AN IMPROVED MODE OF PREVENTING OXIDATION OF LEAD BALLS IN FIXED AMMUNITION
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MODE OF PREVENTING OXIDATION OF LEAD
BALLS IN FIXED AMMUNITION."-A communication from abroad by Barton
Howard Jenks, of Bridesburgh, in the State of Pennsylvania, United
States of America.
Sealed the 24th October 1866, and dated the 28th August 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th August 1866.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED MODE OF PREVENTING OXIDATION
OF LEAD BALLS IN FIXED AMMUNITION," to be as follows:→
Leaden balls which are exposed to the action of powder in cartridges will
in the course of time, if moisture be present, oxidize and become useless, and
when the balls are separated from the cartridge shells a white substance
resen bling carbonate of lead will be found on those ends of the balls which
were exposed to contact with the powder. When much moisture is present
the butt ends of the lead balls which enter the shells are found to be com-

page_text: pletely softened, so that by ordinary handling the outer portions of the balls
may be broken off leaving the oxidized ends in the shells.
The object of the present Invention is to obviate this destruction of
cartridges by applying a a coating or covering to the leaden balls which will
not leave the lead exposed to the chemical action of the powder in the
cartridge shells.
Before applying the leaden balls to their cartridge shells they are coated
with any solution which will form a film, which will be a non-conductor of
electricity; silicate of soda will answer the purpose, as it will harden quickly
and form a waterproof separation between the ball and the powder, and
will prevent any chemical action of the powder upon the balls. When copper
shells are employed the siliceous covering upon the balls will form a non-
conductor of electricity should there arise any galvanic action between the two
different metals.
Instead of silica the lead balls may be covered or coated with a less
brittle substance, as, for instance, a solution of shellac, sandarac, and mastic
or other resinous or gummy substances; this will not only be waterproof, but
will also serve as a non-conductor of electricity.
The lead balls may be coated with copper or other metal by the well-known
process of galvanizing or depositing metals; this will also prevent the chemical
action of the powder upon the lead. Various other substances may be
employed for covering the lead balls, and thus prevent the contact of the
powder and ball in fixed ammunition and the chemical change or oxidation of
the lead.
Where there is no liability of the lead being oxidized by galvanic action
then the coating or covering of the balls need not be a non-conductor of
electricity for insulating the ball, but it should be impervious to moisture and
the chemical action of the powder.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on 30
the 25th February 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 35
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Edward Newton, Her special licence that I, the said William Edward
Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"AN IMPROVED MODE OF PREVENTING OXIDATION OF LEAD BALLS IN FIXED
AMMUNITION," being a communication from abroad, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, 'and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say) :-
Leaden balls which are exposed to the action of powder in cartridges will in
the course of time (if moisture be present) oxidize and become useless, and
when the balls are separated from the cartridge shells a white substance
resembling carbonate of lead will be found on those ends of the balls which
were exposed to contact with the powder.
!
When much moisture is present the ends of the lead balls which enter the
shells are found to be completely softened, so that by ordinary handling the
outer portions of the balls may be broken off, leaving the oxidized ends in
the shells.
The object of the present Invention is to obviate this destruction of car-
tridges by applying a coating or covering to the leaden balls which will not
leave the lead exposed to the chemical action of the powder in the cartridge
shells.
Before applying the leaden balls to their cartridge shells they are to be
coated with a solution which will form a film, which will be a non-conductor
of electricity; silicate of soda will answer the purpose, as it will harden quickly
and form a waterproof separation between the ball and the powder, and will

page_text: prevent any chemical action of the powder upon the balls. When copper
shells are employed the siliceous covering upon the balls will form a non-
conductor of electricity should' there, arise any galvanic action between the two
different metals employed in the construction of the cartridges and the acids
contained in the composition of the powder.
Instead of employing silica the lead balls may be covered or coated with a
less brittle substance, as, for instance, a solution of shellac, gum sandaric, and
mastic, or other resinous or gummy substances. This will not only be water-
proof, but will also serve as a non-conductor of electricity, and will prevent the
oxidation of the lead.
The lead balls may be coated with copper or other metal by the well-known
process of galvanizing or depositing metals in a bath by a galvanic battery;
this will also prevent the chemical action of the powder upon the lead.
I do not intend to confine myself to the substances herein specified for
coating lead balls, as a variety of substances may be employed for this purpose,
and thus prevent the contact of the powder with the ball and the consequent
chemical change or oxidation of the lead.
Where there is no liability of the lead being oxidized by galvanic action
then the coating or covering of the balls need not be a non-conductor of
electricity for insulating the ball, but the coating should be impervious to
moisture and the chemical action of the powder.
Having now described the improved mode of preventing the oxidation of
lead balls in fixed ammunition, and having explained the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent
as aforesaid coating lead balls for fixed ammunition or cartridges with a
substance which will prevent the chemical action of the powder upon the lead,
as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Fourteenth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)