Effect of Draught Animals Attached to Wheeled Vehicles.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 24th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 5th Feb., 1889
and Effect of Draught Animals Attached to Wheeled Vehicles.
I, THOMAS HARGREAVES BRIGG, of Thornton Road, Bradford, in the County of.
York, Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved method or means of increasing the tractive
power and effect of draught animals attached to wheeled vehicles.
To this end the Invention consists essentially in connecting the traces to the vehicle
at a lower position than usually and in supporting the traces between the connection
thereof to the collar or equivalent part of the harness and such lower connection to
the vehicle by means attached to a saddle or equivalent part of the harness in such a
manner as that such supports will be above a straight line connecting such points of
connection of the traces to the collar and vehicle respectively.
By such improved means of connecting and applying the traces the resistance of
the vehicle is lessened and the tractive power of the animal is substantially increased, as
the forward movement of the animal in drawing the vehicle tends to raise its fore
part and lessens its resistance and also tends to cause the traces to assume the direction
of a straight line between such points of their connection to the collar and vehicle
respectively against the resistance offered by the said intermediary supports of the
traces, which is resultant in producing a downward force the effect of which is
substantially the same as that of increasing the weight of the draught animal in
increasing its frictional hold of the pavement and consequently its tractive power and
effect.
a
I prefer that the ends of the traces connected to the vehicle should be connected to
parts so applied or connected to the vehicle as that they will normally keep,-and
when the animal ceases from pulling the vehicle, will automatically assume
raised position so as to avoid liability of injury to the animals' legs and so as to
keep the rear end of the traces raised to prevent the animal from getting its legs over
them.
.
•
1000
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: and Effect of Draught Animals Attached to Wheeled Vehicles.
I, THOMAS HARGREAVES BRIGG, of Thornton Road, Bradford, in the County of
York, Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
This Invention relates to an improved arrangement of harness for connecting
draught animals with wheeled or other vehicles, the Invention being of especial utility
when applied to four wheeled vehicles, and by the use of which the tractive power of
the animal is substantially increased in proportion to the load to be drawn while the
resistance offered to the vehicle by irregularities of the roadway is more easily over-
'come, so as to permit of a given load being drawn by an animal (if of sufficient
nascular developement) of less weight than would be required for the purpose if
connected to the vehicle as ordinarily.
This important and novel effect is obtained by the improved arrangement represented
on the accompanying drawing, which is a side view of a draught animal, parts of a
vehicle and harness embodying my Invention, and according to which the traces, 1,
are each disposed at an obtuse angle open towards the ground, (instead of as heretofore
forming a straight line between the hame or collar and the points where the traces are
attached to the vehicle) and are each supported in such position in such a manner as
that the portion thereof between the supported part and the end which is attached to
the vehicle is caused to assume, with the ground line forward of the point of inter-
section, an angle of considerably greater degree than the trace as ordinarily applied
forms with such ground line.
To obtain the firstly referred to angular disposition of the traces, the latter, at parts
between the ends thereof which are respectively attached to the hame or collar, 11, or
equivalent part of the harness and to the splinter bar or equivalent part of the vehicle,
are each supported as much above such straight line as is conveniently practicable by
being passed through or connected to guide or supporting rings, 2, or like mean's
carried by adjustable straps, 3, secured on each side of a saddle, 4, or on an equivalent
broad-bearing padded part of the harness firmly buckled. around the body of the
animal, and in order that the angle formed by the portions of the traces between the
supported parts and the ends attached to the vehicle with the ground line forward of
the points of intersection may be as wide or of as great degree as is practically
obtainable, so that the most advantageous results may be obtained, the said saddle or
equivalent part, 4, is placed as near the hind quarters of the animal as is conveniently
practicable, and the points of attachment of the rear ends of the traces to the vehicle.
are placed as much lower than heretofore customary as is conveniently practicable with
special reference to the nature and construction of the vehicle.
5, indicates such points of attachment of the traces to the vehicle in the modification
illustrated, and which, in such modification, consists of parts swivelling about a centro
pin, 6, projecting below the fore axle, 7. The traces, if sufficiently long, may be
directly connected to the points, 5, or they may be made shorter and hooked or other-
wise suitably connected to straps or links, 8, connecting them with the points, 5, and
to all intents acting as parts or continuations of the traces, such straps or links being

page_text: suspended by chains, 9, from the splinter bar, 10, illustrated on the accompanying
drawings in a usual position, or being otherwise suitably supported from the under
part or fore part of the vehicle.
In order to prevent the animal, when at rest, from stepping over the low placed
traces, the said points of attachment may be so arranged as that they will be brought
into the said lower position only when the pull is exerted, whilst when the pull ceases,
they will be automatically brought into a higher position, and in such case springs or
other suitable appliances may be used in lieu of or in addition to the chains, 9.
The front ends of the traces may be connected to the hame or collar or its equivalent
in a usual manner.
By such improved arrangement of the harness, resistance offered to the vehicle
through irregularities of the roadway is more easily overcome and the tractive power
of the animal is substantially increased, as the forward movement of the animal in
drawing the vehicle tends to lift the fore part thereof so as to the more easily override
such irregularities and also tends to cause the traces to assume the direction of a straight
line between the said parts of connection to the hame or collar and the vehicle against
the resistance offered by the said intermediary supports of the traces at the apices of
the said obtuse angles formed by the traces, the combined effect of the forward move-
ment of the animal and the resistance offered by the vehicle being automatically
resultant in producing a downward force at the said apices of such obtuse angles in
proportion to the pull of the animal and to the resistance of the load which is exerted
upon the saddle or said equivalent part of the harness upon the back of the animal
and is effective in holding the animal down to the ground with an increased weight in
consequence of which its frictional resistance on the roadway and tractive power are
correspondingly increased.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
1 claim is.
1. In a harness, the combination with a saddle or pad adapted to bear upon the
animal's back at a point nearer to its hind-quarters than to the shoulders, of trace
portions extending from the shoulders in a substantially horizontal direction backward
to said pad, adjustable suspension straps, 3, supporting the traces from the pad, and
trace portions extending from said straps backward and downward at an angle with tho
first mentioned portions to a low point of attachment to the vehicle substantially as set
forth.
2. The combination with the traces extending backward and downward to a low
point of attachment to the vehicle, of springs or other automatic lifters connected
with said traces and adapted to raise the same when not under tension, whereby the
animal when at rest is prevented from getting outside of the traces, substantially as
set forth.
3. The combination with the saddle and adjusting straps thereon, of traces extending
backward and downward to a low point of attachment to the vehicle, and automatic
lifters connected with said traces and adapted to raise the same when not under tension,
whereby the animal when at rest is prevented from getting outside of the traces,
substantially as set forth.
1000
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.