IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING EXPLODED CARTRIDGES FROM BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henri Adrien Bonneville, of the British and Foreign
Patent Offices, 24, Rue du Mont Thabor, Paris, in the Empire of
France, and 88, Porchester Terrace, Bayswater, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
REMOVING EXPLODED CARTRIDGES FROM BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."―A
communication from Charles Victor Plumerel, residing at Vincennes,
in the Empire of France, aforesaid.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henri Adrien Bonneville at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th April 1866.
I, HENRI ADRIEN BONNEVILLE, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices,
24, Rue du Mont Thabor, Paris, in the Empire of France, and 38, Porchester
Terrace, Bayswater, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
REMOVING EXPLODED CARTRIDGES FROM BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," communi-
cated to me by Charles Victor Plumerel, a person residing at Vincennes, in
the Empire of France, aforesaid, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in instruments for removing
exploded cartridges from breech-loading fire-arms for preventing the obstruc-
tion of the breech thereby, and consequently increasing the length of time
during which the arm may be fired without cleaning.

page_text: This apparatus consists of a tube of suitable metal and dimensions to be
inserted in the breech of the arm and in which the cartridge is placed, so that
when the arm is fired the case remains in the said tube. This tube is made
in two parts or longitudinal sections, which are hinged together so as to be
easily opened to allow of withdrawing the exploded cartridge. One of these 5
halves is provided with a small rod or lever for moving it with greater
facility.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henri Adrien Bonneville in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th October 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRI ADRIEN
BONNEVILLE, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices, 24, Rue du Mont
Thabor, Paris, in the Empire of France, and 38, Porchester Térrace, Bays-
water, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said
Henri Adrien Bonneville, Her special licence that I, the said Henri Adrien
Bonneville, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Henri Adrien Bonneville, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
in any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING EXPLODED CARTRIDGES FROM BREECH-LOADING FIRE-
ARMS," a communication from Charles Victor Plumerel, a person residing at
Vincennes, in the Empire of France, aforesaid, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Henri Adrien Bonneville, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henri Adrien Bonneville, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to

page_text: be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This Invention relates to certain improvements. in instruments for removing
exploded cartridges from breech-loading fire-arms for preventing the obstruc-
tion of the breech thereby, and consequently increasing the length of time
during which the arm may be fired without cleaning.
This apparatus consists of a tube of suitable metal and dimensions to be
inserted in the breech of the arm, and in which the cartridge is placed, so that
when the arm is fired the case remains in the said tube. This tube is made
in two parts or longitudinal sections, which are hinged together so as to be
easily opened to allow of withdrawing the exploded cartridge. One of these
halves is provided with a small rod or lever for removing it with greater facility.
This cartridge draw tube is equally adaptable to all portable breech-loading
fire-arms in use in the army or for the chase, into whose chamber the whole
cartridge is inserted.
The interior of the metallic tube (made of iron, steel, brass, or any
suitable metal) corresponds to the exterior casing of the cartridge or recep-
tacle, and its exterior to the interior side view of the chamber (that is, the
side views by the axis and of that part of the barrel comprised. between the
two ends of the cartridge case in levelling position), the cartridge is so
placed as to fit into it exactly, the anterior border of the case is on a
level with the anterior border of the tube and the whole is thrust into the
chamber of the barrel, the edges of which are thus covered by those of the
tube. If in that state, and the chamber being closed, the fire-arm is let off it
is clear that the intermediate tube which separates or comes in contact with
the circle of the chamber and the case of the cartridge retains whatever
of the cartridge may remain behind after its exploision. The chamber 'thus
continues clean whilst the tube collects the remains of the cartridge. To place
a fresh cartridge into the tube it must be cleaned, and to do this must be
withdrawn from the chamber. In order to thrust it in and to withdraw it from
the chamber at will, a movement to-and-fro is indispensable. To effect this
it is mounted on a manoeuvring rod, and in the peculiar breech-loading arm
called Verrou it is mounted on the head of the bolt against the rear end of
which the cartridge rests. To open the tube so as to cleanse it of all residue,
and to insert the cartridge the longitudinal lower half or bed of the cartridge
is fixed on the head of the bolt or of a manoeuvring rod, and the other longi-
tudinal upper half is hinged on the lower portion. The apparatus as above
described is proper to any kind of cartridge, and constitutes as it were its
moveable chamber. If the case of the cartridge is sufficiently solid and rigide

page_text: (in pasteboard, for instance), it would be well for it to extend a little beyond
the end of the draw tube so as to enable the fingers to lay hold of it. In
that case the draw tube may be considerably simplified, especially if the case
is of a truncated conic shape or swollen towards the rear, the lower half of the
tube which serves as a bed for the cartridge, or even a portion of that half
is sufficient to constitute the cartridge draw tube which we shall distinguish
by calling it the spoon. To ensure the perfect withdrawal of the case the
spoon is of the same length as the case, with a little circular border, against
which bears the lower half of the anterior edge of the case, or it were better
still to have the spoon not quite so long as the case, with corruscations or
indentations, asperities or rugosities, whose action on the case is only felt when
the mecanism is brought backwards.
Such is in substance my cartridge draw tube system which notably differs
from all other Inventions actually known. These latter merely act upon the
cartridge case at the back when withdrawn, whilst mine of a length nearly equal
to that of the cartridge case is of the same compass and embraces it entirely
or in part. As the form and interior dimensions of the apparatus vary
according to the form and exterior dimensions of the cartridge case, a
drawing by particularising, the idea might detract from its generalness, besides
being useless for the better understanding of the text, which itself sufficiently
sets forth the principal features and working of my Invention.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention
I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details
above given, but claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, an improved
cartridge draw tube, which, contrary to all other systems acting upon the back
part of the cartridge to withdraw its remains, surrounds entirely or in part
the cartridge case on which it bears by means of its shape, which is that
of a truncated cone, or by means of the indentations, rugosities, or asperities
which it possesses internally, substantially as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Henri Adrien Bonneville, have bereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
H. BONNEVILLE. (L.S.)