CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEEL- BARROWS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Antoine Andraud, of Paris, in the Empire of France,
Engineer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEEL-
BARROWS."
Sealed the 10th March 1857, and dated the 17th September 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Antoine Andraud at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th
September 1856.
I, ANTOINE ANDRAUD, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN WHEELBARROWS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, first, to the particular arrangements and application
of two wheels to wheelbarrows instead of one, as in ordinary, whereby the
axle may be brought nearer to the centre of gravity of the load without
prejudice to the stability of the barrow, the work of the driver being at the
same time lessened by reducing the load on his hands.
I form the axle in two parts, divided transversely to its length; each part of
the axle is furnished with a wheel, which is placed near the end of its respective
part. When the barrow is to be used for purposes in which it is not intended
to be upset for discharging its load, the parts of the axle are arranged with
the longer ends or naves placed next to each other, so that the wheels are
situated wide apart, thereby giving great stability to the barrow. When it is

page_text: desired that the barrow should be upset, the positions of the wheels are
altered, and they are brought closer together, but still at some little distance
from each other.
I form the body or compartment of the barrow for carrying the load partly
over the wheels, thereby deminishing the load on the hands; and in order that 5
it may be readily upset or inverted in either direction, I make the backboard
of the barrow large and of a somewhat oval form, on which it may be rolled
over in upsetting, and again righted with less exertion than is the case in
barrows without such oval form at the back.
In some cases I place the two wheels between the operator and the load, so 1
that he has no load to support, but, on the contrary, he is partially relieved of
his own weight by resting on the shafts or handles to keep them down.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Antoine Andraud in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th March 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ANTOINE
ANDRAUD, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Antoine Andraud, Her special licence that I, the said Antoine Andraud, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Antoine
Andraud, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEEL-
BARROWS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Antoine
Andraud, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Antoine Andraud, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
that is to say :-
This Invention relates, first, to the particular arrangements and application
of two wheels to wheelbarrows instead of one, as in ordinary, whereby the
axle may be brought nearer to the centre of gravity of the load without preju-
dice to the stability of the barrow, the work of the barrow man being at the
same time lessened by reducing the load on his hands.
I form the nave or boss of the wheels in two parts, divided transversely to
its length; each part of the nave is furnished with a wheel, which is placed
near the end of its respective part. When the barrow is to be used for purposes
in which it is not intended to be upset for discharging its load, the parts of the
axletree are arranged with the longer ends or naves placed next to each other,
so that the wheels are situated wide apart, thereby giving great stability to the
barrow. When it is desired that the barrow should be upset, the positions of
the wheels are altered, and they are brought close together, but still at some
little distance from each other. I form the body or compartment of the barrow
or carrying the load partly over the wheels, thereby diminishing the load on:
the hands; and in order that it may be readily upset or inverted in either
direction, I make the backboard of the barrow large and of a somewhat oval
or circular form, on which it may be rolled over in upsetting and again righted
with less exertion than is the case in barrows without such oval form at the
back. In some cases I place the two wheels between the operator and the
load, so that he has no load to support, but, on the contrary, he is partially
relieved of his own weight by resting on the shafts or handles to keep them
down.
To effect and carry out these improvements, I dispose the axletree under
the chest, or body or bottom of the barrow, in such a manner that the load may
be balanced as required at pleasure, by which a diminution of the weight.
which rests on the arms of the barrow man may be brought to a point,
rendering it negative if necessary.
Secondly, I give to the barrow greater or less stability by a variable separa-
tion and adjustment of the two wheels. I further provide a moveable way.
for the barrows in case of excavating, by which the transport is facilitated,
and, together with the other arrangements, augments the utility and capacity
of the barrow, and enables the workmen to work in longer stages. These
barrows are suitable for all purposes: for the navigator, the road-man, the

page_text: quarry-man, the pavior, the mason, the farmer, the railway porter, wood
yard, &c.
All the different forms as suited to these purposes are represented in the
Drawings annexed.
Figures 1 an 2 exhibit each an elevation of the barrow of the excavator or
navigator as used in France; Figure 3, a transverse section of the barrow,
Figure 2. The same letters refer to the same parts of the vehicles in all the
Figures.
Figure 4 is an elevation of an excavator's barrow as used in England. A,
the body of the barrow; B, the frame and bottom of the barrow, rising up at
the back part to afford room for the wheels; C, C, the support of the axle of
the wheels; D, D, the two wheels and their naves on the one side of each
wheel; this nave is long, and the other it is short. In the excavator's barrow,
where it is wished to facilitate its upsetting in order to empty the contents, the
two wheels are united by placing the naves with their short ends together end
to end, the wheels being then separated about seven inches and a quarter, as
at Figure 3. E, Figure 2, represents the disc, which terminates the back part
of the barrow, on which it rolls over in upsetting. By means of this disc it is
also more easily righted after discharging the load.
with, if desired, it not being indispensable to the barrow. F, F, the barrow
handles; H, bearing to wheel axle or axles.
This disc may be dispensed
The excavator's barrow, mounted as it is represented in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4,
rolls when it is working on the road of plates I, formed of planks placed end
to end, and hinged, in order to be able to follow all irregularities and inequalities
of the ground; it is also provided with ledges for maintaining the path of
the barrow.
In the road maker's barrow, and that of the mason, of the gardener, and
of the agricultural labourer, represented at Figure 6, as greater stability is
required, the two wheels are placed with the longest parts of the naves together
end to end.
Figure 7 represents the barrow as constructed or perfected for the service of
railways, parcel offices, the docks, manufactories, and other works.
Figure 8 represents the barrow arranged and constructed for the wood-
cutter, pavior, the quarryman, and other uses.
Figure 9, barrow adapted for agricultural purposes, for the transport of
straw, of forage, and of corn sacks, &c.
Figure 10, the barrow of dimensions suited for divers other uses.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of carrying

page_text: the same into practical effect, I declare that what I claim as my Invention, to
be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the disposition of the wheels and axletree under the body or bottom
of the barrow in manner so that an equilibrium or balance of the load can be
established at will, as herein described.
Secondly, the arrangement and construction of the wheels and their naves,
or any mere equivalent therefore, whereby their position may be regulated or
changed to ensure greater or less stability according to the purposes required,
as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Antoine Andraud, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
A. ANDRAUD. (L.S.)