Improvements. in Whippletrees.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1888
Specification Accepted, 15th June, 1888
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements. in Whippletrees.
I, JAMES HOWARD, of Bedford, in the County of Bedford, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of my invention is to increase the durability and utility of the corrugated
whippletree or "whiffletree" for which Letters Patent were granted to Alexander
Browne on the 22nd August A.D. 1884, No. 11,540.
In the whippletree described in the specification of the said Letters Patent, the
coupling ring (lettered b in the said specification) is a fixture at the centre, or midway
between the ends of the whippletree. The said whippletree is, therefore, only adapted
for teams yoked two abreast. It is a common practice in this country, however,
when ploughing, to yoke a third horse before the furrow-horse, in which case it
becomes necessary to shift the coupling device of the hinder whippletree so as to give
the horse which walks upon the land and not in the furrow one-third more leverage
than the two horses which walk in the furrow, that is to say, to shift the pivotal point
nearer to the two horses in the furrow and further from the other horse.
My present invention is partly designed to remedy the above-mentioned defect in
the whippletree described in the said former specification, and to provide a shifting or
adjustable coupling device so constructed that it can be readily secured in any desired
position upon the corrugated bar without the necessity for perforating or otherwise
weakening the same.
My said invention, moreover, comprises the provision of pipe-bushes in the eyes at
the extremities of the whippletree, as hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a plan of a whippletree with my improvements applied thereto.
Figure 1 shows a portion of Figure 1 drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the coupling device illustrated in Figure 1, also

page_text: drawn to an enlarged scale, showing the corrugated bar in section on the line ax.
Figure 1.
Figures 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 are plans, and Figures 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14
are side elevations, partly in transverse section, all drawn to the same scale as
Figure 2, illustrating various other forms or modifications of my improved coupling
device.
a is the corrugated bar of the whippletree.
In making the coupling device, I take two plates or pieces b, b¹ of metal, shaped to
embrace and fit the said corrugated bar a. These plates clip or engage with each
other at the rear as in the whippletree shown in Figures 1 and 2, or they are hinged to
each other as in Figures 3 and 4 or Figures 5 and 6 or butt against each other as in
Figures 9 and 10, or are otherwise suitably arranged, and, when closed, are united in
the front by a suitable shackle c, as in Figures 1 and 2. When, therefore, it is
necessary to shift the coupling device, upon the said shackle being removed, the two
plates are free to work upon their hinged or clipped joint, and to be slid or moved to
any desired part of the corrugated bar. Upon the horses drawing, the rear of the
coupling device impinges upon the surface at the bottom of the trough or channelled
bar a, as in Figure 2 or Figure 10, so that there is no tendency to pull the whipple-
tree out of shape, or they embrace the edges of the trough and impinge upon the said
edges as shown in Figure 4, or in Figure 6.
Another method of constructing the coupling device is as follows, that is to say
A V-shaped or other metal block or piece d is made to approximately fit the channel
of the corrugated bar a, and to this block or piece a shackle e embracing the cor-
rugated bar a is coupled by a pin and cottar as shown in Figures 7 and 8, or by a bolt
and nut or otherwise. When, therefore, it is necessary to shift the coupling device,
the cottar and pin are removed and the device is then free to be shifted along the
corrugated bar to any required position.
Another method of constructing the coupling device is as follows, viz. -I take two
plates shaped to embrace and fit the corrugated bar, as shown in Figures 9
and 10, which plates are connected by a shackle substantially in the manner. above
described.
An adjustable coupling device may also be made by a link e shaped to fit the cor-
rugated lar a and furnished at its forward end with a T-shaped piece or quadrant-
piece movable on a centre or pivot f', as shown in Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14,
which T-piece or quadrant-piece, when at right angles to the corrugated bar, will
keep the coupling link e in place, but, when turned upon its centre so as to be parallel..
with the corrugated bar, will allow of the said coupling link being drawn back. and
shifted along the whippletree to any required position. The draught-chain is coupled
to the said T-piece or quadrant-piece in such a manner that, whenever there is any
tension upon it, the corrugated bar becomes locked, and any accidental shifting of
the clip and bar relatively to each other is thus prevented.
I effect a further improvement in the whippletree described in the said former
specification and increase the durability thereof as follows, that is to say--In the
whippletree described in the said former specification, eyes are formed on the cor-
rugated bar, by turning up or folding the ends of the said bar, to receive rings for
the attachment of the horses. These eyes are speedily worn through, whereupon the
whippletree becomes useless. In my improved whippletrees, I provide for each of the
eyes g, Figures 1 and 1º, a pipe-bush having formed thereon suitable retaining
collars. Around these pipe-bushes the ends of the corrugated bar are.
bent or folded, so that, when either of the pipe-bushes becomes worn, it is only
necessary to unfold or open out the end of the bar and insert a new bush...
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said:
invention and in what manner the same is to he performed I wish it understood
that I claim-:-
First. The combination, with a corrugated spring whippletree, of an adjustable
coupling device so constructed that it can be readily secured in any required position

page_text: upon the said whippletree without the necessity for perforating or otherwise weakening
the same.
Second. The improved coupling device constructer substantially as described with
reference to either of the forms or modifications illustrated in the accompanying
drawings for the purpose specified.
Third. A corrugated spring whippletree provided at its extremities with pipe-
bushes, as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Dated this 14th day of May 1888.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.