IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES, AND APPLIANCES FOR THEIR CONSTRUCTION, MANUFACTURE, ANDUSE
Year: 1869

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Clark at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th May
1869.
I, GEORGE CLARK, of No. 9, Northumberland Street, Strand, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention.
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES, AND APPLIANCES FOR THEIR CONSTRUCTION,
MANUFACTURE, AND USE," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the following improvements :-
Firstly. A method of adhesion of paper or cloth to sheet metal,
forming what may be termed metallic paper or cloth, by the following
means, that is to say, first, to cover the metal with a coating of varnish,
which when dry will harden and firmly adhere to the metal without
cracking, such as gold size or any other combination of resinous
materials producing the same result, then to cover the paper or cloth
with paste or gum mucillage, and apply the paper so covered whilst in a
wet state to the varnished surface of the metal. To render the adhesion
perfect over the entire surface the combined sheets of paper or cloth and
metal so fastened together should be laid on a flat and smooth surface

page_text: (of metal by preference), having numerous holes for the escape of
evaporation, with the paper on the under side and the upper or metallic
side pressed down by a flat and smooth plate weighted so as to cause
the complete contact of every part of the adhering surfaces. When
thoroughly dried the adhesion will be completed. Without the pre-
cautions mentioned curling up of the metal paper or cloth in drying
would prevent complete adhesion.
Secondly. The construction of a strong case as an outer case, which
may be used repeatedly for a number of successive charges alone or in
combination with an inner case, as herein-after mentioned. The tube or
case proper may be made of a coil of the above-named metallic paper or
cloth, or it may be a welded or drawn metal tube. On the first plan the
inner edge of the coil should be kept in place with a small rivet; or the
tube and its base may be punched up in dies out of a disc of metal, all in
one, in the way already known and practised; or the tube may be made
of a length of metal tubing having a metal disc soldered or brazed on
one end as the base. On this last-named plan, to prevent the tendency
of the tube to become fast in the chamber of the gun owing to expansion
by heat, the upper portion of the tube should be slit, and to guard
against the escape of gas through the slit a coiled, or soldered, or brazed
tube of of thin metal should be fitted inside the case.
Thirdly. The construction of an inner case made to fit inside an outer
case, so as to admit of the former being easily inserted into and drawn
out of the latter, with a mode of fastening the one to the other by means
of a bayonet joint or screw, or of a strip of elastic or cork at the neck of
the inner case to act as a cork in a bottle. On this plan, which I call a
dual cartridgo, the charge is loaded in the inner case ready for insertion
in the outer case when a previous charge has been fired, By fixing a
metallic or other stiff ring on the top of any cartridge case, however
made, a cork to confine the charge may be used in lieu of the usual
turnover.
Fourthly. The construction of the before-mentioned inner case of such
a length that the upper part of it shall project about half an inch above
the outer case. The inner case entire, or (if partly composed of metal)
the top or outer half inch thereof, is made of paper or cloth, and is so
lined that the inside and outside diameters of the cases may each corre-
spond as if the two were one case, and that the upper half inch of the
inner case, having a shoulder which abuts on the rim of the outer case,

page_text: can be turned over on a wad in the usual way with a turnover machine.
This inner case is loaded in the ordinary way for either sporting or
military ammunition, and forms the cartridge proper.
Fifthly. A new mode of strengthening the base of cartridges, which
consists, first, in imbedding on the bottom of a papier maché lump or
core a disc or ring or other shaped flat piece of metal, having small
holes perforated in it for screws or rivets; such piece of metal is to be
swaged with the lump or core inside the case into the metallic base cap
in the way usually employed by a punch and die; secondly, in fastening
an inner metallic base cap without a flange over the said piece of iron;
thirdly, in a metallic disc (of brass, steel, or iron by preference) fastened
with screws or rivets through the base to the before-mentioned flat piece
of metal imbedded on the lump in the manner above described, the outer
edge of the disc forming a flange to the case.
Sixthly. The following modes of ignition-First, a round or flat piece
of wire is imbedded in the base of the aforesaid swaging lump across a
hole through the latter, and over this wire, either inside or outside the
inner metallic base when used as above proposed (if outside such base
having a hole through it), is placed a flat fulminating patch on paper,
cloth, or thin metal, with the fulminate on the under side. On this plan
ignition is produced by the blow of the striker either on the outer base or
through a hole in the base on the patch itself. Second, when the outer
base is formed by a disc of metal screwed to the inner base in the way
above described, and a flat fulminating patch is used, a new patch may
be substituted for the spent one by removing the disc and screwing it on
again. If the ordinary system of a dome chamber, anvil, and cap is
made use of the spent cap may be replaced by a new one with the
ordinary tool for that purpose, or with a tool of which a description
follows. Or if upon this plan of ignition a disc be used as the outer
base the disc may be unscrewed, the spent cap removed, and a new one
introduced; the top of the cap in this case being made conical so as to
fit into a corresponding hole through the disc the cap will be retained in
its place on a level with the outside of the disc. Third, an arrangement
whereby a piston striker is fixed in a hole in the centre of the base of
the outside case, such striker consisting of a pin of which the head is on
a level with the outside of the metallic base cap, and kept in its place
by a spring, which when the gun hammer strikes the head is driven
forward by the blow on a cap at the base of the inner cartridge case

page_text: above described, the pin returning to its normal position when the
hammer is lifted.
Seventhly. The recapping tool last referred to consists of a tube to
hold the ease, with a metallic rim at the top in two parts, opening and
shutting on a hinge and fitting tight when closed to the outer base, with
projecting lugs shutting one upon the other, and provided with a thumb.
screw to hold the case tight. By means of a small drill made for the
purpose the spent cap can be removed and the chamber cleared to receive
a new one.
Eighthly. A turnover shot tube consisting of a paper or cloth tube
entering and fitting into any cartridge case about half the length of the
latter from its top. The upper part of the turnover shot tube protrudes
about half an inch outside the cartridge case, which is proportionably.
reduced in length, the projecting half inch of the former being thickened
with two or three coils of paper in the manner above described for
inner cases, so as to form a shoulder which abuts on the edge of the
cartridge case and serves for the turnover. This shot tube should be.
of such length as to hold the charge of shot, leaving space for a wad and
turnover.