IMPROVEMENTS IN VEHICLES FOR COMMON ROADS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Brabyn, of Saint Wenn, Bodmin, in the County
of Cornwall, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VEHICLES FOR COMMON
ROADS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Brabyn at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th July 1881.
RICHARD BRABYN, of Saint Wenn, Bodmin, in the County of Cornwall.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VEHICLES FOR COMMON ROADS."
According to my present Invention, instead of mounting the wheels of vehicles
with axle boxes loose upon a fixed axle, I arrange the same as follows:-On each
side of the body of the vehicle and at each end thereof there project horizontal bars
or brackets, to which are connected the ends of low springs, there being two such
springs on each side, situated far enough apart to receive the road wheel between
them. The wheel has a short axle fixed in a metal nave fitting with bearings in
brasses fixed to the middles of the springs on each side of the wheel, the brasses
being provided with caps that are tightened up by screw bolts as the bearings
become worn in the same way as the brasses for mill shafting. The bearings are
lubricated through holes formed through the middle of the springs.
The bars or rods carrying the springs are, by preference, made to extent right
across the body of the vehicle where possible.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard Brabyn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th January
1882.
RICHARD BRABYN, of Saint Wenn, Bodmin, in the County of Cornwall.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VEHICLES FOR COMMON ROADS."
According to my present Invention instead of mounting the wheels of vehicles
with axle boxes loose upon a fixed axle I arrange the same as follows:-On each
side of the body of the vehicle and at each end thereof there project horizontal
bars or brackets, to which are connected the ends of low springs, there being two
such springs on each side, situated far enough apart to receive the road wheel
between them. The wheel has a short axle fixed in a metal nave fitting with
bearings in brasses fixed to the middles of the springs on each side of the wheel,
the brasses being provided with caps that are tightened up by screw bolts as the
bearings become worn, in the same way as the brasses for mill shafting. The
bearings are lubricated through holes formed through the middle of the spring.
The bars or rods carrying the springs are by preference made to extend right
across the body of the vehicle where possible.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying Drawings shews a side view of the underframe of a
two wheeled vehicle constructed according to my Invention; Fig. 2 shews an end
view of the vehicle; Fig. 3 shews an underside plan with the under brasses of the
bearings removed; Fig. 4 shews a detached view of one of the axles; and Figs. 5
and 6 shew detached views of the bearings.
As before stated each wheel A is fixed upon a separate short axle B, the ends of
which run in bearings C, C', that are bolted to the springs D carried by the
framing E on each side of the wheel. The axles are provided with collars B' that
run in grooves in the bearings, whereby they are held in position, and they are
provided with lubricating material through a passage formed through the top part
of the bearing. The inner end of the axle and its bearing C' are extended so as
to fit into a rigid guide F, in which the bearing is held by a rib fitting in a groove,
and in which it is capable of vertical play to the extent required by the action of
the springs. By this means any inconvenient lateral play of the wheels due to the
yielding nature of the springs is prevented. This end might also be attained by
connecting the two inner bearings C¹ of the two axles by a transverse tie or by
providing other suitable means for guiding the axles in their vertical play.
will be evident that instead of carrying the bearings of the axles on the springs
themselves, they may be carried on rigid bars or frames on each side of the wheels,
which in their turn support the springs of the vehicle. Fig. 7 shews an arrange-
ment of this kind, the bearings C of the axles being bolted to the bars G on each
side of the wheel, while the springs D are carried either upon the bars G or on
other bars framed therewith. Although I have shewn my said Invention as
applied to a two wheeled vehicle by way of example, yet I in no way limit
myself to this application, as my Invention is equally applicable to four wheeled
vehicles.
It
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim,―
Mounting the wheels of road vehicles on separate short axles that revolve there-

page_text: with, and that are carried in bearings on springs or equivalent supports on each
Bide of the wheels, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Brabyn, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 31st day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
RICHARD BRABYN. (L.S.)