IMPROVEMENTS IN TWO-WHEEL VEHICLES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Walter Friend, of Freemantle, Southampton,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TWO-WHEEL VEHICLES."
Sealed the 28th August 1866, and dated the 3rd March 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Walter Friend
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd March 1866.
I, JOHN WALTER FRIEND, of Freemantle, Southampton, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TWO-WHEEL VEHICLES,"
to be as follows (that is to say):
My Invention has reference to improvements in two-wheel vehicles (such
as dog-carts, business and other spring carts) with the view of equalizing the
draught and weight of the carriage upon the back of the horse, by which an
uniform or self-adjusting balance is obtained and brought into action when
ascending or descending inclines or gradients upon the road, and consists in
mounting the under carriage or framing (to which the body is attached) upon
semi-eliptic side springs secured to the axle with their ends extending
outwards in contact with the lower surface of the under framing, in such
manner that the said ends thereof (fitted with friction rollers) are caused to
work freely within channel bearings cut or formed in the same, and arranged

page_text: so as to expand or slide outwards when actuated by the motion of the carriage,
stud pins working within slide slots on each side of the channel grooves being
also employed for confining the ends of the springs in their position when
reacting upon the friction rollers aforesaid, so that on ascending or descend-
ing an incline the body of the cart may be enabled to glide backwards and
forwards on the ends of the springs to the full extent of the slots, thereby
obtaining "in connection with a draw bar fixed to the centre of the axle and
splinter bar of the carriage, and provided with a screw nut for regulating and
adjusting the balance or set of the cart upon the wheels," an easier and more
agreeable running motion on the road than by the employment of scroll irons
and couplings as at present.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Walter Friend in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd September 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WALTER FRIEND, of Freemantle, Southampton, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent; bearing date the Third day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of. Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Walter Friend, Her special licence that I, the said John Walter
Friend, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Walter Friend, executors, 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN Two-WHEEL. VEHICLES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Walter Friend, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Walter Friend, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described. and ascertained in and by the
following statement and the Drawings therein referred to (that is to say).:-
My Invention has reference.to improvements in two-wheel vehicles (such
as dog-carts, business and other spring carts) with the view of equalizing the
draught and weight of the carriage upon the back of the horse, by which an
uniform and self-adjusting balance is obtained and brought into action when
ascending or descending inclines or gradients upon the road, and consists in
mounting the under carriage or framing (to which the body is attached) upon
semi-eliptic side springs secured to the axle with their ends extending
outwards in contact with the lower surface of the under framing, in such
manner that the said ends thereof (fitted with friction rollers) are caused to
work freely within channel bearings. cut or formed in the same and arranged
so as to expand or slide outwards when actuated by the motion of the carriage,
stud pins working within slide slots on each side of the channel grooves
being also employed for confining the ends of the springs in their reacting
position upon the friction rollers aforesaid, so that on ascending or descending
an incline the body of the cart may be enabled to glide backwards or
forwards, on the ends of the springs to the full extent of the slots, thereby
obtaining in connection with a draw bar fixed to the centre of the axle and
splinter bar of the carriage, and provided with a screw nut for regulating and
adjusting the balance or set of the cart upon the wheels, an easier and more
agreeable running motion on the road than by the employment of scroll irons
and couplings as at present.
And in order that my said Invention may be more fully understood and
readily carried into effect I now proceed to describe the same by the aid of
the accompanying Drawings, reference being had to the letters and figures
thereon marked (that is to say) :-
"
Fig. 1 represents a side view of a dog-cart, partly in section, shewing my
improvements as applied thereto; Fig. 2, top or plan view of the under
framing with the body of the vehicle removed; Fig. 3, a longitudinal vertical
section of the self-adjusting spring taken through the dotted line a, a, Fig. 2;
Fig. 4, underneath view thereof; Fig. 5, sectional side view of the adjusting
screw bar for equalizing the weight of the body upon the axle ; Figs. 6, 7,
and 8, side and end views of the friction channel bearings separately shewn;
and Figs. 9 and 10, top and side views of spring wings and splashers w
shifting panel for adjusting the same to the tyre of the wheel. In each
with

page_text: Figure the same letters of reference denote similar corresponding parts.
A, A, under framing of the carriage; B, B, body of same; C, C, dasher
thereof; D, D, footboard; E, E, inner panel; F, F, hinges to same; G, G,
chains for supporting the footboard; H, H, scroll iron bearings connecting
the body to the framing of the under carriage; J, J, channel bearings
secured to the under carriage in which the spring friction rollers work;
K, K, friction rollers working therein through the slide slots in connection
with the spring L, L, and stud pins K¹; M, M, axle secured to the
springs in the ordinary manner; N, N, adjusting axle bar; 00, screw nut
working in gear with the splinter bar of the carriage for shifting the body of
the vehicle as required; P, P, the wheels; Q, Q, spring wings with sliding
catch Q; R, R, sliding panel for letting down over the wheels, as shewn by
the dotted lines in Fig. 1; S, S, the shafts.
In conclusion to the foregoing description I would here note that upon the
above principle two-wheel vehicles of all denominations may be fitted with
the said improvements in like manner to the above, either wholly or in part,
or employed with such other modifications. as may be found necessary.
And
I would again note that in the application of the said improvements to dog-
carts I construct the splash wings fixed to the body in the ordinary manner
of an open metal framing fitted with a shifting panel sliding upon the outer
framing of the said wing, and secured thereto by a spring catch so as to let
down over the tyre of the wheel to protect the dress whilst stepping in or out
of the vehicle. And I would again further note that in forming the body of
the said dog-cart I employ an additional inner panel to the ordinary footboard
or outer oue, so that upon the said footboard being let down (supported from
chains at the back of the carriage in the usual manner) the said inner one may
be brought up flush to the opening, and thus present the same uniform and
finished appearance as when the back panel is closed, at the same time
enabling any thing to be securely held or placed within the body.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed and carried
into effect, I would have it clearly understood that I do not intend to confine
myself to the precise details herein-before described, as the same may be
otherwise varied without departing from the general principle of this my said
Invention, nor do I claim as new and of my said Invention the exclusive use
of the several parts, combinations, and arrangements thereof except when the
same are employed in and for the purposes of my said Invention; which I
hereby declare to consist in the exclusive right of manufacturing, vending,

page_text: and employing carriage springs fitted with friction rollers so as to work within
channel bearings secured to the under framing of two-wheel vehiches in
connection with a regulating draw bar, and mode of shifting and equalizing
the weight of the carriage or load upon the back of the horse, in the manner
and for the purposes herein-before set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Walter Friend, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
JOHN WALTER FRIEND. (L.S.)
Witness,
R. H. COOKE,
Clerk to Messrs. Weatherdon & Co.,
77, Chancery Lane.