IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO CARRIAGES, DESIGNED FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS IN CASE OF HORSES RUNNING AWAY
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Robinson Towers and Charles Berry, both of
Birkenhead, in the County of Chester, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND APPERTAINING TO CARRIAGES, DESIGNED FOR THE PREVENTION OF
ACCIDENTS IN CASE OF HORSES RUNNING AWAY."
Sealed the 23rd March 1880, and dated the 3rd October 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Robinson Towers
and Charles Berry at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd
October 1879.
JOSEPH ROBINSON TOWERS and CHARLES BERRY, both of Birkenhead, in the
County of Chester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO CARRIAGES
DESIGNED FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS IN CASE OF HORSES RUNNING
AWAY."
This Invention consists in an arrangement of carriage by which the horses can
be instantaneously detached. In a two horse vehicle we attach the chains that
connect the collars to the pole to a terminal pin fitting into a horizontal socket in
the shaft or on to a horizontal socket fitting on the end of the shaft. By this means
should the traces be released, the horses can pull the socket or pin out of or off the
end of the pole. The traces are attached by placing a ring or other projecting
article on the end of the trace between the two halves of a cross tree. The lower
half is rigid, the upper hinged. By means of a handle on the carriage at the
command of the coachman or driver, the hinge can be turned and the traces all
instantaneously released.
There are various other ways of attachment, all depending upon the principle of
a part of the cross tree being hinged; thus the traces could be placed round pins
pointing upward with safety catches at their side. The hinge turning these pins
fall forward with the hinge, and standing horizontally release the traces.
The hinged part can be kept in place by springs as well as the handle, and the
traces can be supported by straps attached to the crupper, so that when the horses
run off they may not tread on the traces. In one horse vehicles the shafts can be
attached in a somewhat similar manner, so that by the lifting of a hinge or lever
they can be instantaneously detached. Straps similar to those already mentioned
prevent the shafts from trailing on the ground.

page_text: DIECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent nieu
by the said Joseph Robinson Towers and Charles Berry in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 3rd April 1880.
JOSEPH ROBINSON TOWERS and CHARLES BERRY, both of Birkenhead, in the
County of Chester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO CARRIAGES,
DESIGNED FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS IN CASE OF HORSES RUNNING
AWAY."
This Invention consists in an arrangement of carriage by which the horses can be
instantaneously detached.
In the Drawings, Fig. 1 shows a plan view of our Invention as used with a pair
of horses. Fig. 2 a section of our splinter bar with the top half raised. Fig. 3,
plan view with top half raised. In these A is the pole; B, the traces; C, the lower
portion of the collar; D, the cross-tree or splinter bar of the carriage made in two
pieces, which are kept closely together by springs or otherwise; E, the hooks or rings
on the ends of the traces which are attached to the projections F. These projections
fit into holes f; G, the hinges which connect the upper and lower portions of the
bar D; H, springs of india-rubber which keep the upper and lower portions of the bar
Din close contact; I, the chains which are attached to the horses' collars and to the
end of the pole; K, a loose pin capable of being taken out of the end of the pole
when the chains I are unfastened; L, a strap by which the driver can raise the top
portion of the bar D and release the traces B.
In a two horse vehicle we attach the chains I that connect the collar C to the
pole A to a terminal pin K, fitting into a horizontal socket in the pole or onto a
horizontal socket fitting on the end of the pole. By this means, should the traces
B be released, the horses can pull the socket or pin K out of or off the end of the pole
A. The traces B are attached by placing a ring or other projecting article E on
the end of the trace between the two halves of the cross-tree or splinter-bar D. The
Jower half is rigid, the upper hinged thereto by hinges G. By means of a strap L
or handle on the carriage at the command of the coachman or driver, the hinge can
be turned and the traces B all instantaneously released.
There are various other ways of attachment, all depending on the principle of a
part of the cross-trec or splinter bar being hinged, thus the traces could be placed
round pins pointing upward with safety catches at their side. The hinge turning,
these pins fall forward with the binge, and standing horizontally release the
traces.
The hinged part can be kept in place by springs as well as the handle, and the
traces can be supported by straps attached to the crupper, so that when the horses
are released they may not tread on the traces.
In one horse vehicles the shafts can be attached in a somewhat similar manner,
so that by the lifting of a hinge or lever they can be instantaneously detached.
Straps similar to those already mentioned prevent the shafts from trailing on the
ground.
Having now described our Invention, and the best nodes known to us of
carrying it into effect, we wish it to be understood that what we believe to be new,
and desire to claim as our Invention under the hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent is :-
1st. In the construction of carriages, with two or more horses and a central pole,
a removable or loose pin fitting in a socket on the end of the pole or its equivalent,
such as a cap on the pole, to which the pole chains or straps are attached, for the
purposes described.
2nd. In the construction of carriages, the arrangement of draught apparatus in
which the traces are secured on hinged bars (D) or their mechanical equivalent, so

page_text: that when the hinge is turned or opened by the driver or other person the traces
are liberated and the horses detached.
3rd. The arrangement of apparatus for attaching a horse or horses to carriages
so as to prevent accident in case of a stampede, substantially as above described.
In witness whereof, we, Joseph Robinson Towers and Charles Berry, have
hereunto set our hands and seal, this Second day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.