Improvements in or relating to Waggonettes and similarly constructed Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th July, 1893-Accepted, 12th Aug., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Waggonettes and similarly
constructed Vehicles.
We, The Right Honourable HUGH CECIL, Earl of Lonsdale, of Lowther Castle,
Westmoreland, and HARRY ARTHUR HAMSHAW, of 37 Humberstone Gate,
Leicester, Carriage Builder, 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 relates to waggonettes and similarly constructed vehicles being
specially applicable to the type of waggonette in which the head or hood is capable
of being lowered to convert it into an open conveyance and for which purpose the
said hood is divided in the direction of the length of the vehicle so that when
lowered the hood rests on the side of the body portion of the vehicle. In
waggonettes of ordinary construction the head or hood when so lowered projects
some distance beyond the sides of the vehicle so as to materially increase the width
thereof, and thereby render it peculiarly liable to collision when passing through
gateways and when being used in narrow or crowded thoroughfares.
This invention is designed chiefly with a view of obviating these disadvantages
and consists in constructing the vehicle in such a manner as to permit of the head
or hood being contracted or reduced in width when it is lowered so as not to project,
or very slightly, beyond a vertical liue taken immediately outside the wheels.
The invention also includes other minor improvements all hereinafter set forth.
In order that the invention may be fully understood reference is made to the
drawings accompanying this Specification in which
Figure 1 is a view of so much of the framework of a waggonette of the character
hereinbefore referred to as is necessary to illustrate our invention.
Figure 2 is an elevation showing the mechanism at each of the ends of the two
halves of the hood for contracting the width of the latter when it is being
lowered.
Figure 3 is a view showing the flaps (opened and closed respectively) at the
front of the waggonette for keeping off the wind.
In Figure 1 the two halves of the framework of the head or hood are shown in
the respective positions they occupy when opened and closed.
The left hand portion indicates the relative positions of the various parts when
the hood is raised to form a closed vehicle and the right hand portion shows the
framework and mechanism of the hood in its collapsed condition as when the hood
is lowered and contracted in width.
The hood consists as usual of the pillar tops or uprights A above and on each
side of the door A' to which are hinged the cantrails or end pieces B forming part
of the roof.
The leather or other covering of which the hood consists passes from the roof
over a horizontal bar C on each side thereof and is connected to the side of the
body in the well known manner.
The body and hood are also connected by the usual jointed lever D.
In order to contract the width of the hood when lowered the rod E which is
attached at its upper end to the horizontal bar C is pivotted at its opposite end to a
bell-crank lever F.
The latter is also pivotted to a lug F¹ at the side of the pillar top A and to an
extensible link plate, consisting of a plate G provided with a slot G in which is
located two studs or projections G³ on a plate G2 pivotted to a lug G* on the body
of the vehicle.

page_text: In lieu of the link plates G G2 1 may use any suitable kind of extensible or
telescopic rod, plate or equivalent.
The roof portion of the hood is hinged to the pillar top A so that when in its
lowered position it can be folded over on to the sides of the hood as indicated by
the dotted lines in Figure 2.
In order, however, to maintain the roof portion at a right angle to the sides of
the hood when the latter is in its raised position the cantrails B are each provided
with a recess B¹ into which fits a preferably wedge shaped projection H' on the
upper end of a spring plate H screwed or otherwise attached to the pillar top A.
In order to simultaneously lower and contract the width of the hood of the
vehicle the jointed lever D is struck or bent in the well known way whereupon a
lug D¹ thereon presses against the spring plate H and automatically withdraws the
wedge shaped projection H' from the recess B₁ in the cant rail B.
Upon the hood being lowered the lug F' causes the bell crank lever F to make
a partial revolution upon its pivot F2 in doing which it draws inwardly the rod E
and with it the bar C at its upper end over which the leather or other material
forming the hood passes and into the collapsed position indicated in the right hand
portion of Figure 1.
When using the waggonette as an open conveyance the roof portion of the hood
may be placed at a right angle to the sides as shown in the right hand of Figure 1
in which position it will form a shield or guard to protect the heads of the
passengers against any wind blowing in a cross direction to that in which the
vehicle is travelling and in order to similarly provide against the wind meeting
the vehicle i.e. blowing in an opposite direction to that in which the waggonette is
going two removable flaps are provided on the front end thereof.
As will be seen from Figure 3 these flaps J which are preferably of leather are
connected to the pillar top A by a row of nails J¹ passing through one edge
thereof.
When not in use the flap J is rolled up and fastened in position by means of
straps J as indicated in Figure 3 or other equivalent means.
To fix the flap in position so that it will keep off the wind as before stated it is
provided with at least two eyelets J³ or equivalents one of which is hung over a
hook or stud J on the front cant rail B and the other over a hook J' on preferably
the rail K forming part of the back of the driver's seat.
The flap J may be fixed in position by other means than those described and
shown in the drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a waggonette or similarly constructed vehicle the application to the hood
of mechanism to contract the width thereof upon it being lowered for the purpose
specified.
2. In a waggonette or similarly constructed vehicle the combination with the
hood thereof of a rod or bar such as E attached to the hood of mechanism for
drawing the said rod or bar inwardly upon the lowering of the hood for the purpose
specified.
3. In a waggonette or similarly constructed vehicle the combination with the
hood thereof of a rod or bar such as E bell crank lever F and a link plate G. G³
or other extensible or telescopic device substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
4. In a waggonette or similarly constructed vehicle the combination with the
hood thereof of a jointed lever D rod or bar E bell crank lever F extensible link
plate G G2 substantially as and for the purpose specified.
5. In a waggonette or similarly constructed vehicle automatically disengaging
the roof and sides of the hood upon the lowering of the latter for the purpose
specified.

page_text: 6. In a waggonette or similarly constructed vehicle the combination with the
hood and jointed lever D of a lug or projection on the latter, spring plate H and
projection thereon operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose
specified.
7. In a waggonette or similarly constructed vehicle the combination with the
hood of flaps such as J or their equivalent substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
8. The improved construction of waggonette substantially as specified and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
1000
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.