IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING CARTS OR VANS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
We, ROBERT WADSWORTH of the Patent Wheel, Axle, and Waggon Works,
Thomas Street Halifax in the County of York, Wheelwright &c. and SELINA
WADSWORTH wife of the said Robert Wadsworth, do hereby declare the nature
of our Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING CARTS OR VANS," to be as
follows:-
Constructing Spring Carts or Vans, so that the weight may be regulated on the
Horses back, simultaneously with the retarding of the Wheels or otherwise.
In carrying out our Improvements we modify what is known as a dumb jack,
four of which are usually fixed to the underside of a Cart or Van-body for coupling
the Springs thereto, to have, instead of just a bolt hole for the purpose of coupling
one of the spring ends thereto, a slot hole of some eight or ten inches long or
thereabouts; and to form runners for two friction pullies in each dumb jack, between
which the ends of the Springs are coupled, those at the hinder end of the Cart or
Van with two bolts, and those at the fore end with a rod, the ends of which pass
through the friction pullies in the Improved Dumb Jacks or runners and the fore
ends of the Springs on each side of the Cart or Van-body.
In the middle of the said cross rod we form a Barrel, the inside of which is screwed
to receive a Screw Pin, said Screw-Pin being fixed in suitable bearings to the
underside of the fore end of the Cart or Van-body, At the fore end of the Screw-
Pin is a Bevel or Mitre Wheel, into which a corresponding Wheel takes, Said
Wheel being key'd on a short shaft or rod which may be mounted in bearings at
the front of the Cart or Van-body, either vertically or horizontally, having at the
outer end a Hand Wheel or Winch Handle.
By turning the said Hand Wheel or Winch Handle the Screw will rotate, and
cause the cross rod described to traverse the Screw, and by so doing the Springs
will run forward on the friction Pullies and runners (the said runners being formed
so that there is little or no friction, the bearing parts of same being entirely round,
and nothing but the Pullies being allowed to touch them), the weight on the
Horses back will thereby be regulated.
When preferred the two improved dumb Jacks or runners intended to be fixed
under the fore end of the Cart or Van may have a Rack formed on each of the
same, and on the before described cross shaft, two Pinion Wheels might be key'd,
to take into the said Racks, in this case the cross shaft would revolve as well as

page_text: the friction Pullies, and the nut through which the Screw Pin would pass, would
form a bearing for the cross-shaft to revolve in, With these additions perfect
uniformity in the drawing forward of the Springs would ensue.
Also when preferred instead of the screw arrangement for bringing the Springs
forward under the Cart or Van-body a Lever arrangement can be applied to work
in the centre of the Cart or Van-body, or to either side of the same.
The means we employ for retarding the Wheels of Spring-Carts and two Wheel'd
Parcel or other Vans, consists in placing instead of the two bolts that couple the
hinder end of the Springs to the friction Pullies, and runners, two Stud Pins which
answer the place of the Bolts, and, on each side of the same we place a rocking Arm,
the upper ends of which are placed on a Stud that is fixed to each side of the Cart
or Van body, either inside or outside as preferred, and to the lower ends of the said
rocking Arms & Brake Shoe of any suitable Material is attached. The said rocking
Arms may be separate from each other or may be coupled together by a cross rod
under the Cart or Van body.
By causing the Cart or Van body to run back on the Springs the Brake Shoes
are brought in contact with the periphery of the Wheels, and the Wheels are thus
retarded.
When preferred instead of the Brake being applied to the back of the Wheels, we
fix on each side of the Cart or Van-body in front of the Wheels, about two thirds
from the bottom of the sides in carts, and about twelve or fifteen inches or there-
abouts from the bottom of the side in Vans, a fixed Brake shoe of any suitable
material, and as the Cart or Van Body are run back on the Springs, the Wheels
come in contact with the said Brake-Shoes, and are thereby retarded.
By fixing the, Brake shoes in the position last described the downward pressure
to the front of the Cart or Van caused by the Wheel coming in contact with the
Brake shoes, is not so great as when fixed lower down to the front of the periphery
of the Wheels.
...
For light Market and Dog Carts we hang the Springs in Scroll irons, working in
Sockets or bearings.
"
Hitherto it has been found difficult in fact almost impracticable, to cause with a
Hand Lever the to and fro motion which the before. inentioned Scroll Irons are
intended to give, and found necessary to work the same with a Screw Pin.
A screw Pin being rather unsightly for the superior kind of Dog Carts, besides
being slow in its action, the same has prevented the above kind of jointed or swing-
ing to and fro scroll irons being generally adopted.
To render the said scroll irons so that they can be easily actuated in their sockets,
by a Hand Lever, to cause a backward and forward movement to the Cart body, to
the upper side of the cross bar or. rod, that couples the two front Scroll irons
together, we weld a Lever in the middle, which when the Bar or Rod is fixed in
its place, projects through the bottom of the fore end of the Cart body, to the end
of this Lever we apply a spiral or other suitable Spring, of suitable strength, the
other end of which is secured to the Cart bottom, and the same is covered or hidden
from view by a small Box.
As the Lever Handle by the side of the Cart, is released from its hold in the
Rack, that is fixed to the Cart side, the said spiral or other spring will, with little
or no manual assistance cause the backward movement of the Cart body, when
necessary, and as the. before mentioned Scroll irons, are only allowed to. move
forward until they stand perpendicularly, very little power will cause the reverse
movement of the Cart body, and the weight of the load on the Cart-body together
with the forward motion of the Horse in the Shafts, will when the Lever is again
released from its hold in the Rack cause the reverse moveinent of the Body, with
little or no Manual assistance.
Two Levers may be welded on the cross bar, before mentioned and two Springs
applied, one on either side of the Cart when preferred.
For retarding the. Wheels in these kind of Carts, we make. the two hinder end.
Scroll irons with: a Arm to stand below the part of same, where the Spring, is

page_text: attached, on the ends of the said Arms we apply Brake shoes of any suitable
Materials, to which may also be applied Tread Plates, in which case the Scroll irons
would act as Brakewings, and also the Steps for the hinder end of the Cart. As
the Body of the Cart is thrown back on the Scroll irons, the said Brake Shoes
come in contact with the periphery of the Wheels and thereby retard the same.
When preferred fixed Brake Shoes may be applied to each side of the Cart body
in front of the Wheels as previously described for Spring Carts.
We, ROBERT WADSWORTH of the Patent Wheel Axle and Waggon Works,
Thomas Street, Halifax in the County of York, Wheelwright &c, and SELINA
WADSWORTH wife of the said Robert Wadsworth do hereby declare the nature of
our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING CARTS OR VANS" and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
Constructing Spring Carts or Vans, so that the weight may be regulated on the
Horses back, simultaneously with the retarding of the Wheels or otherwise.
1
In carrying out our Improvements we modify what is known as a dumb Jack.
four of which are usually fixed to the underside of a Cart or Vanbody for coupling
the Springs thereto; to have instead of just a bolt hole for the purpose of coupling.
one of the Spring Ends thereto, a slot Hole of some Eight or ten inches long or
thereabouts, and to form runners for two Friction Pullies in each Drum Jack,
between which the ends of the Springs are coupled, those at the hinder end of the
Cart or Van with two bolts and those at the fore end with a Rod, the ends of
which pass through the Friction Pullies in the "Improved Dumb Jacks or runners
and the fore end of the Springs, on each side of the Cart or Vanbody.
""
In the middle of the said cross rod we form a barrel the inside of which is
screwed to receive a screw Pin, said Screw Pin being fixed in suitable bearings, to
the under side of the fore end of the Cart or Van body. At the fore end of the
Screw Pin is a Bevel or Mitre Wheel, into which a corresponding Wheel takes, said
Wheel being key'd on a short shaft or Rod which may be mounted in bearings, at
the front of the Cart or Van-body, either vertically or horizontally, having at the
outer end, a Hand wheel or Winch Handle.
By turning the said Hand Wheel or Winch Handle the Screw will rotate, and
cause the cross rod described to traverse the Screw, and by so doing the Springs
will run forward on the friction Pullies and runners (the said runners being formed
so that there is little or no friction, the bearing parts of same being entirely
round, and nothing but the pullies being allowed to touch them) the weight on the
Horses back will thereby be regulated.
:

page_text: When preferred the two Improved dumb Jacks or runner's intended to be fixed
under the fore end of the Carbor Van body, may have a Rack formed on each of
the same, and on the before described cross shaft, two Pinion Wheels might be
key'd, to take into the said Racks, in this case the cross shaft would revolve as
well as the friction pullies, and the Nut through which the Screw would pass;"
would form a bearing for the cross shaft' to revolve in.
..
With these additions' perfect uniformity in the drawing forward of the Springs
would ensue.
Also when preferred instead of the 'Screw arrangement 'for bringing the Springs
forward, under the Cart or Van body a Lever arrangement can be applied to work
in the centre of the front of the Cart or Van body, or to either side of the same.
The means we employ for retarding the Wheels of Spring Carts and two wheel'd
Parcel or other Vans, consist in placing instead of the two bolts that couple the
hinder end of the Springs to the friction Pullies and runners, two Stud Pins which
answer the place of the bolts, and on each side of the same we place a rocking Arın,
the upper ends of which are placed on a Stud, that is fixed to each side of the Cart
or Van body, either inside.or outside as preferred, and to the lower ends of the said
rocking Arms a Brake-Shoe of any suitable Material is attached. The said rocking
Arms may be separate from each other or may be coupled together by a cross-
rod, under the Cart or Van body.
By causing the Cart or Van body to run back on the Springs the Brake Shoes
are brought in contact with the periphery of the Wheels, and the Wheels are thus
retarded.
When preferred instead of the Brake being applied to the back of the Wheels
we fix to each side of the Cart or Van body in front of the Wheels, about two
thirds from the bottom of the sides in Carts, and about twelve or fifteen inches or
thereabouts from the bottom of the sides in Vans, a fixed Brake Shoe of any
suitable material, and as. the Cart or Van-body are run back on the Springs, the
Wheels come in contact with the said Brake Shoes, and are thereby retarded.
By fixing the Brake Shoes in the position last described the downward pressure
to the front of the Cart or Van, caused by the Wheels coming in contact with the
Brake Shoes, is not so great as when fixed lower down to the front of the periphery
of the Wheels.
For light market or Dog Carts, we hang the Springs in Scroll irons, working in
Sockets or bearings.
Hitherto it has been found difficult, in fact almost impracticable, to cause with a
Hand Lever, the to and fro motion, which the before mentioned Scroll irons are
intended to give, and found necessary to work the same with a screw Pin. A Screw
Pin being rather unsightly for the superior kind of Dog Carts, besides being slow
in its action, the same has prevented the above kind of jointed or swinging to and
fro Scroll irons being generally adopted.
To render the said Scroll irons so that they can be easily actuated in their
Sockets by a Hand Lever to cause, a backward & forward movement of the Cart
body, to the upper side of the Cross bar or Rod that couples the two front Scroll
irons together we weld a Lever in the middle, which when the Bar or Rod is fixed
in its place, projects through the bottom of the fore end of the Cart body, to the
end of this Lever we apply a spiral or other suitable spring of suitable strength,
the other end of which is secured to the Cart bottom, and the same is covered or
hidden from view by a small box. As the Lever Handle by the side of the Cart
is released from its bold in the Rack that is fixed to the Cart side, the said Spiral
or other Spring will with little or no manual assistance, cause the backward
movement of the Cart body when necessary, and as the before mentioned Scroll
irons, are only allowed to move forward until they stand perpendicularly, very
little power will cause the reverse movement of the Cart body, and the weight of
the load on the Cart body, together with the forward motion of the Horse in the
-Shafts, will when the Lever is again released from its hold in the Rack, cause the.
reverse movement of the Body, with little or no manual assistance.

page_text: Two Levers may be welded on the Cross bar before mentioned and two Springs
applied, one on either side of the Cart when preferred.
For retarding the Wheels in these kind of Carts, we make the two hinder end.
Scroll irons, with a Arm to stand below the part of same where the Spring is
attached, on the ends of the said Arms, we apply Brake Shoes of any suitable.
materials, to which may also be applied Tread Plates, in which case the Scroll irons
would act as Brake wings, and also the steps for the hinder end of the Cart, As.
the Body of the Cart is thrown back on the Scroll irons, the said Brake Shoes,
come in contact with the periphery of the Wheels, and thereby retard the same.
When preferred Brake Shoes may be applied to each side of the Cart body, in
front of the Wheels, as previously described for Spring Carts.
Fig 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents the arrangement of the Springs,
and their attachments all fit up ready for fixing under a Cart or Van Body according
to our Invention. A is the Springs, B the Axletree, C is the improved Dumb
Jacks or slotted runners, in each of which are two Friction Pullies D, between
which the ends of the Springs are placed and coupled, those at the fore end by a
cross Rod or Shaft E, the ends of which pass through the Friction Pullies D, in the
slotted Runners G, and the eyes of the Springs, A. Those at the hinder end, when
a Brake is not required are coupled with bolts, but when a Brake is required the
stud ends of two Brake Wings F are passed through the Friction pullies in the
hinder end slotted runners. .G, and through the Eyes of the hinder end of the
Springs, A.
In the middle of the Cross Rod or Shaft E a Barrel H is formed, the inside of
which is screwed to receive the Screw Pin J, which has at the foremost end a Bevel
or Mitre wheel K, into which a corresponding wheel L takes, said wheel being
key'd on a Short Shaft or Rod N, which may be mounted in bearings at the front
of the Cart, or Van body either vertically or horizontally, having at the outer or
upper end a Hand Wheel or Winch Handle N.
Fig 2 represents a Van fitted with the before described arrangement, and by
turning the Winch Handle N the Screw J will rotate, and cause the Cross Rod E
to traverse the Screw, by so doing the Springs A will be drawn forward, and the
weight thereby be couterbalanced over the Axle. When provided with the Brake
wings F before mentioned which would be coupled by their upper ends to a Rack
on the Van sides, As the Springs are drawn forward the Brake Blocks O come in
contact with the periphery of the Wheels, and thereby retard the same.
Fig 3 represents our arrangement for light Spring Market or Dog Carts, all
complete ready for fixing to a Body. A is the Axletree, B the Springs, CC the
Jointed Scroll irons, the front ditto having the Lever D welded on in the middle, to
which a Spiral Spring E is connected when the arrangement is fixed to a Cart.
The hind Scroll irons C are made with a Arm to stand below the part of same
where the Spring is attached, on the ends of the said Arms. Brake Shoes of any
suitable Material are applied, and to which also are applied Tread Plates.
The hind Scroll irons being thus made to answer as the Scrolls for the Springs,
Wings for the Brake, and Steps for the hind end of the Cart.
Fig 4 represents a light Cart, having the previously described arrangement
applied thereto.
As the Lever Handle R by the side of the Cart is released from its hold in the
Rack, S that is fixed to the Cart side, the said Spiral or other Spring E will with
little or no manual assistance, cause the backward movement of the Cart body
when necessary and as the before mentioned Scroll irons are only allowed to move
forward, until they stand perpendicularly, very little power will cause the reverse
movement of the Cart body, as the weight of the Load on the Cart body, together
with the forward motion of the Horse in the Shafts, will when the Lever R is
again released from its hold in the Rack S, cause the reverse movement of the
Body with little or no manual assistance. Thus the weight may be regulated on
the Horses back, and the Brake blocks applied to the periphery of the Wheels
simultaneously and by the same arrangement.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1st Attaching the Springs to the Bodies of Spring Carts and Vans, in slotted
runners having two Friction Pullies in each, so that the Bodies will slide with
ease on the Springs when actuated by a Screw or Lever Handle, as and for the
purpose herein before described.
2nd In combination with the use of Slotted Runners with Friction Pullies, for
attaching the Springs to the Body of Spring Carts and Vans as in Claim 1, We
claim the application of the Brake wings as herein before described.
3rd Applying a Lever or Levers, and Spring, or Springs to the upperside of the
hinged Scroll bar, for the fore end of the Springs as herein before described.
4th Applying Brake Wings with Blocks of any suitable Material attached,' and
Tread plates, to the lower ends of hinged Scroll irons, substantially as and for the
purposes herein described.
Dated this month dose of Ontahan 100%