Improved Apparatus for Preventing Horses Running Away.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Preventing Horses Running Away.
I, NICOLAS LEITERER of Haupstrasse 126, Guebwiller, in the Province of
Alsace, Germany, Clockmaker, 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 relates to improved apparatus for preventing horses running
away.
Referring to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as part of this
specification and read therewith :-
Figures 1 to 6 inclusive illustrate the construction and operation of the invention
when applied to a set of driving harness; and Figures 7 to 12, the same applied to
a saddle horse.
Figure 1 is an inverted sectional plan of the principal portion of the improved
apparatus, taken along the line A B of Figure 3.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation through the check box shewing the roller
unlocked.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation through the same box shewing the roller
locked.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of a horse illustrating the application of the
invention to a set of driving harness.
Figure 5 is a front elevation of the collar of such harness.
Figure 6 is a plan of a substitute for the chains illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.
To each side of the collar m, or of the breast plate, whichever may be worn,
there is fixed a check box a, so called because the checking apparatus is controlled
from it. The proper position for these boxes is the one illustrated in Figures 4
and 5. Each one is a replica of the other. 6 is an axle having its bearings in the
sides of the box, and b, a shrouded pulley mounted thereupon. c is a ratchet
wheel fast to the pulley b. e is a lever having its fulcrum in a stud near the
edge of the box a. The end of the inwardly projecting arm of it acts as a pawl
and is held in engagement with the ratchet wheel c by a flat spring i. The other
arm of the lever e is continued outwards through the edge of the box a and is
fitted with a roller h working in a loop h. t, are two straps both fast by their
inner ends to the axle 6 and wound round the pulley b'. The strap t is led over
the roller h and the strap over the outside of the loop . n, n are elastic straps
connecting the free ends of the two straps t, I to one end of a chain o. The other
end of the latter is passed round the adjacent leg of the horse, being led behind
the corresponding chain and then up to the collar m to which it is made fast by
being hooked on the hook g. Or it may be made fast to the ring on the belly
band instead. The two straps t, t, are merged into a single one which is led to the
driver's seat.
l
When a horse tries to bolt, the driver pulls the above mentioned single strap,
thereby, disengaging the pawls e from the ratchet wheels c. The straps t, l, run
out together so that the elastic straps n and the looped chains o on both sides of
the horse drop, more or less as the driver may desire. As the chains are fast at
one end (i.e., to the collar or to the belly band), the two loops contract during the
drop, tighten round the respective frout leg of the animal and compel him to stop.
A flat spring k, the resilience of which can be regulated by a set screw p, is

page_text: fixed in the box a, and acts as a brake upon the pulley 61 during the unwinding of
the two straps t, 1. d is a hand wheel fast on the axle 6 on the outside of the
box a. It serves for the purpose of winding the straps t, I up again.
เ
When it is desired to replace the chains o, o, by lighter ties, the substitute
illustrated in Figure 6 is made use of. It consists of a leather covered metal
plater. This cover is preferably in two pieces to facilitate the fixation of it.
The plate is placed between the horse's fore legs. A cord s' is led through the
two corners on the side of the plate so as to make a loop v across the outside of
each leg-one cord for each side. t¹, u are set screws to hold the cord at each
corner and to permit of the length of the loop vl being adjusted according to the
size of the animal's limb. The junction xl of the ends of each cord s is made fast
to the elastic straps n, n on the respective side.
To prevent a horse bolting during the time he is left unwatched, the box a is
fitted with a disengaging lever g by means of which the pawl e may be swung
away from the ratchet wheel e by swinging the outside handle f of the lever g from
the position illustrated in Figure 3 to that illustrated in Figure 2. If the horse
were to start off then the weight of the chains o, o (or of the plate ) would effect
the unwinding of the straps t and I and the drop of the loops.
Figure 7 is a side elevation.
Figure 8 is a section of the apparatus in action.
Figure 9 is a section of the apparatus out of action.
Figure 10 is a plan.
=
Figure 11 is a side elevation illustrating the application of the invention to &
saddle horse.
Figure 12 is a front elevation.
Que
The apparatus as applied to a saddle horse has the looped chains o, o, and the
elastic straps, in common with the apparatus for draught harness already
described. To the elastic straps, a is joined a perforated strap w which is led
upwards through the check box a', entering it through the bottom end of it.
or more straps u are made fast by their ends to the back of the two boxes
respectively and serve, after having been laid across the horse to support the
apparatus in position. In the upper part of each box a', there is the metal covered
end of the strap which is capable of moving up and down between guides fast
upon the sides of the said box. The said strap end is provided with an incline p.
pis a second incline, but inclined in a reverse direction to the former. It is
pivotted upon an axle p having its bearings in the box sides. y is a hook fast to
the top end of the incline p' and capable of engaging in one of the perforations in
the strap w. 6 is a flat spring adapted to keep the hook in its normal position,
i.e., so engaged in the strap w. Each spring may be fitted with a regulating screw.
c' is a slide capable of sliding in grooves in the box a', and adapted, so long as it
stands therein, to hold the hook y in engagement with the said strap, thereby
preventing its unintended disengagement. When the rider pulls the strap v, the
pull is transmitted through rigid connections d¹ to both slides c', and through
stirrups e, e to the slides f¹, f¹ to the strap ends z, z, so that the inclines p
disengage the hooks from the straps wo, to by thrusting the inclines p', p', away
against the resilience of their springs 6', 6'. Each strap wo then drops and the two
chain loops fetter the horse's legs in the way already mentioned.
Each strap w is fitted at its opposite end with a metal loop g' rivetted to it and
which serves as a guide for the strap v. When the horse is left unwatched, each
loop g is pushed against the respective stirrup e and each slide c drawn. The
hooks y, y then disengage from the straps w, w, the inclines p', pl, remaining in
contact with the inclines p, p. If the horse starts off then, the straps w, wo, together
with the looped chains o, o drop and fetter his fore legs. The length of the
straps wo, wo limits the drop of the chains o, o.
The introduction of insignificant modifications into either of the two apparatus
described above will suffice to adapt a saddle apparatus for use with a draught
harness or vice versa..

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In apparatus for preventing a horse in harness from running away either when
he is on the move or when he is standing unwatched, the combination of two straps
both held wound up in one check box by a pawl and ratchet, one of which led to
the driver is adapted when it is pulled, to disengage the pawl and so allow the
other of them to drop as far as is desired, together with the chains or cords
attached thereto for the purpose of fettering the fore leg, as set forth.
2. In apparatus for preventing a saddle horse from running away either when he
is on the move or when he is standing unwatched, the combination of suspending
strap, check box, perforated strap, a hook bolding them in position, a slide holding
the hook down and two opposite inclines in each check box adapted to release the
strap and to thereby allow of the drop of attached chains or cords adapted to fetter
the fore leg of the animal, as set forth.
Dated this 5th day of October 1896.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.