Year: 1887

page_text: Vehicles.
I, FREDERICK WEST, of Medina Cottage, Priory Road, St. Denys, Southampton,
Carriage Trimmer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as
follows:-
:―
The object of this invention is to give to the body of a four wheel carriage a certain
amount of fore and aft or longitudinal action while travelling in order to obtain greater
comfort for the occupants than is usual.
The invention is specially applicable to Broughams, Landaus, Phaetons, and other
like vehicles which have no under perch.
For the purpose of my invention, I fix an iron strap or plate to the underside of the
front part of body at each side said strap or plate lias at each end an eye looking
downwards for the attachment of a rod or bar, on which is a collar or nut affixable in
any convenient position. The rod or bar has also a moveable collar or nut and is
encircled by a helical spring arranged between the moveable and the fixed collars.
The bar also carries an eye or clip affixed to or forming part of the front top bed
and another eye or clip affixed to or forming part of the horn bar or hind top bed, one
of said eyes or clips being in advance of the fixed collar on the bar and the other
behind the moveable collar, so that the draught of the vehicle is first taken up by the
helical springs, one of which (or more) is on each side of the front body, said springs
being slightly compressed in transferring the motion to the body. The helical springs.
may be covered or protected by a loose fitting sleeve.
I have mentioned helical springs but other forms of springs, such as half elliptics,
may be applied to the centre of the front body or otherwise for the ends to engage
between the collars on the bars.
The spring or springs also act to relieve or to obviate the shock usually given to the
occupants when the horse is suddenly pulled up.
Doted this 95th day of November 1887.
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Frederick West.

page_text: I FREDERICK WEST of Medina Cottage, Priory Road, St. Denys, Southampton,
Carriage Trimmer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
-
The object of this invention is to give to the body of a four wheel carriage a certain
amount of fore and aft or longitudinal action while travelling, in order to obtain greater
comfort for the occupants than is usual.
The invention is specially applicable to Broughams, Landau's Phætons, and other
like vehicles that have no under perch.
For the purpose of my invention which I show in the annexed drawings Figures 1
and 2 I fix an iron strap or plate A to the underside of the front part of body B; said
strap or plate A has at each end an eye C, C, looking downwards for the attachment of
a rod or bar D on which is a collar or nut E fixed thereto, see end view Figure 3.
The rod or har D has also two movable collars or nuts F, F, and is encircled by a
helical spring G arranged between said movable collars.
The bar D also carries a couple of eyes or clips H, HI, affixed to a plate I to or
forming part of the front top bed but preferably attached at front to the bed J and
at the rear to the horn bar K, one of said eyes or clips being in advance of the front
collar Fon the bar, and the other behind the other movable collar F.
The clips H, H, are slotted at their lower parts as seen at Figure 3 and pass over
the fixed stop pieces E to come in contact with one of the collars F, the action of
which pushes the two collars and the spring G along the bar D until the opposite
collar bears against the stop E, whereby the springs become compressed and commu-
nicates the forward motion of the under fore carriage to the front body of the
vehicle with a soft cushioned action so that the body or carriage proper is drawn
forward under the tension put upon the springs G.
The helical springs may be covered or protected by a loose fitting sleeve Las
seen at Figure 2, to prevent the spring being clogged with dirt and also to give
a neat appearance at that part.
I have mentioned helical springs but other forms of springs, such as half elliptic,
may be applied to the centre of the front body or otherwise for the ends to
engage between the collars of the bars.
The spring or springs also act to relieve or to obviate the shock usually given
to the occupants when the horse is suddenly pulled up.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
Fitting springs between the front body and the front undercarriage of a four
wheeled road vehicle, whereby the first pull of the vehicle is taken up and absorbed
by springs and then the vehicle proper following under the tension of said springs
to prevent sudden concussions in starting or stopping and thereby give additional
ease and comfort to the occupants of a vehicle and to prevent the concussive action
of a sudden pull of the horses being communicated to the carriage proper, as
described.