just described,
the other concave, and in which the base of the bullet rests. A hole is
formed, as before, through the centre of both of the washers, which com-
municates with the recess at the back of the bullet; or, I form both the
washers concave. When the ramrod presses down the bullet on the powder,
it flattens and expands the concave washer, which is pressed between the base
of the bullet and the flat washer.
greater extent, by the action of the
to enter the grooves of the barrel.
concave washers are employed.
The same action is produced, but to a
explosive gases, which force the washers
The same results are obtained when two
For fowling pieces, where small shot is used, and for smooth bores, I use
a flat and concave washer, or two concave washers connected together at their
concave parts,, without holes formed through their centre.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said François Jules Manceaux in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 6th March 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANÇOIS 30
JULES MANCEAUX, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Manufacturer, 'send
greeting.
WHEREAS IIer most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her. Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of September, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One 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 me,'
the said François Jules Manceaux, Her special licence that I, the said François
Jules Manceaux, my exécutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said François Jules Manceaux, 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, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IИ-
PROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said François Jules Manceaux, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said François Jules Manceaux, do hereby
declare the nature of my 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, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in placing a pasteboard, card, or other wad or
washer, or wads or washers, saturated with grease or other lubricating
material, at the back of the bullet in cartridges for muzzle-loading, rifled, and
other arms, as hereafter explained. The washer is made of a diameter to
correspond with that of the base of the bullet, and has a hole formed in its
centre through which the gases pass on the discharge of the arm into the
conical or other chamber at the rear end of the bullet. The wad forms a
seat for the bullet, and keeps it in the centre of the bore of the gun. The
base of the bullet is kept from direct contact with the gases, and does not
become distorted. The quantity of gas which enters the chamber at the rear
of the ball through the central hole in the wad, becomes regulated, and pro-
duces a uniformi expansion into the grooves of the arm. The wad lubricates
and materially diminishes the. fouling of the barrel. The powder is contained
in a tube, which extends down to the conical part of the bullet, and the
powder, ball, and washer are held together by an outer casing. To load with
my cartridges, tear off the upper part of the outer covering, pour the powder
into the barrel, then introduce the wad and bullet, which are still held

page_text: together and surrounded by the outer covering; when the bullet has
descended about two-thirds of its length, more or less, tear off the paper or
other covering above the bullet, and force it home with the ramrod.
In some cases I make use of two wads, one of the shape just described, the
other concave, and in which the base of the bullet rests. A hole is formed,
as before, through the centre of both of the wads, which communicates with
the recess at the back of the bullet; or I form both the wads concave. When
the ramrod presses down the bullet on the powder, it flattens and expands the
concave wad, which is pressed between the base of the bullet and the flat wad.
The same action is produced, but to a greater extent, by the action of the
explosive gases, which force the wads to enter the grooves of the barrel. The
same results are obtained when two concave wads are employed.
For fowling pieces, where small shot is used, and for smooth bores, I use a
flat and a concave wad, or two concave wads connected together at their
concave parts, without holes formed through their centre.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is an external elevation of a
cartridge complete; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same cartridge
fitted with one of my wads with an aperture through the centre; Figure 3 is
a back, and Figure 4 is a top, view of the cartridge; Figure 5 is a transverse
section taken through the charge of powder according to the line a, b, in
Figure 2; Figure 6 is a transverse section on the line c, d, of the same
Figure; and Figure 7 shews in plan, and Figure 7 in elevation, the
greased wad.
Figure 8 is an external elevation, and Figure 9 is a longitudinal section of
one of my cartridges fitted with two wads; Figures 10 and 10° show the
bullet in side elevation and back view; Figures 11, 11ª, and 11b, are views
in elevation, section, and top plan of the concave wad; Figures 12 and 12ª
show in side elevation and plan the flat and concave wad combined; and
Figures 13 and 13° are views in side elevation and section of two concave
wads placed together.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my improve-
ments in cartridges,―
First, the employment of a pasteboard, card, or other wad or washer,
saturated with grease or other lubricating material, and formed with a hole
through the centre thereof, as herein-before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings.
Second, the employment in cartridges of two wads, with a hole through

page_text: the centre, and placed at the rear of the bullet, one plain and the other
concave, or both concave, as herein-before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings.
And, third, the employment in fowling pieces and other smooth-bored arms
of a flat wad in combination with a concave wad, or of two concave wads,
without holes through their centre, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said François Jules Manceaux, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of March, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty.
MANCEAUX. (L.S.)