Improvements in Tools for Withdrawing and Inserting Percussion Caps in Cartridges.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tools for Withdrawing and Inserting Percussion
Caps in Cartridges.
1, NILS GUSTAF HANSON, Rosengatan 3 Stockholm, Sweden, Agent 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:-
The tools most in use for exchanging percussion caps or the so called percussion
cap tongs consist in general of a pair of tongs, by means of one leg of which the
cartridge may be introduced and secured, while the other leg is traversed by a pin
which by the action of a third leg can be caused to penetrate into the percussion
cap of the cartridge and then withdraw it when the two latter legs are at the
same time removed from the former.
The present tool resembles such an apparatus in so far, that the cartridge is
retained by a pair of tongs while the percussion cap is extracted by means of a
pin secured in a part movable with relation to the tongs the tongs being however
80 arranged contrary to the usual form that the same can be used for cartridges of
the greatest as well as of the smallest calibre. The tool is besides of very simple
construction and easy to make, and it permits of the operations being performed by
far more quickly and surely than by the above mentioned tongs.
In the drawings,
Fig. 1 is a side view of the tongs, the different parts being in position for
extracting a percussion cap.
Fig. 2 represents the tongs viewed from the same side but in position for inserting
a percussion cap.
Fig. 3 is a top view of the tongs and
Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line -y Fig. 1.
Figs. 5, 6, 7 are modifications.
The tongs properly so called, by which the cartridge is retained are most like a
pair of nut-crackers, as the cartridge, while being pinched, is directly acted upon
by the legs A as shown in the drawing.
For this purpose each of the legs A on the inner surface is provided with a
recess B of such a shape as to firmly clasp cartridges of the greatest as well as of
the smallest calibre. With the tongs there is also combined a third leg or lever C
one end of the pivot D of the tongs being extended and on this extension the
lever C is pivotted at one of its ends. The pivot D can also be turned round
independently of the tongs and the lever C can thus evidently be turned now with
one side now with the other towards the tongs.
Just at the place of the lever C which is opposite the recesses B in the legs A
of the tongs there is screwed in a claw E preferably of the shape shown in the
drawing. By means of this claw the extraction of the percussion caps is effected
in the following manner. A cartridge being adjusted between the legs A is
retained there by the legs being seized by one hand. By the other hand, the
lever C is seized and brought in such a position as to bring the claw E about
straight over the percussion cap of the cartridge. Then the lever C is brought
downwards so as to cause the claw E to penetrate the bottom of the percussion cap,
which latter is facilitated by the lower edge of the claw being sharpened. The
claw E is on one side provided with a notch and in order to extract a percussion
cap the lever C is brought towards the same side as the notch so far as to cause the
otch to get under the edge of the cut made in the bottom of the percussion cap
see Fig. 4). If the lever C is then raised while still pressed towards the same
ide, the cap must evidently be drawn out by the claw E.

page_text: When the cartridge is to be provided with a percussion cap, the lever C is turned
in the manner described and shown in the drawings in Fig. 2. The percussion cap
is adjusted in the cartridge which is then clasped by the legs A and by pressing
the lever C downwards, the percussion cap will be forced in to its place by the
back part of the claw E traversing the lever C which part with the view of firmly
securing the claw may be provided with a nut F.
In addition to this principal arrangement of the tongs they may also be arranged
Bo as to constitute in same degree a universal tool. Thus for instance each of the
legs A may beyond the pivot D be provided with a jaw G, which jaws can be made
either cutting or gripping. Further either leg A cau at a suitable part be cut as
a file or as a rasp as shown in the drawing. When reloading cartridges with a
bullet the bullet is to be secured in the mouth of the cartridge, or in other words,
the rim of the cartridge must be pressed to the bullet in order to retain the same.
For this purpose each leg can at the inner side be provided with a segment shaped
recess H as shown in Fig. 3 and finally the lever C may for instance at its free end
have the shape of a screw driver. The apparatus now described could be modified
in the following manner as shown Fig. 5.
In lieu of the lever C being fixed directly to the pivot D of the tongs, there
can be located between the lever and the pivot a movable link I which as will
be easily understood from the drawing, permits of the displacing of the lever
forwards in its longitudinal direction, at the same time that it is being raised. Further
the claw E need in this event not be provided with any notch but only to be bent
forward and pointed, as shown on the drawing.
The claw shaped in this way having been introduced through the bottom of the
percussion cap, the latter can evidently be drawn up by moving as just mentioned,
the lever upwards and forwards at the same time. The same can evidently also be
attained by making an oblong slot for the pivot of the lever either in the pivot D
of the tongs or in the lever itself.
In order to make the tongs serviceable also for cartridges where diameter of the
outer rim of the cartridge flange does not exceed diameter of the cartridge itself
and consequently cannot serve as a support for the cartridge against the legs of the
tongs, the tongs can be arranged as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.
At the top of the one leg A there is located the plate K which at one end is
pivotted on the pivot L fixed to the same leg. At its other movable end, the plate
is bent in an angle downwards. The plate is elastic so that this end can be brought
upwards so far that the lower edge of the bent part can pass over the top of the
leg, whereafter the plate K can evidently be so turned that the bent part will rest
either upon the outer or the inner side of the leg (see Fig. 6). In the latter event
the inner border of the plate will extend beyond the inner border of the leg
at the point where the cartridge is resting against it and can thus enter under the
flange of the cartridge (see Fig. 7) and serve as a support to the cartridge. When
the bent part is turned on to the outer side of the leg A, the whole plate will
evidently assume such a position that a cartridge with a projecting flange can
without obstruction by the plate, rest directly upon the leg.
The plate K can evidently in addition to the mode now shown and described be
arranged in many different ways. Thus for instance it may be made displaceable
to and fro by being sunk into the leg A and retained in its different positions by
means of some suitable device as a handle, a bolt a screw or such like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a tool for exchanging percussion caps in empty cartridge cases where the
cartridge is secured in one pair of legs of a set of three-legged tongs and a pin in
the other leg is caused to penetrate into the percussion cap the arrangement for
the cartridge carrying portion of two pivotally connected legs such as A which on
their opposing faces are provided with recesses such as B whereby the same tool
L

page_text: may be used for cartridges of different calibres by the cartridges being gripped
between the legs A substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
2. In a tool such as described in Claim 1 the combination with the holding
legs (A) of a revolvable pivot such as D to which is jointed a leg such as
provided with its pin or claw (E) the whole so arranged that the leg (C) may
owing to the pivot (D) be turned round and a used percussion cap may be extracted
by means of the claw at the one side of the leg or a percussion cap may be pressed
into the cartridge by means of the other side of the leg substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a tool such as described in Claim 2 the modified arrangement wherein the
leg (C) in lieu of being jointed upon the pivot (D) is united with the latter by
means of a link (I) so that the claw (E) after being pressed into the cap may be
displaced when extracting the cap substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 28th day of December 1892.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.