IMPROVE- MENTS IN CARRIAGES AND CARRIAGE SPRINGS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Bettyes, of 15, Upper Gloucester Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Coach Builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CARRIAGES AND CARRIAGE SPRINGS."
Sealed the 26th February 1861, and dated the 1st November 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Bettyes at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st November 1860.
I, JOHN BETTYES, of 15, Upper Gloucester Street, in the County of Middle-
sex, Coach Builder, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGES AND CARRIAGE SPRINGS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in carriages and carriage
springs. In constructing the bodies of carriages it is usual in forming the
frame to erect a corner post or pillar at each of the corners of the back of the
body, and to frame into these posts or pillars the horizontal rails forming the
top and bottom of the back panel, and at the sides of the carriage there are
framed into these posts or pillars other horizontal rails connecting the corner
posts or pillars with the posts or standing pillars to which the doors are hung,
and forming with these posts or pillars the frame of two other separate panels.
Now, according to this Invention, in place of forming the frame in this
manner, I employ no corner posts or pillars, and make the back and two side
panels into one large curved panel, the horizontal rails of the frame being
formed of bent timber, each rail being framed at its ends into the posts or
standing pillars ou either side to which the doors are hung.
My improvements in carriage springs consist in forming the spring like an

page_text: inverted C, thus ; the upper end of the inverted C is in the case of
the hind spring connected to a metal bracket or scroll (called a body loop)
springing from the body of the carriage, and the spring then passes down
behind the axle and underneath the same, the spring then rises up in
front of the axle, and is jointed with couplings and fixed with clips thereon.
In order to prevent the axle lagging (or remaining behind its proper horizontal
position) in consequence of the yielding of the springs when the carriage is in
motion each spring is furnished with a link, it is jointed at one end to the clip
on the axle, and at the other end it is jointed to the extremity of the bracket
or scroll to which the spring is fixed; this link forms a rigid strut from the
axle to the bracket or scroll, and so prevents the axle receding, but being
jointed it does not interfere with the play of the spring in a vertical direction.
The front springs are made in the same manner, and fixed to the under bed of
the fore carriage, as is usual, and both the front and hind springs can, if it is
preferred, be fixed in a reversed position, that is to say, pass down in front of
the axle in place of in rear thereof.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Bettyes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st
May 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
BETTYES, of 15, Upper Gloucester Street, in the County of Middlesex, Coach
Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Bettyes, Her special licence that I, the said John Bettyes, my execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Bettyes,
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 AND
CABRIAGE SPRINGS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Bettyes, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly

page_text: 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 John Bettyes, 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, that is to say:-
Heretofore in constructing the bodies of carriages it has been usual in
forming the framing for a body of a carriage, where doors are used, to erect a
corner post or pillar at each of the corners, and to frame into these posts or
pillars horizontal rails forming the top and bottom of the panel, and at the
sides are framed into these posts or pillars other horizontal rails connecting
the corner posts or pillars with posts or standing pillars to which the doors are
hung, forming with these pillars or posts the frame of two other separate or
side panels. Whereas according to the present Invention in constructing
bodies of carriages where doors are used, in place of forming the frame for a
body in the manner above mentioned, no corner posts or pillars are employed,
on the contrary, one large curved or bent panel is used in each case, the top
and bottom rails of which are formed of bent timber, and each rail at its ends
is framed into the posts or standing pillars to which the doors are hung, or
against which they shut. The peculiarity of this part of the Invention consists
in combining the ends of bent rails with the standing or door pillars of
carriage bodies.
Heretofore curved or C springs have been applied to suspend the boilies of
carriages in various ways. Now, part of this Invention consists in applying
what may be called inverted C springs (thus ); the upper end of the
inverted spring is in the case of a hind spring connected to a metal bracket or
scroll (or "body loop") springing from the body of the carriage, the spring
then passes down behind the axle and underneath it, then rises up in front of
the axle, and is jointed with couplings and fixed with clips on the axle, a link
being used connected at one end to the clip, and at the other end to the
bracket or scroll, which prevents the axle lagging behind. In case of a fore
spring, the direction above explained is reversed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
No. 15 shows a back view of the body of a carriage complete where no
corner posts or pillars are employed, horizontal rails of bent timber being used,

page_text: rails of bent timber are framed together when the back and also the front of
the body is put together, as above, explained, the bent horizontal rails being
used in combination with the standing or door pillars.
The Figure of the Drawing No. 14 shows the manner of applying inverted
C springs according to my Invention.
a is the spring, which is connected to the scroll or bracket b; c is the axle
to which the end of the spring is attached, that end being jointed with
couplings and fixed with clips, as shown at d. To the end of the coupling d
is attached a link e by a pin joint, and the other end of the link is attached by
a pin joint to the clip f, by which means the axle will be prevented lagging.
The Drawings from Figure No. 1 to Figure No. 13 inclusive, shew the
application of inverted C springs according to my Invention to various con-
structions of carriages each having four wheels, and such springs are shown
applied both as fore springs and hind springs. Figure No. 16 shows the
application of inverted C springs to the shafts of a pair-wheel carriage;
Figure No. 17 shows a carriage with three wheels having springs applied as
above explained. From the above description, aided by the Drawings, a
carriage builder will be able readily to understand how springs are to be
applied according to my Invention to carriages such as those shown in the
Drawings, and to others which may vary therefrom.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I make no claim to
any of the mechanical parts separately; but what I claim is,-
First, the construction of carriage bodies, as herein described.
And, secondly, the mode herein described of applying inverted C springs to
carriages.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Bettyes, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
JOHN BETTYES. (L.S.)