Improvements in or connected with Perambulators and such like Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 18th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 13th Oct.,
1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Perambulators and such
like Vehicles.
We, SAMUEL THOMAS FAWCETT, DAVID SIMPSON, and JOHN JAMES
SIMPSON, all of Black Bull Street, Leeds, in the County of York, Perambulator
Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
According to our invention we mount a pair of wheels on an axle, such axle
being attached to the spring, springs, or under frame of the perambulator, and
Two auxiliary
situated immediately beneath the centre of gravity of the vehicle.
axles are also mounted on the spring, springs, or under frame, one in front and the
other behind the main axle, and smaller wheels are mounted on these auxiliary
axles in such a manner that the four auxiliary wheels are at a short distance from
the ground when the perambulator is in a horizontal position. The perambulator
is thus capable of being wheeled on the centre or main pair of wheels, and as the
centre of gravity, when carrying a load is above or near this central axle, but little
exertion is necessary to keep it on this one pair of wheels, and thus the steering is
most readily effected.
The perambulator when in use will run upon the central pair of wheels in
combination with either the front or hind pair of auxiliary wheels according to the
position of the load, to which position the carriage will automatically adapt the
running wheels. When it is required to steer the perambulator, very little effort is
necessary to bring such perambulator on to the main wheels entirely.
It would be impossible to place the weight entirely or nearly so over one pair of
wheels in a four wheeled perambulator, as it would be certain to upset if the
centre of gravity once crossed the centre of the wheels, yet in the perambulator
constructed according to our invention the centre of gravity is situated over one
pair of wheels which take the entire strain and the auxiliary wheels at front or back
come into action according as the centre of gravity, when the vehicle is loaded,
remains either at the front or back of the main axle.
It will thus be seen that we gain all the advantages without the disadvantages of
a four wheeled perambulator.
It is also an advantage of our mode of construction that the perambulator can be
run up or down a flight of steps or can be moved over a curbstone to a different
level without any danger of upsetting.
This much day of Octal
1000
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Perambulators and such
like Vehicles.
We, SAMUEL THOMAS FAWCETT, DAVID SIMPSON, and JOHN JAMES
SIMPSON all of Black Bull Street, Leeds, in the County of York, Perambulator
Manufacturers, 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 :-
Heretofore one type of perambulator which is now well known has four wheels

page_text: mounted on a pair of fixed axles consequently the perambulator tends to move
normally in a straight line. In order to steer or guide such a perambulator, it is
necessary to tilt it up on one pair of wheels, and then to turn it whilst so balanced,
and it will be readily seen that owing to the distance of each pair of wheels from
the centre of gravity of the vehicle, much labour is required in order to effect this
operation.
In another type a single auxiliary wheel has been employed at the front and at
the back of the main wheels. There were two reasons why this invention proved a
failure, 1st, because the auxiliary wheels were at too great a distance from the main
wheels, which rendered it practically impossible to lift the main wheels off the
ground for the purpose of mounting a curbstone of any height and 2nd, because
even had the auxiliary wheels been nearer, although the requisite power to raise
the perambulator on to one of them would have been much less, it would have been
impracticable to do so owing to the unstable action of balancing the perambulator
on one wheel, and accidents have been the result. In another type six wheels have
been suggested, the two rear wheels being swivel wheels, and all six wheels were to
be normally "running wheels" and moreover that in order to steer the vehicle to
the right or left, the handle had to be depressed, not only with sufficient force
to overcome the weight in front, but with an extra amount of force sufficient to
bend the spring which carried the auxiliary trail wheels.
According to our invention we mount a pair of wheels on an axle, such axle
being attached to the spring, springs, or under frame of the perambulator and
situated immediately beneath the centre of gravity of the vehicle or nearly so.
Two auxiliary axles are also mounted on the spring, springs, or under frame, one
in front and the other behind the main axle, and smaller wheels are mounted on
these auxiliary axles in such a manner that the four auxiliary wheels are at a short
distance from the ground when the perambulator is in a horizontal position. The
perambulator is thus capable of being wheeled on the centre or main pair of wheels,
and as the centre of gravity, when carrying a load is above or near this central
axle, but little exertion is necessary to keep it on this one pair of wheels, and thus
the steering is most readily effected.
The perambulator when in use will run upon the central pair of wheels in
combination with either the front or bind pair of auxiliary wheels according to
the positions of the load, to which position the carriage will automatically adapt
the running wheels. When it is required to steer the perambulator, very little
effort is necessary to bring such perambulator on to the main wheels entirely. It
would be impossible to place the weight entirely or nearly so over one pair of
wheels in an ordinary four wheeled perambulator as it would be certain to upset
if the centre of gravity once crossed the centre of the wheels, yet in the peram-
bulator constructed according to our invention the centre of gravity is situated over
one pair of wheels which take the entire strain and the auxiliary wheels at front or
back come alternately into action according as the centre of gravity, when the
vehicle is loaded remains either at the front or back of the main axle.
It will thus be seen that we gain all the advantages without the disadvantages of
a four wheeled perambulator.
It is also an advantage of our mode of construction that the perambulator can be
run up or down a flight of steps or can be moved over a kerbstone to a different
level without any danger of upsetting.
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings-Fig. 1 heing a side
elevation of the underframe and wheels, Fig. 2 an end elevation and Fig. 3 a
plan 5
of the construction shewn at Fig. 1. Fig. 1 shows the perambulator in the position
it is placed in when being steered to the right or left, it being then balanced on the
central pair of wheels A, and in steering the perambulator when in this position
but little exertion is required in order to bring it on to the central pair of wheels.
The perambulator normally as aforesaid travels on the main wheels A combined 5
with either the front or back pair B or C, and owing to the central position of the

page_text: main wheels, it is most easy to bring the perambulator on to the main wheels A. for
steering purposes.
On coming to a kerbstone in crossing a road, the perambulator may be raised
on to the auxiliary wheels C as shewn in the Fig. 7.
The axles are in the practical construction carried by such a frame as shewn at
Fig. 4 in perspective, and from this frame the body of the vehicle is supported in
any suitable manner, as for example by the central spring shown at Figs. 1 and 2.
As shown by the side and end elevation at Figs. 5 and 6, two parallel supporting
members are employed instead of the axle-supporting frame shown at Fig. 4,
thereby adapting the invention to a two springed vehicle, and Fig. 7 shews by
diagram view a perambulator constructed according to this invention, when being
raised say from the roadway to the causeway.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
First. A perambulator or such like vehicle having six wheels composed of a
pair of main wheels A on a fixed axle situated beneath the centre of gravity of the
vehicle or nearly so, a pair of wheels B on a fixed axle in front, and another pair
of wheels C on a fixed axle behind the main central wheels A and all so arranged
that the front and rear pairs of wheels are at a short distance from the ground
when the vehicle or the frame carrying the axles, is in a horizontal position
substantially as set forth.
с
Second. The general arrangement and combination of parts composing the
improved six wheeled perambulator having a wheel base so arranged that a front
or back pair of auxiliary wheels come into use in combination with the central
pair according as the centre of gravity of the vehicle when loaded is either in front
or back of the main axle, all constructed substantially as and for the purposes
described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated th: 10L 1..
T
1004
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicants.