IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Parker, of the Town and County of
Cambridge, Carriage Builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CARRIAGES."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Frederick Parker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declaration,
on the 23rd December 1862, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent
Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
PARKER, of the Town and County of Cambridge, Carriage Builder, send
greeting.
WHEREAS, I am possessed of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CARRIAGES," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have
made solemn Declaration that I am the true and first Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederick Parker, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification under my hand and seal fully
describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner.
the same is to be performed, in and by the following statement (that is to
say):-
My Invention has reference to all descriptions of two-wheeled carriages
constructed on the principle known as my registered Cambridge cart," and has

page_text: for its object to facilitate lightness of construction, as well as elasticity and ease
of motion in such carriages, as also to render the same stronger and of greater
durability than at present, and consists, firstly, in connecting the shafts or
front bar directly to the axle by means of steering irons or tension rods con-
nected therewith, thus giving to the ends of the springs liberty to play along
the shafts through the medium of sockets or rings passing round the shaft in
connection therewith, instead of at one of the said ends only, as at present.
Secondly, in attaching one end of the springs to the shafts by means of iron
clips or bands passing round the same, in lieu of lug plates bolted through
the shafts, where it may be necessary to leave one end only of the springs at
liberty to play.
Thirdly, in the employment of india-rubber, gutta percha, or other flexible
material combined with metal (instead of being entirely of iron, as at present)
for forming or manufacturing the sockets or rings, through which the shafts
play by the expansion or contraction of the springs when in motion.
Fourthly, in placing and fixing the shafts at the sides of the elliptic springs,
in place of passing them between the upper and lower halves thereof when
found desirable, the shafts being connected or attached to the ends of the
springs by either of the methods herein described.
Fifthly, in the employment of springs of substance proportionate to the
minimum weight intended to be carried in connection with auxiliary springs
arranged as to be brought into play when additional weight is placed on the
carriage in lieu of springs proportionate to the maximum weight as at present
employed, as also in placing the auxiliary springs either within the same or
parallel to the ordinary springs, so that when a certain amount of weight is
placed upon the carriage the ends of the upper halves of the auxiliary springs
may be brought together and made to rest upon the lower halves thereof
through the medium of india-rubber pads attached to the ends.
Sixthly, in the employment of clips or bands for attaching the upper halves
of the springs to the body, and the lower halves to the axle in like manner,
whereby a more effectual method of securing the same is effected than by
passing the bolts through the springs as hitherto.
Seventhly, in the employment of bearings of india-rubber placed between
the body and the upper halves of the springs, as also between the lower halves
of the springs, and the axle for lessening or checking concussion, noise, wear,
and tear, when in use.
And in order that my said Invention may be more fully understood, and
readily carried into effect, I now proceed to describe the mode of performing
the same in detail (that is to say):-

page_text: In the building of light two-wheeled carriages or vehicles of the description
known as the Cambridge cart upon my improved principle of construction, I
employ for the said purposes light well compassed elliptical. springs, and cause
the same to be mounted upon the shafts longitudinally therewith, in such
manner as to admit of the upper halves of the said springs being secured to
the body of the carriage or vehicle, whilst the lower halves are made secure to
the cross bar or axle blocks or strips of india-rubber being employed and
interposed between the said bearings, as aforesaid, for checking or deadening
the sound, or otherwise, when travelling over rough or uneven ground. The
lower halves of the springs are secured to the lugs or clips of the axle by means
of iron bands or clips passing over the centre, the upper halves of the springs
being secured to the body in like manner, thus leaving the body unattached to
the ends of the springs. I next connect the shafts with the ends of the springs,
either by placing them between the top and bottom halves, or at the side
thereof. When the springs are required to have liberty at one end only, I
effect this by attaching to such end (whether it be the fore or hind end thereof,
or otherwise) the india-rubber socket herein-before described, into which the
ends of the shafts take, being provided with a covering of brass or other metal
casing, for the purpose of protecting the said ends against friction, at the same
time giving freedom to the action of the said ends through the sockets in con-
nection with the play of the springs. I also attach the reverse end of such
springs to the shafts by means of iron clips or bands passing round them,
thus also obviating the necessity of passing bolts through the same, as previously
referred to, but when the springs are required to play at both ends, I effect this
through the medium of the sockets attached respectively to both ends of the.
said springs so as to admit of playing freely along the shafts, and held or
retained thereby in their proper position through the intervention of steering
irons or tension rods aforesaid, by which they are connected thereto. In con-
nection with the above short auxiliary springs are also to be employed and
caused to move with the outer springs, to the ends of which pads of india-
rubber, or otherwise, is fixed so as to impinge thereon when in action, and
prevent any jarring or noise consequent on the same, the said auxiliary springs
being of semi-elliptical form, and arranged longitudinally top and bottom with
the body springs.
In conclusion to the foregoing description I would here briefly note that
upon this principle any design of two-wheeled carriages may in like manner
be manufactured, and the body and other parts thereof constructed of any
suitable material, and lined, stuffed, and finished, as may be found necessary.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this my said

page_text: Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed and carried
into effect, I would have it clearly understood, that I do not claim as of my said
Invention the exclusive use of the several parts herein-before described, except
when the same are employed in and for the purposes of my said Invention, or
the same might be otherwise varied without departing from the general principle
of these my said improvements; but that which I do claim as new and of
my said Invention, I hereby declare to consist in the general construction and
arrangement of the several parts in connection with the under works of two-
wheeled carriages, in the manner and for the purposes herein-before set forth
and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Parker, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
FREDERICK PARKER. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named Frederick Parker,
in the presence of
JOSEPH GARRETT,
Solicitor,
Cambridge.