Apparatus for Releasing Horses from Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 10th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1897
Apparatus for Releasing Horses from Vehicles.
I, SIDDI SCHWARZENBERGER, of 38 Im Trutz, Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the
German Empire, Director of Company, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to apparatus for enabling horses or other draught
animals, which have fallen down, to be quickly released from the traces, and differs
from analogous arrangements hitherto used, in that it can be fixed to any part of
the vehicle, or harness, easily and without any special preparation. The apparatus
forms a substitute for the pin or dogs hitherto used, and, when applied in this way,
consists of a frame provided with a tail or stem adapted to be passed through the
part to which it is to be fixed, and fastened by means of a nut.
In applying the apparatus to harness, in place of the hooks and buckles
hitherto used, the ring shaped form hereinafter referred to may advantageously bé
adopted.
When used as a pin or dog, the apparatus comprises essentially a plate pivotted
upon the frame, and adapted to turn over only in one direction. To this plate, a
hollow pin or tubular piece is secured in such a manner that it participates in its
turning motion. Inside this pin there is a spring bolt, which, in closing the
apparatus, snaps into a notch or recess in the frame. A disengaging lever, which
slides against an inclined surface of the hollow pin, is connected with this bolt in
such a manner that when it is turned the bolt is released from the recess and
permits the plate, with the hollow stop pin, to turn over, so that the latter projects
at right angles from the frame. In harnessing, the trace is passed over the
projecting pin, and the apparatus is then closed by pressing on the cover plate, or
the pin. In the ring-shaped apparatus before referred to, the frame is of semi-
circular form, and to one arm thereof the hollow pin is pivotted, while the spring
bolt inside the pin engages in a corresponding opening in the other arm.
release is effected, as in the preceding case, by means of a lever which can be
turned on an inclined surface of the hollow pin.
The
As the trace has a pulling effect ou the hollow pin, the turning of the lever-
i.e. the pulling of the pin out of its recess, is sufficient to release the trace, which
automatically pushes the pin aside and slips off it. The fastening is an extremely
secure one, and the unfastening takes place instantaneously.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Releasing Horses from Vehicles.
1, SIDDI SCHWARZENBERGER, of 38 Im Trutz, Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the
German Empire, Director of Company, 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, reference being
had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say :-
The various arrangements which have hitherto been devised for quickly releasing
horses from vehicles, have not been generally adopted, partly on the ground of
their cost, and partly because their employment necessitated extensive alterations
both to the vehicle and to the harness.
The present apparatus differs from the releasing contrivances hitherto in use, in
that it can be applied, without alteration, to any vehicle, or harness, and can be
used in place of the ordinary draw bolts, buckles, rings, and the like.
Owing to its simple and strong construction, the apparatus is not likely to require
any repairs, but should these be necessary on account of wear, they can be quickly
and easily carried out.
The attachment by means of my apparatus is perfectly secure, while the horses
can be released instantly, even with tightly drawn traces.
In the drawings are shewn two different forms for carrying the invention into
practice. The one (Figs. 1 to 5) is specially designed as a substitute for the draw-
bolts or dogs, hitherto in use, on the splinter bar, and can be readily fixed in position
by a spanner, or other suitable tool. The other (Figs. 6 to 8) takes the place of
the ordinary ring on the horse collar for receiving the supporting strap or chain,
but it can also be applied to the pole of the vehicle.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the first form of apparatus shewing the parts closed,
as when in use.
Fig. 2 is a section taken at right angles to Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a rear view of the same.
Fig. 4 is an underside view in horizontal section of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 1, but with the parts open.
Fig. 6 is a side view of the second form of apparatus, adapted to be applied to
the collar of the harness, or to the pole of the vehicle.
Fig. 7 is a plan, and
Fig. 8 is a section thereof.
Referring to the form shewn in Figs. 1 to 5, this consists of a bow-shaped
frame a having a screw-threaded stem a, by means of which it can be fixed to the
splinter bar of a carriage or other vehicle. b is a cover-plate which is pivotted to
the ends of the arms of the frame a, through two lugs or projections 6 and screw
pins g.
The arms of the frame a are rounded off at the top rear corner so that
the cover-plate b can only be turned backward. To the under side of said plate,
is rigidly secured a tube or hollow pin c which moves with the plate in such a
manner that when said plate is turned back, the lower end of the pin moves
outwards. The connection between the plate 6 and the tube or hollow pin c is
effected by pins passed through holes in a cross-head formed at the upper part
of said pin and through similar holes in lugs cast, or otherwise formed, on the
underside of the plate b. This connection of parts has been adopted so as to
enable the hollow pin c, in the interior of which is the locking mechanism, to be
readily disconnected from the plate b for repairs.
This locking mechanism consists of a bolt d arranged within the tube or hollow
pin c and pressed downwards by a spiral spring e, the bottom end of said bolt

page_text: being cut on an incline somewhat as shewn in Fig. 5. On closing the apparatus,
the bolt snaps into a corresponding notch or recess s in the frame a. To release
the bolt, a lever f, secured on the upper end thereof, is moved sideways and is
thereby caused to rise up an incline on the upper part of the hollow pin c, so
drawing the bolt d, connected with it, out from the notch s. When the lever fis
released the action of the spring e causes it to slide down the said incline into its
lowest position.
When attaching the trace to the apparatus, the lever is turned sidewise and
the plate 6 turned backwards so raising the hollow pin c with its locking bolt d into
the position shewn in Fig. 5. The trace is then slipped over the said hollow pin
and the parts are returned to the normal or closed position, whereby the inclined
end of the bolt d strikes against the edge of the frame a, compresses the spiral
spring e and finally snaps into the notch or recess s. To free the trace, it is only
Decessary to turn the leverf sideways so as to disengage the bolt d from the recess,
when the trace will at once pull the hollow pin forward and slip off.
Referring now to the form of apparatus shewn in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the rear of
the bow-shaped frame is made into a ring so as to enable it to be attached to the
horse's collar, or other desired part of the harness, or to the vehicle, say to the
pole, but obviously any other mode of attachment in place of the ring may be
employed. In one of the arms of the bow or fork a', is arranged the pivot a for
the hollow pin c¹ to work on. The lower part of the bow is likewise provided with
a recess to receive the end of the locking bolt d' which is contained in the
hollow pin c and is acted upon by a spring e' similar to that shewn in the first
form. To open this form of apparatus, a winged lever f, which is connected to
the bolt d' by means of a pin da, is turned a quarter of a revolution, and owing
to the incline at the upper part of the hollow pin c', the said lever, and with it
the bolt, is raised sufficiently to cause the bolt to leave the recess so that the
hollow pin, by being turned on the pivot a', as in Fig. 8, can be raised for inserting
or releasing the trace. To close it, pressure on the più c', or on the lever f¹, is
sufficient to bring the locking bolt into engagement with its notch or recess s².
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improved apparatus for releasing horses from vehicles, having its parts
constructed, arranged, and combined to operate substantially as described with
reference to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings.
. 2. The improved apparatus for releasing horses from vehicles, having its parts
constructed, arranged, and combined to operate substantially as described with
reference to Figs. 6 to 8 of the drawings.
3. My improvements in apparatus for releasing horses from vehicles, substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to the annexed drawings.
Dated this 10th dox of Desember 1906
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 54 Market Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.