IMPROVEMENTS IN TWO-WHEELED VEHICLES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Edward Newton of the Office for Patents
"
66 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer for an Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TWO-WHEELED VEHICLES Communicated to him
from abroad by Edward Storm of Poughkeepsie in the State of New York,
United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Edward Newton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th January 1883.
.
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of the Office for Patents 66 Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, " IMPROVEMENTS IN TWO-WHEELED
VEHICLES." [Communicated to him from abroad by Edward Storm of Pough-
keepsie in the State of New York, United States of America]
This invention relates to improvements in two wheeled vehicles such for instance
as those which are commonly known as gigs, village carts, or dog carts, and has
for its object the prevention as far as possible of the swinging action of such
vehicles which is ordinarily produced by the motion of the draught animal.
In carrying out this invention the shafts are firmly attached in any suitable
manner to the axle of the vehicle.
Upon the axle towards the ends thereof are mounted two brackets made of rigid
material supporting two wooden side bars or their equivalent which are secured
thereto by clips.
Upon the body of the vehicle which may be of any approved construction are
mounted torsion springs which consist of two steel rods extending parallel to the
side bars and at right angles to the axle. The steel rods are fastened near the
middle of their length to the body of the vehicle by clamps in such a manner as to.
prevent their turning, but at their ends they rest in loose bearings mounted upon
the body in which they are free to turn.
Arms are rigidly fixed to these torsion springs between the clamps and the
bearings, and at their outer ends are pivotted to clips on the side bars, or side bars
can be dispensed with, and the arms pivotted to clips directly upon the brackets.

page_text: Although torsion springs are preferred there may be used in lieu thereof, or even in
addition thereto, semi elliptic, or other suitable springs, without materially altering
the general arrangement.
From the above description it will be seen that the shafts are connected with the
body of the vehicle only through the axle, and consequently the motion of the
draught animal is not communicated to the occupants of the vehicle except in a
very slight degree.
The invention equally applies to two wheeled vehicles fitted with a pole to
receive a pair of horses.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th July 1883.
"
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of the Office for Patents 66 Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer · IMPROVEMENTS IN TWO WHEELED
VEHICLES" Being a communication to me from abroad by Edward Storm of
Poughkeepsie, in the State of New York United States of America
This Invention relates to improvements in two wheeled vehicles such for instance
as those which are known commonly as gigs, village-carts or dog-carts.
The object of these improvements is to prevent, as far as possible the swinging
action of such vehicles which is ordinarily entailed by the motion of the animal
whereby they are moved.
The improvements consist in the combination in a two wheeled vehicle of shafts
or a pole secured to the axle, side-bars mounted on the axle, and a spring or springs
connecting the side-bars with the body.
The improvements also consist in the combination in a two-wheeled vehicle of
shafts or a pole secured to the axle, side bars, rigid connections between the axle
and side-bars and springs connecting the side bars to the body.
The improvements also consist in the combination in a two-wheeled vehicle, of
shafts or a pole secured to the axle, side-bars mounted on the axle, and torsion
springs connecting the side-bars to the body
The improvements also consist in the combination in a two-wheeled vehicle, of
shafts or a pole secured to the axle, side-bars mounted on the axle, and torsion
springs extending at angles to the axle and connecting the side-bars to the body.
The improvements also consist in the combination in a two-wheeled vehicle of
shafts or a pole secured to the axle, side bars mounted on the axle, a body
unconnected with the shafts, and springs connecting the side-bars and body.
The improvements also consists in the combination in a two-wheeled vehicle, of
shafts or a pole secured to the axle, rigid brackets or supports secured to the

page_text: xle independently of the shafts or pole, and springs betweeen the brackets or
upports and the body.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig: 1 is a side view of a vehicle embodying the
mprovement, the wheels being represented by a single circle so as to conduce to a
lear illustration of the improvement; Fig: 2 is a plan of the vehicle the middle
bortion being broken away to economize space and one-half of the body being
emoved to exhibit the improvement; Fig: 3 is a back view of the vehicle with
the middle portion broken away to economize space; and Fig: 4 is a transverse
section illustrating a modification in the manner of attaching the shafts to the axle.
Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.
A designates the axle-It may be straight or bent and in general may be of
any approved construction. It is supported upon two wheels.
B. C. designate the shafts. These may be bent or curved both vertically and
laterally, as may be desirable to adapt the vehicle to a horse of any particular
height with a desired size of wheel. Ordinarily but one horse will be used with
the vehicle, but in some cases it may bo desirable to use two, hence liberty is
desired to substitute a pole and its appurtenances for shafts.-When a pole is
employed it may be bent vertically if desirable to adapt a vehicle with sinall wheels
for tall horses.
The shafts or pole may be rigidly secured to the axle in any desired manner. At
one side of tho vehicle I have illustrated one means of connection and at the other
side a different means of connection.
D designates the body which may be of any desirable construction.
E designates the side-bars which preferably will be made of wood and of the
usual form.
F designates springs connecting the side-bars and body.
One mode in which the various parts may be connected together, will now be
described.
The side bars are mounted on brackets or braces G, inade of rigid material such
for instance as iron. The ends of these braces are secured by clips a. or other
suitable means to the side-bars. The bracket or brace at the right hand of the
velicle is represented as fastened to the axle by a clip or by bending it over the axlo
so that it will form a clip and by bolting it between clip plates b. (see Figures 1
and 2).
The corresponding shaft C is represented as secured to the axle at one side of
this bracket or brace by means of a clip c. This clip is shown at Fig: 4 as con-
sisting of a piece of metal mortised to fit the axle and bolted to a clip plate. It is
bifurcated so as to receive the end of the shaft and is bolted thereto.
The left hand bracket or brace is bent to form a clip extending over the top of
the axle and embraced on opposite sides of the axle by clips d. which extend over
the adjacent shaft and are fastened by nuts to a clip plate below the shaft.
The springs F are torsion springs consisting of steel rods extending parallel with
the side-bars, and hence at angles relatively to the axle. These rods are fastened
between their ends to the body by clamps or clutches e. so that they cannot rotate
or turn there, but their ends fit in loose bearings farranged upon the body and in
which they are free to turn. Arms g. are rigidly affixed to these rods between the
clamps or clutches e. and the bearings, f. and at the outer ends have a pivotal
connection with clips h. on the side-bars.
It is preferred to use torsion springs but semi-elliptic or other suitable springs
may be used in lieu thereof or even in addition thereto. .
As the shafts are attached to the axle, and the body is unconnected with shafts,
but little motion is imparted to the body, for no motion can be communicated to
the body except through the axle, and even when a considerable motion is imparted
to the shafts where they are connected with the horse, but little motion will be
imparted to the axle. This would of course be equally true of a pole.
In referring to the side-bars or their brackets or braces as mounted on the axle
it is not intended to be confined to placing them directly on the top of the axle, for

page_text: the brackets or braces may be fastened to the lower side of the axle, or if desirable
on the top of the shafts or pole where the latter is secured to the axle.
If the brackets or braces were made sufficiently stiff and strong, or were properly
trussed springs could connect their ends directly to the body, and the side-bars
could bo dispensed with.
Having now described the nature of this Invention for "Improvements in Two-
Wheeled Vehicles" as communicated to me from abroad and explained the manner
of carrying the same into effect I wish it to be understood that I claim
First: The combination in a two-wheeled vehicle, of shafts or a pole secured to
the axle, side-bars mounted on the axle, and a spring or springs connecting the
side bars to the body, substantially as herein described.
Second: The combination in a two-wheeled vehicle, of shafts or a pole secured
to the axle, side-bars, rigid connections between the axle and side-bars and springs
connecting the side-bars to the body, substantially as specified.
Third: The combination in a two-wheeled vehicle, of shafts or a polo secured
to the axle, side-bars mounted on the axle and torsion springs connecting the side-
bars to the body, substantially as specified.
Fourth: The combination in a two-wheeled vehicle, of shafts or a pole secured
to the axle, side-bars mounted on the axle and torsion springs extending at angles
to the axle and connecting the side-bars to the body, substantially as specified.
Fifth The combination in a two-wheeled vehicle, of shafts or a pole secured to
the axle, side-bars mounted on the axle, a body unconnected with the shafts, and
springs connecting the side-bars and body, substantially as specified.
Sixth: The combination in a two-wheeled vehicle, of shafts, or a pole secured to
the axle, rigid brackets or supports secured to the axle independently of the shafts
or pole, and springs between the brackets or supports and the body substantially
as specified.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Edward Newton bave hereunto set
my hand and seal the sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
MARTMA