A NEW OR IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGE CASES FOR ORDNANCE
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Denton Abel at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th December 1883. Communicated
to him from abroad by Paul Boca of Paris in the Republic of France
Manufacturer
CHARLES DENTON ABEL of N° 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex "A NEW OR IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF CARTRIDGE
CASES FOR ORDNANCE [communicated to him from abroad by Paul Boca of
Paris in the Republic of France Manufacturer]
"
This invention relates to the manufacture of water tight cartridge cases for
ordnance of celluloid, or analogous compounds, consisting of pyroxiline of cellulose
matter mixed with a resinous solvent, the object being to obtain a cartridge case
that will be watertight and will offer sufficient strength and durability for handling
and storage without the use of watertight boxes, and that shall be more or less
completely consumed on firing the charge.
Such cartridge cases may be constructed in a variety of ways, but by preference
they are built up of three separate parts, namely, a cylindrical body or tube, the
rear end of which is closed by a base disc while the front end is closed by a cover.
The tube may be of cylindrical or other cross section, and may be formed by
rolling up a sheet of celluloid upon a mandril, the edge being cemented down by
a celluloid solution; Or it may be formed by forcing the celluloid mass while in a
plastic state through a die of the desired section. The base disc for closing the
rear end is moulded in a press with the aid of heat so as to have a projecting rim
or flange, and it is by preference inserted into the rear end of the tube, the edge
of which is turned over by pressure so as to retain it securely. The cap is also
moulded in a press with the aid of heat, so as to have a flange or rim that will fit
accurately over the outer surface of the front end of the tube. The tube with its
base fixed being charged with powder, the cap is fitted on and the joint between
the cap and the tube is closed watertight by a thin layer of plastic celluloid
cemented over it. For withdrawing the cartridge when it does not require to be
fired, the base may be conveniently provided with a projecting strap or loop
cemented thereto. A similar loop or handle might also be attached to the cap to
facilitate the carrying of the cartridge.

page_text: In order to facilitate the ignition of the charge by the percussion tube of the
gun, the part of the base against which the flame strikes is, by preference, made
thinner than the other part, and generally the construction of the cartridge case
may be readily modified to suit the particular class of ordnance to which it is to
be applied.
Such cartridge cases are exceedingly durable, being proof against atmospheric
influences or the destroying action of insects, and they may even be kept
immersed in water under considerable pressure for a length of time without
detriment to themselves or to their charge of powder. They do not in any way
interfere with the proper combustion of the charge in the gun, and as before stated,
they become more or less completely consumed, leaving only an innocuous
carbonaceous residue which is readily removed. They may be made either opaque
by admixture therewith of suitable neutral bodies or pigments, or they may be
left transparent, thus offering the advantage of enabling their charge of powder
to be inspected from time to time.
As the cases are perfectly watertight the use of watertight boxes, such as are
now requisite for storing cartridges, may be dispensed with.