US651558A - Cartridge-shell. - Google Patents

Description

Patented June 2, i900.

T. H. RYLANDS.

CARTRIDGE SHELL.

(Application filed Dec. 2a, 1859.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES NrrED TATES THOMAS II. RYLANDS, OF llRIDGEIOR'l, CONNlMJ'llCU'l, ASSIGJOR TO THE UNION B'IE TALLIC CARTRIDGE (:fOllIlANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CARTRIDGE-SHELL.

srncrncnnon formingpart qgLette rs late'nt ne 65.1, 559, time June 12, 1900.

Application filed December 28,1899. Serial No. 741,781. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Tnonns lI. RrLANDs,

a citizen of the- United States, residing at specification.

My invention has for its object to provide a cartridge-shell that may be made very cheaply, that will fit a gun chambered for black -powder cartridges, but which when loaded with smokeless, so called, or ni trated powder maybe handled and used with perfect safety.

It is of course well understood by those familiar with the ai-t, first, that all of the smokeless powders are ver much less bulky than the ordinary black powders, and, second, that in all guns adapted to receive blaekqaowden cartridges the base of the bore-that is, the portion which receives the powder-chamber of the cartridgehas a diameter not less than the diameter of the bullet and frequently has a diameter greater than the diameter of the bullet.

In loading shells with black powder the charge of powder frequently fills the shell nearly full and the bullet is crowded down upon it with suliicient force to compress the powder, the powder thus forming a backing for the bullet, so that it cannot be forcedfarther into the shell, and, furthermore, even if the bullet should be forced farther into a shell loaded with black powder no harm would be done, owing to the relative slowness with which the gases are formed when combustion of the powder takes place. If, however, these same shells are loaded with smokeless powder, thepowder-chambers of the shells are not more than one-fourth to one-half filled with powder. It is furthermore absolutely necessary in using smokeless powder, owing to the relative quickness withwhich the gases are formed when combustion of the powder takes place, that there should not be the slightest compression or condensation of the powder, it being as a matter of fact considered unsafe to compress smokeless powderin the shells to the slightest extent, as it is quite probable that smokeless powder it compressed in a cartridge-shell will burst the gun when fired. It. has furthermore bcemlemonstrated that in transporting and handling ordinary cartridges loaded with smokeless powder, and especially in rapid firing in action, there is dange o the bullets being forced farther into the shells and also of a cartridge becoming jammed in the gun owing to the excitoment of rapid loading in action. It is therefore extremely desirable that cartridge-shellsbe provided which may be loaded with either a large or a small charge of black powder or with smokeless powdcrand which when loadcd with smokeless powder shall be absolutely safe undcrall'tho ordinary and extraordinary conditions of use, even during the excitement of rapid tiring in action, and which, moreovcr, will enable the shells when used in prac tice tiring or in trenches or on shipboard to his reloaded. By that I mean to provide a cartridge that shall be perfectly safe if it can be put in a gun and il rendered unsafe shall be rendered so in such a manner that it cannot be put into a gun, and thus can do no harm.

With the above conditions in view I have invented and produced a cartridge-shell pro vided with an abrupt internal sholilder which forms a positive seat for the base of the bullet. I am, of course, aware that it is and long has been common to make grooves in cartridge-shells, some of which are pressed into the bullets and some of which are at the baseof the bullets; but none of these grooves, however, have amounted to an abrupt shoulder or, could possibly be made to serve as a positive step for the bullet, for the reason that the end of th bullet, under pressure, is liable to act r-i 1 he inclined or beveled side of the groove to force said wall outward, and, moreover, should the bullet be forced past any of-the grooves heretofore madcin shells the exterior configuration of the cartridge would not be changed to such an extent as to prevent it from being put in a gun. This grave danger of the bullet being d rivcn inward upon the powder when subjected to the extraordinary conditions of use has been the cause of serious inconvenience and expense, as it has prevented the use of smokeless-powder cartridges in guns chambered for black-powder cartridges.

My invention, therefore, in brief 2o pressure to the bullet to drive it inward and has for its Object to-do away with this uncer',

tainty' and dangerand to provide a cartridge-- shell that may be loaded with either a large or a small charge of black or smokeless powder and will be perfectly safe whenloaded with either powdernnder the most extraordinany:

conditions of use, for the reason that the but let cannot be driveni'nward to anyapprecia'ble extent unless an amountof. power is applied suflieient to crush "the shell longitudipally, in which event its external contour -Lwill be changed to such an extent that it canof the shell being broken away to show the manner in which the bullet is seated upon the I shoulder; and Fig. 2 isaviewillustrating the effect upon :1 cartridge of applying suflicient showing how the external contour of the shell is changed, thereby making it impossible to insert the cartridge in a gun. A denotes a cartridge-shell; B, a bullet, and

C 'an abrupt shoulder extending inward from the wall of the shell and consisting of two thicknesses of metal in contact with each other and fdrming a positive step for the hutlet to abut against, said stop projecting inward substantially at a right angle to the longitudinal centerof the shell. The special manner in which this shoulder is made isnot of the essence of my invention. In practice ,I have found it a simple and inexpehsive way to make this shoulder to roll a depression into the shell and then to closethe sides of the depression .upon each other, thus forming within the shell an absolutely-rigid shoulderconsisting of two plies of the metal of the shell.

Having thus described my invention 'I claim-- p 1. A cartridge-shell having on its inner periphery an abrupt annular shoulder consist- 4 ing of two thicknesses of metal in contact with each other and formiug'a positive step against. inward .movementofi the bullet;-

2. A cartridge-shell having on its inner'pe- I 'riphery an abrupt annular shoulder-consist in'g oftwowlies or thicknesses of the metal" of the shell in contact with each other; for the v purpose specified.

In testimony whereof. I aflix my signature I in presence of two-witnesses. THOMAS H. BYLANDS." .1

Witnesses:'- v

' G HILPERCY,

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