Improvements in and relating to Cabs and similar Vehicles.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 9th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 12th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Cabs and similar Vehicles.
I, PETER JOSEPH STERCKX, of 4 Wharton Street, Clerkenwell, in the County of
Middlesex, Coach and Cab Builder do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
bo as follows :-
My invention relates chiefly to Hansom Cabs and comprises various improvements
hereinafter described, some of which, are applicable to other vehicles, and whereby
I provide for considerably increasing the comfort and convenience. of persons using
such vehicles.
The main object of my said invention is to afford the means whereby the raising
and lowering of the window, and the opening and closing of the doors may be
effected by the driver (without descending from his seat) or by the passenger
independently of each other either while the vehicle is in motion or while at rest.
My said invention moreover comprises other improvements hereinafter set forth.
In carrying the said invention into practice to provide for opening and closing
the doors from the driver's seat, 1 arrange in any convenient position upon the back
of the cab-body, two handles or hand-levers by which the doors may be controlled.
One of the said levers is formed or fixed on a hollow spindle which passes through a
suitable socket in the back of the cab and which is provided on its inner end with a
chain wheel or pulley. Through this hollow spindle I pass the spindle of the second
lever and fix a chain wheel on the end thereof so that the said levers and their
corresponding chain wheels may be operated independently of each other or simul-
taneously as desired. Each door is provided below with a spindle, about which the
said door swings and which extends below the bottom of the vehicle and is provided
at its end with a chain wheel around which is passed an endless chain which is
also passed over suitable guide pulleys to a chain wheel attached to one of the
operating handles. By turning both operating handles together, the doors may be
opened or closed simultaneously; or the said doors may be operated independently
of each other by operating the handles separately; moreover the doors may be
opened or closed at will by the passenger independently of the driver.
I also provide improved means whereby the driver can raise or lower the window
without leaving his seat. A crank handle, arranged in a suitable position upon the
back of the vehicle, is attached to a spindle which passes through the body of the
cab and has secured thereto one end of a coiled spring, the other end thereof being
attached to the inside of a rotary drum or pulley surrounding the said spring. The
said drum is carried in a suitable bracket attached to the body of the vehicle. To the
sides and at or near the bottom of the window-frame are attached the ends of two
cords which pass over suitable pulleys to the drum, the ends of the said cords being
attiched thereto at diametrically opposite sides of the said drum, so that, by turning
the crank handle in one or the other direction, the said cords will be simultaneously
wound upon or unwound from the said drum. The coiled spring is so arranged that,
when the window is lowered, the said spring will be wound up or put under tension
by the weight of the window in descending, when raising the window, the said spring
will react and counterbalance the weight of the window, thereby facilitating the
operation.
The frame of the window is preferably constructed in two parts to facilitate the
moving up of the same under the roof of the vehicle. The said parts are hinged
together, the upper part of the said frame being somewhat narrower than the lower
part so that, in the upward movement of the frame, the said upper part can turn
slightly on its hinge and thus take up less room than if made in one piece. The said
frame is guided in its up and down movements by studs or projections on the edge

page_text: of the said frame which fit into corresponding grooves in the side of the vehicle.
The frame is provided on the inside with suitable handles or knobs by which it may
be raised or lowered from the inside independently of the driver.
I make the outer beading of the window-frames of xylonite, ivory or similar
material. The said beading is made of channel shape with a projection beyond each
wall of the said channel. The wall of the said channel next to the glass is made equil
in width to the edge of the frame which it covers, whilst the other wall of the said
channel is made considerably narrower; the frame is grooved out to receive the said
narrow wall, and the beading is secured to the frame by screws or otherwise.
To provide for ventilating the cab when the window is down, whilst preventing
draught or admission of rain, I make the upper half or part of the window-frame
adjustable, so that, a passenger may slightly incline the upper half or part of the
said frame inward and thus allow a free circulation of air, which can be regulated, as
desired, by the passenger.
It will be readily understood that, although I have described my improvements
more particularly as applied to a Hansom-cab, some of the said improvements are
also applicable to other kinds of vehicles.
Dated this 9th dow of November 1900
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Cabs and similar Vehicles.
I, PETER JOSEPH STERCKX of 4 Wharton Street, Clerkenwell in the County of
Middlesex, Coach and Cab Builder 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 relates to cabs and similar vehicles and comprises various improve-
ments hereinafter described.
My improvements are more especially applicable to cabs of that kind or class
commonly known as "Hansom cabs, some parts of my said improvements can
however be advantageously applied to other vehicles.
An important feature in my said invention is the provision of means whereby
the opening and closing of the doors of a "Hansom" cab may be effected by the
driver (without descending from his seat) or by the passenger independently of
each other either while the vehicle is in motion or while at rest.
Another important feature in my said. invention is an improved arrangement for
raising and lowering the front window of the said cab.
My said invention comprises moreover various other improvements hereinafter set
forth.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be con-
veniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in section showing a "Hansom" cab with
my improvements applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line x, x Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line y, y Figure 1 drawn to an enlarged
scale.
Figures 4 to 9 are different views drawn to a still further enlarged scale showing
details of construction hereinafter described..
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
A is the body of the cab, B, B are the doors, C is the front window and D, D are
the wheels thereof.
a, a' are handles or levers arranged in any convenient position upon the back of
the body A by which the doors B may be controlled. The handle or lever a is
formed in one with or firmly attached to a sleeve or hollow spindle 6 which passes

page_text: The sleeve or
through a suitable socket c provided in the back of the body A.
hollow spindle 6 is provided on its inner end with a chain wheel or grooved pulley d
which is keyed or otherwise firmly secured upon the same. Through the said sleeve
or hollow spindle b is passed another spindle e formed in one with or firmly attached
to the handle or lever a¹. is a chain wheel or grooved pulley keyed or otherwise
firmly secured upon the extremity of the said spindle e. By means of this arrange-
ment the said chain wheels or grooved pulleys d, f may be operated by means of the
handles or levers a, a' independently of each other or simultaneously as desired. Upon
each of the doors B is provided a spindle g. The spindles g are secured to sockets g'
upon the said doors by means of square portions 9 and nuts g* provided upon the
extremities of the said spindles or other suitable means are provided for securing the
latter in the said sockets g¹ and for preventing their turning in the same.
h, are other sockets secured to the body A in which the said spindles g are sup
ported so as to be free to rotate therein, when the doors B are opened or closed.
The spindles g extend a convenient distance below the bottom of the body A and are
provided at their lower extremities with chain wheels or grooved pulleys i. j is an
endless chain which is passed over one of the chain wheels or grooved pulleys to the
chain wheel or grooved pulley d, and k is another endless chain passing over the other
chain wheel or grooved pulley and the chain wheel or grooved pulley f. 1, 1 are
guide pulleys or rollers for maintaining the endless chains and k in proper positions.
The chain wheels or grooved pulleys i are preferably formed wider on one side
thereof as shown more clearly in Figure 5 so as to obviate any chance of the said
endless chains leaving the same.
By turning or moving both the operating handles or levers a, a¹ together the
doors B may be opened or closed simultaneously, or the said doors B may be operated
independently of each other by operating the said handles or levers separately,
moreover the doors B may be opened or closed at will by the passenger in the vehicle.
independently of the driver. To prevent the endless chains; and k slipping upon the
chain wheels or grooved pulleys & and f, I provide hooks d adapted to engage with
links of the said chains. For a similar purpose I provide the chain wheels or grooved
pulleys with pins i.
I also provide improved means whereby the driver can raise or lower the front
window of the cab without leaving his seat, m is a crank handle arranged in a
suitable position upon the back of the body A. The said crank handle m is attached
to a spindle m¹ which passes through the said body and has secured thereto one
extremity of a coiled spring n, as shown more clearly in Figure 7. The other
extremity of the said spring n is attached to the inside of a rotary drum or
pulley surrounding the said spring. The drum or pulley o is carried in a
suitable bracket p attached to the body A. To the sides and at or near the
lower extremity of the frame C¹ of the window C are attached the ends of
cords 9 which pass over suitable guide pulleys to the drum or pulley o.
said cords q are attached to diametrically opposite points upon the faces of the said
drum or pulley o, so that, by turning the crank handle min one or the other direction
the cords q will be simultaneously wound upon or unwound from the said drum o thus
raising or lowering the window C. The coiled spring n is so arranged that when
the window is lowered the said spring will be wound up, or put under tension, by
the weight of the said window in descending and when raising the window the said
spring will react and counterbalance the weight of the window, thereby facilitating
the operation.
The
The frame C of the window C is preferably constructed in two parts to facilitate
the moving up of the same under the roof of the vehicle. The said parts are joined
by hinges & the upper part of the said frame being somewhat narrower than the
lower part, so that in the upward movement of the frame, the said upper part can turn
slightly on its hinge and thus take up less room than if made in one piece. The said
frame is guided in its up and down movements by antifriction rollers t provided
upon the edge of the said frame which fit into corresponding grooves u in the side of

page_text: the body A. The frame C¹ is provided on the inside with suitable handles or knobs v
by which it may be raised or lowered from the inside independently of the driver.
The chains and cords for operating the doors B and the window C, and the pulleys
for guiding the said chains and cords are suitably cased in and covered by the
upholstery so as to be out of sight.
I prefer to make theyouter beading (3 of the window frames (1 of xylonite, ivory
or similar material. The said beading C moreover is preferably formed of channel
shape as shown in Figure 8 with a projection beyond one or both of the walls of the
said channel. The wall of the said channel next to the glass is made equal in width
to the edge of the frame C¹ which it covers, and the other wall of the said channel
is made considerably narrower, the frame C¹ being grooved out to receive the said
narrow wall. The beading C is secured to the window frame C¹ by means of nails,
screws or otherwise. In the modification shown in Figure the said beading Cis
secured by means of cement to strips or pieces C, preferably formed of similar
material, and secured to the window frame ( by nails or screws C³, or in any other
suitable manner.
To provide for ventilating the cab when the window is down whilst preventing
draught or. admission of rain, I sometimes construct the window frame C in such a
manner that the upper half is adjustable and may be slightly inclined inwards so as
to permit a free circulation of air to the interior of the cab, which can be regulated
as desired, by the passenger.
It will be readily understood that, although I have described my improvements
more particularly as applied to a "Hansom" cab some of the said improvements are
also applicable to other kinds of vehicles.
Moreover it is obvious that although I have hereinbefore described a convenient
and advantageous method of carrying my said invention into practice, I can some-
what modify my apparatus without however in any way departing from the nature of
my said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood
that I claim.
First. The improved means substantially as described for permitting the opening
and closing of the doors of a cab by the driver without descending from his seat.
Second. The improved means substantially as described for permitting the opening
and closing of the window of a cab by the driver without descending from his
seat.
Third. A window for a cab or other vehicle having the frame covered with xylonite,
ivory or similar material.
Fourth. The peculiarly constructed window frame herein before described.
Fifth. The window constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described
so that the upper part of the same may be opened to admit air for the purpose of
ventilation.
Sixth. The cab having my improvements embodied therein or incorporated there-
with substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 9th day of August 1980
PETER JOSEPH STERCKY
PETER JOSEPH STERCKY
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.