A NOVEL SLIP SHACKLE, TO BE. EMPLOYED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SKIDDING' OF THE WHEELS OF ROAD CARRIAGES OR VEHICLES, AND ALSO FOR OTHER PURPOSES FOR WHICH THE SAID SLIP SHACKLE IS ADAPTED
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Frank Conway Morris, of Hackney, in the County
of Middlesex, for the Invention of "A NOVEL SLIP SHACKLE, TO BE. EMPLOYED
IN CONNECTION WITH THE SKIDDING' OF THE WHEELS OF ROAD CARRIAGES
OR VEHICLES, AND ALSO FOR OTHER PURPOSES FOR WHICH THE SAID SLIP
SHACKLE IS ADAPTED."
Sealed the 29th August 1879, and dated the 8th April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Frank Conway
Morris at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th April 1879.
CHARLES FRANK CONWAY MORRIS, of Hackney, in the County of Middlesex.
"A NOVEL SLIP SHACKLE TO BE EMPLOYED IN CONNECTION WITH THE 'SKIDDING'
OF THE WHEELS OF ROAD CARRIAGES OR VEHICLES, AND ALSO FOR OTHER PUR-
POSES FOR WHICH THE SAID SLIP SHACKLE IS ADAPTED.'
"
The slip shackle according to my Invention consists of a combination of catches
and levers in an enclosing fraine, and arranged in such a manner that when the
pull, strain, or weight is required to be borne or sustained by the pivotted cross
piece of the shackle this is accomplished with perfect security and reliability; and,
on the other hand, when it is desired to release the pull, strain, or weight this is
accomplished instantly and with the greatest facility by lifting an actuating lever
(held down when the slip shackle is closed by means of a suitable spring), which
has the effect of disconnecting the before mentioned combination of levers and
catches.
The slip shackle according to my Invention when applied in connection with the
skidding of the wheels of road carriages or vehicles may either be connectod to a
separate skid pan which I make of a special construction adapted to withstand a
great amount of wear and tear, or the said skid pan may be combined with the slip
shackle. In this latter case I form the "skidding" portion of two side pieces or
framings, between which and at the bottom whereof is fitted a curved plate, which
takes into a detent formed in the second of the series of the levers and catches
forming the actuating apparatus of the slip shackle. I attach to the bottom of the
last named curved plate a curved shoe piece, by preference of steel, projecting for a
sufficient depth below the first named curved plate to keep the slip shackle out of
the way clear of the ground, and on the before mentioned actuating lever of the
slip shackle being operated the said curved plate and shoe piece are released from
[Price 6d1

page_text: the slip shackle, and being also detached from the enclosing framework the two
separate parts are held suspended by a chain or suitable attachment to the vehicle
until a suitable opportunity for putting the two parts together, and so avoiding the
necessity for stopping on the road for skidding and unskidding. The curved shoe
piece is made sufficiently strong to adapt it for a very lengthened use, and being
separate from the before mentioned curved plate and framing it may be replaced at
a comparatively very trifling cost without the other portion of the skid pan being
impaired or deteriorated. Instead however of proceeding as just described I may
take the skid pan in its entirety and attach it by a shackle to the slip shackle
herein before described; and similarly also any other form or arrangement of skid
may be connected to the slip shackle, and so that when detached the wheel of the
vehicle runs over the skid pan bodily instead of only over the curved plates herein-
first referred to. The necessity for stopping and also for backing is thus entirely
avoided, and the same mode of attachment may be adopted for connecting to the
slip shackle chains and similar contrivances already adopted for retarding the
wheels of vehicles in cases where no skid pan is used. The slip shackle when used
by itself may be applied to a number of useful purposes, a few of which I may
enumerate as follows, namely:-Releasing vessels from steam tugs; releasing vessels
from piers; launching vessels; launching ships' boats; releasing anchors; dis-
engaging contractors' tipping waggons; for the cages in mines and similar cases;
as a detaching gear in connection with cranes; also for detaching arrangements
in harness; and, generally, in all cases where a simple means of readily and
instantly uncoupling, detaching, releasing, or disengaging is required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Charles Frank Conway
Morris in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th November 1879.
CHARLES FRANK CONWAY MORRIS, of Hackney, in the County of Middlesex.
"A NOVEL SLIP SHACKLE TO BE EMPLOYED IN CONNECTION WITH THE 'SKIDDING'
OF WHEELS OF ROAD CARRIAGES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES FOR WHICH THE SAID
SHACKLE IS ADAPTED."
The slip shackle according to my Invention consists of an enclosing frame having
a pivotted cross piece, which by an arrangement of levers and catches is held
securely in its place when the weight, strain, or pull upon the saine is required to
be borne or sustained; and, on the other hand, when the said weight, strain, or
pull is required to be released this is instantly and readily accomplished by lifting
the actuating lever (connected with a suitable spring) of the series of levers and
catches forming the coupling and uncoupling apparatus of the said slip shackle.
I have shewn in the accompanying Drawing one arrangement of slip shackle
according to my Invention. The details in the construction and arrangement
thereof will however have to be varied according to the particular purpose for which
the said slip shackle is to be used; and I have already enumerated in the Pro-
visional Specification hereof several of the uses to which the slip shackle, according
to my Invention, may be applied.
In the three views in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings the same letters of
reference in each are employed to denote like or corresponding parts. f, the
enclosing frame; c, the pivotted cross piece; a, b, d, e, the series of levers, springs,
and catches herein before referred to; g, the releasing or detaching line or connection
to the eye or opening in the lever b.
When the slip shackle, according to my said Invention, is applied for skidding
the wheels of road carriages it may either be connected with the chain of an inde-
pendent skid pan, as hereinbefore described in the Provisional Specification of my
said Invention, or in some cases I may prefer to form a combined slip shackle and
skid pan, as herein before described.
Having now described and illustrated my said Invention I wish it to be under-
stood that I do not confine myself to the exact details thereof as herein shewn
and described, as these may be varied without departing from the main features of
my said Invention; but what I claim is, the arrangement of apparatus substantially
as herein shewn and described, and to be used generally as a simple means of readily
and instantly uncoupling, detaching, releasing, or disengaging.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Frank Conway Morris, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.