IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Henry Morgan, of Edgware Road, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CARRIAGES."
Sealed the 16th August 1867, and dated the 6th March 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Henry Morgan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th March 1867.
I, GEORGE HENRY MORGAN, of Edgware Road, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CARRIAGES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in carriages, and relates,
firstly, to a novel arrangement and combination of parts forming the heads of
carriages capable of being used either as open or closed carriages, as desired,
and to a novel adaptation of windows or lights to such heads. For this
purpose I dispense with the slats and intermediate hoop sticks ordinarily
employed, and employ only those hoop sticks which are situated at the angles
of the carriage head and over the doorway; that portion of the head which is
at the back of the seats I provide with windows or lights, forming either the
entire or any desired portion of the front or sides of the carriage head, and I
construct them in two or more parts hinged together so as to fold over each

page_text: other in a horizontal direction, the upper portion of the windows or lights
being hinged or pin jointed to the hoop sticks forming the angles of the
carriage head, whilst the lower portion is hinged or pin jointed to the body of
the carriage. Such windows or lights at the hinged joint or joints I make so
as to overlap each other, and thereby make a tight joint, rods or links
connected at one end to the lower part of the frames of such lights and at
the other end to the head pillars control the motions of such lights. The
windows or lights at the ends of the seats I form in two or more parts in
frames, one of which is hinged or pin jointed to the "head pillars," whilst
the other or others are at their upper parts by pin joints and links or con-
necting rods connected to the top part of the framing over the doors, their
lower parts being connected to the "elbow rail" by hinges or joints having a
suitable universal motion, thus in the raising and lowering of the carriage
head the lights at the ends of the seats are also raised or lowered, and when
lowered the different parts of such lights are placed in front of and partly
overlap each other; connecting rods connecting the head pillars to the lower
half of the front light and provided with studs or projections acting upon
'suitable projection's on such side lights äct to draw the lights inwards, thereby
insuring the frames thereof entering suitable grooves or recesses 'formed for
them in the uprights of the carriage head. The back of the carriage (in the
case of a landau and other similar carriages) I construct with uprights formed
in two parts hinged or pin jointed together at or near the centre thereof, one
of such uprights being situated at each angle of the back of the carriage.
The lower portion of each upright is hinged or 'pin jointed to the body of the
carriage, whilst the upper portion of each upright is hinged or pin jointed to
the hoop stick, such uprights when the head of a carriage is being lowered
fold inwards so as to bring the hoop stick (at the back of the carriage to
which they are connected) down in a parallel direction. The lower portion
of each of such uprights has fixed thereto an arm having a cord or band
attached to it, such cords or bands being connected together or operated by
a spring in such manner as to facilitate the raising of the head when desired.
In order to cause the upper part of the framing over the doors of a carriage
to turn on hinges or pin joints on the "head pillars" or uprights, I connect
such parts of the framing by pin joints to links or connecting rods, pin jointed
at a suitable position to the links or connecting rods connecting the slides or
crank levers, herein-after referred to, to the bead pillars. The upper portions
of the framing over the doors I connect to the front and back hoop sticks by
hinged connecting pieces which fold together as the head of the carriage is
lowered. By these means I give a better appearance to the cover of the

page_text: carriage head, the leather being stretched between the parts thereof which
form a rigid frame when up, in a somewhat similar manner to the frame of a
carriage having a fixed head.
The Invention relates, secondly, to means or apparatus employed for raising
and lowering the heads of carriages. For this purpose I employ slides working
in or on suitable guides either on the "elbow rail," or in the "quarter," or in
other suitable position, such slides being connected to the "heal pillars" or
to projections therefrom by connecting rods or links, and being worked to and
fro by pinions or worms and worm wheels taking into racks on the slides.
Or the slides may be connected direct to the head pillars and work in or on
tubular or other guides, hinged or pin jointed to the "bottom side," or
"corner pillar," or other suitable position, such slides being worked by racks
and pinions, or by worms and worm wheels. Motion may be communicated to
the slides from the inside or other suitable part of the carriage, and the front
and back portions of the head of a carriage may be raised or lowered by these
means either simultaneously or separately from each other. If desired the
slides may be worked by being connected in any suitable manner to a cross
bar worked by a screw, according to the Patent hereinafter referred to, or the
slides may be provided with suitable connections and may be operated from
the inside or other suitable part of the carriage. When the two parts of the
head of a carriage are raised or lowered simultaneously the slides will be
connected together by suitable gearing; india-rubber or other suitable springs
act to assist the motion of the slides.
Another arrangement relates to the employment of levers, which may be
connected together in pairs by cross bars, which cross bars may be connected
together by other bars, as described in the Specification of a previous Patent
granted to myself and Edward Morgan, and dated January 28th, 1862,
No. 228; such levers being according to my present Invention connected by
links or connecting rods directly to the uprights or "head pillars" or to pro-
jections therefrom, and being operated by a screw or screws taking into screw
wheels fixed on the axes of such levers, the screws being operated from the
inside or other suitable part of the carriage.
The Invention also relates to means for locking the carriage head when
raised, and consists according to one arrangement in the application of spring
"head locks" which when the carriage head is raised are allowed to act on
suitable studs or to take into suitable recesses. Cords or chains connected to
the "head locks" and passing round suitable pulleys act to release them to
permit of the carriage head being lowered, such cords or chains being worked
by the slides before referred to, or by other suitable means.

page_text: Another arrangement consists in dispensing with the springs before referred
to and in working the "head locks" by cords or chain's so as to lock or
unlock the head by the cords pulling upon such "head locks" in one or the
other direction, such cords or chains passing round suitable pulleys and being
connected to the means for raising and lowering the carriage head, or such
"head locks" may be worked separately after the carriage head has been
raised or lowered by a handle or other suitable means acting upon the pulleys
to which the cords from the "head locks "are connected.
The Invention also relates to improved arrangements and modes of operating
the steps of carriages so that they shall be opened out or closed on opening or
closing the carriage doors. For this purpose I make the rising distance from
the top step into the carriage less than has been heretofore the case by fixing
the top step by hinge or pin joint immediately under the carriage body, the
lower step having levers connected thereto, which by links or connecting rods
are connected to the top step, thus on closing the door of the carriage a suitable
connection therefrom causes the two steps to be folded one over the other
with their tread parts together, whilst the ascent into the carriage will be
rendered easier by reason of the distance from the top step into the carriage
being reduced.
Another arrangement consists in constructing double steps in such manner
that one step shall be drawn inwards under the carriage, and the other step
turned up on pin or hinged joints by the closing of the carriage door. For
this purpose I mount the top step on guides and connect it to the lower step
by links or connecting rods, the lower step being mounted on fixed centres of
motion.
The Invention also relates to an improved arrangement of spring curtain
suitable for the windows of carriages having folding heads applied thereto.
For this purpose I place the spring barrel below the lights, the curtain being
drawn in an upward direction, and being fixed at any desired height by loops
and pins, as will be readily understood.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Henry Morgan in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 6th September 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HENRY MORGAN, of Edgware Road, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters

page_text: Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant. unto
me, the said George Henry Morgan, Her special licence that I, the said
George Henry Morgan, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said George Henry Morgan, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said George Henry Morgan, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Henry Morgan, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon.
This Invention has for its object improvements in carriages, and relates,
firstly, to a novel arrangement and combination of parts forming the heads of
carriages capable of being used either as open or closed carriages, as desired,
and to a novel adaptation of windows or lights to such heads. For. this
purpose I dispense with some of the slats and intermediate hoop sticks
ordinarily employed, and employ only those hoop sticks in the front part of a
landau which are situated at the angles of the carriage head and over the
doorway. That portion of the head which is at the back of the seats I
provide with windows or lights forming either the entire or any desired
portion of the front or sides of the carriage head, and I construct them in
two or more parts hinged together so as to fold over each other in a horizontal
direction, the upper portion of the windows or lights being hinged or pin
jointed to the hoop sticks forming the angles of the carriage head, whilst the
lower portion is hinged or pin jointed to the body of the carriage. Such
windows or lights at the binged joint or joints I make so as to overlap each
other, and thereby make a tight joint. Rods or links connected at one end.

page_text: to the lower part of the frames of such lights, and at the other end to the
head pillars, control the motions of such lights. The windows or lights at
the ends of the seats I form in two or more parts in frames, one of which is
hinged or pin jointed to the "head pillars," whilst the other or others are at
their upper parts by pin joints and links or connecting rods connected to the
top part of the framing over the doors, their lower parts being connected to
the "elbow rail" by hinges or joints having a suitable universal motion;
thus in the raising and lowering of the carriage head the lights at the ends of
the seats are also raised or lowered, and when lowered the different parts of
such lights are placed in front of and partly overlap each other. Connecting
rods connecting the head pillars to the lower half of the front light and
provided with studs or projections acting upon suitable projections on such
side lights act to draw the lights inward, thereby ensuring the frames thereof
entering suitable grooves or recesses formed for them in the uprights of the
carriage head.
Figure 1 is a sectional view of the front portion of a carriage provided
with windows and lights according to this part of my Invention. a, a¹, are
two parts of a light hinged together at a*, which light in a landau or other
similar carriage forms the front thereof, but in other forms of carriages might
be placed at the sides thereof, in both cases being at the backs of the seats.
The lower portion a is hinged or pin jointed at a to the elbow rail b, whilst
the upper portion a' may be hinged or pin jointed to the hoop stick, but as I
prefer, and as shown in the Drawing, the top portion of the sash a¹ forms
the hoop stick c. The upper portion a¹ of the light is pin jointed at a³ to a
link d, which at its other end is pin jointed to an arm e, which is rigidly
connected to the framing f forming the upper part of the framing over the
door. It will be seen by reference to Figure 1 that the glass of the light a¹
partially overlaps that of the light a, thereby forming a tight joint. A link g
pin jointed at one end to the portion a of the front light and at the other end
to the head pillar h acts to control the motion of the front light in raising and
lowering the head of the carriage. I also according to this part of my
Invention provide windows or lights at the ends of the seats, which are
capable of being raised and lowered in the raising and lowering of the
carriage head. i,, shows one of such lights, which, as will be seen, is
divided into two parts, the part i being hinged or otherwise connected to the
:
head pillar h, whilst the part is at the upper part pin jointed to one end of
a link j,.the other end of which is pin jointed to the arm e. The lower portion
to the elbow rail,
of such part is connected by a suitable universal joint at
and the front edge thereof when in the position shown in the Drawing enters

page_text: a suitable recess formed for it in the sash of the front light a, a'. A stad or
projection g' on the link g acts upon a stud a' on the sash of the part , so
that when the carriage head is being raised such part a¹ of the side light may
be drawn in towards the side of the carriage, and thereby secure its front
edge being in a suitable position to enter the groove formed for it in the sash
of the front light. I have not thought it necessary in this view to show the
means for raising and lowering the head of the carriage, as any suitable
means may be employed.
The Invention relates, secondly, to means or apparatus employed for raising
and lowering the heads of carriages. For this purpose I employ slides working
in or on suitable guides either on the "elbow rail" or on the "quarter" or
in other suitable position, such slides being connected to the "head pillars
or to projections therefrom by connecting rods or links, and being worked to
and fro by pinions or worms and worm wheels taking into racks on the slides;
of the slides may be connected direct to the head pillars and work in or on
tubular or other guides hinged or pin jointed to the "bottom side" or "corner
pillar" or other suitable position, such slides being worked by racks and pinions
or by worms and worm wheels. Motion may be. communicated to the slides
from the inside or other suitable part of the carriage, and the front and back
portions of the head of a carriage may be raised or lowered by these means
either simultaneously or separately from each other. If desired the slides may
be worked by being connected in any suitable manner to a cross bar worked
by a screw according to the Patent herein-after referred to; or the slides may
be provided with suitable connections and may be operated from the inside or
other suitable part of the carriage. When the two parts of the head of a
carriage are raised or lowered simultaneously the slides will be connected
together by suitable gearing. India-rubber or other suitable springs act to
assist the motion of the slides. In order to cause the upper part of the framing
over the doors of a carriage to turn on hinges or pin joints on the "head
pillars" or uprights I connect such parts of the framing by pin joints to links
or connecting rods pin jointed at a suitable position to the links or connecting
rods connecting the slides or crank levers. herein-after referred to to the head
pillars.
a is a
Figure 2 shows a portion of a carriage with means for raising and lowering
the head thereof arranged according to this part of my Invention.
slide provided with teeth a¹ on one edge thereof; this slide a works in a
tubular guide 6 fixed in the "quarter" of the carriage, and is pin jointed at a¹
to a link or connecting rod c, which at its other end c¹ is pin jointed to a
projection d from the "head pillar” e. The slide a is raised and lowered by

page_text: means of. a toothed pinion f which may be rotated by means of a handle f¹
applied to the axis thereof, or it may be rotated by means of a handle g on
the axis of a screw h taking into a screw wheel i on an axis passing across the
carriage and communicating motion to the toothed pinion f by means of a
chain or band passing over suitable wheels, as will be well understood. A
spring k, which may be of india-rubber or other suitable material, acts to
assist the motion of the slide a. Instead of connecting the slide a to the head
pillar by a connecting rod as above described the slide may be connected by
pin joint directly to the head pillar or to a projection therefrom, the lower
portion of the guides for such slide being pin jointed to the framing of the
carriage, and if desired such slide may work in guides fixed along the elbow
rail, and may be operated by a screw or by worms and worm wheels, as will
be readily understood. The link or connecting rod c is continued a short
distance beyond the projection d, and is at c pin jointed to a link or connecting
rod l, which at its other end is pin jointed to the part m of the framing over the
doors, thereby causing such part m to turn on pin joints m¹ in the raising and
lowering of the carriage head. I would have it understood that the slides and
parts connected therewith are repeated in each "quarter" of the carriage.
Another arrangement relates to the employment of levers which may be
connected together in pairs by cross bars, which cross bars may be connected
together by other bars, as described in the Specification of a previous Patent
granted to myself and Edward Morgan, and dated January 28th, 1862,
No. 223, such levers being, according to my present Invention, connected by
links or connecting rods directly to the uprights or "head pillars," or to pro-
jections therefrom, and being operated by a. screw or screws taking into screw
wheels fixed on the axes of such levers, the screws being operated from the
inside or other suitable part of the carriage.
Figure 8 shows a portion of a carriage having apparatus arranged according
to this part of my Invention applied thereto. In this case instead of connecting
the crank levers a by links or connecting rods to "head joints," as described
in the Specification of the Patent before referred to, I connect such crank
levers a by links 6 directly to projections c from the "head pillars," and I give
motion to such crank levers a by means of a screw acting upon a screw wheel d
shown by dotted lines and fixed upon the axes of such crank leversa, as will
be readily understood.
The Invention also relates to improved arrangements and modes of operating
the steps of carriages so that they shall be opened out or closed on opening or
closing the carriage doors. For this purpose I make the rising distance from
the top step into the carriage less than has been heretofore the case by fixing

page_text: the top step by hinge or pin joint immediately under the carriage body, the
lower step having levers connected thereto, which by links or connecting rods
are connected to the top step, thus on closing the door of the carriage a
suitable connection therefrom causes the two steps to be folded one over the,
other with their tread parts together, whilst the ascent into the carriage will
be rendered easier by reason of the distance from the top step into the carriage
being reduced.
Figure 4 shows a portion of a carriage having steps applied thereto according
to this part of my Invention. a is the top step, which is fixed by pin joint a¹
directly under the carriage body b; c is the lower step, which by links or
connecting rods d is connected by pin joints to the top step a; e is the door
of the carringe connected by a link or connecting rod f to a slide 9 working.
in guides fixed underneath the body of the carriage; such slide 9 is by pin.
joint connected to a link or connecting rod h, which at its other end is pin
jointed to the lower step c, the lower step being pin jointed to a fixed centre
of motion at c', thus in opening the carriage door the steps will be lowered.
into position for use, whilst in closing the door the top step will be turned.
down and the lower step turned up with their tread parts towards each other.
When the steps are in position for use a projection from the top step a comes
underneath the slide g to support the top step a in position and to prevent the
weight of the person on the step a acting upon the parts so as to close the
door of the carriage.
Another arrangement consists in constructing double steps in such manner
that one step shall be drawn inwards under the carriage and the other.
step turned up on pin or hinge joints by the closing of the carriage door.
For this purpose I mount the top step on guides and connect it to the lower
step by links or connecting rods, the lower step being mounted on fixed centres
of motion.
Figure 5 is a side view, and Figure 6 is a front view, of steps thus arranged.
a is the top step, which in this case forms part of or is connected to the slide b
working in suitable guides c. The lower step d is pin jointed at d¹ to a fixed-
centre of motion, and is by pin joint connected to one end of links or connecting
rods e, the other ends of which are by pin joints connected to the slide b.
The slide 6 is also by a link or connecting rod f connected to the door g in
such manner that on opening the door g the top step will be pulled out and
the lower step lowered into position for use, whilst on closing the door g the
top step a will be pushed in and the lower step d will be turned up out of the
way; a piece d of the lower step acts against the supports h so as to hold the
step d firmly in position for use.

page_text: The Invention also relates to an improved arrangement of spring curtain
suitable for the windows of carriages having folding heads applied thereto.
For this purpose I place the spring barrel below the lights, the curtain being
drawn in an upward direction, and being fixed at any desired height by loops
and pins, as will be readily understood. I have not thought it necessary to
give a Drawing of this arrangement of spring curtain, as a workman will with
the description already given readily apply such arrangement to carriages
having folding heads applied thereto.
In my Provisional Specification I have referred to other means of con-
structing the heads of carriages, and to means for locking and unlocking the
heads of carriages having folding heads applied thereto, but as there is not
that amount of utility in such parts as was at first anticipated I desire to
disclaim and do hereby disclaim such parts.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details herein shown and described, as such may be varied
without departing from the peculiar character of my Invention; but what I
do claim is, the peculiar combinations and arrangements of parts of carriages
substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Henry Morgan, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
GEORGE HENRY MORGAN. (L.S.)
Witness,
B. J. B. MILLS,
Patent Agent,
35, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane,
London.