IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER CARTS AND BARROWS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stephen Carey, of Clink Street Wharf, Bankside,
Southwark, in the County of Surrey, Contractor, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER CARTS AND BARROWS."
Sealed the 15th July 1856, and dated the 1st May 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stephen Care at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
May 1856.
I, STEPHEN CAREY, of Clink Street Wharf, Bankside, Southwark, in the
County of Surrey, Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of the said
"Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER CARTS AND BARROWS,"
follows:-
"
My said improvements consist in attaching moveable tubes to the ends of
a main or distributing tube usually fixed to the back of an ordinary water cart
or barrow, or by adding flexible hose to the ends of the said main or dis-
tributing tube, so as to distribute water over a wider space than is now done in
ordinary way.
The improvements also relate to the carrying the body of the water cart
upon high wheels, either with or without one or more front or guide-wheels;
the later being made small enough to pass under the fore part of the body to
enable the cart to turn easily. The axle may be made either to pass through.

page_text: the body of the cart; or cranked and passed under it. If passed through the
the body of the cart, it is enclosed in a water-tight pipe or tube, or the axle
may be made in the ordinary way. The body of the cart or barrow may be
made of wood, iron, zinc, or any of the known materials for water carts, and
may be either a parallelogram, cylinder, or other ordinary form, carried on
two, three, or four wheels. The number of wheels I prefer for a water cart
would be four, and for a water barrow two. The bearing wheels of the cart
are 7 to 9 feet diameter, and the fore wheels of from 2 feet to 2 feet 6 inches
diameter.
At the back of the cart or barrow, instead of the ordinary distributing tube
or pipe, I fix horizontally a straight tube or pipe, extending to the extreeme
width of the wheels, the said pipe being of sufficient diameter to take one or
more tubes within it, such tubes to be made to act in the manner of a tele-
scope, one within the other, sliding to and fro at pleasure, a sufficient space
being left around or between the pipes to allow of the flow of water; all the
tubes are perforated in their sides, to allow the water to be discharged there-
from in watering streets or other places. These inner tubes are extended and
drawn inwards either by hand or by ropes and pullies worked by an attendant,
or by an lever or levers attached to the tubes and to the side or back of the
cart, or other known mechanical means.
The tubes may be made either circular or angular, and of any of the known
materials now used for water pipes; but I prefer them circular, and of gutta
percha for the telescopic or inner tubes, and circular sheet iron for the main
tube, and leather or canvas for the flexible hose; wooden or metal troughs
may also be used, with their sides or bottoms perforated. The outer ends of
the telescopic tube may be slightly curved, and present the form of the ends
of the tubes now used in the ordinary water carts.
Instead of the telescopic tubes herein-before described, I sometimes use
flexible hose made of the ordinary materials, and attach the same by any
known means to one or both ends of the main tube. This tube is perforated
for the discharge of water, and made of sufficient length to reach the width of
an ordinary street, say, to the extent of from 15 to 20 feet. Each of these
tubes is carried by an attendant, by whom it can be wound or unwound or
turned at pleasure, so as to extend across the street or to any width required.
I also use branch pipes made of metal or gutta perchâ, and attach the same
by universal joints to the ends of the main tube, which said branch pipe can be
turned up or down, or at right angles to the cart, by any ordinary means.
Another of my-improvements consists in forming in all or any of the tubes,
before described, two rows of jets, apart from but parallel to each other. These

page_text: rows of jets may be made either in front or back or under the said tubes, the
object being to alloay or throw down by the second row of jets the dust thrown
up by the first row striking the ground. If wooden or metal troughs are used
they can be perforated in a similar manner. Instead of having perforations
to all or any of the pipes, I sometimes use slots, made lengthwise, in any
of the said pipes, so as to throw sheets of water instead of jets; or a series of
roses, similar to those used in watering pots, may be attached to the main or
distributing tube, or to the other or branch tubes, either in conjunction with
or used without the said jets or slots herein-before referred to, or a rosé may
be fixed to the end only of the said branch tubes or flexible lose.
The improved water cart or barrow may be applied to watering streets, roads,
gardens, or lands.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Stephen Carey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
. 1st November 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, STEPHEN
CAREY, of Clink Street Wharf, Bankside, Southwark, in the County of Surrey,
Contraactor, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign, did
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Stephen Carey, Her special licence that I, the said Stephen Carey, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Stephen
Carey, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and, Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER CARTS AND
BARROWS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Stephen Carey,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Scal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE that I the said Stephen Carey do hereby declare the

page_text: nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The nature of my Invention consists. in improved methods of distributing
water in street, roads,..and places, and over land, by which I am enabled to:
water over a wider space and in quicker time than is.now done in the ordinary
way; and in constructing an improved water cart, by which I facilitate the
watering of wide streets and other spaces, and irrigating large surfaces of land;
also in perforating the several pipes, tubes, or hose, herein-after described, in
such manner, as to allay much of the dust that is now raised by the ordinary
method of watering roads.. Any substance dissolved or suspended in water,
such as manure, marl, lime, or clay, may be used by means of my improved
water cart, herein-after described and hercin-before mentioned.
Instead of the ordinary main or distributing pipe or tube fixed horizontally
at the back of the common water cart, I fix a straight pipe or tube, which I
prefer to be made of iron or gutta percha, and extend the same to the extreme
width of the wheels, the said pipe being open at both ends, and of sufficient
diameter, say, from 3 to 5 inches, to take one or more tubes within it. At
each end of the distributing pipe or tube I insert a pipe or tube, the said pipes
or tubes meeting in the centre, the said pipes or tubes being made to act.in the
manner of a telescope within the distributing pipe or tube, sliding to and fro
at pleasure, a sufficient space being left around or between the inner pipe or
tube and the distributing pipe or tube to allow the water to flow freely; the
said pipes or tubes, inserted as aforesaid, are perforated, to allow the water to be
discharged therefrom in watering streets, land, or other places, as herein-after
described. When it is required to water a wider space, or irrigate a greater
breadth of land, I insert other pipes or tubes in like manner to that herein-
before described, at each end of the distributing pipe or tube, and sliding
within the inner tube and one within the other, in the manner of a telescope.
These sliding tubes are either drawn out or pressed in by hand. At each end of
the several inner and sliding pipes and tubes I fix a rim or ring of metal,
gutta percha, or leather, to form a stop to prevent the tubes being drawn out
too far, and at the extreme outer end of the inner pipe or tube I sometimes
make a curve projecting beyond each end of the distributing pipe or tube, the
same being perforated with numerous holes to distribute the water laterally.
Instead of the telescope tubes herein-before described,. I sometimes use
flexible hose, made of waterproof canvass or leather, and attach the.same to
one or both ends of the main or fixed distributing tube, by tying it to the same
with a leather strap or common string or cord, or by connecting it with.a.metal

page_text: screw joint, similar to those used in attaching hose to a fire engine. Each
hose is made of sufficient length to reach across the width of an ordinary street,
.say, from 15 to 20 feet on each side of the cart, and, the same is carried by an
attendant, by whom it is wound or unwound-upon a reel of an ordinary descrip-
tion, held in his hand, to any. width required; or otherwise the hose may be
turned and carried forward or backward to avoid contact with any passing
object or vehicle. For irrigating lands, the hose. may be made to extend to
30 feet.
I also, instead of the tubes and hose herein-before described, use branch
pipes, made of metal or gutta percha, and attach the same by universal joints,
made of metal, leather; waterproof canvass, indian-rubber, or gutta percha, to
the ends of the main or fixed.distributing tube, which said.branch pipes can
be turned by an attendant up or down, backward or forward, at pleasure; in
this manner, at the top near the hinder part of the cart and on.its side I fix
the end of a chain or rope, and. connect the other end to the middle or there-
abouts of the said branch pipe, so as to suspend the same horizontally; and I
sometimes, for the purpose of keeping the branch tube steady, fix an iron rod
or stay in a diagonal. direction from the middle of the said branch.pipe to the
front end of the cart, at or near the shaft, each end of the said rod being. fitted
with a hook or eye to play loosely in a ring or eye, secured at one-end. to the
branch pipe, and at the other end to the cart.. In order to raise or lower the
branch pipe, I fix vertically on the side. and near to the back of the cart an
iron or deal standard, with a pulley fitted to the upper end, and another pulley
fixed on the top of the cart; I then pass a line.. through the pullies, one end of
which is fixed to the middle of the tube and the other end carried to the hand
of the driver, oriso placed on the side of the cart as to be easily pulled by an
attendant. When the branch pipes, tubes, hose, or trunks are not required
for use, I fit on to each end of the fixed distributing tube a cap or plug, to
prevent the water from running out at the. ends...
Another of my improvements consists in making in all or any of the tubes,
hose, or trunks, before described, two or more rows of perforations or jets apart
from but parallel to each other. These rows of perforations. or jets: may.be
made either in front, at the back, or under the said tubes, hose, or trunks, the
object being to allay or throw down by the second. or.following rows of jets.the
dust thrown up from the road by the first or advancing row of jets, and in
irrigating lands the growing crops would receive the water, or liquid manure,
in all directions over the whole surface. .
Instead of having perforations of jets to all or any of the pipes.or.tubes
herein described, I sometimes use slots made lenthways. in. any of the said

page_text: pipes or tubes, so as to throw thin sheets of water instead of jets; or I some-
times use roses, similar to those used in the garden watering pots; or instead
of these, I use perforated T pieces, the said roses or T pieces being placed
about a foot apart, and fixed underneath all or any of the pipes or tubes herein
described. One of these roses or T pieces I sometimes fix at each end of the
main or fixed distributing tube, also at the end of the inner tube of the telc-
scope pipes, and to the ends of the hose, branch pipes, and trunks.
For the purposes of irrigating land and other wide spaces, I sometimes use
tubes, trunks, or troughs perforated at the sides or bottom, and connect the
same to the main or fixed distributing tube, or to the sides of the cart, in the
manner herein-after described. When the water to be used has substances
suspended within it, I prefer and use tubes, trunks, or troughs about 2
inches or 3 inches clear inside measure, with holes perforated through the
bottom, each hole being about half to inch in diametre, and about 12
inches apart. To the under side of these tubes, trunks, or troughs I hang on
hinges; or suspend with chains, wire, or cord, a series of small trays or boxes,
about 12 inches long, and a little wider than the tube, trunk, or trough;
the front or advancing rim I make 3 in. high, and the back rim 1 in. high
in the clear; the front rim is perforated with any number of holes, through
which, after the box or tray has received the water through the hole made at
the bottom of the trough, it distributes the same over the land; or the boxes
or trays may be made parallel, and the front and back rims or the bottom per-
forated. These boxes or trays are secured by a button or hook and eye
fastening. In order to regulate the quantity of water that would pass through
the hole at the bottom of the trough, I screw over each of the holes a short
piece of iron hooping, or, an ordinary brass or wood button, which can be moved,
so as to cover or partially cover the perforations at pleasure, the screw by
which it is fixed forming the hinge or pivot upon which the button is turned.
Another method I adopt for distributing water (having substances suspended
within it) over land is this:-Instead of the boxes and trays, just described, I
suspend by wires to the bottom of the trough and under each of the per-
forations a cone, made of corrugated iron, zinc, or gutta percha, upon the apex
of which the water or liquid manure descends and distributes itself all round
the corrugated base; or I sometimes fix under the holes, and slightly inclined
towards the front, plain boards, upon which the water falls, and is distributed
over the land.
The object of the trays, and these several last contrivances, is to allow the
easy removal of thick or foreign substances that might accumulate on the said
trays, cones, or boards.

page_text: I sometimes attach the several tubes, hose, trunks, or troughs, berein-before
described, to the sides of the water cart instead of to the ends of the main or
fixed distributing tube; this I perform by fixing a short piece or elbow of pipe,
hose, or trunk, made of leather, waterproof canvass, indian rubber, gutta-percha,
iron, or wood, from the valve hole, made in the bottom of the cart, to the side
of the cart, under the level of the bottom; to the end of this I fix a ring of
metal, or merely turn over the material and form a flange or rim at the edge.
I then simply tie on with a leather strap or cord the branch pipe, hose, or
trunk, herein-before described; or, instead of tying it on, I sometimes use and
apply a metal screw joint, similar to those used in fire engines, and attach the
same to the junction pieces of hose, pipe, or trunck attached to the side of the
cart. One object and advantage in using the junction pieces, here described, is
that greater pressure is obtained by the liquor in the cart being higher than.
the discharging tubes.
The kind of valve I use for covering the hole or holes at the bottom of the
water cart or barrow is simply a piece of stout leather, about 10 inches long"
and 4 inches wide, laid over the hole. Upon this leather I fix a board, about
4 inches square, and place thereon a piece of lead or any other like heavy
substance, to serve as a weight to keep the valve down; the leather is then
screwed at one end to the bottom of the cart, and made to act as a hinged
flap, the other end, with the board and weight, being raised or lowered at
pleasure by the driver or attendant by means of lines, chains, or rods and
pullies connecting the same in the usual way; but although this kind of
valve is preferred by me, any of the ordinary valves may be used. When the
several pipes, tubes, hose, or trunks are fixed to the distributing tube, I apply
one of these valves, and connect the same with a small pipe to the water cart;
but when the said pipes, tubes, hose, or trunks are fixed to the short elbow
pipe or trunk, herein-before described, to the side of the cart, then I use two of
these valves, one over each of the said elbow pipes or trunks, and sometimes I
use all three at the same time.
Another of my improvements consists in making floats or frames of the
following description, and fitting the same loosely to the inside and over the
whole surface of the cart, the object of which is to prevent much of the splash-
ing of the water caused by the jolting motion of the cart in passing over rough
roads or uneven ground, and to screen or separate any thick or foreign sub-
stance that may have been put into the cart with the water or liquid manure.
The said floats or frames consist of 3 or 4 skeleton rims, each. side being
about 3 inches wide and about half-inch thick, made of deal, and framed
together at the angles, and across the centre upon each of these frames,

page_text: which are placed side by side, is stretched a matting made of cocoa-nut fibre,
or of coarse canvass, or perforated zinc, or wire gauze; or perforated boards may
be used; or instead of these frames, a bag or strainer made of cocoa-nut fibre
or coarse canvass may be used, throngh which the water or liquid manure
passes on entering the cart. I sometimes use plain boards instead of frames
to prevent the splashing, herein described.
Although the improvements herein-before described are intended to be
applied to a water cart of the ordinary description, I also propose to apply
them to a new or improved water cart or barrow, the construction of which I
will now, proceed to describe.
The said improvements relate to carrying the body of the cart on high
wheels, say, from 7 to 12 feet diameter, either with or without one or two
front or guide wheels, the latter being made small enough to pass under the
fore part of the body. of the cart so as to turn easily, say from 2 to 4 feet
diameter. The axle may be made either to pass through the body of the cart,
or cranked and passed under or over, or both under and over, so that springs
may be applied either to the sides, top, or bottom of the cart to prevent ossila-
tion. If the axle be passed through the body of the cart it must be en-
closed in a water-tight pipe or trunk, or the axle may, be made in the ordinary.
way; or the body of the cart may be made in two parts, forming a front as
well as a back reservoir, and kept a little distance apart so as to allow the axle
to pass between them. The said reservoirs may be joined at the bottom or
connected together by tubes or hose passing under the axle, so as to allow all
the water or liquid manure contained in the front reservoir to pass through
and empty itself into the back reservoir for distribution. The body of the
water cart may be made of wood, iron, or zinc, of the form of the present
water carts, or of a cylindrical, square, or oblong form, or such as herein
described, and may be made with or without springs.
In-witness whereof, I, the said Stephen Carey, have hereunto-set my
hand and seal, this First day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
HENRY LAXTON, C. E.,
19, Arundel Street, Strand.
STEPHEN CAREY. (L.s.).