IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO SHELLS OR EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILES
Year: 1874

page_text: .
LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention
of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO SHELLS OR EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILES."A communication
from abroad by Marc Marius Emile Gauthey, of Paris, in the
Republic of France.
Sealed the 9th April 1875, and dated the 5th November 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 5th November 1874.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO SHELLS OF EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILES," a communication to me
from abroad by Marc Marius Emile Gauthey, of Paris, in the Republic
of France, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates more particularly to what are known as
metallic cartridges, in which the case for containing the powder is

page_text: composed of metal, but is also applicable to cartridges in which other
materials than metal are employed in the construction of their cases,
and to shells or explosive projectiles, and it consists essentially in
forming the bottom or end of the cartridge case of or surrounding the
same with two or more external cups or sockets (composed of metal or
other suitable material) placed the one within the other, and so arranged
and combined together and with the tubular portion of the case as to
afford increased strength to the base of the cartridge, and provide a
resistance to the action of the explosive gases, gradually increasing from
the mouth of the combined cups or sockets to the rim or flange on the :
base of the cartridge, for the purpose of effectually preventing the
rupture of such rim or flange.
The strengthening cups or sockets are applicable to cartridge cases in
which the tubular portion is either made separate from the end or base,
or formed solid, or in one piece with the same.
In carrying out this Invention, as applied to cartridge cases in which
the tubular portion is made separate from the end or base, the end of
the open tube is inserted in a cup or socket of considerable depth and
thickness, which cup or socket is itself placed in another cup or socket
of less depth than the preceding one, and provided with the ordinary 2
rim or flange for facilitating the extraction of the case, and a washer of
suitable form and dimensions is disposed inside the whole. The parts so
combined together are then subjected to the action of any suitable
compressing apparatus, so as to form a sufficient thickness of material
at the part where the rim or flange occurs to protect the latter from the 2
action of the gases, and prevent their escape between the surfaces of the
tube and the cups or sockets.
When the tubular portion of the case is formed in one with the
bottom or base two or more external cups or sockets are applied to the
same in a similar manner to that herein-before described (the washer g
being by preference in this case dispensed with, and the required form
of base, the rim or flange thereon, and the chamber for the cap or
priming are simultaneously produced by stamping the case so combined,
being subjected to the action of any suitable apparatus for that purpose.
This system of external cups or sockets may also be applied with 8
advantage to the manufacture of shells or explosive projectiles of any
required dimensions.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th May 1875.'
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen. Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the 38th
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special license
that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors,
administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter 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 Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CARTRIDGES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO SHELLS OR EXPLOSIVE
PROJECTILES," a communication to me from abroad by Marc Marius
Emile Gauthey, of Paris, in the Republic of France, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, 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 John Henry Johnson, 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 by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say:-
The said Invention relates more particularly to what are known as

page_text: and it consists essentially, as applied to cartridges, in forming the bottom
or end of the cartridge case of or surrounding the same with two or more
external cups or sockets (composed of metal or other suitable material)
placed the one within the other, and so arranged and combined together
and with the tubular portion of the case as to afford increased strength
to the base of the cartridge, and provide a resistance to the action of the
explosive gases, gradually increasing from the mouth of the combined
cups or sockets to the part where the rim or flange on the base is formed,
at which point it is at its maximum, for the purpose of effectually
preventing the rupture of such rim or flange.
Every cartridge which after firing has to be extracted from the gun
may be regarded whether it be formed in a single piece or of several
pieces as consisting of a cylindrical part intended to contain the charge
of powder, and forming the effective portion of the cartridge case and
of a rim or flange, the object of which is to prevent the cartridge case
from escaping with the charge, and to facilitate the extraction of the
said case. The object to be attained in making a good cartridge is
therefore to prevent the gases from reacting the rim or flange, and to
avoid all possibility of a rupture at this point if there is any clearance or
play in the gun. In order to obtain this result, and moreover so :
strengthen the base of the cartridge as that when the latter explodes
rupture can only take place at such a point that a perfectly tight joint
is ensured, the means hercin-after described are employed.
The Invention is equally applicable whether the cartridge consists of a
tube or socket with the base fitted upon it, or whether such cartridge is 2
formed in a single piece, that is to say, of a tube stamped out with a
bottom forming the base.
purpose
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, 3
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
Figures.
Figure 1 represents a vertical section of a portion of a cartridge case
composed of several pieces, and formed with two external cups or
sockets. a represents the case proper, placed in a primary cup or 3
socket 6 of considerable thickness, which is itself surrounded by a second
cap or socket c of less depth than the former, and upon which the

page_text: flange d is formed, a disc or washer ƒ being finally disposed inside the
cup or socket b. The cartridge case so fitted with its external cups or
sockets is then subjected to the action of a tool, which compresses them
into the shape shewn on the left-hand side of Figure 1, so as to form
such a thickness of metal at the springing point or commencement of
the flange as to prevent the gases resulting from the explosion from.
having any injurious effect upon it, or finding any outlet between the-
case and the cups or sockets. The disc or washer being immoveable,.
the gases at the time of the discharge can only penetrate, as seen on the
right-hand half of the Drawing Figure 1, between the disc or washer f
and its case, and will meet at the base of the disc or washer and its case
with such a thickness of metal that their further progress will be
prevented, and their action will be nullified. No rupture is therefore
to be feared at the springing point of the flange, and these cartridges
with multiple external cups or sockets will act in firing under the same
conditions as cartridge cases formed in a single piece with a solid rim or
flange.
Figure 2 of the Drawings shews the application of this system of
multiple external cups or sockets to cartridge cases in one piece, that is
to say, formed of a tube closed at one end with a solid bottom, as shewn
in Figure 3. In this case the bottom of the case a is placed in the cups
or sockets b and c, and the flange d and the cap chamber / are then
simultaneously formed by stamping, so as to produce the effect shewn in
Figure 2. It will be seen that in this case the most favorable conditions
are realized, for the gases act directly upon the bottom of the cartridge
and meet at the springing point or commencement of the flange with
such a thickness of metal that they are unable to produce any effect at
this point, or find the least communication with the cups or sockets,
which only serve as stays or supports. The Invention thus consists in
constructing metallic cartridge cases with multiple external cups or
sockets combined together with one another and with the case so as to
offer a resistance, increasing from the upper edge of the cup or socket
towards the base in such a manner as to present a sufficient thickness of
metal at the place where the flange or rim is formed to prevent the
gases from exerciseing any destructive action at that part.
It is obvious that any desired number of cups or sockets may be
employed, and that they may be made of metal or materials of the same
description or of different descriptions, as found most suitable.

page_text: This system of multiple external cups or sockets may also be applied
to the manufacture of shells or explosive projectiles with commensurate
advantages.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The application and use to and in the manufacture of cartridge
cases (whether the tubular portion is constructed in one piece or of two ]
or more pieces) of multiple external cups or sockets, for the purpose of
strengthening the bottom or base near the flange or rim, and effectually
preventing the rupture of the cartridge case at that point, substantially
яя herein-before described and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawings.
Second. The application and use to and with shells or explosive pro-
jectiles of multiple external cups or sockets, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, the Fourth day of May,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
Drawings.
Second. The application and use to and with shells or explosive pro-
jectiles of multiple external cups or sockets, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, the Fourth day of May,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.