IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS. AND IN THE MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS TATENT to Francois Eugene Schneider, Gunsmith, of No. 15,
Rue Gaillon, Paris, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES
FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS. AND IN THE MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING
ugene
15,
Rue Gaillon, Paris, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES
FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS. AND IN THE MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING
THE SAME.
Sealed the 25th February 1862, and dated the 4th September 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francois Eugene Schneider
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th September 1861.
I. FRANCOIS EUGENE SCHNEIDER, Gunsmith. of No. 13. Rue Gaillon, Paris,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS. AND IN THE MACHINERY FOR MANU
FACTURING THE SAME," to be as follows:-
I make my improved cartridges with the percussion cap placed in the
This per-
centre of same, and about level with the end of the cartridge.
cussion cap itself I manufacture in two ways, the first with a spreading top
or flanch, the detonating powder occupying an annular space within the said
flanch, and the second with an internal metallic gudgeon or anvil, which, on
the cap being struck, offers the required amount of resistance for effectually
igniting the same. For the first description of cap I manufacture a cartridge
[Price Sd.]

page_text: with a metallic head, partially countersunk. to receive the flanch cap, and for
the second description of cap I manufacture a cartridge with a metallic base
for the anvil to rest against during the explosion.
For manufacturing the above-mentioned cartridges, I make use of four
different machines. In the first of these machines I present ribbons or bands
of sheet metal. which are cut into washers, which are afterwards countersunk
to form the heads of the cartridges. In the second of these machines unite,
1
by pressure, the head and socket or other component parts of the cartridge;
and at the same operation imprint thereon such letters or marks is may be
required for this purpose. The cartridges are placed on a feed plate under
the punches, from whence, after being pressed, they are extracted ready for
use. In this latter machine, in order to obtain an uniform pressure. I make
use of a compensator, that is to say. I cause the pressure to take place on one
end of a lever: the other end of which can be loaded to the required amount.
In a third machine I smooth externally and internally, as well as give a.
perfectly circular shape to the paper shell or socket of the cartridges. For
this purpose place the shells on a metallic mandril. which I present to a
revolving ring of an internal diameter equal to the outside of the shell. This
ring is slightly rounded on its inner edge, whilst its outer edge is left square.
thus the shell enters easily the smoothing ring, and when it has completely
passed through it. on the mandril being drawn back, it falls out on the other
side. In a fourth machine I flute the metallic wire to be afterwards cut up
into small pieces or anvils; and placed in the percussion caps: for this purpose
I make use of as many circular saws as I intend to have fluies on the wire.
the said saws revolving at a high velocity on, fixed axis, whilst the wire is
being drawn through guides by the workman.
1
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Francois Eugene Schneider in the Great Seal 'Patent
Office on the 4th March 1862.
TO, ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME. 1. FRANCOIS
EUGENE SCHNEIDER, Gunsmith. of No. 13. Rue Gaillon, Paris, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her Most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said

page_text: Francois Eugene Schneider, Her special licence that I, the said Francois
Eugene Schneider, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as 1. the said Francois Eugene Schneider, my executors, administrators, and
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 CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADINO FIRE-ARMS, AND IN THE
MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others)
that 1. the said Francois Eugene Schneider. my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, 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 Oflice within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Francois Eugene Schneider, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):-
I make my improved cartridge with the percussion cap placed in the centre
of same, and aboui level with the end of the cartridge; this percussion cap
itself I manufacture in two ways, the first with a spreading top or Hanch, the
detonating powder occupying an annular space in the said flanch, and the
second with an internal metallic gudgeon or anvil, which, on the cap being
struck. offers the required amount of resistance for effectually igniting the
same. For this first description of cap I manufacture a cartridge with a
metallic head, partially, countersunk, to receive the flanch cap; for the second
description of cap I manufacture a cartridge with a metallic base for the anvil
to rest against during the explosion.
For manufacturing the above-mentioned cartridges. I make use of four
different machines. In the first of these machines I present ribbons or bands
of sheet metal, which are cut out into washers, which are afterwards counter-
sunk to form the heads of the cartridges. In the second of these machines
I unite, by pressure. the head, and socket or other component parts of the
cartridge, and at the same operation imprint thereon such letters or marks as
may be required for this purpose the cartridges are placed on a feed plate
under the punches. and from which. after being pressed, they are extracted
ready for use. In this latter machine, in order to obtain an uniform pressure.

page_text: I make use of a compensator, that is to say, that I cause the pressure to take
place on one end on a lever, the other end of which can be loaded to the
required amount. In a third machine I smooth externally and internally, as
well as give a perfectly circular shape to the paper shell or socket of the
cartridges; for this purpose I place the shells on a metallic mandril, which
I present to a revolving ring of an internal diameter equal to the outside of
the shell; this ring is slightly rounded on its inner edge, whilst its outer edge
is left square; thus the shell enters easily the smoothing ring, and when it has
completely passed through it, on the mandril being drawn back, it falls out on
the other side. In a fourth machine I flute the metallic wire to be afterwards
cut up into small pieces or anvils, and placed in the percussion caps: for this
purpose I make use of as many circular saws as I intend to have flutes on the
wire, the said saws revolving at a high velocity on fixed axis whilst the wire is
being drawn through guides by the workman,
Having thus stated the nature of the Invention, I will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.
i
.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shews a section of the case of a cartridge suitably formed at its
rear to receive a percussion cap. such as is shewn in section at Fig. 1;
Fig. shews the section of the case of another cartridge. also formed at its
rear end to receive a percussion cap, such as is shewn in section at Eig. 1
In each of these cartridge cases the rear end is formed with a hole through the
centre, which is countersunk at the outer end, and the object of this counter-
sinking is to suit in for receiving a percussion cap, such as that shewn at
Fig 1 in which the percussion powder is placed in the annular space e at
the rear end of the cap. The form of cartridge shewn at Figs. 1 and 2, with
its percussion cap Fig. 1. is suitable for being struck with a hammer acting
in an inclined direction, and so arranged as to strike on part of the annular
ring at the end of the cap. The hole, with its countersunk outer end, may be
formed in various ways; thus, in Fig. 1. a represents the case or cylinder of
paper or other suitable material; b is a hat or cover of sheet metal at the end
of the case: e, c, is the socket, of pasteboard or other suitable material: e, e
is a plate or disc of metal, having a hole d through its centre; which is
countersunk, and forms the anvil or surface against which the annular chamber
containing the percussion powder at the end of the cap rests, and against
which the hammer strikes part of the annular ring. In Fig. 2 the counter-
smuk hole d is formed in a plate or disc, which has a tubular projection, which

page_text: enters the socket c. .c, which may be of metal or other suitable material, the
tubular part of the plate being formed to screw into such socket, and the
cylinder a may be of metal or other suitable material. I would state that
the peculiarity of the cartridges such as are shewn in Figs. I and 2 consists
in the combined arrangement herein described, whereby a countersunk hole d
is formed to receive a percussion cap with an annular ring or chamber at its
rear end, as described.
over its end. and an
to receive the anvil and
Figs. 3 and 4 shew: the sections of two cases for cartridges suitably con-
structed for receiving and being discharged by percussion caps similar in form
to those ordinarily employed on the nipples of fire-arms, such caps being
placed on gudgeons or anvils with grooves formed in them, which, together
with the caps, are introduced into the holes or recesses formed at the rear ends
of the cartridges. a, a, are the cylindrical cases of paper or other suitable
material, that at Fig. 3 having a metal hat or cover
internal metal base or lining to the hole or chamber
cap, whilst that at Fig. 4 has a disc of metal formed with a screwed tube.
which screws into the socket c. which may be of metal or other suitable
material. The anvil used in these cartridges is, by preference, of a cylindrical
form, and has longitudinal grooves in it, by which the fire of the percussion
powder may readily pass from the percussion cap to and through the opening
at the fore end of the chamber or recess in which the anvil and percussion cap
are received. Fig. 3 shews the form of the anvil, and also the percussion cap
used therewith. It is not essential that the anvil should be cylindrical, or that
it should have four longitudinal cuts or grooves formed in it, as shewn at
Fig. 3. as it may be formed with a greater or less number of cuts or grooves.
and be formed of other transverse section, so long as it is made to fill as
nearly as may be the cap. and has cuts or grooves formed in it.
In manufacturing the above-mentioned cartridges. and more particularly
those represented by Fig. 3, I make use of four different machines.. In
the first of these machines I present ribbons or bands of sheet metal.
which are successively cut into washers, which are afterwards countersunk to
form the heads of the cartridges. This machine is represented by the
Figs. 6. 7. 8. and 9, Sheet 1. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the said machine:
Fig. 7, a horizontal section through A, A. Fig. 6 and Figs. 8 and 9 are
elevations, partially in section, of the principal working parts, on a larger scale
than the preceding Figures is the rotating driving cranked shaft. from
which the two to-and-fro motions are obtained for cutting out the blanks, and.
secondly, for raising the edges to form the hats or covers b. b. Figs. 1 and 3.

page_text: The first of these motions is obtained from the crank which actuates the
punch it, and the second motion is obtained from two eccentrics keyed on
cither side of the crank, which eccentrics give motion to the feed plate J.
The machine operates as follows:-The band or strip of brass or other proper
sheet metal represented by the red line, Figs. 6 and 8. are passed through the
opening in the feed plate directly under the punch, the working parts being
in the position shewn in Fig. 8. The punch or cutter then descends and cuts
out a circular disc by passing through the counter die 1. The punch and feed
plate then descend together until they assume the position indicated in Fig. 9.
where it will be seen that the disc has been forced on to the stationary
punch m; this punchi head is attached to an upright column by a central bolt.
the column being secured in a plate n, which is aflixed to the press in any
convenient manner.
In the second of these machines 1 unite, by pressure, the lead and socket or
other component parts of the cartridge, and at the same operation imprint
thereon such letters or marks us may be required. For this purpose the cases
are placed on a feed plate under the punches, and from which, after being
pressed, they are extracted ready for use. In this latter machines. in order to
obtain an uniform pressure. I make use of a compensator, that is to say. that
1 cause the pressure to take place on one end of a lever, the other end of
which can be loaded to the required extent. This machine is represented by
the Figs. 10, 11, 12. 13, and 14, Sheet 1, Fig. 10 being a front elevation,
Fig. Ha side elevation in section through B, B. in Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a plan
of the feed plate, and Figs. 13 and 14 are two sectional elevations of the
punches, shewing their operation on an enlarged scale. The cartridge cases.
before being presented to the action of this machine, are first set up by hand,
that is to say; the four component parts a, b, c, and /. of cartridge case. Fig. 3,
are brought together, as shewn in Fig. 13. In this combined state the cases
are fed into the machine, which stamps. consolidates, and then expels them.
o is the main framing of the machine: is the rotating driving shaft. from
which the two two-and-fro motions are obtained. The punch q is actuated by
the crank, whilst the two eccentrics or cams placed on either side of the crank
communicate a to-and-fro motion to the feed plater. The operation of the
machine is as follows:-Whilst the feed plate is about at the bottom of its
stroke. the attendant inserts a cartridge case in hole No. 1 of the feed plate
(see Fig. 12). which plate on its upward stroke is caused to rotate a distance
in the direction of the arrow, and the hole No. 1 is thus brought into the
position of the hole No. 2, and directly under the punch g. This rotating

page_text: motion is caused by the arms keyed on the cross shaft s¹, which is encountered
by one of the six projecting studs on the plate r. The punch q is actuated
by the crank on the shaft p through the connecting rod q' and the sliding
punch head q. The feed plate r is actuated by the eccentrics or cams through
the side rods r', and the sliding cylinder . The parts descend together on to
the fixed punch & until the cartridge is reduced by pressure, as represented in
Fig. 14. The under face of the punch q, which bears the letters or marks to
be produced on the hat of the cartridge, producing the impression at the same
time that the spread-out part of the hat or cover b is pressed on by the punch q.
It will be observed that this punch q is provided with a central smaller punch
which enters the cup or metal lining of the recess formed at the end of the
cartridge. This smaller punch serves to maintain the metal lining in a central
position. This smaller punch is also provided at its extremity with a small
point or punch, which serves to clear the flash hole of the metal lining: The
fixed punch is pierced throughout with a small central hole, as shewn.
Fig. 14 shews a case during the process of compression. The expulsion of the
compressed cartridges is effected by the rod w, which is placed so as to corre-
spond with one of the holes in the feed plate, so that as the punch q and the
feed plater descend, the rod u ascends sufficiently into a previously compressed
cartridge case to expel it. The said rod re-descends below the under surface
of the feed plater before the said plate recommences its ascension. Motion is
imparted to the rod u through the agency of the crank u fitted on the driving
shaft p, which actuates. the rocking shaft by means of a short lever u, to
which it is attached, whilst the longer lever u5 acts on the expelling rod u.
By this arrangement of machine, two important results are obtained, first, the
possibility of applying great pressure without danger of breaking of the
machinery, and, secondly, the certainty of applying a uniform pressure to each
cartridge case passed through the machine. This is effected by placing the
punch block t', which receives the entire pressure, on the short end or nose v
of the compensating lever ', which is suspended on a bolt 2, whilst its other
extremity is loaded with a weight 3; a stop or rest is placed in any convenient
position under the long arm of this lever, which serves to keep this lever in the
position indicated. It will readily be perceived that when the lever is loaded
with the weight corresponding to the pressure required on the punch, any
excess to such pressure will cause the long end of the lever to rise, and thereby
relieve the press as well as the cartridge of such excess of pressure.
In a third machine I smooth externally and internally, as well as give a
perfectly cylindrical shape to the paper or other tubes of which cartridge cases

page_text: are made. For this purpose I place a tube on a metallic mandril, which
I present to the revolving ring, which is of an internal diameter equal to
the outside of the case. This ring is slightly bell-mouthed or rounded on its
entering edge. Thus the case enters casily into the smoothing rings, whilst
it is rotating quickly, and when the case has completely passed through, the
ring on the mandril being drawn back, the case falls. This apparatus is
represented in Fig. 1. Sheet 2. is the smoothing ring, which is made of
hard metal or stone, such as agate or other suitable material, fitted in a hollow
axis, which turns in suitable bearings: on this axis are proper pulleys for
imparting rotary motion thereto, when driven by an endless band is the
mandril, and the case passed on to it. The end of the case is supported
at the back end in a socket e³, which is capable of sliding on the mandril, and
the socket is prevented turning by the screw which passes through a slot:
e is a spiral spring around the end of the mandril, which presses the socket
up to the end of the case when the case is passed completely through the
ring on continuing to push the mandril tirough, the sliding socket will
retreat until the extremity of the case has passed the square edge of the
smoothing ring e, and then upon withdrawing the mandril the smoothed case
will be left behind.
In a fourth machine I groove the metallic wire to be afterwards cut up into
small pieces to serve as anvils, which are placed in the percussion caps; for
this purpose I make use of as many circular saws as I intend to have grooves
or flutes on the wire, the said saws revolving at a high velocity whilst the wire
is being drawn through guides by the workman. This apparatus is repre-
sented by the Figs. 2 and 3, Sheel 2, Fig. 2 being a front elevation of same
complete, and Fig. 3 a lateral elevation, with three of the saws removed. g is
the anvil wire, which is passed through a hollow central guide g', fixed in the
main plate e, x, x', are the four circular saws which produce the flutes
or grooves on the said wire. They are each fitted on separate spindles provided
with gut riggers for receiving rotary motion. The bolts, are for the
purpose of securing the saw carriages, to the plate, and those p, .,,
which pass through eyes placed under the said carriages, are for the purpose of
adjusting them on the plate.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that what I claim is,---
First; the manufacture of cartridges as described with reference to Figs. 1.
2, and 1, and I also claim the manufacture of cartridges described, with
reference to Figs. 3, 4, and '3.
'

page_text: Second, I claim the combined arrangement of the press described with
reference to Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, Sheet 1.
Third, I claim the combined arrangement described with reference
Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.
Fourth, I claim the combined arrangement described with reference to
Fig. 1, Sheet 2, for smoothing the cases for cartridges.
And, fifth, I claim the combined arrangement described with reference to
Figs. 2 and 3, Sheet 2.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francois Eugene Schneider, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of March, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-two.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named Francois Eugene
Schneider, in the presence of
GEORGE H. DAW,
57, Threadneedle St.
F. E. SCHNEIDER. (L.s.)