Improvements in Adjustable Shafts for Wheeled Vehicles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 28th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 4th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Adjustable Shafts for Wheeled Vehicles.
I, THOMAS WATTS of High Street Pershore, in the County of Worcester, Coach
Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object, adjustable shafts for wheeled vehicles, whereby
horizontal, vertical, and lateral adjustment may be effected, to accumulate large
or small horses, or other draught animals.
Thus adjustment is made as to the breadth, height, and length of an animal, or by a
single adjustment of all of the aforesaid.
In carrying out my invention I employ two detachable shafts, jointed or fulcrumed
respectively to pillar rests, or elevated supports, situated at or near the rear ends, and
at or about the middles of the shafts; these pillar rests have bolts, or partially screwed
stems directed from the middles of their undersides, and by means of which, the
shafts are fixedly secured in adjusted positions, by screw nuts or their equivalents,
taking upon their screwed ends extending below the undersides of carrying and
supporting brackets as hereinafter described.
The bolts or stems of the back or rear pillar-rests as aforesaid, take downwardly
through parallel directed slots of carrying or supporting brackets or coach ironwork,
secured to the opposite back parts of the body of a vehicle, whilst the bolts or stems of
the inner pillar-rests take through one or other of a series of obliquely directed holes
or short slots made through horizontally disposed face brackets extending outwardly
and obliquely to the sides of the vehicles. The direction of inclination of the slots is
inwardly towards the back of the vehicle, so that the changing of the positions of the
pillar rests, fore and aft, changes the length and breadth of the shafts, or the fore
parts of them, as the slots at rear being parallel, the rear adjustment in breadth, always
remains constant.
Thus, the bracket ironwork connecting the shafts to the body of the vehicle, have
res plates, with parallel slots pierced through the rear ones, and obliquely directed
holes, through the front ones.
Vertical adjustment is made, by threaded or other blocks placed between the top
side of the supporting brackets, and the undersides of the pillar rests, so that by
introducing one two or more of the said blocks, or by removing one two or more of
them, the height or vertical adjustment of the shafts is effected.
To adjust the shafts say for a small horse, remove one or more of the blocks
threaded on the bolts, disposed between the brackets and pillar rests, then place the
bolts in backward holes of the fore brackets and slide backwards the rear bolts of the
back rests in the slots of the back brackets; this done place and thread the lifting
blocks removed on the protruding ends of the bolts, lying below the undersides of the
said brackets.
Adjustment for a tall heavy horse, remove the bolts of the fore rests into forward
holes of the fore brackets, and place between the top sides of the fore brackets, two or
more lifting blocks, this done, place the affixing nuts upon the ends of the screws.
Although I have described that adjustment in length, breadth and height, is effected
by means of adjustment holes, and lift blocks, yet longitudinal lateral and vertical
screw adjustments may be arranged fulfil the same object.
Dated this 29th day of November 1889.
THOMAS WATTS.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Adjustable Shafts for Wheeled Vehicles.
I, THOMAS WATTS, of High Street, Pershore, in the County of Worcester, Coach
Builder do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention has for its object, adjustable shafts for wheeled vehicles, whereby
horizontal, vertical, and lateral adjustment, is, or may be effected, to accommodate large
or small horses, or other draught animals to the vehicles to be drawn.
Thus, adjustment is made as to the breadth, height, and length of an animal, or by
a single adjustment, of all of the aforesaid.
In carrying out my invention, I employ two detachable shafts, jointed or fulcrumed
respectively to the connections or supports, situated at, or near the rear ends, and at
or about the middles of the shafts; these connections have bolts, or partially screwed
stems, directed from the middles of their undersides, and by means of which, the
shafts are fixedly secured in adjusted positions, by screw nuts, or their equivalents,
taking upon their screwed ends, extending below the undersides of rest or supporting
brackets, as hereinafter described.
The bolts or stems of the back or rear pillar-rests, as aforesaid, take downwardly
through parallel directed slots, of rest or carrying brackets, or ironwork, secured to
the opposite back parts of the body of a vehicle; whilst the bolts or stems of the
inner connections, take through one or other of a series of obliquely directed boles, or
short slots, made through horizontally disposed rest brackets, extending outwardly and
obliquely to the sides of the vehicle. The direction of inclination of the holes, is
inwardly towards the back of the vehicle, so that the changing of the position of the
connections, fore and aft, changes the length and breadth of the shafts, or the fore
parts of them, as the slots at rear being parallel, the rear adjustment in breadth,
always remains constant.
Thus, the bracket ironwork connecting the shafts to the body of the vehicle, have
rest plates, with parallel slots pierced through the rear ones, and obliquely directed
holes through the front ones.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents in side elevation, the body of a
wheeled vehicle, provided with adjustable iron-work, or adjustable shafts iron work,
made according to my invention.
The shafts are also provided with noiseless connections, constructed according to my
ormer Letters Patent No. 14755 dated September 19th 1889.
Figure 2 represents an underside plan of the said vehicle, and the iron work, which
admits of the shafts being adjusted either longitudinally, vertically, or laterally, either
collectively or separately.
By providing the vehicles with adjustable shafts iron-work, the shafts admit of being
adjusted to suit varying sized horses, within certain limits. Thus, the shafts can be
adjusted, to both the heighth, breadth, and length, of a horse.
Figure 3 represents a side elevation of the shafts, and its ironwork, upon an
enlarged scale. The lower part of the ironwork, is shown in section, in order to
exhibit the screw bolt, or the screwed stalk, proceeding vertically from the middle of
the said noiseless connection, with which the shaft is directly connected. It also
shows the lifting collars, whereby the shafts admit of being vertically adjusted.
Figure 4 represents a like view as Figure 3, but with the positions of the lifting
collars of the front ironwork, varied, thus adjusting the shafts to a medium height as
represented. It will be also apparent, that the inner ends of the shafts, turn about the
rear noiseless connections, on adjustability taking place in the front ironwork.
Figure 5 represents an inverted or underside plan of Figure 4.
Figure 6 shows the rear ironwork, consisting essentially of a stay, with the slotted
Tshaped end, within the slot or race of which, the bolts, or the stalks depending
from the undersides of the rear noiseless connections, take, and are adjustable.

page_text: Figure 7 represents the front ironwork, or one of the stays of it.
Figure 8 shows a plan and side elevation of the lifting collar, and a like inter-
posing leather washer.
The same letters of reference, indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of
the drawings.
h
a is the body of the vehicle, are the shafts, adjustably connected to the said body,
by front adjustable ironwork c, and rear adjustable ironwork d, and with noiseless
connections b' of them, interposed between the said iron-work and the shafts.
e,
with
The front adjustable ironwork c, consists of inclined or angular rest brackets
the ends and middle, pierced with holes or eyes e¹, e², e³, wherethrough bolts or
stems, screwed at their ends, and carried by the noiseless connections b', take,
according to the position or adjustment requiring to be taken by the shafts.
Thus, if the shafts require to take medium lateral positions, then the bolts are
passed through the middle eyes or holes e³, and for a further outward adjustment, then
through the outer holes e¹.
These rest brackets, are carried at the ends of stays et, having attachable flap and
branched ends e, wherethrough bolts, or their equivalents, pass, in the attachment of
the said ironwork to the underside of the body of the vehicle.
fare lifting collars, or vertically adjusting blocks, according to the position of
which, the shafts are raised or lowered, and made to turn upon their rear connections,
as joint centres.
The ironwork is kept in position, by the screwing up of a nut g, upon the screwed
end of the stem 62, whilst leather washers 2, are preferably interposed between the
lifting collars, and ironwork.
The rear adjustable ironwork d, consists of slotted rest brackets h, directed parallel,
or nearly so, to the sides of the vehicle.
The slots are marked 2, the stays ', and the branch flapped attachments h³.
The noiseless connection 61, carries a bolt or stem 62, screwed at its end, and upon
which, a nut g, takes, and comes upon the underside of the slotted rest bracket h, h²,
with a lifting collar f, interposed between the top of the said slotted rest bracket
ironwork, and the connection as aforesaid.
For vertical adjustment, dispose the lifting collars or blocks, upon the under or top
side, or upon both of the rest brackets, when the said rest brackets or ironwork,
is raised, lowered, or adjusted, according to the position which the same is required to
take, according to an animal intended to draw the vehicle.
For lateral or horizontal adjustment to the breadth of a horse, make the bolt of the
connection take into one or other of the eyes of the rest brackets, of the ironwork c,
when the shafts will be made to diverge, or the distance between them reduced,
according to the extent required.
For longitudinal adjustment, draw the bolts 62, of the ironwork d, within the
slots 2, of the rest brackets h, as represented in the dotted lines Figure 2.
I wish it to be observed, that the connection b¹, may be of any form, other than
according to the invention described in my said cited patent, which is shown
connected rearwardly and forwardly to the shafts, by bolt and band attachments.
Instead of the front and pierced rest brackets é, being made rigid with its stay, the
same may if necessary, be made adjustable, and secured in position by a screw pin, or
other means, hence the said bracket admits of changing its angle with respect to its
stay.
Instead of employing obliquely directed or diverging eyes or holes, within the rest
plates, of the front iron-work, I may employ a rest bolt, provided with distance blocks
or collars, which admit of horizontal adjustment to the shafts.
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
First Providing the front ironwork shaft rests, or supports, with converging or
:

page_text: horizontal adjustment means, and the rear ironwork shaft rests or supports, with
pivot and longitudinal adjustment means, substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly Adjustable shafts ironwork, providing the front part or parts, of the
said ironwork, or rest brackets, with obliquely directed holes, short slots, or their
equivalents, with like or unlike directed brackets, whilst the rear supporting part or
parts, of the said ironwork, are longitudinally slotted, wherein pivoted connections,
work and are adjusted, whereby horizontal and longitudinal adjustment is, or may be
performed, substantially as described and set forth.
:-
Thirdly Adjustable shafts ironwork, performing or conducting vertical adjust-
ment, by the interposition, or changing of the position or positions, of lifting collars
or blocks, with respect to the rest brackets of the ironwork, substantially as described
and set forth.
---
Fourthly Adjustable shafts ironwork, the construction and arrangement of the
parts, as described and set forth, whereby horizontal, longitudinal, and vertical
adjustments, are obtained.
Dated this 19th day of August 1890
THOMAS WATTS.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.