IMPROVEMENTS IN HARNESS SHAFT-TUGS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stephen Edward Davies of Liverpool in the county of
Lancaster for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARNESS SHAFT-TUGS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stephen Edward Davies at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th May 1883.
STEPHEN EDWARD DAVIES of Liverpool in the county of Lancaster
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HARNESS SHAFT TUGS
"
Shaft tugs are usually made of leather. The loops frequently give way and the
wear and tear is heavy.
My invention consists in a metallic shaft tug formed of malleable cast iron or
other like tough metal so arranged as to be superior to a leather one and to last
much longer. The eye or hole for the shaft can be pear shaped or circular but the
lower hemispherical portion upon which the shaft rests is preferably lined with
leather or a replaceable lining of metal rivetted to the metal." The shaft tug loop
can be cast in one with the shaft tug and can be one or several loops close together.
Through this and the buckle the back-band passes.
The buckle is preferably countersunk for the ends of the bolt, which latter
passes through a hole in the metal of the upper end of the shaft tug and through
the eye of the buckle tongue. This latter is placed in a slot cut away from the
metal of the shaft tug. A piece of leather is preferably let into the outside of the
tug where it rubs against the saddle.
When the buckle bolt wears its hole out sufficiently to endanger continuity I
cut away the metal and braze or rivet a bridge piece over the bolt.
In this case
a bolt solid with the buckle can if desired be used and the bridge pieces placed
through it.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Stephen Edward Davies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th November 1883.
STEPHEN EDWARD DAVIES, of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HARNESS SHAFT TUGS
Shaft tugs are usually made of leather. The loops frequently give way and the
wear and tear is heavy.
My invention consists in a metallic shaft tug formed of malleable cast iron or
other like tough metal so arranged as to be superior to a leather one and to last
much longer.
It is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pear-shaped tug, and
Fig. 2 of a circular one in accordance with my invention.
Fig. 3 a modification of the design shown in Fig. 1.
Like letters relate to like parts in both designs.
In these, A. is the metallic body of the tug. B the strap. C buckle. D tongue
of buckle. E pin for buckle. F lining of inlaid leather or composition for shaft.
G projecting guards to hold the leather. H H loops. I piece of leather let in.
The eye or hole for the shaft can be pear-shaped as in Fig. 1, or circular as in
Fig. 2, but the lower portion upon which the shaft rests should be hemispherical,
and is preferably lined with inlaid leather or a replaceable lining of metal or tough
composition rivetted or cemented to the metal as shown at F and having guards at
each end projecting from the metal tugs to the height of the leather to keep it from
working loose and also guards at the sides of a less height.
The shaft tug loop can be cast in one with the shaft tug and can be one or
several loops H H close together. Through this and the buckle the back-band B
shown broken off in the drawing passes. The buckle is preferably countersunk
for the ends of the bolt E which latter passes through a hole in the metal of the
upper end of the shaft tug A and through the eye of the buckle tongue D. This
latter is placed in a slot cut away from the metal of the shaft tug. A piece of
leather is preferably let into the outside of the tug where it rubs against the saddle
as shown at I.
When the buckle-bolt wears its hole out sufficiently to endanger continuity, I
cut away the metal and braze or rivet a bridge piece over the bolt. In this case
a bolt solid with the buckle C can if desired be used and the bridge pieces placed
through it.
Fig. 3 is substantially the same as Fig. 1, but in place of an ordinary buckle I
use a double buckle and bring the strap back again and down between the tug and
the saddle. In this case the inlaid leather I can be dispensed with. The loop H
must be put so far forward as to avoid rubbing against the saddle.
Having now described my invention and the best modes known to me of carrying
it into effect I claim as new and as protected under the letters patent:
1st. The metallic harness shaft tugs manufactured substantially as herein described.
2nd. In combination with metallic harness shaft tugs, the inlaid strips F and I
substantially as and for the purposes herein described.
In witness whereof I the said Stephen Edward Davies have hereunto set my
hand and Seal this twenty fourth day of November in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
STEPHEN EDWARD DAVIES
(S.)