AN IMPROVED OMNIBUS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Denton Abel, of No. 20, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED OMNIBUS."-A communication from
abroad by Justin François Audineau, residing at Bordeaux, in the Empire
of France.
Sealed the 10th August 1868, and dated the 16th February 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Denton Abel at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th February 1863.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 20, Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED OMNIBUS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in constructing an improved omnibus, having a
double body, or having two compartments fixed side by side, and provided with
two sets of three wheels, each set consisting of two small outer wheels and one
large central wheel, the latter being arranged to run in grooves or recesses
formed between the two compartments of the omnibus. By this arrangement
an omnibus is formed, which, if of the ordinary length, will be of double the

page_text: usual capacity and yet require considerably less tractional force in proportion
to the increased load than an omnibus of ordinary construction, as the wheels
are so arranged that the weight is carried equally by the front and hind set,
added to which, the large size of the central wheels greatly facilitates an easy
motion. In order to facilitate the turning or lateral motion of the omnibus,
the axles of both the front and hind outside wheels are arranged to turn upon
centres, the front central wheel also partaking of this motion. The turning of
the axles of the hind wheels is effected by the motion of the front wheels by
means of diagonal connecting rods hinged to the axles, similar in arrangement
to those already employed for railway carriages and traction engines. To enable
the outer wheels to shift their position, the points of support of the springs work
in grooved or slotted segments attached to the body of the omnibus, which is
also the case with the front central wheel. Both the central wheels are fixed
upon short axles which run in bearings on either side of the wheel; the outside
wheels turn upon their axles in the usual manner. A separate door is pro-
vided to each compartment of the body, both of which compartments are
provided with two rows of seats, and are either entirely partitioned off from
each other or only partially so. Two double rows of seats are arranged on
the roof, to which access is gained by steps fixed at the back between the
two compartments. The omnibus is arranged to be drawn by three horses
abreast.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Denton Abel in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 12th August 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
DENTON ABEL, of No. 20, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Charles Denton Abel, Her special licence, that I, the said Charles
Denton Abel, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Charles Denton Abel, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all

page_text: times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"AN IMPROVED OMNIBUS," a communication to me from abroad by Justin
François Audineau, residing at Bordeaux, in the Empire of France, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Denton Abel, my execu-
tors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Denton Abel, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing,
and to the figures and letters marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention consists in constructing an improved omnibus, having a
double body, or having two compartments fixed side by side, and provided with
two sets of three wheels, each set consisting of two small outer wheels and one
large central wheel, the latter being arranged to run in grooves between the
two compartments of the omnibus. By this arrangement an omnibus is
formed, which, if of the ordinary length, will be of double the usual capacity,
and yet require considerably less tractional force in proportion to the increased
load than an omnibus of ordinary construction, as the wheels are so arranged
that the weight is carried equally by the front and hind set, added to which
the large size of the central wheels greatly facilitates an easy motion. In
order to facilitate the turning or lateral motion of the omnibus, the axles of
the front, and, when required, the hind outside wheels, are arranged to turn
upon centres, the front central wheel also partaking of this motion. The
turning of the axles of the hind wheels, when required, is effected by the
motion of the front wheels by means of diagonal connecting rods hinged to
the axles, similar in arrangement to those already employed for railway
carriages and traction engines. To enable the outer wheels to shift their
position, the points of support of the springs work in grooved or slotted seg-
ments attached to the body of the omnibus, which is also the case with the
front central wheel. Both the central wheels are fixed upon short axles which
run in bearings on either side of the wheel; the outside wheels turu upon their

page_text: axles in the usual manner. A separate door is provided to each compartment
of the body, both of which compartments are provided with two rows of seats;
and are either entirely partitioned off from each other or only partially so.
Two double rows of seats are arranged on the roof, to which access is gained
by steps fixed at the back between the two compartments. The omnibus is
arranged to be drawn by three horses abreast.
Figure 1 on the accompanying Drawing shews a side elevation of the
improved omnibus; Figure 2 shews a half plan of the under side of the same;
Figure 3 shews a back elevation; and Figure 4 shews a front elevation of the
body. Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in each of the
Figures.
The double body A, B, of the omnibus is carried in front by the two small
outer wheels c, c', and the large central wheel a, running in a groove between
the two compartments, and behind by the small outer wheels d, d¹, and the
large central wheel b. As in all the existing omnibuses, the axles of the front
set of wheels are arranged to alter their position for the purpose of turning,
the points of support to the springs being for this purpose made to work in the
grooved or slotted segments f and k. When required, the hind set of wheels
may also be arranged to shift their position in a corresponding manner, in
which case they are also provided with segments f³, as shewn, and the axles
j,j, are so connected by means of hinged connecting rods h, h', that the axle j
in altering its position also causes the axle j¹ to shift its position in a corre-
sponding manner. The groove in which the central wheel a runs is made of
sufficient width to allow of its lateral motion. Both the front and hind central
wheels are fixed to their axles which run in the axle boxes 1, 1. The body is
provided with four rows of seats inside, two in each compartment, to which
access is gained through two doors m, m, at the back. Two double rows of
seats are provided upon the roof, to which access is gained by the winding
steps n, n, n, and the rail p, similar in arrangement to those of the American
railway carriages. The two compartments may be made either to communi-
cate with each other, or to be entirely separated by means of a partition.
It will be seen that the length of the omnibus being the same as that of
ordinary ones, it will carry just twice the number of passengers that the latter
carry, and can at the same time be easily drawn by three horses.
Having now described the nature of this Invention, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit
myself to the exact proportions of the various parts of the improved omnibus
as shewn on the accompanying Drawing, as these may be variously modified

page_text: construction of omnibuses having a double body or two compartments side by
side, and carried by two sets of three wheels, one of each set being of a large
diameter and placed centrally, so as to run in grooves formed between the two
compartments, substantially as herein-before described with reference to the
accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Denton Abel, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
C. D. ABEL. (L.S.)