Improvements in the Construction of Broughams, Hackney Carriages, and other Four-wheeled Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1893
Complete Specification Left. 2nd Feb., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Broughams, Hackney Carriages,
and other Four-wheeled Vehicles.
HOWCHIN NORMAN 38 Saint Mark's Road, Wolverhampton Coach Builders
Works Manager do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates more especially to what are termed broughams, or any
other carriages upon four wheels, the object of my invention is to secure a
brougham body in the shape in the first part of what is technically termed a single
brougham, yet a perfect carriage for two, three or four persons inside.
The front seat is constructed in two parts, each being hinged with stop hinges to
a rail passing along the front of the body close to the arch panel, these seats,
being separate & capable of being turned up flat against the front of the body out
of the way gives much more room than is usual for ingress & egress. The position.
of my front seats also enable me to compass the bottom arch panel and bring it
much farther back than is usual, consequently the front wheels are brought much
closer to the hind wheels thereby reducing the draught, while at the same time, by
allowing the use of straight beds in the forecarriage it reduces the cost of
production & increases the stability.
The hind quarter I make much longer on the elbow-line than usual & the front
rail of hind seat of concave shape and also further back than is customary, while
by means of fixing my heel-panels in 3 pieces, the two outside of concave shape to
bring the hind springs close up to the hinge pillars, & the middle panel of convex
shape to enable the occupants of hind seat to get their feet out of the way, while
the third & fourth occupants (as the case may be take or leave the front seats
aforesaid.
The weight of the occupants of hind seat by these means being brought more
directly over the higher wheels the draught is again considerably lessened.
By having the aforesaid long hind quarter, I am enabled to place a large light
or window on each side, giving a better appearance & making the interior more
light, pleasant, & easy for the occupants to see out without leaning forward as in
the ordinary brougham.
My arrangement of front seats also enables the occupants thereof to easily see
out of the door glasses.
My flat front of the body is constructed in 3 divisions, the two onter being glass
windows & the centre a hinged door giving direct communication with the driver
& for ventilation.
Dated this 2nd day of May 1893.
HOWCHIN NORMAN.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Broughams, Hackney Carriages,
and other Four-wheeled Vehicles.
I, HOWCHIN NORMAN, of 38 Saint Mark's Road, Wolverhampton in the
County of Stafford, Coach Builders' Works Manager, 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 has for its object, more especially, to construct a brougham,
1 Frice 83 1

page_text: whether for private use or as a public conveyance, that is to say, as a hackney
carriage, so that while accommodation is provided inside for four adult persons,
two facing forwards and two facing backwards as in an ordinary brougham con-
structed to carry four persons inside, the front part of the body is shaped as in a
single" brougham, the entire carriage having the general appearance outside of
a "single "brougham.
66
The invention comprises, however, other features and is applicable to other
carriages, as will be presently explained:
The invention is illustrated as applied to a brougham or hackney carriage by the
drawings herewith, of which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the body;
Figure 2 is a half plan of the underside of the body;
Figure 3 is a transverse section (looking forwards) through the body, taken
immediately at the shutting faces of the front pillars but shewing both the inside
front seats;
4
Figure 4 is a sectional plan of the body taken on line of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a vertical section taken through the middle front light, hereinafter
described, and through the panel in front of which the same may be lowered; and
Figure 6 is a sectional plan taken through one of the grooved styles within which
the middle front light slides when moved up or down, and through a part of the
panel in front of which the light may be lowered.
The front of the carriage is constructed as the front of a "single" brougham,
that is to say the doors A A extend as far forwards as the interior of the body,
as shewn, or approximately sc. There are two front seats B B each hinged with
stop hinges to a rail a passing along close to the arch panel . These seats when
down project some distance across the passage way between the doors A A, but
they may be turned up independently of each other against the front of the body,
and when turned up are out of the way. The hind quarter C, or portion of the
body to the rear of the doors, is made much longer than is usual, and the front
rail d of the hind seat D is set back for the whole length from near one end to
near the other, and preferably for the whole of its length, from the forward edges
of the hinge pillars e. This rail is, preferably, made to a concave curve throughout
its length, as shewn by Figure 4. There is thus ample room to accommodate four
adult persons inside the carriage, two sitting on the hind seat D in position so
that they can lean back comfortably entirely against the back E of the carriage
and two sitting on the front seats B B. When the front seats are turned up
against the front of the body there is no obstruction caused by such seats to
persons entering the carriage; and after two of the passengers have taken their seats
on the hind seat D, the others can readily enter and turn down the front seats B.B
and seat themselves thereon without inconveniencing the hind passengers. One of
the seats B is shewn by Figure 3 as 'turned up out of the way, and the other as.
turned down into position to be sat upon. The heel panel is formed in three
portions, of which the middle portion extends widthways to within a short
distance of each end of the seat D and is set back from the front line of the rail d
of such seat, and struck to a parallel curve therewith, to enable the occupants of
the hind seat to get their feet out of the way while the persons who have been
occupying or intend to occupy the front seats B B leave or enter the carriage.
The ends 9 9 of the heel panel are carried forwards from the portion and are set
in some distance from the side of the body and are curved round in a curved form
at their forward ends to join into the hinge pillars as shewn, and thus the forward
ends of the hind springs may pass under the hind quarter of the body and come
very near to the hinge pillars. It will be observed that the use of the ends g g'of
the heel panel causes the portion of such panel to be set back some distance
from the back of the hinge pillars.
By forming the hind quarter longer than usual and keeping the hind springs
well forwards as described, the weight of the occupants of the hind seat is brought
more directly onto the hind wheels than usual, thereby lessening the draught; and,

page_text: moreover, a large light or window F, shewn by broken lines Figure 1, can be
fixed on each side to the rear of the hinge pillar, if desired, leaving a space
between it and the back of the carriage, thus improving the appearance of the
carriage and making the interior very light and pleasant, besides enabling the
occupants of the hind seat to see out each on his own side without leaning
forwards as in the ordinary brougham, and to obtain some degree of privacy by
leaning back behind the width of panel between the rear of the light and the back
of the carriage.
The portion of the front of the body which extends from the elbow line to the
roof is flat, as shewn, and according to a further feature of the invention, it is
formed in three divisions, of which the two outer consist of lights G G and the
middle one of a light H (or vertically sliding panel) and of a panel J in front of
which it may be lowered for ventilation or for the purpose of affording means of
communication with the driver. This light and panel are shewn in vertical section
by Figure 5. The light H (or sliding panel) may be guided iti grooves of vertical
styles, one of which, as also a portion of the panel J is shewn in transverse
section by Figure 6. The light (or sliding panel) may be fitted with spring catches
which engage with holes formed at different heights in the styles so that the light
may be held up at different heights, or any suitable means such as are
employed for like purposes may be employed for the purpose. A hinged door may
be employed in lieu of the sliding light (or sliding panel) H.
now
The arch panel is set back at its ends from the forward edges of the front
corner pillars ii, as shewn, and is formed of a concave shape as seen on plan, and
thus the front wheels may be brought much closer than usual to the hind wheels.
It is much preferred to use two hinged seats at the front as shewn, so that one
of the scats can be turned up without disturbing the occupant of the other seat,
but a single seat to accommodate two persons, or a single person only (in which
case the carriage will accommodate three adult persons only inside) may be hinged:
to the rail a, if desired, instead of the two separate seats.
The arrangements above described for accommodating the inside passengers are
applicable also to a landaulette.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A brougham, hackney carriage or landaulette, constructed to have the
appearance outside of a "single" brougham hackney carriage or laudaulette to
hold two persons only, but to be capable of accommodating four (or three) adult
persons inside, that is to say, constructed with a flat front similar in appearance
to that of a single" bronghain and of the same or approximately the same width,
with two inside front seats or a single seat to accommodate two persons, (or
one person only) which when in use project some distance across the passage
way between the doors, but which may be raised up against the front of
the body and be then out of the way, with a hind quarter set back further
than usual from the hinge pillars, and with a hind seat capable of accom-
modating two adult persons and enabling them to lean back comfortably
entirely against the back of the carriage as in an ordinary brougham, and with.
the front of the back seat set back, for at least the portion which extends from
near one end to near the other, from the front edges of the hinge pillars, being
preferably set back also some distance from such edges at each end and formed to
a concave curve along its front edge, all substantially as described and shewn.
2. A brougham, hackney carriage or landaulette constructed to have the
appearance outside of a single" brougham, backney carriage or landaulette to
hold two persons only, but to be capable of accommodating four (or three) adult
persons inside, that is to say, constructed with a flat front similar in appearance to
that of a
single "brougham, and of the same or approximately the same width,
with two inside front seats (or a single seat to accommodate two persons, or one

page_text: person only) which when in use project some distance across the passage way
between the doors, but which may be raised up against the front of the body and
be then out of the way, with a hind quarter set back further than usual from the
hinge pillars and with a hind seat capable of accommodating two adult persons and
enabling them to lean back comfortably entirely against the back of the carriage
as in an ordinary brougham, and with a heel panel formed with a portion running
transversely of the carriage set back some distance from the back of the hinge
pillars, substantially as described.
3. A brougham, hackney carriage or landaulette constructed to have the
appearance outside of a
single" brougham, hackney carriage or landaulette to
hold two persons only, but to be capable of accommodating four (or three) adult
persons inside, that is to say, constructed with a flat front similar in appearance
to that of a "single" brougham, and of the same or approximately the same
width, with two inside front seats (or a single sent to accommodate two persons,
or one person only) which when in use project some distance, across the
passage way between the doors, but which may be raised. up against the
front of the body and be then out of the way, with a hind quarter set back
further than usual from the hinge pillars and with a hind seat capable of
accommodating two adult persons and enabling them to lean back comfortably
entirely against the back of the carriage as in an ordinary brougham, and with a
heel panel formed in three divisions, namely, with a middle portion running
transversely of the carriage, and with two end portions carried forwards therefrom
and joining the middle portion to the hinge pillars and each set back from the
sides of the carriage a distance to allow the inner ends of the hinder springs to
pass under the body of the carriage, substantially as described.
.
4. A flat-fronted brougham or hackney carriage having the flat front formed in
three divisions, of which the middle division is formed with an opening light or
sliding panel and with a fixed panel in front of which it may be lowered, or of
which the middle division is formed with a hinged door, substantially as described,
for the purpose set forth.
5. The improved construction of brougham or hackney carriage, substantially as
described and shewn by the drawings herewith.
Dated this 1st day of February 1894.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.