IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING HEADS OF CARRIAGES
Year: 1885

page_text: CHARLES EDWARD HARRISON No 109. Alston Street Birmingham Fitter of Coach
Ironwork do hereby, declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
FOLDING HEADS OF CARRIAGES to be as follows:-
-
I will describe the nature of my invention and its application to a Victoria,
Barouche, or other half hooded carriage first giving as the object of my invention
such an arrangement of parts, joints, rods and springs as will furnish a simple and
efficient means for raising, lowering, and balancing the carriage head or hood, or
cover so that any occupant of the carriage may move the head to form either an
open or closed carriage easily and quickly-I form the main centre or pivot on
which the head turns in any of the ordinary patterns, only I provide a spur or lip
which will stand out from the main centre or pivot and nearer the back part of
the carriage than the main centre or pivot at a distance suitable for my purpose
and to the said spur or lip I attach by means of a cross screw pin or bolt, a rod
having having a screw and running nut at end next spur or lip,-I place at the
top of the front stick or valance rail, at a proper distance from the main centre or
pivot on which it works two metal plates, having grooves or channels cut therein,
in duplicate and at lower end of one of the metal plates, I arrange another
slotted hole and a short flap to stand behind the above mentioned front stick
or valance rail
I make the grooves or channels in the metal plates to stand out a short distance
from the back of the front stick and for a greater part of their length I make them
parallel with and to follow the back of the front stick, but at the lower end, that
is the end nearest the main centre or pivot, I turn them inwards something like a
half crescent-At the end of rod furthest from the spur or lip I make in solid
with the rod two short cross arms, either of which arms will move freely along the
grooves or channels in metal plates and on the rod that is between the cross arms
and running nut I place a spring for raising and balancing the head-The spring
takes a bearing at one end against the running nut and at the other against the
short flap which stands out from the back of front stick one end of the rod being
attached to the spur or lip and the other passing through the slot in short flap and
the cross arms engaged in the grooves or channels free to pass along the parallel
part when the spring is compressed-At the lower end of the metal plates and

page_text: near the inward curve of groove or channels I place a rolling piece which takes a
bearing in proper holes in metal plates having one end longer than the other, to
which I attach a lever handle-On the rolling piece. I make in solid a fork
ended spur, the fork being of a size to correspond with the cross arms in the end
of rod.
Having now given the parts of my invention I will describe its action-I so
arrange the length of the rod that the cross arms or rod shall be drawn to the
lower end of inward curve in grooves or channels by means of the lever handle
when the carriage head is closed, and this keeps the head in position securely-To
release the head it is necessary to move the lever handle which is placed convenient
for the purpose, and throw the cross arm of rod out of the curved part of grooves
or channels by means of the forked spur on rolling piece-When the head is thrown
open the rod being jointed or hinged behind the main centre or pivot, lengthens
on the main centre or pivot and so compresses the spring and causes the cross arms
of rod to travel along the grooves or channels in metal plates until the front stick
or valance rail becomes horizontal and remains in that position-To again close
the carriage it is necessary to slightly raise the head by hand, when the spring will
again play and taking the whole weight will bring the head forward to its original
position To hold the head firmly and securely closed, the cross arms will be forced
by means of the forked spur on rolling piece and lever handle into the inward
curve of grooves or channels thus keeping the head rigid until again released at
the will of the occupant.
My invention applies to Landau Carriages only the forked spur and rolling piece
are worked by the cant rail instead of the lever handle.
1.
Dated this 15th day of Tun 1995

page_text: I, CHARLES EDWARD HARRISON of 34 Wood Street Ladywood Birmingham
Fitter of Carriage Iron work do hereby declare the nature of said invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING HEADS OF CARRIAGES and in what manner the same
is to be performed; to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
I will describe the nature of my invention and its application to a Victoria;
Barouche or other half hooded carriages first giving as the object of my invention
such an arrangement of parts, joints, rods & springs as will furnish a simple and
efficient means for raising, lowering and balancing the carriage head, or hood,
or cover, so that any occupant of the carriage may move the head to form
either an open or closed carriage easily and quickly-I form the main centre
or pivot on which the head turns in any of the ordinary patterns only, I provide
a spur or lip which will stand out from the main centre or pivot and nearer
the back part of the carriage than the main centre or pivot at a distance suitablė
for my purpose, and to the said spur or lip I attatch by means of a cross pin;
screw, or bolt a rod having a screw and running nut at end next spur or lip-
I place at the top of the front stick or valance rail, at a proper, distance from the
main centre or pivot on which it works, two metal plates having grooves or
channels cut therein in duplicate, and at lower end of one of the metal plates
I arrange another slotted hole and a short flap to stand behind the above mentioned
front stick or valance rail-I make the grooves or channels in the metal plates to
stand out a short distance from the back of front stick and for a greater part of
their length I make them parallel with and to follow the back of front stick, bút
at the lower end, that is the end nearest the main centre or pivot, I turn them
inwards At the end of rod; furthest from the spur or lip, I make in solid with the
rod two short cross arms, either of which arms will move freely along the grooves
or channels in metal plates, and on the rod that is between the cross arms and
running nut I place a spring for raising and balancing the head-The spring takeś
a bearing at one end against the running nut and at the other against the short
flap which stands out from the back, of front stick, one end of the rod being
attatched to the spur or lip, and the other passing through the slot in short flap and
the cross arms engaged in the grooves or channels free to pass to pass along the
parallel part when the spring is compressed.
312 31*
At the lower end of the metal plates and near the inward curve of grooves or
channels I place a rolling piece which takes a bearing in proper holes in the metal
plates, having one end longer than the other to which I attatch a lever handle--On
the rolling piece I make in solid a fork ended spur, the fork being of a size to
correspond with the cross arms in the end of rod.
Having now given the parts of my invention I will describe its actions.
I no arrange the length of rod that the cross arms on rod shall be drawn to the
lower end of inward curve in grooves or channels by means of the lever handle and
this keeps the head in position securely, when the head is closed-To release the
head it is necessary to move the lever handle which is placed convenient for the

page_text: purpose, and by this means throwing the cross arms of rod out of the curved part
of groove or channel by means of the forked spur on rolling piece-When the head
is thrown open, the rod being jointed or hinged behind the main centre or pivot
lengthens on the main centre or pivot, and compresses the spring and causes the
cross arms of rod to travel along the grooves or channels in metal plates until the
front stick or valance rail becomes horizontal and remains in that position To
again close the carriage it is necessary to slightly raise the head by hand, when the
spring will again play and taking the whole weight will bring the head forward to
its original position-To hold the head firmly and securely closed the cross arms
will be forced by means of the forked spur on rolling piece and lever handle into
the inward curve of grooves or channels thus keeping the head rigid until again
released at the will of the occupant.
My invention applies to Landau carriages, only the forked spur and rolling piece
are worked by the cantrail instead of the lever handle..
Fig. 1. represents an appliance or means of raising carriage heads according to
my invention, the said Fig. 1 showing the head closed. Fig. 2. the head when open
and Fig. 3. a plan of the upper part of back of front stick or valance rail. Fig. 4.
shows the metal plates detatched. Fig. 5. another view of same plates. Fig. 6
view of lower end of metal plates showing slotted hole and Fig. 7. shows the
rolling piece with forked spur away from its bearings in the metal plates.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in figures 1 to 7 both
inclusive of accompanying drawings.
A. is the main centre or pivot on which the carriage head turns, B. is a spur or
lip attatched to main centre or pivot, C. is a cross pin or bolt on which the rod
turns or works, D: D. are metal plates grooved or slotted, E. shows the grooves or
channels in metal plates F shows slotted hole and short. flap. G. shows the cross
arms in the end of rod, H. shows the spring which is supported and kept in place:
by the rod I is the rolling piece, J. is the lever handle and, K. is the forked spur
on rolling piece.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is-
1st I claim as new that part of my arrangement which I call the metal plates,
with the grooves or channels with curved ends cut therein, and also the cross arms
at the end of the spring rod to correspond with and work in the said grooves or
channels.
2ndly The arrangement of the roller piece having a forked end between the
metal plates and my provision for working or moving said rolling piece by means
of a lever handle, and
3rdly The combination of parts and arrangements of same to effect the object of
my invention.