IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Longadon, of Queen Victoria Street, in the City
of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES." A com-
munication from abroad by Alfred Krupp, of Essen, in the Empire of Germany,
Cast Steel Manufacturer.
Sealed the 27th January 1880, and dated the 18th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Longsdon at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th November 1879.
ALFRED LONGSDON, of Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CARTRIDGES." (A communication from abroad by Alfred Krupp, of
Essen, in the Empire of Germany, Cast Steel Manufacturer.)
This cartridge differs from others hitherto employed, firstly, by its outer socket
being entirely closed at the back, and, secondly, by the mode in which the primer
and charge are fired. This latter part of the Invention allows the bottom of the
cartridge to be made as strong as it may be thought desirable, and so to avoid the
escaping of powder-gas even under the highest gas pressure.
The socket of the cartridge contains the hollow percussion bolt with primer
behind and fixing screw in front, also the powder charge. There is a spring under
a flange of the socket at the closed back end of same.
The cartridge socket as well as the percussion bolt and the fixing screw may be
made of brass, steel, or any other resisting material. Any kind of percussion cap
may be used as primer. The spring may be an india rubber or a metal one.
Fine grained powder has been found suitable for loading the cartridge.
On firing the gun the cartridge works in the following way :-
The cartridge is lodged in the rear respectively the upper part of the vent piece,
and maintained there by a screw or bolt. The firing is effected by a blow against
the bottom of the cartridge. This blow may be performed either by means of a
hammer or by a percussion bolt or any other suitable arrangement. The essential
point is that the blow should be a short and vigorous one in order to propel the
cartridge a short way, and as far as the spring under the flange of the cartridge
bottom will allow. On this blow, and in consequence of the vis inertia, the per-
cussion bolt with the primer rebounds against the bottom of the cartridge, the
primer explodes, and the charge is fired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Longsdon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th May
1880.
"
ALFRED LONGSDON, of Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CARTRIDGES." (A communication from abroad by Alfred Krupp, of
Essen, in the Empire of Germany, Cast Steel Manufacturer.)
This cartridge differs from others hitherto employed, firstly, by its outer socket
being entirely closed at the back, and, secondly, by the mode in which the primer
and charge are fired. This latter part of the Invention allows the bottom of the
cartridge to be made as strong as it may be thought desirable, and so to avoid the
escaping of powder gas even under the highest gas pressure.
The socket of the cartridge contains the hollow percussion bolt with primer
behind and fixing screw in front, also the powder charge. There is a spring under
a flange of the socket at the closed back end of same.
The cartridge socket as well as the percussion bolt and the fixing-screw may be
made of brass, steel, or any other resisting material. Any suitable kind of per-
cussion cap may be used as primer. The spring may be of india rubber, metal, or
of other suitable material. Fine grained powder has been found suitable for
loading the cartridge.
The accompanying Drawing shows in sectional elevation a cartridge constructed
according to this Invention; a is the socket of the cartridge; b is the percussion
bolt; c is the primer; d is the fixing screw; e, the spring; and f shows the
powder charge.
On firing the gun the cartridge works in the following way :-
The cartridge is lodged in the rear or upper part of the vent piece and maintained
there by a screw or bolt. The firing is effected by a blow against the bottom of
the cartridge; this blow may be performed either by means of a hammer or by a
percussion bolt or by any other suitable arrangement. The essential point is that
the blow should be a short and vigorous one in order to propel the cartridge a
short way, and as far as the spring e under the flange of the cartridge bottom will
allow. On this blow, and in consequence of the vis inertia, the percussion bolt b
with the primer rebounds against the bottom of the cartridge, the primer explodes,
and the charge is fired.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as the aforesaid improvements in
cartridges,
The construction and employment of cartridges which are exploded not directly
but indirectly by the action of the rebounding of a percussion bolt caused by a
blow applied against the bottom of the cartridge, by which action the primer is
ignited, all substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference
to the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Longsdon, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
ALFRED LONGSDON. (L.S.)