IMPROVEMENTS IN AMMUNITION FOR BREECH LOADING CANNON
Year: 1884

page_text: I ROSWELL SABINE RIPLEY of Charleston South Carolina United States of
America temporarily residing at St Etienne France, formerly an Officer of Artillery
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AMMUNITION
FOR BREECH LOADING CANNON " to be as follows:-
:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in ammunition for breech loading
cannon.
I arrange such ammunition to be ignited by electricity. For this purpose any
desirable number of electric matches or points to be rendered incandescent by
electricity, are arranged along the axis of the cartridge so connected that they may
be fired, or rendered simultaneously incandescent by electricity transmitted through
an insulated wire passing through the base of the cartridge. The electricity should
in preference be communicated first to the matches or points at the end of the axis
of the cartridge nearest the projectile. The insulated wire and the matches or
points inay be contained in a laterally perforated tube which may be filled with
fine quick burning powder, or if thought desirable the tube may be dispensed with
and the arrangement of the insulated electric points of matches and the wire for
firing or rendering incandescent be firmly arranged in any proper manner along
the axis of the cartridge.
Care must be observed that the conducting wire and the apparatus should be
properly and completely insulated and especially at the point of passing through
the base of the cartridge.
For the purpose of allowing sufficient space in the perforation of the base of the
cartridge for the conducting wires and ample insulating material, and at the same
time to prevent the escape of gas through it after the explosion of the powder, the
base of the cartridge when this method of ignition is used should be made with
a conical hole of which the apex points towards the rear or base of the cartridge as
shewn in the annexed Drawing.
This conical orifice in the base is partially filled with a plug or wedge of copper
marked y in some strong metal softer than that of which the base is made.
The plug or wedge may be in two or more pieces. This plug or wedge is
perforated with a cylindrical hole along its axis to allow space for the conducting
wires and sufficient insulating material. The purpose is that upon the explosion
of the cartridge the plug or wedge shall be driven home by the force of the
explosion, and compress the conducting wires and insulating material so
hermetically to close the orifice in the base of the cartridge and prevent the escape
of gas.
Doted this 5th dox of Tannery 1884
as

page_text: I, ROSWELL SABINE RIPLEY of Charleston, South Carolina, United States of
America, temporarily residing at St Etienne, France formerly an Officer of Artillery
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AMMUNITION
FOR BREECH LOADING CANNON," and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for its object improvements in ammunition for breech loading
cannon. I arrange such ammunition to be ignited by electricity. For this purpose
any desirable number of electric matches or points to be rendered incandescent by
electricity, are arranged along the axis of the cartridge, so connected that they may
be fired, or rendered simultaneously incandescent by electricity transmitted through
an insulated wire passing through the base of the cartridge. The insulated wire
and the matches or points may be contained in a laterally perforated tube which
may be filled with fine quick burning powder, or if thought desirable the tube may
be dispensed with and the arrangement of the insulated electric points or matches
and the wire for firing or rendering incandescent be firmly arranged in any proper
manner along the axis of the cartridge.
Care must be observed that the conducting wire and the apparatus should be
properly and completely insulated and especially at the point of passing through
the base of the cartridge.
For the purpose of allowing sufficient space in the perforation of the base of the
cartridge for the conducting wires and ample insulating material, and at the same
time to prevent the escape of gas through it after the explosion of the powder, the
base of the cartridge when this method of ignition is used, should be made with a
conical hole of which the apex points towards the rear or base of the cartridge.
This conical orifice in the base is partially filled with a plug or wedge of copper
or some strong metal softer than that of which the base is made. The plug or
wedge may be in two or more pieces. This plug or wedge is perforated with a
cylindrical hole along its axis to allow space for the conducting wires and sufficient
insulating material. The purpose is that upon the explosion of the cartridge the
plug or wedge shall be driven home by the force of the explosion, and compress the
conducting wires and insulating material so as hermetically to close the orifice in
the base of the cartridge and prevent the escape of gas.
In order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the drawing hereunto annexed.
The drawing represents a longitudinal section of a portion of a cartridge. This
cartridge is prepared for firing by Electricity.
The insulated wire A passes through the orifice in the base of the cartridge and
through the plug or wedge. Its form is that of an inverted truncated cone, and it
is for stopping the escape of gas after the explosion of the charge of powder. The
wire A also passes along a tube B made of light material perforated with many
holes and which may be made so as to be burst throughout its length by the fine
grained powder which it encases. The wire A passes along the whole length of the
cartridge and is turned and divided at the end near the projectile and is brought
out through the holes in the truncated cone and the base of the cartridge at A¹.
The loop of insulated wire thus formed in the tube extending along the axis of the
cartridge is joined at many different points c c c c by fine platinium wire.
When it is wished to fire the cartridge a powerful current is sent along the
insulated wire A. The fine connecting platinium wires co co are rendered

page_text: immediately incandescent, and the tube along the axis of the cartridge being filled
with fine grained powder, this powder is instantaneously fired along its whole
length and communicates its ignition to the powder of the cartridge through
the perforations or by the rupture of the small tube along its axis.
In place of fine platinum wires, high tension electric matches may be placed at
different parts along the returning branch of the insulated loop, but the system of
ignition by rendering the fine platinum wires incandescent is believed to be the
most reliable.
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
First. My improved ammunition for breech loading cannon to be fired by
electricity substantially as described.
Second. Preventing the escape of gas through the ignition orifice by means of
the truncated cone substantially as described.
D
L
1004
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.