IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL FIRE ARMS AND ORDNANCE, AND IN CARTRIDGES THEREFOR "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edgar Abraham Monfort, of the City of New York, in
the County and State of New York, one of the United States of America,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL FIRE ARMS AND
ORDNANCE, AND IN CARTRIDGES THEREFOR
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edgar Abraham Monfort
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th January 1883.
EDGAR ABRAHAM MONFORT.; of the City of New York, in the County and
State of New York, one of the United States of America, "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ELECTRICAL FIRE ARMS AND ORDNANCE AND IN CARTRIDGES THEREFOR,"
The invention is applicable more especially to Breech loading Fire arms, Muskets,
Fowling pieces and Pistols, as well as to all sizes and kinds of Cannon, Howitzers,
Mitrailleurs, etc :-
I provide a galvanic battery, or preferably a well charged storage battery (or a
suitable dynamo machine or other source of electricity may be used) and connect
the conducting wires of the same to contact points or contact surfaces which are
exposed in the cartridge chamber of the arm. In one of said conducting wires I
make a break and provide a button or other means analagous to a trigger for
closing the circuit at that point when desired by an easy movement of the finger.
I provide also another means of opening and closing the circuit to be set with the
circuit open under ordinary circumstances as a safeguard against accidental
discharge.
The cartridge is provided with two conducting wires which lead from the exterior
into the powder charge where they are connected with each other by means of a
very fine wire of platinum or other suitable material or metal having considerable
resistance so as to become heated by an electric current.
The contact surfaces in which the conducting wires from the battery terminate
are so arranged that as soon as the proper manipulation is effected, an electric.
contact is established with certainty through the conducting wires of the
cartridge.

page_text: The electric circuit may be closed by pressing a button or other device analogous
to a trigger, the electric current traversing the platinum wire in the charge of the
cartridge heats said wire to a high degree and thus ignites the charge instantly.
In the accompanying drawing I have shewn the invention as applied to a
musket, I have also represented several cartridges embodying in various forms
those features of my invention which relate to the ammunition. Figure 1 is a
section of a part of a musket; Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line S S
Figure 1; Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are longitudinal sections and end views of two
forms of cartridges. Figure 7 shews a cartridge and a piece serving to make
contact with the conducting wires of the same, these parts being intended more
particularly for fire arms which contain the general mechanism of what are known
as "needle guns."
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, A is the butt of an arm hollowed out to receive a
storage or other battery, generator or source of electric energy B. One pole of said
battery is connected to a conductor C, carrying a spring cl which when the parts
are adjusted for use form electrical contact with another conductor C' which latter
terminates in a central contact surface c, set in the breech of the piece in line with
the axis of the barrel and exposed in the cartridge chamber. This conductor C,
and surface c, are insulated from all the other metallic parts of the piece by a
sufficient thickness of hard rubber or other good non-conducting material.
! The other pole of the battery B is connected by means of a wire d, to a contact
plate D. A contact spring E is provided with a push button W, or other suitable
device by means of which it may be pressed in contact with the plate D. A wire e
leads from this spring E to a metallic part of the gun, for instance to the bolt F
which unites the breech G to the butt A. A contact piece g, of annular form is 1
set in the breech G, in metallic contact with the latter and concentric with the
surface c.
The contact between c¹ and C¹, is controlled by a knob M protruding a little
through a short slot in the butt as shewn, and fixed on the spring c¹ mounted
within. The stem of this knob has two notches m¹ and m². It is pressed by the
force of the spring against the edge of a plate so that one notch or the other is
certain to be engaged therewith and to hold the knob pressed in that position
until it is intentionally changed to the other notch.. In the innermost position of
the knob, the circuit is positively broken so that the piece cannot be discharged
however the button M inay be operated. But when the piece is about to be fired:
the operator first draws out the knob M. and causes it to engage by its other
notch m². This closes the contact between c¹ and C. Then so soon
button W, is operated the circuit is completed, and the cartridge is fired.
as the
H is the cartridge having its rear bottom h of wood or other non-conducting
material. Through the centre of the bottom h, extends a conductor i', and a
similar conductor j extends through the bottom h, near its periphery. Each of
these conductors is composed of a series of fine wires twisted together. The inner
ends of the wires i, j, in the powder chamber are connected with each other by
means of a very fine platinum wire -The outer ends of the wires i, j project
slightly beyond the surface of the bottom H so that after the insertion of the
cartridge the barrel is locked by turning it down on the pivot L, said wires are
compelled to become flattened against the contact surfaces-c and g, ensuring a
good contact. Figures 3 and 4 shew a cartridge of this nature. In Figures 5.
and 6 I have shewn a cartridge with a metallic bottom H, in which is inserted a
plug h, of non-conducting material through which wires i, j are inserted in
substantially the same manner as above described, the inner ends of said wires
being connected by means of a platinum wire k.
Figure 7 shews a cartridge more particularly adapted for what are known as
"needle guns
" and especially for magazine guns. In such I form in the bottom
of the cartridge a central depression and an annular depression surrounding the
former and set the wires i and j, so that they project beyond the bottom of these

page_text: depressions respectively but do not project beyond the general surface of the bottom
of the cartridge it being desirable to leave said surface without any raised parts. The
nose piece or forward end of the bolt of the gun is correspondingly formed with a
central pin l, and an annular sleeve m, insulated from each other and conducting
the current to the wires i and j.
It will be understood that the forms in which the invention may be carried
into practice may be greatly varied according to the particular construction of the
charging mechanism of the piece to which it is desired to apply the improvemonts;
the accompanying drawing merely represents for the sake of illustration one of
such forms and a diagram of another form, but I do not confine myself thereto.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edgar Abraham Monfort in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th July 1883.
EDGAR ABRAHAM MONFORT, of the City of New York, in the County and
State of New York, one of the United States of America. IMPROVEMENTS IN
ELECTRICAL FIRE ARMS AND ORDNANCE AND IN CARTRIDGES THEREFOR.
The invention relates to the ignition of the powder by means of electricity.
The invention is applicable more especially to Breech loading Firearms, Muskets,
Fowling pieces and Pistols, as well as to all sizes and kinds of Cannon, Howitzers,
Mittrailleurs, etc.
I provide a galvanic battery, or preferably a well charged storage battery, (or a
suitable dynamo machine or other source of electricity may be used) and connect
the conducting wires of the same to contact points or contact surfaces which are
exposed in the cartridge chamber of the arm.
1
In one of said conducting wires I make a break and provide a button or other 1
means analogous to a trigger for closing the circuit at that point when desired by
an easy movement of the finger. I provide also another means of opening and
closing the circuit to be set with the circuit open under ordinary circumstances as
a safe guard against accidental discharge.
The cartridge is provided with two conducting wires which lead from the
exterior into the powder charge where they are connected with each other by
means of a very fine wire of platinum or other suitable material or metal having
considerable resistance so as to become heated by an electric current.
The contact surfaces in which the conducting wires from the battery terminate
are so arranged, that as soon as the proper manipulation is effected, an electric 2
contact is established with certainty through the conducting wires of the
cartridge.
The electric circuit may be closed by pressing a button or other device
analogous to a trigger, the electric current traversing the platinum wire in the
charge of the cartridge heats said wire to a high degree and thus ignites the charge 3
instantly.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown the invention as applied to a
musket; I have also represented several cartridges embodying in various forms
those features of my invention which relate to the ammunition.
Fig. 1 is a section of a part of a musket constructed according to my invention. 3
Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan view.
Fig 3 is a front view of the hinged brocch block detached.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through such breech block.
Figs. 5. 6. 7 and 8 represent cartridges.
Fig. 7 shows a cartridge intended more particularly for fire arms which contain 4
the general mechanism of what are known as "needle-guns."
Figs 9 and 10 represent respectively parts of the cartridges 6 and 8 detached
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
A. is the butt of an arm hollowed out to receive a storage or other battery,
generator or source of electric energy B. One pole of said battery is connected 4
by the wire b to a conductor carrying a spring C, which when the parts aro
adjusted for use form electrical contact with a central contact pin K, set in the
breech block H of the piece in line with the axis of the barrel and exposed in the
cartridge chamber. This pin K and conductor C are insulated from all the other
metallic parts of the piece by a sufficient thickness of hard rubber or other good 5
non-conducting material.

page_text: -The other pole of the battery B is connected by means of a wire b², to a contact
spring D, provided with a push button D', or other suitable device by means of
which it may be pressed in contact with the plate E, which connects to a metallic
part of the gun, for instance to the bolt F, which unites the breech G to the butt A,
A contact ring M, of annular form is set in the breech block H, in metallic contact
with the latter and concentric with the pin K.
The contact between C and K is controlled by turning the spring C, on its pivot
or centre as will be-obvious. It may have two notches which are pressed by the
force of the spring against the edge of a plate so that one notch or the other is
certain to be engaged therewith, and to hold the spring in that position until it is
intentionally changed to the other notch. In one position of the spring the circuit
is positively broken so that the piece cannot be discharged however the button D¹
may be operated. But when the piece is about to be fired the operator first turns
the spring C, and causes it to engage by its other notch. This closes the contact
between C and K. Then so soon as the button D' is operated the circuit is
completed and the cartridge is fired.
O is the cartridge, having its rear or bottom Q of wood or other non-conducting
material. Through the centre of the bottom Q extends a conductor P, and a similar
conductor P¹ extends through the bottom Qnear its periphery. Each of these
conductors is composed of a series of fine wires twisted together. The inner ends
of the wires P P₁, in the powder chamber are connected with each other by means
of a very fine platinum wire R. The outer ends of the wires P P¹ project slightly
beyond the surface of the bottom Q, and are spread as shown, so that when after
the insertion of the cartridge the barrel is closed by turning the breech block H,
down on the pivot I, the spread ends of said wires P P are pressed by the elastic
force of the several fine wires against the contact surfaces M and N, ensuring a
good contact.
In figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a cartridge with a metallic bottom in which is
inserted a plug Q¹ of non-conducting material, through which wires P P¹are
inserted in substantially the same manner as above described, the inner ends of
said wires being connected by means of a platinum wire R.
Fig. 7 shows a cartridge more particularly adapted for what are known as
needle-guns," and especially for magazine guns. In such I form in the bottom of
the cartridge a central depression and also an annular depression surrounding the
former and set the wires P and P' so that they project beyond the bottom of these
depressions respectively but do not project beyond the general surface of the bottom
of the cartridge, it being desirable to leave said surface without any raised parts.
The nose-piece or forward end of the bolt of the gun is correspondingly formed
with a central pin and an annular sleeve insulated from each other and conducting
the current to the wires P and P'.
Fig. 8 shows a cartridge in which the platinum wire R is encircled by a spiral
wrapping of gun cotton R¹. This increases the certainty that the heat in the fine
wire R induced by the passage of the electric current, will immediately ignite the
powder of the cartridge so soon as proper contacts are made. Gun cotton is very
readily ignited and its fibrous nature ensures its lying in contact with the wire
when it is wrapped around. The explosion of the gun cotton R¹ ignites the
powder.
It will be understood that the forms in which the invention may be carried into
practice may be varied greatly according to the particular construction of the
charging mechanism of the piece to which it is desired to apply the improvements;
the accompanying drawings merely represent for the sake of illustration one of
such forms and a diagram of another form, but I do not confine myself thereto.
I claim as my Invention:
1st: In a fire-arm in which the charge is ignited by an electrical current passing
through a platinum wire connecting the terminals of two conductors which are
passed into the powder within the cartridge, the two non-corrodible contacts
insulated from each other and located in the forward end of tho breech block, said

page_text: contacts being respectively in electrical connection with the poles of the battery
and also being adapted to connect the latter with the wires in the cartridge when
the gun is loaded and closed ready for firing, substantially as described.
2nd: In combination with the breech block, the pin K, provided with a non-
corrodible contact N and insulated from the breech block through which it passes,
the annular non-corrodible ring M secured in the breech block and insulated from
the pin and its contact, and metallic connections, substantially as described between
the poles of the battery and the said pin and breech block, for the purposes
specified.
3rd The gun cartridge herein described, having electrical conductors extended
through the cartridge head, each conductor consisting of a series of fine wires
twisted together with their outer ends terminating directly at the outer face of the
cartridge head and adapted to be spread, the inner ends of the conductors being
connected by a platinum or similar wire, substantially as described.
4th: An electric cartridge provided with two conductors passing through a
block at the butt end of the cartridge, and connected at their tips within the
charge of powder by a platinum wire, said platinum wire being provided with a
wrapping of gun cotton, substantially as described,
In Witness whereof I the said Edgar Abraham. Monfort have hereunto set
my hand and seal this 22nd day of June in the year of our Lord 1883.
EDGAR ARRAHAN MONFORT 1701