IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGE BOXES OR HOLDERS
Year: 1868

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 23rd April 1868.-A communication from abroad by Paul
Friedrich Schneider, of Hartford, Connecticut, United States of
America.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office,"
No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGE BOXES OR HOLDERS," a
communication, to be as follows :-
My Invention relates to a cartridge box or pouch of such a con-
struction and form that it can be conveniently carried upon the
body of the person who is to wear it, and from which the cartridges
can in turn and one after another, but only one at a time, as it is
desired to use them, be readily discharged through a suitable shaped
nozzle or opening. The said cartridge box or pouch is made of a
cylindrical form and. provided with a series of tubes arranged within
it; these tubes extend entirely around the box at equal distances
!..

page_text: .
-
from each other, and form the centre of the cylindrical casing in
which the said tubes are placed. The internal diameter of each of
these tubes may correspond with or be a little greater than the
diameter of the flanged ends of the cartridges, so that the latter
can move freely in the tubes. It is intended that the diameter of
the cylindrical casing as well as its length shall be sufficient to allow
such a number of cartridges as under the military rules is considered
a complement to be carried within its several tubes. The series of
cartridges in each tube rest upon each other with the lower one of each
series upon the bottom plate of a casing surrounding the lower portion
of the tube cylinder. The tube cylinder is divided into two portions
or sections, with a space between the contiguous ends of each, the
lower portion being a little less in length than the two metallic
cartridges for which the cartridge box is intended when placed end
to end or in a line with each other. The flanged end of the upper
one of every two cartridges in such position in the case tube conse-
quently projects above the upper end of the same. Through the
centre of the tube and casing and in the direction of its length
extends a shaft secured at one end to the lower or bottom plate of
the exterior casing for the tube cylinder, and having at its other or
upper end a flat-headed screw; this screw is inserted into the end
of the shaft and is brought to a bearing by its head against such
end. The tube cylinder turns loosely upon this centre shaft when
operated with its two sections held at the proper distance apart, or
with a space between their contiguous ends as described by a collar
secured to the. shaft at the proper point therefor. The two sections
of the tube cylinder are interlocked by two fixed pins in the lower.
section. To the lower end of the lower section of the tube cylinder,
and concentric. therewith turning loosely upon the centre shaft, is
secured a ratchet wheel having teeth corresponding in number to
that of the series of cartridge tubes and in a radial line with the
centres thereof and the centre of the cylinder. With the teeth of
this ratchet wheel two spring pawls are engaged, one upon each side
of the same, but at points diametrically opposite to each other, the
pawl upon one side being hung upon a fulcrum pin on the casing
and the other upon a fulcrum pin on the inner end of a spring
lever arm.
The said arm is connected with a fulcrum on the outside
of the said casing and moves in and under a clasp. By swinging the
lever arm in the proper direction the pawl hung to its inner end is

page_text: made to turn the ratchet wheel, and consequently the tube cylinder.
to which it is secured around in the opposite direction, a stop limiting.
the motion of the said lever arm in one direction and the end of the,
clasp under which it moves limiting its motion in the other direction..
Sufficient play should be allowed to the said lever to let the ratchet,
be revolved thereby only through a space equal to one of its teeth.
at one time when releasing the lever. The ratchet will immediately:
return to its place through the force of a spring secured at one end.
to the outside of the casing. By alternately moving the lever forward!
to a stop and then allowing it to fly or swing back the tube cylinder,
will revolve entirely around its central axis or shaft, the pawl upon
the fulcrum pin on the casing preventing its movement in an opposite
direction, and also holding it in place after each successive action.
of the lever pawl. It will thus be seen that by properly moving,
the operating lever the tube cylinder can be caused to revolve around
its centre axis or shaft. An aperture is made in the bottom plate
of the casing surrounding the lower portion of the tube cylinder, the.
said aperture being of corresponding diameter to the interior of the
tubes and at such a point of the said bottom plate as will be in exact
line with any one of the series of tubes when it is stationary or at
rest. By intermittently revolving the said tube cylinder its several.
tubes will thus in regular order and succession be brought in line
with the said aperture, thereby forming an outlet for the cartridges
contained therein to escape or to be discharged from the said cylinder.
To prevent the possibility of more than one cartridge in each tube of.
the cylinder passing out through the aperture or opening of the casing
at one time I place between the two sections of the tube cylinder
and in the same vertical plane or line as the said opening a stationary
bridge, one portion of which forms a radial arm to the shaft collar,
the other portion being secured to the interior of the casing at or near
its upper end. The two portions are separated from each other, having
an opening between them corresponding to the diameter of the main.
or barrel part of the cartridges. On the edges of this bridge the upper:
cartridge in the lower section of the tube cylinder at its flanged end.
6 comes to a rest as the one below it falls through the opening. The
upper cartridge is thus retained within its tube, and also all the
remaining cartridges of the series in such tube above it. By properly
moving the lever arm, such cartridge slides over the bridge, and its
place is then taken by. the upper cartridge in the lower section of:

page_text: the next tube, and so on through the whole series; the lower section of
the tube cylinder may, if desired, be made of such a length as to
admit three or more cartridges in each of its tubes, it being obvious
that as the number of cartridges is increased the number of cartridges
discharged from each of the said tubes at one and the same time
will be correspondingly increased, the cartridge box being thus rendered
readily applicable to the discharge of one or more cartridges at one
and the same time. The cartridge box may be enclosed within a
leather or other suitable casing or exterior, and may be made of
various materials.
My improvements may be modified by making the compartments
for the cartridges extend in radial lines towards the centre of the
cylinder. Each compartment is made to admit one cartridge, and of
just sufficient diameter to allow the cartridge to be inserted without
danger of sticking when dropped out for use. Any convenient number
of rows of these compartments may be made in one cylinder, and to
economize space they are usually arranged alternately, somewhat as
the cells of a honey-comb. There must however be an equal number
of them on each plane occupied, so that the ratchet motion governing
the revolution of the cylinder may bring one cartridge from each row
alternately before the outlet. The outlet aperture is made through the
periphery of the outer case at the point where it is most convenient for
the cartridge to be taken out. And it is sufficiently long to admit and
let out cartridges to and from each row of compartments; the latter
are shaped at their outer edges in such a manner that the flanges of
the cartridge shells are sunk in flush with the periphery of the cylinder
when in place. A sliding door with a knob is arranged in the outer
shell for the purpose of covering the outlet when not in use. On one of
the flat sides of the cylinder containing the cartridge is a circular
ratchet with a tooth for each compartment. This ratchet is fastened to
the cylinder, and the latter is revolved by means of a pawl, one tooth at
a time, so as to bring one cartridge at a time, taking the succession from
each row alternately opposite the outlet in the case. The pawl is
pivotted at one end upon a centre pin on the cylinder and extends
beyond the periphery of the outer case, and has for convenience of
working it a knob upon its outer end. The motion of the said pawl
is limited at each side by means of the ends of the slot through which
it works in the periphery of the outer case, the space left for its move-

page_text: ment being just sufficient to allow it to move the cylinder with the
ratchet one tooth of the latter at a time. On the under side of the
pawl a spring is attached at one end, and the other end of the same is
put through the centre pin of the cylinder. This spring consists of a
metal wire, and is bent around so as to throw the pawl back after each
motion forward latching in another tooth of the ratchet, so that it is
ready for its next motion.