Improvements in Cartridges for Fire-arms.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1892-Accepted, 10th Sept., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cartridges for Fire-arms.
I, WLADYSLAW GINALSKI, of Kiew Uralsk Government, Uralsk, in the
Russian Empire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-,
If it was desired to obtain a spreading shot, up to the present time, simple
hail-shot was used, or small cut lead, which, after loading the gun, was simply put
into the barrel, and closed with a tallow plug. To improve on this method, paper-
cases have been made lately, for the reception of the lead, which, similar to a
cartridge, was put into the barrel of the gun. This was done with the objects of
saving time and to prevent the spreading-cone and loss of intensity being as great
as with the first method.
The paper cases, however, did not give satisfaction, as they either burst during.
the explosion, or were burnt, so that the effect was precisely the same as before.
The present invention has for its object to construct a new cartridge, which shall
be without the before-mentioned drawbacks.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood, I have
hereunto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, which show the new cartridge
at Figs. 1 to 11.
Figs. 1 and 2 show side elevations and plans of the lead cylinder, and the method
of cutting same.
Fig. 3 is a part longitudinal section of the cartridge.
Fig. 4 shows a side view and plan of one of the stoppers or wads.
Fig. 5 shows a side view and plan of another stopper or wad.
Fig. 6 show side and plan views of the lids.
Fig. 7 is a plan view and Fig. 9 a vertical section of the case b.
Fig. 8 shows a side and plan view of the bottom of the case.
Fig. 10 is a vertical section of the case and cylinder a.
Fig. 11 is an enlarged section on the line x―x, Fig. 8.
To avoid the disadvantages caused by the compression of the shot or lead pieces at
the moment when the explosion takes place, the new cartridge, (which is shown in
longitudinal section at Figure 3), is made with a lead cylinder a, which is cut, as
shown in Figures 1 and 2, in a radial and axial direction. Between the surfaces of
each piece, is placed a thin layer of compressed powder, then the cylinder is put
together, and pressed into a tightly fitting paper case, which, again, is put into a
tightly fitting case b, (Figure 3), made of soft metal, and having on its lower end an
inner rim 6 (see Figure 9).
The bottom c (see Fig. 8), of the same metal, is at first soldered to the rim b', and
the case b is then filled with powder, up to the paste-board lid c¹. The case b, with
cylinder a in it, is then closed by another lid c³, which is made tight by pouring
paraffin wax over it. Fig. 6 shows the lid c¹ in side and plan view. A groove is.
pressed or struck on the under side of the bottom c, into which is placed a small
lead tube (see Fig. 8) filled with powdered and wetted gunpowder. This powder
is made to communicate with the powder above the bottom c, by a hole c. The
end c of the tube is open. Fig. 11, shows this arrangement to an enlarged scale.
When the case is made ready, it is put, as shown at Fig. 3, into a metal case A,
containing powder, and is pressed down as far as the perforated stopper d (see also
Fig. 5). The metal case is then closed by the stopper d' (see also Fig. 4).
In using this cartridge, the powder underneath d is first exploded, which, in its
turn, through the small boles d, ignites, at c, the fuse of powder in the small lead
tube c. As a consequence of the explosion, the case, (see Fig. 10), being
a

page_text: shrapnel, is forced out of the barrel, until the spark in c³, burning forward,
according to the length of the tube, reaches, at a certain time, the powder charge
in the case b, and explodes it together with the layers of powder between the
pieces, and thus separates the whole.
To produce a good result with the shrapnel, the fuse tube, as well as the whole
cartridge, must be made very accurately, possibly by means of machinery.
These cartridges can, if desired, be used for rifled guns. This is important for
hunters.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The combination of a cartridge with a shrapnel, for the purpose of making the
latter suitable for fire-arms, to produce spreading shots, substantially as hereinbefore
set forth.
2. A shrapnel for cartridges, consisting of a metal cylinder, cut both radially
and axially, and having between the pieces, layers of compressed gunpowder, the
whole being held together by a metal case, for the purpose of preventing any
alteration in the shape of the shot, with the resulting disadvantages when the gun
is discharged, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
Dated this 21st day of May 1892.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.