CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEEL CARRIAGES OF EVERY DESCRIPTION
Year: 1809

page_text: RANDOLPH'S SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID.
MEADE RANDOLPH, late of Warwick Court, but now of Featherstono Buildings,
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Merchant, sends greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Sixth day of November,.
in the fiftieth year of His reign, give and grant unto me, the said David
Meade Randolph, my heirs, exors, adñiors, and assigns, His especial licence,
full power and privilege and authority, that I, the said David Meade Ran-
dolph, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, during the term of fourteen years therein
mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Inventions of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEEL CARRIAGES OF EVERY
DESCRIPTION;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso
obliging me, the said David Meade Randolph, by an instrument of writing
under my hand and seal, to cause a particular description of the nature of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same are to be performed, to be
inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within two calendar months.
after the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
relation being thereto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said,
David Meade Randolph, do hereby declare, that my said Inventions and
improvements are particularly described in these presents, and in the several

page_text: drawings, delineations, scales, and sections thereof hereunto annexed, with
sundry references thereto, reserving in all cases whatsoever shall pertain to
my said Inventions and improvements all or any proportionable increase or
diminution of the several scales laid down for a more perfect comprehension
of my Inventions and improvements aforesaid; that is to say :-
For a carriage with four wheels intended for a mail or stage coach, or for
the conveyances of persons and luggage, the Drawing No. 1 will elucidate, viz*:
Figure A represents the profile or side view of a carriage, either for the mail
or other purpose, having two seats within, each accomodating two sitters or
persons face to face, the window Y sliding back horizontally, and furnished
with bolts at the bottom, to secure the door from opening when both aro
shut.
The Drawing No. 2, Figure 18, describes a seat in front nearest the horses,
and step alternately. A represents the pivot on which a spring acts upon the
bolts D, D, bending from the right line to c and c, described by dotted
curved lines, pushing these bolts three inches into an upright frame, common
to the support of the two moieties of the seat in the middle, when the joint
at F is pulled forward to G, whence a clamp projects to fasten the step now
folding up, and resting on the sill of the door, supporting this devision or end
of the seat aforesaid. b, b, are pivots on which the joints c, c, c, c, freely
play, the bolts traverse or pass within long cases or boxes adjusted for their
confinement, allowing lateral motion corresponding with the several levers.
The point F is a stud upon the upper surface of the seat, under which this
machinery performs its purpose, sliding and commanding the whole along the
narrow space alternately to and from G. The sill of the door serves as a
base for stepping that division of this contrivance on when the seat is formed,
and also when the same drops down and unfolds the step, the swell in the
body of the carriage allowing a sufficient projection outside of the sill afore-
said, to guard against contact with any under part of the body, one or two
swivels or transum bolts passing up and down the perpendicular frame before
described, fastened the opposite sides from drawing back, limit and preserve
the seats in their alternate transitions and purposes, as may be understood
by observing H, I, the door hinged towards the horses, see Figure A, No.1, the
width of the step aforesaid being only half that of the seat measured from the
front of it, if otherwise too large. In No. 1, Figure A, the point a is provided
with a hole or joint for attaching a pair of swingle trusts, by which the hind
cattle draw; b, the outside seat, these precisely upon the parallel line passing
through the centre of the axletrees, and being each and severally precisely
of an inclination of three degrees to the plane, descending from the hind to

page_text: the front wheels, upon the intermediate space from A to b; the inside seats
are adjusted so as to preserve the same inclination and parallel pressure
aforesaid; c, d, are projections of the body c, to cover the heads of the out-
side passengers; and d, a platform upon which to rest their feet and those of
the guard, or other person or persons seated at c; the dotted line c to c
exhibiting a curtain of oil'd silk or canvas, or other convenient materials
dropped from c, to defend the passengers aforesaid at 6 from the weather, and
at the same time serving as an apron for those on the seat c, the space
between the two axletrees to be regulated according to the longer or shorter
carriage required, always preserving the inclination of three degrees aforesaid.
f.f, describe springs, whilst G, G, explain the stays to which they are severally
attached, all which being adjusted according to the true inclination of three
degrees aforesaid and the scale belonging to the Figure here described. The
front part of the driver's seat (i) being directly over and perpendicularly upon
the front axletree, which from the wedge form the platform and body, when
the said seat shall contain two or more, the coad is to be adjusted so as
nearly as may be to impose upon the hind axletree two thirds of the bad in
all cases.
h represents a check spring to aid the others, and to limit the
prossulsive effect of all sudden shocks. j is the pole by which the fore cattle
draw, and by which the hind ones hold back in the usual way. K is a lock
by which to fasten the door, also thus rendering it safe from flying open.
The Drawing No. 3, Figure C, exhibits a carriage, whose perch or perches
are shorter (and consequently hind wheels lower, in order to preserve the
three degrees descent forward) than that described in the said Drawing No. 1,
Figure A, as will be found by the scale annexed thereto. This carriage is
designed for one seat only within, to accomodate persons in like manner as a
post chaise; the body here particularly described, in point of form and
appearance, being adopted as well for its novelty, that of an acorn, as to prove
how susceptible the principle is of assuming any other; the door opens in
front, and directly behind the driver's seat, who conveniently opens and shuts
the same; the steps are fixed upon each side of the floor or platform at the
point A, as may be required.
The Drawings No. 4 and No. 5, Figures D and E, and the preceding scales,
shew the form and construction of the platform and carriage part. In No. 4,
Figure D & to b, is the space for the internal length of body, that space
beyond each line a and b aforesaid, behind and forward, serving to shew the
base for the luggage box behind from c to A, under the inside and outsido seats
and floor for the passengers' feet, whilst all that space before the line 6 serves
for the boot solely, as in No. 1, A, or boot and entry floor as in No. 3, c.

page_text: The curved and dotted lines in No. 4, Figure D, marked e, e, shew how the body
may be swelled out as may be required, and tho space between the dotted
right line f and b, shows the front seat within the body and step aforesaid.
The letter G is at the point from which the wheel horses draw as before
described, corresponding with the point A in Drawing No. 1, Figure A. The
letter of this same Figure D, No. 4, shews the position of the guard's or
other seat, if either such be required.
The Drawing No. 5, Figure E, shews the frame or carriage part of such
machine, the relative axletrees and wheels, their proportions being found by
the common scale annexed to Figures A and C, Nos. 1 and 8, the rolling of
different surfaces according to different lengths of axletrees and breadth of
tracks, and the increased ratio of the hind wheels and axletrees. The dotted
lines a, a, in this Figuro E, No. 5, shewing how three perches are formed from
the hind axletree to the bolster, over the fore one when preferred, to the wings
meeting, from the same points behind at the circular slides upon which
the bolster supporting the platform turns, the futchels embracing tho pole in
the usual way as by this said Drawing No. 5, Figure E. In constructing
all waggons and other four wheel carriages, the Drawings Nos. 4 and 5,
Figures D and E, furnish the form and manner of making the frames or
carriage parts with a platform, floor, or base upon which to build tho
required bodies; the dotted circular lines c, c, show the manner of swelling
out or otherwise widening the bodics; and those two other dotted straight
lines in No. 5, E, a, a, show how to form the perches when required; com-
mon waggons, with or without springs, to be made with three perches,
and double bodied and beavier carriages, or carriages for conveying heaviest
coads also, or with one onely and wings, as in No. 5, E, in all cases
rolling different tracts and preserving the wedge form and as far as may be
two thirds of the several loads upon the hind axletree; all such waggons,
coaches, or other four wheel carriages, being drawn in like manner as No. 1,
Figure A, to wit, a triangular tractor jointed at each end of the bolster, rising
to a line with the horse's breast to the point a, or a little below it, as in No. 1,
Figure A; and swingletrees as aforesaid, precisely perpendicularly over the
embrace of the pole by the futchels, thereby providing draft in unison with the
left of the front horses by a pole, or an union of eqt and draft, as set forth
in No. 3, Figure c, at B, more particularly necessary when drawn by a pair of
horses only, or even by a single horse, which is to be done by the use of a pair
of shafts instead of a pole. In constructing a particular kind of waggons and
carts entirely novel, the carriage part of them-i. c., their frames, axletrees,
and wheels, differ nothing from my other principles herein explained as applica-

page_text: blo to carriages of two and four wheels; the bodies, however, rest traverso
longitudinally upon segments of circles whose semidiameter is cleven feet, which
said segments are supported by springs or otherwise bolted to the several axletrees
in the usual way, sufficiently elevated for cocking (in the case of waggons) the
foro wheel one eighth round. These segments are of wood plated with metal,
or of any proper metal solely, divided into three spaces marked a, a, a, as in
the Drawing No. 6, Figure F, in which friction rollers are to roll freely back-
wards and forwards from the two ends thereof, and intermediate stops
marked B, B, in the same Drawing and Figure. But inverted skales or keels
to slide on and within the aforesaid spaces a, a, a, are also adopted as a mode
equally applicable on which to build up the body, and by which means it is
preserved upon a level in ascending and descending hills; the front part, i. c.,
one third of the body, is contracted, as in b, Drawing No. 7, Figuro G, so as to
admit of an axletree shorter than the hind one in full ratio, as by the annexed
scale in No. 6 and 7 allow rolling different surfaces, as by this said Drawing
No. 7, Figure G, more particularly appears, leaving the hind axletree of the
usual length, to be borne by wheels a little dished, as also appears therein,
to roll outside of and wider tracts than the preceeding. The mode of drawing
these waggons is by a pole in the usual way, and swingletrees for a pair of
cattle at the end thereof, from which said end a chain or other lino of trachin,
is passed to the nose or front of this said pair of cattle; to the end of this said
chain or other line of trachin another pair of swingletrees are attached, by
which another pair of cattle draw, thus providing a mode for four of such
cattle to draw from the pole, and which is embraced by futchells extended from
the ends of the front axletree within the wheels, whilst another pair of cattle
draw and back alternately by means of a double pair of shafts described in
Drawing No. 7, Figure G, hung upon the upright segment marked C, in Draw-
ing No. 6, Figure F, which said shafts slide up and down, and are stayed by a
long spring within, sufficiently strong to preserve the point of trachin in what-
ever position it may be placed by the action of the cattle, yielding only to the
same, whether underlatory or laterally, always finding its level when pulled
upon, and the body rolls forward on the convex case, and slipping down when
backing and catching under the several jagged points or teeth c, No. 6,
Figure 5, of the front of this contrivance, as from time to time the operation
of holding back shall require; chains from the end of the poll moreover, in the
usual way, are used to govern the same, and so adjusted as to aid in backing
by the novel mode of the shafts hereby described. No. 9, Figure I., with a
cale thereon affixed, represents a cart with two wholls, formed upon prin-
iples similar to those of the last-mentioned waggon described, Drawing

page_text: No. 6 and 7, Figure F and G, the segment traction iron a being fixed in
the centre of the front part of the body, upon which is hung a pair of
inner shafts for a single beast to draw and back as aforesaid, and to which
other shafts in the common form and also used, leaving them off sufficient
width for the body of the cart to roll down between them. In case such
cart be drawn by more than one beast, swingletrees are to be attached to
the end of the said outer shafts by means of a tractor, marked A, Figuro M,
Drawing No. 10. For the construction of trams and iron railway waggons, the
front wheels of the front carriage must be six inches diameter; the hind ones
adjusted according to length of the body, so as to elevate their centre and form
a line of inclination of three degrees; descending from the hindmost wheel of
the whole series, through their axes and those of the front ones aforesaid.
The first carriage being formed will furnish the rule and ratio for a whole
series; the space between the first and second, and every succeeding tranı or
iron railway waggon is to be fixed, allowing play according to the turnings
in the road; fixed, however, it must be, when every successive carriage must be
found so as to preserve the three degrees inclination from the aftermost and
highest wheels to the lowest in front, which said line passes through every
successive axletrec, and there said axletrees (increased in diameter) being not
less than one eighth of the heights of their respective wheels according to a
rule required to be observed in the adjusting of all axletrees whatever, within
the meaning of these presents, whose bearing in their several boxes of their
respective wheels and length of naves in the clear shall in all cases be equal in
length to such diameter of axle aforesaid, and whose tread, track, or bearing
upon their several roads or planes, over which they may pass, shall be equal
also to the diameter of axletrees hereby fixed at not less than one eighth of the
diameter or heighth of their respective wheels aforesaid. And for the more
perfect understanding of the construction and mode of drawing all such teams
or waggons, referenco is had to the Drawing No. 10, Figure j; the annexed
scale, and a tractor, and swingletree marked a, the rule for adjusting the
diameter of wheels, axletrees, bearing in the box, and tread upon the road
being fixed in manner aforesaid. The said 'improvement in the construction
of all carriage wheels is, among other things, that all shall have an unequal
number of spokes. A further improvement in the wheels of all such
carriages consists in a construction explained and exemplified in Drawings
here referred to, No. 11, 12, and 13; viz, Drawing No. 11, with its an-
nexed scale of 18 inches, represents this said wheel. A is the diameter
of the box,and consequently the (diameter of its axletree, the diameter
of the wheel being three feet, leaves that of the box and axletree one eighth

page_text: of the same, as by scale of eighteen inches annexed. The nave is to
be made of cart-iron as described by the black part marked B, B, including
the box per dotted line; c, c, c, c, c, show sections of the sockets formed
in the casting, with their wedges formed therein, also by the carting which
wedges receive the upper end of the wooden spokes; D, D, D, D, D, D,
represent the same sockets complete at each end of the nave embracing the
spokes aforesaid; E, E, E, E, E, represent sections of the same spokes, as they
are stepped into sockets cut through segments of wooden felloes, till meeting
with cast-iron segments of felloes, also turned upwards, as in Section A, Draw-
ing No. 12, embracing the wooden segments of felloes aforesaid, with their
wedges likewise left in the casting, upon which the foot of the spokes aforesaid
are to be forced. Fig. B, No. 12, shows a cast-iron section, and the form of
the mortice through the wooden segment of the felloes aforesaid, whose ends
meet at that point, and the wedge in the same, upon which the foot of the
spokes are received as aforesaid. Figure 18, No. 12, also exhibits the form
of a hole or mortice made by bringing together two segments of the cast-iron
felloes, end to end, as they are to be united by a wedge bolt passing through
the same, and also through the middle of a wooden segment of the felloes afore-
said, secured by a screw and nut at its end, as will more particularly appear
and be understood by Figuré c, No. 12.
Drawing No. 18 exhibits the form and manner of making the axletree,
which is of wood, or iron, or other metal; if of the latter, that part of the samo
called the ann or bearing within the box, is to be hollow; in either case, a
screw with a proper head is inserted at the end, for the purpose of confining
the wheel on the same, the length of which bearing in the box and the diameter
being equal to one another, and also the tread or bearing upon the road or plane
must be equal to these.
The same Drawing No. 18 shows a reversed view of the sockets in the
cast-iron neve, with the thin wedges aforesaid, into and upon the upper ends of
the wooden spokes aforesaid are to be forced home. These several component
parts of the wheel being nicely made, the ends of the wooden segments of the
felloes meeting between the ends of the cast-iron segments, and in the middle
thereof the mortice aforesaid is cut in a diamond form as by Drawing No. 12,
Fig. B, receiving the foot of the spokes, which, passing through, is forced upon
the wedge aforesaid, or this wedge may be of wrought iron forced through a
suitable space left in the casting of the iron felloe aforesaid. The ends of the
cast iron segments aforesaid meet precisely between the ends of the wooden
segments, and a diamond formed mortice cut through the same, allows the
wedge bolt to pass as in c, No. 12; the spokes are to be cut precisely of equal
lengths, and fitted to their several sockets; when all things being thus fitted

page_text: and completed, the same are placed in their due and respective order or situa-
tion, every nut fitted to their several and equally well finished wedge bolts. The
combination of the whole is effected by gently screwing the whole up together
as far as from the accuracy of the workmanship it may be practible, leaving
the whole to be confirmed and consolidated by lightening the screws from time
to time, according to the workings thereof, till the outer ends of the wedge
bolts are drawn even with the tire or cast-iron segments externally; it being
understood that wheels of all carriages so constructed are to be lighter or
otherwise, according to the different purposes for which such carriages may bo
designed; two wheel carriages for constructing gigs, curricles, and all other
two-wheeled carriages, whether upon springs or otherwise, the principle is thus
explained, see Drawing No. 8, Figure H. A, B, C is a crank hung upon the
firmly fixed angle B, D, E, both made of metal at the point B, freely turning
thereon upon a pivot D, and E shewing the attachment of the angle aforesaid
to the frame (or shafts) from which a pole is projected for curricles or other
two-wheel carriages, with pole only in the usual way; A to F represent stiff
traces made of iron or other metal or wood or inner shafts by which to draw
and back; D, G, are the shafts which support the frame in the usual way; the
black line from G to H support the slings either of a gig or curricle, or other
two wheel carriage, whether by the pole or shafts, the dotted line i to K shew-
ing the form of the pole fastened to the axle in the usual way, the slings in all
cases are furnished with friction rollers to traverse under the aforesaid black
line G to H. A curricle is furnished with a double pair of shafts before de-
scribed for waggons, by which to draw and back, but differently hinged upon a
common spindle turning in and between the holes of two cranks aforesaid, at
the points of each, at A, L; M is of metal (the same length as B, C, and A, C,)
upon which the body hangs by springs as in the said Drawing, No. 8, Fig. H.
The front part of the body hangs upon other joints of the cranks at the end of
springs or otherwise at C. The two points C and M being perfectly level with
tho plane, thus providing a mode of traction from the joint A, and backing, by
which to preserve the seat and floor level in going up and down hills.
Drawing Number 14, Figure K, represents a profile view of "a road scraper
and earth porter," for the several purposes of scraping loose matter, and in
removing the loose earth after having been prepared for the purpose by
ploughing or digging, in both and all similar cases made to collect and carry
off the same, as here described. At the letter a, Figure K, a pair of oxen or
other cattle are hitched, by which the machine is drawn; the lever 6 serves to
command and prevent the edge of the scraper from being stopped or abstructed
in its progress. In Figure L, the same letters, a and b, represent the point of
traction and lever aforesaid. That end of the lever, tongue, or pole projected.

page_text: behind the front axletree is furnished with a hook, as are the two lateral and
diverging lines united at c, passing back of the said first axletree as far as tho
middle or principal lever tongue before described, and are also provided with
hooks which, when the pole at a is lifted up, descend to the bottom of the
scraper to which they are hooked into holes or otherwise, as marked d, d, d, so
that when the pole aforesaid is pulled back to its proper level, the scraper is
lifted up and contains the earth or other matter to be removed; in this opera-
tion the united chain at e slides backwards and forward from a to c, and when
in the act of scraping, these chains are pulled upon at e by a pin being perpen-
dicularly inserted in the hole, and form an angle from c to each side of the
scraper at the holes marked f.f, to which they are severally attached. The
letters g, g, g, represent three friction rollers of an inch diameter, to make the
edge pass more freely over stubborn unevenesses in the road, when scraping up
any liquid or simifluid matter. This said edge for this purpose is contrived to
be fitted on and upon the common edge of the cart iron scraper by means of
long clamps wrought upon a bar into nitches of which the friction rollers are
axled, which said clamps are forced upon the common edge aforesaid, and per-
form their destined purpose the more firmly by the propelling of the whole
machine. The said common edge is otherwise sufficiently sharp for loading
itself in loosened earth by the plow or digging aforesaid. The upper and back
part of the scraper is firmly attached to the hind axletree, upon which, as a
fulcram the the lever b rests, which aids the operation of lifting up the load
before described, which said load is preserved lifted by simply resting a common
handspike upon the tongue lever, across the union angle, and laying the chains
passing near the same points over each end of it, when the load will have been
thus simply collected by one person employed at the lever b, and another
driving the cattle, preserved sufficiently elevated, and ready to be rolled away
and discharged; the floor of which scraper is cast of iron, leaving channels
and holes in the same for the passage of water only, or any other liquid matter.
The wheels and axles of this machine are to bo in the proportion of all other
wheels and axles I have described as my Invention, the height of which I here fix
at four feet; the handspike is described by the letter h, employed to hold up the
load in carrying it off. The sides of the scraper are of wood, raised in like manuer
as any other sides of waggons and carts, taking greater bulk than on their original
construction, mortices being left in the casting, theso sides fit in by tenons, and
are braced by bars across the top of the said sides, one of which passing over
the holes d in Figure L, serve to secure the purpose before described, either
by upright bolts or short chains attached to the several points a, a, a.
I further declare that I make use of the power of the lever and wedge in

page_text: the construction of all artillery carriages, and any others with four wheels;
their wheels and axles, and the wedge form of their frames or carriage parts
are made according to all my preceding directions, in whatsoever particular
they apply. But the powers of the lever and the wedge aforesaid are to bo
understood as applicable in a similar manner to the intent and uses of the same
in Drawing Number 14, Figures K and L, by which to left alternately the first
and hind wheels over extraordinary obstacles, or any uncommon obstructions
over which it is desired to pass them. And as these particular wheels also are
necessarily of equal heighth, both the tongue lever marked a, and that behand
marked b, may be so contrived as to serve for the alternate purposes also of a
pole by which to draw the same carriage backwards, the guns in either case
being bedded in the usual way, whilst the inner and three forked ends of the
said levers are furnished with bars across the same; to press up the gun bed or
piece aforesaid, two upright iron bars on either side of the bed of the gun are
firmly morticed into and fastened to the axletrees passing through corre
spondent mortices in the bed frame aforesaid, which, when keyed down, confine
the same in its common position, but which, when unkeyed, allow the bed to
rise up at the command of the lever at each alternate end of the carriage ad
libitum, and when drawn back as aforesaid, the swingletrees heretofore fixed
on the pole as well for the wheel or leading horses, are removed to the after
lever, the former one serving to guide the carriage by hand, the said lever
serving the purpose of a tiller, whilst the former front wheels produce the same
effect as the rudder of a ship.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Meado Randolph, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of January, One thousand eight
hundred and ten