Minimizing Friction and Neutralizing Effects of Acids in Small Arms and Ordnance.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 20th Mar., 1895-Accepted. 20th Apr., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Minimizing Friction and Neutralizing Effects of Acids in
Small Arms and Ordnance.
DANIEL HICKIE of 66 Basinghall Street City of London Mining and
Machinery Expert and GEORGE FREDERICK BENTNER of same address
Merchant do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
—
The disadvantages arising from friction and the action of acids especially with
"smokeless powders" both as regards small arms and ordnance are recognized
as being serious in their effect interfering with the efficiency of the weapon and
increasing risks.
Now this invention is intended to counteract these disadvantages, and consists
in the application of a lubricant, such as plumbago, steatite or other substance
analogous thereto or admixtures of any or either of such substances with other
suitable substances or with each other. Such lubricant to be placed in a groove
or grooves in the bullet or projectile in such a manner that in passing through
the barrel the latter shall be smoothed for each projectile or charge the lubricant
neutralizing by the conting thus left the effects of the friction of the projectiles
and the acids which in some degree are common to all explosives especially nitro-
compounds. The lubricant or lubricants referred to may also be used in the form
of a wad or with a wad at the base of the bullet or projectile for the same purpose
or in addition to the foregoing process.
Dated this 19th day of June 1894.
Minimizing Friction and Neutralizing Effects of Acids in
Small Arms and Ordnance.
DANIEL HICKIE of 66 Basinghall Street London E.C. Mining and Machinery
Expert and GEORGE FREDERICK BENTNER of same address, Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
For the carrying out of this invention we make a lubricant entirely free from
grease oil or any fatty or oleagenous substance whatever. This lubricant we
make in the form of a paste and for this we use as a base plumbago in a powdered
form, steatite, fine asbestos powder or other analogous substance for resisting the
action of acids, and for obtaining adhesive properties we use dissolved gum or
other suitable substance. With the latter we mix, of the substances first named,
by preference powdered plumbago in sufficient quantity to form the paste to the
required consistency. The lubricant is then ready for application and may be
applied with a brush to the surface of the bullet or projectile before the latter
[Price 8d.1

page_text: is placed in the cartridge case but preferably after the bullet is so placed when
the exposed part of the projectile receives the adhesive lubricant readily and
conveniently. The lubricant may also be applied through a revolving disc in
which a pad saturated with the lubricant is fixed and the bullets in their cases
are thus rapidly treated and coated as required. This lubricant dries quickly
and adheres to the projectile until the latter passes through the rifle grooves as
it is not easily removed by handling packing or transit." Thus ench bullet or
projectile carries with it its own means of lubrication and in its passage through
the rifling or grooves a thin conting of the lubricant is deposited, formed by the
plumbago which is fixed on the part of the bullet which takes the grooves and
smooths the passage of the projectile lessening friction and the tendency to
erosion noticeable with nitro compounds or smokeless powders. The plumbago
possessing also the advantage of being an inorganic substance not acted upon
by the acids evolved from such powders and being a gond non-comluctor tends
also to lessen the heat given out by such powders nul by friction caused or set
up in quick firing arms and modern explosives. This coating of plumbago does
not increase in the barrel by subsequent shots.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
The application of no adhesive non-greasy lubricant to bullets or projectiles for
counteracting the effects of acids and friction of modern nitro powders and
compounds in small arms and ordnance.
London 20th March 1895
D. HICKIE.
G. F. BENTNER.