Improved Means or Apparatus for Adjusting the Weight on the Shafts of Two Wheeled Road Vehicles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 17th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 26th Jan., 1995
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means or Apparatus for Adjusting the Weight on the
Shafts of Two Wheeled Road Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM JOHN BUTLER of Fairlawn, Castle Donington in the County of
Leicester, Surgeon do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide an improved means or apparatus for
readily adjusting the weight on the shafts of two wheeled road vehicles, market
carts and the like without the occupants of the trap having to move every time the
seat or seats are shifted.
In carrying out my said invention I fix a rack on each side of the seat, under-
neath, and close to the sides of the vehicle, the teeth in these racks engage the
teeth of two cogged wheels mounted on a shaft carried in suitable bearings on the
sides of the vehicle, and at one or both sides but preferably on the right hand side
I fix a crank on the said shaft so that it may be operated by the driver of the
vehicle, upon the crank being moved either backwards or forwards the seat is
moved backwards or forwards in like manner, through the medium of the cogged
wheels and rack already mentioned. The crank handle may have a spring in it or
attached to it similar to ordinary brake handles attached to four wheeled vehicles
so that a locking device may be provided for stopping it in any desired position: A
toothed quadrant or the like may be provided to receive a pawl on the said handle
if desired.
It is evident that the handle or crank may be either inside or outside the
vehicle and that I may substitute a chain and lever for the rack and pinion if
desired.
Dated this 16th day of March 1894.
W. SWINDELL,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improved Means or Apparatus for Adjusting the Weight on the
Shafts of Two Wheeled Road Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM JOHN BUTLER of Fairlawn, Castle-Donington in the County of
Leicester, Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to provide an improved means or apparatus for
readily adjusting the weight on the shafts of two wheeled road vehicles, market

page_text: carts and the like when going up or downhill or when taking up or setting down
extra passengers, without the occupants thereof being obliged to move every time
the seat or seats are moved backwards or forwards.
In order that my said invention may be the more readily understood I have
caused to be annexed to this Specification two sheets of drawings which will be
hereinafter referred to, the different figures and letters of reference upon which
will be deemed to form a part of this Specification.
Figure is a side view of part of a trap shewing one application of my
invention.
Figure 2 is an end view of the same, parts of the trap being removed for the
sake of convenience in illustrating..
Figure 3 is an enlarged side view of part of another form of my improved
apparatus or device.
Figure 4 is an end view of the latter.
Figure 5 is a plan on line "a"."" of Figure 4.
In carrying out my said invention I fix a rack A on each side of the seat A¹
underneath and close to the sides B of the vehicle, the teeth in these racks engage
the teeth of two cogged wheels or pinions C. C₁, mounted on a shaft D which upon
one side fits into a slot in a boss or bearing D¹ on the side of the vehicle and may.
be secured in the said slot by any suitable means and is free to revolve therein;
the other end of the shaft is formed square or angular to drop into a square or.
other angular recess E (see Figure 5) in a short spindle F the latter being free to
revolve in a bearing or boss G in the side of the vehicle; on the outer end of this.
spindle the handle or lever H is keyed or otherwise secured and when the end of
the shaft D is dropped or placed in the angular recess E it is kept from coming
ont again by any suitable means such as a bolt, catch or the like; it will be seen
that by thus constructing my improved device the shaft and cog wheels may be
readily removed at any time when not required or when the body of the cart is
required to be used for goods or the like.
Upon the lever or handle H being moved backwards or forwards as shewn upon
Figure 1 the seat is moved backwards or forwards in like manner through the
medium of the cogged wheels or pinions and racks; suitable runners, rollers or
castors being provided, (see Figures 3 & 4), to lighten the labour of operating
the lever. A toothed quadrant or radial or other plate, having radial or other
uotches K in or upon it, is fixed to the side of the vehicle to receive a pawl on the
said handle or lever, or the side of the said handle or lever itself, which may have
aby suitable device for locking it in any desired position, such as a spring L
attached to it, or the handle or lever itself may constitute the spring to keep it in
contact with the teeth or notches K, similar to ordinary brake handles attached to
four wheeled vehicles, so that a locking device may be provided for stopping the
said lever or handle in any desired position.
It is evident that the handle or lever and racks may be either inside or outside
the vehicle, and the former may be attached to the shaft D in any convenient
position.
I may substitute a wire, cord, chain or chains, or the like M, M', to pass round
a drum or drums or grooved pulleys N, and be attached to the seat in any suitable
manner, instead of the racks and pinions, for operating the seat, (see Figures 1 & 2,)
one chain, wire or the like on each pulley being let out while the other moves the
seat in the direction required, and vice versa.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
:
1. The improved means or apparatus for adjusting the weight on the shafts of
two wheeled road vehicles consisting of racks A, pinions C, C on a shaft D
operated by means of a lever or handle H to be adapted and locked in any desired
position, substantially as described and illustrated.

page_text: 2. The improved means or apparatus for adjusting the weight on the shafts of
two wheeled road vehicles consisting of drums or grooved pulleys or the like N
with wires, cords, chains or the like M, M¹, the said pulleys or the like being
mounted upon a shaft D, the latter being operated by a handle or lever H to
be adapted and locked in any desired position, substantially as described and
illustrated.
Dated this 15th dox of December 1904
W. SWINDELL,
Agent for the Applicant.