IMPROVED MEANS FOR ATTACHING DRAUGHT ANIMALS TO CARRIAGES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Ambroso Brydges, of the Firm of Brydges
& Co., Engineers and Patent Agents, of No. 32, Belle Alliance Strasse,
Berlin, in the Empire of Germany, for an Invention of "IMPROVED MEANS
FOR ATTACHING DRAUGHT ANIMALS TO CARRIAGES." A communication by
Potthoff and Golf, of Berlin, in the Empire of Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Ambrose Brydges
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th February 1880.
EDWIN AMBROSE BRYDGES, of the Firm of Brydges & Co., Engineers and
Patent Agents, of No. 32, Belle Alliance Strasse, Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany. IMPROVED MEANS FOR ATTACHING DRAUGHT ANIMALS TO CARRIAGES."
[A communication by Potthoff' and Golf, of Berlin, in the Empire of Germany.]
"
The object of this Invention is so to attach draught animals to carriages
that great facilities will be provided for detaching them therefrom in case of
accident.
The Invention applies both to single and pair horse carriages, and to shafts,
poles, and whippletrees, or their equivalent.
In adapting the Invention to a draught pole, for example, a metal cap piece is
fitted to the forward end of the pole, and made fast thereto by transverse screws or
their equivalent.
This cap piece is formed with a pair of lugs at its opposite sides, between which
are pivotted hooks for connecting with the coupling chains attached to the hames
of the horse collar.
These hooks are pivotted at their forward ends, and their rear ends lie in recesses
formed in a thickened portion of the cap piece.
To keep the hooks closed a sliding ring or collar is provided, which ring receives
a tendency to move forward by means of a helical spring contained in an annular
recess formed in the ring, and having for its abutting piece a ring or collar affixed
to the pole immediately in rear of the sliding ring.

page_text: In adapting this attachment to whippletrees, the cap pieces are formed each
with one pair of lugs only to receive one hook, which is held in place by a sliding
ring or collar as before explained.
The same remark applies to the adaptation of the attachment to shafts, but in
this case sleeves are employed in place of cap pieces for carrying the lugs to which
the coupling hooks are pivotted.
As a modification it is proposed to cut an inclined groove in the rear end of
the sleeve or cap piece to receive a pin which projects inwards from the sliding
ring. By turning this ring it may be slidden forward to hold fast the hook or
hooks, or move backwards to release the same.
To prevent its working loose a spring bolt may be provided for locking the ring
in position.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edwin Ambrose Brydges in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 12th
August 1880.
EDWIN AMBROSE BRYDGES, of the Firm of Brydges & Co., Engineers and
Patent Agents, of No. 32, Belle Alliance Strasse, Berlin, in the Empiro of
Germany. "LMPROVED MEANS FOR ATTACHING DRAUGHT ANIMALS TO CARRIAGES."
A communication by Potthoff and Golf, of Berlin, in the Empire of Germany.
The object of this Invention is so to attach draught animals to carriages
that great facilities will be provided for detaching them therefrom in case of
accident.
The Invention applies both to single and pair horse carriages, and to shafts,
pole, and whippletrees, or their equivalent, and consists of a cap piece or sleeve
which is fitted to the shafts, pole, or whippletree, and carries a hook or hooks to
which the trace or breast chain is attached.
These hooks are pivotted at their forward ends, and their rear ends lie in recesses
formed in a thickened portion of the cap piece or sleeve, and to keep the hooks
closed a sliding ring or collar which catches over the rear end is provided.
I will first describe the Invention as applied to the pole of a two-horse carriage.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 shews in side elevation the improved
attachment applied to a pole; Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the same, partly in
section, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 1, 2, of Figures 1 and 2.
A is the pole; B is the cap which is attached to the extremnity of the pole A.
This cap B is cast of malleable iron, bronze, brass, or other suitable inctal, and is
attached to the pole by screws, or in any other suitable manner.
D, D, are lugs projecting froin and cast in one piece with the cap B, and between
cach pair of these lugs D a hook E is pivotted. These hooks E are pivotted at
their forward ends, whilst their opposite ends lie in grooves or recesses Ġ formed in
the cap B.
The rear ends of the hooks are further so formed that the outer edge of their
extreme point or points will fit into the groove or recess G flush with the circular
surface of the cap B, and at the same time form a stop for a ring H, which holds
the said hooks in firm contact with the cap A.
The ring H is formed of bronze, iron, or other suitable metal, and fits around
the rear end of the cap B and over the ends of the hooks E, so as to prevent the
hooks from being opened. The ring H is recessed internally to receive a helical
spring J. This spring is held in position by the ring L, which fits under the rear
end of the ring H and forms a bearing for the spring J. This ring is attached
to the pole by the screws K. The cap Binay be further provided with projections
or lugs M, between which the ends of the looks E, E, are held so as to prevent
the hooks from moving laterally in the groove G, and to give greater strength to
the hooks.
When it is desired to free the hooks E it will only be necessary to push back
the ring II, and compress the helical spring J, when the hooks will be free to turn on
their pivots F and open, and the breast straps or chains can thus be instantaneously
released from the pole; Fig. 4 shows a modification of the arrangements. In this
case the spring J is omitted, and an inclined groove or slot R is formed in the
lower ring L, or in the rear end of the cap B.
A stop or pin P is screwed through the ring H, so as to fit into the said inclined
groove or slot R in the ring L or cap B.
A spring catch O is arranged within the ring H, so as to prevent the same from
being turned when not desired. To free the hooks E, E, according to this
modification it will be necessary to press on the button or knob N, so as to force or
press back the catch O when the ring H can be turned. The stop or pin P moves

page_text: in the inclined groove or slot R, and thus the ring H will be caused to uncover
the rear points of the hooks E, and leave them free to open; Fig. 5 shews the
improved attachment as adapted to the shafts of a single horse carriage. In this
case sleeves are used in the place of the cap piece, and each slcove carries one
hook only; Fig. 6 shews the Invention as applied to whippletrees
arrangement the cap pieces are formed each with one pair of lugs only to receive
one hook.
In this
Having now described the nature of this Invention of "Improved Means for
Attaching Draught Animals to Carriages," and explained the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to confine
myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated in the Drawings, as
the same may be varied without departing from the principle of the Invention,
but I claim,
The means, substantially as herein shewn and described, for attaching draught
animals to carriages, whereby in case of necessity the animal may be readily released
therefrom as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Ambroso Brydges, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witnesses,
OTTO ANSPACIT.
MAX NESSELRODE.
EDWIN A. BRYDGES. (L..S.)