IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Rock Cooper, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Gun Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS."-Partly a communication
from abroad by Charles François Galand, of Liège, in the Kingdom of
Belgium.
Sealed the 9th August 1867, and dated the 29th May 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Rock Cooper
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th May 1867.
I, JOSEPH ROCK COOPER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Gun Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," to be as
follows:-
The said Invention consists, firstly, in constructing self-ignition cartridges
for breech-loading fire-arms in the manner herein-after explained, whereby the
escape of gas at the breech on the ignition of the cartridge is wholly prevented.
and a cheap and efficient cartridge produced.
The case of the cartridge is made by preference of a tube of calico or, other.
fabric, the said tube being either made from a strip by rolling up and gumming.
or glueing its edges or by weaving; one end of the case is closed by a disk
or cap of pasteboard; in the base of the case a metal cap or disk of wood,
papier mâché, or other hard material, having a recess in it for the fulminate
or percussion powder, is situated. The percussion cap or disk containing the

page_text: fulminate may be perforated if necessary to permit of the ready passage of
the flash to the gunpowder of the cartridge. The percussion cap or disk is
fastened to the end disk of the cartridge case by glue or other cement. The
gunpowder of the cartridge and projectile are arranged in the case in the
ordinary manner, and the front end of the case is tied over the front end of
the projectile. To the base of the cartridge thus made a disk of vulcanized or
unvulcanized india-rubber is attached by glueing or otherwise. Instead of
india-rubber other elastic material may be employed. The india-rubber
disk is of the diameter of the entrance to the chamber of the gun, and of
greater diameter than the cartridge case. The cartridge is now complete.
In discharging the cartridge the needle of the gun perforates and passes
through the disk of india-rubber at the base of the cartridge and ignites the ful-
minate in the cap at the front of the said disk and discharges the cartridge. On
the discharge of the cartridge the edges of the india-rubber disk are expanded
laterally and pressed into close contact with the chamber of the gun, and all
escape of gas at the breech thus effectually prevented. By the contraction
of the disk upon the needle after it has perforated the said disk to reach the
fulminate, escape of gas at the perforation thus made is prevented. The india-
rubber disk at the base of the cartridge, after the discharge of the gun, remains
attached to the needle and is removed on opening the breech. By sub-
stituting shot for the projectile described the cartridge may be used for
sporting purposes.
The said Invention consists, secondly, in constructing self-ignition cartridges
for breech-loading fire-arms in the manner herein-after explained, whereby
the cartridge is effectually protected from being discharged excepting by the
action of the needle of the gun.
In constructing a cartridge according to this part of the said Invention the
powder case of the cartridge is either made wholly of metal, or partly of metal
and partly of pasteboard. In the closed metallic end or cap of the cartridge
case, and in the axis thereof, a hole or perforation is made, the said per-
foration being of a diameter- a little greater than that of the needle of the
gun into this case, and against the inner side of the closed end or
cap, a disk of india-rubber or other elastic material is fixed, and to the
iniddle of the said disk a metal, wood, papier mâché, or other non-metallic
cap or disk containing the fulminate or percussión powder is fixed by glue or
otherwise; the gunpowder and projectile are then put in the case and the
cartridge completed in the ordinary way. On discharging this cartridge the
Beedle passes through the perforation in the closed end or cap of the cartridge
case, perforates the india-rubber disk, and ignites the percussion cap in front of

page_text: the said disk, the escape of gas at the perforation in the end or cap of the
cartridge case being prevented by the contraction of the india-rubber disk
upon the needle.
By constructing self-ignition cartridges in the manner last described no
blow or pressure on the outside of the case of the cartridge can ignite the
fulminate of the cartridge; great safety in the use and transit of the cartridges.
is thus obtained.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph, Rock Cooper in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 25th November 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
ROCK COOPER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gun Manufac-
turer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of ller reign, did,.
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Joseph
Rock Cooper, lier special licence that I, the said Joseph Rock Cooper,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Joseph Rock Cooper, 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 night make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CARTRIDGES FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS," the result partly of a
communication made to me from abroad by Charles François Galand, of Liège,
in the Kingdom of Belgium, and partly of invention and discovery made by me,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Rock Cooper, my.
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under ny,, 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 per-
formed, 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 Joseph Rock Cooper, 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 thereof, that is to say:-
The said Invention consists, firstly, in constructing self-ignition cartridges
for breech-loading fire-arms in the manner herein-after explained, whereby
the escape of gas at the breech on the ignition of the cartridge is wholly
prevented and a cheap and efficient cartridge produced.
The case of the cartridge is made by preference of a tube of calico or other
fabric, the said tube being either made from a strip by rolling up and gumming
or glueing its edges, or by weaving; one end of the case is closed by a
disk or cap of pasteboard or fabric; in the base of the case a metal cap or a
disk of wood, papier mâche, or other hard material baving a recess in it for
the fulminate or percussion powder, is situated. The percussion cap or disk
containing the fulminate may be perforated, if necessary, to permit of the ready
passage of the flash to the gunpowder of the cartridge. The percussion cap or
disk is fastened to the end disk of the cartridge case by glue or other cement.
The gunpowder of the cartridge and the projectile are arranged in the case in
the ordinary manner, and the front end of the case is tied over the projectile.
To the base of the cartridge thus made a disk of vulcanized or unvulcanized
india-rubber is attached by glueing or otherwise; instead of india-rubber other
elastic material may be employed; the india-rubber disk is of the diameter of
the entrance to the chamber of the gun, and, by preference, of greater
diameter than the cartridge case; the cartridge is now complete.
In discharging the cartridge the needle of the gun perforates and passes
through the disk of india-rubber at the base of the cartridge and ignites the
fulminate in the cap or disk at the front of the said india-rubber disk and
discharges the cartridge. On the discharge of the cartridge the edges of the
india-rubber disk are expanded laterally and pressed into close contact with
the chamber of the gun, and all escape of gas at the breech thus effectually
prevented. By the contraction of the disk upon the needle after it has per-
forated the said disk to reach the fulminate, escape of gas at the perforation
thus made is prevented. The india-rubber disk at the base of the cartridge,
after the discharge of the gun, remains attached to the needle and is removed
on opening the breech.
.
The said Invention consists, secondly, in constructing self-ignition cartridges
for breech-loading fire-arms in the manner herein-after explained, whereby
the cartridge is effectually protected from being discharged excepting by the
action of the needle of the gun.
In constructing a cartridge according to this part of the said Invention the
powder case of the cartridge is either made wholly of metal, or partly of metal

page_text: and partly of pasteboard. In the closed metallic end or cap of the cartridge
case and in the axis thereof a hole or perforation is made; into this case and
against the inner side of the closed end or cap a disk of india-rubber or other
elastic material is fixed, and to the middle of the said disk a metal, wood,
papier mâché, or other non-metallic cap or disk containing the fulminate or
percussion powder is fixed by glue or otherwise. The gunpowder and pro-
jectile are then put in the case, and the cartridge completed in the ordinary
way. On discharging this cartridge the needle passes through the perforation
in the closed end or cap of the cartridge case, perforates the india-rubber disk,
and ignites the percussion cap in front of the said disk, the escape of gas
at the perforation in the end or cap of the cartridge case being prevented by
the contraction of the india-rubber disk upon the needle.
By constructing self-ignition cartridges in the manner last described no blow
or pressure on the outside of the case of the cartridge can ignite the fulminate
of the cartridge; great safety in the use and transit of the cartridges is thus
obtained.
Having explained the nature of the said Invention I will proceed to describe
with reference to the accompanying Drawing, the manner in which the same
is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in longitudinal section, and Figure 2 in elevation, a self-
ignition cartridge constructed according to the first part of the said Invention,
and Figures 3 and 4 are parts of the same, as herein-after explained.
a is the case of the cartridge made of a tube, calico, or fabric, or the said
case may be made of thin sheet metal or metallic tissue. In the base of the
case a is a metal cap or a disk of wood, papier mâché, or other hard material,
marked b, in a recess in which the fulminate or percussion powder is placed;
the cap or disk b is represented separately in Figure 3. The said cap or disk b
may be perforated to permit of the ready passage of the flash from the fulminate
to the gunpowder of the cartridge. The open side of the percussion cap is
covered by a disk or cap of pasteboard or fabric c, glued or cemented thereto.
The end of the case a is closed by the said disk c, the end of the said case a being
pasted, gummed, or otherwise attached to the said disk c; the gunpowder d
and projectile e are next arranged in the case a, and the front end of the
said case is fastened to the projectile by tieing or otherwise. To the base of
the cartridge a disk of vulcanized or unvulcanized india-rubber f, by preference
of greater diameter than the cartridge case, is attached by glueing or cementing
it thereto; the disk f is represented separately in Figure 4. In place of
india-rubber the disk at the base of the cartridge may be made of other
elastic material, but india-rubber has been found to answer satisfactorily.

page_text: The india-rubber disk f is of the diameter of the chamber of the gun; in
making a sporting cartridge shot are used in place of the projectile
represented.
In discharging the cartridge, Figures 1 and 2, the needle of the gun per-
forates and passes through the disk of india-rubber fand ignites the fulminate
in the cap b, the flash from which discharges the cartridge; by the explosion
of the cartridge the edges of the disk f are expanded laterally and pressed into
close contact with the chamber of the gun, and all escape of gas at the breech
is thus prevented. After the needle of the gun has penetrated and passed
through the india-rubber disk f the said disk contracts upon the said needle
and prevents all escape of gas through the perforation thus made. The case a,
disk or cap c, and percussion cap b, on the discharge of the cartridge are.
carried out of the barrel, the india-rubber disk f remaining attached to the
needle; the said disk is removed from the needle on the opening of the
breech.
h;
Figure 5 represents in longitudinal section, and Figure 6 in elevation, a
self-ignition cartridge constructed according to the second part of the said
Invention Figure 7 represents the metallic case separately. g is the metallic
powder case of the cartridge, the head or end of which is provided with a
flange ; in the axis of the said head or end of the case is a perforation i;
against the inner side of the closed end of the case a disk k of india-rubber or
other elastic material is fixed by glue or cement. Before fixing the disk k in
the head or end of the case a cap or disk containing the fulminate or deto-
nating powder is secured to the said disk k by glue or otherwise; the said cap
or disk is of the kind used with the cartridge first described. Having fixed
the india-rubber disk k with its cap or disk in the powder case 9 in the
position represented the case is then filled with the gunpowder m and the
projectilen fixed in the open end of the said case; the cartridge is then com-
plete. By means of the elastic disk k the fulminate is perfectly protected from
ignition excepting by the needle of the gun. On discharging the cartridge,
Figures 5 and 6, the needle of the gun passes through the perforation i in the
head of the case, and perforates and passes through the india-rubber disk k
and ignites the fulminate in the cap or disk 7, and thus discharges the car-
tridge. After the needle of the gun has passed through the disk k the latter
contracts upon it and prevents the escape of gas at the perforation i in the
end or head of the case g. Instead of the, metallic case represented a case
made partly of.metal and partly of pasteboard may be used, that is, a metallic
cap only may be used, the body of the case being made of pasteboard.
The several cartridges herein-before described and illustrated are wholly of

page_text: my Invention, excepting the adaptation of the central percussion cap or disk b,
Figures 1 and 3, to the said cartridges, the adaptation of which percussion cap
or disk has been communicated to me from abroad.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not
limit myself to the precise details herein described, as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of the said Invention; but I claim as the
said Invention,-
Firstly, the improvements in self-ignition cartridges for breech-loading fire-
arms, herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the
accompanying Drawing, that is to say, fixing at the base of the said cartridges,
and immediately behind a cap or disk containing the fulminate or detonating
powder a disk of india-rubber or other elastic substance, through which
elastic disk the needle of the gun passes to ignite the fulminate, and which
elastic disk on the explosion of the cartridge is expanded laterally and made to
close the chamber of the gun and prevent the escape of gas at the breech,
substantially as described and illustrated.
Secondly, the improvements in self-ignition cartridges for breech-loading
fire-arms, herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 5, 6, and 7 of the
accompanying Drawing, that is to say, protecting the fulminate or detonating
powder of the cartridge from ignition by a blow or by pressure on the outside
of the case of the cartridge by means of a disk of india-rubber or other elastic
material fixed inside the metallic end or cap of the cartridge case and
immediately behind the cap or disk containing the fulminate, substantially as
described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Rock Cooper, hath hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
JOSEPH ROCK COOPER. (L.S.)