A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS TO PREVENT THE THROWING UP OF MUD
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Manoah Bower, of Birminghamn, in the
County of Warwick, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "A
NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS TO PREVENT THE THROWING UP OF MUD
A T
Sealed the 3rd August 1853, and dated the 3rd February 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Manoah Bower at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 3rd February 1853.
I, MANOAH BOWER, of Birminghain, in the County of Warwick,
3 Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention.
for "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS TO PREVENT THE THROWING UP OF
MUD BY THE WHEELS OF VEHICLES" to be as follows: -
Fig. 1, represents my Invention in side view, and Fig. 2, represents
the same in front view. a, is a curved bar fixed by the horizontal part
b, to the axle of the vehicle; the said curved bar is at the back of and

page_text: parallel to the plane of the wheel to which it is applied; the lower part
c, of the bar a, is at right angles to the said part a, and is opposed to
the edge of the wheel. To the said part c of the bar a, is fixed a
scraper d, e, the frame of which is made of iron, and the inner part
e, of which is made of gutta percha, the said gutta percha being
softened by heat, and pressed against the wheel, so as to mould it to
the edge of the said wheel on the rotation of the said wheel, a portion
of which is indicated at f, it passes through the scraper d, e, which
removes the mud picked up by the said wheel, and causes it to fall
again to the ground. In place of gutta percha, I sometimes use
other suitable materials. The scraper is fixed about 18 inches from
the ground.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said Manoah Bower in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 3rd August 1853...
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
MANOAH BOWER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Manoah Bower, Her special
licence that I, the said Manoah Bower, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I; the said Manoah Bower, my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns,, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at, all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A

page_text: THE WHEE
NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS. TO PREVENT THE THROWING UP OF MUD BY
WHEELS OF VEHICLES," upon the condition, (amongst others) that:
I, the said Manoah Bower, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Manoah Bower, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had
to the accompanying Drawing, and to the figures and letters
marked thereon (that is to say):
My Invention consists of the application of scrapers, constructed
as hereinafter particularly described, to the back of the wheels of
vehicles; and at a short distance from the ground, the said scrapers
being supported from the axle or axles of the said vehicles in any
convenient manner. On the motion of the said vehicles the mud
carried up by the wheels is removed therefrom by the said scrapers,
and returned to the ground, thus preventing the inconveniences
which arise in wet weather or on bad roads from the said mud
being thrown on the body and steps of the vehicle.
The method of carrying my Invention into effect is illustrated by
the accompanying Drawing. Figure 1, represents in side elevation,
and Figure 2, in back view, a gig or vehicle to which my Invention
is applied. Figures 3, and 4, represent detached portions of my
Invention. a, is a curved bar, attached as hereinafter described by
the horizontal part b, to the axle of the vehicle; the said bar is at the
back of and parallel to the plane of the wheel c. The lower end of
the bar a, is turned at right angles, and is opposed to the edge of
the wheel c. To the said lower end of the bar a, a scraper'd, (shewn
in section in Figure 3,) is fixed; the frame e, of the said scraper is
made of iron or other metal, and the interior f, of gutta percha, or

page_text: .
other suitable or convenient substance or material; the said frame e,
is attached to the lower end of the arm a, marked in Figure 3, a¹, by
rivetting or otherwise. When the said part f, is made of gutta
percha, the said gutta percha is softened by heat and pressed against
the edge of the wheels, so as to mould it to the form of the same. On
the rotation of the wheel c, it passes through the scraper d, which
removes the mud picked up by the said wheel, and causes it to fall
again to the ground. The rod a, which carries the scraper d, is
attached to the axle g, in any convenient manner, but I find the
method represented answers well in practice. The said method
consists in attaching a plate h, shewn separately at Figure 4, to the
axle g; the said plate being placed between the body of the vehicle
and the said axle, and secured in its place by the screws or pins
which are usually employed in attaching the axle to the body of the
vehicle; the said screws or pins pass through holes i, i, (see Figure 4,)
of the plate h. The part b, of the arm a, passes through the eye k,
of the plate h; and is fixed by the screw . In fine weather the
scrapers and arm may be removed by unscrewing the said screw l.
The scraper m, Figure 2, and the apparatus connected therewith, is
the exact counterpart of that already described.
Although I have described the best method with which I am ac-
quainted of carrying my Invention into effect, yet I do not confine
myself thereto, as the same may be varied without departing from
the nature of my said Invention; for example, the arms carrying the
scrapers may be attached to the axle or the body of the vehicle in
various ways; and although I prefer to make the lining or that
portion of the scraper which comes in contact with the wheel of
gutta percha, yet various other materials may be employed, such as
vulcanized or unvulcanized caoutchouc, felt, wood, sponge, and
leather; or the interior of the said scraper may be furnished with a
brush in place of the gutta percha described. Neither do I limit
myself to the position of the said scraper, although I prefer having
it near the ground as represented. 1 claim as my Invention the ap-
plication of scrapers to the wheels of vehicles, to prevent the throw-

page_text: ing up of mud by the said wheels, as herein described, and repre-
sented in the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Manoah Bower, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of July, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-three.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
MANOAH BOWER. (L.S.)