AN IMPROVED ELECTRIC APPARATUS FOR MASTERING HORSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Adèle Engström, of Paris, Boulevard de Strasbourg, 23,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED ELECTRIC APPARATUS FOR MASTERING
HORSES."
Sealed the 19th July 1878, and dated the 13th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Adèle Engström at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th February 1878.
ADELE ENGSTRÖM, of Paris, Boulevard de Strasbourg, 23. "AN IMPROVED
ELECTRIC APPARATUS FOR MASTERING HORSES."
My Invention relates to the application of electric currents, such as are produced
by an induction coil, to the bits of horses for the purpose of mastering them when
restive. For this purpose the bit is formed of two separate pieces of iron united
at their inner ends by a piece of leather or other suitable insulating substance, the
outer ends being connected to bars similar to those of an ordinary curb. To the
rings of these bars are connected, in addition to the ordinary bridle or rein, two
conducting wires, by preference attached by spring hooks, so as each to be in electric
contact with one bar of the bit; these wires are covered with leather or other
insulating covering, and pass back to the electrical apparatus fixed upon the carriage
or upon the saddle in any convenient manner.
The electric apparatus consists, firstly, of a galvanic battery of any suitable known
arrangement, but by preference consisting of a jar of vulcanite, closed water-tight
by a screwed cover from sockets on which are suspended two carbon elements
immersed in acidulated water, or in a solution of bichromate of potash with which
the jar is partly filled.
Between the carbon elements is a rod passing through the cover, and having a
zinc element attached to its lower end, the rod being acted upon by a spring so as
ordinarily to maintain the zinc in a raised position out of the liquid, aud consequently

page_text: the battery out of action until occasion may require. The battery is enclosed in a
casing, also containing a small induction coil of ordinary construction with the
terminals of the one coil, of which the electrodes of the battery are respectively
connected, while the before-mentioned wires leading to the bit are connected to
the terminals of the other coil.
Under ordinary circumstances the above-described apparatus is entirely out of
action, but on the horse becoming restive, by depressing the spring rod either
directly by hand or by foot, or by the intervention of a pedal, an electric current
is generated, bringing the induction coil into action, and the currents from this
passing along the wires to the bit, operate effectually in quieting and mastering the
horse. So soon as this is accomplished the spring rod is released, and the battery
thrown out of action again.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Adèle Engström in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd July
1878.
ADELE ENGSTRÖM, of Paris, Boulevard de Strasbourg, 23.
ELECTRIC APPARATUS FOR MASTERING HORSES."
"AN IMPROVED
My Invention relates to the application of electric currents, such as are produced
by an induction coil, to the bits of horses for the purpose of mastering them when
restive. For this purpose the bit is formed of two seperate pieces of iron united
at their inner ends by a piece of leather or other suitable insulating substance, the
outer ends being connected to bars similar to those of an ordinary curb. To the
rings of these bars are connected, in addition to the ordinary bridle or rein, two
conducting wires, by preference attached by spring hooks, so as each to be in electric
contact with one bar of the bit; these wires are covered with leather or other
insulating covering, and pass back to the electrical apparatus fixed upon the carriage
or upon the saddle in any convenient manner.
any
The electric apparatus consists, firstly, of a galvanic battery of suitable known
arrangement, but by preference consisting of a jar of vulcanite, closed water-tight
by a screwed cover from sockets on which are suspended two carbon elements
immersed in acidulated water, or in a solution of bichromate of potash with which
the jar is partly filled.
Between the carbon elements is a rod passing through the cover, and having
a zinc element attached to its lower end, the rod being acted upon by a spring,
so as ordinarily to maintain the zinc in a raised position out of the liquid, and
consequently the battery out of action until occasion may require. The battery

page_text: is enclosed in a casing also containing a small induction coil of ordinary construction
with the terminals of the one coil, of which the electrodes of the battery are respec-
tively connected, while the before-mentioned wires leading to the bit are connected
to the terminals of the other coil.
Under ordinary circumstances the above-described apparatus is entirely out of
action, but on the horse becoming restive, by depressing the spring rod, either
directly by hand or by foot, or by the intervention of a pedal, an electric current
is generated, bringing the induction coil into action, and the currents from this
passing along the wires to the bit, operate effectually in quieting and mastering the
horse. So soon as this is accomplished the spring rod is released, and the battery
thrown out of action again.
Fig. 1 represents in perspective a general view of the above-described apparatus.
Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section; Fig. 3, a transverse section; and
Fig. 4, a plan of the battery box.
And, Fig. 5, diagramatically the application of a pedal for the purpose of putting
the battery in action.
The bit consists of the two similar parts a, a, connected by a leathern band or
loop b. Each of the parts a, a, has an eye engaging on the side bar o, to the ring d
of which is hooked the spring swivel g, which terminates the conducting wire f.
The wires are cased in leather, and insulated from each other; they are carried
side by side within a leather tube, constituting the safety rein h from a point e near
the bit to a point e¹ near the battery box, at which point they separate, and are
respectively connnected by spring swivels g', g', to the terminals k, k¹. The two
conductors instead of being enclosed within a single rein tube h, may be carried
separate all the way from g to g¹. The battery box A covered by a lid B secured
by hooks i, contains the battery jar C and the induction coil X. The jar C of non-
conducting material which resists acid action, such as vulcanite, has a screwed lid
D, to which are fixed two carbon plates E, E, connected together at the top. A
plate of zinc F guided between the carbons E, E, by a non-conducting guide j, is
attached to a sliding rod G pressed upwards by a spring H. The jar C is charged
with acidulated water or a solution of bichromate of potass to a depth such that
the zinc is kept out of the liquid by the spring, but on pressing down the rod G
by hand or by a pedal K, as shewn in Fig. 5, the zinc becomes immersed in the
liquid and electricity is generated. The positive electrode 7 connects with the
carbons, and the negative electrode ¹ is connected by a plate m to the collar n of
the zinc rod.
The electrodes, 1', are connected by wires o, o¹, to the terminals p, p'. From
p, a wire q connects to the contact 7, under which is the spring vibrating armature
8 connected by the wire t to the upper end of the coil; from p'a wire u connects
to the lower end of the coil
The intermittent induced currents are led by the wires x and y to the terminals
k, k, and thence to the two parts a, a, of the bit. The passage of the currents
through the horse's mouth affect him in such a manner that he can be readily
mastered and controlled.
It is obvious that the form and arrangement of the battery and induction coil
might be varied, and that the required movement of the zinc plate could be com-
municated in various ways from the hand or foot of the rider or driver when ho
desires to put the battery in action.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim, the use for mastering a horse of an electric curb
consisting of two parts, connected in the horse's mouth by non-conducting material,
and connected by conductors with an induction coil, rendered active when required

page_text: by the immersion of a zinc plate in the liquid of a battery cell, substantially as
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Adèle Engström, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
CH. ARMENGAUD,
Civil Engineer,
Boulevard de Strasbourg, 23,
à Paris.
ADELE ENGSTRÖM. (L.S.)