IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGE SHELLS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes
and Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGE SHELLS."—A communication.
from abroad by Wilbur F. Parker, of the City of Meriden, County
of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, United States of
.America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 26th November 1874.
I, EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent.
Agents, 123, Chancery Lané, London, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGE SHELLS," a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Wilbur F. Parker, of the City of Meriden,
County of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, United States of
America (to be as follows): —

page_text: to that class in which the shell is formed principally of paper or material
other than metal, parts of the construction being applicable to all metal
shells, and the Invention consists,—
First. In a cartridge shell made from paper, with a metallic head
constructed with a central recess for the primer, and with radial 5
grooves leading into the said recess for the purpose of extracting the
primer.
Second. A cartridge shell composed of paper sides and a metallic head,
the said head constructed with a central recess, in which is a permanent
anvil upon which to explode the primer.
Third. In forming the radial grooves leading to the central or primer
recess in the head of a cartridge shell by indenting or "striking up," the
metal forming substantially radial corrugations in the head, whereby the
resisting power of the head is greatly increased.
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view; Fig. 2
is a longitudinal section on the lines, ; Fig. 3, section of the head
on line, z; and Fig. 4, modification of the anvil.
A is the cylinder of the shell formed from paper or material other
than metal in substantially the usual manner, preferably with the rear
end B closed by the same material, but perforated to admit the fire from
the primer, such perforations being made in the usual manner and
according to the kind of primers used. Over this closed end a metal
cap C is placed, fitting closely. In the centre of this cap is a recess a
to receive the primer, which may be of any of the classes known. Into
this recess one or more radial grooves & lead, running back and dying
out a short distance from the said recess. These are for the purpose of
removing the primer, which is done by inserting a sharp instrument
through one of the grooves beneath or against the primer and then
prying it out. In the centre of this recess the anvil f is permanently
arranged either by forming it from the metal in the recess, as seen in
Fig. 2, or by securing a metal anvil in the recess, as seen in Fig. 4, but
in either case it is permanently a part of the shell. If the grooves & be
formed by cutting into the metal the head is weakened to that extent.
To avoid this weakening of the head I strike the grooves into the metal.
by suitable dies, raising the metal upon the reverse sides, as seen in
Fig. 3. The grooves thus struck up form radial corrugations, which add
1

page_text: very greatly to the strength of the head, and permits the use of lighter
metal than could be otherwise used. This part of my Invention is
applicable to motal cartridges generally.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 25th May 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents, 123,
Chancery Lane, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
.Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, Her special
licence that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Thomas
Hughes, 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGE SHELLS," a communication to me
from abroad by Wilbur F. Parker, of the City of Meriden, County of
New Haven, and State of Connecticut, United States of America, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes,
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 Edward Thomas Hughes, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
'

page_text: by the following statement and accompanying Sheets or Drawings (that
is to say):
This Invention relates to an improvement in the construction of that
class of cartridge shells designed for sporting purposes, and particularly
to that class in which the shell is formed principally of paper or material 5
other than metal, parts of the construction being applicable to all metal
shells, and the Invention consists,―
First. In a cartridge shell made from paper, with a metallic head
constructed with a central recess for the primer and with radial
grooves leading into the said recess for the purpose of extracting the 1
primer.
Second. A cartridge shell composed of paper sides and a metallic head,
the said head constructed with a central recess, in which is a permanent
anvil upon which to explode the primer.
Third. In forming the radial grooves leading to the central or primer 1
recess in the head of a cartridge shell by indenting or "striking up,"
the metal forming substantially radial corrugations in the head, whereby
the resisting power of the head is greatly increased.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view; Fig. 2
is a longitudinal section on the lines x, x; Fig. 3, section of the head 2
on line 2, ; and Fig. 4, modification of the anvil.
A. is the cylinder of the shell formed from paper or material other
than metal in substantially the usual manner, preferably with the rear
end B closed by the same material, but perforated to admit the fire from
the primer, such perforations being made in the usual manner and 2
according to the kind of primers used. Over this closed end a metal
cap
C is placed, fitting closely. In the centre of this cap is a recess a
to receive the primer, which may be of any of the classes known. Into
this recess one or more radial grooves & lead, running back and dying
out a short distance from the said rocess. These arc for the purpose 3
of removing the primer, which is done by inserting a sharp instrument
through one of the grooves beneath or against the primer, and then
prying it out. In the centre of this recess the anvilf is permanently
arranged, either by forming it from the metal in the recess, as seen in
Fig. 2, or by securing a metal anvil in the recess, as seen in Fig. 4, but 3
in either case it is permanently a part of the shell. If the grooves d be

page_text: formed by cutting into the metal the head is weakened to that extent.
To avoid this weakening of the head I strike the grooves into the metal
by suitable dies, raising the metal upon the reverse sides, as seen in
Fig. 3. The grooves thus struck up form radial corrugations, which add
very greatly to the strength of the head, and permits the use of lighter
metal than could, be otherwise used. This part of my Invention is
applicable to metal cartridges gencrally.
Having thus described the nature and particulars of the said Inven-
tion, I claim,-
First. As an article of manufacture the hercin described cartridge
shell, consisting of the cylinder A made from paper, its rear or closed
end inclosed by a metallic cap constructed with a central recess for the
primer and radial groove or grooves d, as described.
Second. A cartridge shell, the cylinder of which is made from paper,
its rear or closed end inclosed by a metallic cap C constructed with a
central recess for the primer and a permanent anvil f, substantially as
specificd.
Third. A cartridge shell, the head of which is corrugated radially,
substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have
hereunto set my hand and scal, this Twenty-fifth day of May,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.