Improvements in Steering Perambulators and Bath Chairs.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Sept., 1886.
Complete Left, 26th May; 1887.
Complete Accepted, 28th June, 1887.
Improvements in Steering Perambulators and Bath Chairs.
I, RIDLEY JAMES URQUHART, 3 Mona Villas, Church Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy,
Lancashire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My Invention relates to an Improvement on my former patent No. 5761-1885,
entitled Improvements in the Steering of Bath Chairs, Perambulators and Baby
Carriages, whereby I proposed to use a centre or swivel in advance of one of the axles,
the wheels of which followed the direction in which the centre or swivel fixed to the
body of the carriage, was turned by the hand.
By this Invention I propose to apply an arrangement to Bath Chairs and perambu-
lators, chiefly that class known as Bassinettes and Baby-carriages, for the purpose of
facilitating the guiding or steering of them. I abolish in practice the forward centre
or swivel in advance of the axle, merely using the centre as a point, whereby to
describe a suitable curve in a lateral direction; and I construct the front or rear axle
of the carriage in such a manner that it will be moveable and travel laterally each way
for a suitable distance, following the line of the said curve, the radius of which is
determined by the length of the moveable axle.
I
In order that I may be better understood, I propose to effect this in the following
way-I affix to the springs above and along the moveable axle, a suitable guide or
guides in the form of the curve radiating from a point in advance of the said axle.
then construct the moveable axle in such a manner, that it will slide or move radially
and laterally in the said guide or guides. In order to reduce friction I use rollers in
suitable places if necessary, and also suitable springs, or a spring catch, to keep the
axle in, or bring it back to, its true position when there is no pressure against it.
I also propose to apply the aforesaid arrangement between the springs and body of
the carriage.
Dated thin noth the of Contember 1886

page_text: Improvements in Steering Perambulators and Bath-chairs.
RIDLEY JAMES URQUHART of 3 Mona Villas, Church Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy,
Lancashire, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to he performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
-
My Invention consists of the application of a horizontal radial travelling or sliding
arrangement to the axles of baby-carriages, bassinettes and other perambulators, and
bath chairs, for the purpose of facilitating the guiding or steering of them, the radial
travel of such arrangement being effected in and controlled by means of radial
guides in conjunction with the said axles.
I propose to apply this said arrangement to the axle or axles of either the front or
rear wheel or wheels, and the manner in which this is effected is explained in and by
the following statement and accompanying drawings:-
In the said drawings Fig. 1. is a plan of the under portion of a perambulator body
shewing the application of the said sliding arrangement to the axle of the rear wheels.
Fig. 2. is the sectional elevation through the centre of the same body, shewing tho
front view of the axle and guide. Fig. 3. is a plan and Fig. 4 the front elevation of
a carriago shewing the said radial motion applied to the axle of the front wheels.
In the said figures. (a) represents the sliding axle and (b) the guide of which (c) in
Figs. 1. and 2, is a portion. In Figs. 1. and 2. the guide consists of a metal rod (b)
curved to a radius described from a point (o) in advance of the said axle. To the axle
is affixed a tube (c) curved likewise as the guide rod (b); this tube is free with the
axle to slide in the radial direction defined by the guide rod (b) which passes through
it. The metal guide-rod (b) is affixed at each end to a plate (d) which serves also as
a bearing and slide for the axle. A cap or guard (d¹) covers the plate (d) and keeps
the axle in position. The guide-rod (b) may also be affixed to the axle (a) and short
tubes or suitable sockets may be employed as the corresponding portion of the guide,
in place of the arrangement shewn in Figs. 1 and 2. These said guides may also be
employed in connexion with the axle of the front wheel or wheels.
In Figs. 3. and 4. the axle (a) is curved to the desired radius, and slides directly in
the guide (b) (b). This guide is here shewn in box form having a cap (6¹) at each
end, or the axle may slide in a channel curved as described and of any suitable length.
The cap (b) by being removed allows the axle to be lifted out. These guides also
may be employed in connexion with the axle of the rear wheels.
On the guide-rod (b) Figs. 1. and 2. or on the axle (a) Figs. 3 and 4. spiral
or other suitable springs may be employed if necessary to keep the axle in or bring it
back to its true position in the guide.
In Figs. 1. and 3. the broken lines (x) (x) (x) define the positions of the wheels to
the body of the perambulator when lateral pressure is applied to the handle (ƒ) by
the hand in the direction indicated by the arrows,

page_text: Figs. 5. and 6. represent two enlarged views of the sliding axle and guide. In
these views the guide consists first of a plate (b) (b) having a radial slot in the
direction of its length. This plate is suitably prepared to affix to any portion of the
perambulator. To the axle (a) immediately underneath the plate (b) (b) is affixed a
corresponding plate (c) having two bosses or projections (c) which project slightly
through the slot in the upper plate (a). In the centre of the slot is a web or
division (6) between which and the boss (c¹) on either side is placed a spiral spring (d)
if necessary, to keep the true position of the two plates. To the projecting bosses (c¹) is
affixed a plate (c); this plate overlaps the slot and thus keeps the plates (b) and (c) in
position. The broken lines (x) (x) (x) indicate the position of the sliding axle at its
full travel. The axle (a) may be suitably prepared to slide directly in the slot in the
plate (b) in place of the intervening plate (c).
Fig. 7 shews the front view and Fig. 8. the plan of a sliding axle and radial guide
applied to a single wheel. (a) is the axle, (b) (b) the guide which consists of two
curved plates each having a slot (b) curved to one radius from a point (o) in advance
of the axle (a). These curved plates are affixed in any suitable manner to the fork or
frame which carries the wheel. Each end of the axle terminates with a plate (c)
which has a vertical boss or pin (c¹). This pin slides in the slot (6¹); a plate (c)
covers in the slot and is rivetted or affixed in a suitable manner to the boss or pin (c¹)
The spring (d) is placed in the slot and kept in position by the plate (c³). The broken
lines at (2) indicate the position the wheel can occupy to the guide. This guide may
also consist of a curved rod and socket fixed respectively to the axle and framework
similar in construction to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
The guides shewn in figures 1. to 6. are represented as affixed to the springs (e) (e)
of the perambulator, but by employing other suitable springs, or otherwise, they may
be applied between the springs and body of the carriage.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim
18:-
1st. The application of a horizontal radial travelling or sliding arrangement effected
and controlled by a radial guide or guides, to the axle or axles of the front or rear
wheel or wheels of baby-carriages, bassinettes and other perambulators, and bath
chairs, the travel or direction of such guides to radiate from some point in advance of
the said axle or axles, substantially as hereinbefore described, and indicated in and by
the accompanying drawings.
2nd. The different manners of construction of sliding axle and radial guide sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth and indicated herein before and in and by
the accompanying drawings.
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