Improvements in Blank-cartridges.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 10th June, 1891-Accepted, 18th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Blank-cartridges.
EUGEN RITTER, of Ehrenfeld, near Cologne on the Rhine, in the Empire of
Germany, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to blank cartridges.
In quick firing guns it is needful for blank cartridges to present the exact
length and form of the loaded cartridges. The metallic casing in the blank
cartridges heretofore employed is just as long as in the loaded cartridges in lieu of
the long metallic projectile rounded off in front, which is approximately half as
long as the metallic casing, a hollow projectile of soft wood made of the same form
and length is inserted.. Such blank cartridges present the defect that the long
wooden projectile often does not splinter at all or only at a great distance from the
gun barrel so that injuries are liable to occur.
Attempts have already been made to form the projectile for blank cartridges of
pasteboard or paper pulp. As the danger incidental to pasteboard or paper
projectiles issuing from the gun barrel is not less than in the case of wooden
projectiles it is desirable to use blank cartridges having an inner pasteboard or
paper casing which does not leave the cartridge casing at all and bursts open
only at the rounded point. Up to the present time no practicable method has
been devised of forming the round point of the pasteboard or paper casing in
conformity with this aim, in which case a smaller force is needed for bursting
open the round point than for tearing the pasteboard or paper projectile from
the metallic casing. I have succeeded in solving this problem by my aforesaid
invention, which also comprises improvements in blank cartridges having for
their object to increase the resisting force of the pasteboard or paper casing. Each
blank cartridge has an outer metallic casing and a easing of pasteboard, paper or
similar material, fixed in the metallic casing from which it protrudes the same
length as the projectile of a loaded cartridge. The end of the pasteboard or paper
casing is closed in the manner hereinafter described so as to form a hemispherical
point. By contracting the metallic casing in front the tearing of the pasteboard or
paper casing is precluded.
For producing the said hemispherical part of the pasteboard or paper casing
the end of the latter is continually forced with slight pressure into the hemi-
spherical cavity of a rapidly rotating upsetting dic. The rapid rotation of this
upsetting die while the pasteboard or paper casing is pressed centrally against
the same causes the material at the cylindrical end of the said casing to be displaced
and upset so as to assume the hemispherical shape of the cavity in the die, and
close the end which is at the same time made smooth exteriorly. By closing
the end of the casing as described it will easily burst open in the firing, with-
out any liability to the separation of parts of these casings from the metallic
casings, and their projection from the barrel, which has not been attained by the
blank cartridges; having their casing closed as hitherto practised. In a somewhat
modified arrangement of blank cartridge the pasteboard or paper casing is closed by a
small hemispherical plug which is also suitably made according to the above-described
method from a casing and consists of pasteboard, paper pulp or other suitable
material. This small pasteboard or paper plug which is glued into the above-
mentioned pasteboard or paper casing or connected with the latter by gum, is in
like manner as above described easily opened by the gases without being separated
from the pasteboard or paper casing so that no parts of the same will fly from the
barrel.

page_text: The length of the metallic casing may be varied. In some instances this casing
presents the length of an ordinary cartridge casing, whilst in other instances it is
made considerably shorter, the pasteboard or paper casing being secured in the
metallic casing by providing one or more grooves or depressions in the latter. As
with many kinds of powder the paper is liable to be burnt out it will be expedient
to insert an inner metallic casing into the said pasteboard or paper casing to protect
the same.
The inner metallic casinganay be of any desired length and is preferably
prevented from projecting forward in the firing by bending over its rear edge. In
the blank cartridge having a short exterior metallic casing the inner protecting
casing also serves to impart greater stiffness to the pasteboard or paper casing.
If the last mentioned feature is of the greatest importance in the manufacture of
blank cartridges the pasteboard or paper casing may also be provided with an
outer metallic cover or casing. This outer cover or casing extends either through
part or through the whole of the cartridge casing and is securely held therein by
contracting the latter at its front. The outer cover or casing is held more securely
in its place by also bending over its rear edge. It may protect the entire part of
the pasteboard or paper casing which protrudes from the cartridge casing, as far as
the hemispherical cap or point.
Dated this 6th day of April 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Blank-cartridges.
I, EUGEN RITTER, of Ehrenfeld, near Cologne on the Rhine in the Empire of
Germany, Manufacturer, 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 :-
My invention relates to blank cartridges.
In quick-firing guns it is necessary that the blank cartridges to be used therein
be of the exact length and form of the loaded cartridges. The metallic casing in
the blank cartridges heretofore employed is of the same length as the loaded
cartridges and in lieu of the long metallic projectile rounded off in front which is
approximately half as long as the metallic casing, a hollow projectile of soft wood
made of the same form and length is inserted. Such blank cartridges present the
defect that the long wooden projectile often does not splinter at all or only at a
great distance from the gun so that injuries are liable to occur.
Attempts have already been made to form the projectile for blank cartridges of
pasteboard or paper pulp. As the danger incidental to pasteboard or paper
projectiles issuing from the gun is not less than in the case of wooden projectiles
it is desirable to use blank cartridges the projectile of which does not leave the
cartridge casing at all and bursts open only at the rounded point. Up to the present
time no practicable method has been devised of forming the round point of the
pasteboard or paper projectile, in conformity with this aim in which case a smaller
force is needed for bursting open the round point than for tearing the pasteboard
or paper projectile from the metallic casing. I have succeeded in solving this
problem by my aforesaidi invention which also comprises improvements in blank
cartridges having for their object to increase the resisting force of the pasteboard
or paper projectile.
In the accompanying drawings the figures of which are hereinafter referred to,
I have shown how my said invention may be conveniently and advantageously
carried into practice.
Each blank cartridge constructed according to my said invention has an outer
metallic casing and a casing fixed in the latter and made of pasteboard paper
or similar material fixed in the metallic casing from which it protrudes for a

page_text: Tengin Figure 1, as in a projectile of a loaded cartridge. The end of the paste-
board or paper casing is closed in the manner hereinafter described so as to form a
hemispherical point, & Figure 2. By contracting the metallic casing at the
tearing of the pasteboard or paper casing from the same is obviated.
For producing the said hemispherical part d Figure 2 of the projectile, of the
pasteboard or paper casing the end of the latter is continually forced with slight
pressure into the hemispherical cavity of a rapidly rotating upsetting die. The
rapid rotation of this upsetting die while the pasteboard or paper casing is pressed
centrally against the same causes the material at the cylindrical end of the said
casing to be displaced and upset so as to assume the hemispherical shape of the
cavity in the die. The closed end of the casing made in this manner is not only
hollow, but the hemispherical rap d is at the same time made smooth exteriorly.
By closing the end of the casings as described it will easily burst open in the firing
without any liability to the separation of parts of these casings from the casings
and their projection from the barrel, which has not been attained by the blank-
cartridges, having their casing closed as hitherto practised. In a somewhat modified
arrangement of the blank cartridge represented in Figure 3 the pasteboard or paper
casing is closed by a small hemispherical plug e which is also suitably made
according to the above described method from a casing and consists of pasteboard,
paper pulp or other suitable material. This small pasteboard or paper plug e
which is glued into the above-mentioned pasteboard or paper casing y or connected
with the latter by gum, is in like manner as above described easily opened by the
gases without being separated from the pasteboard or paper casing so that no parts
of the same will fly from the barrel.
The length of the metallic casing may be varied. In Figures 1 to 3 it is shown
the length of an ordinary cartridge-casing whilst in Figure 4 it is made considerably
shorter, as in this case the contraction at his dispensed with it is necessary to
secure the pasteboard or paper casing in the metallic casing in another manner, to
obviate the former being stripped from the latter. This is suitably effected by
providing grooves in the metallic casing Figure 4. As with many kinds of
powder the paper is liable to be burnt out it will be expedient to insert an inner
metallic casings into the said pasteboard or paper casing as shown in Figure 4
to protect the same against burning out. These metallic casings may be of any
desired length and are preferably prevented from being projected forward in the
firing of the gun by the bent or flanged ends. The said casing s also serves to
impart greater stiffness to the pasteboard or paper casing. If the last-mentioned
feature is of the greatest importance in the manufacture of blank cartridges the
pasteboard or paper may also be provided with an outer metallic cover or casing,
as indicated at t in Figure 5. This outer cover or casing then extends to the
line a or to the line y into the cartridge casing fand is securely held therein by
the contracted portion at h. The outer cover or casing is held more securely in its
place if the bend is also provided. This casing & protects the entire projecting
parti as far as the hemispherical cap.
The manufacture and insertion of the inner pasteboard or paper casing in the
case of the above described cartridges is suitably effected in the manner illustrated
in Figures 6 to 11. The pasteboard or paper casing consists in this instance of
two parts g' and g³ which are introduced into the pasteboard or paper casing one
after the other. One casing g', Figure 6, serves for lining the inner side of the
pasteboard or paper casing fas far as the contraction in such a manner that the
contracted part of the cartridge, as shown in Figure 9, will form a cylinder with
the space of the inner casing g; the insertion of the casing g' is preferably effected
in the manner shown in Figures 7 to 9. The casing g₁ may be cut open on one
side and rolled up, Figure 7, in order to be introduced through the contracted part
of the cartridge, Figure 8. But the casing may also form an uncut pasteboard
or paper tube, in which case it is folded up in the manner illustrated in Figure 10
for enabling it to be slid into the pasteboard or paper casing.
When the casing y
has been completely slid into the cartridge casing it is forced by means of a mandrel

page_text: against the wall, Figure 9. Then the tube is inserted, Figures 11 and 12. The
firm connection of the two pasteboard or paper parts g² and g² is effected by the
use of any suitable glutinous substance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is
First. A blank cartridge in which the longer casing (9) made of paper, paste-
board or similar material and inserted into the outer cartridge casing (f) is closed
at the point to form a hemispherical cap Figures 1 and 2 by forcing it either against
a rotary upsetting die Figures 1, 2 or by inserting a hollow plug (e) Figures 3
produced in a similar manner substantially as hereinbefore described and
represented in the drawing.
Second. The arrangement of an interior lining or casing (s) Figure 4 for
protecting the pasteboard or paper casing, the protecting casing leaving the point
of the projectile free, and being adapted to be fixed by bending at the lower end (**)
of the pasteboard or paper casing, as above described and as represented in the
drawing.
Third. The fixing of the pasteboard or paper casing (g) in the cartridge
casing () by grooves c formed in the latter by rolling Figure 4, as above
described and as represented in the drawing.
Fourth. The exterior covering of the pasteboard or paper casing (g) with a
metallic casing (t) which leaves the point of the projectile free and can be
connected in the cartridge casing (g) with the pasteboard or paper casing by
bending at the lower end, and which is held by the contraction at h, as above
described and as represented in the drawing.
Fifth. The manufacture of the pasteboard or paper casing (y) in two parts by
first rolling up the casing () as in Figure 7, or by folding it as in Figure 10,
then introducing it through the contracted part of the cartridge casing and
forcing it against the inner side of the same, whereupon the pasteboard or paper
tube can be introduced and may be connected with the casing g', by glutinous
substance, substantially as described with reference to Figures 6 to 12 of the
drawings.
Dated this 10th day of June 1891
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.