Improvements in Cartridges.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 12th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 28th Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JOHN HAMILTON BROWN, of 162, East 36th Street,
New York, United States of America, Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Cartridges.
"
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby déclare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This improvement consists in a cartridge for a shell of ordinary or any suitable
construction, a hollow cylindrical or annular block of compressed powder fitting
loosely within the base of such shell, a core of uncompressed powder located within
the block of compressed powder, a projectile chamber being provided within the shell
in front of the powder.
The uncompressed powder may be loose powder and will preferably be arranged not
only within the block of compressed powder, but in front of it.
It will be advantageous to arrange in front of the cylinder of compressed powder a
wad provided with an opening coinciding with the opening in the block of compressed
powder. When loose powder is employed in front of the compressed powder as well
as within it some of the loose powder may be forward of the said wad. There
will, in such case, preferably be an imperforate wad forward of the loose powder
separating it from the projectile or projectiles which may be placed in the front of
the cartridge.
The shell of the cartridge may be made of paper or any other suitable material.
The rear end is closed by a metallic shell in which a cap is fitted. The shell may be
of the ordinary or any suitable construction.
The compressed powder preferably amounts to about two-thirds of the charge, in
the present case. The compressed powder is in the form of a bollow cylinder or
ring whose exterior fits snugly within the interior of the shell and in the rear end of
the shell. The loose powder in this example of the improvement, fills the space
within the hollow cylinder or ring of compressed powder.
In a modification of the improvement the loose powder not only fills the space
within the hollow. cylinder or ring of compressed powder, but also fills some of the
space in the shell of the cartridge beyond the forward end of the hollow cylinder
or ring of compressed powder.
Just in advance of the forward end of the hollow cylinder or ring of compressed
powder, is a wad. This wad has a central perforation or opening which may advan-
tageously be about the size of the interior of the hollow cylinder or ring of compressed
powder. The loose powder extends through this: wad and in advance of the wad, as
well as in advance of the compressed powder.
Forward of the loose powder is a wad. Beyond this wad is arranged shot, and
forward of the shot is another wad. The extreme forward end of the cartridge may
be bent or crimped inwardly to secure this wad in place.
Preferably a thin shell will be inserted between the inner surface of the hollow
cylinder or ring of compressed powder, and the loose powder. This shell may be
made of paper or a thin film or shell of shellac applied to the inner surface of the
hollow cylinder or ring of compressed powder, may be used.
By means of my improvement a better combustion of the charge of powder will
be secured and the recoil from the discharge of the powder will be lighter owing to
the fact that the powder will be consumed inore gradually because the loose powder
will be burned first and the compressed powder will not be consumed until later.
Moreover, the penetration effected by the discharge of the powder, will be at least as
great, if not greater than when the powder is used in the ordinary manner.

page_text: I have only described the cartridge as supplied with shot but I do not wish to
restrict my improvement to such a cartridge.
The compressed powder may be comprossed before being inserted in the shell of the
cartridge, or, while in the shell. In the latter case it will be necessary to sustain
the shell by means of an outer die or holder, during the act of compressing the
powder.
Dated this 20th day of November 1888.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cartridges.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex 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 :-
I will describe a cartridge embodying my improvements, and then point out the
novel features in claims.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of a
cartridge embodying my improvements. Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same,
taken at the plane of the dotted line x, Fig. 1. Figure 3 is a central longitudinal
section of another cartridge embodying my improvements and illustrating a modified
form of the invention. Figure 4 is a transverse section taken at the plane of the
dotted line y, y, Fig. 3.
Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.
A designates the shell of the cartridge. It may be made of paper or any other
suitable material. The rear end is closed by a metallic shell, B, in which a cap, C, is
shown as fitted. The shell may be of the ordinary or any suitable construction.
D designates compressed powder.
E designates loose powder.
The compressed powder, preferably, amounts to about two-thirds of the charge in
the example of the improvements illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2. The compressed
powder is in the form of a hollow cylinder or ring whose exterior fits snugly within
the interior of the shell A and in the rear end of the shell. The loose powder, E, in
this example of the improvements, fills the space within the hollow cylinder or ring
of compressed powder. In this example of the improvements shown in Figs. 1 and 2,
a wad, F, is arranged across the forward end of the compressed powder and the loose
powder forming the charge. Beyond this wad I have shown a number of shot, G,
arranged. Beyond the shot a wad, H, is shown. The forward end of the shell is
represented as crimped or turned inwardly to secure the wad H, in place.
In the other example of the improvements (shown in Figs. 3 and 4) it will be
seen that the loose powder not only fills the space within the hollow cylinder or ring
of compressed powder, but also fills some of the space in the shell A of the cartridge
beyond the forward end of the hollow cylinder or ring of compressed powder. Just
in advance of the forward end of the hollow cylinder or ring of compressed powder.
is a wad, I. This wad has a central perforation or opening which may advan-
tageously be about the size of the interior of the hollow cylinder or ring of compressed
powder. The loose powder extends through this wad and in advance of the wad, as
well as in advance of the compressed powder. Forward of the loose powder is a
wad, F. Beyond the wad F, I have shown shot, G, arranged. Forward of the shot
I have shown a wad, H. The extreme forward end of the cartridge-shell is shown as
bent or crimped inwardly to secure this wad H, in place. Preferably a thin shell, J,
will be inserted between the inner surface of the hollow cylinder or ring of compressed
powder and the loose powder. This shell may be made of paper, or a thin film or

page_text: shell of shellac applied to the inner surface of the hollow cylinder or ring of com-
pressed powder may be used.
By means of my improvements a better combustion of the charge of powder will
be secured, and the recoil from the discharge of the powder will be lighter, owing
to the fact that the powder will be consumed more gradually, because the loose
powder will be burned first and the compressed powder will not be consumed until
later. Moreover, the penetration effected by the discharge of the powder will be
at least as great, if not greater, than when the powder is used in the ordinary
manner.
I have only shown the cartridge as supplied with shot; but I do not wish to
restrict my improvements to such a cartridge.
The compressed powder may be compressed before being inserted in the shell of
the cartridge or while in the shell. In the latter case it will be necessary to sustain
the shell by means of an outer die or holder during the act of compressing the
powder.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner in which the same is to be performed, as com-
municated to me by my foreign Correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a cartridge, the combination of a shell, a cylindrical block of compressed
powder adapted to fit and slide within the base of the shell, a core of uncompressed
powder within the said block of compressed powder, and a projectile-chamber seated
within the shell in front of the explosive section of the charge, substantially as set
forth.
2. In a cartridge, the combination of a shell, a cylinder or ring of compressed
powder at the base of the shell, loose powder within and in front of the cylinder or
ring of compressed powder, and a projectile-chamber in front of the powder charge,
substantially as set forth.
3. A cartridge having a charge of powder, consisting partly of a hollow cylinder
or ring of compressed powder, uncompressed powder within said hollow cylinder or
ring, a wad arranged forward of the hollow cylinder or ring of compressed powder
and having an opening coinciding with the interior of such hollow cylinder or ring,
and uncompressed powder forward of said wad, substantially as specified.
Dated this 12th day of August 1889
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agent for the Applicants.