An Improved Cartridge Paok for Reloading Revolvers.
Year: 1889

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by THE COLTS PATENT FIRE ARMS MANUFACTURING
COMPANY, Incorporated, of Hartfield, in the State of Connecticut, United States
of America.]
An Improved Cartridge Paok for Reloading Revolvers.
i
I, HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of the Office for patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the county of Middlesex, Civil 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 :-
The
This invention relates to the construction of a device to hold cartridges, in number
and position, corresponding to the chambers of the cylinder of a revolver, and so that
cartridges arranged in such device may be together transferred to the respective
chambers of the cylinder, instead of inserting the cartridges individually into the
chambers of the cylinder, the object being a simple and effective device to hold the
cartridges as a pack, yet so cheap in its construction that reasonable economy will
admit of its being thrown away after the cartridges have been removed.
invention consists in a ring, with an internal flange at one side, the internal diameter
at the flange larger than the diameter at the opposite side, and with an annular groove
upon the inside, adjacent to the flange, corresponding to the rims of the cartridges,
combined with a plug, adapted to be introduced through the opening in the flange,
and of a length corresponding substantially to the length of the cartridges. The plag
is constructed with an annular shoulder at its outer end, to bind against the rim of the
cartridges placed in the ring, and of such a section, towards its inner end, that when
introduced between the cartridges set within the ring (with the flanges in the groove
thereof), the inner end of the plug will bear against the cartridges near the points,
and the shoulder at its opposite end will bear against the rims of the cartridges, and
so that the plug being forced outward, will leave the cartridges free for removal from
the ring, as more fully hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings:--
:

page_text: Fig. 7, Modification in the shape of the plug and ring.
Fig. 8 illustrates a convenient instrument for forming the pack.
A represents the ring, which is constructed with an inwardly-projecting flange Bat
one side, the internal diameter of the ring opposite the flange being, preferably, at
least as great as the distance across the heads of two opposite cartridges when in the
cylinder. The inside of the ring, at the flange, is of larger diameter than at the
opposite side, and at the flange the ring is constructed with an internal annular
groove a corresponding in shape substantially to the shape of the rims of the
cartridges, and so that the cartridges set into the ring, with their rims in the groove,
will take a bearing against the inside of the ring at the opposite side, and stand in an
inclined position, their points converging, as seen at fig. 4. C represents the plug,
which is adapted to set through the opening in the flange B; its inner end, as at D,
is of a diameter corresponding to the space between the cartridges, and so as to take
a bearing upon the inner side of the cartridges. The outer end of the plug forms a
head E, and is constructed with a shoulder b, the diameter of which is less than the
diameter of the annular groove a, by substantially twice the diameter of the head of
a cartridge, and so that when the plug is forced in between the cartridges, its point
end will take a bearing upon the inner side of the several cartridges, and the
shoulder 6 will rest against the rims at the head end of the cartridges, and so as to
hold the cartridges, ring and plug, in firm engagement with each other.
The size and arrangement of the pack is such, that the points of the cartridges are
in the range of the chambers in the cylinder, and so that the pack, being set over the
chambers in the cylinder, the points of the cartridges will be directed into the
respective chambers, as seen in Fig. 5. When the ring is forced toward the cylinder,
the extractor strikes the end of the plug, and forces it outward, as seen in Fig. 6,
which liberates the cartridges, then the cartridges are free to come into line with the
chambers, and will freely drop therein; this done, the ring & its plug may be
thrown away or retained for a new pack, if desired. The inner end of the plug is
constructed of a shape corresponding to the centre of the rear end of the cylinder,
that is, the extractor, ratchet, or whatever may be upon that centre, and so as to
locate the pack centrally on the cylinder. In case the centre of the cylinder is a
recess, a corresponding projection d is formed on the inner end of plug, as seen in
Fig. 4. In case it is a projecting centre, then a corresponding recess will be formed
in the plug, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 4.
Preferably, the diameter of the plug, at its inner end, should be no larger than the
space between the two opposite heads of cartridges as they are arranged in the
cylinder, but the diameter or sizes of the parts are immaterial, it only being essential
that the construction be such that the points of the cartridges will come within the
range of the several chambers in the cylinder & so as to enter the respective chambers
when the pack is set over the cylinder.
The ring and the plug may be made from wood, so as to be of the cheapest
possible construction, yet serviceable for the purpose indicated, and the ring may be
provided with a drawn up metal or other material cover, as indicated in broken lines
Fig. 4, so that the pack may be completely closed.
These packs are prepared in advance, so that when all the cartridges of a cylinder
have been discharged, they may be removed, and at once replaced by fresh
cartridges from the pack, as before described.
The body of the plug may be fluted, as indicated in Fig. 7, if desired, the flutes
corresponding to the respective cartridges, and the ring may be finted corresponding
to the proper position. of the respective cartridges, as also seen in Fig. 7, so that the
cartridges will be positively located equidistant from each other.
The ring and plug, one or both, may be made from metal if desirable.
While it is preferred that the plug should be ejected or thrown outward by its
contact with the cylinder as the ring is forced toward the cylinder, the plug may
withdrawn by hand after the cartridges are entered.
The reduction in internal diameter of the ring from the flange toward the opposite
side, may be made by shaping the ring gradually tapering upon the inside, as seen

page_text: in Fig. 4, or the less diameter may be produced by an inwardly turned flange, as
indicated in broken lines Fig. 4, it only being essential that the internal diameter of
the ring opposite the flange shall be less than at the flange, so as to bring the
cartridges into the converging position, as shown & described.
So long as the plug remains in its position, the cartridges are wedged into the
ring, and the pack will remain intact, but instantly upon the removal of the plug,
the cartridges are free.
The packs may be made up complete, that is, with the cartridges in place, as articles
of manufacture.
As a convenience in introducing the cartridges to the pack, a block, as G, Fig. 8,
may be employed, having cavities H in its surface corresponding to the position
required for the points of the several cartridges, & the cartridges set into the said
cavities, as shown, with their heads upwards; then the ring set over the heads of
the cartridges, and the plug introduced to interlock the cartridges with the ring,
but the method of introducing the cartridges to the ring constitutes no part of this
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a cartridge pack, a ring constructed with an internal flange at one side,
and with an annular groove upon the inside adjacent to the flange, the diameter of
the ring contracted toward the opposite side, combined with a plug, adapted to be
inserted from the flange side of the ring, the head end of the plug constructed with
an annular shoulder adapted to bear against the inner edge of the cartridge heads
as they rest in the groove on the ring, and the plug near the inner end adapted to
bear against the inner side of the cartridges near the points, substantially as
described.
2. In a cartridge pack, a ring constructed with an internal flange at one side,
and with an annular groove upon the inside adjacent to the flange, the diameter of
the ring contracted toward the opposite side, combined with a plug adapted to be
inserted from the flange side of the ring, the head end of the plug constructed with
an annular shoulder adapted to bear against the inner edge of the cartridge heads as
they rest in the groove of the ring, the plug near its inner end adapted to bear
against the inner side of the cartridges near the points, and the inner end of the plug
constructed corresponding to the centre at the rear end of the cylinder, and so that
the said rear centre of the cylinder serves as a guide in the arrangement of the pack
upon the cylinder, substantially as described.
3. The herein described_cartridge pack for revolvers, consisting of a ring A,
constructed with a flange B at one end, the internal diameter at the flange larger
than at the opposite side, and constructed with an internal annular groove a adjacent
to the flange, corresponding to the rims of the cartridges to be packed, combined
with cartridges corresponding to the number of chambers of the cylinder to be loaded,
set within said ring, with the several heads resting in the said grooves a, and a
plug C introduced through the flange side of the ring, its inner end bearing against
the inner surface of the cartridges near their points, and its rear end constructed
with a shoulder bresting against the inner edge of the heads of the cartridges,
and so as to secure the several cartridges in the ring in a position converging from
their heads toward their points, substantially as described.
Dated this 30th day of April 1889