Improved Means or Apparatus for Preventing the Draught Animals of Vehicles from Falling.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Oct., 1893-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means or Apparatus for Preventing the Draught Animals
of Vehicles from Falling.
CHARLES BERKLEY, 5 Finchley Road, Childs Hill N.W. Secretary, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
To utilize the weight of the vehicle and its contents against that of the animals,
by means of a balance (or support) to which they are attached.
The vehicle being the heaviest, it is impossible for the horses to pull down their
end of the balance, and consequently they are suspended for a second, while they
strike out and find their footing again.. They cannot fall in any event.
No. 1. For omnibuses, trams, & four wheeled waggons. The suspending rod
running obliquely from between the two horses shoulders (say about the belly
band) is divided on each side of the jaws which hold the bus or van pole, the
split ends passing. on under the bar, on which the turning plates and above
mentioned jaws rest, (and to which they are attached) to the point where the
weight of the vehicle forms the resisting power which prevents the animals from
pulling their end of the balance down (about a foot behind the turning plates).
There are two supports on which the suspending rod is balanced (one on each
side of the jaws, but not attached, the strain being too great). They are joined
at the bottom (in the shape of the letter V) by a small but strong castor wheel,
which forms the base of the balance.
Two back rods, run from the top of the wheel to the point of resistance
mentioned above where they are secured to the split ends of the suspending rod
for the purpose of strengthening the appliance, and keeping the base of the
balance (castor wheel) from slipping to either side. A bar uniting the split ends
abovementioned runs in a curved groove, or other arrangement under the vehicle.
The end of the suspending rod between the horses is bent upright, to which the
animals are attached.
Note. An omnibus (ordinary) weighs 1 t. 8 c. 0q. Ob With driver and
conductor 1 t. 10 c. 2 q. O fb. 2 horses 10 cwt. each 1 t. 0 c. O q. 0 lb. Resisting
weight 10 cwt. Every passenger say 9 stone (126lbs) When full = 3t. 1c. 2q. Ofb.
It is essential that the ends under the vehicle be spread out, as, in turning, the
resisting power is dispersed right across. If a single pole were used, the pressure
(when turning) would, be all on one side and besides not catching the full weight,
might possibly overturn the vehicle, which cannot occur when the pressure is
confined to the centre.
:
2. Alternative plan, for omnibuses, trams, or 4 wheeled waggons. To dispense
with the ordinary omnibus or van pole altogether-and use the same appliance as
No. 1-either lowering the suspending rod & lengthening it, if found necessary;
or curving it down from the suspender like an ordinary shaft.
The split ends of the suspending rod can be attached underneath the crossbar on
which turning plates rest, or can take the place of the ordinary jaws;-being
lengthened at the back to the point of resistance.
A
3. For two wheeled carts, or cabs of two or four wheels, with single horse.
support is attached beneath each shaft, at any point found most efficacious, (about
the belly band or further back).
This can work on a hinge or otherwise, so as to shut up under the shaft in dry
weather & be almost imperceptible.
An arch passing from each shaft, over the animal's back-to which it is attached.

page_text: When he falls, he is merely suspended to the arch for a second, whilst finding his
footing again.
A chain or other attachment is fixed from arch to collar and belly band, to
suspend the animal.
Notes. If the cart is heavier than the animal, the supports can be placed just
in front of the hind legs.
If the animal is the heavier, then they should be placed at the side of the belly
band.
N.B. The object of this invention is to save the heavier draught animals from
falling and straining themselves in all directions as we see every day.
The concussion in falling would not hurt the horses-being on the strong ribs
of the animal-see the way horses &c. are swung on board ship &c.-a spring
would obviate the sudden jar.
Dated this Twentieth day of December 1892.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means or Apparatus for Preventing the Draught Animals
of Vehicles from Falling.
CHARLES BERKLEY 5 Finchley Road Child's Hill, N.W. Secretary, 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 :-
For omnibuses and pair-horse vehicles.
To utilize the weight of the vehicle and its contents against that of the animals,
by means of a balance to which they are attached.
The vehicle and contents being heavier than the animals, it is impossible for the
animals to pull down their end of the balance; and consequently they are only
suspended, when slipping up, for a moment while they strike out and find their
footing again.
A rod A. A. made of wrought iron runs obliquely from between the two animals
shoulders and divides on each side of the jaws which hold the pole of the vehicle,
the divided ends passing on under the forecarriage bar on which the transel plates
and above mentioned jaws rest, until they meet the rods C. C., to which they are
riveted.
The divided portions of the rod A. A. are each attached to the beforementioned
forecarriage bar of the vehicle at the points B. B. by a bolt passing through a ring
of iron, pendant to said forecarriage bar.
Two wrought iron supports D. D. are riveted to the divided parts of the rod A. A.
at a point just behind the bar of the vehicle to which the traces are attached-one
on each outer side of the jaws which hold the pole of the vehicle, but not touching
or attached thereto.
The supports D. D are joined at the bottom in the shape of the letter V at the
point E, where a small strong castor wheel F is attached as in the drawing
herewith-which wheel forms the base of the balance.
This wheel does not touch the ground until the animal slipping up is suspended
from the rod A. A. and forces the supports D. D. downwards and consequently the
wheel F to the ground.
The two rods C. C. beforementioned are of wrought iron and diverge from the
point E (ie. the bottom of the supports D. D) to the point G, where the weight of
the vehicle forms the resisting power which prevents the animals, pulling down
their end of the rod A. A.
This point G is about a foot behind the transel plates of the vehicle, but varies
according to the weight and build of the vehicle itself,

page_text: The rods C. C. are connected at their upper ends (under point G above alluded
to) by a flat iron plate H which is screwed on to the top of them.
The plate H is of the width of the bottom of the vehicle, and is slightly curved
outwards towards the back thereof.
The part of it nearest the front of the vehicle runs straight across from the top
of each of the rods C. C.
The higher end of the rod A. A. (ie. that which is between the animals
shoulders) is bent up perpendicularly until it reaches a height nine inches above
them.
An iron ring passes through the top of this end; to which ring two chains are
hooked for each animal-one to the collar and one to the belly band of each.
The weight and thickness of this apparatus is determined by that of the vehicle
and draught animals.
For two wheeled carts, and cabs of two or four wheels :-
An arch of wrought iron passes over the animal's back, immediately over the
point where the belly band of the animal is usually worn, until the sides of the arch
reach the shafts of the vehicle, where they are flattened, bent back and screwed on
firmly to the top of the shafts.
Two chains are hooked to a ring in the centre of the arch; one being fastened to
the animal's collar and one to its belly band.
A rod made of tough ash is suspended by a strong hinge underneath each shaft,
at the point where the arch meets the shaft-such rods being squared at the top
end for eighteen inches downwards, and rounded to the bottom; to which is
attached a small strong wheel, the bottom of these wheels is sufficiently far from
the ground to prevent their touching it when the animal is in ordinary motion.
A bar of iron hooks on to a ring screwed on to each of these rods on the outer
side of the lower end of the squared portion mentioned above, and runs backwards
and upwards to the shaft eighteen inches behind the point where the arch meets
the shaft, where it the said bar of iron is fastened to the outer side of the shaft by
& screw.
These bars can be unhooked, thus enabling the rods suspended from the shafts to
be shut up underneath them, so as to be almost unnoticeable when not required in
dry weather, and slung on a hook under each shaft.
The weight and thickness of the apparatus depends upon that of the animal and
vehicle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the sane is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
First. In an improved apparatus for preventing the draught animals of vehicles
from falling the construction and use of the herein described device, and its
application to, and use in combination with, any and every kind of road vehicle
drawn by beasts of burden, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth
and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Second. In combination with any four-wheeled vehicle drawn by two animals,
the application thereto and employment therewith of a bifurcated metallic rod A A
pivotally connected to the under surface of the fore carriage of the vehicle at B
and carrying a bifurcated supporting rod D, D, depending therefrom, and provided
at its lower end with a wheel or roller F and connected at E to one end of a pair
of rods C, C, passing obliquely therefrom in an upward direction, engaging with
the bifurcated ends of A. and ultimately connected to a plate H abutting against
the under surface of the vehicle, the whole connected and operating substantially
as herein described and shewn by the appended drawings.
Third. In combination with any two or four wheeled vehicle drawn by one
animal, the application to the shafts thereof of a wrought iron arch passing over
the back of the animal and carrying chains engaging with the harness thereof, with

page_text: hinged depending rods beneath the shafts carrying wheels or rollers upon their
lower ends, from which or other convenient point extend other rods connected with
the shafts substantially as herein described.
Dated this 21st day of October 1893.
CHARLES BERKLEY.