IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND CONSTRUCTION OF CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Wilson, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE AND CONSTRUCTION OF CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING
FIRE-ARMS."
Scaled the 15th March 1867, and dated the 4th December 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Wilson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th
December 1866.
I, THOMAS WILSON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND CONSTRUCTION OF CARTRIDGES FOR
BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to cartridges for breech-loading fire-arms of the kind
called self-ignition cartridges, and consists of the several improvements herein-
after described in the manufacture and construction of the said cartridges.
My Invention consists, firstly, in manufacturing the metal cap and tube or
cup for receiving the percussion cap and anvil by which the cartridge is dis-
charged in one piece by the process of casting. I effect the casting of the
said metal cap and tube or cup either in sand moulds or metal moulds, the

page_text: casting process being conducted in the ordinary manner. By this means I
am enabled to give the metal cap nearly the figure it is required to have in
the finished cartridge and produce a much stronger and better cap than by
forming the parts separately of sheet metal and attaching them together as is
commonly practised. I finish the metal caps of the cartridges made by
casting as described internally and externally to the exact figure and size
required by the process of turning in a lathe.
My Invention consists, secondly, in forming the inner side of the rim or
shoulder of the said metal caps of the cartridges flat or at right angles to the
axis of the tubular part of the said cap instead of curved or inclined as is
usual. By this construction I obtain a more direct and firmer hold for the
cartridge case extractor in withdrawing the exploded case from the breech
chamber than when the inner side of the rim or shoulder is made in the usual
manner.
My Invention consists, thirdly, in making the exterior tubular part of the
metal caps of cartridges taper, the said part tapering from the rim or shoulder
to the exterior of the powder case of the cartridge, the narrow end of the said
taper part being flush or nearly flush with the said powder case. By the use
of this taper part of the cap the powder case of the cartridge is less liable to
burst during the explosion of the cartridge.
I
My Invention consists, fourthly, in connecting the metal case containing the
powder of the cartridge to the metal cap of the said cartridge in the following
manner: I make in the interior of the cap one or more annular grooves, into
which groove or grooves I force the rear end of the metal powder case.
prefer to force the rear end of the metal powder case into the groove or
grooves in the cap in the following way:-I first insert the rear end of the
powder case into the cap, and afterwards insert into the powder case a washer
of copper or other soft metal, and by expanding the said metal washer
laterally by pressure I force the said washer with the metal powder case
into the groove or grooves in the metal cap, and thereby firmly secure the
said powder case to the cap; or instead of employing one or more annular
grooves as described screw threads may be formed in the inner side of the
cap into which screw threads the metal powder case is forced, and instead of
copper or other soft metal paper pulp or other material may be employed to
force the metal powder case into the grooves or screw threads in the cap.
My Invention consists, lastly, in binding the metal powder case to the
projectile in the following manner :-After the rear end of the projectile has
been inserted into the open end of the charged metal powder case I make
one or more annular indentations or grooves in the front end of the powder

page_text: case so as to force the metal of the said case into corresponding depressions in
the said projectile; I afterwards wrap round or fill up the said grooves or
indentations with silken or other thread, and tie the ends of the said thread.
By this means I bind the powder case firmly to the projectile and prevent the
said case from becoming loose or separated from the projectile.