CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIAGES
Year: 1837

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
BRABY, of Duke Street, Stamford Street, in the Parish of Saint Mary,
Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, Wheelwright and Coachmaker, send
greeting.
WHEREAS His late most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth,
by His Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain,
bearing date at Westminster, the Eleventh day of January, One thousand
eight hundred and thirty-seven, did, for Himself, His heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said James Braby, His especial license, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said James Braby, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Braby, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of
years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my
Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIAGES;"
in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said
James Braby, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, par-
ticularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be
inrolled in His Majesty's Court of Chancery within six calendar months

page_text: next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent,
as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
James Braby, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
(that is to say)-
My Invention of certain improvements in carriages relate to,-
First, a horizontal cranked axle or axletrees which may be applied to
various descriptions of wheel carriages.
Secondly, improvements in the construction of springs for wheel carriages.
Thirdly, improvements in the construction of hackney, stage, and other
carriages, either for public or private use, the entrance for the passengers of
which is by a door or doors or openings in front, and with two or three wheels,
and to be drawn by one horse or other animal, and which improvements are
more particularly described in the accompanying Drawings, Sheets Nos. 2, 3,
and 4, the same letters of reference applying to similar parts in the several
Figures of the said Drawings. And,
Fourthly, improvements in the construction of public stage carriages or
omnibuses to be drawn by one or more horses, and with four wheels, and with
an entrance or entrances for passengers in front or before the fore axletree.
All these several Inventions and improvements in wheel carriages are here-
after more particularly described.
Sheet No. 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents the horizontal
cranked axletree or axletrees and springs constructed according to my improve-
ments, and in each of these the same letters of reference indicate similar parts
on their several Figures. Fig. 1 is a representation of my horizontal cranked
axletree, bent or curved to the segment of a circle. Fig. 2 is a horizontal
cranked axletree formed of one part, and bent at a right angle. Fig. 3 is a
horizontal cranked axletree formed in two pieces. Fig. 4 is a horizontal
cranked axletree applied to the common vertical cranked axletree, which,
in some constructions of carriages, may be of great advantage. Figures 5,
6, 7, and 8 are end views of these Figures. A, A, is that part of the
axle on which the wheels revolve. B, B, the part of the axle to which
the shafts or framing of the body is firmly attached. The advantages
resulting from using this horizontal cranked axletree are the facility with
which perfect safety may be obtained by bringing the centre of gravity of the

page_text: carriage and loading to the lowest point. And I wish it to be understood I
do not confine my Invention or improvement of the above axletrees to the
perfect horizontal position of them when attached to the carriage, but only so
far as that they shall not deviate more than the angle of forty-five degrees
from the horizontal position; neither do I confine myself to any particular
form of curve or angle of the crank of the said axletrees.
Fig. 9 is a side view of my improved construction of springs to be applied to
the common cranked axletree. A, A, the vertical or cranked part of the axle-
tree. B, B, scroll irons of the usual construction attached to the framing of
the carriage. C, C, is a spring of one or more plates of steel firmly fixed to the
axletree at a, and attached at the ends to the shackles E, E. D, D, are two
curved springs, fastened, by bolts or otherwise, to the lower part of the cranked
axletree, and attached at the other ends by bolts or otherwise to the scroll
irons B, B.
The only novel parts in the above described spring, and which I claim
as my Invention, are the two curved springs D, D. The advantages resulting
from the use of this improvement is that the spring so constructed is intended
to vibrate equally with a light as with a heavy weight.
Fig. 10 is a side view of my improved construction of double curved springs.
A, A, are the external springs formed of one or more plates of steel, and
attached together as in common; B, B, two inner springs firmly rivetted or
fastened together in the centre, and may be made of one or more plates
of steel, and the ends of which inner springs press on the inside of the external
springs at C, C, and are fastened thereto in any convenient manner, so as to
allow a slight degree of sliding motion. The advantages arising from the use
of this description of spring are the same as those described as relating to
Fig. 9.
Sheets Nos. 2 and 3 of the Drawings represent my improvements in the
construction of one-horse hackney, stage, and other carriages. Figures 1 are
side views or elevations, Figures 2 front elevations, Figures 3 sectional
plans of the interior, shewing the shafts and framing by which they are
attached to the centre framing of the body; and Figures 4 are longitudinal
vertical sections. The same letters of reference are used in each Figure.
A, A, are the shafts attached by joints of wood, iron, or other material to
the framing B, B, so as to allow of a slight degree of motion for the
play or elasticity of the springs C, C. The framing B, B, is firmly secured
to the front framing N, N, of the body, and the springs C, C, are bolted or
otherwise fastened to the under side of the shafts, and to the under side of the

page_text: oottom framing of the body or entrance step. The object of these springs is to
prevent the motion of the horse being communicated to the body of the
carriage, and to render the vehicle perfectly easy. D is a guard iron,
commonly called a dashing iron, made of wood or iron, covered with leather or
any other materials, and protects the passenger from the horse or any dirt
arising therefrom. E, E, are landings, platforms, or steps leading to the
interior, and fastened to the bottom framing or timbers of the body. F, seats
for the passengers. G, G, door extending from the bottom framing to the top,
at the discretion of the builder, and may be made with or without openings,
glasses, or curtains. H, foot board for the driver, and I, his seat. K, side
openings or windows fitted with glasses or not. L, common elliptic springs
fixed in the usual way, but springs of any other description may be used.
M, M, a common or other straight axletree passing under the seat, allowing
sufficient room for the action of the springs. As it may be desirable that the
above described vehicles should have only one door in front instead of two, the
front framing, shafts, &c. would then be constructed similar to that shewn in
Drawing No. 3, that is, attached partly to the centre framing N, N, of the
body and partly to the side framing O, O,
I do not confine myself to any particular shape or form of the body springs
or axletree in the said Invention, but what I claim as my Invention, with
reference to that part of my improvements in wheel carriages delineated in
Drawings Nos. 2 and 3, is a two-wheel public stage or hackney carriage
intended to carry two or more passengers, and having an entrance or entrances
in front, with the shafts attached to the centre framing of the body, and which
framing or timbers is connected with the top and bottom framing of the body,
and if with only one entrance, to be attached partly to centre timbers, as
before described, and partly to the side framing of the body.
Sheet No. 4 of the Drawing represents my improved one-horse public
conveyance, stage, or hackney carriage, constructed with three wheels, the body,
springs, axletree, &c. being similar to that shewn in Drawing No. 3, and the same
letters of reference being used, I have only to describe the application of the
fore wheel. O is the front wheel turning by its axle in the two side
springs P, P, which springs are firmly fixed to the shafts A or to the ends of
the jointed sweep iron Q, Q, (see Figure 4, which an under side view of the
locking carriage. The sweep iron Q passes under the landings or platform E,
at R, and is kept in its place by the staples S, S, allowing a free sliding
motion, so that the wheel O may be turned at the required angle to the other
wheels. Any other mode of locking or mounting the fore wheel may be adopted.

page_text: What I claim as my Invention is, the application of a wheel in front to a
public carriage, with entrance or entrances in front and as before described.
In Sheet No. 5 of the Drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation; Figure 2 is
a sectional plan of the interior, shewing the seats for passengers; Figure 3.
plan of the fore and hind carriages, the dotted lines showing the situation of
the body. Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical section, and Figure 5 is a front
end elevation of my improved public conveyance or omnibus, with a door or
doors, and entrance or entrances for passengers in front, or before the fore
axletree, the same letters of reference applying to similar parts in all these
several Figures. A, A, are the hind wheels. B, B, the fore wheels. C, C,
the body with seats on each side for the passengers. D is the splinter bar,
and by which the horses draw the carriage. The splinter bar is framed at
such a distance from the fore wheels B, B, as to allow of steps with necessary
protection by guard irons E, E, from the wheels or horses, and by which steps
or landings the passengers enter and leave the vehicle. G, G, is the seat and
foot board for the driver, which is so arranged that he may readily open or
close either of the doors and take money from the passengers. H, H,
futchells or guides connecting the fore axletree with the splinter bar. I, I, the
fore springs. K, K, hind springs. The body may be made of any suitable
shape, and the arrangements of seats for passengers is at the will of the
proprietor.
The only parts that I claim as my Invention, with reference to that part of
my improvement delineated in Drawing No. 5, is a four-wheel public stage
carriage or omnibus, with one or two entrances in the front of or before the
fore axletree, to be drawn by one or more horses, and to carry a number of
passengers. The advantages resulting from the adoption of this improvement
are great convenience to the public in entering or alighting from this
description of carriage, in consequence of the steps coming close to the curb
stone or side of the road, and the advantage offered to the proprietors in the
saving of the wages of the conductor, whose services are not required, and
also preventing the annoyance to passengers from the poles or horses of
other carriages coming against or in the way of the doors in entering or
alighting.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Braby, have hereunto set my hand
JAMES (L.s.) BRABY.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Tenth day of July, in the first
year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the said James Braby came
before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the
Instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified,
in form above written. And also the Instrument aforesaid was stamped 5
according to the tenor of the Statute made in the fifty-fifth year of the reign of
His late Majesty King George the Third..
Inrolled the Tenth day of July, One thousand eight hundred and thirty-
seven.