IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF OMNIBUSES, AND IN PART APPLICABLE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF OTHER FOUR-WHEELED VEHICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, FREDERICK BIERS, of Mayton Street, Holloway, in the County of Middlesex,
Omnibus Driver, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN OR APPLICABLE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF OMNIBUSES, AND IN PART APPLICABLE
TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF OTHER FOUR-WHEELED VEHICLES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in or applicable to the construction
of omnibuses, and in part applicable to the construction of other four-wheeled
vehicles; special objects of the Invention are to simplify the construction of such
vehicles, and to render them safer and less liable to turn over should an axle break.
or upon any like emergency or accident happening, and more commodious and
convenient to the users:
In an omnibus constructed according to the present Invention, the body both
before and behind is brought very much nearer the ground than is possible with
any present construction, this enables me to dispense with many parts hitherto
necessary in the construction or fitting up of the omnibus, and further enables me
to obviate many disadvantages and inconveniences inherent to the present general
construction.
In omnibuses of the present construction, the after part of the body is supported
above a straight or slightly curved axle, and the floor line is thus necessarily very
high and inconvenient to enter. This gives an undue and unnecessary elevation to
the body, (which it has been sought to overcome to some degree, by diminishing
the internal height and consequently the convenience of the vehicle,) and necessi-
tates the addition of steps to enter the vehicle, and the use of an unnecessary
number of steps to reach the top. Moreover, the fore-carriage is also mounted
above a straight or slightly curved axle, and to accommodate this, the floor line of
the vehicle has had to be gradually raised from the rear entrance to the forward
end, which gradually lessens the distance between the practically horizontal seat
and the floor line of the omnibus, and makes it more and more inconvenient for the
passengers or users the nearer they sit towards the forward end.
In omnibuses of my improved construction, I form the body with a deeper well
than is usual, allowing of more space between the roof and floor line, and I mount
its binder part above the rear axle which I make of a deep cranked formation; and
I also make the fore axle of a like formation and mount the fore-carriage within
Das 11

page_text: the bend of this axle. This improved formation gives an increased internal
capacity and height to the vehicle, and allows of the floor line of the body thereof
being made practically horizontal and parallel with the scats, which is a very great
advantage, especially towards the forward part of the body, as it renders this part
much more roomy and convenient, and the improved system of mounting the body
allows of its being brought so near the ground line as that I am enabled to dispense
altogether with the use of steps for entering the vehicle, and to diminish the
number of steps necessary to mount to the top; and I am further enabled to
dispense with the use of the cross spring by which the hinder part of the omnibus
is usually supported, and in lieu thereof, and of the usual connections, I mount the
body solely upon side springs which are supported by the cranked axles and bear
under the seat part of the body. This improved system of mounting the body is
further of especial advantage in preventing any likelihood of the vehicle overturning
should an axle break, or upon any like einergency or accident happening, principally
on account of the centre of gravity being so very much lowered.
To accommodate the altered and lowered position of the fore-carriage, I alter the
formation of the connections from the fore-carriage to the splinter-bar by curving
or otherwise equivalently forming them in such a manner that the splinter-bar
shall occupy its usual position, notwithstanding the lowered position of the
fore-carriage.
Dated this 95th day of March 1881
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, FREDERICK BIERS, of Mayton Street, Holloway, in the County of Middlesex,
Omnibus Driver, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN OR APPLICABLE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF OMNIBUSES AND IN PART APPLICABLE
TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF OTHER FOUR-WHEELED VEHICLES," 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 certain improvements in or applicable to the construction
of omnibuses, and in part applicable to the construction of other four-wheeled
vehicles. Special objects of the improvements are to simplify the construction of
such vehicles, and to lower the centre of gravity and render them safer and less
liable to turn over should an axle break or upon any like emergency or accident
happening, and more commodious and convenient to the users.
On the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1, represents a cross section of an omnibus
through the hind axle, illustrating the improved formation as hereinafter more
particularly described, Fig. 2, represents a similar view through the fore axle.
Fig. 3, represents a side elevation, and Fig. 4, a longitudinal section of the lower
part of the vehicle..

page_text: In constructing an omnibus in accordance with the present improvements, the
whole of the body both before and behind is brought very much nearer the ground
than is possible with any present construction, and this enables me to dispense with
many parts hitherto necessary in the construction or fitting up of the omnibus, and
to obviate many disadvantages and inconveniences inherent to the present general
construction.
In omnibuses of the present construction, the after part of the body is supported
above a straight or slightly curved axle, and as the rear wheels are of about
4 ft. 6 inches or more in diameter, and as a sufficient distance has to be left
between the axle and the under part of the body of the vehicle to allow of the
latter having sufficient play or freedom of movement without coming into contact
with such axle, the floor line is thus necessarily very high and inconvenient to
enter. This gives an undue and unnecessary elevation to the body, and necessitates
the addition of steps to enter the vehicle, and the use of an unnecessary number
of steps to reach the top. It has been sought to overcome the unnecessary
elevation of such vehicles by diminishing the internal height, but this could not
be done and has not been effected without seriously lessening the convenience of
the vehicle to the users especially in rising to get out when a passenger's hat is
often crushed or damaged ;-but a special object of the present improvements is to
considerably lower the elevation of the vehicle while at the same time increasing
the internal height and general convenience. Moreover, in omnibuses of the present
construction, the fore-carriage is, like the hinder part of the body, also mounted
above a straight or slightly curved axle, and to accommodate this, the floor line of
the well of the body of the vehicle has had to be gradually raised from the rear
entrance to the forward end, which gradually lessens the distance between the
practically horizontal seat and the floor line, and makes it more and more
inconvenient for the passengers or users the nearer they sit towards the
forward end.
In omnibuses of my improved construction, I make both the rear axle, 1, and
the front axle, 2, of a deep cranked formation, as seen best in Figs. 1, and 2, and
the binder part of the body I mount solely upon side springs, 3, carried by the
opposite ends of the axle, 1. Both ends of each of the springs, 3, bear under the
seat part, 4, and serve to support the body, and this improved system of supporting
the hinder part of the omnibus enables me to dispense with the use of the
additional cross spring by which such part of the omnibus is usually supported,
and in lieu thereof, I mount the body of the omnibus solely upon such side
springs, 3, and upon the fore carriage, 5, which I mount upon the fore side
springs, 6, surmounting the opposite ends of the axle, 2, in a usual manner, but I
also make the bed of the fore carriage of a deep cranked formation, mounting it
within the bend of the axle, 2, as will be best seen on reference being had to Fig. 2.
The well, 7, of the body, which thus depends between the deep bends of the
axles, 1, and, 2, and of the fore carriage, 5, I make both deeper and wider than is
usual, allowing of more space between the roof, 17, and the floor line, 8.
To accommodate the lowered position of the fore carriage, I make the centre
connections, 9, from the bed of the fore carriage to the splinter-bar, 10, of a curved
or other equivalent formation in such manner as that the splinter-bar shall occupy
its usual position notwithstanding the lowered position of the fore carriage, but the
connections, 11, which connect the ends of the said bed and tops of the fore
springs, 6, with the ends of the splinter bar I make practically horizontal as is
usual.
The improved formation and system of.mounting the body gives an increased
internal capacity and height to the vehicle, and allows of the floor line being made
practically horizontal and parallel with the seats, and of the seats being made at a
greater height from the floor line than is usual, the latter of which is a very grent
advantage, especially towards the forward part of the body, as it renders this part
much more roomy and convenient, and allows of the body being brought so near
the ground line as that I am enabled to dispense altogether with the use of steps

page_text: between the ground and floor line of the vehicle for entering the latter, and to
correspondingly diminish the number of steps necessary to mount to the top thereof,
and the improved system of mounting the body is further of especial advantage in
preventing any likelihood of its overturning should an axle break or upon any like
emergency or accident happening, principally on account of the centre of gravity
being so very much lowered.
That part of the herein before described Invention which is especially applicable
to the construction of other four-wheeled vehicles than omnibuses, consists in the
improved formation of the front and rear axles and of the fore carriage when such
improvements are combined, which permits of the body of the vehicle being mounted
very much nearer the ground in the manner herein before described.
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
I claim is =
In the construction of omnibuses and other four wheeled vehicles, the combination
of rear and front axles and of a fore carriage each formed with a deep well or bend,
and the mounting of the body of the omnibus solely upon rear side springs and a
fore carriage thus formed, by the application of which improvements I am enabled
to lower the centre of gravity of the omnibus by mounting the body very much
nearer the ground than is possible with any existing construction of such parts, and
to increase the depth of the well and obtain a practically horizontal floor line
parallel with the seats, and an increased internal capacity, while at the same time
decreasing the elevation of the omnibus, and to dispense with the cross spring
usually connecting the two hinder springs and supporting the hindermost part of
the body, and with the use of steps between the floor of the vehicle and the ground
for entering the vehicle, and to diminish the number of steps necessary to mount to
the top, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
Drawings.