CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEELED CARRIAGES
Year: 1831

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM-
MASON, of Margaret Street, Cavendish Square, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Axletree Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Tenth day of August, in the second year of His reign,
did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Mason, His especial liceuce, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said William Mason, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Mason, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during
the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
WHEELED CARRIAGES;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso
that I, the said William Mason, shall cause a particular description of the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be inrolled in His said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calen-
dar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited
Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will
more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Mason, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly
described and ascertained in and by the Drawings hereunto annexed, and the
following description thereof (that is to say).:-

page_text: In the said Drawings Fig. 1 is a plan shewing A, A, the fore axletree bed
of a four-wheeled carriage to which the axletrees B, B, are jointed at each
end in the following manner :-Fig..2 is an enlarged plan, and Fig. 3 an
elevation or side view, of one end of the said fore axletree bed. A, B, a
Collinge's axletree jointed to the axletree bed A. by means of the cylindrical
pin or bolt C, which passes through and turns in a cylindrical hole D formed
at the end of the said axletree bed, as shewn in plan in Fig. 4, and sideways
in Fig. 5. The axletree B is firmly united with the upper end E of the said
pin or bolt C, and to the lower end of it, which is squared, the guide piece F
is also fitted and secured by the screw G, and screwed nut H, as shewn in
Fig. 3 and in section in Fig. 6. I, I, I, Figs. 3 and 6, are leather washers
let into recesses made to receive them in the parts A, B, and F, and the
intent of which said washers is to prevent the oil from escaping, which is
introduced through the central hole J, shewn in Fig. 6, and which hole is
then closed by means of a screw inserted into it. The oil is diffused or spread
over the surface of the cylinder C by means of a side branch K, Fig. 6, lead-
ing from the bottom of the hole J into a groove L formed around the cylinder
C, and also by means of two longitudinal gaps or cavities M, M, made within
the hole D, as shewn in Figs. 4 and 5. The guide piece F is thus affixed at
right angles with the axletree B, as shewn in Fig. 2, and turns freely and
steadily in the cylindrical hole D made to receive it, as above mentioned, in
one end of the iron fore axletree bed A. In like manner the opposite fore
axletree B, Fig. 1, is jointed to the other end of the iron fore axletree bed:
The outer ends of the guide pieces F, F, are jointed to the splinter bar N,
Fig. 5, as follows:-Fig. 7 is a plan, and Fig. 8 a section, of the joint O in
Fig. 1, shewn on an enlarged scale; F, part of the guide piece; N, part of the
splinter bar. A cylindrical pin or bolt C is firmly affixed in the splinter bar;
and around the lower part of the said pin or bolt the guide piece F turns, and
is secured in its place by the screw G, and screwed nut H. Oil is conveyed
to the lower part of the cylindrical pin C in a similar manner to that already
described; and two leather washers I, I, are likewise provided to prevent its
escape. The connecting joint at the opposite end of the splinter bar N is
constructed in a similar manner. The futchel or socket P, P, for the pole of
the carriage, must also be jointed to the middle of the fore axletree bed' and
splinter bar in a similar manner. The swingle trees Q, Q, Fig. 1, are like-
wise jointed in the same way to the splinter bar. Fig. 9 is a side view of
these parts. R, R, the fore wheels of the carriage furnished with cast-iron
boxes, as usual. The dotted lines in Fig. 1 shew the action of the pole P, P,
upon the splinter bar N, and as communicated through the latter to the guide
pieces F, F, connected with the axletree B, B; so as to lock the wheels R, R;

page_text: as shewn in that Figure. The axletree bed A, A, may be encased in the
woodwork of the fore bed of the carriage, as usual, and as shown by dotted
lines in the back end view thereof, Fig. 10; and the framing S, Fig. II.; may
be affixed firmly upon the said woodwork in any fit and proper manner, as
well also as the fore springs T, T, shewn in Figs. 10 and 11, and likewise in
the side view, Fig. 12. In certain cases it may be desirable to fix the cylin-
drical pin or bolt C firmly in the splinter bar N, in the manner shewn in
Figs. 13 and 14. The swingle trees Q, Q, and guide pieces F, F, turning
freely above and below upon the said pin or bolt, and secured in their places
thereon by screws and screwed nuts, oil being also supplied through holes
formed in both ends of the said pin or bolt, and leather washers provided as
in the above-described instances.
Having thus shewn and described various methods of carrying my said
Invention into effect, I hereby declare that I do not mean or intend thereby
to limit myself to the employment of Collinge's axletrees only, but to use any
which may
be best adapted to the particular kind of carriages they are to be
used with. I recommend that all due care be taken in the accurate manu-
facture and fitting together of the various parts composing the different joints,
and I prefer to make the cylinders and the parts containing the cylindrical
holes of wrought-iron, case hardened, and afterwards properly ground together
and polished. I do not intend hereby to limit or confine myself to the
application of my said improvements to any particular kinds of four-wheeled
carriages, but to apply them, with proper modifications, which may readily be
made by coach makers to all descriptions of four-wheeled carriages whatever.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Mason, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord