IMPROVE- MENTS IN PERAMBULATORS, BATH-CHAIRS, AND OTHER CARRIAGES PROPELLED BY HAND OR MANUAL POWER
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ephraim Andrews, of 5, Market Hill, Sudbury, in the
County of Suffolk, Carriago Manufacturer, for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PERAMBULATORS, BATH-CHAIRS, AND OTHER CARRIAGES PROPELLED
BY HAND OR MANUAL POWER."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ephraim Andrews at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th January 1882.
EPHRAIM ANDREWS of 5 Market Hill Sudbury in the County of Suffolk
Carriage Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PERAMBULATORS, BATH CHAIRS AND
OTHER CARRIAGES PROPELLED BY HAND OR MANUAL POWER."
The object of this Invention is, the prevention of accidents to perambulators,
Bath chairs and like carriages when left unattended in public and other thoroughfares
or places such as on inclined paths or roadways by the employment of appliances
capable of acting automatically on the wheel or wheels or on the axle when pressure
is removed from the handle or handles.
To carry my Invention into practice according to one method. I fit a cross bar
behind the ordinary handle so that it may be pushed forwards within end sockets
to compress springs. This cross bar is connected by a rod and lever to an arm to
which a pad a block or break is affixed. The rod may be arranged at the side of
the present stay rods or at the centre of the vehicle. Instead of the cross bar the
handle can be made to slide in end sockets for the same purpose. The handle, may
be formed in two pieces or halves and hinged at the ends so that the centre portion
can bo pushed in to free the break or breaks and to compress the springs or two
parts can be pressed together to freo the break or breaks. The handle can be so
pivotted that it must be depressed to remove the break.
In all cases the action is from the handle and instead of springs a weight or
weights can be fitted to put the break or breaks on.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Ephraim Andrews in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th July
1882.
EPHRAIM ANDREWS of 5 Market Hill, Sudbury in the County of Suffolk
Carriage Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PERAMBULATORS, BATH CHAIRS AND
OTHER CARRIAGES PROPELLED BY HAND OR MANUAL POWER."
The object of this Invention is, the prevention of accidents to perambulators,
Bath chairs and like carriages when left unattended in public and other thorough-
fares or places, such as on inclined paths or roadways, by the employment of
appliances capable of acting automatically on the wheel or wheels or on the axle
when pressure is removed from the handle or handles.
My Invention is clearly represented in the annexed Drawings. According to one
method which I show at Figures 1 and 2, I fit a cross bar A behind the ordinary
handle B so that it may be pushed forwards within end sockets C to compress
springs D. This cross bar A is connected by a rod E and lever F to an arm G to 1
which a pad, a block or break H is affixed. The rod E may be arranged at the
side of the present stay rods K or at the centre of the vehicle as at Figure 2.
Instead of the cross bar A the handle B can be made to slide in end sockets C C
as shown at Figures 3 and 4 to remove the break from the wheel L.
The handle B may be formed in two pieces or halves as at Figures 5 and 6 and
hinged at the ends I I, so that the centre portion_J_can be pushed. in to free. the
break or breaks and to compress the springs D, or the two parts can be pressod
together to free the break or breaks.
The handle B can be so pivotted that it must be depressed as in Figure 7 to
remove the break H.
In all cases the action is from the handle and instead of springs a weight or
weights as in Figure 8 can be fitted to put the break or breaks on.
Figure 9 shows a perspective back end view of a perambulator with a cross
bar A capable of being depressed to act direct upon a short arm G of a crossbar M
attached to the axle N, the cross bar M having toothed racks to engage in the
notched periphery of the naves P P of the wheels L L under the action of the
spring which in this arrangement is extended by the depression of the cross
bar A and contracts to put the breaks H on. The cross bar M is held in position
by guide eyes a on the springs b of the vehicle.
In Figure 10 I show in side elevation a perambulator with a push in handlo B
which when acted upon turns the bar F on its pivot R to remove the break H
which in this case is of tho strap kind as at Figuro 1 to bear against a segment of
wheel nave P. I purpose fitting the inner surface of this strap with india rubber
which forms a perfect bite and holds the wheel firmly the instant it touches it.
Figure 11 shows a perambulator with a rocking handle B so that the least pressure
on the handle lifts the paul (break) H out of the notch of the wheel nave P the
weight of the paul (break) and of the bar F acting automatically to stop the
wheel L when the handle is released.
Figure 12 shows a similar application to Figure 10 the strap H acting on
the wheel tyre. A spring Q may be fitted if necessary to ensure the bite of the
pad H. Figure 13 shows another modification of the automatic break appliance in
which a tooth of the bar G drops into one of the teeth of a small wheel S fitted on
the wheel nave P.
The examples given on the annexed Drawings are subject to several variations
as to the positions of the appliances in detail and although I do not claim as a

page_text: principle the stopping of perambulators, Bath chairs and the like by break power-
I do claim,
The arrangements of appliances shown in the annexed Drawings by which breaks
act on one or both wheels of such carriages or vehicles on a releasing of the handle
or of an addition thereon or thereto as described.
In witness whereof I the said Ephraim Andrews have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty fifth day of July in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
EPHRAIM ANDREWS. (L.S.)