The Application of Skates or Runners to Wheeled Vehicles to Convert them into Sleighs.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1894-Accepted, 5th Jan., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
The Application of Skates or Runners to Wheeled Vehicles to
Convert them into Sleighs.
I, JOSEPH WARD Mechanical Engineer 19, Noble Street London E.C. 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 :-
My invention consists of, the making and applying of skates or runners to
wheeled vehicles and so converting them into sleighs. When the skates or runners
are applied the wheels remain on their axles but are not allowed to rotate, they may
be kept from rotating by being fastened to some part of the vehicle or by fastening
to the skate or runner only. The skates or runners are so constructed that they
can be temporarily fixed to the wheels without any alteration in the vehicle.
Referring to the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 shows the application of the
runners to a "Battlesden car." In Figs. 1 2 3 4 5 (a) shows the runner which is
made similar to (a) Fig. 4 which is a full size section for a one and a quarter inch
wheel at the point e. In Figs. 4 and 5, a is the runner, 9 is the clip to prevent the
wheel slipping off sideways, h is the tire of the wheel, i is the felloe.
Fig. 2 shews the runners applied to a four-wheeled carriage having a separate
skate for each wheel and Fig. 3 shews an alternative application with two wheels
on each runner. The brackets & are of a flat section and are bent to the shape
shewn they are made to fit the wheel either to the curvature of the tire or tangential
at point b and their ends are fastened by rivets or otherwise to the runner at the
points where they touch it. At a clip similar to g Fig. 4 is fastened to prevent
side-slipping and straps passed round the felloe of the wheel and embracing the part
of brackets & in contact with the tire drawn tight and fastened, holds the skate
firmly in position. Other means of fastening may be employed. At the point ca
rod, strap, line or chain cf is fastened the opposite end being secured to the shaft
of the vehicle or some portion of the harness. In Figs. 3 and 4 cf is also carried
to and fastened in a similar manner, but cl in Fig. 2 is fastened to some part of the
locking gear, the pin by preference. At d a brace or tie extending from one wheel
to the other is strapped on the wheel to maintain the parallelism of the runners and
also to take any side-strain off the axles caused by turning the vehicle when it is
not moving forward or backward. Fig. 6 shews the brace or tie.
C
The skates may be made of iron or steel or parts may be made of either metal or
wood brass or bronze may be used.
The fastenings too instead of being straps may be bolts and plates, but straps
are preferable as there would then be no danger of damaging the varnish on the
wheels.
Although the full size section Fig. 4 shows the clip g as fitting the tire closely
on each side, this is not a necessary condition, as the clip may be made wider and a
set-screw on one or both sides may be employed to tighten the tire in the clip.
The letters of reference indicate similar parts in the various drawings.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The conversion of wheeled vehicles into sleighs by temporarily fixing
skates or runners to their wheels.
Second. The manufacture of skates or runners and the necessary gear to effect
this purpose.
Dated this 1st day of December 1894
JOSEPH WARD.