AN APPARATUS OR CONTRIVANCE FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTS IN CARRIAGES, GIGS, AND OTHER VEHICLES, BY INSTANTLY AND EPPECTUALLY LIBERATING HORSES AND OTHER ANIMALS FROM THE SAME WHEN IN DANGER, OR OTHERWISE, AND FOR LOCKING AND SECURING THE WHEELS THEREOF IN CASES OF DANGER, EMERGENCY, OR OTHERWISE
Year: 1830

page_text: TO ALL
THEDE
WILLIAMS, of Holywell, Surgeon, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most excellent Majesty King William the Fourth
by His Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Seventh day of September, in the first year of His
reign, did, for himself, his heirs, and successors give and grant unto me, the
said Peter Williams, His especial licence, sole privilege and authority, that
I, the said Peter Williams, my exors, adññiors, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Peter Williams, my exors, adñiors, or assigns should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the
term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
my Invention of "AN APPARATUS OR CONTRIVANCE FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTS IN
CARRIAGES, GIGS, AND OTHER VEHICLES, BY INSTANTLY AND EPPECTUALLY LIBERATING
HORSES AND OTHER ANIMALS FROM THE SAME WHEN IN DANGER, OR OTHERWISE,
AND FOR LOCKING AND SECURING THE WHEELS THEREOF IN CASES OF DANGER,
EMERGENCY, OR OTHERWISE;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a pro-
viso, that I, the said Peter Williams, shall 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 said Majesty's High Court of Chancery

page_text: within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Peter Williams, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, is particularly described and
ascertained by the following description thereof, reference being had to the
Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say-
References to Figures.-Fig. 1 shews an elevation of the apparatus for
locking the wheels of carriages as applied to the nave of the wheel. A, the
screw lever or rod; B, the upper clip or band; C, the lower clip; D, the
swivel nut working in the cheek of B; E, the hoop fixed on the nave of the
wheel; F, the axle; a, the hole or socket in the lower clip, thro' which goes the
screw lever or rod; b, the hole for the fulcrum, which is fixed on the axle; c,
another fulcrum which connects both clips and forms a joint; d, a collar fixed
on the rod or lever to prevent the clips from opening wider; f, the worm or
screw; g, the nut fixed on the end of the rod or lever. Fig. 2 is a front view
of Fig. 1; G, a box of sheet iron or sheet copper brazed or otherwise fastened
to the swivel nut intended for to prevent dirt, &c. getting to the screw or
worm, with a cap fastened to it in the same manner; D, the swivel nut; e c,
screws to attach the swivel nut to the cheek of the upper clip. Fig. 3 shews
a plan of the same. Fig. 4, elevation of the lower clip. Fig. 5, plan of the lower
clip; Fig. 6, front view of do. Fig. 7, plan of the upper clip. Fig. 8,
elevation of do. Fig. 9, the back lock to prevent the vehicle from being backed
in any dangerous situation or otherwise. A, the axle; B, the nave; C, the hoop
with three rack teeth forged solid, with the hoop (more may be added if thought
necessary); D, the clip or catch with a loop fixed thercon to attach a strap
to drop down upon the rack hoop C; E, the fulcrum fixed on the axle as near
as possible to the nave. Fig. 10, shews another plan of locking carriage
wheels, and represents it open or unlocked; A, the leaver; B, the upper clip;
C, the lower do.; D, the connecting link. Fig. 11 shews the same when
closed or locked.
References to the apparatus for disengaging horses from pole carriages.
Fig. 12 is the plan; A, A, A, A, A, is the frame or bars, &c. on which
is fixed the apparatus; B, the revolving rod working in and secured by the
supporters a, a, a, a; b, b, b, b, anchor heads which draw out the bolts or
pins from the plates c, c, c, c, which are fixed on the frame by means of
screw pins and nuts; e, rollers fixed on the frame a for the passage of the rein

page_text: which is fixed to the lever or handle of the rod B. Fig. 13 is an elevation of
Fig. 12; d, the tongue; e, c, the rollers. Fig. 14 is a front view of the same;
a, a, a, a, the supporters; b, b, b, b, the anchor heads; d, d, d, d, shews the
tongues, within which are placed the links to which the traces are fixed by
means of spring hooks or other means. Fig. 15 is a side view of the supporters;
Fig. 16 is a front view of do. Fig. 17 shews the bolt or pin and anchor
head, which is rivetted or connected to the revolving rod. Fig. 18 is the cleva-
tion of the link in its place, but with the tongue or socket open; Fig. 19 is a
plan of the same; Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the link. Fig. 21 is a plan
of the pole crab, with the straps attached, and to be fixed to the hames of the
collars; Fig 22, an elevation of the same. Fig. 23, elevation of the anchor head
and bolt or pin as fixed at the end of the pole, shewing also a peg or stud
rivetted or otherwise fastened, on which is fixed the pole crab. Fig. 24 is a
plan of the link to be fixed on the peg or stud at the end of the pole, as shewn
in Fig. 23; in front of the pole crab A, is an elevation of the same. B is a
front view of the bottom of the link, shewing the hole to fix it on the peg, as
described before in Fig. 23. a shews the round link to which arc to be
attached the bars for the leaders; instead of using the rein to liberate the
levers, the methods described in Figures. 40 and 41 may be substituted.
References to the apparatus for disengaging single horses from shaft car-
riages. Figure 25 is an elevation of the apparatus. A, the frame which may
be so made as to be secured, as mentioned in Figure 35; B, the leather which is
fastened to the frame, and is secured to the shafts by means of studs or buttons,
and also buckles and straps; C, is the box or casing; D, is a bolt, to the point
or end of which is rivetted a small spring upon the upper part, of about one inch
and a half long, with a shoulder at the end of it to catch at the end of the slot
or mortice in the socket, and is for the purpose of counteracting the force of
of the spring G, and to keep it as represented in Figure 27; E is the lever,
with a loop for the rein, and a guide to prevent the spring from being thrown
off, or to keep it in its place; F is the connecting joint between the lever and
bolt, and which assists in giving the requisite movement to the lever; G is the
spring rivetted or otherwise fastened to the frame A to prevent the bolt from
moving back accidentally; H is the socket for the bolt to move in, in which
is a slot or mortice, with a small stud in the bolt to keep it in its place; I is
the tongue (jointed to the bottom part of the frame), the end of which goes
into a mortice at K, and has itself a mortice, as seen in Figure 28, to receive
the end of the bolt D; K is the upper part of the frame, jointed as seen to
the top part of the frame, and to which is brazed or fastened the sockets C
and H. Figure 26 shews a plan of the same. Figure 27 shews the apparatus

page_text: when open, for the purpose of being fixed in the tug or backband. Figure 28
is a plan of the tongue, as mentioned in Figure 25.
References to another apparatus for disengaging single horses from shaft
carriages. Figure 29 is an elevation of the apparatus; A is the frame; Bis
the leather to attach the apparatus to the shaft, as seen and described in
Figure 25, or secured as explained in Figure 35; C is a box casing made of cop-
per or sheet iron, and brazed or otherwise fastened, as described in Figure 25, or
may be made solid with any hard wood, and rivetted to the frame; D, pin or
bolt connected by two links, or by one link with female joint at each end, to
the lever E; E, the lever jointed, at the top and back part of the frame, with a
loop at the upper end to fix a rein; F, the link or links alluded to at D; G, a
tongue and socket to receive the pin D, which may have a small spring
attached, by means of rivet or otherwise, to tighten it in the socket. Figure 30
is the tug or back band, to which is connected the trace, the breechband, and
the bellyband. Fig. 31 is a supporter, which is intended to prevent the shafts
(in a gig) from coming in contact with the ground when the horse is liberated;
A is the upper part which is fixed, by means of screw pins, into the bottom
part of the body of the gig, and secured by nuts; B is the lower part,
branching into two checks F, F, in which are fixed two rollers G, G, fastened by
pins and nuts, or cottrels, or otherwise; C is a coupling box, which falls down
over the joint E, and rests on the shoulder D; the joint E enables the lower
part to be suspended by means of straps or chains attached to the loops at F, F,
or in any other part, and dropt when occasion may require; rollers may also
be fixed in the ends of the shafts to enable them to bear the shock the better
should they fall to the ground.
References to the slipper or drag.-Figure 32 is a plan of the slipper as
fixed on the axle; A is the axle; B, B, the fulcrums; C, C, the arms con-
nected with the slipper or drag. Figure 33 is an elevation of the same;
D, the slipper or drag. Figure 34 is a front view of the same; D, the
slipper. Figure 35 shews another method of disengaging single horses
from shaft carriages by means of connecting rods instead of reins. A, the
frame; B, B, the shafts of the gig or other vehicle; C, C, the connecting
rods; D, the box or slide; E, the lever; F, the anchor head and pin or
bolt; G, the tongue; H, the revolving or connecting rod; 1, the step, in
which works the revolving rod. Figure 36, a plan of the same; Figure 37,
view of the frame A on a larger scale. Figure 38, elevation of the tongue G;
Figure 39, front view of the same. Figure 40 shews a method of disengaging
the leaders from pole carriages by means of rod, et cetera, instead of reins;
A, the pole; B, the handle or lever; C, the rod; D, another lever, which con-

page_text: B and D, suppported by and working in the supporters G, G, which are fixed
through the pole and secured by screws and nuts. Figure 41 is the other
method, in which the rod C is placed at a greater distance from the upper
surface of the pole, and is jointed to the lever B and the connecting links,
which are jointed, as seen at a, a, to the supporters G, G (of which more or
less may be used), and fixed to the pole, as described in Fig. 40.
REMARKS ON THE REFERENCES.
It may not be unnecessary to observe that the apparatus should be made of
the best and toughest iron. The length of the clips will be determined accord-
ing to the size and diameter of the nave, their breadth and thickness according
to the strength and weight of the vehicle, &c. If it should not be thought
necessary to use the swivel nut D, the socket a may be made somewhat oblong
or sufficiently large to admit of the movement of the rod or screw lever, for
which purpose the swivel nut is principally intended; the hole 6 should also
be made somewhat oblong to admit of the lower clip to rise and press against
the hoop on the nave; the fulcrum being fixed and immoveable, therefore,
may do away with the necessity of a joint near to the clip. In gigs or light
two-wheel vehicles it is probable that the upper clip alone would be found
sufficient either to lock the wheel or merely retail its revolution; in that case
a fulcrum fixed on the axle, with a socket attached to it similar to the one
represented at a in the lower clip in Figure 1, in which socket the screw lever
or rod is worked. and thereby forcing the clip downward on the nave. The
fulcrums, it is obvious, should be fixed as near as possible to the nave, so that
they may be the moro firm and steady, and fastened by clips and cottrells or
by glands and nuts, or otherwise. The length of the rod or lever and its
position will be determined according to the size, form, &c. of the vehicle,
and, to keep it steady, a stay or guide with a socket may be fixed from any
immoveable part of the vehicle for it to work in; the thread or screw may be
made either of single, double, or more threads, and of the wedge form or
square, according to circumstances. It may be necessary to make the hoop
with ribs, as described in Figure 9, to secure it from turning on the nave;
it may also be made with rims or sides, so that the clips or bands may be
kept steady in their place, and might assist in giving increased power and
friction; but it would be necessary in that case that the wheel should be
perfectly true in its revolution on the axle. Figure 12:-The great variety
and diversity of construction in carriages will not enable a particular descrip-

page_text: tion to be made of the form and length, &c. of the lever or handle in the
revolving rod; a strap, however, may be fixed to it, and brought to hand at any
convenient part, either by the assistance of rollers or otherwise. Figure 25
would seem better calculated for phaetons or shaft carriages with four
wheels; and the spring G may be used or not. The frame A may be made
similar to that of Figure 37, which is secured to the shaft by means of pins
and nuts instead of the leather band or straps. The method, described in
Figure 40 to disengage the horse by the rod, &c. instead of reins, may here
be applied if the shafts would admit; as well also Figure 41. Fig. 29:-The
frame A, in this Figure, also may be constructed in the bottom part of it,
like that mentioned above and seen in Figure 37, instead of the leather
fastenings B; and the application of both methods seen in Figure 40
and 41 may here also be made with the rod, &c. instead of using reins, by
fixing and connecting the lever D and link E, Figure 40, to a suitable part
of the lever E, or by applying the rod C, Figure 41, with its connections
to the lever E. Figure 31-If the supporter here should be used, the
straps or any other connection being fastened, as described in the reference,
may be brought by the aid of rollers through the bottom of the body of the
gig, and there secured. Figure 32:-The slipper is not intended to drag under
the wheel, but the arms are made of a sufficient length to enable the slipper to
fall on the lower part of the front and circumference of the wheel, by which its
revolution is retarded and locked; the outer fulcrum is fixed on the axle by
means of an eye and slot or mortice in it, through which the linch pin passes.
Figure 33 A strap or chain may be attached to the loop at the arm or slipper
and brought to hand and suspended at any convenient part of the carriage.
Figure 35 The frame, as seen, is something similar to that of Figure 29,
but fixed to the shaft by means of serew pins and nuts in the front and
behind, as more plainly seen in the larger scale, Figure 37, the tongue being
connected with the rod by a joint. The revolving rod H connects both rods
on either or both sides, and worked by the lever E. The application of the
tugs or backbands will be the same as in Figure 29, and also Figure 25.
Figure 40: This method is for the purpose of placing the rod C closer to the
upper surface of the pole, and shews that when the lever B is pulled backward
the rod C is forced forward, and by its action on the lever D and anchor head
forces the bolt out of the tongue. Fig. 41 is the other method, in which the
rod C is placed at a greater distance from the upper surface of the pole, and is
jointed to the lever B, and the connecting links jointed, as seen at a, a, to the
supporters G, G, of which more or less may be used and fixed to the pole, as

page_text: described in Figure 40. The motion of the rod in this plan is reverse to the
former, and as the lever B is pulled backward, the rod and its connection
follows and forces out the bolt.
Having now described the various parts which constitute my Invention, and
the manner of combining and using the same, I would have it understood that
I lay no claim to those parts which may have heretofore been known and in
use, nor do I claim any of the parts separately; but what I claim as my
Invention is the combining the various parts herein and set forth, and applying
them so combined to the purposes and in the manner above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Williams, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of March One thousand eight hundred
and thirty-one.