Improvements in Gear for Aiding Animal and other Power in Starting and Drawing Vehicles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 14th Aug. 1890-Accepted, 20th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gear for Aiding Animal and other Power in
Starting and Drawing Vehicles.
We, WILLIAM COOPER, Neptune Engine Works, Engineer, and JOHN HOLDSWORTH,
27 John Street, Traveller, both of Hull, in the County of York, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
To the rear, or to a fixed bracket extending beyond the rear of a vehicle on more
than two wheels, or on runners similar to those of a sledge, we attach a chain, rope, or
other connection, pass it forward and secure it to brackets or struts jointed to the axles,
or to other suitable parts under the body extending as far as practicable downwards
and working longitudinally.
Or the brackets or struts may be rigidly fixed, and the chain or rope be passed under
pulleys mounted on them. If animal, or other power be employed in connection with
shafts, or a single jointed pole, we attach to the fore end of the said chain or rope, one
or more traces of any suitable material, and lead them upwards at any desired angle,
to the shafts or pole to which we link, or hook them loosely, pass them over a roller, or
pulleys mounted on the said shafts or pole, or similarly treat them, then lead them to
the collar or its equivalent.
By this arrangement, a relative proportion of the varying force exerted, under
varying conditions, to draw the vehicle forward, is automatically employed in drawing
down the hinder part of it, with the periphery of the hind wheels, or the heels (curved)
of the runners, as a fulcruin; in raising or lightening the fore part; in adding weight
and tractive power to the motor itself by depressing the shafts, or pole upon it; and in
reducing friction, and other resistances generally.
If desired, in any case, to add an extra amount of weight to the motor, we employ
tackle purchase, lever arrangements, or the like, between the chain or rope already
described, and the shafts, or jointed pole.
Or, if desired, animal, or other power may be employed without this addition of
weight, by simply attaching the traces to the motor direct, i.e. without any connection
with the shafts, or pole.
.
Under this condition, the principle is also applicable to vehicles without jointed
shafts or pole, such as omnibuses, farmers' wagons, &c., to those drawn and steered.by
traces only, such as timber trucks; or to tram cars and the like.
In all cases in which steering has not to be considered we may, if desirable, employ
with one vehicle, more than one set of brackets or struts with their connections.
Dated this Foncteenth day of November 1889
WILLIAM COOPER.
JOHN HOLDSWORTH.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gear for Aiding Animal and other Power in
Starting and Drawing Vehicles.
We, WILLIAM COOPER, Neptune Engine Works, Engineer, and JOHN HOLDSWORTH,
27 John Street, Traveller, both of Hull, in the County of York, 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 :-
To the rear, or to a fixed bracket extending beyond the rear of a vehicle on more
than two wheels, or on runners similar to those of a sledge, we attach a chain, rope, or
other connection, marked A, A', A"; pass it forward, and secure it to brackets or
FD 27

page_text: struts B, B, jointed to the axles or to other suitable parts under the body of the
vehicle, extending as far downwards as practicable and working longitudinally.
The forward bracket or strut is preferably jointed in advance of the swivel pin on
which the front axle turns (see E) in order to slacken the chain, or rope A¹ (when the
vehicle is being turned) to allow either of the front wheels to pass over the length of
bar D, which is inserted in the chain or rope for that purpose. For the purpose of
increasing the leverage by which the hinder part of the vehicle is drawn down that
portion of the connecting chain or rope between the two brackets or struts may be
attached to the front one higher up than is shown by A', and is marked F in the drawing.
Or tackle purchase may be applied to one or both struts for the same purpose, if
desired.
Fig. 2. is an enlarged view of the approximate shape of the said jointed brackets or
struts. Or if preferred, these brackets or struts may be rigidly fixed, and the chain or
rope connection be passed under pulleys mounted on them. If animal, or other power
be employed in connection with shafts, or a single, jointed pole, we attach to the fore
end of the said chain or rope, or to the front bracket or strut, one or more traces of any
suitable material, and lead them-upwards, at any desired angle, to the shafts-or-pole, to
which we link, or hook them loosely, pass them over a roller or pulleys mounted on
the said shafts, or pole, (see letter C), or similarly treat them; then lead them to the
collar, or its equivalent. By this arrangement, a relative proportion of the varying force
exerted, under varying conditions, to draw the vehicle forward, is automatically employed
in drawing down the hinder part of it with the periphery of the hind wheels, or the
heels (curved) of the runners as a fulcrum, in raising or lightening the fore part; in
adding weight and tractive power to the motor itself by depressing the shafts or pole
upon it, and in reducing friction, and other resistances generally. If desired in any
-case, to add an extra-amount of weight to the motor, we employ tackle purchase, lever
arrangements, or the like, between the chain or rope already described, (or the forward
bracket or strut to which it is attached) and the shafts, or jointed pole.
Or, if desired, animal or other power may be employed without this addition of
weight, by simply attaching the traces to the motor direct, i.e., without any connection
with the shafts or pole, as shewn at A. Under this condition, the principle is also
applicable to vehicles without jointed shafts or pole, such as omnibuses, farmers'
wagons, &c.; to those drawn and steered by traces only, such as timber trucks; or to
tram cars and the like.
In all cases in which steering has not to be considered we may, if desirable, employ
with one vehicle, more than one set of brackets or struts, with their connections.
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. The principle of yoking or attaching animal, or other motors to vehicles by
connecting them to, or beyond the rear of such vehicles, and passing the connecting
medium under jointed struts, or under sheaves mounted on fixed struts.
2. The principle of depressing jointed shafts or poles on to the motor.
3. The principle of employing lever, tackle, or other purchase to draw down the
hinder part of vehicles, thereby securing a large proportion of the tractive force of the
motor (in connection with the front strut & shafts) for lightening the fore part of the
vehicle.
Dated this Thirteenth day of Avast 1890
WILLIAM COOPER.
JOHN HOLDSWORTH.