AN IMPROVED MODE OF CONVERTING WHEELED VEHICLES INTO SLEDGES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frederick Altona Binney at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th December 1882.
FREDERICK ALTONA BINNEY of 14 Victoria Buildings Manchester Patent Agent-
"AN IMPROVED MODE OF CONVERTING WHEELED VEHICLES INTO SLEDGES
My invention consists in the application of iron runners to the wheels of vehicles
so that the vehicle may slide over snow as a sledge without the trouble of dis-
mounting the vehicle from the wheels or unloading it. I use two bars of iron;
(grooved or channel iron of suitable strength and thickness is suitable) with a
groove wide enough to accomodate the width of a cart or carriage wheel. I place
these grooved bars upon the ground with the groove uppermost parallel to one
another and as far apart as the wheels of the vehicle which can then be lifted into
the grooves. The ends of the bars nearest the horses are curved upwards like the
front of a sledge and may be of the same arc as the fore wheels of the vehicle which
are thus held fast in the curved grooves. The bars extend from the front to the
back wheels of the vehicle one on each side.
If preferred the rear end of each bar may be curved upwards also so as to
enclose the back wheel in the curved groove at the rear or the bars may be left
flat in the rear so that when a vehicle is heavily laden it may be wheeled into the
grooves instead of being lifted.
There may be projecting flanges upon the sides of the bars at the point of
contact with the wheels and I prefer to place one at the extremity of the front
curve so as to enable the wheels to be secured more firmly and prevented from
backing or a moveable wedge can be placed behind either wheel in the groove.
The wheels can be secured to these flanges by screws or bolts passing across
inside the felloes of the wheels thus gripping them tightly or straps or other
contrivances may be used. These projecting flanges may also be hinged so that
one or both can be laid down flat when lifting a vehicle into the groove.
The wheels of the vehicle may be secured by a chain or pole from the front to
the rear wheel on each side thus preventing them turning laterally.
The vehicle when thus mounted can be used as a sledge without the trouble of
taking off the wheels or even unloading the vehicle and they can be readily
removed when required.

page_text: In place of single bars at either side of the vehicle each wheel may be mounted
on a short length of the same or similar bar independently-slightly curved before
and behind (or before only) and the wheel secured in place by deep grooves or by
deep projecting flanges on each side and the wheels held by screws or bolts across
the inside of the felloes. The wheel would also be prevented from slipping
backwards and forwards by allowing it to rest in a curved bed of wood or iron
corresponding with the arc of the wheel's circumference-Such bed of course is
secured to the bar, or wedges may be used-Thus each wheel would be mounted
on a slipper or a sort of skate and as the front & rear wheels would not need to
be locked together the vehicle could more readily turn corners.