Cartridges for Fire Arms.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1886.
Specification Accepted, 18th Feb., 1887
Communicated from abroad by NICHOLAS KILLIAN and ALBERT LOUIS LOHMILLER
of Paris, in the Republic of France, Inventors.]
Cartridges for Fire Arms.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the county of Middlesex, M.I.M.E.
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 has for its object a system of metallic cartridge with central
percussion in which the ignition of the powder is effected from front to rear by means
of an ignition tube, and crimped or closed automatically without deformation of the
metal with cartridges hitherto in use, the bullet is secured in the orifice of the shell
by a deformation of the metal, which tends to spoil the metal of the shell and prevent
its being recharged several times.
In the improved cartridge which forms the object of the present application for
Letters Patent, the ignition of the powder being effected backwards ensures the
complete combustion of the charge, and the gas thus produces the maximum effect,
improving both the range and the accuracy of the weapon. The use of the central
tube permits of the placing of internal wads interposed so as to produce a double
explosion, which has great effect upon the projectile, increasing considerably its
initial velocity, and causing an increase of range of one third, with equal charges
over any other system of cartridges. The automatic closing or gripping without
deformation of the metal secured by the elasticity of the material employed permits
of the cases being recharged many times, and thus secures considerable economy in
the cost of ammunition.
In order to fully set forth the details of the invention, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings in which :-
Figure 1. is a large scale section of a military cartridge on this system.
Figure 2. is a representation of the same cartridge, and on the drawing filed is
full size.
Figure 3. is a large scale section of a sporting cartridge on this system.
Figure 3bis shows a sporting cartridge loaded without double explosion arrange-
ment.
Figure 4. is a plan section of Figure 3 showing the central tube.
Figure 5. is a secton of a revolved cartridge.
Figure 6. is an elevation of the same, and
Figure 6bis is a front view at the bullet end.

page_text: Figure 7. is an elevation of the central ignition tube.
Figure 8. is a plan of same.
Figure 9. shows a mechanism for inserting the wads in the improved cartridges.
The central tube A acting as nipple, carries for this purpose a hollow head resting
on the base of the capholder: this head covered by the percussion cap fulfils the same
purpose as the anvil arrangement now in use in ordinary central fire cartridges. This
central tube A passes through the principal powder charge B, which is separated from
a second much smaller charge by the wad D. This wad is pierced centrally to admit
of the passage of the tube A, but leaves around this sufficient vent to ensure com-
munication between the two charges upon ignition. The flash of the cap first ignites
the portion C of the charge and this, then the large charge B producing the double
explosion. The securing of the bullet and of the wad O is effected automatically,
that is to say the neck of the case E is slightly conical and bears at this point two or
more projections F, forming nippers which can be slightly opened to admit of the
introduction of the bullet G, and the clasticity of the metal will cause them to grip
the same sufficiently to prevent it falling out and thus to effect the securing.
It is obvious that when the cartridge is ignited, the nippers F and the case E being
unable to expand more than to the size of the chamber of the fire arm the case
does not suffer any deterioration and can be reloaded a number of times.
The. sporting cartridge represented in Figures 3 and 4 is constructed in the same
way as the military cartridge, except that the wad D instead of having a central touch
hole or aperture as shown in Figure 1 has the same preferably at one side marked d,
but this aperture might also be central if desired. The wad O which closes. this
sporting cartridge is secured in the same way as the bullet of the military cartridge
already described. Sporting cartridges may also be loaded without the double
ignition in this case the central tube only ignites the charge not divided in the front,
the design of cartridge for revolvers or weapons taking a small charge is based upon
the same principle as the preceding with central tube and automatic grip for the
bullet.
The apparatus P for inserting the wads is of truncated conical shape, and bears a
ring provided with shoulder Q which rests on the mouth of the cartridge when the
mechanism is placed upon it. The apparatus like the cases, is provided with claws R
which hold it in place when it is inserted into the case the wad is inserted as shown
in Figure 9, and a blow of the rammer S suffices to drive it to its place. It is evident
that the tubes A may be of any suitable nature and size, and that a washer or any
other desired contrivance may be placed between the said tube and the cap so as to
prevent the projection into the breech of the gas generated by the explosion, and also
preventing the cap from igniting the hinder charge first.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A metallic cartridge case, the end of which is coned and rendered elastic by the
projections so as to produce an automatic grip in combination with a central tube A
designed to ignite the charge in front, so as to ensure the complete combustion of the
same, substantially as described and shown.
2. The application to cartridges of all kinds in which ignition is produced from the
front backwards, of the wad D with touch hole placed in the charge in such a
manner as to produce a double explosion, as above described and shown.