IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF METAL CARTRIDGES
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Garrett Tongue at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th
June 1866. A communication from abroad by John Angell Wood, of
New York, United States of America.
I, JOHN GARRETT TONGUE, of the Firm of Tongue and Birkbeck, Patent
Agents and Engineers, of 84, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF METAL CARTRIDGES,"
to be as follows:-
These improvements relate, first, to the making of metal cases of copper or
other metal for cartridges to be used in revolving and breech-loading fire-arms
by the use of a series of machines with appropriate tools for the purpose, each
of which machines performs its own operation and prepares the piece of
copper or other metal, or a partially prepared cartridge case for the next
machine or operation, and so on until the case is completed and ready to
receive the powder and ball, and also to set the ball firmly in the case. To
perform the said operations, and complete the said cartridge cases, seven
different machines are employed, each respectively performing its own part of
the work.
The first of the series of machines is a double-action press for the purpose
of cutting out the disc or circular plate from which the cartridge case is to be
drawn or formed. This machine by its double action also doubles the disc
or circular plate into a shallow cup which is drawn by subsequent operations
to the required shape and size. The machine consists of a bed and frame-

page_text: work, a double-action crank with driving pulleys and balance wheel. It is
also provided with a die and punches for cutting out and doubling the disc or
plate from which the cartridge case is to be formed, and proper guides for the
use of the operator in placing the sheets or strips of metal in the proper
position from which the disc or plate is to be cut.
The second machine of the series to perform the second operation is a single-
action press, similar to the first described, except that it is single action so far
as its operation upon the drawing of the cartridge case is concerned. Upon
one end of the crank shaft of this machine is a cam which gives motion to a
circular table set in front of the die and punch for the purpose of carrying the
shallow cup, which is to be drawn to a cartridge case under the punch, which
is to force it through the drawing die. Over this circular table and close to
it is placed a guideway, through which the cups are made to pass by being
placed upon the revolving table. The motion of the said revolving table takes
the cups or partially formed cartridge cases through the said guideway and
delivers them at the point to be placed under the punch or follower and over
the die by which they are drawn or shaped. A moveable finger or jaw attached
to a lever is placed at the end of the said guideway, which receives the cups
or partially formed cartridge cases and passes them under the punch and over
the die through which they are driven, the said finger or jaw returning again
to the proper point to receive the next cup or case while the previous one is
being driven through the dic. This operation is repeated three or four times
according to the length and size of the case to be drawn, and is done either
by changing the die and punch in the same machine or upon another machine
of the same construction.
The third operation is to cut the cartridge case, the drawing of which is
now complete to the required length. To perform this operation a machine
called a cutting-off machine is employed, which is constructed by placing two
heads or standards upon a suitable bed of the required length to receive them.
In one of these heads there is a revolving hollow spindle, upon the inner end
of which a suitable chuck is mounted to receive the cartridge case. The other
head is provided with a sliding spindle which is moved backwards and forwards
by the band or foot of the operator. The cartridge case to be cut off is placed
upon the inner end of the said sliding spindle, which is made the proper size
to receive it, by which it is moved towards and into the chuck upon the end
of the revolving spindle. When the cartridge case enters the revolving chuck
it is caught at its solid end by teeth constructed therein, which cause it to
revolve with the chuck, at the same time the sliding spindle holds it up to its
work against the teeth in the chuck. While held in this position and revolving

page_text: at sufficient speed, a cutter is forced against the case by the hand of the
operator, which cuts it to the required length and leaves the end smooth.
The sliding spindle is then moved back, which releases the cartridge case
from the teeth in the chuck, the case being forced out by a rod passing
through the hollow spindle from behind. The case falls into a receiver below
and the machine is ready for another operation.
The fourth operation is to head the cartridge case after being cut to the
required length, this is accomplished by means of a machine called the
"heading machine." This machine is constructed by placing two horizontal
sliding spindles in stands or heads secured by proper framework to give the
required strength. In the centre between the sliding spindles is placed a die
fixed to a strong cross bar in the framework, into which the cartridge case is
carried by one of the sliding spindles. The sliding spindles are moved
backward and forwards at the required time by means of cams, the motions to
which are given by proper appliances and so arranged as to act harmoniously
one with the other. The cartridge cases are placed upon an inclined plane
with suitable guides at either side to guide them to the receiver in front of one
of the sliding spindles. The spindle by means of motion from the cam passes
into the case carrying it into the die in which it is to be headed. When it
is in the proper position the other sliding spindle is forced forward with a rapid
motion, meeting the solid end of the cartridge case and pressing it into the
die which made the proper size and shape for the required head. After the
motion has been given and the head formed the heading spindle is moved
back and the other one is moved forward, taking with it the cartridge case
which has been headed out of the die, when it falls into a receiver and the
spindle passes back ready to repeat the operations.
The fifth operation is to taper the cartridge case when required. To
perform this operation a single-action press is employed, carrying a hollow
punch or moveable die, which passes over the outside of the cartridge case
and gives it the required taper. This press is similar to those used for the
second operation before described, and is furnished with a table and appliances
to carry the cartridge cases under the hollow punch or moveable die, and for
removing them after the operation has been performed.
The sixth operation is to prime the cartridge cases when they are to be
prepared for "rim fire," or when the ignition is to take place in any part of
the head or rim. (For centre-fire cartridges this operation is not required.)
To perform this operation a small upright spindle is employed, placed in
suitable boxes which are secured in a suitable head or framework. In the
lower end of this spindle is placed a distributor, which by its rotary motion

page_text: distributes the priming or detonating powder into all parts of the rim of the
cartridge case.
The seventh and last operation is to crimp the cartridge case closely around
the ball after the powder and ball has been placed in it in the ordinary way.
This is a hand-worked machine and is used in the loading department. It
consists of two heads or standards placed upon a proper bed, in one of which
beads is a fixed and in the other a sliding spindle. Upon the inner end of
the fixed spindle is a chuck with dies prepared in a proper form to receive the
loaded cartridge; these dies are opened and closed by a lever worked by
hand. The cartridge is placed in the dies of the chuck, where it is held firmly
with the head bearing against the back plate to prevent its being pushed back
by the pressure of the sliding spindle which is moved forward a sufficient
distance to bring the end (which is hollow and the right size to fit the outside
of the cartridge) on to it and close it firmly around the ball. The seat in
the end of the spindle is made slightly conical to form the end of the cartridge
case a little tapering, so as to enter the chamber in the gun easily and to hold
the ball firmly in its place.
By the series of mechanical operations previously described cartridges with
seamless metallic cases may be manufactured with great facility and accuracy.