US331159A - Cartridges - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M. F. B. RICE. y

MACHINE TOR LOADING AND NBLOADING GARTRIDGES. No. 331,159. Patented Nov. 24, 1885.

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M. F. B. RICE.

MACHINE POR LOADING AND RBLOADING CARTRIDGES.. No. 331,159. Patented Nov. 24. 1885.

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` J ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN F. B. RICE, .OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

MACHINE FOR LOADINGAND RELOADINGDARTRICDGVES.

` o SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o.' 331,159, dated November 24, 1885.

Application filed September 25, 1885. Serial No. 178,171. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, M. F. B. RICE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful VImprovements in Machines for Loading and Reloading Cartridges; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a machine which embodies in compact form and as an entirety all the devices necessary to load and reload cartridges. It has been customary to provide a number of separate implements for e'ecting the work which is accomplished in my single machine, which subjected the usertoa great deal of inconvenience in handling, and danger of losing them. Especially was the latter the case when the several separate implements were carried away from home on gunning expeditions. A

Theinvention has forits object the construction of a compact machine which shall embody all the devices required to load new cartridges or to reload cartridges which have been used, and also to provide a machine by' which metallic or paper cartridges may be loaded with'facility and dispatch.

The invention consists in the constructions v hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure lrepresents a front View or elevation of the machine; Fig. 2, a vertical section thereof; Fig. 3, a side view,

- in elevation, looking in the direction of the arm in Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a perspective view of the cradle and crimpers; Fig. 5, a longitudinal section of the crimpers; Fig. 6, a plan on 'line waz, Fig. 1; Fig. 7, an enlarged side view of a portion of the cylinder constituting the wad-starter and its graduated gages; Fig. 8, avertical section of the canister; Fig. 9, a

plan on the line y y in Fig. 1; Fig. 10, acrosssection of one of the c rim pers on line zz; Fig. 5; and Fig. 11 represents a paper cartridge after having been crimped.

are secured by any suitable means. As an example, I have shown thumb-screws b b. Thel part a is provided with a graduated scale, as shown in Fig. 1, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. Within said part a is formed a chamber, through which a ramrod, D, passes, and is encircled by a coiled spring, c, resting upon the bottom d of the chamber and bearing upon a collar, e, formed upon the rod D,the upper end of the chamber being closed by a screw-plug, f. The central portion of the column formsawad-starting cham-v ber, E, provided with conical walls, as shown in Fig. 2, and a series of graduated wad gages or gates, 1 2 3 4., a smaller or greater number of which may be applied, as circumstances re- 7o quire. The gages are secured upon a pin or stud, 5, and are adapted to be swung into or out of position, as they are desired to be used in supplying wads of different diameters for either metallic or paper cartridges. 7 5

Each gage or gate is provided with a projection, 6, which forms a convenient handle for moving it from one position to another, and rests upon a step or seat formed in the column A for supporting the gage while a wad is being passed through it. The lower part of the column is cut away on one side, and forms a chamber to hold the cartridges while they are being provided with wads, and to accommodate cartridges of different lengths a safetyblock, g, is supportedv in the bottom-of the chamber, and is adjustable therein, 'as shown. The cartridge-chamber is provided with a rabbet at h to receive the flange of the cartridge. From the column projects a bracket, fi, which -go is provided with a thumb-screw, j, for secur@ ing the machine to a suitable table. At the upper end of the column is secured a horizontal bracket or arm, F, which supports the covered charging-canister G, formed in two parts or chambers separated by a partition, la, and each provided with a suitable cut-oft', lm, the handles of which project through the walls of, 'the canister, and separate discharging-tubes, as shown in Fig. 8. To the under side of the arm F is secured a swinging cut-off plate, H, pivoted at n, and to which is attached the-upper section of two telescopic chargers, I. The lower section of each rests upon the tables B O, respectively, the sections being held apart by spiral springs 0 o, which bear upon anges formed on each of the sections.

The capacity of the chargers l I is varied vIoo4 to suit di`erentsized cartridges or different loads of the same-sized cartridges by adjusting the tables B Cin accordance with the graduated scale indicated on the part a of the column A, the sections of the charger being separated by the springs o o. The tables are provided with apertures p q, and upon the under side of the tables, around the apertures, are formed projections r s, over which the open end of the cartridge is passed preparatory to charging it with powder or shot. The degree of movement of the swinging plate H is limited by a stop, t, xed upon the arm F, and prevents it being'moved in either direction to such an extent as to cause the chargers to leave their respective tables and lose their contents.

To decap and recap the cartridges, I attach to one side of the column an arm, K, having two recesses, u c, formed in it. The recesses u u are shown provided with grooves a a to receive the flange of the cartridge and hold it in position while the old or exploded cap is being removed and a new one put in its place. The groove in the recess o may, however, be omitted, as the flange of the cartridge may rest upon the upper surface of the arm K around the recess, and thus form an eiective bearing for it while a new cap is being placed in the cartridge. An arm or lever, L, is pivotally secured at b' to the arm K, and is provided with adjustable points or projections c d', the former for penetrating the old cap and removing it from the cartridge while said cartridge is held in the recess c by the left hand of the operator and wrenched to the right at its open end, while the lever L is held rmly by the right hand, thus eii'ectually displacing the exploded cap. The latter projection, c', is used for embedding a new cap in the cavity formed in the cartridge for its re ception.

To provide for cutting ofc' paper cartridges to reduce them to any desired length, there is formed in the arm K a cylindrical chamber, lw, into which projects a plug, d', thus forming an annulus the outer diameter of which is about equal to the diameter of the cartridge to be cut. Upon the arm Lis formed a curved knife-blade, e', for making an incision around the cartridge, and a blade, f projects forward at right angles to the first-named blade for making a longitudinal incision in the end of the cartridge. After both incisions have been made the cartridge is turned on its axis by the right hand of the operator until it has made a complete revolution, when the severed end is removed.

A crimper for cartridges is made by a cradle or trough, M, projecting rearward and at right angles to the arm K, and which is provided with a cylinder, g', through which the cartridge passes and a revolving head or crimper, h', supported in a bracket, i', and rotated by means of a crank, j', for turning under the end of the cartridge. The cartridge is held against rotation and up to the revolving crimping block or head by a lever, k', which is provided with a wheel, l', which bears against the flanged end of the cartridge and revolves on its shaft m as the cartridge is moved forward toward the crimper. This crimper will not serve for all classes of loads of cartridges, as it is intended only to crimp paper cartridges which have been loaded up to their maximum capacity, allowing only Eoom enough to turn or crimp the extreme end of the cartridge. It is, however, often desirable to put a small charge in the cartridge, and to avoid the destruction of the same by cutting it down, and the objection to using a cartridge of less length than the chamber formed in the breech of the gun, I provide a crimper, N, which is pivotally secured to the cradle at n', and adapted to be swung out of the cradle when the circular crimper is to be used, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9, and into the cradle, as shown in full lines, when using cartridges of the usual length which have been provided with small charges.

The crimper consists of a block having a cylindrical chamber formed therein, the inner end .of which is provided with a series of tapering longitudinal grooves, o', and corresponding projections, p', and a'central cylindrical projection, g. ing forced into the crimper N, lls the grooves o', and is formed into a series of longitudinal ribs or projections corresponding with the number of grooves o', and thus crimps the end and securely holds the load without destroying the end of the cartridge or reducing its length, as the force of the charge in passing out of the cartridge restores the crimped end to its normal condition, when it may be used again for any sized load desirable. The

The cartridge, upon beclosed end of the crimper rests againstashoulder, q, formed in the cradle M, which supports it when the cartridge is being forced into the chamber.

The several parts of the machine being coul' structed substantially as described, the operation is as follows: The separate compartments of the canister G are filled with powder and shot, respectively, the charges I graduated to receive the sized load that is desired to be used by adjusting the tables B C, which are arranged in different planes, one of the chargers is put in communication with the com-l partment of the canister containing the powder, the cutoffs Z m are then opened, and

chargers I, the other one is being filled with shot from the canister, the powder being cut off by the plate H. The cartridge is then re- IIO moved to the chamber formed in the lower l bination of a canister having separate compart of the column A, and supplied with a Wad, which is selected to suit the necessities arising from the use of metallic or paper cartridges, the former requiring Wads of greater diameter than the latter. The size of the wad having been determined upon, one ofthe gages or gates, 1, 2, 3, or 4, corresponding with the size of the wad, is put into position and the smaller ones swung out of line with the Wad, when the wad is driven down into the cartridge by the ramlner. The cartridge is then removed and placed under the aperture in the other table, when the cut-oi` plate is moved to put the charger containing shot in communication with the cartridge while the, empty powder-charger is being refilled from the canister. The shot having been discharged into the cartridge, it is again removed to the wad-chamber and provided with another wad. It is then removed to the cutter, (if it is desired or necessary to reduce t-he length of the cartridge,) when the end is removed. The cartridge is t-hen put in the circular crimper and its end turned under or in the crimper, which compresses the end of the cartridge without reducing its length, as may be desired.

When old cartridges are to be reloaded, the operator takes a cartridge in his left hand and inserts the ange in the groove a of the recess u iu the arm K, and with his right hand forces the point b into the exploded cap, when the cap is wrenched to the right and the cap extracted. The cartridge is then provided with a new cap and placed in the recess o, where the cap is seated by thelever L and the point c', the bearing-surface of which is concave, to prevent exploding the cap While forcing it home. The cartridge having been recapped, the operation of reloading is the same as llereinbefore described for loading.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the cartridge never leaves the left hand of the operator from the time it is placed under the powder-charger in new cartridges, or under the decaper in old ones,.un til the work of loading or reloading is completed, and that the several steps ofthe operation are performed consecutively and continuously. It will also be observed that a single motion of the cut-oi plate H provides for filling one of the chargers I While the other is being discharged, thus expediting the work, as there .is no time lost in waiting for either charger to be filled.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination of a canister having separate compartments and discharge-passages, a swinging cut-off plate adapted to control both of said passages alternately and carrying two variable chargers, and the tables upon which the chargers rest arranged on different horizontal planes, substantially as described.

2. In a cartridge 'loading machine, the compartments, and discharge-pipes supported on a bracket, a swinging cutoff plate arranged below the canister and secured to the bracket by a pivot, two chargers having ,their upper portions attached to t-he swinging plate, and tables to support thehchargers, said chargers being arranged upon the swinging plate, and apertures arraugedin the tables in such relation to each other ,that one charger is filling while the other is discharging, substantially as described.

3. In a cartridge-loading machine, a Wadchamber formed in the column of the structure and provided with a swinging tapering gage at its bottom, substantially as described.

4. In a cartridge-loading machine, awadchamber providedl with a series of tapering graduated gages arranged horizontally one above the other and removably secured to the discharge end thereof, substantially as described.

5. In a cartridge-loading machine, a wadchamber formed in the column thereof and provided with two or more tapering gages re# movably attached thereto, in combination with seats or supports for said gages formed in the wall of the column, substantially as described.

6. In a cartridge-reloading machine, an arm projecting from the supporting column and havinga horizontal annular chamber formed therein to receive the open end of the cartridge, and vertical recesses to receive and. support the closed or flanged end, in combination with a lever having a blade formed thereon in the plane of the lever and a blade projecting laterally therefrom and carrying points fordecapping and recapping a cartridge, substantially as described. y

7. In a cartridge-loading machine, a cradle provided with a revolving crimper at one end aud a crimper for contracting a cartridge, hinged to one side of the cradle-'and adapted to be thrown into or out of the cradle, substantially as described.

8. In acartridge loading machine,a crimper consisting of a chamber having a series of tapering longitudinal grooves, and lprojections -formed in one end thereof, and a central projecting core or stud integral therewith, substantially as described.

9. In a cartridge-loading machine, a cradle having a crimper hinged thereto and provided with a chamber containing a series of tapering longitudinal grooves and proj eetions, and a central core in one end, formed integral therewith, in combination with a lever carry- IIO ing a revolving wheel for forcing a cartridge l into the crimper, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN F. B. RICE.

Witnesses:

H. A. HALL, J, A. PRICE.

It is hereby certiied that in Letters Patent No. 331,159, granted November 24,1885, y

upon the application of Martin F. B. Rice, of Washington, District of Columbia, for

an improvement in Machines for Loading and Re-Loading Cartridges, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: In line 34, page 3,

the Word cap should be stricken out and the word cartridge inserted instead; and:

that the. Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 8th day of December, A. D. 1885.

[SEAL] H. L. MULDROW,

Acting Secretary of the Interior. Countersigned z M. V. MONTGOMERY,

Commissioner of Patents.

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