NEW- INVENTED METHOD FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTS BY A HORSE OR HORSES OR OTHER ANIMALS DRAWING A CARRIAGE OR CARRIAGES
Year: 1802

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
LEWIS, of Lamb's Buildings, in the Parish of Saint Luke, Old Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Looking Glass Manufacturer, do send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third, by His
Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twenty-seventh day of February, in the forty-second year of His
reign, did give and grant unto me, the said John Lewis, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, His special licence, full power, and authority, that I, tho
said John Lewis, my executors, administrators, and assigns, during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called
England, the Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my "NEW-
INVENTED METHOD FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTS BY A HORSE OR HORSES OR OTHER
ANIMALS DRAWING A CARRIAGE OR CARRIAGES;" and in which said Letters Patent
there is contained (amongst other things) a proviso, obliging me, the said John
Lewis, under my hand and seal, to cause a particular description of the nature
of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within one calendar month
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, as in and by
the same (relation being thereunto had) may more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said last-mentioned proviso,
I, the said John Lewis, do hereby declare that my Invention consists, first,

page_text: as to extricating single-horse chaises, chairs, or other carriages, with two, three,
or four wheels, and usually drawn with one horse or any other animal. That
part of the harness from the saddle on the back of the horse to bear up the
shafts, I call the tuggs. These are to have rings of brass or other metal
within the loops sufficient to receive and be fastened by the bolt (A, Figure 1)
(see the explanation of the works hereunder written). The belly band is like-
wise to have a loop at each end, with rings of brass or other metal within
them, and they are to be fastened by the same bolt as the tug. The kicking
strap (if one is used) may be buckled to the traces, or fastened by like rings
of brass or other metal, with similar bolts of a smaller size. To the bolt A,
near the end of the shafts (and which is screwed on or affixed thereto in the
manner in the explanation described), a chain or conductor is fastened, and
led on or under the shaft, and conducted by pullies to the wheel C, and from
thence to the wheel F, in the quadrant E, Fig. 14, where the commanding
chain is fixed. Picces of iron or other metal, four or five inches long, bent in
three squares, with rollers of brass or other metal fixed therein, and made to
fit the shafts, and fastened to the tuggs and belly bands, and a plate of iron
or other metal, fastened to the shafts for the rollers to run on, and a pin or
catch underneath each shaft to prevent the tug going on too far, may be used
as to this part of the works, instead of the bolts and chains, if preferred. The
traces are fastened to the end of the bolt (Fig. 2) in the splintree, and from
these bolts, chains, or conductors are led round pullies in the splintree to a
swivel, where the chains or conductors meet and are affixed, and from thence
are led by a chain or conductor from the center of the swivel to the small
wheel G in the box E; or the traces may be fastened to the splintree by the
bolts A, affixed at each end, and led by chains or conductors along the splintree
by pulleys into the box E. The splintrees to be fixed with a swivel or any
way to prevent them hanging too low. To all two-wheel carriages, I fix a leg
before and behind N, Fig. 12. These legs are affixed to the rails with a hinge
or hinges, and if the rails are not strong enough, they may be strengthened
by putting a piece of iron underneath them, or they may be fixed to small
iron rails; to this iron rail two ears will be fixed for a piu to go through to
form a hinge, Fig. 12. At the bottom of these legs is a wheel O, seven or
eight inches diameter, to prevent the carriago from stopping too suddenly. A
screw R is fastened to the back of these legs near the center, Fig. 12, and
the ratchet Q works upon this screw R, and goes through the eye S, which is
fixed to the axeltree, or elsewhere, to keep it steady. When the legs are let
down, the wheels at the bottom of each will then hang about three inches

page_text: from the ground, if the carriage is level; near the bottom of each of these
legs there is also to be fixed a small piece of iron or any other strong metal P,
sufficient to bear the legs when put up with a hole at the end P, Fig. 12;
these, when the legs are put up, fasten to the tumblers V, Fig. 18. The
catch T being fastened to the carriage (or elsewhere) from the levers (where
the tumblers V are fixed by a hinge, a chain or conductor leads round the
pulley in the upright a, a, Fig. 13, and from thence the chain or conductor W
leads to the wheel F in the box E; this box E, which contains the wheels
F, G, L, I call the quadrant; this quadrant, Fig. 14, is fixed underneath the
carriage (or where else), where all the chains meet. The leading chain from
the pulley K is fastened to the handle M, to be fixed where most convenient,
and by pulling this handle, the bolts are drawn back, the horse or animal
instantly set at liberty, and the legs N immediately drop to support the
carriage from falling. A spring may be fixed at the top of these legs, if
required, which pressing against the carriage will force the legs down the
sooner, remembering that all the chains must be so fixed as for them all to
pull equal together.
I have described the mode of fixing legs to guard against accidents, by the
carriage falling backwards or forwards, as from the present mode of building
them the weight lays much behind, but one or two legs may be used, at the
pleasure of the owner of the carriage. As to all carriages: To prevent acci-
dents, which may happen on going down hill, by the carriages pressing on the
horses, and on going up hill to prevent carriages from running back, as well
as to guard against the pressure upon the machinery, ratchett wheels X arc to
be fixed to the box or nave of the wheels, by which they may be locked or
unlocked at pleasure, without the necessity of alighting, Fig. 15. The chain
or conductor from the leaver which locks and unlocks them is led into the
carriage or to the driver, as is also the other chain or conductor, which fastens
the mandel when the wheels are unlocked, but if they cannot go immediately
to the desired place, they must be conducted round small wheels, where they
may be fixed, and the wheels may be locked or unlocked by pulling them.
Secondly, as to liberating horses or other animals from carriages com-
monly called curricles.-As to the pole, Fig. 9: The chain or harness from
the collar to the end of the pole is so constructed as to slip off or out upon the
horses being disengaged from the carriage, and pushing forward by a spring
No. 7 fastened to the end at the side of the pole in a loop, and the loop in the
chain or harness must be big enough to slip out or off the spring. As carriages
of this description are suspended by the pole when in motion, the bolt A,

page_text: already described or mentioned, is to be fixed to the pole near the center, Fig. 9,
which bolt must be made stronger to fasten the harness, or round robbin
(which must have a loop or ring of brass or other metal within it), and the
chain or conductor affixed to such bolt must be led along the pole, Fig. 9,
immediately to either the wheel F or G in the box E, and be fastened thereto.
If the chain or conductor is fixed to the wheel G, the round robbin must
be made narrower. The traces are to be fastened to the splintrees with
the same kind of bolts as before described with respect to single-horse
chaises, &c., and the chains or conductors are to be led in the same manner
as before observed to the swivel, and from thence round the pulley or wheel C,
at the end of the bar to the other pulley or wheel C, near the center, where
the two chains or conductors meet in one, Fig. 9. The wheels of this carriage
may be also locked or unlocked, and the legs, &c. be applied to it in the samic
manner as before is mentioned with respect to the single-horse chaise.
Third, as to all four or more wheeled carriages having two or more horses.
The horses are fastened from the collar to the end of the pole by the spring No.
7, as before mentioned, to the pole of the curricle, and the traces as at Fig. 10
are fastened to the rail by the bolt No. 4, and the chain or conductor from the
bolt at the end of the rail is brought along the rail, round the pulley or wheel
C near the center, and fastened to the chain or conductor of the bolt near the
pole to join with the chain or conductor from the bolt on the other side, and
conducted to the wheel G in the quadrant, or the harness may be fastened by
one bolt near the pole, Fig. 17. When four horses are put to any carriage,
the hook No. 6 must be fixed at the end of the pole No. 5 by a hinge to fall
down when unbolted, to which the rail, bar, or splintree is to hang by a loop.
The loop must be long enough for the hook to fall through, which hook is to
be bolted by the bolt A. The end of the bolt to be hollow, so as to receive
the end of the hook, Fig. 10. A chain or conductor is conveyed along the
pole to the wheel G in the quadrant, and the commanding chain led to the
driver. The bolts to these carriages must be made of sufficient strength
for their situations, and the chains or conductors from them led any way by
pulleys or wheels most convenient. To every carriage with three, four, or more
wheels the quadrant must be fixed so as to move round with the pole or front
wheels in the center, over the pin that fastens the front wheel or wheels, to
prevent the horses being disengaged by the motion of the pole, and the com-
manding chain must be longer to give liberty for the quadrant to move, and
be conducted round a pulley or pulleys to the driver. The hind wheels of this
carriage may be also locked or unlocked at pleasure, and the chains or conductors

page_text: from the layers must be brought round puneys to the driver, or elsewhere,
and by pulling them the wheel or wheels will be locked or unlocked at
pleasure. The application of this plan must have the co-operation of the driver
by his immediately throwing away the reins. All bolts, wheels, and the other.
apparatus are to bo oiled or greased with animal fat, and the machinery made
of any metal of sufficient strength according to their respective situations; all
the works and machinery as can will be covered. The chains or conductors
will be covered with leather, and the joints of the bolt No. 4 must likewise be
covered with leather, to keep it from the dust.
.EXPLANATION OF THE WORKS BEFORE REFERRED TO.
Note. For the references to the figures, letters, and other particulars, see
the plan hereunto annexed.
The bolt A is made thus,-I take a square piece of steel, brass, or any
other metal of sufficient strength, the end of which is to be made round; a
shoulder must be on the bolt just far enough to give liberty for it to draw in-
and prevent it drawing through the staple. The square piece of steel,
brass, or other metal under the bolt I call the inclining plane, near the end of
which is a shoulder or catch. This lifts up the tumbler or pall, which is fixed
to the bolt by a screw close to the second staple. It falls in a sockett, and is
kept fast by a spring; at the end of the inclining plane is a catch, which being
pulled, the shoulder on the left side lifts up the tumbler, and the catch at the
end clinches in a notch under the bolt, and draws the bolt back. A nob is on
the other side of the inclining plane to draw it forward, and a pin is in the
plate near the last staple, which is fast to the plate to keep it steady. This
bolt slides through the staples which are fast to the plate, and which go.
through the shafts and fasten to an iron plate underneath with nuts and other.
screws. The staple b, b, at the front of the bolt is made to move for the harness.
to slip on the bolt, which staple sinks into the plate and goes through the shafts,
and fastens by a thumb-screw underneath, or it may be made fast to the plate,
in which case the bolt must be shot back to receive the loop or the ring of the.
harness, and tho plato may also be fastened by strops of iron on the shafts, or
otherwise, as most convenient. This bolt must run on rollers within side the
staples when applied to the pole of a curricle; and these bolts may be used
with rollers, when affixed to the shaft or otherwise, to make them pull the
easier. The box E, Fig. 14, which contains the wheels where the commanding
chain is fixed, I call the quadrant, and it is made thus,-I fasten the quadrant
L at the bottom of the box to the large wheel F to give purchase. This.

page_text: quadrant L must be made to the size and according to the purchase wanted,
and the large wheel F of a proper size to draw back the bolts on the shafts.
The small wheel G, to draw back the bolts in or on the splintree (Fig. 2),
is fastened to the large wheel F. The cross bar H is to keep the works
together, and a spindle is to go through the whole. I, I, are plates of brass
or any other metal, to keep the chains or conductors up to their places. A
pulley K is fixed in the box near the end of the quadrant, and a chain, which
I call the commanding chain, fastens to the other end of the quadrant, and is
brought round the pulley K, and when pulled, it will instantly disengage the
horse or horses; the wheel and quadrant to be made of brass or any other
metal of sufficient strength, and kept from going too far round by a pin on
each side. The splintree, Fig. 2, is made thus:-A tube of brass or other
metal is made of a proper size to receive a bolt and spring twisted round it,
and is let into and fixed inside of the splintree; the chain or conductor is
fastened to the bolt, and from the bolt brought round a pulley, likewise fixed
in the splintree, and conducted to a swivel, and from thence led to the
quadrant. The legs N, Fig. 12, are made of ash or any strong wood (the
thickness according to the strength of the wood), with a piece of iron down
the front, and fastened on with screws. A cap of iron or other metal is to go
over cach end of the legs to keep them from splitting, and for the wheel at the
bottom and the pin at the top to work, or legs of iron or other metal may be
used. The screw R belonging to the legs is made with steel or other metal,
and a worm or screw runs near two-thirds down it; the plain end has two iron
ears fixed just wide enough to receive one side of the leg, and to project far
enough over the other side to give liberty for a pin to go through, and screw
it to the leg. The two ears on the other end are to work on the screw close
to the leg, and be fastened in the same manner. The rachett Q, Fig. 16, is
also of iron or other metal, about three-quarters of an inch wide, and three-
eighths of an inch thick, more or less, according to the strength wanted, and
is made long enough to catch at the end upon the axeltree when the legs are
down, but if it cannot run on the axeltree a piece of iron or other metal must
be fixed for it to run on. At the end of the rachett Q, I make a hole with a
worm to work on the screw R; at the other end of this rachett are large teeth
like a saw, and bent round at the end; to provent it from coming out of its
place, the teeth are to catch against the axletree or the piece of iron or other
metal for that purpose; this is to prevent the legs from moving too far back.
The catch T, Fig. 13, is made thus :-I take a piece of iron or other metal
about one inch wide, and of such other dimensions as will be strong enough to

page_text: support the legs when put up; from the center of this piece of iron or other
metal I fix an upright picce with a pulley near the top for a chain or conductor
to go through to the box or quadrant E. The length of each of these pieces
of iron or other metal must be according to the place where they are to be
fixed. The bottom plate must have a hole at each end to let the piece of iron
or other metal P from the leg go through to catch on a tumbler V. A small
piece of iron or other metal, I call a lever, from the hole to the upright piece
on the bottom plate, fastens by a hinge on or near the upright, with a spring
to force it down. At the other end of this leaver I fix a small piece of iron or
other metal, which I call a tumbler, to move up and down on a hinge, so that
when the legs are put up they may catch or fasten themselves, and when pulled
up by the leaver will let the legs instantly falt. This tumbler is prevented from
moving too high or too low by a catch. The two ratchet wheels are made
thus: The wheels are of iron or other metal, and fasten on the box or nave of
the carriago wheels with large teeth like a saw, and fixt on contrary ways at a
little distance from each other, as Fig. 15. I fix an upright piece of iron or
other metal No. 1, to the axletrec, with a holo at the top, which I call a collar,
and a round piece of iron or other metal to come through, which I call the
spindle or mandel Z. On the front of this spindle I fasten two pieces of iron
or other metal, which I call palls or clinks Y, to move up and down, and bent
to catch on the rachet. The other end of the spindle works in a socket fixed
to the axletree or upright piece No. 2, Fig. 15; at the end of this spindle I
fix a catch to prevent it moving by the motion of the carriage, made thus:-
I take a pieco of iron or other metal, two or three inches long, more or less,
and make a hole in the centre to put a pin through in the upright piece to let
the catch move up and down, and to fall in a notch with a spring undernaath
the opposite end to keep it fast, and by pulling the leaver it presses down the
end of the catch, which lifts it out of the notch and gives it liberty to move. To
the same end I fix a piece of iron or other metal like a handle, which I call
the leaver, to fasten the chain and conductor to, and to move it up or down at
the will of the driver, Fig. 15. The bolt No. 4: I take a piece of iron or
other metal of sufficient thickness to sink a socket or hole at one end; near this
hole I fix two uprights, with a piece of strong iron or other metal across, with
a hole the same size as that at the bottom for the bolt to drop through the top
into the bottom; this bolt is to have a hinge near the top, so that when drawn
out of the bottom hole to bend, and the joint must be placed not to go through
the top hole when drawn up, but to give liberty to bend, and the loops in the
traces must be long enough to clear the bolts. At a little distance from the

page_text: upright I fix another a little higher or longer. To this last-mentioned upright
I fasten a leaver with a hinge to fasten to the bolt in like manner, and a
spring underneath this leaver to keep the bolt in its place, see plan No. 4;
this and all the other apparatus to be made as strong as may be required.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Lewis, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of March, in the forty-second year of
the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third, by the grace of God,
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King, Defender
of the Faith, and in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and two
J. CAMPBELL.
Signed, sealed, and delivered in the presence of
BENJ. BATLEY,
IIEN. GELLIBRAND,
Clerks to Mr. Earnshaw,
Redcross Street, Cripplegate.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Twenty-sixth day of March,
in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid John Lewis came before our Lord
the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification aforesaid, and
all and every thing therein contained, in form above written. And also the
Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute in
that case made and provided.