IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CHARGING OR FILLING CARTRIDGES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Bouch, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid
Lothian, North Britain, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CHARGING OR FILLING CARTRIDGES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Bouch at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th October 1862.
I, THOMAS BOUCH, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North
Britain, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CHARGING OR FILLING
CARTRIDGES," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of apparatus for
facilitating the operations of charging cartridges with powder and shot and
closing the end of the cartridge over the wad. Under one modification the
apparatus consists of a metal frame which can be readily fixed to a bench or
table by means of a pinching screw. Extending up from the back part of
this frame or base is a bracket which supports a hopper, divided into cells, for
containing the powder and shot to be filled into the cartridges. The supply of
powder is placed in each alternate cell of the hopper, and the shot in the
intervening cells. The hopper is fixed to a rectangular chamber of a trough-like
figure in its transverse section, into which the feed aperture at the bottom of
each cell of the hopper opens, and there are openings in the lower part of the

page_text: chamber which communicate with tubes that serve to convey the powder and
shot alternately into the cartridges. The chamber is fitted with a sliding
piece which has tubular chambers formed in it corresponding to the number
of powder or shot cells contained in the hopper. These tubular chambers are
so arranged that when the sliding piece is drawn to the right (for example)
the chambers are brought under the powder cells and the powder falls down
through the sliding piece and into the tubes beneath. The escape of the shot
is meanwhile prevented by the solid face of the sliding piece being beneath
the apertures of the shot cells. The movement of the sliding piece to the left
shuts off the powder cells and brings the tubular chambers under the shot
cells, which now descend into the tubes. The quantity of powder and shot
thus fed into the tubes is regulated by the size of the chambers and tubes, so
that the cartridges filled by micans of the machine are exactly uniform in this
respect. The paper cartridges to be filled are placed in vertical cells formed
for the purpose in the front of the base piece or main frame in a vertical line
with the powder and shot tubes, and are enclosed by a hinged door piece
which is fastened by a catch during the filling operation. At the back of the
hopper are arranged two or other number of vertical tubes for containing the
wads to supply each cartridge as it is filled. These tubes are each fitted with
a spring presser to force down the wads, and they are brought forward over
the cartridges by means of duplex sliding pieces, which are arranged to bring
the thick and thin wads alternately into the cartridge. The thick and thin
wads are arranged alternately in the feeding tubes, so that when the charge of
powder has been allowed to fall into each cartridge the duplex slide is pulled
forward and draws a thick wad over the cartridge. The powder and wad is
rammed down by means of the filling tubes, which are made moveable and
connected to a cross head having laterally projecting handles and working on
vertical guides. The operator depresses the cross head, which causes the
tubes to descend and drive the wads down upon the powder. The cross head
and filling tubes are kept up firmly to the chamber below the hopper by helical
springs surrounding the guides or by other equivalent means. The duplex
wad slide is pushed back and the charge of shot filled into each cartridge by
shifting the filling slide to the left, and the lower plate of the duplex wad slide
is drawn out, which brings a thin wad over each cartridge, and these wads are
pressed down on the shot by means of the cross head. The final operation is
to roll in the end of each cartridge so as to prevent the escape of the wad and
contents. Extending upwards between the cartridge cells is a vertical spindle
which is screwed at the upper part and works in a nut carried in the over-
hanging part of the base piece. The lower part of this spindle has fast to it a

page_text: hand wheel, by means of which it is put in motion, and to its upper end is
keyed a pinion which gives motion to two wheels on the filling tubes. The
spindle passes through and is fast to a moveable piece which forms the bottom
of the cells in which the cartridges are placed. The bushes of the wheels,
which run loosely on the filling tubes, extend downwards to the top of the
cartridge. When the wad above the shot is rammed in the operator turns the
hand wheel quickly, and as the screw turns in the nut it turns the upper end
of the cartridge inwards by reason of the bottom piece gradually rising and
forcing the edge of the cartridge against the revolving bush of the wheel
on the filling tube, and in this way the edge is turned in and the cartridge
properly secured.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Bouch in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th
April 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
BOUCH, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Thomas Bouch, Her special license, that I, the said
Thomas Bouch, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Thomas Bouch, 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 MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CHARGING OR FILLING
CARTRIDGES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Bouch, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of them, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Bouch, do hereby declare tho
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of apparatus
for facilitating the operations of charging cartridges with powder and shot
and closing the end of the cartridge over the wad.
Under one modification the apparatus consists of a metal frame which can bo
readily fixed to a bench or table by means of a pinching screw. Extending up
from the back part of this frame or base is a bracket which supports a hopper
divided into cells for containing the powder and shot to be filled into the cartridges.
The supply of powder is placed in each alternate cell of the hopper and the
shot in the intervening cells. The hopper is fixed to a rectangular chamber
of a trough like figure in its transverse section, into which the feed aperture
at the bottom of each cell of the hopper opens, and there are openings in the
lower part of the chamber which communicate with tubes that serve to convey
the powder and shot alternately into the cartridges. The chamber is fitted
with a sliding piece which has tubular chambers formed in it corie ponding
to the number of powder or shot cells contained in the hopper. These tubular
chambers have a cubical capacity exactly equal to the measure of powder or
shot required for each charge, and are so arranged that when the sliding piece
is drawn to the right (for example) the chambers are brought under the powder
cells, and the powder falls into the sliding piece and into the tubes beneath.
The escape of the shot is meanwhile prevented by the solid face of the
sliding piece being beneath the apertures of the shot cells. The movement
of the sliding piece to the left shuts off the powder cells and brings the tubular
chambers under the shot cells, which now descend into the tubes. The quantity
of powder and shot thus fed into the tubes is regulated by the size of the
chambers and tubes, so that the cartridges filled by means of the machine are
exactly uniform in this respect. The paper cartridges to be filled are placed
in vertical cells formed for the purpose in the front of the base piece or main
frame in a vertical line with the powder and shot tubes, and are enclosed by a
hinged door piece which is fastened by a catch during the filling operation.
At the back of the hopper are arranged two or other number of vertical
tubes for containing the wads to supply each cartridge as it is filled. These
tubes are each fitted with a spring presser to force down the wads, and they are
brought forward over the cartridges by means of duplex sliding pieces which
are arranged to bring the thick and thin wads alternately into the cartridge.

page_text: The thick and thin wads are arranged alternately in the feeding tubes, so that
when the charge of powder has been allowed to fall into each cartridge the
duplex slide is pulled forward and draws a thick wad over the cartridge. The
powder and wad is rammed down by means of the filling tubes, which are
made moveable and connected to a cross head having laterally projecting
handles and working on vertical guides. The operator depresses the cross
head, which causes the tubes to descend and drive the wads down upon the
powder. The cross head and filling tubes are kept up firmly to the chamber
below the hopper by helical springs surrounding the guides or by other
equivalent means. The duplex wad slide is pushed back and the charge of
shot filled into each cartridge by shifting the filling slide to the left, and the
lower plate of the duplex wad slide is drawn out, which brings a thin wad
over each cartridge, and these wads are pressed down on the shot by means
of the cross head. The final operation is to roll in the end of each cartridge
so as to prevent the escape of the wad and contents. Extending upwards
between the cartridge cells is a vertical spindle which is screwed at the
upper part and works in a nut carried in the overhanging part of the base
piece. The lower part of this spindle has fast to it a hand wheel, by means
of which it is put in motion, and to its upper end is keyed a pinion which
gives motion to two wheels on the filling tubes. The spindle passes through
and is fast to a moveable piece which forms the bottom of the cells in which
the cartridges are placed. The bushes of the wheels, which run loosely on
the filling tubes, extend downwards to the top of the cartridge. When the
wad above the shot is rammed in, the operator turns the hand wheel quickly,
and as the screw turns in the nut it turns the upper end of the cartridge
inwards, by reason of the bottom piece gradually rising and forcing the edge
of the cartridge against the revolving bush of the wheel on the filling tube,
and in this way the edge is turned in and the cartridge properly secured.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall now
proceed to describe the several illustrative Figures on the explanatory Sheets
of Drawings, which I have hereunto appended for the purpose of showing
certain modifications under which my improvements may be judiciously carried
out in practice, that is to say:-
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings, is a front view of the
cartridge filling apparatus, one half of which is shown in elevation, and the
other half in vertical section. Figure 2 is a corresponding transverse section
of the apparatus taken at right angles to Figure 1. Figure 8 is a plan of
the apparatus, and Figure 4 is an under side view of the same.
Figure 1 on Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings is a transverse section

page_text: of the apparatus, taken on the line 1, 1, shown in Figure 2 of the same Sheet;
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the lower part of the machine, taken on the
line 2, 2, in Figure 1, Sheet 2; Figure 3 is a plan, taken at the joint on the
line 3, 3, in Figure 2, Sheet 1; Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the central
part of the machine, and taken on the line 4, 4, Figure 2, Sheet 1; Figuro 5
is a plan of the cross-head, by means of which the cartridges are rammed; and
Figures 6, 7, and 8 are transverse sections of the same, taken on the lines
5, 6, and 7, Figure 5; Figure 9 is a section on the line 8, 8, Figure 11, of
the wad slide; Figure 10 is a corresponding section, taken on the line 9, 9 ;
and Figure 11 is a plan of the slide; Figure 12 is an elevation of the inside
of the hinged part, which forms a part of the cartridge chamber that is shown
in plan in Figure 18, which is an under side view of it; Figures 14, 15, and 16,
aro views of the details of the lower part of the cartridge chambers. The
Figure on Sheet 3 is a partially sectional elevation of another modification of
the apparatus.
Referring to the Figures on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings,
representing the machine complete, the main portion or body of the apparatus
consists of a frame A, cast in brass or of other suitable material. Extending
out from the back part of this frame is a bracket piece to admit of the
apparatus being readily fixed to a table or bench. The upper part of the
projecting bracket piece is serrated on the under side, as shown in Figure 2,
and the lower part is tapped to receive the pinching screws B, by means of
which the machine is held firmly while in use. On the upper side of the back
part of the frame A are two bracket piecos C, which support the frame D
containing the slide, by means of which the cartridges are filled alternately
with powder and shot. Above this part is the hopper or receptacle E, con-
taining the supply of powder and shot; this is a rectangular vessel, formed by
preference of copper; it is comparatively deep, to hold a good supply of
powder and shot, and the bottom part is rounded in, so that the contents may
be discharged readily. The hopper E is in this modification divided into four
compartments F, F, G, G', the powder and shot being placed in these
compartments alternately; the divisions F and F are appropriated to shot,
and G and G¹ for powder. The lower part of each compartment has an
aperture H formed in it, and through which the contents pass; the hopper is
brazed to a brass plate, which is perforated in like manner, and is bolted to
the frame D. This frame is of a trough like figure in its transverse section,
and it is fitted with a slide I, which regulates the passage of the powder and
shot to the cartridges. The frame and slide are shown in plan in Figure 3,
Sheet 2, and in horizontal section in Figure 5. The slide I consists of a

page_text: hollow frame, as shown in Figure 1, Sheet 1; it has four tubular apertures
J and J', formed in it, and by causing the slide to traverse to and fro the two
apertures J or J' may be brought alternately under the orifices of the hopper E.
On the end of the slide I, which is prolonged beyond the frame D on the
right-hand side, as shown in Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a small handle K for pushing
the slide to and fro. The slide bas binged to it a small T-shaped catch K,
which takes into two notches cut in the projecting prolongations D' of the
frame D. The catch K is kept down in its place by the blade spring L, which
presses against the thumb piece K¹; on pressing this outwards, it raises the
catch K, and leaves the slide at liberty to be drawn outwards. The traverse
of the slide to the right is checked by the pin L, which projects from the inner
face of the frame D through the open part of the slide, and comes in contact-
with the end of it when the slide is drawn towards the right hand. In this.
way, when the slide is moved inwards or towards the left band, the two tubular
chambers J discharge the powder they contain down through the tubes leading,
to the cartridges, this powder having been received from the compartments G.
and G' in the previous movement of the slide. The movement of the slide I.
to the right also brings the tubular chambers J' under the apertures in the
shot compartments F and F, and each is filled with a charge of shot. After
causing a wad to be put into each cartridge, as will be presently described, tho
slide is moved to the right, which brings the shot chamber J over the
cartridge tubes through which the shot passes to the cartridges. This move-
ment of the slide I has brought the chambers J under the powder compart-
ments G and G', and the chambers are instantly charged by the powder falling
into them. In this way, by the to-and-fro movement of the slide I, the
chambers J and J' are alternately filled with powder and shot, and discharged
by the reverse motion of the slide into cartridges beneath, so that it will be
observed that whilst one chamber is receiving the other is discharging. The
size of the chambers J and J' is regulated so that each chamber contains
the exact quantity of powder or shot which is required for the cartridge
or cartridges under operation. The holding capacity of these chambers is
further regulated, if necessary, by fitting to each a funnel-shaped tube,
so as to reduce the capacity of the chamber to the exact quantity of powder
or shot that is required to be put into the cartridge. The two apertures D",
formed in the bottom of the frame D, communicates with the funnel
shaped openings M', which are formed in the cross head M. This part of the
apparatus extends across the machine immediately beneath the frame D, and
terminates in a handle on either side, which extends out beyond the machine
in a lateral direction. The cross head M is shown detached from the machine

page_text: in Figure 5, Sheet 2, and in three transverse sections, Figures 6, 7, and 8,
which are respectively taken on the lines 5, 6, and 7, Figure 5. On the frame
A of the machine are fitted two tubular guides N, which are slotted in the
vertical direction, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, on Sheet 2. These guides are
fitted on the laterally projecting part of the frame A, and extend upwards to
the under side of the frame D. They are slotted as shown in Figures 1 and 2,
Sheet 2, to admit of the vertical movement of the cross head M, which is kept
up to the frame D, when not otherwise acted upon by means of the two helical
springs N¹. These springs are fixed at the lower part to two discs formed on
the upper part of the frame A, and at the upper part to corresponding dises
cast on the under side of the cross head M, as shown more particularly in
Figure 5, Sheet 2. Funnel-shaped openings M' are made in the cross head,
and these are fitted with the vertical tubes O, which serve as channels to carry
the powder and shot into the cartridges, and also as plungers to press down the
wads after each chargo is put in. The empty cartridges are put into chambers
which are partly formed in the lower part of the frame A; these chambers are
cylindrical cavities, as shown at P in Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1, and in
Figures 12 and 13, Sheet 2. The chambers P are formed half in the solid
metal of the part A, and the other half in the front piece Q, which is
hinged to the frame A, and is fastened at the side by the catch Q. In
Figure 12, the front piece or door Q, is shown detached from the frame A,
and laid upon its outer face, so as to show the internal arrangement of the
chambers P. The cartridges to be filled are placed on the moveable bottom
piece R, the arrangement of which will be presently described in referring to
the operation which completes the cartridge. The door Q is closed, and the
charge of powder is allowed to fall into the cartridge by the movement of the
slide I, as herein-before described, and a wad has now to be inserted into the
cartridge and pressed down upon the powder. A supply of the thick wads is
kept in the two vertical tubes S, which are each held by a strap on the back of
the hopper, and pass down into a hole made through the metal of the frame A.
A cap S¹ is fitted by means of a bayonet joint to each of the tubes S, and this
cap has secured to its under side a helical spring T, which extends to the
bottom of the tube when empty, and a small metal disc is attached to the
lower end of the spring, as shown in Figure 2, on Sheet 1. The wads are put
into the tube one above the other, and the cap is fixed in its place, the pressuro
of the springs upon the wads causes them to be forced down through the
apertures in the frame A until the supply is exhausted. A corresponding
arrangement of tubes U for holding the thin wads is arranged in front of the
machine; these tubes are made shorter than the tubes S, so that both pairs

page_text: hold a corresponding number of wads. Beneath the lower ends of the tubes S
and T is fitted a slide, by means of which the wads are brought alternately
over the cartridges to be pressed down by the tubular plungers O. The
wad slide V is shown in Figure 11, Figures 9 and 10 being longitudinal
sections on the lines 8 and 9, Figure 11. The slide V is fitted to traverse to
and fro in a horizontal slot formed in the frame A; it has two shallow trough-
like recesses, extending longitudinally, as shown in Figure 11, Sheet 2, and in
these recessed parts are three circular openings V', W, and W'. The central
opening V', serves for the passage of the powder to the cartridge when the wad
slide is placed midway in its traverse, which is its proper position when tho
powder is being fed into the cartridges. While the slide V is in this position"
a thick wad is pressed down from the end of each of the tubes S into the
openings W, W₁; these wads cannot however pass through the openings by
reason of the solid part of the frame A being beneath. The operator pauses
a moment to allow the charge of powder to fall clear of the tubes O, then
draws the slide V forward; this movement draws the thick wads over the
openings of the chambers P, and they are forced down upon the powder, by
depressing the cross head M, which causes the tubes O to ram the wads into
the cartridges. The handles of the cross head are released, and it springs
back to the position shown in Figure 1, the slide I is moved to the right, and
the charges of shot fall into the cartridges. The wad slide V is then pushed
back as far as it will traverse, which carries with it the two thin wads that
have been meanwhile pressed out from the tubes U, and these are presser
down upon the shot, by another depression of the cross head M. The cartridges
are completed by rolling in the upper ends, to prevent the escape of the contents,
this is dono by means of a compound movement obtained from the hand
wheel X. This wheel is fast to the vertical screw Y, which has a flange
formed on it, upon which the moveable bottom pieco R rests, and is secured
to the shaft of the screw Y by a ring Y, and a pin passing through the shaft.
An under side view of the bottom piece is shown in Figure 14, Sheet 2,
Figure 15 being a transverse section of the same through the centre; and
Figure 16 is a plan and transverse section of the retaining ring Y. The
screw Y runs loosely in the bottom piece R, and the extent of its upward
traverse is regulated with great accuracy by means of the two screws Z, which
may be screwed more or less into the bottom piece R. The screw Y works
out through a corresponding internal screw in the overhanging part of the
frame A, and has keyed to its upper end the spur wheel a. This wheel
gives 'motion to the two contiguous wheels 6 and 6', which run loosely on
the tubes O, and they are made with deep bosses which extend down to

page_text: and form the upper margins of the cartridge chambers P. The lower faces of
the bosses are formed with recesses, which are curved in an upward direction,
as shown at c in Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1. A groove is cut in the boss of
each of the wheels 6 and 6' to receive the metal plates d, which are screwed
down to the frame A; these plates loosely encircle the bosses of the wheels b
and b', so as to prevent them from shifting without interfering with their
rotatory motion. When the thin wads have been pressed into the cartridges,
as herein-before described, the operator turns the hand wheel X round quickly,
the motion of the screw through the frame A carries up the cartridges, so that
the upper edges of the cases are brought in contact with the recessed parts c
of the wheels b and b'. Simultaneously with this movement the wheels b
and 6' are caused to rotate rapidly by the motion of the central wheel a.
These compound movements cause the upper ends of the cartridges to be
turned and rolled inwards, and thus form a very neat closure of the case upon
the upper surface of the wad. The several movements I have herein-before
described may be effected with great ease and rapidity, resulting in the
production of a large number of cartridges in a comparatively short space of
time, and all accurately alike as regards the filling.
In the Figure delineated on Sheet 3 of the accompanying Drawings is
shown another modification of the cartridge-filling apparatus. In this arrange-
ment the frame D is made of a square figure in its transverse section, and
equal to the breadth of the perforated plate II, Figure 2, Sheet 2. A
cylindrical opening is formed in the frame D, extending through it in a hori-
zontal direction, and in this space is fitted the slide I. This slide is fitted to
move accurately in the frame D, the extent of its traverse to and fro being
regulated by the pin e, which passes through the frame D, and enters the
helical groove, which is formed on the slide I. At the other extremity of the
cylindrical slile I is fitted a winch handle g, by means of which a partially
rotatory movement of the slide is obtained. Four chambers J and J' are
formed in the slide I; these chambers are bored in a vertical direction partly
through the cylinder and in opposite directions, so that whilst two of them aro
receiving the charge from the hopper E, the other two are at the same instant
discharging their contents into the cartridges contained in the chambers P.
The chambers J and J' are bored to contain the exact quantity of powder and
shot required, and their capacity may be reduced by fitting tubes into them,
as herein-before described. As shown in the Drawing, the slide I is receiving
powder into the chambers J, and discharging shot from the chambers J'.
After completing the cartridges charged with shot, which is done in the
manner before described, the operator turns the handle g partly, round, which

page_text: causes the slide to traverse to a certain extent along the frame D, and this
brings the two chambers J' under their respective openings H, communicating
with the hopper E. Meanwhile the powder chamber J, by the rotatory
movement of the slide, have been brought over the openings M³ in an inverted
position, so that the powder at once falls down through the tubes O into the
cartridges. The thick wads are placed in and pressed down into the cartridges,
as before described; the slide I is then partially rotated in the opposito
direction, so as to bring the shot chambers J¹ in an inverted position over
the tubes O, and the cartridges are finished in the manner herein-befuro
explained.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my 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 novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the system or mode of filling or charging cartridges for fire-arms by
means of the machinery or apparatus, as herein-before described and shown
in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification of the said
arrangement.
Second, the general arrangement, construction, and combination of parts
forming the machinery or apparatus for filling or charging cartridges, as
herein-before described and shown in the three accompanying Sheets of
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Bouch, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of April, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-three.
THOMAS BOUCH. (L.B.)