IM- PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FILLING CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING GUNS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Erskine, of Newton Stewart, in the County
of Wigton, North Britain, Gunmaker, for the Invention of " IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FILLING CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING
GUNS."
Sealed the 29th May 1866, and dated the 23rd March 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Erskine at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd
March 1866.
I, JAMES ERSKINE, of Newton Stewart, in the County of Wigton, North
Britain, Gunmaker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FILLING CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING
GUNS," to be as follows:-
My improvements in filling cartridges have for their object to effect the
operation quickly by filling a number of cases at the same time, which may be,
say, a hundred, more or less. By means of this apparatus the powder and also
the shot is thrown broadcast on a surface, and at same time 'filled into the
several measures, from which all superfluous powder or shot is removed simul-
taneously by a striker, and the exact amounts determined, which are all with

page_text: equal facility inserted in the cases.
For this purpose I construct a frame, or
it may be a block of wood; if the latter, it is made with, say, one hundred
through holes in it, each hole being adapted to receive a cartridge case, and
so that they are about flush top and bottom; if disposed in a frame I place a
hundred tubes to receive the cartridge cases in like manner. This frame or
block is made with a hinged or drawer bottom. In disposing the cases I
invert the block or frame, and enter them from the bottom, mouth down-
wards, the closed metal capped ends being now on the upper side, and fold
down or draw over and secure the bottom before mentioned, and then invert
the whole. The mouths of the several cartridges are now presented for filling.
This I effect as follows:-I superpose on the block or frame containing the
cartridge cases a board of hard wood or other suitable material having a
hundred through holes corresponding with the cartridge cases to be filled;
this board registers with the case block or frame bencatb, so that the holes
coincide with the bore of the cases; this board is fitted with a thin metal
sliding bottom and a tray ledge around three sides. Gunpowder is thrown
broadcast on this board surface, and rubbed over it till the holes are all full.
I then strike off the superfluous powder from the surface, which is received
in a tray disposed in front. This done the sliding bottom of the measuring
board is withdrawn, when the powder in the through measure holes at once
falls into the cases below in exact measured and regulated quantities. I now
dispose a similar board with holes, which I term the wad board; in the holes
of this board, which are exactly of the bore of the cases, the wads are severally
disposed, having been previously placed therein; this wad board registers with
the cartridge frame, and so that all the bores coincide. I now thrust the
several wads through the board, and down into the cases above the powder;
this may be done individually or several at a time by a plunger having one or
a number of legs or thrusting parts, which may be used in the hand or other-
wise. For convenience of inserting the wads quickly into the wad board I
make the holes slightly conical, the lower and smaller part of the bore
agreeing accurately with the bore of the cartridge case. I now remove the
wad board, and again apply the measure board for the shot (the same may
be used as for the powder); the shot is applied broadcast on the surface, and
filled in and struck off by a striker as before. The sliding bottom is now with-
drawn when the measured quantity of shot, immediately falls into each of
the cases, the wad board again applied, and the upper wads inserted as
before, when the filling is complete. In this manner a hundred or even five
hundred or more cartridges inay be filled with great facility and in a short
time.

page_text: Instead of the measure boards having sliding bottoms to close the several
measures of capacity in each they may have solid bottoms; the measure holes
may also be filled as before, but in transferring the powder, or it may be the
shot, from them into the cartridge cases I invert the block holding the cases
on to the measure board, with which it registers. I then re-invert the two
together, when the powder or shot (as the case may be) will fall into the
cartridges; the wads are then to be applied and inserted as before.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Erskine in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
September 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
ERSKINE, of Newton Stewart, in the County of Wigton, North Britain,
Gunmaker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
James Erskine, Her special licence that I, the said James Erskine, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Erskine, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR FILLING CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING GUNS,"
upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Erskine, 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 James Erskine, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the two Sheets of Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-

page_text: My improvements in filling cartridges have for their object to effect the
operation quickly by filling a number of cases at the same time, which may
be, say, a hundred, more or less. By means of this apparatus the powder and
also the shot is thrown broadcast on a surface, and at same time filled into
the several measures, from which all superfluous powder or shot is removed
simultaneously by a strike and the exact amount determined, which are all
with equal facility inserted in the cases. For this purpose I construct a frame,.
or it may be a block of wood; if the latter, it is made with, say, one hundred
through holes in it, each hole being adapted to receive a cartridge case, so
that they are about flush top and bottom. If disposed in a frame I place a
hundred tubes to receive the cartridge cases in like manner. This frame or
block is made with a hinged or drawer bottom. In disposing the cases I
invert the block or frame, and enter them from the bottom mouth downwards,
the closed metal capped ends being now on the upper side I fold down or
draw over and secure the bottom before mentioned, and then invert the whole.
The mouths of the several cartridges when so inverted are presented for filling.
This I effect as follows:-I superpose on the block or frame containing the
cartridge cases a board of hard wood or other suitable material, having a
hundred through holes corresponding with the cartridge cases to be filled.
This board registers with the case block or frame beneath, so that the holes
coincide with the bore of the cases; this board is fitted with a thin metal
sliding bottom and a tray ledge around three sides. Gunpowder is thrown
broadcast on this board surface and rubbed over it till the holes are all full. I
then strike off the superfluous powder from the surface, which is received in a
small tray disposed in front. This done the sliding bottom of the measuring
board is withdrawn, when the powder in the through measure holes at once falls
into the cases below in exact measured and regulated quantities. Instead of
the thin sliding bottom applied to and withdrawing from under the measuring
board I may hinge it to the block holding the cartridge case, and fit the
measuring board to slide thereon in such manner that the measure holes
may be disposed above the solid part of said cartridge block and hinged
bottom, which will close the lower ends of the measure holes. When the
powder has been so introduced in the cartridges I remove the measure board
and dispose a similar board with holes, which I term the wad board; in the
holes of this board, which are exactly of the bore of the cases, the wads are
severally disposed, baving been previously placed therein; this wad board
registers with the cartridge frame, and so that all the bores coincide. I now
thrust the several wads through the board and down into the cases above the
powder; this may be done individually or several at a time by a plunger

page_text: having one or a number of legs or thrusting parts, which may be used in the
hand or otherwise. For convenience of inserting the wads quickly into the
wad board I make the holes slightly concave, the lower and smaller part of
the bore agreeing accurately with the bore of the cartridge case.
remove the wad board and again apply the measure board for the shot (the
same may be used as for the powder); the shot is applied broadcast on the
surface and filled in and struck off by a striker as before. The sliding bottom
is now withdrawn, when the measured quantity of shot immediately falls into
each of the cases, the wad board is again applied, and the upper wads inserted
as before, when the filling is complete. In this manner a hundred or even five
hundred or more cartridges may be filled with great facility and in a short
space of time. Instead of the measure boards having sliding bottoms to close
the several measures of capacity in each they may have solid bottoms, the
measure holes may be filled as before, but in transferring the powder, or it
may be the shot from them into the cartridge cases, I invert the block holding
the cases on to the measure board, with which it registers. I then re-invert the
two together, when the powder or shot (as the case may be) will fall into.
the cartridges; the wads are then to be applied and inserted as before

page_text: of cartridges, but is fitted to plate D, so that it may be slid a certain distance,"
and whereby the through holes or measures may be disposed, either to
coincide with the holes in the dividing plate D or be brought opposite to the
solid part of that plate, as seen in the section, Figuro 2, which when required
forms bottoms to the measure cavities f of the powder. In Figure 4 the
dividing plate and measure block is represented as removed and opened out
upon the hinges d, d, showing in plan the top ends of the cases b, b. The
measure block E is connected to plate D by slots and pins 9, 9, and by brass
slides h, h, fixed on E and passing and returning under plate D, whereby it is
guided and beld, the extent of motion being limited by the pins 9, 9. A
catch i, taking into a slotted plate k, holds the parts E and A together, when
E is slid to the forward position. The part E is surrounded with a ledge
F around three sides, as seen in Figures 1 and 2. The cartridges having
been introduced from the bottom, and the whole block A filled, and the slide
B closed, the filler is inverted and disposed in the position seen in Figure 2.
Gunpowder is now thrown broadcast on the surface of E, and spread over so
as to fill the measure holes in E, which are thus quickly and readily filled.
Any superfluous powder I strike off by a striker (seen separately in Figure 5)
into a small tray or box G with a hinge lid, shown in plan and end view at
Figure 6, and dotted in position at Figures 1 and 2, from which tray it may
be readily returned to the bulk of supply by the spout m. The hundred
measure holes having been thus filled with powder, I now remove box G
and slide part E forward so that the measure holes therein coincide with
the through holes in the dividing plate D, when the whole of the powder
(a hundred measured quantities) immediately drops into the cartridge cases
below. I next proceed to introduce the wads into the cartridges to retain the
powder. To do this I move back the plate E, and throw it up from the block A,
as seen at Figure 4. I then apply a plate L, seen separately in vertical
section at Figure 7, and in position and section at Figure 8; this plate has a
hundred through holes in it, into which I have previously inserted the hundred
wads L'. When so arranged and disposed (the holes be it observed coinciding
with the cartridges in A) it is simply necessary to force them down into the
cartridge cases above tho powder, which I do by means of a four-pronged
(or it may be other number of prongs) instrument, shown at Figure 9 in sido
view, and at Figure 10 in plan, thrusting four wads at a time and by hand,
down, upon, and enclosing the powder in the cartridge cases. I now insert
the charge of shot in the same manner as was adopted for the introduction of
the powder. In most cases the same measure board will answer the purpose,
the cubical contents of the powder and of the shot in cartridges being usually

page_text: the same;
therefore it is simply necessary to return the measure board or
block E and dividing plate D to position, as at Figures 1 and 2, throw the
shot broadcast on the surface so as to fill all the measure holes and strike off
the superfluous shot from the surface, as before described with regard to tho
powder. The shot having been so measured I now slide the block E forward'
on the dividing plate D, as before, when the shot drops into the cartridge
cases. The filler is again opened out, as at Figures 4 and 8, and a wad plate L
(it may be the same, but I prefer a second one, in the holes of which L
previously insert the wads) applied, as seen in Figure 8, the wads being thrust
down into the cases as before described. The cartridgo cases being now filled
it is simply necessary to turn the ends down to keep the waps in position.
This I do by an instrument somewhat in the usual manner.
Figure 11 represents a section of the filler, the same as at Figure 8, with
the turning down instrument M applied; it is seen separately in plan at
Figure 12; this instrument operates in the same manner as ordinary turning.
down instruments, that is to say, a piece of metal m having an annular recess
in it, which receives the end of the cartridge, as seen in Figure 11, is
furnished with a steel tooth or projection in the bottom of said annular recess
at one point of its circumference, which steel tooth bears on the edge of the
cartridge case, and as the part m is rotated the said tooth rubs down and
turns in the cartridge caso on the wad, and so securely closes the cartridge.
I have represented two parts m geared together, so as to operate on two at a
time, but three or more may be similarly actuated and applied. The
parts m, m, are driven by the handle p fixed on the axis rotating in bearings
in an arm 9, 9, which is placed and slides with a tongue and groove in a cross
bar r, r, which I apply in position shown in Figure 11 for that purpose; this
instrument is manoeuvred by hand, and may be readily applied to all the
cartridges in succession. To operate quickly there might be a hundred such
turning down instruments combined to operate on the whole hundred
cartridges at once, but which would require to be actuated by power, and
would make the machine somewhat complex. In like manner the whole
hundred wads might be thrust down into the cases at once by means of a
press having a hundred prongs coinciding with the position of the cases, the
filler being put under a press for that purpose.
When the charge of powder or shot is to be varied I apply a thin plate or
board E, seen separately at Figure 13, which I slide in grooves 3, 3, above
the measure block E; this plate has through holes coinciding with the holes
in E, and is used as simply adding to the thickness of E, and consequently to
the capacity of the measure holes. Several similar additional boards may be

page_text: fitted to the same measure block E for varying the charges of powder and-
shot as may be required. Instead of the part Ebeing made to slide on the
dividing plate D, as described, that bottom plate may be fitted in the manner
of a drawer, and by so moving furnish or remove the bottoms of the measure
holes in E; in this case the part E would be hinged to A, and the measure
holes coincide in position with the cartridge cases, or instead of being, hinged
the measure block E may fit and register with pins or otherwise on block A,
and be simply lifted on and off. If it is desired to fill a lesser number of
cartridges than the hundred in the filler the number may be readily curtailed
by introducing a false ledge X, seen dotted in Figure 2, at any point to cut
off the requisite number of holes in the measure block E.
Figures 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 represent a somewhat simpler arrange-
ment of the cartridge filler than the foregoing; it is composed of three parts
A, E, and P. A is the cartridge block or holder (shown in plan in Figure 14,
and vertical section in Figuro 15), furnished with a sliding tray bottom, as
before, where the cases 6 are inserted in the several cavities ready for
charging. The measure block E (seen in under side plan at Figure 16, and
vertical section at Figure 17) has a number of cavities t, t, instead of through
holes, as before; it fits on and registers with the cartridge block A, the
cavities t, t, coinciding with the cases b, b, as before mentioned, and are filled
with gunpowder first while in position, as at Figure 17, the superfluous
powder being struck off, and through a passage v, opened by withdrawing a
slide w; when charged the block A is inverted on the block E, that is to say,
with the mouths of the cartridge cases downwards, and when so applied both
parts are inverted together, and as seen in the section, Figure 18, the powder
then immediately falls from the cavities t, t, in measured quantities into the
cases b, b; the wads are then introduced by means of a wad plate P,
represented in section at Figure 19, and as before described with reference
to the other cartridge filler. The shot is to be introduced in the same manner
by the use of the measuring block E, and as described with reference to the
powder;
the additional wads and turning down the ends of the cartridges
being all accomplished as before described need not be repeated. This filler
is shown for twenty cartridges only, but the number may of course be
varied. One cartridge case only is represented as introduced in Figures 14
and 15.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claim as tho Invention to be
protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, tho
combination and arrangement of parts constituting apparatus for filling

page_text: cartridge cases in which the powder and shot are thrown broadcast in bulk
on a board or part having a number of measuring capacities, all as herein.
before described with reference to the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Erskine, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
JAMES ERSKINE. (L.S.)