A NEW OR IMPROVED ISOLATING AND WATERPROOF CASING FOR THE INTERIOR OF METALIC CARTRIDGES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henri Adrien Bonneville, of the British and Foreign
Patent Offices, 18, Rue de la Chaussée d'Antin, Paris, France, and 90, Cannon
Street, in the City of London, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "A
NEW OR IMPROVED ISOLATING AND WATERPROOF CASING FOR THE INTERIOR
OF METALIC CARTRIDGES." A communication from Alexandre Alfred Biennait,
of No. 49, Avenue Marceau, Paris, France.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henri Adrien Bonneville at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th May 1881.
HENRI ADRIEN BONNEVILLE, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices, 18, Rue
de la Chaussée d'Antin, Paris, France, and 90, Cannon Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent. "A NEW OR IMPROVED ISOLATING WATERPROOF CASING
FOR THE INTERIOR OF METALLIC CARTRIDGES." (A communication by Alexandre
Alfred Biennait, of No. 49, Avenue Marceau, Paris, France.)
The Invention communicated to me relates to the isolating of the explosive
substance in the manufacture of inetallic cartridges, and entirely preventing its
contact with the metallic case, as also to protect it from humidity, and consequently
from becoming damaged, and to preserve all its explosive power. This Invention
therefore consists in enclosing, first of all, the charge in an isolating and waterproof
casing made of the bowels of animals, or of any other suitable material possessing
isolating and waterproof qualities, but in preference of the small intestines of the
lesser ruminants, such as sheep, and in inserting the cartridge thus obtained into a
metallic case.
In order to effect this the smaller intestine of a sheep, after having been carefully
cleaned, is cut into lengths of from about 15 to 20 inches long, each of which is
placed upon a round stick or mould of suitable diameter, upon which they are
allowed to dry. In certain cases, and in order to increase the thickness and
strength of the casing, two or three pieces of gut are placed one within the other
upon the mould so as to have several thicknesses. When the moulding is termi-
nated, the exterior of the casing is varnished by being plunged, while still upon the

page_text: .
mould, into a collodion bath, after which it is set again to dry. The gut is then
taken from the mould and divided into lengths of from about 3 to 4 inches long,
forming varnished tubes or cylindrical casings of that length. Each length is then
fitted upon a wooden mould, allowing one of the extremities of the tube to extend
about three quarters of an inch beyond the end of the mould. This part is now
seized between the thumb and the two first fingers, and a strong twist given to it
so as to bring the edges together towards the center, and form there a plane surface
into which a recess is punched destined to receive the percussion cap lodged at the
bottom of the metallic case. This punched recess is obtained by means of a steel
matrix or die of exactly the shape and diameter of the cap and of a convex punch,
upon which the case is placed, and which is brought down upon the die by a
slight blow of a stamping press.
The gut cylinder thus obtained is inserted into the metallic case, and charged
with powder, upon which the bullet is placed, after which the setting is proceeded
with as usual without regard to the interior casing.
The above improved watertight isolating interior casing can be applied to all
kinds of metallic cartridges, their diameter alone differing. The combustion is
complete, and there remains in the metallic casing after the explosion only the
residue of the combustion of the powder.
After having thus described this Invention, and the manner of carrying it into
effect, I claim in the manufacture of metallic cartridges the combination with the
metallic case of an isolating waterproof casing or enveloppe made of any suitable
material or substance, but more particularly of the intestines of animals, varnished
on the outside, and destined to receive the charge and to be inserted into the
metallic case, substantially as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henri Adrien Bonneville, have hereto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
H. BONNEVILLE. (L.S.)