Improvements in Primers for Firing Guns.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 10th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 9th June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Primers for Firing Guns.
We, Sir ANDREW NOBLE, K.C.B., F.R.S., of Jesmond Dene House, Newcastle-
upon-Tyne and ALBERT GEORGE HADCOCK Engineer of 6. Collingwood Terrace,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
The principal object of this invention is to obtain a gas tight joint at the rear end
of the primer whether it is fired by electricity or friction.
The electrical primer is formed of a metallic body of suitable shape to be screwed
direct into a metal cartridge case or of a tapered metallic body similar to the
ordinary service primer and conforming to the shape of the primer chamber in the
axial vent or in an adaptor which may be screwed into a metal cartridge case.
The body of the electrical primer is hollow; the cavity, at the rear end, being
conical. In this coned portion a thin hollow metal cone rests; and within this
again a coned metal plug is inserted; the latter being insulated, by prepared paper
or other suitable material, from the hollow cone.
One or more bridges of platinum wire are soldered to a pin in the central plug:
and to the edge of the hollow cone.
In some instances the thin hollow cone can be dispensed with; the prepared
paper being then inserted between the central cone and the primer body and
the platinum wires are then soldered to the central pin and edge of the primer
body.
A central metal spindle suitably insulated passes from the small end of the
central plug, through the rear end of the primer which is recessed so as to allow of
a thin ebonite insulator being inserted; the central spindle passes through the
ebonite insulator and through a metallic disc being finally riveted over; or the
central spindle may be formed with the metal disc and passed through the ebonite
washer being finally screwed into the central coned plug.
The primer may also be formed with a single insulated wire or with a double
insulated wire. In these cases one wire is inserted in the central plug and passes'
through the rear end of the primer; and if with a double wire the second wire is
inserted in the hollow cone and also passes through the rear end of the primer or it
may be simply inserted in the rear end of the primer without passing through.
Between the rear end of the coned plug and the bottom of the cavity formed in
the primer a disc of asbestos is inserted, the insulated wires passing through the
asbestos to the rear end of the primer.
The platinum wire is then surrounded with gun cotton after which the cavity is
charged with gunpowder or other suitable explosive, the front end of the primer is
closed by means of a thin cork and shellaced.
With the friction primer the body is similar to the ordinary service primer having
a cavity suitably shaped.
A metal wire is screwed into a metal plug coned at the rear end; the front
portion of the wire passes through a metal disc and is then inserted into ordinary
friction priming suitably enclosed in the ordinary manner. The small coned plug
is prevented from turning by a small feather working in a groove in the body of
the primer...
The rear portion of the wire passes through a thin cylinder or cone of lead or.
other suitable material, and thence through the rear end of the primer. The end of
the wire being twisted into a loop for the ready application of the lanyard. The

page_text: cone thus acts as a safety arrangement and prevents the primer being fired by
accident. On the primer being inserted in the vent of a gun and the wire pulled to
the rear the lead cone is compressed and the primer fired.
Dated this 10th day of Jul 1803
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in Primers for Firing Guns.
We, Sir ANDREW NOBLE, K.C.B., F.R.S., of Jesmond Dene House, Newcastle-
upon-Tyne and ALBERT GEORGE HADCOCK, Engineer, of 6 Collingwood Terrace,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 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 :-
The principal object of this invention is to obtain a gas tight joint at the rear
end of the primer whether it is fired by electricity or friction.
The electrical primer shown in Figure 1 is formed of a metallic body A of
suitable shape to be screwed direct into a metal cartridge case or of a tapered
metallic body similar to the ordinary service primer and conforming to the shape of
the primer chamber in the axial vent or in an adapter which may be screwed into
a metal cartridge case.
The body A of the electrical primer is hollow; the cavity, at the rear end,
being conical.
In this coned portion a thin hollow metal cone B rests; and
within this again a coned metal plug C is inserted; the latter being insulated, by
prepared paper or other suitable material, from the hollow cone B.
One or more bridges D of platinum wire are soldered to a pin C¹ in the central
plug and to the edge of the hollow cone.
In some instances the thin hollow cone can be dispensed with; the prepared
paper being then inserted between the central cone and the primer body and
the platinum wires are then soldered to the centi al pin and edge of the primer
body.
A central metal spindle E suitably insulated passes from the small end of the
central plug C through the rear end of the primer A which is recessed so as to
allow of a thin ebonite insulator F being inserted; the central spindle passes through
the ebonite insulator and through a metallic disc G being finally riveted over or the
central spindle may be formed with the metal disc G and passed through the ebonite
washer F being finally screwed into the central coned plug C.
The primer may also be formed with a single insulated wire as shown in Figure 2
or with a double insulated wire as shown in Figure 3. In these cases one wire is
inserted in the central plug C and passes through the rear end of the primer A ;
and if with a double wire the second wire is inserted in the hollow cone B, and also
passes through the rear end of the primer or it may be simply inserted in the rear
end of the primer without passing through.
Between the rear end of the coned plug and the bottom of the cavity formed in
the primer a disc of asbestos H is inserted, the insulated wires passing through the
asbestos to the rear end of the primer.
The platinum wire D is then surrounded with gun cotton J after which the
cavity is charged with gunpowder K or other suitable explosive, the front end of
the primer is closed by means of a thin cork L and shellaced.
With the friction primer shown at Figure 4 the body A is similar to the ordinary
service primer having a cavity suitably shaped.
A metal wire M is screwed into a metal plug N coned at the rear end; the front
portion of the wire passes through a metal disc O and is then inserted into ordinary
friction priming P suitably enclosed in the ordinary manner.
The small coned

page_text: plug is prevented from turning by a small feather Q working in a groove in the
body A of the primer.
The rear portion of the wire passes through a thin cylinder or cone R of lead or
other suitable material, and thence through the rear end of the primer. The end.
of the wire being twisted into a loop for the ready application of the lanyard. The
cone thus acts as a safety arrangement and prevents the primer being fired by
accident. On the primer being inserted in the vent of a gun and the wire pulled:
to the rear the lead cone is compressed and the primer fired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we-
claim is :-
1. An electrical primer in which a tight joint is made at the rear end by means
of plain metal cones substantially as described.
2. In an electrical primer the combination of the metal cones and insulating
material whereby a secure and gas tight joint is obtained at the rear end of the
primer substantially as described.
3. A friction primer in which a tight joint is made at the rear end by means
of a metal cone acting on a soft material such as lead or the like substantially as.
described.
4. In a friction primer the combination of the metal cone and the lead safety
cylinder or cone substantially as described.
5. Primers substantially as described and illustrated in the drawings.
Dated this 27th day of March 1894.
A. NOBLE.
A. G. HADCOCK..