A NEW OR IMPROVED MEANS OF PREVENTING THE FOULING OF FIRE- ARMS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to François Laurent Marie Dorvault, of No. 7, Rue
de Jouy, in the City of Paris, France, Chemist, for the Invention of
"A NEW OR IMPROVED MEANS OF PREVENTING THE FOULING OF FIRE-
ARMS."
Sealed the 17th March 1865, and dated the 22nd September 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said François Laurent Marie
Dorvault at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 22nd September 1864.
I, FRANÇOIS LAURENT MARIE DORVAULT, of No. 7, Rue de Jouy, in the'
City of Paris, France, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED MEANS OF PREVENTING THE FOULING OF
FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
The Invention in question has for its object the use of capsules containing a
fatty or other matter to prevent (being added to the charge between the powder
and the ball, and parting with the explosion) the fouling of the barrel of the
fire-arm, whether rifled or not. The nature of the envelope of these capsules,
as well as the substance which they contain, and also their shape, may vary
according to the fire-arm, and from various other considerations.

page_text: Here is one of the methods of proceeding to obtain these capsules. Take
of gelatine four parts, of gum one part, of sugar one part, and dissolve the
whole by heat with a sufficient quantity of water, say, about six parts.
Mandrels with ends lenticularly shaped are steeped in the viscuous liquid, and
after cooling the capsules are removed from off the mandrels, scraped, filled
with oil or grease, and closed. The method of operating is in this case is the
same as that followed for medicinal capsules, but to obtain the capsules in
question not only may a gummy gelatinous mixture and mandrels be used, but
also various substances and mechanical or other punches. The means are of
little importance so that the capsule be obtained. The nature of the envelope
and its contents may vary with different circumstances or considerations, in
fact the first may be of animal, vegetable, or mineral matter, and even metallic
may be obtained by various processes, and have different shapes and sizes; the
second may be a fatty or other substance. The important point is to obtain
capsules which will prevent the fouling of fire-arms.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,, filed
by the said François Laurent Marie Dorvault in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 21st March 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANÇOIS
LAURENT MARIE DORVAULT, of Number 7, Rue de Jouy, in the City of Paris,
France, Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said François Laurent Marie Dorvault, Her special
licence that I, the said François Laurent Marie Dorvault, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or. such others as I, the said François Laurent
Marie Dorvault, my executors, administrators, and assigns,' should at any
time agree with,_and_no_others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "A NEW
OB IMPROVED MEANS OF PREVENTING THE FOULING OF FIRE-ARMS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that 1, the said François Laurent Marie

page_text: Dorvault, my executors or administrators, 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
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said François Laurent Marie Dorvault,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and inv
what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement: -
My Invention consists in the use of capsules containing a fatty or other
matter, which capsules being added to the charge part with the explosion,
and prevent the fouling of the barrel of rifled or other fire-arms:
Here is one of the methods which I adopt to obtain these capsules. I take
of gelatine four parts, of gum one part, of sugar one part, and dissolve them
by heat in a sufficient quantity of water, say, about six parts; I then steep in
the viscuous liquid thus obtained mandrels with lenticularly shaped end; when
cool I remove the capsules from the top of the mandrels, scrape or pare
them, fill them with oil or grease, and close them. The method I have just
described is the same as that by which medicinal capsules are made, but to
obtain the capsules in question not only may a gummy gelatinous mixture and
mandrels be used, but also various other substances and mechanical cutting
punches. The method adopted is of little importance so that the capsules are
produced.
The application is as follows:-In making a cartridge, place the capsule
between the powder and the ball, or if charging a fowling-piece, after having
rammed down the powder, place the capsule above it, and then charge with
shot. The introduction of one of these capsules, or the use of a cartridge
containing one of them, at every fourth or fifth discharge will preserve the
fire-arm from fouling for an indefinite period.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and means by
which it may be carried into practical effect, I would have it distinctly under-
stood that the nature of the envelope or casing of the capsule and its contents
may vary according to different circumstances and from various considera-
tions; in fact the envelope may be of animal, vegetable, or mineral matter,
and even metallic, it may be obtained by various processes; have different
shapes and dimensions, and the contents may be either a greasy or other
substance which will fulfil the object of my Invention; and that I claim, the

page_text: exclusive use of a capsule containing a greasy or other matter when added to
the charge and parting with the explosion as forming "A New or Improved
Means of Preventing the Fouling of Fire-arms.
In witness whereof, I, the said François Laurent Marie Dorvault, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of March, in 5
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
P. B. DARNIS:
:
I
DORVAULT. (L.S.)