Improvements in Two-wheeled Vehicles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left. 24th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Two-wheeled Vehicles.
I, EDWARD STEWARD ANNISON, of 34 Witham, Hull, Yorkshire, Coach Builder,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to certain improvements in two-wheeled vehicles specially
of the kind now used for the conveyance of milk and known as "floats."
For the purpose of my invention, I fasten the shafts under the frame of body at
the inside of the sole and give them a good top bend. I employ a crank or bent
axle with plenty of dip in order to fit high wheels and at the same time leave the
inside of body clear of any obstructions.
The axle has the grasshopper or other side springs arranged well under the body,
with the front ends affixed to eyes at the front end of side soles but the rear ends
are connected to a back transverse spring, the centre of which is affixed to an iron
depending from the body and of sufficient curvature for the "sett" of the body.
By this invention, the shaft motion by the horse is absorbed by the springs and
is not imparted to the body, consequently the vehicle runs without vibration and
oscillation, it is almost noiseless and does not agitate the milk.
The cart is well balanced and of light draught and from the above mentioned
advantages is very durable.
The cart can be entered from either end, and in the event of horse falling, the
goods cannot be thrown out of body, the shafts being fixed under body instead of
on brackets as is usual in cabs; there is no leverage at rear end of shaft and front
end of body is reduced to its minimum.
Dated this 24th day of November 1890
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Edward Steward Annison.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Two-wheeled Vehicles.
I, EDWARD STEWARD ANNISON of 34 Witham, Hull, Yorkshire, Coach Builder,
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 :-
This invention relates to certain improvements in two-wheeled vehicles specially
of the kind now used for the conveyance of milk and known as "floats."
For the purpose of my invention, I fasten the shafts under the frame of body at
the inside of the sole, and give them a good top bend. I employ a crank or bent
axle with plenty of dip in order to fit high wheels, and at the same time leave the
inside of body clear of any obstructions.
The axle has the grasshopper or other side springs arranged well under the body,
with the front ends affixed to eyes at the front end of side soles but the rear ends
are connected to a back transverse spring, the centre of which is affixed to an
29
sett of the
iron depending from the body and of sufficient curvature for the "
body.
By this invention, the shaft motion by the horse is absorbed by the springs, and
is not imparted to the body, consequently the vehicle runs without vibration and
oscillation, it is almost noiseless and does not agitate the milk.

page_text: My invention will be understood by the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cart known as a Yorkshire milk float.
Figure 2 a back end view of same.
The cart has a flat bottomed body clear of any internal obstruction, there being
no "arch" through which the axle passes as in some patterns. The end door is in
one piece and falls down out of the way, and does not form steps for admittance
to the float, this being obtained from the front. The entrance for driver is at the
front, a very great advantage over the old style of float.
The shafts instead of being fixed to the body by means of a framework and iron
stays like those of a Hansom cab, are fixed to the side soles under the bottom of
body, this is a distinctive feature and constitutes a novelty, this plan of attaching
the shafts to low carts has never been adopted before. By its adoption, the strain
on the soles caused by the stays referred to is entirely obviated, there being none,
consequently the life of the float is increased, the weight of the cart is also
materially reduced. There is absolutely no vibration of the body arising from this
method of attacliment, this being the great drawback of all carts with shafts
attached like a Hansom.
The trace hooks are fixed at the foot end of shafts on a line with the bottom of
body and below the level of the front end of trace where attached to the collar of
the horse, the horse in drawing the load is consequently, to a limited extent,
lifting as well as drawing the load, the weight of the load is thus partially
thrown behind the axle and as a result considerably less power is required to
draw it.
L
The springs, of which there are 3 (one at each side and one across the back end)
are fixed underneath the body, not half way up the outside of float, the burden is
thus carried on the top of the springs, not between them, the body is not therefore
"suspended on the springs, consequently no framework is required at sides of
body and is discarded because useless and cumbersome.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The improvements in carts hereinbefore described.
2. Constructing a cart with the shafts attached to the inside of the body sole
and with two side springs connected at rear by a transverse spring as described and
as shown on the drawings.
3 **
:
The 24th day of August 1891.
2472
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Edward Steward Annison.