AN IMPROVED BACK CHAIN FOR CART SADDLES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Haseltine, of the "International Patent
Office," Southampton Buildings, London, Doctor of Laws, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED BACK CHAIN FOR CART SADDLES."-A com-
munication from abroad by William Brainbridge McClure, John
Charles Graham, and H. O. Claughton, all of Alexandria, Virginia,
United States of America.
Sealed the 25th February 1873, and dated the 1st January 1873.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Haseltine at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and :
Declaration, on the 1st January 1873, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HASELTINE, of the "International Patent Office," Southampton Buildings,
London, Doctor of Laws, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "AN IMPROVED BACK :
CHAIN FOR CART Saddles," 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 it has been com- ..

page_text: municated to me from abroad by William Brainbridge McClure, John
Charles Graham, and H. O. Claughton, all of Alexandria, Virginia,
United States of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Haseltine, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings forming
a part of this Specification :-
:-
This Invention relates to a back chain for cart saddles, which is
provided with rollers for the purpose of easing its movement in the
groove of the saddle and permitting it to readily adjust itself to the
varying positions of the shafts as the wheels of the cart or dray pass
over uneven ground, and consists mainly in the peculiar construction
of the various links' and the combinations with each other of the various
parts.

page_text: roller carrying links are connected together.
It is preferably made
smaller than the other links and has a peculiar outline shown in cross
section, Figure 4, its outline surface being flat, or nearly so, and its inner
surface curved.
A suitable number of the roller carrying links A united by the inter-
mediate links B constitute the central portion of the chain which rests
upon the cart saddle. At each end of the central portion is attached
what I term a bar link c formed of a suitable piece of flat metal, having
eyes or rings by means of which it is connected to the adjacent parts,
as shewn. D, D, represent swivel links which are attached at one end
to the bar links by suitable connections, and at the other to the series of
links of ordinary construction, which terminate the chain proper upon
one side and connect with the traveller E upon the other side. E and F
represent travellers provided with suitable friction devices. I prefer to
use wheels having a V shaped face, as shown.
The peculiar construction of the roller carrying links is especially
advantageous. The enlarged central portion gives the requisite strength,
and its flattened sides upon the interior of the link furnish a smooth
bearing surface for the ends of the roller to come into contact with, and
upon its exterior a smooth surface to rub against the sides of the groove
of the cart saddle.
The peculiar construction of the connecting link is designed for a
special purpose.
The curved interior surface, as shown in cross section,
adapts the link to swing laterally, and also to move laterally upon the
curved portion of the link A with great freedom and without cutting or
grinding.
The bar links also are designed for a special purpose. The central
portion consisting mainly of the roller carrying links is necessarily the
most expensive part of the chain, and it is desirable for this reason and
also for convenience that it should be no longer than is essential for the
proper working of the chain. In practice therefore it is preferred to
make the chain simply long enough to permit the usual play incidental
to the unequal movement of the cart shafts.
To accommodate the unusual movement upon the part of the chain
however the bar links are provided, these being centrally attached to
the last link of the central portion, and being provided with a preferably
smooth under surface with its inner end curved upward are adapted to.

page_text: pass up into the groove of the cart saddle without catching upon its
sides or grinding upon its bottom surface. The swivels at each end are
employed for the purpose of causing the rollers to rest squarely in the
bed of the groove under all circumstances, and prevent all possibility of
their tilting upon one end and cutting into the wood.
The employment of the travellers in connection with the other parts
herein described makes a chain perfectly adapted for the purpose for
which it is designed, and which will adjust itself readily to the varying
circumstances of the case. The chain may be constructed of any suitable
material, but is preferably made mainly of malleable cast iron. The
rollers however may be of ordinary cast metal and their bearing shafts
of wrought iron..
When the aforesaid chain is employed the horse or other draught
animal is not only saved from the suffering occasioned by the violent
wrenching of his back and consequent soreness arising from the rubbing
of the saddle, but he is enabled to use his strength to great advantage,
the chain readily adjusting itself to every movement of the shaft however
slight, and thus equalizing the strain upon his back. The traveller also
adjusts itself quickly to every change, so that the animal is under no
circumstances hampered and bound down in consequence of the parts
not moving freely upon each other.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim, the novel construction of the
various links herein described and their combinations with each other,
and the other parts of the chain, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Haseltine, have hereunto
set my hand, this First day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
Witness,
W. J. LOWE.
GEORGE HASELTINE. (L.S.)