Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 19th June, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 14th Sept., 188
I, BETHEL BURTON, Mechanical Engineer, address care of Messrs. J. S. Morgan
& Co., (Bankers) 22 Old Broad Street, E.C. London do hereby, declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows :-
In order to reduce a cartridge to the smallest dimensions desirable and increase its
efficiency and power, economise weight and space in transportation, and in order
to insure the combustion of the powder charge when pressed into the required
dimensions of the cartridge in which it is used I combine with common gun powder
some of the well known nitrous explosive compounds that will bear pressure but in
such proportions only as will serve to cause the compressed powder to burn within
the barrel of the gun before the bullet or projectile has left the barrel which gun
powder will not do alone when solidly pressed in a small compass, but I prefer either
dissolved gun cotton with which the powder is mixed or coated; or nitro-glycerine
or nitro-gelatine reduced and controlled by a mixture therof with dissolved shellac
or other hard gum. The nitro-gelatine or nitro-glycerine so mixed and allowed to
dry by evaporation make a safe charge for shells fired from a gun and as is well
known a mixture of sand with gun powder materially retards its combustion-so by
the mixture of powder which when compressed burns too slowly-with a compound
which gives instantaneous combustion but which is diminished by the mixture with
the compressed powder the desired result may be obtained, greater velocity and
penetrative power given to the projectile.
To prevent the barrel from fouling and give greater velocity to the bullet I form
the point of the bullet conical, the apex of the cone small and rounded, the base of the
bullet I make of various forms-with a view to admit the displaced air without
deflecting the bullet-with a hole up into the bullet, for two purposes, into this hole
I insert a plug with a conical base, made of wood, paper, pulp or other suitable
material. By preference I make use of a lubricant which consists of wax, vaseline or
sperm oil free from acids, and plumbago, when the explosion of the charge takes place
the lubricant is driven up the sides of the conical plug against the walls.of the barrel

page_text: thus lubricating the barrel up to the muzzle and placing the centre of gravity in the
centre of the bullet, but with a flat base bullet is not central and the lubricant when
worn off by friction ceases to lubricate the barrel beyond.a.short distance..from the
breech.
The object also of the plug cone is to lighten the bullet without diminishing its
length.
Where more weight is required in the bullet the base of the bullet may be made
conical and serve the purpose of the cone base pressing the lubricant against the
rifling up to the muzzle of the barrel.
Dated this Twentieth day of September 1887
“COMPLETE “SPECIFICATION.
.
Improvements in Ammunition for Great Guns and Small Arms.
I BETHEL BURTON Mechanical Engineer Address care of Messrs. J. S. Morgan
& Co. (Bankers) 22 Old Broad Street London E.C. 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 :—
.
In order to reduce a cartridge to the smallest dimensions desirable, increase the
power of the charge, thereby economise space and weight in storing, and trans-
portation, and also to cause complete combustion of the powder charge before
leaving the barrel of the gun, and thereby overcome the evil of fouling the barrel
with the unconsumed particles of the component parts of the powder. For this
purpose I combine sulpher charcoal nitre of which common gun powder is composed,
with pyroxylin, or gun cotton, this composition also gives higher velocity reduces
the volume of and colour of the smoke from a dark thick black colour to a light
steam like smoke disappearing quickly and does not obscure the vision of the gunner
firing, and aiming the gun. To prevent my powder. from igniting too quickly it
may be pressed into lumps or charges which retards ignition in proportion to its
density. The proportion of pyroxyline with common gun powder which I prefer to
use are common gun powder 40 parts, pyroxylin 15 parts. I do not confine myself
to that proportion as 4 to 40 parts of pyroxylin may be used, according to the require-
ments. The proportions of gun cotton I prefer to use with common gun powder is
gun powder 40 parts, gun cotton 4 parts. This proportion may be also be varied 4 to
40 parts of gun cotton being employed. When greater strength is desired-more
gun cotton is required. The powder is made in the same-manner and by the same
machinery-employed-in-making common gun powder.
.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner this same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is,
1. The combination substantially as described of common gun powder with
pyroxyline for the purpose specified. I do not confine myself to the proportions
stated as for instance 4 parts to 40 parts of pyroxylin may be used with 40 parts of
common gun powder.
2. The combination of common gun powder with gun cotton in the proportion
of, gun powder 40 parts, gun cotton 4 parts to 40 parts, according to the requirements
of strength desired and uso for which it is intended, as and for the purpose described.
حيم
BETHEL BURTON.