IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTOUCHE CASES, BOXES, OR CARTRIDGE HOLDERS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Griffith Brewer, of Chancery Lane, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTOUCHE CASES, BOXES, OR CARTRIDGE
HOLDERS." A communication from abroad by Valentin Sauerbrey, of Basle,
Switzerland.
Sealed the 7th June 1878, and dated the 7th December 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Griffith Brewer at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th December 1877.
IMPROVEMENTS IN
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of Chancery Lane, London.
CARTOUCHE CASES, BOXES, OR CARTRIDGE HOLDERS." (A communication from
abroad by Valentin Sauerbrey, of Basle, Switzerland.)
Most of the cartridge cases or boxes now used in armies have the inconvenience
of the cartridges not being placed within reach of the hand, so as to admit of their
being taken hold of with facility without being obliged to look for them amongst
other articles, and to place them in the necessary position for their introduction
into the fire-arm.
Cartridge boxes made according to this Invention do away with this inconvenience;
besides they may be made so as to contain almost an unlimited number of cartridges,
which are successively and automatically brought one after the other into a con-
venient position, that is to say, to the hand of the shooter, who can take them
without being obliged to search for them, which is a very great advantage, seeing
that it facilitates the loading and the rapidity of firing. This cartridge box may
be made of soft leather; it has two compartments, one above the other, the upper
one forms a receptacle with cover in which are placed the necessary articles for use
with the fire-arm, and for cleaning the same, as well as the packets of reserve
cartridges. The lower compartment forms a coffer containing two apparatus or
reservoirs, one above the other; the said coffer is closed on one side (say the right
side) by means of a strong leather flap provided with a loop in communication with
a metal button.

page_text: The cartridge box may be arranged to carry fifteen cartridges, but it must be
understood that this number is not absolute.
The right-hand side of the cartridge case is provided with
flap for the coffer,
the two reservoirs, one above the other, one of which draws the coffer. A cartridge
is then pushed forward ready to be taken.
One of the reservoirs may be made of tin, zinc, or other metal coated or not
with preservative material to prevent oxydation; it forms the arc of a circle relative
to the size and to the number of cartridges. The bottom of the said reservoir is
provided with two rails or toothed racks, which may be made of any suitable
metal or material, and on which the toothed wheels of a pushing carriago operato
moved by a spring which may be helical or spiral. The cartridges are introduced
and withdrawn from the reservoir by an aperture formed in, say, the right side.
Each cartridge introduced causes the pushing carriage to go back, the spring of
which stretches, causing an axis fixed to gearing wheels to revolve The spring
has its greatest tension when it arrives at the opening on the left side of the
reservoir.
Supposing a reservoir containing nine cartridges, and arranged so as to carry
fifteen if necessary, as each cartridge is withdrawn at the right-hand side the spring
in descending advances the carriage, which pushes the other cartridges forward in
such manner that so long as there are cartridges in the reservoir the cartridge
withdrawn by the aperture is immediately replaced by another. A groove formed
in the bottom allows the spring to operate.
When the reservoir has a single cartridge at the entrance the edges of the sides
are folded back to cover the carriage, and to keep it on the rails.
The entrance of the box has a cut formed in the bottom to allow the fingers to
take hold of the cartridge, and withdraw it. The reservoir and carriage pusher are
composed of a coffer, which may be made of copper or other metal on three of its
sides. The lateral sides are arched, so as to diminish friction on the sides of
the box, and to allow play for the bearings of the axes placed in the sides; it carries
besides an axis fixed to the gearing wheels, and to the runner which turns with it
two toothed wheels of different sizes corresponding to the curve of the rails; then
there is a clock spring coiled round the axis to which one of the ends of the spring
is fixed, while the other end is secured to the coffer and the runner, the edges of
which keep the spring in its normal position.
This apparatus enables a soldier to have his cartouche box always closed during
a battle or drill, which avoids the loss of munitions or accessories; he can leave open
the reserve flap without risk of losing the cartridges, which cannot go out spon-
taneously from the apparatus, and in all its positions the cartridges are always
at hand.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Griffith Brewer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th June 1878.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of Chancery Lane, London.
CARTOUCHE CASES, BOXES, OR CARTRIDGE HOLDERS." (A communication from abroad
by Valentin Sauerbrey, of Basle, Switzerland.)
Most of the cartridge cases or boxes now used in armies have the inconvenience
of the cartridges not being placed within reach of the hand, so as to admit of their
being taken hold of with facility without being obliged to look for them amongst
other articles, and to place them in the necessary position for their introduction into
the fire-arm.
Cartridge boxes made according to this Invention, and of which the annexed
Drawing gives an illustration, do away with this inconvenience; besides, they may
be made so as to contain almost an unlimited number of cartridges, which are
successively and automatically brought one after the other into a convenient
position, that is to say, to the hand of the shooter, who can take them without
being obliged to search for them, which is a very great advantage, seeing that it
facilitates the loading and the rapidity of firing. This cartridge box may be made
of soft leather; it has two compartments, one over the other; the upper one
forms a receptacle with cover, in which are placed the necessary articles for use
with the fire-arm, and for cleaning the same, as well as the packets of reserve
cartridges. The lower compartment forms a coffer containing two apparatus or
reservoirs, one above the other The said coffer is closed on one side, (say the right
side,) by means of a strong leather flap provided with a loop in communication with
a metal button.
The accompanying Drawings illustrate the manner in which the Invention is
carried into effect.
Figure 1 is a front view of the cartridge box, and it is supposed to be arranged
to carry fifteen cartridges, but it must be understood that this number is not
absolute.
Figure 2 shows the right-hand side of the cartridge case, the flap of the coffer
being open, and showing the two reservoirs one above the other.
Figure 3 is a back view of the cartridge case.
Figure 4 is an inside view of one reservoir, which may be made of tin, zinc, or
other metal coated or not with preservative material to prevent oxydation; it
forms the arc of a circle relative to the size and to the number of cartridges. The
bottom of the said reservoir is provided with two rails or toothed racks, which
may be made of any suitable metal or material, and on which the toothed wheels
of a pushing carriage operate moved by a spring, which latter may be helical or
spiral. The cartridges are introduced and withdrawn from the reservoir by an
aperture formed in, say, the right side, and shewn at Figure 5b. Each cartridge
introduced causes the pushing carriage to go back, the spring of which expands,
causing an axis fixed to gearing wheels to revolve. The spring has its greatest
tension when it arrives at the opening on the left side of the reservoir.
Figure 4 shows a reservoir containing nine cartridges, and arranged so as to
carry fifteen if necessary. As each cartridge is withdrawn at the right-hand side
the spring in descending advances the carriage, which pushes the other cartridges
forward in such manner that so long as there are cartridges in the reservoir the
cartridge withdrawn by the aperture is immediately replaced by another. A groove
formed in the bottom allows the spring to operate.

page_text: Figure 5 shews in plan a reservoir with a single cartridge at the entrance.
The edges of the sides are folded back to cover the carriage, and to keep it on the
rails.
Figure 5b shews the entrance of the box with a groove formed in the bottom to
allow the fingers to take hold of the cartridge, and withdraw it.
Figure 5 shews a vertical and transverse section the reservoir and carriage pusher.
The said carriage is composed of a coffer, which may be made of copper or other
metal on threo of its sides. The lateral sides are arched so as to diminish friction
on the sides of the box, and to allow play for the bearings of the axis placed in the
sides, it is also provided with an axis fixed to the gearing wheels, and to the
runner, which turns with it. Two toothed wheels d¹ and d" of different sizes
corresponding to the curve of the rails; thon a clock spring coiled round the axis
to which one of the ends of the spring is fixed, while the other end is secured to
the coffer and the runner f, the edges of which keep the spring in its normal
position.
This apparatus enables a soldier to have his cartouche box always closed during
a battle or drill, which avoids the loss of munitions or accessories; he can leave
open the reserve flap without risk of losing tho cartridges, which cannot go out
spontaneously from the apparatus, and in all its positions the cartridges are always
ready at hand.
The dimensions of the cases may be varied, and the arrangements to some extent
modified without departing from the Invention; and, as before stated, the dimensions
of the cartridge cases may be varied according to the number of cartridges to be
carried by or introduced into the reservoirs, whether it be twenty or more or less,
the others being placed in the reserve store
The cases, as above described, may be made of leather or metal, or a combination
of same, or of any suitable material, as experience may dictate, or as the regulations
of the service may demand.
Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10 are modifications of the arrangements before described,
showing a more simple arrangement, and the cost of manufacture is is not so great
as the arrangements before described. The carriage pusher does not travel on
rails, but is put in motion simply by a helical spring.
Figure 7 shows in plan a reservoir containing four cartridges. The position and
the form of the pusher and its spring are shown by the dotted lines.
Figure 8 shows the external part (the entry) of the reservoir with the semi-
circular groove, whereby the cartridges can be taken hold of, and the folded edges
of the box.
Figure 9 is a view in elevation of the back part; this part may be removed to
introduce or take out the pusher and its spring
Figure 10 shows the pusher, which is composed of a simple band of sheet metal,
say of folded tin plate. The height and the width of the pusher corresponds to the
size of the box of the reservoir. Some openings formed in the internal side of the
pusher, as well as in the side of the bottom of the box, afford passage to the folded
edges of the box.
The reservoir may contain ten cartridges (more or less); two reservoirs are in
the lower receiver of the cartridge holders, as in the arrangements before described.
If it is wished to load the arm with reserve cartridges, it is only necessary to
bring out the lower part from the latter to be easily able to take the cartridges
brought by the pusher to the entry of the box.
The cartridge holders may be made of a height as Figure 11 instead of making
them flat, as in the preceding examples; it is always the same principle, only the
cartridges are placed vertically instead of horizontally.
A spring R, as shown at Figure 7, may also be employed, which preserves the
cartridge holder, and prevents it from falling.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim, the improvements in cartridge

page_text: cases, box, or cartridge holders, all substantially as herein-before described, and illus-
trated in the accompanying Drawings, together with any mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Griffith Brewer, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
TH
Dont D