IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Westley Richards, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES."
Sealed the 1st April 1869, and dated the 7th October 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Westley Richards at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 7th October 1868.
I, WESTLEY RICHARDS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CARTRIDGES," to be as follows :—
This Invention has for its object improvements in cartridges.
In constructing cartridges according to my Invention I employ a tube
or capsule (by preference of brass); it is closed at one end with the
exception of a central hole of a size to allow the "hat cap" or case for
the fulminate to pass through. At the base of the capsule I apply a
metal disc or base (by preference of iron); I make it usually of two
diameters; where it is in contact with the closed end of the capsule it is
made to the size of the chamber of the gun so as to enter into it for a
short distance, and behind is made of larger diameter to serve as a

page_text: flange for withdrawing the case from the barrel. The hat cap or
fulminate case has a small flange around it midway of its length; it is
inserted from the inside of the capsule and projects through both the
end of the capsule and the solid disc or base; and these parts are held
together by rivetting over the end of the hat cap or percussion case on
the outside. Within the capsule I apply a lining cup formed so as not
only to line the outer angle around the base of the capsule (as is described
in the Specification of a former Patent granted to me, and dated the
6th March 1866, No. 688), but also to line the inner angle around
the hat cap or percussion case, and this I do by forming the cup with
a hollow projection raised up in its centre, so that when the is
cup
placed in the capsule it covers over the hat cap or percussion case.
The cup is pressed down into the capsule until it rests solidly on its
closed end or base. There is a perforation in the projection of the cap
for the fire to pass from the fulminate to the charge.
In some cases I omit the lining cup and give to the capsule sufficient
strength to stand without it. The upper end of the capsule where it
receives the ball I frequently make of a reduced diameter, and then the
gun is made to correspond with the cartridge chamber, larger in
diameter than the bore.
In some cases in place of using a separate hat cap or percussion case,
and rivetting the disc base and capsule together by means of it, I form a
small stud on the otherwise flat face of the disc, against which the
capsule abuts, and this stud passes through the hole in the bottom of
the capsule and is rivetted on the inside. A small recess at the back of
the disc base receives the fulminate.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Westley Richards in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 7th April 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WESTLEY
RICHARDS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,

page_text: give and grant unto me, the said Westley Richards, Her special licence
that I, the said Westley Richards, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Westley Richards, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at 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
CARTRIDGES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Westley
Richards, my executors or administrators, 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 Invention, 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 Westley Richards, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in cartridges.
In constructing cartridges according to my Invention I employ a tube
or capsule (by preference of brass); it is closed at one end with the
exception of a central hole of a size to allow the "hat cap" or case for
the fulminate to pass through; or the case for the fulminate may be
made in one piece with the tube or capsule. Within the capsule I
apply a lining cup formed so as not only to line the outer angle around
the base of the capsule (as is described in the Specification of a former
Patent granted to me, and dated the 6th March 1866, No. 688), but also
to line the inner angle around the hat cap or percussion case, and this
I do by forming the cup with a hollow projection raised up in its centre,
so that when the cup is placed in the capsule it covers over the hat cap
or percussion case. The cup is pressed down into the capsule until
around the centre it rests solidly on its closed end or base. There is a
perforation in the projection of the cup for the fire to pass from the
fulminate to the charge.
The upper end of the capsule where it receives the ball I frequently
make of a reduced diameter, and then the gun is made to correspond
with the cartridge chamber, larger in diameter than the bore.

page_text: Figure 1 is a londitudinal section of a cartridge thus constructed; the
several parts of which it is constructed are shewn separately at Figures 2.
a is the capsule; its base is raised so as to form a percussion case or
priming chamber a¹. I prefer that the capsule should be drawn stouter
than elsewhere, about of an inch, at its lower end. 6 is the cup so
formed as to cover and protect both the outer angle around the base of
the capsule, and also the inner angle around the priming chamber. It
will be observed that its outer diameter is such that it is slightly com-
pressed in inserting it into its place. c is the anvil which, as shown in
the Drawing, is made with a square stem projecting through the fire
passage formed in the percussion case or priming chamber and covering
cup. The fire passage is drilled through the two thicknesses of metal
after the covering cup has been inserted. d is the percussion cap which
in firing receives the blow of the striker of the gun, and when exploded
the fire from it passes around the stem of the anvil to the charge. The
firing of the charge causes the cup 6 to change its form, so that after
firing it will be of the shape represented at Figure 3. By allowing the
charge to expend its force in changing the form of the covering cup it is
found that the angles of the capsule are very effectually protected.
The angle of the capsule may advantageously be filled by inserting
within it a thin metal disc (not shown in the Drawings) of such a
diameter and so formed around the edge as to fit into the angle. The
disc has a hole in the centre that it may pass over the priming chamber,
and it is dished to contract its diameter sufficiently to allow it to enter
the capsule; it is dropt down into its place and then flattened to expand
it into the angle.
A cup b, such as that above-described, may very advantageously be
employed when the priming chamber is made separate from the capsule,
as is usual; in this case the construction will be as is shown at Figure 4.
The sides of the cup are, as will be seen, inclined, and when the explosion
takes place and slightly expands the capsule it is at once compensated
by the flattening of the sides of the cup which the explosion simul-
taneously effects; in this way the gas is effectually prevented from
passing around the edges of the cup; I call the cup for this reason a
compensating cup.
Also according to my Invention I in some cases construct cartridges
with a tube or capsule closed at one end with the exception of a central
hole or recess to receive the "hat cap or case for the fulminate, and I
"

page_text: combine with such tube or capsule, by means of the hat cap which
serves as a rivet, a disc or base of two diameters, and which where it is
in contact with the closed end of the capsule is made to the size of the
chamber of the gun so as to enter into it for a short distance, and
behind it is made a larger diameter to serve as a flange for withdrawing
the case from the barrel; I prefer to make this disc or base of paper
pulp enclosed in a metal shell.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of a cartridge thus constructed, and
Figures 6 show the several parts separately. a is the capsule with a
raised projection a¹ in the centre of its closed end, as before; b is the
shell of the cartridge head with the flange b¹ at the back of it; c is a
pasteboard wad with which it is filled; d is the "hat cap," percussion
case, or priming chamber; it is inserted through the head into the
hollow projection at a'; a blow is then struck with a suitable tool on
the top of the projection so as to bulge both it and the "hat cap" d,
and so the "hat cap " is made to serve as a rivet to attach the head to
the capsule; e is the anvil, and the percussion cap.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim,
in constructing cartridges the use of an internal lining cup covering
and protecting both the outer angle of the base of the capsule and the
inner angle around the priming chamber herein described.
I also claim the constructing cartridges as herein described in respect
to Figures 5 and 6.
In witness whereof, I, the said Westley Richards, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
WESTLEY RICHARDS. (L.S.)