IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIAGES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Thomas Newnham, of the City of Bath, and
County of Somerset. Carriage Builder, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIAGES."
Sealed the 9th November 1877, and dated the 14th May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Thomas Newnham
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th May 1877.
BENJAMIN THOMAS NEWNHAM, of the City of Bath, and County of Somerset,
Carriage Builder. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIAGES."
"
The improvements have reference to that class of carriages in which the head or
covering is desired to open, so that the same carriage may be used either as a close
or an open carriage, as in the case of what are generally called "Landaus," and the
object is to obtain increased advantages in the use of glass in place of leather or
solid fronts. For this purpose the upper "standing pillars above the doors and the
front pillars are formed to turn on hinge joints just about or above the top line of
the door, and these pillars on each side are at their upper parts connected by hinge
connections to the front cant rail, and these front cant rails are connected to the
front top rail, by which these parts, when the carriage is required to be used as an
open carriage, may all be folded forward and laid under the coachman's seat, which,
as in some other carriages, is capable of turning on hinge joints.
The hinge connections for the upper joints are formed with stems to pass down
into and turn upon pins in the pillars, and the joints are formed to correspond.
The front glass may be a fixture in and fold with the front, or be formed in parts
to slide one on the other in the front.
The front side lights are hinged to the front pillars and fold back with them.
The parts of the hind quarter may be formed and fold in a corresponding manner
to those of the front.
i.
In some cases I connect the front pillars," or one of them, with the driver's seat
by means of a connecting rod, pivots, and arms or connecting pieces, so that the
folding of the front pillars," and the rising of the driver's seat to receive, and its
descent to cover the parts, is simultaneously effected.

page_text: The operation of raising the front pillars and the upper standing pillars is
facilitated by the action of strong india-rubber or other suitable springs acting
each on a lever arm, one end of which turns on a fixed axis of motion, whilst the
other acts on a truck or part carried by or formed on an arm from each upper
standing pillar."
"
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Benjamin Thomas Newnham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th November 1877.
BENJAMIN THOMAS NEWNHAM, of the City of Bath and County of Somerset,
Carriage Builder. * IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIAGES."
The improvements have reference to that class of carriages in which the head or
covering is desired to open so that the same carriage may be used either as a close or
an open carriage,as in the case of what are generally called "Landaus," and the object
is to obtain increased advantages in the use of glass in place of leather or solid
fronts. For this purpose the upper "standing" pillars above the doors and the front
pillars are formed to turn on hinge joints just about the top line of the door, and
these pillars on each side are at their upper parts connected by hinge connections to
the front cant rail, and these front cant rails are connected to the front top rail, by
which these parts, when the carriage is required to be used as an open carriage,
may all be folded forward and laid under the coachman's seat, which, as in some
other carriages, is capable of turning on hinge joints.
The hinge connections for the upper joints are formed with stems to pass down
into and turn upon pins in the pillars, and the joints are formed to correspond.
The front glass may be a fixture in and fold with the front. or be formed in parts
to slide one on the other in the front, or the glass may be lowered into the body, as
in other carriages.
The front side lights are hinged to the front pillars and fold back with them.
The parts of the hind quarter may be formed and fold in a corresponding manner
to those of the front.
In some cases I connect the front pillars," or one of them, with the driver's seat
by means of a connecting rod, pivots, and arms or connecting pieces, so that the
folding of the front pillars," and the rising of the driver's seat to receive, and its
descent to cover the parts, is simultaneously effected.
"
The operation of raising the front pillars and the upper standing pillars is
facilitated by the action of strong india-rubber or other suitable springs acting each
on a lever arm. one end of which turns on a fixed axis of motion, whilst the other
acts on a truck or part carried by or formed on an arm, from each **
pillar."
upper standing
But that the Invention may be the better understood. I will by the aid of the
accompanying Drawings proceed to describe means employed by me in carrying the
same into effect.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure shows the outline of a portion of the body of a Landau carriage with
my improvements applied Figure 2 shows the same with the parts in the position
they assume when the carriage is "open." In both views the same letters indicate
corresponding parts.
a represents the upper standing or head pillar to one side of the carriage. The
corresponding pillar on the other side is similarly fitted. Each of these pillars a is
formed to turn on the axis or pivot b. and is provided with an arm c, the outer end
of which carries a truck or bowl d; e is a spring arm, one end of which is sup-
ported to turn on the fixed pivot or axis e', whilst the outer end is drawn against

page_text: the bowl d with an elastic pressure by means of the india-rubber band spring / or by
other suitable spring. This spring f. as shown. passes over the fixed pulley f and also
over the pulley carried by the screw stem f. which passes through the lever arm
e.and is adjustable to regulate the tension by the spring on the lever arm e.by screw
nut. The front pillars are supported, each to turn on hinge joints at gl. and
these pillars and the pillars a' are at their upper ends connected by hinge joints
ath and to the front cant rail and front top rail forming the front part i of the
roof of the carriage, so that when the carriage is required to be used "open" these
parts may be folded forward. as indicated by Figure 2. and laid under the coach-
man's seat . which is capable of tilting upwards by being connected to the other
part by hinge joint j', as is usual in some other arrangements of carriage bodies.
It will be seen that the hinge connections and h are formed by stems passing
down into and turning upon pins in the pillars a and g.
The front glass may be a fixture in and so fold with the front parts g, or it may
be formed in parts to slide one on the other or otherwise in front of the body of the
carriage.
connect the front side lights to the front pillars g by hinge connections, so that
when the parts are open, these lights may be folded back into the front."
The parts of the hind quarter may be formed and folded in a corresponding
manner to those of the front.
In order that the lifting of the driver's seat may be effected simultaneously with
movement for opening or closing the front of the carriage apply to the pillar gan
arm, which, by pin joint k', is connected to one end of the rod 2. and the other
end of this rod is by pin joint connected to the scat j.
Having thus described my Invention and means which I adopt in carrying the
same into effect. I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the
precise arrangements of parts as shown and described, as the same may be varied
without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention; but what I do
claim is,―
The arranging or combining the parts a. g. and i, and parts acting therewith, to
facilitate opening or closing of carriage heads, substantially as described.
Also, claim the arranging or combining parts a. g. i, and k², and parts acting
therewith, to facilitate opening or closing of carriage heads. substantially as
described.
In witness whereof. I. the said Benjamin Thomas Newnham, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
B. T. NEWNHAM. (L.S.)