Improvements in Cartridges for Firearms.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 8th Apr., 1892—Accepted, 4th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cartridges for Firearms.
I, ULDARIC MARGA, of 57 Rue St. George, Brussels, in the Kingdom of
Belgium, Lieutenant of Infantry, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to cartridges for fire-arms.
The improved cartridge constructed according to the said invention comprises a
bullet presenting a new shape; an outer case having a base, a wart or little anvil a
central hole, a percussion cap and a groove combined with a small flange; an
interior hollow cylinder with devices which serve for fixing it to the bottom of the
outer case; and a charge of powder divided into two parts.
The bullet has a front part of a length of about 5 millimetres which is truncated
and has an ogival point; a truncative part having a length of about 6 millimetres ;
a cylindrical part having a length of about 14 millimetres; and a conical part
having a length of about 7 millimetres. The bullet thus constructed presents the
following advantages. In the firing it engages gradually and without a shock with
the flutes of the firearm, encounters less resistance during its trajectory in the air
and facilitates the penetration. As the cylindrical part is of a diameter equal to
that of the firearm taken at the base of the flutes the resistance which the bullet
encounters in the gun will be considerably diminished. The aforesaid conical part
facilitates the outlet of air and renders the movement of the bullet more regular by
obviating the gyrating movement which is produced in the air during the passage
of the bullets which do not possess this form at the rear. Among other
inconveniences these gyrating movements exert a retarding action upon the
projectile and tend to throw it out of the firing plane.
With the improved bullet above described these inconveniences disappear.
Moreover the bullet inserted with its cylindrical part in the collar of the outer case
of the cartridge extends with its conical part into an inner cylinder, thereby
realizing the advantages hereinafter set forth.
The outer case of my cartridge presents the general form of ordinary cartridges,
but offers the advantage of having a circular groove combined with a small flange,
which enables an easy extraction and complete obturation. The interior cylinder
or tube is fixed to the base in any manner the manufacturer may desire. In one
arrangement of the improved cartridge I employ a short tube presenting interiorly
a wart or little anvil and at its end a flange. Upon the said wart or anvil is placed
a percussion cap. This short tube forms a plug and is inserted with much friction
in the extremity of the aforesaid inner tube or cylinder in such a manner that the
said flange of the plug bears upon a similar flange on the cylinder. The whole is
fixed by pressure in the base of the aforesaid outer case of the cartridge.
In another arrangement the said inner tube or cylinder is fixed in a cup having
a diameter equal to the interior diameter of the aforesaid outer case.
This cup is
pierced with a central hole which corresponds to the central aperture in the wart or
anvil provided in the base of the outer case.
The said cup carrying the inner cylinder is fixed by pressure upon the interior
bottom surface of the case so that in the firing the fire will be communicated at first
only to the powder contained in the cylinder or tube.
In a further modification which has for its object to obviate in the most
efficacious manner possible any escape of gas through the base at the time of the
deflagration of the powder, and to enable the manufacture of this cartridge under
the simplest and most economical conditions, I form a circular opening, having a
diameter equal to that of the percussion cap, in the base of the said outer case,

page_text: above this opening I provide a circular groove, above which the opening has a
smaller diameter than that of the percussion cap and presents a flange against
which bears a flange on the aforesaid tube or cylinder introduced into the said case
through the base and fixed in its place by pressure.
For the purpose of forming a solid whole the aforesaid plug introduced by
pressure into the circular opening bears upon the flange of the inner tube or
cylinder. At the same time the pressure will force the metal of this plug into the
above-mentioned circular groove so as to prevent the escape of gas through the
base and form one piece with the outer case.
This aforesaid plug terminates in a wart or little anvil and is pierced with a hole.
This wart or anvil can be made separately in case it carries a rod of square section
so as not to fill up the hole into which it is introduced by pressure.
Instead of being formed upon the plug the wart or anvil may also be provided
directly in the percussion cap. In this case the plug is a simple disc pierced with
holes.
With cartridges such as are employed in large guns, the plug may be screwed
into the base of the outer case or even form one piece with the inner tube
or cylinder.
This improved cartridge can be easily manufactured at a small cost and readily
used in either portative or other fire-arms irrespective of their construction.
By dividing the charge of powder into two entirely separate parts, I realize the
following advantages: When under the action of the hammer of the fire-arm the
priming sets fire to the charge the powder in the interior case is ignited alone, but
as this case is closed above by the conical part of the bullet the latter will engage
with the gun before the fire can be communicated to the second part of the
charge.
The space thus enlarged before the complete deflagration of the total charge
enables the gases resulting from the deflagration to be produced in larger volume
and consequently the pressure upon the sides of the firearm is diminished in the
same proportion and the whole useful effect of the gases is brought to bear upon
the projectile during its passage through the gun. Moreover the mechanical action
upon the sides of the fire arm being less, the heating of the same is considerably
diminished. Furthermore by setting fire to the charge in this manner the instan-
taneous force produced by the deflagration of the powder is changed into progressive
force, the movement which it imparts to the projectile being necessarily modified
in consequence. From this results that the initial velocity, the range and the
penetration are further increased.
This cartridge enables the employment of very strong powder in large quantities.
The inner cylinder may be pierced with holes near the top in order to hasten the
deflagration of the powder contained in the outer case.
Dated this 17th day of July 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cartridges for Firearms.
I, ULDARIC MARGA, of 57 Rue St. George, Brussels, in the Kingdom of
Belgium, Lieutenant of Infantry, 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 :—
My invention relates to cartridges for fire-arms.
The improved cartridge constructed according to the said invention comprises a
bullet presenting a new shape; an outer case having a base, a projection or small
anvil, a central hole, a percussion cap and a groove combined with a small flange;

page_text: an interior hollow cylinder with devices which serve for fixing it to the bottom of
the outer case; and a charge of powder divided in two parts.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 represents the bullet.
Figure 2 represents a cartridge in longitudinal section, showing the mode of
fixing the tube.
Figure 3 is a section of a cartridge showing another mode of fixing.
Figures 4 and 5 show details of Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a section of a cartridge showing a further method of fixing the inner
cylinder or tube, and
Figures 7 and 8 show details.
The bullet shown in Figure 1 has a front part L of a length of 5 millimetres,
which is truncated and has an ogival point; a truncated part M having a length
of about 6 millimetres; a cylindrical part N having a length of about 14 milli-
metres; and a conical part ☐ having a leugth of about 7 millimetres. The bullet
thus constructed presents the following advantages. In the firing it engages
gradually and without a shock with the flutes or rifling of the fire arm, encounters
less resistance during its trajectory in the air and facilitates the penetration. As
the cylindrical part N is of a diameter equal to that of the fire arm taken at the
base of the flutes the resistance which the bullet encounters in the gun will be
considerably diminished. The aforesaid conical part O facilitates the outlet of air
and renders the movement of the bullet more regular by obviating the gyrating
movement which is produced in the air during the passage of bullets which do not
possess this form at the rear. Among other inconveniences these gyrating move-
ments exert a retarding action upon the projectile and tend to throw it out of the
firing plane.
With the improved bullet above described these inconveniences disappear.
Moroever the bullet inserted with its cylindrical part N in the collar of the outer
case of the cartridge D as shown in Figure 2 extends with its conical part o
into an inner cylinder C, thereby realizing the advantages hereinafter set forth.
The outer case of my cartridge presents the general form of ordinary cartridges,
but offers the advantage of having a circular groove combined with a small flange,
which enables an easy extraction and complete obturation.
The interior cylinder or tube is fixed to the base in any desired manner.
In one arrangement of the improved cartridge shown in Figure 2 I employ a
short tube t terminating interiorly in a projection or small anvile and at its other
end a flange b. Upon the said projection or anvile is placed a percussion cap c.
This short tube forms a plug and is tightly inserted in the extremity of the afore-
said inner tube or cylinder C in such a manner that the said flange 6 on the plug
bears upon a similar flange b' on the cylinder. The whole is then fixed by pressure
in the base of the outer case D of the cartridge.
In another arrangement represented in Figures 3, 4, 5 the said tube or cylinder C
is fixed in a cup 9 having a diameter equal to the interior diameter of the afore-
said outer case D. This cup is provided with a central hole which corresponds to
the central aperture in the projection or anvil provided in the base of the outer
case.
The said cup carrying the inner cylinder is fixed by pressure upon the interior
bottom surface of the case so that in the firing the fire will be communicated at
first only to the powder contained in the cylinder or tube.
A further modification shown in Figure 6 has for its object to obviate in the
most effective manner possible any escape of gas through the base at the time of
the deflagration of the powder, and enables the manufacture of this cartridge to be
carried on under the simplest and most economical conditions. For this purpose I
form a circular opening o, having a diameter equal to that of the percussion cap c,
in the base of the said outer case D. Above this opening I provide a circular
groove r, above which the opening has a smaller diameter than that of the per-
cussion cap and presents a shoulder against which bears a flanger¹ on the tube

page_text: or cylinder C which is introduced into the said case through the base and fixed.in
its place by pressure.
For the purpose of forming a solid whole a plug B is forced into the circular
opening o and bears upon the flange of the inner tube or cylinder C at the same
time the pressure will force the metal of this plug into the circular groover 80 as
to prevent the escape of gas through the base and form one piece with the outer
case.
The plug B terminates in a projection or small anvil e and is provided with a
hole. The projection or anvil can be made separately in which case it is formed
on a rod of square section so as not to fill up the hole into which it is introduced
by pressure.
Instead of being formed upon the plug B the projection or anvil may also be
provided directly in the percussion cap e, as shown in Figure 8. In this case the
plug consists of a simple disc provided with holes.
With cartridges such as are employed in large guns, the plug B may be screwed
into the base of the outer case D or even form one piece with the inner tube or
cylinder C.
This improved cartridge can be easily manufactured at a small cost, and readily
used in either portable or other fire arms, irrespective of their construction.
By dividing the charge of powder into two entirely separate parts, I realize the
following advantages. When under the action of the hammer of the fire arm the
priming sets fire to the charge the powder in the interior case is ignited alone, but
as this case is closed above by the conical part of the bullet the latter will engage
with the gun before the fire can be communicated to the second part of the
charge.
The space thus enlarged before the complete deflagration of the total charge
enables the gases resulting from the deflagration to be produced in larger volume
and consequently the pressure upon the sides of the fire arm is diminished in the
same proportion and the whole useful effect of the gases is brought to bear upon
the projectile during its passage through the gun. Moreover the mechanical action
upon the sides of the fire-arm being less, the heating of the same is considerably
diminished. Furthermore by setting fire to the charge in this manner the instan-
taneous force produced by the deflagration of the powder is changed into
progressive force, the movement which it imparts to the projectile being necessarily
modified in consequence. From this results that the initial velocity the range
and the penetration are further increased.
This cartridge enables the employment of very strong powder in large quantities.
The inner cylinder may be pierced with holes near the top in order to hasten the
deflagration of the powder contained in the outer case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what !
claim is :-
:-
First. A cartridge for fire-arms characterized by an inner cylinder or tube (',
extending from the centre of the base of the outer case D and against which the
conical rear part of the bullet bears, thus enclosing the said interior cylinder sub-
stantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and represented in the
drawing.
Second. The method of fixing the inner cylinder C which consists in introducing
a short tube provided with a projection e and a flange band fixing the whole by
pressure in the base of the cartridge as described with reference to Figure 2 of
the drawing.
Third. The method of fixing the inner cylinder C which consists in forming the
latter with a cup y and securing the whole internally to the base by pressure as
described with reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5.
Fourth. The method of fixing the inner tube or cylinder C which consists in
forming in the base a groover in which is put the flange r³ on the said cylinder and

page_text: upon which is subsequently pressed a plug B the metal of which is forced into the
groove thus rendering any escape impossible the said plug being provided with a
fixed or removable projection e which can also be provided on the cap c substantially
as described with reference to Figures 6, 7 and 8.
Fifth. In a cartridge of any form the employment of the bullet as hereinbefore
described and shown in Figure 1.
Dated this 8th day of April 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.