IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES
Year: 1883

page_text: "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thorsten Nordenfelt at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th June 1883.
THORSTEN NORDENFELT of 53 Parliament Street in the City of Westminster
IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES
"
This invention has for its object improvements in cartridges.
When metallic capsule cartridges are made for large calibres it becomes desirable
to be able to reload the capsule or cartridge case after use where machinery and
skilled labour is not available. The percussion arrangement now renders this
difficult as the exploded cap is troublesome to remove. I overcome the difficulty
by fitting a tube or bush into the centre of the metallic base of the cartridge
capsule or case. The base is recessed to receive the bush which is of metal and has
a collar or flange on its exterior. The bush is forced into its place in the recess
and it then projects into the interior of the capsule or cartridge case.
The per-
cussion cap is applied at the rear of the bush and an anvil for the cap is provided
either as a separate piece or otherwise.
After firing the bush is easily forced out by a pusher inserted into the interior
of the capsule or cartridge case and the bush carries with it the cap and the anvil―
or the bush can have its inner end away from the percussion cap opened out into a
bell mouthed or trumpet shaped form so as to make it easy to insert through the
neck of the cartridge case a rod or pin by which the cap can be forced out while
the bush remains fixed in the cartridge case as by this means I can easily replace
the cap without changing the bush as long as the bush remains firmly fixed after
which I can cut out the bush and replace it by another in order to use the capsule
or cartridge case itself as often as possible.
Sometimes with view to ignite the charge at a distance from the base of the
cartridge I form the bush as a tube of some length projecting forwards into the
cartridge. A priming or igniting charge may be placed within it.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thorsten Nordenfelt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th December 1883.
THORSTEN NORDENFELT of 53 Parliament Street in the City of Westminster
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES
"
This invention has for its object improvements in cartridges.
When metallic capsule cartridges are made for large calibres it becomes desirable
to be able to reload the capsule or cartridge case after use where machinery and
skilled labour is not available. The percussion arrangement now renders this
difficult as the exploded cap is troublesome to remove. I overcome the difficulty
by fitting a tube or bush into the centre of the metallic base of the cartridge
capsule or case. The base is recessed to receive the bush which is of metal and has
a collar or flange on its exterior. The bush is forced into its place in the recess and
it then projects into the interior of the capsule or cartridge case. The percussion
cap is applied at the rear of the bush and an anvil for the cap is provided either as
a separate piece or otherwise.
After firing the bush is easily forced out by a pusher inserted into the interior
of the capsule or cartridge case and the bush carries with it the cap and the
anvil.
Sometimes with a view to ignite the charge at a distance from the base of the
cartridge I form the bush as a tube of some length projecting forwards into the
cartridge. A priming or igniting charge may be placed within it.
In order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a section shewing to about double the actual size a. portion of the
base of a large cartridge with the priming parts connected therewith.
A A is a portion of the metal at the base of cartridge capsule or case it has a
central recess formed in it.
B is a metal priming tube or bush inserted into the recess in the base A; it has
a collar or shoulder upon it which fits up to a corresponding shoulder within the
recess
C is the anvil.
D is the percussion cap; it is thin in the centre where it receives the blow of
the striker and thick around the edges. This method of forming caps is not novel
but as before been used by me.
Figure 2 shews the same parts but the tube B is charged with fine grain powder
at E and this powder is retained in its placo by a plug of wadding F.
The charge E is employed when the main charge in the cartridge is of pebble
powder; it serves to insure an effectual and uniform ignition.
Figure 3 shews a like arrangement but the tube B is caused to project further
forward in order that the main charge may be ignited more nearly in the central
position.
In Figure 4 the tube is made in two parts B' and B³.
In Figure 5 a somewhat different arrangement of anvil and cap is represented
these parts being inserted directly into the cavity in the head. There is also a
difference in the form of the anvil."
In Figure 6 an arrangement is shewn in which the anvil is formed of a piece
with the tube B; a cap of smaller dimensions is employed.

page_text: Figure 7 shews another form. The tube and anvil are formed in one piece the
cap is received directly into the recess in the head. A flanged ring fitting around
the end of the tube B serves to maintain a suitable distance between the anvil and
the cap
In Figure 8 also the tube B and the anvil are formed together. In this case the
tube is screwed into the base of the cartridge capsule.
Figure 9 shows an arrangement similar to that of Figure 8 except that the anvil
is a separate piece inserted into the priming tube or bush B.
In all these arrangements after the cartridge has been fired the tube B together
with the other priming parts can be driven out or removed from the head of the
cartridge capsule and replaced by other similar parts kept in store and ready
loaded.
The reloading of the cartridge to fit it to be again used is in this way greatly
facilitated and the cartridge capsule may be used repeatedly without being returned
to the workshop.
Having thus described the nature of my said invention and the manner of
performing the same I would have it understood that I claim fitting or bushing the
base of a cartridge capsule or case with a priming tube fitting a recess in the base
of the metal capsule or case and capable after firing of being driven out or removed
together with the other priming parts to prepare the capsule or case to be reloaded
substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof I the said Thorsten Nordenfelt have hereunto set my hand
and seal this fourth day of December in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
ТП
NORDENTELI (L.S.)