Trucks.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Aug., 1894-Accepted, 13th Oct., 1894
Trucks.
I, HENRY ORRIS THOMAS, Mechanic, of Kimball, in the County of Kimball
and State of Nebraska, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:
My invention has relation to a new and novel improvement in hand trucks, and
comprises essentially a truck having a main supporting frame, provided with
To this main
suitable wheels, having pawls and ratchets connected thereto.
frame is secured an auxiliary frame provided with a roll extending transversely
across the main supporting frame, and also being provided with pawls and ratchets.
In front I have provided an ordinary shoe, which is pivotally connected to this
frame.
The truck is of any suitable size and material.
3
T
12000
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Trucks.
I, HENRY ORRIS THOMAS, of 67 Dearborn Street, Chicago, County of Cook
and State of Illinois, United States of America, but formerly of Kimball, in the
County of Kimball and State of Nebraska, United States of America, Mechanic,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to hand trucks, and its object is to provide a truck by
means of which heavy loads can be readily loaded onto the truck, as will be
hereinafter more fully described.
In the drawings,—
Fig. 1 is a top or plan view of the truck in horizontal position or down.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation with the parts toward the handle-end broken away, the
truck being shown in the position of lifting the load.
Fig. 3 is a detail section at the line 3-3 on Fig. 1, showing a pawl and ratchet
device in side elevation.
Fig. 4 is a detail section at the line 4-4, showing in side elevation a spring catch
used in holding the drop spur out of use.
A, A, are the main side-bars of my improved truck. They are connected by
means of the transverse bars 1 and 2, making a rigid frame. 3 is the ordinary
main supporting shaft of the supporting wheels 4, 4, which are mounted on the
shaft inside the side-bars. Each of these wheels 4, 4, is provided with a
ratchet 5, 5, secured to the outer face of the wheel and adapted to be engaged
by a pawl mounted on the adjacent frame-bar A. At the upper or handle end of
the truck I provide a transverse roller B, of suitable material and size, which is
also provided with a ratchet wheel 6 at the upper end adapted to be engaged by
the pawl 7. This pawl and ratchet is arranged to permit the roll B to revolve in
037

page_text: a direction in which it would be actuated by the engagement of the load resting
upon it and sliding toward the handle end, and to prevent the roller from revolving
in the opposite direction while the pawl is engaged with the ratchet. Secured to
each of the side-bars A, near the lower end of the truck, is a bracket C, preferably
of strap iron folded to encompass the side-bar and rigidly secured thereto by
bolts 8 and 9. These brackets extend off at an oblique angle from the side-bars
to which they are secured respectively, and near their extremities remote from the
points of fastening to the side-bars there is a shaft D, which passes transversely
through both of the brackets, parallel with the shaft 3 of the supporting wheels 4,
and on this shaft D, between the brackets, there is journalled a roller or supple-
mental or loading wheel E. This roller E is provided at opposite ends, respectively,
with ratchets 10 and 11, one being a right handed and the other a left handed
ratchet, and the pawls 12 and 13, adapted to engage said ratchets respectively, are
mounted in suitable relation to them on the brackets C, C, respectively. Upon
the shaft D, between the side-bars of each of the brackets C, are pivotally mounted
two shoes F of suitable material, which rest normally against the forward portion
of the bracket which connects the side-arms thereof, so that the shoes are stopped
against the bracket in the open position shown in Fig. 2. A rod 15 extends
lengthwise of the truck frame, between the cross-bars 1 and 2 thereof, and upon
this rod, a drop spur 16, having a sleeve or collar 17 by which it may be operated,
is adapted to slide from end to end of the rod, and rotate. Secured to the brace 2
is a spring 18 adapted to engage the spur 16 to hold it in position substantially in
the plane of the side-bars A and cross-bars 2 out of the way of the load when not
in use to engage the pawl.
This truck can be made in any suitable width, and the roller E, if necessary, can
be divided into several sections, and the main shaft 3 can also be provided with any
desired number of supporting wheels and any desired number of additional shoes
may be provided. The device is further susceptible of modification in that one of
the frame pieces A could be made sufficiently large and strong, and provided with
a single supporting wheel roller and shoe, so that the device could be used as a tool
in lifting heavy loads. In this modification, the wheel 4 will be given any necessary
support, and, if necessary, could be mounted directly below the bar A. When the
device has been properly arranged and constructed, the operation will be as
follows:-
In raising a heavy box, for instance, the truck frame will be held with the bars A
in substantially vertical position, with the supporting wheels 4 lifted off of the floor
and the weight of the truck being carried on the roller E, as will be understood by
referring to Fig. 2, wherein the dotted line x-x would represent the floor line in
that position of the truck. The point of the shoes being on the floor and adapted
by their free pivotal connection to the truck to follow any irregularities of the
floor and remain in contact at the points therewith, so that the momentum which
the truck might acquire in being advanced rapidly toward the box will serve to
drive the points of the shoes under it. As soon as the shoes are thus forced under
the load, the truck handles being depressed, the load will be lifted on the points of
the shoes, the truck sliding slightly toward or under the load, first taking the
roller E off the floor and bringing the weight of the load onto the wheels 4, 4, and
then, as the movement of truck handles downward is continued, lifting the end of
the load engaged on the points of the shoes to such position as that shown by the
full lines representing the load in Fig. 2. The pawl and ratchets pertaining to
the wheel 4, 4, being engaged and permitting the wheels to revolve only in a
direction corresponding to the advance movement of the truck, the depressing of
the handles described will easily cause the wheels to advance toward and eventually
under the load in the manner described. As soon as the load is raised to a
sufficient height, as in Fig. 2, a further forward movement of the truck will carry
the shaft D past the vertical line through the points of engagement of the
shoes under the load, and the shoes will fall over backward, letting the load
down onto the roller É, the shoes falling in between the side-bars of the brackets C,

page_text: and being out of the way of the load. The pawl and ratchet pertaining to the
roller E, which permits the right-handed movement of the roller, will be now
engaged so that the roller will be adapted to rotate in the direction of the
arrow, and prevented from rotating in the opposite direction, while the
wheels 4, 4, by reason of their pawl and ratchet devices, can revolve only
in the direction of the arrow adjacent to the ratchet 5 on Fig. 2.
Now,
as the load rests upon the roller E, the alternate raising and lowering of the truck
frame side-bars A by means of the handles will cause the roller E and the
wheels 4 to be alternately fed forward under the load, the roller at its point of
contact with the load affording a fulcrum when the handles are depressed, and the
wheels in that movement rolling freely over the floor; and the wheels at their
point of contact with the floor affording a fulcrum while the handles are being
raised, the roller, in that movement, rolling under the load, rotating as it rolls, and
being prevented from reverse movement. Such alternate raising and lowering
being continued the load will eventually be balanced upon the roller E, and then
overbalanced rearward toward the truck, and will fall onto the latter in position in
which it may be carried. After the load has been moved upward or rearward on
the truck to a proper distance, the drop spur 16 is released, and falling, engages its
nose with the box and assists in holding the load on the truck. If desired, the
rollers E and B, respectively, as well as the remaining wheels, may be slightly
corrugated to increase their frictional hold on the load and roller respectively. It
will be observed that the truck, constructed as described, is adapted to stand with
the frame substantially upright, resting upon the wheels 4, 4, and the roller, or
rollers if the roller is divided; and that it is thus adapted to be most conveniently
set away in a small space close against the wall, without danger of sliding down to
horizontal position, if accidentally disturbed, as is the case with the trucks of
ordinary construction; and being ordinarily in upright position, it can be pushed
quickly into place or out of the way easily, which is a matter of great convenience
in warehouses, where trucks used by many different persons are liable to be in the
way, and if of the ordinary form, are very troublesome because of their instability
in upright position, even when leaning against a support. When a load is on the
truck, the latter being horizontal, it may extend from the roller E to the roller B,
resting upon both rollers, and in that case it may sometimes be convenient to slide
the roll over the truck lengthwise with respect to the latter, and the left hand pawl
and ratchet with which the roller E is provided may be engaged instead of the
right-hand pawl and ratchet when it is desired to move the load over the roller
froin the handle toward the opposite end; but in moving the load in the opposite
direction, the right hand pawl and ratchet being engaged, the load has the same
movement as the roller B, and its two rollers being locked against the reverse
movement adapt the truck to serve with great efficiency as an inclined plane upon
which the load may be advanced for loading onto cars or elevated platforms, the
rollers preventing downward sliding and rotating freely in the upward or advance
movement. By bringing both the pawls into engagement with their respective
ratchets on the roller E, the truck standing on end and resting its weight partly on
the roller, is prevented from being too easily moved from the position in which it
may be placed.
For foading comparatively light loads onto the truck, all pawl and ratchet
devices may be left unengaged, the wheels 4, 4, and the roller E being all perfectly
free to rotate on their shaft or in their bearings, and in that case, the load having
been lifted, as shown in Fig. 2, aud the truck pushed under it until it has fallen
onto the roller E, as described, a further direct pushing of the truck may be
sufficient to cause it to advance under the load, the wheels rolling on the floor and
the roller rolling on the under surface of the load until the latter is overbalanced
and fulcruming on the roller E, falls rearward on the truck handles. In this mode
of use, it will be understood that the pawl and ratchet mechanism is out of use,
or, if left in engagement, is not utilized in the same mauner as when the pump
handle action above described is adopted to force the truck under the load.

page_text: .
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a truck, the employment of a loading wheel or wheels located in such
position on the truck as to receive the pressure of the load and be off the floor
when the truck is down or horizontal, and to rest on the floor and help support the
truck in stable equilibrium when the latter is upright: substantially as shown and
described.
2. In a truck, the employment of a pivoted shoe whose nose rests upon the floor
and is adapted to freely follow the inequalities of the latter when the truck is
advanced in an approximately upright position on its supporting wheels: substan-
tially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a truck, the employment of a pivoted shoe and a loading wheel or roller,
the latter being in position to receive the load when the shoe tilts back toward the
truck frame substantially as set forth.
4. In a truck, the employment of a pivoted shoe and a loading wheel or
roller located within the arc described by the line of the edge of the shoe as it
tilts back toward the frame and adapted thereby to have the load which is lifted
on the point of the shoe lodged upon such loading wheel as the shoe tilts back:
substantially as set forth.
5. In a truck, the supporting wheels provided with devices to permit their
forward and prevent their backward rotation: substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
6. In a truck, the employment of a pivoted shoe and loading wheels which
are provided with devices to permit their forward and prevent their backward
rotation, the shoe being adapted to tilt back toward the frame: substantially as
set forth.
7. In a truck, the employment of a wheel in position to receive the load
and not rest on the floor when the truck is in load-receiving position, and the
supporting wheels provided with devices to permit their forward and prevent their
backward rotation.
8. In a truck, the employment of a wheel which is in position to receive the
load and not rest on the roller when the truck is in load-receiving position, said
loading wheels and supporting wheels being provided with devices which permit
then respectively to rotate only in one direction, the permitted direction or
rotation of the leading wheels being opposite that of the supporting wheels:
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
9. In a truck, in combination with the frame and its wheels, the wheel or
roller E having its bearings supported on the frame, and pawl and ratchet
mechanism connected with said roller adapted when engaged to permit the roller
to rotate in one direction only; the shoes pivotally connected to the frame and
adapted to fold back toward the same, and the roller B journalled near the
upper end of the frame and provided with pawl and ratchet mechanism adapted
when engaged to prevent rotation except in the same direction as the roller E:
substantially as set forth.
10. In a truck, in combination with a longitudinal rod, the dog having the sleeve
hung loosely and adapted to slide on the rod and provided with a spur or claw at
its free end: substantially as set forth.
11. The combination with a suitable frame, provided with two supporting
wheels, having pawls and ratchets, fixed brackets secured to said frame provided
with a transverse roller having right and left handed ratchets, shoes pivotally
secured to a shaft supporting said trausverse roll, and a transverse roll within the
upper end of said frame provided with a pawl and ratchet, and a rod secured
within said frame provided with a drop spur, all arranged substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
12. The combination with a suitable frame provided with main supporting

page_text: wheels, said wheels having pawls and ratchets permitting rotation in one direction
and an auxiliary frame secured to said main frame provided with a roller having
pawls and ratchets permitting rotary motion in a direction opposite to that of the
main wheels, and pivotal shoes secured within said auxiliary frame, and the drop
spur 16 and the secondary roll provided with suitable ratchets, all substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
13. In a hand truck, the combination of the main frame A, having braces 1, 2,
the main supporting shaft 3, provided with the wheels 4, having pawls and ratchets,
the fixed arms C secured to said frame A, provided with the shaft D, the roller E
mounted upon said shaft and provided with the pawls and ratchets 10, 11, 12
and 13, and the shoes F pivoted upon the shaft D, and adapted to operate
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 1st day of May 1894.
HENRY ORRIS THOMAS.