US2068159A - Cartridge - Google Patents

Description

Jan; P. VON FRANTZIUS 2,068,159

' CARTRIDGE Filed Dec. 18, 1931 Patented Jan. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARTRIDGE Application December 18, 1931, Serial No. 581,831

4 Claims. (Cl. 102-12) The present invention relates generally to cartridges for use in revolvers, rifles, shotguns, pistols of the fountain pen and police club type and other portable firearms. More particularly, the invention relates to that type of cartridge which is designed to disperse an irritant, such as tear gas, and comprises (1) a casing which is open at one end thereof and has a cross wall with a primer at its other end; (2) a charge of powder which is disposed in the casing in direct contact with the primer and serves as a propellant; and (3) a gas producing chemical which is confined in the casing by awad or similar sealing device in the open end of the casing and is adapted to be gasified and dispersed by the heat and pressure that are produced by the powder in response to firing of the cartridge.

Heretofore, it has been customary in the manufacture of cartridges of this character, to use chloracetophenone or a similar halogen derivative of acetophenone as the gas-producing chemical, and to mix such chemical with the charge of powder or to position it in front of the powder and separate it therefrom by means f of a wad. In practice it has been found that in instances wherein thegas-producing chemical is mixed with the charge of powder, the powder deteriorates rapidly and often becomes useless because of themoisture in the chemical.

- It has also been found in such instances that the chemical is sometimes partially burned during firing of the cartridge with the result that there is not complete gasification within the cartridge, and that the casing corrodes by virtue of the fact that the gas-producing chemical is in direct contact therewith. In instances wherein the gas-producing chemical is separated from the charge of powder by a wad, thechemical is not completely gasified within the cartridge during firing of the powder and as a result, particles of the chemical sometimes melt and cling to the walls of the cartridge casing and the bore of the firearm with which the cartridge is used. H

"The primary object of the invention is to provide a cartridge of the type under consideration which is an improvement upon previously de-- signed cartridges of the same general character by virtue of the fact that the gas-producing chemical is retained within a combustible moisture-proof container which is positioned between the charge of powder and the wad at the open end of the casing, serves to prevent corrosion of the casing and deterioration of the powder by the chemical and operates to effect an emcient and complete gasification of the chemical within the cartridge by virtue of the fact that it burns upon firing of the cartridge.

Another object of the invention is to provide 5 a gas cartridge which is generally of new and improved construction and may be manufactured readily and at a low cost.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the 10 present cartridge construction will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and 15 are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a cartridge embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective of the combustible moisture-proof container for the gas-producing chemical;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the body of the container: and

Figure 4 is a section of the cap which serves as a closure for the body of the container and is hermetically sealed to the latter.

The cartridge which forms the subject matter of -the invention is adapted for use in connection with a portable firearm and comprises a metallic casing 5. The latter is cylindrical in conformation and is open at one end thereof. The other end of the casing is closed by means of a cross wall 6 which has a primer 1 in the central portion thereof. This primer contains a fulminating powder and is adapted to explode when struck by the firing pin of the firearm with which the cartridge is used.

In addition to the casing 5, the cartridge comprises a gas-producing chemical 8 and a charge 9 of powder, such, for example, as gun cotton, celluloid granules, flashlight powder or black or smokeless powder. The charge of powder is disposed in the end of the casing which embodies the cross wall 6. It surrounds and is in direct contact with the primer I so that it is ignited when the primer is fired and serves as a propellant for dispersing the gas-producing chemical 8.

The gas-producing chemicals 8 is preferably chloracetophenone or any other halogen derivative of acetophenone, and is adapted to be gasifled in the casing 5 by the heat and pressure that are produced by the charge of powder when the cartridge is fired. A container l0 retains the gas-producing chemical 8 so that it is separated from the charge 9 of powder. This container fits between the-charge of powder and a wad il in the open end of the casing 5, is formed of celluloid or like combustible material and consists of a body I! and a'cap 13. By forming the container of celluloid or like material, burning of the container takes place when the cartridge is fired, with the result that the gasproducing chemical 8 is heated and completely gasifled within the cartridge. container is moisture-proof and hence it is possible, in order to increase the strength and power of the chemical, to slightly moisten the chemical without the possibility of evaporation. The body IZ'of the container is cylindrical in conformation and is closed at one end by a circular cross wall M. It is substantially equal in diameter.to the internal diameter of the easing 5 and is of such length that it extends from the wad II to the charge 9 of powder. The cross wall I4 is positioned adjacent the charge of powder and forms a partition whereby the powder charge is protected from deterioration by the moisture in, and the acidity of, the chemical 8. The body I 2 forms a liner for the casing 5 and protects the inner periphery of the casing against corrosion. The cross wall I4 is preferably formed integrally with the body l2. The body and the cross wall are preferably about flve-thousandths of an inch in thickness so that they are sufliciently thin to burn immediately upon firing of the cartridge and effect gasification of the chemical 8 within the casing 5.

The cap I3 is circular and serves as a closure for the open end of the'body of the container. It embodies an integral annular flange i5 which fits within and is cemented or otherwise secured to the body l2 so that the container is sealed hermetically. The wad ll abuts against the cap l3 and is held in place by an annular bead IS. The latter is formed by crimping or deflecting inwardly the open end of the casing 5 and serves to hold or look the container ID in the casing of the cartridge so that it is not discharged upon firing of the charge of powder but stays within the casing and burns.

In the manufacture of the cartridge, the container I0 is first prepared by filling the body l2 with the gas-producing chemical 8. After 1111- ing of the body l2, the cap I3 is applied by inserting the flange l5 into the open end of the body l2 and then applying a cement or adhesive to the joint so as to seal the container hermetically. Upon completion of the container filling and capping or sealing operations, the charge 9 of powder is introduced into the casing 5. Thereafter, the container I0 is inserted through the open end of the casing and forced into direct After this step,

contact with the powder charge. the wad II is positioned against the cap of the container and is secured in place by crimping or deflecting inwardly the end of the casing 5 so as to form the annular bead l6.

Whenthe cartridge is fired, the fulminating powder within the primer I is exploded and ignites the charge 9 of powder. as it is ignited, operates as a propellant for the gas-producing chemical Band in response to the pressure and heat that are produced thereby, gasifies the chemical; Gasification of the chemical within the cartridge is augmented by virtue In addition, the

The latter, as soon of the fact that the celluloid container ID for the gas-producing chemical ignites and burns upon discharge of the charge of powder. By virtue of the fact that all portions of the container burn, there is no likelihood of any part of the chemical 8 remaining in the casing of the cartridge or in the bore of the firearm in which the cartridge is fired.

The herein described cartridge may be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost inasmuch as it consists of but a small number of parts. It is not subject to deterioration or corrosion for the reason that the container Ill is moistureproof and acid-proof and protects the charge 9 of powder and the casing 5. In view of the fact that the container is combustible, gasification of the chemical 8 is expedited and the maximum power of the chemical is obtained. A further advantage of utilizing the container I0 resides in the fact that it is possible to retain a small amount of moisture with the chemical 8, and a maximum quantity of gas-producing chemical may be used inasmuch as no wad is and the charge without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A cartridge of the character described, comprising in combination-a. casing provided at one end thereof with firing means and having its other end open and stop-means adjacent said open end, a charge of powder disposed in the said one end of the casing in proximity to the firing means, a container of combustible material and with closed ends, confined in the said other end of the casing between the charge of powder and the stop-means and adapted to be held in place by said stop-means and, to burn within the casing in' response to burning of the powder by firing of the cartridge, and a gasproducing chemical in the container adapted to be gasified by the combined burning of the container and powder and to be dispersed in gasified form from the casing by the pressure produced by the burning of the powder, the side wall of the container and the end adjacent the powder being of such thinness that they burn quickly and substantially simultaneously with the burning of the powder in order to eflect quick gasification of the chemical within the casing.

2. A cartridge of the character described, comprising in combination a casing provided at one end thereof with firing means and having its other end open, a continuous inrolled bead around said open end and a charge of powder disposed in the-said one end of the casing in proximity to the firing means, an elongated, hermetically sealed container of combustible, acid and moisture-proof material and with closed ends, confined in the said other end of the casing between the charge of powder and the bead and adapted to be held in place by said bead and to burn within the casing in response to burning of the powder by firing of the cartridge,

and a gas-producing chemical in the container adapted to be gasified by the combined burning of the container and powder and to be dispersed in gasified form from the casing by the pressure produced by the burning of the powder, the side wall of the container and the end adjacent the powder being of such thinness that they burn quickly and substantially simultaneously with the burning of the powder in order to effect quick gasification of the chemical within the casing.

3. A cartridge of the character described, comprising in combination a casing provided at one end thereof with firing means and having its other end open and provided with a wad and an inturned bead for holding the wad in place, aficharge of powder disposed in the'said one end of the casing in proximity to thefiring means, an elongated, hermetically sealed container of celluloid and with closed ends confined in the said other end of the casing between the charge of powder and the wad and adapted to be held in place by the bead and to burn within the casing in response to burning of the powder by firing of the cartridge, and a gas-producing chemical in the container adapted to be gasifled by the combined burning of the container and powder and to be dispersed in gasified -form from the casing by the pressure produced by the burning of the powder, the side wall of the container and the end adjacent the powder being of such thinness that they burn quickly and substantially simultaneously with the burn ing of the powder in order to efiect quick gasiflcation of the chemical within the casing.

4. In a tear gas cartridge, having a. primed shell, a propellant and heat generating filling for the inner end portion of said shell, and a substantially complete filling for the entire outer end portion of said'shelljco'nsisting of "a 'tear gas chemical and an envelope entirely surrounding said chemical and composed of such readily combustible material of such extreme thinness throughout that it will be immediately consumed 20 as an entirety at the moment of the explosionof the shell in the gun.

PETER von FRANTZIUS.

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