IMPROVEMENTS IN HAMES ADJUSTABLE FOR HORSE-COLLARS OF DIFFERENT SIZES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Carl Kesseler, of 63, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin, W., in the
Empire of Germany, Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HAMES ADJUSTABLE FOR HORSE-COLLARS OF DIFFERENT
SIZES." A communication from Friedrich Martens, Johann Dehmlow, and
Gustav Möllhusen, of Stralsund, in Prussia, Empire of Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Carl Kesseler at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th August 1879.
CARL KESSELER, of 63, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin, W., in the Empire of Germany,
Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HAMES ADJUSTABLE FOR
HORSE-COLLARS OF DIFFERENT SIZES." A Communication from Friedrich Martens,
Johann Dehmlow, and Gustav Möllhusen, of Stralsund, in Prussia, Empire of
Germany.
The object of this Invention is to adjust the hames of horse-collars to suit
different-sized collars or horses, and to some extent improve such hames and
collars.
By this Invention such hames can be varied both in height and breadth within
certain limits with certainty in their respective dimensions without loss of time,
and so that the effect of the pulling of the horse cannot produce any alteration
therein.
These improved hames consist of three bent steel rails, by preference concave in
cross-section. Two of these rails form the side pieces of the hames, and meet and
are secured together below, and the third one joins the same together at or near the
upper part of the collar. These rails are so arranged in length that when fixed to the
largest-sized collar the ends thereof still sufficiently overlap to permit them to be
efficiently secured together, which is effected thus:-An upright piece of flat steel,
having at its lower end a toothed head which by turning an eccentric flap or button is
closed up with a similarly-toothed flat horizontal bar of steel that is joined to the
steel hame, through both which a slot is made so that the said upright piece of
steel can be slided therein lengthwise. The joint of the hame is strengthened by &

page_text: bar of metal placed along or over such joint, the said upright piece passing through
both in the same direction, moveable from the outside to the inside.
In the said upright piece a tipping plate or button is eccentrically pivotted, so
that when the base of such button is turned down it presses on one side of the
joint and thereby raises the toothed head of the said upright piece, which then
presses against and fits into the teeth of the toothed bar on the other side of the
joint, thus firmly holding the whole together. The joint can only be loosened by
raising the said tipping button which liberates the rails and bars; they can then be
moved into another relative position and be fixed therein by returning the said
tipping button to its normal position. The teeth of the said head fitting into the
teeth of the said bar prevents them sliding lengthwise or loosening the joint. It
will thus be seen that by the two upper or side joints of the rails the vertical
dimensions of the hame is regulated, and by the lower joint the horizontal
dimension is varied. Each of the said joints are underlaid with cushions; straps
are also there fixed for holding the whole together, which straps have to be
unbuckled before another alteration in the hames can be effected. The ends of the
said cushions are inclined so as to overlap each other without producing any pro-
tuberances, and are firmly pressed together by the straps.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Carl Kesseler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th December
1879.
CARL KESSELER, of 63, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin, W., in the Empire of Germany,
Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HAMES ADJUSTABLE FOR
HORSE-COLLARS OF DIFFERENT SIZES." A communication from Friedrich Martens,
Johann Dehmlow, and Gustav Möllhusen, of Stralsund, in Prussia, Empire of
Germany.
The object of this Invention is to adjust the hames of horse-collars to suit
different-sized collars or horses, and to some extent improve such hames and
collars.
By this Invention such hames can be varied both in height and breadth within
certain limits with certainty in their respective dimensions without loss of time,
and so that the strain from the draught of the horse can produce no alteration
therein.
In order that the said Invention may be more fully understood and be more
readily performed, I will describe the same with the aid of the accompanying
Drawing, which forms part of this Specification, reference being made thereto by
the numerals and letters marked thereon. The same index letter applies to the
same part in each Fig. of the said Drawing.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation, showing the hames fixed to the cushion or collar;
Fig. 2 is a side view of the same; Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are different views of the
closing or fixing apparatus; Fig. 6 shows the key or spanner for operating the
fixing apparatus.
Figs. 1, 2, and 6 are drawn one-fifth full size, and Figs. 3, 4, and 5, full size.
The hames, which constitute the real structure which receives and sustains the
strain in pulling, are formed of three suitably bent steel rails m, n, o, by preference
concave in cross-section, as shown at e; two of these rails, m, n, form the side
pieces of the hames and overlap, and are connected together below; the other rail o
connects the rails m and n at or near the upper part of the cushion or collar. The
lengths of these rails are so arranged that, when the collar is of the largest size,
the ends thereof still sufficiently overlap to admit of their being efficiently secured
together by the apparatus shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. This fixing apparatus
consists of a piece of flat steel a, having at its lower end a toothed head a', which
by turning the eccentric flap or button b is closed up with the similarly-toothed
flat horizontal steel bar f, which is joined to the steel hame, through both which
a slot is formed so that the upright a can be slided therein lengthwise. The joint
of the hame is strengthened by a metal bar k placed along or over such joint; the
said upright a passes through the whole in the same direction from the outside to
the inside, see Figs. 4 and 5. In or to the said upright a a tipping plate or button b
is eccentrically pivoted, so that when the base of such button is turned down, as
in Fig. 4, it presses on the bar on one side of the joint, and thereby raises the
toothed head a¹ of the upright a, so that it presses against and fits into the teeth
of the toothed bar f on the other side of the joint, and thus firmly holds the whole
together. This joint can only be loosened by raising the said tipping button b to
the position shown in Fig. 5. When this is done the hame rails can be moved and
adjusted to another relative position, enlarging or lessening the size of the hames,
and be fixed therein by returning the tipping button b to its normal position, as
in Fig. 4. The teeth of the head a', fitting into the teeth of the bar f, prevents the
parts sliding lengthwise or loosening the joint.
The two upper joints at 1 and 2 are similarly made.
It will thus be seen that by the two upper joints of the rails, at 1 and 2, Fig. 1,
the vertical dimension or height of the hames is regulated, and that by the lower
joint at 3, Fig. 1, the width of the hame is varied.

page_text: The said steel rails m, n, o, forming the hame are underlaid with the cushion or
collar. Such cushion or collar may be made in three pieces, corresponding with
the three divisions of the hames, and be made to slide into or to overlap each other
without producing elevations, as shown in Fig. 1. In the latter case the hame and
cushion for each division thereof may be permanently united by strong stitching of
the collar to the hame in and through the curved channels shown in the cross-
section e thereof.
The cushions are secured in place and pressed together when adjusted by straps,
as shown at 4, 5, and 6, Fig. 1, tightly buckled, and have of course to be loosened
before another adjustment of the hames and cushions can be effected. The eyes
or handles d for receiving the ends of the traces can be modified as desired.
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention,
and the method of performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not
restrict myself to the precise shapes and dimensions of the several details now
illustrated, because they can be considerably varied without departing from the
main characteristics of the Invention as required for heavy work, taste, or display;
but what I claim as new and desire to secure by the before-mentioned in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
Firstly. The formation of adjustable hames in three divisions.
Secondly. The method of forming the cushions or collar in three divisions,
corresponding with the divisions of the hames and of securing the same together.
Thirdly. The method of uniting or joining together the ends of the said divisions
or parts of the hames.
The said three claims I make substantially as and for the purposes herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Carl Kesseler, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.