IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FASTENINGS OF COVERS FOR POWDER FLASK OR CASES USED IN NAVAL GUNNERY
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Marin Fontenoy and Jean
Nicolas Dopfeld at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 5th December 1866.
We, CHARLES MARIN FONTENOY and JEAN NICOLAS DOPFELD, of 2, Rue
Sainte Appoline, Paris, (Empire of France), Merchants, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FASTENINGS OF
COVERS FOR POWDER FLASK OR CASES USED IN NAVAL GUNNERY," to be as
follows:
In the naval marine the powder is placed in such part of the ship that in
case of necessity the said part may be filled with water, it is however
advantageous to remove the water after the danger has passed, and to recover
the powder in as perfect a state as it was before the immersion, now
according to our Invention this desideratum is obtained. The fastenings
forming the subject of the present Invention are perfectly hermetical, and can
at the same time be opened and closed with great facility.
According to one arrangement the fastening is composed of a metal ring
made by preference of bronze, riveted and soldered to the top of the copper
vessel for containing the powder. The ring is fitted with, by preference,
three projecting pieces of metal hollowed out on the under side to receive the
ends of a cross piece having arms in number corresponding with those of the.
projecting pieces, the ring is also provided with a projecting ring whereby an
hermetically closed joint is obtained, there is a disc or cover hollowed out on
the under side of its rim or edge to receive a greased felt wad, which
rests on the inside edge of the ring. The disc or cover is cast with a projecting

page_text: piece which fits into and between two corresponding pieces formed on the
ring, a pin passes through the three pieces, and in this manner a hinge is
formed. The aperture through which the pin passes is in some cases some-
what enlarged in order that the cover may be raised and lowered by means
of a screw at or about the centre of the said cover. This screw has a cavity
in it, and at top a square aperture to receive a key to turn the screw, which
has a smooth tube penetrating to the centre of the cross piece, which is united
to the screw by a pin or lug, whereby the screw and the cross piece are free
to turn independently the one of the other, at the same time being united for
the vertical motion when the screw is turned by the key. It will be thus
seen that the screw can be turned by the key so as to bring the cross pieces
opposite the three projections on the ring, or to remove them therefrom, in
the latter case the cover can be opened, but to keep the cover hermetically
closed it is only necessary to engage the extremities of the cross pieces under
the projections on the ring by turning the cross piece, then by turning the
screw with the key the felt is compressed between the inner rims or edges of
the ring and the circular cavity in the cover. All the parts composing this
fastening being very strong it will be seen that by their combination as
herein-before described a perfectly hermetically sealed joint is obtained, two
jointed handles are riveted to the top of the box or case to carry it with
facility.
According to another arrangement the ring is made as before, the external
edge of which is fixed by rivets and solder to the upper edge of the powder
flask or case. The cover is fitted on its under side with greased felt, and at
top with the cross piece which is united to the cover by the screw placed and
working as before described. The ends of the cross pieces are bent on the
under side to take under the external edge of the ring where grooves are
formed, whereby the ends of the cross pieces are disengaged from or engaged
under the edge of the ring. This case is intended to carry a cartridge which
is introduced directly into the piece by pushing the cartridge through the.
bottom of the box, and which for this purpose is furnished with a cover which
is opened and closed by means of the key before described. A hinge may
be added to this case as in the other, and two handles of the kind.
described can be fixed to the ring.
before