Improvements in Cartridges.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 28th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 28th Dec., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cartridges.
I, RAPHAEL CLAUDIUS ROMANEL of 1 Dunning Terrace Derby Road Pon lers End
in the County of Middlesex, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in cartridges for fire arms and has for
objects to effect the more complete combustion of the powder charge within the bore
of the gun, than has heretofore been usual with cartridges constructed with fulminate
caps or detonators in the ordinary manner and to dispense with the thin metal ring
sometimes interposed between the front end of the shell and the bullet of a cartridge
intended for use in a military or sporting rifle.
In a cartridge according to this invention in addition to the fulminate cap there is
a detonating tube that extends longitudinally through the greater part of the powder
chamber of the cartridge and serves to distribute the flame from the said fulminate
cap into the body of the powder charge. The detonating tube may advantageously
be closed at its forward end and be perforated at opposite sides at about two thirds of
the distance inward from the inner side of the head or base of the cartridge.
By this means the whole of the powder charge will be ignited within the chamber
of the gun, and its explosive force will be wholly utilized in propelling the bullet or
projectile instead of part of the charge of powder being blown from the gun and
uselessly ignited at the mouth thereof as is the case with cartridges made in the
ordinary manner. By making cartridges as 1 have above described the powder
charge may be reduced as compared with that required in cartridges made in the
ordinary manner and this without decreasing the range of the bullet or projectile
used with the cartridge since the whole of the powder charge will be effectually
utilized.
By my invention the length and consequently the weight of the cartridge case can
also be diminished and the amount of smoke produced and the recoil of the gun
lessened.
The metallic case or shell of a cartridge is usually of greater diameter than the
bullet, to secure the latter in the mouth of the case a metal ring is interposed between
the two.
Now according to my Invention in lieu of interposing a metal ring between the
front end of the cartridge case and the bullet in a cartridge intended for a small bore
rifle I contract the front end of the cartridge case to such a diameter that it shall
closely fit the bullet thus dispensing with the metal ring herein before referred to and
obviating the liability that obtains with such a ring of its becoming fixed in the bore
of the rifle and causing the rifle barrel to be burst by the wedging action therein of a
bullet from a succeeding cartridge.
Dated this 28th dow of Wahmu1000
RAPHAEL CLAUDIUS ROMANEL.
W. Lloyd Wise,
Per F. J. B.,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.Ú., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cartridges.
I, RAPHAEL CLAUDIUS ROMANEL, of 1 Dunning Terrace, Derby Road, Ponder's
End, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, 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 improvements in cartridges for fire arms and has for

page_text: object to effect the more complete combustion of the powder charge within the bore of
the gun,
than has heretofore been usual with cartridges constructed with fulminate
caps or detonators in the ordinary manner and intended for use in a military or
sporting rifle.
In a cartridge according to this invention in addition to the fulminate cap there is
a detonating tube that extends longitudinally through the greater part of the powder
chamber of the cartridge and serves to distribute the flame from the said fulminate
cap into the body of the powder charge. The detonating tube may advantageously
be closed at its forward end and be perforated at opposite sides at about two thirds of
the distance inward from the inner side of the head or base of the cartridge.
By this means the whole of the powder charge will be ignited within the chamber
of the gun and its explosive force will be wholly utilized in propelling the bullet or
projectile instead of part of the charge of powder being blown from the gun and
uselessly ignited at the mouth thereof as is the case with cartridges made in the
ordinary manner. By making cartridges as I have above described the powder
charge may be reduced as compared with that required in cartridges made in the
ordinary manner and this without decreasing the range of the bullet or projectile
used with the cartridge since the whole of the powder charge will be effectually
utilised.
By my invention the length and consequently the weight of the cartridge case can
also be diminished and the amount of smoke produced and the recoil of the gun
lessened.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings,
Fig. 1 shews in longitudinal section a cartridge according to this invention;
Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof;
Fig. 3 is an elevation of a cartridge of the usual construction, and is given to
illustrate the reduction in size which may follow from the use of this invention.
In Figs. 1 and 2 A is the bullet, B the case, C the powder charge, C¹ the wad,
D the fulminate cap, D₁ the detonating tube. This tube is closed at its inner end E,
and is pierced with holes or slots F to allow the flame to readily reach the powder
charge. The rear end of the detonating tube may be connected to or placed in
contact with the cap in any suitable manner. Thus the tube may be provided with a
collar D2 around which the cap is fitted as shewn, the cap itself being fixed in the
base G of the shell or case in the ordinary manner.
The case or shell B may, as in the example shewn, be contracted or narrowed in
diameter as at H to fit the bullet, and hold it securely.
A comparison of Figs. 2 and 3 will shew the saving in bulk when cartridges are
constructed according to this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A cartridge having a fulminate cap and a perforated detonating tube such as
described extending longitudinally through the greater part of the powder chamber.
2. The improved cartridge described with reference to and shewn in Figs. 1 and 2,
of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 28th day of November 1889
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.