Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1886.
Complete Left, 1st Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 1st Feb., 1887.
I ANDREW NOBLE late Captain in the Royal Artillery of Jesmond Dene House
Newcastle-upon-Tyne Manufacturing Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the method of securing the lids, or ends of the powder case
in place, so that they may very rapidly be taken off or be replaced, and also to the general
construction of the powder case which is designed to be extremely light and strong.
This construction enables the case to stand the dead weight which comes on the bottom
tier when the cases are stowed in bulk in a magazine and to remain water tight under
the pressure of the head of water which comes on the cases when a magazine is flooded
with water.
The lids of the powder case are secured in place by the following device Each lid
is provided with several (usually four) hinged rods or bars, carried by little lugs fixed
to the rim of the lid These hinged rods are formed into a convenient shape to be
grasped by the hand. Near the centre of length of each is a tight fitting nut which
runs on a screw thread, cut on the hinged rod so as to provide a means of adjusting the
position of the nut without danger of the nut shaking into a different position. The
body of the powder case at each end is provided with several lugs (in number to suit
as to let the
the rods on the lids) These are slotted out through the centre so
hinged rods on the lids pass through them, and so bring the nuts on the rods under
the lugs. The under side of these lugs is formed into a curve inclined slightly to the
path of the nut as it passes under the lug during the first part of its motion when
closing, and afterwards following the exact line of the motion of the nut. The object
of this is to draw down the lid onto the case with great force by the wedging action
which takes place when two of the hinged rods are pressed down together on opposite
sides, and to remove all tendency of the rods flying out again by letting the nuts pass
on to a surface not inclined to the line of motion.
The usual ring of india rubber or leather is placed either on the lid or on the body
of the case so as to come between the surfaces pressed together, in the manner described
above, and form a watertight joint.

page_text: The nut on the hinged rod can be moved slightly in position (if sufficient force be
used) when it is necessary to make adjustment, when first putting in a new ring of
india rubber or leather.
The powder case is formed of corrugated sheet made with the corrugations running
round the circumference of the case so as to give the greatest possible strength to
resist the crushing weight when the cases are stowed in bulk (resting one above another
several tiers deep). The flat plates of the lids are strengthened by deep corrugations
running across at right angles to one another so that the ends of the central ones come
towards the centres of the outer corrugations and the ends of these again transmit the
load to the rim of the lid.
The advantages claimed for this invention are that in time of action when the
cartridges are required very quickly, only a few seconds are occupied in taking off the
lids of the case and in putting the lids back in place before removing the case to make
room for another.
The general form of the case is handy for manipulation. Both lids come off and
the cartridge can be rammed out through the case into the gun, the lids at that time
being thrown to one side clear out of the way. The case is provided with eyes at the
middle of its length for readily hooking in the lifting and transporting tackle.
The great strength of the case combined with its lightness render it most suitable
for ship's magazines where it is desirable to stow in bulk and to save all weight possible.
The strength to resist collapsing enables the magazine to be flooded when stowed with
these cases in time of danger from fire, without fear of the cases or powder being spoilt
by the water.

page_text: of Heavy Guns.
I, ANDREW NOBLE late Captain in the Royal Artillery of Jesmond Dene House,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Manufacturing Engineer, 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:-
This invention relates to the method of securing the lids, or ends of the powder case
in place, so that they may very rapidly be taken off or be replaced, and also to the
general construction of the powder case which is designed to be extremely light and
strong. This construction enables the case to stand the dead weight which comes on
the bottom tier when the cases are stowed in bulk in a magazine, and to remain water-
tight under the pressure of the head of water which comes on the cases when a magazine
is flooded with water.
The lids of the powder case are secured in place by the following device. Each lid
is provided with several (usually four) hinged rods or bars, carried by little lugs fixed
to the rim of the lid. These hinged rods are formed into a convenient shape to be
grasped by the hand. Near the centre of length of each is a tight-fitting nut which
runs on a screw thread, cut on the hinged rod so as to provide a means of adjusting
the position of the nut, without danger of the nut shaking into a different position.
The body of the powder case at each end is provided with several lugs (in number to
suit the rods on the lids). These are slotted out through the centre so as to let the
hinged rods on the lids pass through them, and so bring the nuts on the rods under
the lugs. The under side of these lugs is formed into a curve inclined slightly to the
path of the nut as it passes under the lug during the first part of its motion when
closing, and afterwards following the exact line of the motion of the nut. The object
of this is to draw down the lid on to the case with great force by the wedging
action which takes place when two of the hinged rods are pressed down together on
opposite sides, and to remove all tendency of the rods flying out again by letting the
nuts pass on to a surface not inclined to the line of motion.
The usual ring of india rubber or leather is placed either on the lid or on the body
of the case so as to come between the surfaces pressed together, in the manner described
above, and form a watertight joint.
The nut on the hinged rod can be moved slightly in position (if sufficient force be
used) when it is necessary to make adjustment, when first putting in a new ring of
india rubber or leather.
The powder case is formed of corrugated sheet made with the corrugations running
round the circumference of the case, so as to give the greatest possible strength to
resist the crushing weight when the cases are stowed in bulk (resting one above
another several tiers deep). The flat plates of the lids are strengthened by deep
corrugations running across at right angles to one another so that the ends of the

page_text: central ones comes towards the centres of the outer corrugations and the ends of these
again transmit the load to the rim of the lid.
The advantages claimed for this invention are that in time of action when the
cartridges are required very quickly, only a few seconds are occupied in taking off the
lids of the case and in putting the lids back in place before removing the case to make
room for another.
The general form of the case is handy for manipulation. Both lids come off and
the cartridge can be rammed out through the case into the gun, the lids at that time
being thrown to one side clear out of the way. The case is provided with eyes at the
middle of its length for readily hooking in the lifting and transporting tackle.
The great strength of the case combined with its lightness render it most suitable
for ships' magazines where it is desirable to stow in bulk and to save all weight possible.
The strength to resist collapsing enables the magazine to be flooded when stowed with
these cases in time of danger from fire without fear of the cases or powder being spoilt
by the water.
In order that my said invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a powder case constructed according to my invention.
Figure 2 is a portion of an end view of the same.
Figure 3 is a section on the line AA in Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a section on the line B B in Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a section on the line CC in Figure 6.
Figure 6 is a section on the line DD in Figure 5.
The lid consists of a corrugated plate a¹ riveted to a rim a'. The rim has lugs a** ;
and the rods b are hinged to the lugs. The plate a¹ is corrugated as shown; the ends
of the outer corrugations meet the rim a' and the other corrugations are arranged to
transmit the load to these near to their centres. c is the corrugated body and c¹ the rim of
the body. The rim c¹ is provided with lugs to engage with nuts b¹ on the rods bas
already described. d is an india rubber ring and e is the bed on which the ring rests;
this bed is formed by filling with soft solder the small angular space between the
body c and the outer edge of the rim c¹.
The lids at the two ends of the case are in all respects similar.
ff are the eyes to receive lifting and transporting tackle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention a
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. Powder cases with lids secured by hinged rods or bars with nuts and lugs
substantially as described.
2. Powder cases substantially as described and represented in the annexed drawings.