Iм- PROVEMENTS IN COMMON ROAD CARRIAGES, AND IN APPLIANCES TO BE FITTED THERETO OR ÅRRANGED THEREWITH.
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Francis Campbell, of Great Plumstead,
in the County of Norfolk, Gentleman, for the Invention of "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN COMMON ROAD CARRIAGES, AND IN APPLIANCES TO BE FITTED
THERETO OR ÅRRANGED THEREWITH.
"
Sealed the 5th December 1873, and dated the 12th June 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Francis
Campbell at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 12th June 1873.
I, ALEXANDER FRANCIS CAMPBELL, of Great Plumstead, in the County
of Norfolk, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMMON ROAD CARRIAGES, AND IN APPLIANCES TO BE
FITTED THERETO OR ARRANGED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-

page_text: supported by the elastic coupling at the front end of each back spring
and by the straps and the elastic couplings at the back end.
The upper portions of, say, the bow springs or the top half springs are
dispensed with by my Invention, and a lighter and less costly carriage is
the result.
It also prevents a twisting action of the after frame when turning
corners, as the outside wheel becomes drawn round with greater force
than the inner side one.
I arrange a rotating handle or a pull or push lever arrangement of
appliances within the vehicle, which when operated upon from the inside
applies to or withdraws the breaks from the wheels. This is preferably
composed of a bell-pull and a chain leading down the body to the out-
side, where it is attached by a connection to the rods or chains of the
break levers. The motion of the vehicle can thus be checked by the
occupant at any time without regard to the coachman; but by con-
necting the chains to a lever within reach of the driver the breaks are
put under control of both the coachman and the occupant, either one of
which or both can put the breaks into contact.
The several improvements above mentioned are applicable to the same
carriage in certain cases, but I reserve the right to apply any one or
more of them only as circumstances permit.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Francis Campbell in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 9th December 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
FRANCIS CAMPBELL, of Great Plumstead, in the County of Norfolk,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alexander Francis Campbell, Her special

page_text: Fifthly. To enable the occupant of the inside of a carriage to apply
the breaks independently of or in conjunction with the driver on his box
seat.
The upper front frame a of the body of my carriage (with or without
side or front lights) is left in skeleton form, and is fitted with a top
leather or canvas b, which can be rolled over or folded back in line with
the back body pillars, to be there secured by straps or otherwise; the
top leather or canvas 6 has side pieces or
"
fall c, c, which when
unrolled to the front can be secured in position to the sides and front by
straps, or by rods d, d, working or passed through guide eyes e, e. By
this means a four-wheel carriage can be converted from a close to an
open one, and vice versa, without severing the frame; and it enables me
to dispense with springs, levers, and other mechanism, which although"
they may answer the purpose of opening or closing add weight and com-
plication of construction to the carriage with loss of strength.
The doors f,f, of convertible four-wheeled carriages, whether of the
brougham or other kind which have fixed upper frames, I arrange upon
hinges g, g, at the front body pillars h, h, and in such a manner that the
doors can be lifted and removed from the body, the doors opening
towards the front instead of to the rear, light iron frames covered with
leather being fixed in front of the hind wheels for the protection of dress
and persons.
The back of the body frame at each side has clips j, j, which are
connected by short couplings k, k, to the fore end of the two springs 1, 1;
the usual cross spring being dispensed with I carry the upper curved
bars m, m, to the rear of the main springs 1, 2, and connect them by
other couplings, as shown, so that the back of the body is supported by
the coupling at the front end of each back spring, and by the curved
bars and the couplings fitted to the back ends of the springs.
The upper portions of the hind bow springs, or the top half of the
main springs, are dispensed with, as also cross springs, by my Invention,
and a lighter and simpler carriage in construction is the result.
It also prevents a twisting action of the after frame in consequence
of the pull being direct.

page_text: I arrange a pull or push lever n with chain and arrangement of pullies
below the carriage which when operated upon from the inside applies
to or withdraws the breaks q from the wheels r, r.
The break appliances can be acted upon by the driver while seated on
his box, if desired, by means of the chain t leading under the body to
the boot, where it is attached by a connection u to the foot plate w.
The progress of the carriage can thus be checked by the occupant inside
without regard to the driver, but by connecting the chain to a lever
which is within reach of the driver the breaks can be put under control
of both the driver and the occupant, either one of which, or both, can
put the breaks into contact with the hind wheels. A communication
can be arranged between the occupant within the carriage and the driver
on the box, either by a speaking tube or other means, so to obtain an
easy and immediate manner of giving directions.
Some of the several improvements above mentioned as forming my
present Invention are applicable to other carriages, but I reserve the
right to apply any one or more of them only to four-wheel carriages as
circumstances permit.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,―
Firstly. The means by which the front heads or front bodies of
broughams and other such like four-wheeled carriages can be transformed
from close to open ones, as herein-before described and shown in the
Drawing.
Secondly. I claim, the employment of doors to broughams and such
like four-wheeled carriages, when such doors are temporarily hinged to
the front body, as and for the purposes set forth.
Thirdly. I claim, the means of or appliances for ensuring the pull
direct from the body of a brougham, a landau, or other such like suspended
carriage to the hind axle through the connection of the fore ends of the
lower portions of the springs and the couplings, in the manner described
and shown.
Fourthly. I claim, the suspension of the hind portions of brougham
and other similar four-wheeled carriages upon the lower portions or

page_text: halves of hind springs, as shown, whereby I dispense with the upper
half bow springs and the cross springs usually employed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Francis Campbell, here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of November
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.