and better adapted for naval and military purposes than the ordinary copper caps, or other percussion primers, hitherto adapted for such purposes.

These improvements consist, first, in removing or transferring the percussion or detonating powder or priming from immediate contact with the inside of the head or top of the copper cap or primer, and placing it nearer to the mouth thereof, so that the explosion or firing of the detonating priming shall not take place at the bottom of the interior or cup of the cap, but nearer to its mouth, whereby the fuse arising from the explosion of the detonating powder will have free vent or escape, and the explosion will only distend or partly open the sides of the cap or primer. The space between the ordinary or old position of the priming or detonating powder, and its position in my improved primers, being occupied by a piece of hard metal. And, secondly, these improvements consist in protecting the copper cap or metal case or shell of the primer, and preventing the possibility of its bursting, and any part or portion thereof being projected or thrown from the nipple on the discharge of the piece, by encompassing it with a second cap, case, or shield, placed around the former, and preventing the expansion or destruction of the sides thereof beyond a certain or given distance.

And as there are many different ways of carrying these improvements into effect, the Patentee has described several different methods of constructing these improved primers; but does not mean or intend to confine himself to the exact form and dimensions therein shown, or to the precise mode of constructing the same, as they may be varied to suit different kinds or descriptions of primers for various purposes.

Fig. 15, Plate I., is an enlarged vertical section of a copper cap of the ordinary construction as in common use,

which will serve to illustrate the objects of the improvements: a, is the top of the cap; b, the sides thereof; c, the ordinary position of the detonating or priming powder. The dotted lines show the direction of the fuse and force of explosion on the discharge of the priming, and the cause of the cap bursting and flying off in pieces. Fig. 16, is a similar section of an ordinary copper cap, which will serve to illustrate the first part of the improvements, it being applied thereto, viz. the novel position of the priming. The percussion or detonating powder being removed from the top of the cap into its novel position nearer to the mouth thereof; a, is the top of the cap; b, the sides; c, the position of the priming or detonating powder; the dotted lines, as before, showing the direction of the force of explosion, whereby it will be seen that the metal cap, case, or shell, will be opened and distended only in a small degree, and not likely to be burst to pieces, as in the former, the space between a, and c, being occupied by a piece of any kind of hard metal d, soldered or otherwise fastened into the cap. Fig. 17, is a section to exhibit another mode of effecting the same object, viz. by placing the priming material into a shallow copper cap or dish fixed on to the end of a piece of hard metal: a, b, is the cap; c, the priming; d, the piece of metal.

Figs. 18, and 19, are sectional representations of two other constructions of the improved primer: a, b, the metal cap, case, or shell, which surrounds the hard metal pin d, and is fixed to it by pressure, or in any convenient manner; the metal pin d, in these instances, extending through the cap or shell c, is the position of the priming or detonating powder. Figs. 20, 21, and 22, are elevations and sections of two of the improved

VOL. IX.

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primers, with the second part of the invention applied thereto, viz. the improved method of further protecting the detonating or percussion primers, by an outer cap, casing, or shield, surrounding or encompassing the cap, case, or shell, containing the detonating powder; which improved primers are preferred for fowling-pieces or sportsmen's use: a, b, is the inner metal cap, case, or shell, which surrounds the detonating or priming powder placed at c. The piece or pin of hard metal d, is placed within the top part of the outer or safety case, cap, or shield, e, e, which extends down over the cap or shell a, b, leaving a small space around and between it and the inner cap, as shown more particularly in fig. 22, which is a representation of the cap, as looking towards the mouth. On the ignition of the detonating powder, the sides b, of the case or shell a, will be forced open and distended, but will be prevented from bursting or flipping off, by the outer case or shield e, which arrests the sides b, of the case a, and stops their further progress or extension outwards, as shown in fig. 23, which is a representation of one of these improved primers, looking towards the mouth after being discharged: hence it will be seen, that by the aid of the improvements, the possibility of accidents from pieces of the copper cap or primer being projected, or flying off the nipple on the discharge, is prevented. Fig. 24, is a section of the kind of primer intended for naval and military use: d, is the hard metal pin. The cap, case, or shell, b, in this instance, is a cylinder of copper, tin, or other metal; the pin d, passing partly through it. The cylinder is secured to the metal pin in any convenient manner, as by a rim, or circular piece of tin, or other metal, f, passed over it, and serves to enlarge the primer, so that it can be easily handled.

It may here be observed, that these solid metal primers cannot be exploded by treading on them, or by any blow struck on the sides of them; which objection has been made to the use of copper caps on board of ships, where they are liable to be dropped upon the deck.

e;

In conclusion, the Patentee remarks, having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my improvements, and manner of carrying them into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to confine myself to any particular metal or materials of which the primers may be made, or to the precise form or construction herein shown, or to any particular process of manufacturing the same, as the different parts may be formed and combined by hand, or by machinery, as most desirable but what I claim as my invention is, first, the novel position of the detonating or priming powder, it being transferred, removed, or transposed from the head or top part of the cap, and situated or placed nearer to the mouth of the cap or primer, as above described. And, secondly, the protecting, encompassing, or enclosing the metal cap, case, or shell, containing the said detonating or priming powder by a second case, cap, or shield, in order to prevent the flying off of pieces or parts of the inner cap, on the discharge of the piece, and for the prevention of the frac ture or breakage of the cock-head.-[Inrolled in the Rolls Chapel Office, September, 1836.]

Specification drawn by Messrs. Newton and Berry.

TO MILES BERRY, of 66, Chancery-lane, in the parish of St. Andrew, Holborn, and county of Middlesex, engineer and mechanical draftsman, for his invention of certain · improvements in machinery or apparatus for shaping and forming metal into bolls, rivets, nails, and other articles; parts of which improvements are also applicable to other useful purposes, being a communication from a certain foreigner residing abroad.-[Sealed 19th February, 1834.]

THESE improvements in machinery or apparatus for shaping and forming metal into bolts, rivets, nails, and other articles, consist in the improved arrangement and construction of the working parts of several different machines applicable to the shaping or forming of metal rods or wire into bolts, pins, rivets, nails, spikes, screw blanks, and such other kind of articles; that is to say, these machines are capable of cutting off portions of such rods or wire, and heading or shaping them into the desired form, and are intended to operate upon the metal either hot or cold, as circumstances may require: several of which machines are somewhat alike in their general construction, arrangement, and operation, although differing in the detail of the working parts; and as it is impossible to construct machines of this description without using some parts which are not new, and have been before used in machines of a similar nature, the Patentee states, "I wish it to be understood that I lay no claim to the exclusive use of any of the several parts of the machines separately (unless hereinafter particularly stated), but only to the general construction and arrangement of the machines as described, and to the application of the several parts of the same. The first machine I shall