Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 9th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 9th Feb., 1895
E
I, CHARLES JOURDEAN STUART, of No. 186 Mountain Street, in the City of
Montreal, in the District of Montreal and Province of Quebec, Canada, Student,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
This invention relates to cartridges of the composite type in which two or more
different charges are exploded successively as a result of the shot being moved
forward by the explosion of the initial charge, and it has for its object an improve-
ment whereby any unnecessary delay in the ignition of the main charge is avoided,
an augmented pressure secured, as well as advantages pertaining to the loading of
the chamber, and other structural features.
The invention consists of a cartridge embodying as novel features first, the
introduction therein of two or more graduated explosive charges adapted to be
ignited substantially at the same time and to continue burning together until
consumed; secondly, an arrangement whereby the burning area of one charge
shall remain constant while the burning area of another constantly increases,
thirdly, the construction of the cartridge with a shot extending from the base in
the rear of the shell, to which base it is separably connected, through the powder
chamber and beyond the forward end of the shell; fourthly, the construction of
the cartridge with a shot, having hollow rear portion and solid head portion,
extending from the base in the rear of the shell, to which base the hollow rear
portion is separably connected through the powder chamber and beyond the
forward end of the shell; fifthly, the construction of the cartridge with a shell
having open rear end to allow of loading therethrough, and a base adapted to be
inserted therein and to be held in place by connecting the rear edge of the shell
with such base; sixthly, the construction of the cartridge with a shell the forward
end of which is of extra thickness to form a bearing for a shot (extending from the
base throughout the cartridge) and the rear end sufficiently thin to be readily bent
over the edge of the base; seventhly, the location of the explosive charge
contiguous to the forward end of the chamber and the wad contiguous to the base;
eighthly, dividing the cartridge into separate longitudinal compartments, to contain
explosive charges, by a hollow shot separably connected with the base of the shell
at the rear end of the cartridge.
Dated this 9th day of February 1894.
ABEL & IMKAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, CHARLES JOURDEAN STUART, of No. 186 Mountain Street, in the City of
Montreal, in the District of Montreal, and Province of Quebec, Canada, Student,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
10 be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
· This invention relates to cartridges of the composite type in which two or more

page_text: different charges are exploded successively as a result of the shot being moved
forward by the explosion of the initial charge, and it has for its object an improve
ment whereby any unnecessary delay in the ignition of the main charge is avoided,
an augmented pressure is secured, as well as advantages pertaining to the loading
of the chamber, and other structural features.
The invention consists in the construction of a composite cartridge containing
two or more graduated explosive charges adapted to be ignited substantially at the
same time, and to continue burning together until consumed, thus combining to
produce one augmented effect. This is secured by dividing the powder chamber
into separate longitudinal compartments by means of a hollow shot separably
connected with the base of the shell at the rear end of the cartridge.
I shall describe a cartridge according to my invention referring to the accom-
panying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, Fig. 3 is a transverse
section on line xa of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a part longitudinal section and elevation of
the cartridge showing a construction suited for charging the outer chamber, and
Fig. 5 is a transverse section of a modified form of the outer chamber.
.
The shot a is hollowed at a' from the rear end forward for a considerable part of
its length leaving the solid head portion a².
The base can be varied in form, having always an internal seat or shoulder such
as b' to receive the rear open end of the shot a.
The shell c preferably encloses about half the length of the shot, its forward end
being of extra thickness to form a stiff and solid bearing, and its rear end is made
thin enough to be readily turned down over the outside edge of the base as at c¹.
The chamber a in the shot contains a charge of powder the burning area of which
remains constant and the shell chamber c² contains a charge of powder or other high
explosive, the burning area of which constantly increases, the intention being that
a small initial motion shall first be set up, by igniting the charge in the shot
chamber, and practically simultaneously therewith the ignition of the principal
charge in the shell chamber. to take place, so that an increasing quantity of
explosive is burned while the initial charge still burns to maintain the pressure,
which would otherwise be somewhat diminished by the increased space (caused by
the movement of the shot towards the muzzle) to be occupied by the combined
products of combustion which are generated.
The charge in the shot chamber burns forward while that in the shell chamber
burns radially outward, and the effect of the two burning together is a steady
augmentation of pressure throughout the progress of the shot to the culminating
point of impulse at the muzzle of the piece in which the cartridge is fired.
In cartridges of large calibre, when grained powders are used, without com-
pression, it is desirable to retain the principal charge in its original position while
burning and for this purpose radial partitions d shown in Fig. 5 and connected to
the shell are used. These ribs prevent the falling out of place of parts of the
charge.
Furthermore, in cases where the principal charge is made up of gun cotton or one
of the smokeless nitrate powders it would naturally take the form of thin rings or
perforated cakes and it might be found desirable to separate these by rings e of
sheet metal or other stiff incombustible material, as shown in Fig. 4 to minimise the
probability of ignition by impact of the particles of the compound as is the tendency.
with high explosives.
The construction of the cartridge, with the shot extending inward to the base,
makes it possible to first locate the shot in position in the shell, then to introduce
the charges, place a wad f, if desired, in position, and finally set the base in place,
thus locating the wad in the rear of the cartridge and behind the charge instead of,
as heretofore, in advance of it, which latter location naturally necessitated its ejection
with the shot-and consequently a loss of energy to some, though it may be only a
small extent.
:
I am aware that composite cartridges having different explosive charges ignited

page_text: by the forward movement of the shot are not broadly new and that cartridges having
their powder chambers divided into separate compartments by longitudinal walls
are not in themselves novel, and I do not claim such as my invention, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A composite cartridge containing a central and an annular explosive charge,
both charges ignited from a common primer, substantially as described.
2. A composite cartridge containing a central charge and two or more annular
charges contained in temporarily separated chambers, substantially as described.
3. A cartridge having a shot with solid head portion and with hollow rear
portion passing through a shell to the base to which the slot is separably connected,
substantially as described.
4. In a cartridge such as is above referred to, constructing the shell to contain
the annular charge with a strong front portion and a thin rear portion which is bent
inwards to secure the base to the shell, substantially as described.
Dated this 9th dex of Nazombar 1804
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.