IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR INSERTING AND EXTRACT- ING THE PERCUSSION CAPS OF CARTRIDGES FOR FIRE-ARMS, AND FOR SHAPING AND CRIMPING THE SHELLS OR CASES OF THE SAME, MORE ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR RENOVATING DISCHARGED CARTRIDGES
Year: 1868

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Lyell Groundwater
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
on the 18th November 1868.
I, WILLIAM LYELL GROUNDWATER, of Plumstead, in the County of
Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR INSERTING AND EXTRACT-
ING THE PERCUSSION CAPS OF CARTRIDGES FOR FIRE-ARMS, AND FOR SHAPING AND
CRIMPING THE SHELLS OR CASES OF THE SAME, MORE ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR
RENOVATING DISCHARGED CARTRIDGES," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to portable apparatus or machinery for capping
central-fire cartridges, for removing the exploded cap from the shells or
cases of cartridges which have been fired, for restoring the form of
such shells or cases, and for re-capping the same. This apparatus or
machinery is arranged and secured upon a table which also forms a case
wherein the said apparatus may be conveniently enclosed for transporta-
tion.
As my said improvements are more especially designed to be used
in oumicon and donâte for the renovation of discharged cartridges I will

page_text: describe the various parts of my apparatus or machinery in the order
in which they would be most naturally arranged for that purpose, and I
will also describe the said apparatus or machinery as constructed to
operate on cartridges which have a percussion cap inserted in the rear
or base of the cartridge shell in combination with a loose piece called
the anvil. After such a cartridge has been fired the exploded cap
remains in the base of the shell or case.
The first operation, therefore, is to remove the said cap. For this
purpose I employ a hollow rod whereon the shell is placed, a needle
being fitted to work inside the said rod for forcing the cap out of the
shell, which needle is operated by a lever, while the case is supported
against the pressure of the needle by an adjustable stop. The needle
is carried on the end of a rod which is constructed in a peculiar manner
to allow the needle to be readily and conveniently removed from or
inserted into the said rod. The latter is formed with spring jaws
between which the needle is inserted and held, the stock or shank of
the said needle being made considerably thicker than the point that
it may be firmly held between these jaws. A screw thread is formed
on the exterior of the jaws and a nut is fitted thereon; by screwing
this nut up or down the jaws are slackened or tightened as desired. The
enlarged part of the needle projects above the jaws and is passed through
a guide which is carried in the upper part of the hollow rod whereon
the cartridge is placed. A hole is formed in a cross head immediately
above the end of this rod and the cartridges are passed through this
hole to place them on the rod. The said guide is made removable, and
allows the needle when broken to be readily removed and replaced
through the hole in the cross head. The said cross head is fixed upon
upright columns which are secured in the bed plate of the machine
with the hollow rod between them. The adjustable stop is carried in a
plate which is pivotted above the cross head in such a manner as to
The stop
swing laterally over and away from the centre of the same.
is formed with a screw thread and fitted into a hole tapped in the
swinging plate in such a position that it may be brought exactly over
the central aperture in the cross head. The said stop is provided with
a cross or other handle whereby it can be conveniently screwed down
upon the cartridge or raised from the same. The swinging plate is
provided with a handle and is formed with an aperture or recess,
which when the said plate is adjusted over the cartridge fits upon

page_text: a stud or pin, and is held under the head or collar of the same.
When the cartridge shell has been properly placed upon the hollow
rod the swinging plate is adjusted to bring the screw stop over
the centre of the cartridge, the stud or pin on the cross head allowing
this to be done rapidly and without any especial care on the part of the
operator. I prefer to place a small steel washer over the cartridge in
the central aperture of the cross head and the stop is screwed down upon
this washer. The handle which operates the needle being then
depressed the needle is forced upward and ejects the cap from the base
of the cartridge, leaving the anvil in its place. The needle rod is
forced downward after each operation by a spiral spring which is placed
inside the hollow rod.
The second operation is to restore to the shells or cases their proper
diameter, which is increased by expansion at the firing of the cartridge.
For this purpose I employ a male and female die corresponding with
the true diameter of the interior and exterior of the shell. The male
die is enclosed in a cup or socket, and is fixed on a bed or plate. The
female die, which is made to fit the said cup, is adjustable or removable
therefrom. These dies are arranged under a sliding rod which is
operated by a lever. The cartridge case is inserted into the female die
which is then placed in the cup, the case or shell fitting upon the male
die and between that and the female die. The said case is then forced
down by the sliding rod till its flange or rim touches the top of the
upper die, and is thus, by its compression between the two dies, restored
to its original or true diameter. The sliding rod is supported in an
adjustable socket which allows it to be turned away from the dies to
allow the case to be removed therefrom. The case is removed from
the male die by means of a punch which is fitted to work inside the
said die and is operated by a lever. The latter is pivotted to some
convenient portion of the apparatus and is provided with a counter-
acting spring. The dies may be changed to suit cartridges of various
sizes.
The case or shell having been thus restored to its proper form the
charge and projectile are inserted by any suitable apparatus ordinarily
employed for the purpose, and the next operation is to crimp or channel
the case around the projectile to secure the same in the case. This
operation is effected by means of adjustable dies which are fitted within
a box or holder and arranged in combination with a ring formed with

page_text: cams or projections, by turning which ring the said dies are caused to
The box is
approach each other and act upon the cartridge case.
preferably of a circular form, and is provided with a foot or stand,
whereby it is secured upon the table or bench. The dies are rounded
on the crimping edge so as to indent the shell or case without cutting
or injuring the same. The said dies are preferably secured upon
segmental blocks which are fitted to slide in grooves in the box or
holder. The dies may be adjusted in these blocks to suit cartridges of
various sizes. The projections on the ring bear upon curved portions
of the surface of these blocks and act as cams thereon. The said
ring is provided with a handle whereby it is turned to move the dies
which are forced outward when the handle is released by springs. The
said handle extends through an aperture or- slot formed through the
periphery of the box. The box or holder is formed with a central
aperture through which the cartridges are introduced between the dies,
and an adjustable stop is arranged opposite this aperture to regulate
the distance to which the case is inserted and consequently the position
of the indentation formed by the dies.
The fourth and last operation is to insert the percussion cap
in the cartridge case, and this I effect by devices or apparatus
somewhat similar to that used for restoring the true diameter to the
case. The die in which the cartridge is inserted is made removable,
the base or stand of the machine being provided with a hole or aperture
to receive the said die. From one side of the said aperture I form a
guideway which extends to the outside of the stand or base, the said
guideway being widened at its exterior or mouth. The die containing
the cartridge is brought by the hand to the mouth of the guideway,
which conducts it without any care on the part of the operator rapidly
and with certainty to the central aperture of the base.
aperture is provided with a tube leading downward to prevent accidents
from the explosion of the caps. This aperture is arranged under a
sliding rod operated by a hand lever and the die having been properly
adjusted the said rod is forced down upon the cap which is thereby
secured in the base of the cartridge.
The said
All of this apparatus or machinery is intended to be secured upon a
table which is constructed to support the machinery firmly when it is
used, and which will also form a packing case wherein it may be
conveniently and safely packed for transportation without removing

page_text: either part of the apparatus from its position on the said table. Two
sets of the extracting apparatus will be required to supply one of each
of the others. The table is constructed in two or more parts or flaps,
which are hinged together so that they may be folded or closed and
secured in such a manner as to form the case within which the
machinery is enclosed. The said machinery is bolted or otherwise
firmly secured upon the central portion of this case or table in the most
convenient position to allow the various processes to be properly carried
on by the operators. The table is supported upon adjustable legs
which for transportation are packed inside the table or case.