IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARTS, CARRIAGES AND OTHER VEHICLES >>
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Briggs of Darwen in the County of Lancaster
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARTS,
CARRIAGES AND OTHER VEHICLES
>>
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Briggs at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th August 1883.
THOMAS BRIGGS of Darwen in the County of Lancaster
THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARTS, CARRIAGES AND OTHER VEHICLES
"IMPROVEMENTS IN.
This invention relates principally to the construction of the brakes applicable to
two wheeled vehicles, the object of the same being to throw the weight of the
vehicle and its load off the horse when going down hill and at the same time to
apply the brake upon the naves of the wheels.
-
The invention applies especially to the ordinary well known brake consisting
of a cross bar suspended from the vehicle frame carrying two brake-shoes, one for
each nave.
The body of the vehicle is formed to slide upon a framework fixed in the axle-
tree-bed beneath which the axle is mounted in the usual manner.
Through the cross bar of the brake I drill a hole and form a screw thread
therein through which I pass a rod with a similar thread upon it.
Beneath the vehicle in front of the axle of the wheel I fix a bracket to which
this rod is fastened. The rod passes loosely through the axle-tree bed, and is
provided with a hand wheel or other suitable turning device.
When going down hill this hand wheel or other device is turned so that the
cross bar travels up the thread and puts the brake on; the rod then is caused to
turn further round and consequently travels back in the thread cut through the
cross bar, and draws the vehicle backwards thus throwing the weight of the
vehicle and its load back and relieving the horse, at the same time that the break
has been firmly applied.
A nut is placed on this rod on either side of the axle tree bed, so that under
ordinary circumstances the bed is held between them but when the vehicle is
drawn back the hinder nut recedes with the rod. When it is desired to replace

page_text: the cart into position for travelling on level ground the hand wheel is reversed
bringing the second nut into operation; this latter, abutting against the axle treo
bed from the weight of the vehicle, when the rod is reversed causes the latter to
push the cart forwards into its place; the hinder nut which is provided with a
hand wheel or projections for this purpose is then turned round until the axle tree
bed is held between the two nuts as before.
When going up hill the first named hand-wheel is turned still further so that
the weight of the vehicle and its load is thrown forwards on the horses back.
The shafts are connected to the framework of the vehicle by means of a sliding
band, or other suitable sliding tio. This band is fastened to the frame of the
vehicle by a removable pin, or other similar means, but not to the shafts (or
vice versa) so that the vehicle can slide independently of the shafts which are
attached to the bed upon which the said vehicle slides.
It will be evident that this band or tie will be applicable to the connection of
the shafts and frame of other vehicles now in use, dispensing with the usual hole
in the shaft which had a tendency to weaken the same.
A modification of my invention consists in causing the front of the vehicle to
be lifted (instead of sliding it backwards) by means of a similar hand wheel or
turning device, when going down a hill which has the same effect of relieving
the horse.
This may be effected by means of a bevel wheel gearing with a similar wheel
on a short upright shaft provided with a worm which would raise or lower the
front of the vehicle as required. In this case also the shafts would not be fixed to
the main body of the vehicle so that the latter would move independently and
relieve the horse without altering the position of the shafts. This is a most
essential feature of my invention, and
I would here remark that without departing therefrom other methods of raising
the front of the vehicle might be adopted instead of the upright shaft above
named.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Briggs in the Patent Office on the 23rd February 1884.
THOMAS BRIGGS of Darwen in the County of Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARTS, CARRIAGES AND OTHER VEHICLES"
This invention relates principally to the construction of the brakes applicable to
two wheeled vehicles. The object of the same being to move the weight of the
vehicle and its load off the horse's back when going down hill, and at the same
time to apply the brake upon the naves of the wheels. Or to move the weight on
the horses back when going up hill without applying the brake or each separately
when required.
The invention applies especially to the ordinary well known brakes consisting
of a cross bar suspended from the vehicle-bed or frame carrying two brake shoes
one for each nave, or a metallic strap chain or iron band lined (if required) with
wood or other suitable material which embraces the nave of the wheel.
Such being the nature and object of my.said invention I will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be clearly understood
I have annexed hereunto a sheet of drawings illustrative thereof and have marked
the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the
following explanation thereof
The drawing represents the application of my invention to a common cart
having a brake of this kind. Fig. 1. being a side view of the cart and Fig. 2 an
elevation showing the cart tipped up, the body a, a of the vehicle is formed to slide
(by means of a screw or other equivalent) upon a frame work b, b fixed on the
axle tree bed c, c beneath which the axle d, d is mounted in the usual manner.
Through the axletree bed c, c and break cross bar e, e I bore a hole, and the
screw g, g passes loosely through both. The other end passes forward and loosely.
through the bracket m, m which is bolted firmly to the midfeathers or framework
of cart. The screw ġ, g is provided with two nuts and k² and with a wheel and
worm j, j turned by a hand wheel h, h or other suitable turning device or as shown
by the handle x underneath and behind the cart indicated by dotted lines. When
going down hill this band wheel or other device is turned so that the nut k¹
travels up the thread of the screw g, g and pulls on the brake f, f with the two
rods p, p which pass loosely through the axle tree bed and unite the nut k¹ and
brake ff firmly together, the screw g, g is then caused to turn further round and
consequently travels back in the thread of nut k¹ and draws the body a, a and the
vehicle backwards thus throwing the weight of the vehicle and its load back and
relieving the horse at the same time that the brake f, ƒ has been firmly applied.
The nut being unable to turn on the rod or screw g, g remains near to the
axle tree bed c, c and the screw travels back through it, but on turning the screw
in the reverse direction to take the brake off and move the weight of the load
back to its former position this nut k² moves sufficiently to come into close contact
with the axle tree bed and the screw g, g works in the thread of this nut k³ and
moves forward the weight of the load.
Or a nut may be placed on this screw on either side of the axle tree bed so that
if the brake was out of order or being repaired the balancing arrangement can be
used as before described, or for light work I introduce a strap, chain or band as
before mentioned and simply attach one end to framework b, b as shown at Fig. 3.
and the other end to the moving body of the cart a, a so that when the body of
the cart is moved backward the brake c Fig. 3. is applied to the wheel.

page_text: When going up hill the first named hand wheel h, his turned still further so
that the weight of the vehicle and its load is moved forward on the horses back.
The extent of the sliding motion to be imparted to the body is limited by the
bolt heads securing the shaft hinges, between which slide L-shaped supports 7, l
fixed to the body of the cart. The pin n¹ which holds the body to the shafts,
works in slota of suitable length in each of the projecting arms n n of the cart
body the key o, o holds these arms down on the shafts i, i and by placing a pin
as at q, q on either side of the cart in the holes indicated in the frame b b one on
each side of the support 1, 1, the cart will be held in any position when required
and will then become like an ordinary cart with an ordinary brake. Or the
shafts i, i may be connected to the framework of the vehicle by means of a sliding
band or other suitable sliding tie.
This band is fastened to the frame of the vehicle by a removable pin or other
similar means but not to the shafts (or vice versd) so that the body of the vehiole
can slide independently of the shafts i, i which are attached to the bed b, b upon
which the said body slides.
It will be evident that this band or tiek, k will be applicable to the connection
of the shafts and frame of other vehicles now in use dispensing with the usual
hole in the shaft which had a tendency to weaken the same, but to this I make
no claim as part of my invention.
In my Provisional Specification I described a method of raising the front of the
cart which I have since discovered not to be so new and useful as I then believed
it to be, I therefore make no claim to such method but I wish it to be understood
that what I claim as my invention is
First The construction of the brake and the sliding body of the cart in such a
manner that immediately the brake is applied to the wheels the weight of the cart
and load is moved back and immediately the brake is taken from the wheels the
weight is moved forward substantially as described or vice versa.
Secondly I claim a chain, iron band or other equivalent when one end is fixed
to the framework and the other end to the sliding portion of the cart as and for
the purpose herein described and illustrated by the annexed drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Thomas Briggs have hereunto set my hand and
seal this twenty second day of February in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty four
TITOR UDIOC