Improvements in Cartridge Carriers or Chargers for Repeating Small-arms.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 10th Jan., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cartridge Carriers or Chargers for Repeating
Small-arms.
I, LOUIS MARIE RENÉ DAUDETEAU of Vannes, Morbihan in the Republic of France
Gentleman 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 :-
This invention relates to cartridge carriers or chargers forming a charging apparatus
for filling the cartridge magazines of repeating rifles or small arms constructed with
the magazine underneath the breech.
By means of this apparatus which may be conveniently supplied to the marksmen
made up into packets of two filled with cartridges these magazines are enabled to be
charged with great ease and precision. For this purpose the apparatus is simply
placed over the opening or gap in the breech box or case of the breech action which
forms the entrance to the magazine and by simply pressing the thumb on the top
cartridge the entire series contained in the charger is caused to drop at once into the
magazine.
The arrangement of the charger is such that the marksman is not required to take
any special precautions in adjusting the apparatus on his rifle or in pushing down the
cartridges or in throwing off the empty carrier or charger.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures on the annexed sheet of drawing the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents the form of the sheet iron, tin
or other metal plate employed to form the case or frame of the charger before being
bent into the required shape.
Figure 2 illustrates the charger or cartridge holder in side and end elevation and in
horizontal section as it appears when completed and filled with cartridges.
Figure 3 represents in vertical section two cartridge carriers packed together side
by side.
Figure 4 represents the carrier or charger placed upon the breech action in
position for filling the magazine and
Figure 5 illustrates the action of the bolt in ejecting the empty carrier auto-
matically.
Figures 6 and 7 'illustrate modifications in the shape of the carrier as hereinafter
explained.
The cartridges are contained in a holder or carrier composed of a piece of thin
sheet metal cut out to the shape represented in Figure 1 and then bent so as to form
an end plate A and a guide plate B (Figures 1 and 2) connected by a side plate C.
An opening is formed in the end plate A (end elevation Figure 2) in order to render
the apparatus as light as possible.
The holder is open at the top and bottom but the upper part is provided with
springs a a projecting inwards.
The end plate A is connected to a flange or vertical side plate b (Figure 1 and
horizontal section Figure 2) formed by an extension of the side plate C and the latter
is extended towards the front in a pointed shape D with inclines d and a bearing
surface or shoulder d².
This pointed plate is connected to the upper part of the guide by a curved plate d²
and a bend b¹.
The end plate A and the guide plate B are provided with blade springs c c¹ whose

page_text: lower extremities are slightly curved inwards. These springs are placed parallel to
two other springs or plates e e¹ the lower extremities of which are curved slightly
outwards.
By slightly hending outwards the springs c¹ the cartridges are introduced into
the carrier or charger thus constituted.
The first cartridge is retained by the spring projections a a¹ on the end plate and
by the bend 6 of the guide plate.
The succeeding cartridges are piled one upon the other until the charger is full.
The bases of the cartridges bear against the end plate and the thick parts of the
cases are retained by the guide plate so as to secure the cartridges firmly in position.
The last cartridge is retained by the bent extremities of the springs c c¹.
It is evident that any convenient number of cartridges may be introduced the
number being limited solely by the height of the end and guide plates.
The springs c c prevent the cartridges from dropping out of the charger which is
enabled to stand in a vertical position on the feet formed by the parts e e¹.
Two chargers filled with cartridges can be conveniently placed together as repre-
sented in Figure 3 so as to form a packet of cartridges, such packets are not
materially heavier than the cartridges by themselves especially when due care is
exercised in using extremely thin sheets of metal in their construction.
The charger filled with cartridges is placed on the case of the breech action as
represented in Figure 4 the bolt V being drawn back and care being taken to adjust
the end plate A between the projections at the rear end of the gap or opening M in
the case which forms the entrance to the magazine. The foot of the guide rests in a
recess in the side of the opening M and the shoulder d' on the pointed end plate D
bears upon the breech chamber.
By these means the charger is firmly supported and rendered perfectly capable of
resisting the strain resulting from the pressure which is applied to the top cartridge
in order to cause the cartridges to pass into the magazine.
This pressure causes the pile of cartridges to disappear into the magazine whilst the
charger or carrier remains outside. Then in closing the breech the bolt or moveable
cylinder V Figure 5 pushes before it the empty charger which is raised by the incline d
sliding over the rear of the breech chamber and thrown upwards and out of the
opening. In case the charger is not to be thrown away it may be removed by hand
before closing the breech.
The typical arrangement of the charger hereinbefore described may be modified as
next hereinafter described for example.
Figure 6 illustrates an arrangement in which the end D is dispensed with
altogether the guide plate B being provided with the bent plate e' forming a foot as in
Figure 2.
According to the arrangement illustrated in Figure 7 the curved feet or extremities
at the front end of the charger are dispensed with the plate el connected to the guide
plate B being absent and the end 1) and shoulder or support d' are of a different shape
as represented in the drawing.
It is evident that other modifications in detail may be introduced as required
and the charger may be of different forms and dimensions and adapted to carry
any désiréd number of 'cartridges and be composed of any suitable materials.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in. what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A charger for repeating small arms having the cartridge magazine under the
breech action formed by bending a piece of thin sheet metal cut out as herein-
before explained and presenting an end plate A and a guide plate B for supporting
the cartridges the said end plate and guide plate being connected by a side plate C
having a front extension D forming a support bearing on the breech chamber of the
gun all in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein before described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.

page_text: . In a charger such as that herein before described and claimed the following com-
ations namely.
(a) The combination of the end plate A and the guide B whereby the cartridges
are supported at two points and are enabled to be readily pushed out by the
thumb without risk of their jamming in the charger.
(b) The peculiar arrangement or combination of the end plate A. and the guide B
provided with feet ee¹ for the purpose of imparting stability to the charger
when placed upon the breech case and enabling it to be readily adjusted in the
proper position
(c) In combination with the end plate and the guide the peculiar arrangement of
the support D formed with an incline d and shoulder so as to enable the
charger to be ejected automatically when the bolt is pushed towards
the breech.
3. An improved cartridge carrier or charger for repeating small arms having the
tridge magazine situated underneath the breech action, constructed and arranged
stantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying
wings.
Dated this 5th dox of Decembar 1800
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.