Improvements in the Construction of Road Carriages and similar Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 7th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Road Carriages and similar
Vehicles.
We, ARTHUR HUGH ADCOCK, of 14 Temple Street, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick Solicitor, and WILLIAM CORTEEN, of Meriden Street
Birmingham, aforesaid, Coach Body Builder do hereby declare the nature of our
said invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has for its object improvements in the construction of road
carriages and similar vehicles and is for the purpose of making them noiseless and
for greatly reducing their weight and the vibration.
In carrying our invention into practise we construct the framework which
carries or supports the body out of strips of double sheet steel or iron placed
edgewise and bent to the required shape. The rear wheels of the carriage are
supported between the strips of sheet steel which are left sufficiently wide apart for
that purpose in suitable bearings carried by springs fastened to the metal frame
with rubber blocks interposed between. The front wheels which are placed close
together are carried by two stays connected to the axle and to the metal frame with
a steering socket mounted in suitable bearings placed between. The drivers seat is
also supported by the two stays carrying the front wheels and by struts fastened to
the metal frame. The body of the carriage is mounted on rubber rings with
or without spiral springs placed inside and the rubber rings are bolted to the struts
which connected the two sides of the metal frame together. Or we may support
the body on metal springs with rubber blocks interposed between each end. The
shafts are connected to the framework by a hinged clip with rubber blocks placed
between which effectually prevents all jar and vibration. We also connect a band
brake to the hub of the back wheel. The wheels we propose to use are built on
the same principle as a cycle wheel.
Dated this 1st day of June 1896.
GEORGE BARKER,
77 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in the Construction of Road Carriages and similar
Vehicles.
We, ARTHUR HUGH ADCOCK, of 14 Temple Street Birminghain in the
County of Warwick, Solicitor and WILLIAM CORTEEN of Meriden Street
Birmingham aforesaid Coach Body Builder do hereby declare the nature of our
said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention has for its object improvements in the construction of road

page_text: carriages and similar vehicles and is for the purpose of making them noiseless and
for greatly reducing their weight and the vibration.
In carrying our invention into practice we construct the frame work which
carries or supports the body out of strips of double sheet steel or iron placed
edgewise and bent to the required shape. The rear wheels of the carriage are
supported between the strips of sheet steel which are left sufficiently wide apart
for that purpose in suitable bearings connected to springs fastened to the metal
frame with rubber blocks interposed between. The front wheels which are placed
close together are carried by two stays connected to the axle and to the metal
frame with a steering socket mounted in suitable bearings placed between. The
driver's seat is also suppored by the two stays carrying the front wheels and by
struts fastened to the metal frame. The body of the carriage is mounted on rubber
rings with or without spiral springs placed inside and the rubber rings are bolted
to the struts which connect the two sides of the metal frame together. Or we may
support the body on metal springs with rubber blocks interposed between each end.
The shafts may be connected to the framework by a hinged clip with a rubber
block placed between which would effectually prevent all jar and vibration.
We may also connect a band brake to the hub of the back wheel. The wheels we
propose to use are built on the same principle as a cycle wheel.
In order that our invention may be more clearly understood and easily carried
into practical effect we have appended hereunto two double sized sheets of drawings
upon which we have illustrated examples of our improvements but it must be
distinctly understood that we do not confine ourselves to the particular shape or
configuration of the examples shown as the principle of our invention can with
equal advantage be applied to other kinds of vehicles.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle constructed according to our invention.
Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1 with the body removed.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of a landau constructed on the principle of our
invention.
Figure 4 is a front elevation of the steering socket and framework to which the
axle for supporting the front wheels is attached.
Figure 5 is a cross section taken through the line j-j shewing the parts a, a
and a².
In carrying our invention into practice we construct the frame work A ont of
flat pieces of steel or iron placed edgewise. The parts a which form the outer
edge of the frame on which the body B rests are bent outwards at right angles at
one end and connected to the ends a¹ which are also bent at right angles to their
main portions a' leaving sufficient space between the parts a and a for the rear
wheels W to revolve freely between. When building light vehicles such as gigs
we may dispence with the parts a. The ends a³ of the parts a are bent as shewn
and are connected to the struts or stays a which are strengthened and stiffened by
the wood-work b to which they are bulted. We also strengthen and stiffen the
parts a by the wood-work which is bolted to their inner face and the struts a', a
and a' are secured to these strips of wood for additional strengthening purposes.
The ends a of the parts a are bent inwards and then turned inwards at right angles
and connected to the struts a' and the other ends a' are connected to the strut a'.
The body B is mounted on the springs S which are fastened to the wood-work .
The ends of the bottom springs S₁ are also secured to the wood-work 6' and the
centre of each of these springs is secured to two slide bearings in which the axle w³
of the rear wheels is mounted. This axle we form from a piece of tubing but it can
be made out of the solid. When using a hollow axle we drill two small holes k on
the top near to the bearings and a hole underneath the part where each bearing
is secured (see Fig. 6) by which means we can supply the bearing with lubricant
without removing any part. When the rear wheels W are mounted on their axle
they will revolve between the parts a and a. The front portion of our frame
consists of two upright pieces of flat steel or iron d d' connected together by tho

page_text: struts or stays d', d³ and d, and the rod or bar d. On the centre of this rod d' is
fixed a lug or junction de in which one end of the rod d is secured. This rod d'
runs parallel with and in the centre of the uprights d and d' and passes through the
collars or junctions formed in the centres of the struts or stays & d³ and d the end
which protrudes through the latter being held by the nut d. Mounted on that
portion of the rod d' between the struts or stays d and d³ is our steering socket d'
and fastened to this socket by the lugs or bands do and are the connecting rods
or stays d and d which connect the front or steering portion of the vehicle to
the stays at and a respectively and these connecting rods are strengthened by the
side stays d and dis which are fastened to the cross piece d. The strut and
block which are interposed between these connecting rods also serve to strengthen
and stiffen them. The arms e' to which the shafts E are attached are connected to
the uprights d and d by the brackets & and e and the drivers foot board is fixed
on the top of these arms. The drivers seat is secured to the top ends 17 and 18 of
the uprights and to the brackets d. But we do not limit ourselves to the drivers
seat being situated in front as the driver may be seated in the body of the vehicle
and the front seat may be removed when required. The bottom ends of the
nprights d and d are bent outwards at right angles and to these ends the top
portion of the springs S2 are secured and to the centres of the bottom portions of
these springs the axle flaps w³ are fixed which carry or support the axle w¹ on
which the front wheels W are mounted. This axle may or may not be made
hollow as hereinbefore described. I may interpose rubber blocks h between the
ends of the springs S where the two portions are connected together which prevents
all jar and vibration. At Figure 3 I have shewn the application of my invention
to a landau. In this case I curve the framework A¹ to suit the body which is
supported by the spring at either end and 1 may also interpose one or more coil or
other form of spring S between the under portion of the body and the frame.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. In road carriages and similar vehicles mounting the body portion on
a frame such as A or A¹ or their equivalents with a spring such as S³ or its
equivalent interposed between, constructed in the manner and for the purpose
substantially as herein before described and shown on the accompanying sheets of
drawings.
Second. Mounting the wheels such as W or their equivalents on springs such
as S' or their equivalents between the portions a and a² of the frame A or A' in
the manner and for the purpose substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn
on the accompanying sheets of drawings.
Third. In a road vehicle connecting the rear or body portion to a steering
socket or pivot such as d supported between the uprights such as d and d¹ in the
manner and for the purpose substantially as hereiubefore described and shown on
the accompanying sheets of drawings.
Fourth. Mounting and pivotting the front wheels of a road vehicle in the manner
and for the purpose substantially as hereinbefore described and shown on the
accompanying sheets of drawings.
Fifth. Pivotting the front portion of a vehicle which carries or supports the
front wheels to the back portion which carries or supports the rear wheels so that
the drivers seat always remains parallel with the shafts and over or above the pivot
in the manner substantially the same as shown on the accompanying drawings and
herein before described.
Sixth. The construction of the framework of vehicles such as shown and
explained from sections of steel on edge and stiffened by bars or blocks of wood so
as to obtain tenacity combined with stability and in the manner as shewn upon the
drawings but specially as referring to Figure 2 and as set forth.

page_text: Seventh. A hollow axle with means for lubricating the bearing of a vehicle
wheel substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
Eighth. The vehicle shown upon the drawings and herein set forth.
Dated this 6th day of November 1896.
GEORGE BARKER,
77 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent.