IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM HEBLER of Fluntern near Zurich in the Swiss Republic, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES,"
to be as follows:-
A cartridge shell, according to my invention is made in two parts or pieces, in
order that the powder may be conveniently introduced from the rear, and compressed
within the shell. These pieces are respectively the tube and a cap or cover which
fits within the end of the tube, and has a flange or overlap coinciding with the
flange or bead formed on the tube to aid in its extraction. The cap or cover acts
as a gas ring to make a tight joint at the rear during the explosion, and contains
the percussion charge. To fill the cartridge it is placed in a strong metal mould
with a core in it and with a recessed shoulder for the flange or bead on the tube to
rest upon-Over this bead is put an annular filling piece, and then the mould is
charged with moistened gun powder which is compressed around the core by a
plunger acting under heavy pressure, the working face of the plunger being of
similar configuration to the inner surface of the cap or cover-When the charge is
consolidated the cartridge is removed from the mould and the bullet inserted into
its forward end, which is suitably reduced in diameter to receive it.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings, Fig 1 represents a section of
the rear part of the cartridge to an enlarged scale, Fig 2 is an elevation of the
cartridge and bullet, Fig 3 a longitudinal section of Fig 2; fig 4 a section of
cartridge shell only, while in Fig 5 is represented the method of compressing the
powder within the cartridge.
The cartridge shell consists of two parts, viz A the tube and B the cap or cover.
This latter fits with its reduced end C tightly into the tube A, the rim d of the
cover being made the same size as the small flange or bead e on the tube A. Hence
since the extractor catches behind the flange e, it cannot happen that the cap or
cover of the cartridge alone should be extracted. During the explosion the part C
is pressed tightly against the sides of the tube A, thus ensuring a perfectly gas-
tight joint.
The cap or cover B contains as is usual the percussion charge. In Fig 1,
F represents the compressed powder charge, with a channel in the centre and h is
the bullet, partly covered by paper.
Metal cartridges according to my invention can be filled with compressed powder,
conveniently and rapidly. Hitherto, when compressed powder has been used in

page_text: metal cartridges, the powder has been introduced at the front end in small
quantities, and after each small charge compressed, or it has been compressed in
small quantities in special moulds, and the finished powder cylinder introduced into
the front end of the cartridge, which for this purpose had to be left the same
diameter throughout and afterwards reduced at the front end to the size of the
bullet.
The arrangement which I employ is shewn diagramatically in Fig 5. The
cartridge tube A is placed in a well fitting mould k, which near the mouth has an
enlarged diameter into which fits the ring 1, resting with its lower edge upon the
rime of the cartridge tube. A core-piece n provides for the central hole g in the
powder charge and the compresser piston m, has a corresponding hole, while with
its outside diameter it exactly fits the cartridge shell. To commence the operation,
the piston or plunger m is withdrawn, a charge of ordinary rifle powder, to which
is added about 40% of moisture to make it plastic, is inserted and the piston m, the
lower end of which is shaped exactly like the bottom cap B, then compresses the
powder inside the cartridge tube, under heavy pressure, until it constitutes a
homogenous compact mass. The piston is then withdrawn, the ring 7 taken away
and the cartridge-by suitable means pushed out of its mould, after which the cap
or cover B is fixed into it by pressure. The cartridge is then allowed to dry at
ordinary temperature. Making, the cartridge in two pieces enables the whole
powder charge to be inserted at one operation and compressing the same by one
single movement..
.
From the foregoing description the following will be understood to be
characteristic features of my invention, that is to say; the constructing the
cartridge, case in two parts, comprising a tube such as A, and a cap or cover, such
as B, fitting within the said tube substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described; also the method, substantially as described, of inserting the whole
powder charge in a moist condition from the rear and compressing the same at one
compressing operation.
D: You
1004

page_text: "2
I, WILLIAM HEBLER, of Fluntern, near Zurich, in the Swiss Republic, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
A cartridge shell, according to my invention is made in two parts or pieces, in
order that the powder may be conveniently introduced from the rear, and.
compressed within the shell. These pieces are respectively the tube and a cap
or cover which fits within the end of the tube, and has a flange or overlap
coinciding with the flange or bead formed on the tube to aid in its extraction.
The cap or cover acts as a gas ring to make a tight joint at the rear during the
explosion, and contains the percussion charge. To fill the cartridge it placed
in a strong metal mould with a core in it and with a recessed shoulder for the
flange or bead on the tube to rest upon. Over this bead is put an annular filling
piece, and then the mould is charged with moistened gun-powder which is com-
pressed around the core by a plunger acting under heavy pressure, the working
face of the plunger being of similar configuration to the inner surface of the cap
or cover.
When the charge is consolidated the cartridge is removed from the mould and
the bullet inserted into its forward end, which is suitably reduced in diameter to
receive it.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings Fig 1 represents to an enlarged
scale, the rear part of the cartridge. Fig II is a view of a loaded cartridge, and
Fig III is a section thereof. Fig 1V is a section of an empty cartridge case. Fig V
illustrates the mode of filling the said case with compressed powder. Figs VI
and VII are cross sections having reference to Fig V. and Fig VIII illustrates a
modification in the mode of filling cartridge cases.
My improved cartridge case consists of two separate parts, the tube A and the
cap B, the latter fitting tightly and accurately into the enlarged extremity of the
said tube by means of its hollow cylinder c and flange or rim d. The tube A is
likewise provided at its rear end with a flange or rim e by grasping which the
cartridge case can be extracted from a gun. When the cartridge is fired the hollow
cylinder c is, by reason of the expansion of the gases issuing from the powder
pressed firmly against the walls and produces a gas tight joint at the base of the
cartridge case.
The cap B is provided in the usual manner with any suitable percussion composi-
tion. In the drawing, F is the compressed powder, in the centre of which a channel
is formed in the same manner as in cartridge cases heretofore employed although
more simply; h is the bullet upon a part of which is wound a strip of paper. The
space between the powder and the bullet may be filled up, in the usual manner
with rings of any homogenous material.
•
My improved metallic cartridge case can be filled with compressed powder, which
is in every way preferable to ordinary grain powder, and the operation of filling
the cartridge case with such powder can be carried out more rapidly and more
efficiently with my improved cartridge case than with cartridge cases heretofore
employed, as will now be explained.
Hitherto cartridge cases have been filled with compressed powder in two different
manners viz: either small portions of gunpowder were introduced at the top of
the case and individually compressed into the latter, or gunpowder of peculiar
form was first compressed in small portions which were afterwards converted into

page_text: a block, the latter being finally introduced at the top of the cylindrical case which
was thus filled up to the level of the base of the bullet.
The first method had this defect, that it rendered the filling operation too com-
plicated, the second method had, besides, the disadvantage of a complicated mode
of compression, another disadvantage inasmuch as the gunpowder being introduced
in the case in the form of blocks the latter did not adhere to the sides or bases of
the cartridge case and was therefore fired more or less rapidly, the result being an
irregular action, and consequently an uncertain initial speed of the bullet. Moreover,.
the cartridge cases which had been once charged at the top with powder blocks
could not be charged again and consequently the said cases. could not be used more
than once.
These defects are obviated by the employment of my improved cartridge case
which is filled in the following manner:
The tube A is placed in a mould (Fig V) over which is arranged a hollow cylinder
the latter fulfilling the double purpose of assisting to fill the case and of serving
as a guide for the piston or rammer m.. A core piece is placed centrally in the
mould so as to occupy a space corresponding with the channel g formed in the
powder F.
Figs V to VII-illustrate the mode of filling in its simplest form.. The mould p.
is provided at, its upper part with a centrál enlargement into which the hollow.
cylinder, whose diameter is equal to that of the rear part of the tube A, fits,.
while it rests upon the flange e of the said tube. A core piece n removable in a
downward direction, and which may be of a conical shape so.as. to form the channel
g (Fig III) in the gunpowder. The piston or rammer m slides over the rod n
and fits, at the same time,, inside the hollow cylinder Z which corresponds to the
tube A.,
The piston or rammer m being first removed, the case A is placed in the mould p
and the gunpowder (generally of the kind used in rifles, which may or may not
contain moisture), is introduced.. The piston or rammer m, the under surface of
which has a precisely similar shape to that of the inside basis of the cap, is then
placed in position and forced into the tube A under strong pressure, in such a
manner that the powder is thereby converted into a thoroughly homogenous and
bard mass. Hereupon,, the piston or rammer m and the hollow cylinder are
both removed in an upward direction while the core piece n is. withdrawn in a
downward direction.. A pin of wood or other suitable material the outer diameter
of which is equal to that of the cartridge case at the base of the bullet is then
inserted in place of the core-piece and pressed against the said case at the seat of
the bullet and permits the tube A, loaded with compressed powder, to be forced
out from the mould p. Fig VIII shows a modification of the parts which serve
for compressing the powder.
In this case, the hollow cylinder (Fig VIII) has a smaller internal diameter
than the cylinder shewn in Figs V to VII, the result being that the piston or
rammer has to be a little smaller in diameter.. The filling and compressing
operation is carried out in the same way as above described with reference to
Fig V.
After the tobe A, containing the charge F, has been removed, the cap is introduced
therein and the percussion cap is finally placed in position. Thus the complete
charge is capable of being introduced in one of the parts A of the cartridge case
and compressed therein at one single pressure.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to. be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1, In a cartridge charged with compressed powder, constructing the cartridge
case in two parts comprising a flanged tube such as A, and a flanged cap with a
cylindrical hollow portion fitting inside the said tube A substantially as described
and illustrated.

page_text: 2. In cartridge cases formed of two separable parts, inserting the whole powder
charge from the rear and compressing the same at one operation by a piston or
rummer the under surface of which is similar to the inner face of the cap (B)
and which has a diameter corresponding to that of the tube A substantially as
described.
3. The use in combination for filling cartridge cases formed of two separable
parts, of a mould in which fits the tube A, a core piece of dimensions corresponding
with those of the channel g formed in the powder, and a piston or rammer guided
in a cylinder such as the under surface of the said piston or rammer being similar
to the inner face of the cap B substantially as described and for the purpose
specified.