An Improved Construction of Cradle or Device for Carrying a Load on an Animal's Back, chiefly applicable for Military Purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 17th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 17th June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Construction of Cradle or Device for Carrying a Load
on an Animal's Back, chiefly applicable for Military Purposes.
I, ANDREW HUGH BOGLE of 4 Park Place, St. James' in the County of London
Major General late Royal Artillery, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows
My invention relates to the construction of a cradle or device for carrying a load
on an animal's back, more particularly for military purposes.
When a load is carried on an animal's back the inequalities of the ground and
the natural swaying or movement of the animal's body produce a swaying motion
of the load which increases as the weight of the load, its distance above the
animal's back and the pace increase.
For instance if a load be carried on the top of a cradle or saddle and a side
motion spring up acting horizontally, the condition will be represented by two
forces the one acting horizontally and the other which is the weight of the load
acting vertically and these result in a force acting between the two in an inclined
direction towards the lower part of the cradle. If this single force be opposed by
an equal force the equilibrium will not be disturbed.
Now the object of my invention is to provide an opposing force and thereby
maintain the equilibrium and with this object I so construct the cradle that the
weight of the load although itself placed above the cradle shall act on the lower
part of the same, that is to say, the force resulting from the horizontal and vertical
forces above referred to meets with pressure in an opposite direction and thus the
weight of the load is used to steady the cradle by drawing it down on the animal's.
back instead of, as with the ordinary construction of cradle, causing the cradle to.
shift by swaying it from side to side.
In carrying out my invention 1 employ a supplementary framework to support
the load or loads, this framework resting on the lower part of the cradle at the
sides of the animal. In order to modify or diminish the pressure downwards in
case a sudden side action occurs, springs can be employed. These springs would
preferably be spiral springs supported by flanges or lugs at the corners of the
cradle, these flanges having pins which pass up through the springs and through
holes in the lower part of the supplementary framework. The upper ends may
have nuts or bosses to prevent the supplementary framework getting loose.
If the load be in two parts (more or less equal) carried one on each side of the
animal, my supplementary framework may be in the form of two supplementary
side frames which respectively support the two parts of the load and rest on the
lower part of the cradle so as to transfer the weight to this part. Owing to the
slope of the cradle upwards there is room for carrying loads of moderate bulk
without their projecting at either side, the cradle, side frames and load being all
comprised within the width of the animal itself.
Dated this 18th day of July 1892.
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Construction of Cradle or Device for Carrying a Load
on an Animal's Back, chiefly applicable for Military Purposes.
I, ANDREW HUGH BOGLE of 4 Park Place, St. James' in the County of
London, Major General, late Royal Artillery 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:-
When a load is carried on an animal's back the inequalities of the ground and
the natural swaying or movement of the animal's body produce a swaying motion
of the load which increases as the weight of the load, its distance above the
animal's back, and the pace, increase.
For instance if a load be carried on the top of a cradle or saddle and a side
motion spring up acting horizontally the condition will be represented by two
forces, the one acting horizontally, and the other, which is the weight of the load,
acting vertically, and these result in a force acting between the two in an inclined
direction towards the lower part of the cradle. If this single force be opposed by
an equal force the equilibrium will not be disturbed.
Now the primary object of my invention is to provide an opposing force and
thereby maintain the equilibrium and with this object I so construct the cradle
that the weight of the load; even if itself placed above the cradle, shall act on the
lower part of the same, that is to say the force resulting from the horizontal and
vertical forces above referred to meets with pressure in an opposite direction and
thus the weight of the load is used to steady the cradle by drawing it down on the
animal's back instead of, as with the ordinary construction of cradle, causing the
cradle to shift by swaying it from side to side.
In carrying out my invention I employ a supplementary framework to support
the load or loads, this framework resting on the lower part of the cradle at the
sides of the animal. In order to modify or diminish the pressure downwards in
case a sudden side action occurs springs are employed which aid each other in
carrying the load.
If the cradle be intended to carry a load in two parts (more or lese equal) one
on each side of the animal my supplementary framework may be in the form of
two supplementary side frames which respectively support the two parts of the
load and rest on the lower part of the cradle so as to transfer the weight to this
part. Owing to the slope of the cradle upwards there is room for carrying loads
of moderate bulk without their projecting at either side, the cradle, side frames
and load being nearly comprised within the width of the animal itself.
Isecure to the rear portion of the cradle or device a girth which passes round
the ribs of the horse instead of round the soft part of the stomach as is the case
with the belts or straps frequently employed to hold down the rear part of a cradie
or saddle on transport animals. This girth is so arranged that it keeps the rear
part of the saddle down and also prevents the saddle slipping backwards.
Figure 1 is a rear elevation and Figure 2 a side elevation of a cradle constructed
according to my invention and adapted to carry a load at the centre.
Figure 3 is a rear elevation and Figure 4 a side elevation of a cradle constructed
according to my invention and adapted to carry a load in two parts one on each
side of the animal.
Figure 5 is a side view on a smaller scale showing the cradle illustrated in
Figures 3 and 4 secured to a horse.
Figures 3, 4 and 5 also show the various girth straps, girths and other devices
which are omitted in Figures 1 and 2.
Referring first to the cradle shown in Figures 1 and 2 a is the cradle proper or
saddle to fit ou the animal's back. bare two frames connected together at top

page_text: and bottom by side bars cc, the said frames and side bars constituting my supple-
mentary framework to support the load which may for example be a gun as.
indicated in dotted lines at d. The supplementary framework does not rest on the
top of the cradle a but on the lower part of the same at the sides of the animal..
For this purpose the cradle has flanged plates e e secured to it at each corner.
From these plates pins stand up as shown and are fitted with springs 9 g.
The
frames have flanges with holes through which the upper ends of the pins
pass, and nuts are screwed upon these pins so as to hold the parts together. It
will readily be understood that as the weight of the load acts on the lower part of
the cradle it tends to steady the cradle by drawing it down on the animal's back
instead of, as with the ordinary construction of cradle, causing the cradle to shift
by drawing it from side to side. The springs g g serve to modify or diminish the
pressure downwards in case a sudden side action occurs and they constantly aid
each other. The employment of these springs is, however, not essential, but is.
very important if the full benefit of my invention is to be obtained. In case the
springs should get broken they can readily be replaced.
Referring now to the cradle shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, a is the saddle, k k are-
side plates or side boards on the saddle; are arches connected to the side
plates kk by bolts and nuts k² and continued downwards as seen at at the sides
of the animal; they are flanged at their lower ends as seen at ee to support the
supplementary side frames. In order to adapt the cradle to different sized animals
the saddle a and side plates can be adjusted on the arches by having
holes at different heights in these arches to receive the securing bolts k². M 15
a longitudinal bar or stay connecting the two arches and n n are side bars or
stays one at each side connecting the lower ends of the continuations of the arches..
The construction or form of the supplementary side frames will necessarily be
varied according to the particular kind of load which the cradle is intended to
carry. In the cradle illustrated they consist of two uprights bb at each side of the
cradle these uprights are forked at top and have pistons which bear upon
springs in boxes fixed to the flanges ee; the uprights also pass through guides r
on the arch continuations P. I have indicated by way of example a machine gun s
carried at one side of the cradle and the tripod s of this gun at the other side.
The rear upright for supporting the front part of the gun must be higher than
the front upright which support the rear end of the gun.
t is the ordinary girth attached to the ordinary girth straps t. If this were the
only girth employed the cradle would tend to rise at the rear, while if a girth were
connected to the rear part of the cradle and carried directly under the animal's
body it would receive insufficient support as it would press upon the yielding part
of the stomach. 1 therefore arrange a girth which will effectually prevent the
rear part of the cradle from rising and the saddle from slipping backwards and will
at the same time press upon the firm ribs which will give it sufficient support. For
this purpose I connect to each of the side plates just behind the middle of same
a girth strap u and to each of these girth straps I connect the lower end of an
inclined strap (by a stud and slot as shown or otherwise) the upper end of which
is attached to the side plate k near its rear end. To the girth straps u I attach a
girth when this girth is pulled tight it pulls upon the straps as well as
upon the straps u and thereby holds down the rear part of the cradle, because as
the straps are tightened and the studs thereon descend, the slots in the straps
pivot on the stems of the studs and allow the inclination of the straps
change.
to
The position of the girth is such that it presses upon the firm ribs of the
animal. The two girths t and w are connected together by a cross piece a.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The construction of a cradle or device for carrying a load or loads on an

page_text: animal's back with a supplementary framework or supplementary side frames
arranged so that the weight of the load or loads is caused to act on and is borne by
the lower part of the cradle, substantially as herein before described.
2. The construction of a cradle with a supplementary framework substantially
as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and hereinbefore described so that the weight of a
load placed above the cradle is caused to act on and is borne by the lower part of
the cradle as set forth.
3. The construction of a cradle with supplementary side frames substantially as
shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 and hereinbefore described so that the weight of loads
placed on the side frames is caused to act on and is borne by the lower part of the
cradle as set forth.
Dated this 17th day of Avril 1893.
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent.