IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC CARTRIDGES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC CARTRIDGES."-A communication from
abroad by Marc Marius Emile Gauthey, of Paris, in the Republic
of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 7th November 1873.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC CARTRIDGES," a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Marc Marius Emile Gauthey, of Paris,
in the Republic of France, to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object an improved system of metallic
cartridges which admits of a reduction in the weight of the cartridge,

page_text: of the employment of metal of ordinary commercial quality, and of the
cartridges being made by hand, and in the train of an army on
campaign.
These improved cartridges admit also of a certain amount of play
within the chamber of the gun.
According to this Invention it is proposed to form the cartridge case
of a piece of thin sheet metal bent round into the form of a tube and
having its two ends hooked or clasped together internally in a longi-
tudinal direction, also to combine therewith a metal base of great
thickness and a washer of metal or other material, the circular flange of
which washer is lower than the external crown of the base in order to
prevent any escape of gas between the washer and the metal case and
the cutting of the case on the edge of the base of the cartridge.
The Invention further consists of a method of producing these
cartridges as herein-after described.
In carrying out this Invention a sheet of very thin copper is cut up
into trapeziums, the dimensions of which depend on the length and
diameter of the cartridge to be produced. The longitudinal edges of
one of such pieces are then folded back and the edges are bent round
and hooked or clasped together on the inside so as to form a slightly
conical tube. The hooked case is then stamped in a die so formed as to
impart to it the narrowed form required for military cartridges without
unhooking it and without producing folds, and also to form on its lower
end an enlargement or expanded portion for the reception of a flange
which is formed on the washer.
The washer is produced by stamping, and is provided with a notch in
which the hooked portion of the case may lodge. This washer is fitted
in the metallic case and secured by turning down over it the enlarged or
expanded end of the case. After this the case and washer thus con-
nected together are inserted in the cartridge base. The cartridge is then
subjected to the action of a punch, which "sets up" the washer inside
and forces it into close contact with the base, so as to enclose the lower
end of the case and prevent escape of gas. It is also subjected to the
action of a die for the purpose of imparting the required finished form
to the base and firmly uniting the three parts, namely, the case, washer,
and base together without diminishing the thickness of the latter.

page_text: The cartridge presents great resistance due to the elasticity of the
hook, which forms a spring, and the effect of the internal pressure is to
compress the hook against the sides of the barrel and form a tight joint.
By reason also of the resistance of the base and its excess of height over
the internal washer at the time of the discharge all passage between the
washer and the cartridge base is prevented, and the cutting of the
cartridge case at its point of junction with the base is entirely obviated.
The apparatus herein-before referred to constitutes no part of the said
Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 6th May 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special
license that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry Johnson,
my executors, administrators, or 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
METALLIC CARTRIDGES," a communication to me from abroad by Marc
Marius Emile Gauthey, of Paris, in the Republic of France, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, 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, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that a
is to say :-
The said Invention relates to an improved system of metallic car-
tridges, and has for its object to reduce the weight of the cartridge, to
enable metal of ordinary commercial quality to be employed in its
manufacture, to admit of the cartridges being made by hand and in the 1
train of an army in campaign by the use of simple and readily
transportable apparatus, and also of the cartridges having without
inconvenience a certain amount of play in the gun and of the cases
being reutilized after they have been discharged.
These objects are obtained by the employment of a case composed of 1
a piece of thin sheet metal bent round into the form of a tube, and
having its two ends hooked or clasped together internally in combination
with a metal base of great thickness and a peculiar arrangement of
washer composed of metal or other suitable material, the circular flange
of which washer is of a less height than the external rim of the 2
cartridge base.
And in order that the said 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 Drawings,
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the 2
Figures.
Metallic cartridge cases have hitherto always been produced by drawing,
which operation renders necessary the employment of metal of superior
quality and a certain thickness of case, and also the use of special plant
for manufacturing them which is not susceptible of being transported
in the train of an army in campaign.
Now according to this Invention the above serious defects are obviated
by the employment in the formation of the case of an arrangement of
internal hook or clasp, which is carried out in the following manner,
videlicet:- -A sheet of very thin copper is cut up into trapeziums, the a
dimensions of which correspond to the length and diameter of the
cartridge to be produced. The edges of one of such trapeziums are

page_text: then folded back in the longitudinal direction of the case, as shewn in
Figure 1, and hooked or clasped together on the inside so as to form a
slightly conical tube a, Figure 2, the transverse section of which is
shewn on an enlarged scale in Figure 3.
This arrangement admits of very thin metal of the ordinary com-
mercial quality being employed for the case. The cartridge also
possesses great strength or resistance due to the elasticity of the hook
or clasp which forms a spring. The effect of the internal pressure of
the gases is to compress the hook or clasp against the sides of the gun
barrel, by which means any escape of gas is prevented, and as the metal
employed for the tubular portion is of the same thickness throughout
its length, it possesses sufficient strength notwithstanding its slight
thickness to admit of an empty case being handled without injury to
its form.
In order to perform the operation of hooking or clasping the cases
very simple apparatus is required, capable of being worked by hand,
and this operation may be carried out in campaign with the greatest
facility.
.
The hooking or clasping having been effected so that the hook or
clasp does not form any external projection the case is stamped or beaten
out in a die of a special form in such a manner as to impart to the case
the narrowed forms required for military cartridges, as shewn in
Figure 4, without unhooking or unclasping it or producing creases or
folds, and there is at the same time formed at the bottom part of the
case a a flange or expanded portion 6 which is intended for the
reception of the washer c (Figures 5 and 6).
The washer c, which is composed of metal or other suitable material is
produced by stamping, and is formed with a small notch or recess d for
the purpose of providing room for the hook or clasp, as shewn in
Figure 6, and on an enlarged scale in Figure 7. The washer is fitted or
secured in the case by turning or beating down over it the flange b, as
shewn in Figure 8, and the case with its washer is then placed in the
cartridge base e (Figures 8, 9, and 10), which is made of relatively
great thickness. The cartridge case thus fitted is subjected to the action
of a punch for the purpose of "setting up" the washer on the interior,
and of a die by means of which the cartridge base is stamped or beaten
out so as to impart to it the finished shape shewn on an enlarged scale

page_text: in Figure 11, and closely unite the three parts forming the cartridge,
videlicet, the case, washer, and base.
The effect of the operation of "setting up" with the punch is to
force the washer into contact with the base whilst enclosing or con-
fining the bottom part of the case, as shewn in Figure 11, by which
means all possibility of an escape of gas is prevented. As moreover the
base is made of great strength and its height exceeds that of the internal
washer the gases are prevented from penetrating at the time of the dis-
charge between the washer and the case, and the cutting of the case at
its point of junction with the cartridge base in entirely obviated.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,—
First. The application and use of cartridge cases composed of a piece
of sheet metal formed into a tube and having its ends united by folding
and hooking or clasping, substantially as herein-before described and
illustrated by the Drawings.
Second. A cartridge having a metallic case hooked or clasped on its
interior in combination with a washer and a cartridge base, substantially
as and for the purposes herein-before described and illustrated by the
Drawings.
Third. The employment in the improved cartridges of an internal
washer in combination with a resisting cartridge base of greater height
than such washer, substantially in the manner and for the purposes
herein-before described and illustrated by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this
Specification set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of May,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.