IMPROVE- MENTS IN CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING APPARATUS, APPLICABLE TO POLE HEADS OR CRABS FOR CARRIAGES AND VEHICLES, AND TO OTHER USES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Bray, junior, of Deptford, in the County
of Kent, Cart and Van Builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING APPARATUS, APPLICABLE TO POLE
HEADS OR CRABS FOR CARRIAGES AND VEHICLES, AND TO OTHER USES.”

page_text: In the action of a horse falling down one part of the pole head is turned
or pushed forward and disengages the chain.
The pole head as I prefer it to be constructed is in two parts The
part connected to the pole is cither open or made hollow at the back to
fit on to the pole, and is secured thereto by bolts or screws. The two
parts engage one with the other by V grooves in one part in which a
corresponding projection on the other part fits, or a clutch, or notch,
or projection on one with a corresponding notch or projection to fit on
the other part; or the two parts may be fitted together without said
V groove and projection, or projection or notch, as hereafter described
The front part, which is also_hollow, is fitted to the back part of the polo
head, the two parts of the pole head being secured together, as, for
instance by a front cap or washer, secured by bolts, 11vets, or screws
inside the front part of the pole head, and covered thereby is a spring,
cither spiral or otherwise
Each of the two parts of the pole licad carry
on either side preferably a half of the opening ring or cyc to which the
chain for securing the draught animals pass, and also on the back part
of the pole licad on cach upper side I sometimes fit a half ring or cyo,
preferably at right angles to the other hall
The action is as follows -The chains securing the animals are
attached in the ordinary way to the holes, openings, or eyes on either
side of the pole head. Should one of the animals fall it is obvious in
doing so a motion forward or downward is made, thus bringing the
chain to the front half of the hole, opening, or eye in which it is secured
to the pole head This motion draws out the front part of the pole head
and the action of falling turns the front part of the pole lead round and
releases the chain from the pole head. The animal secured to the
opposite opening, hole, or cyc however is kept firmly to the pole head
as the front half turns upwards, and by means of the half cye before
named the cham is retained in its position. The notch or projection on
cach half of the pole head, or the V groove and projection, keeps the
pole head open, and to bring it back to its position all that is required
is to turn it back to its normal position and the spring retains the parts
in position. Instead of the notch and projection or V groove and pro-
jection these in some cases are dispensed with and the two parts arc
made flush or of plain surface. The front part of eye on either or both
sides is or are made longer and lower so that it covers the joint, and
when the pole head is in its normal position rests or pressos against the

page_text: back half of each eye. By the use of my pole head I can dispense with
having the chains double as is now done. The chain used is fastened at
onc end to the collar of the horse or draught animal, and the end fitted
to the pole head may terminate in a link or projection which fits into
the hole Also when desired an eccentric or projection is fitted to the
parts that secure the animal to the pole head, so that in the ordinary
position it is below the opening, but as soon as the animal falls the
eccentric or projection rises and forces the parts of pole hicad asunder.
My Invention also refers to improvements on my Letters Patent
dated March 12th, 1872, No 766, and the improvements consist of
arrangements whereby the spring acting on the catch, as described in
the Specification of said Letters Patent, is so constructed as to act both
on the catch and on the moveable portion of the cyc so as to allow of
free movement of both those parts, and the spring for this purpose I
prefer should be a sear or blade spring
Also a further improvement consists in enclosing by a band or case,
cither of metal, leather, or similar materials, those portions of the
mechanism containing the catch, spring, and moveable portion of the
eye to exclude all dirt from contact with same.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Bray in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 29th January 1870
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
BRAY, Junior, of Deptford, in the County of Kent, Cart and Van
Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, beaning date the Thirtieth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said George Bray, Junior, Her special
licence, that I, the said George Bray, junior, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George Bray, junior,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree

page_text: 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 Ircland; the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING APPARATUS, APPLICABLE TO 5
POLE HEADS OR CRABS FOR CARRIAGES AND VEHICLES, AND TO OTHER USES,” upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Bray, Junior,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what 1
manner the same was to be performed, 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 George Bray, junior, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the 1
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement .-
This Invention has for its object improvements in pole or crab heads
for waggons and other vehicles whereby with facility the pole chains
are detached without any trouble either by hand or by the horse falling 2
In the action of a horse falling down one part of the pole head is turned
or pushed forward and disengages the chain.
The pole head as I prefer it to be constructed is in two parts. The
part connected to the pole is either open or made hollow at the back to
fit on to the pole, and is secured thereto by bolts or screws The two 2
parts engage one with the other by V groove in one part in which a
corresponding projection on the other part fits; or a clutch, notch, or
projection on one side with a corresponding notch or projection to fit on
the other part, or the two parts may be fitted together without said
V groove, or projection, or notch, as hereafter described The front 3
part which is also hollow is fitted to the back part of the pole head, the
two parts of the pole head being secured together, as, for instance, by a
front cap or washer secured by bolts, rivets, or screws inside the front
part of the pole head, and covered thereby is a spring, cither spiral or
otherwise. Each of the two parts of the pole head carry on either side a
preferably a half of the opening, ring, or cyc to which the chain for
securing the draught animals passes, and also on the back part of the

page_text: pole head on each upper side. I sometimes fix a half ring or cyc
preferably at right angles to the other half.
The action is as follows -The chains securing the animals are
attached in the ordinary way to the holes or cyes on either side of the
pole head. Should one of the animals fall a motion forward or down-
ward is made, thus bringing the cham to the front half of the hole,
opening, or cyc in which it is secured to the pole head. This motion
draws out the front part of the pole head and the action of falling turns
the front part of the pole head round and relcases the chain therefrom.
The animal secured to the opposite opening, hole, or cyo however is
kept firmly to the pole head as the front half turns upwards, and by
means of the half eye before named the chain is retained in its position.
The notch or projection on each half of the pole head, or the V groove
and projection, keep the pole head open; and to bring it back to its
position all that is required is to turn it back to its normal position and
the spring retains the parts in position Instead of the notch and pro-
jection or V groove and projection these in some cases may be dispensed
with and the two parts made flush or of plain surface. The front part
of eye on either or both sides is made longer and lower so that it covers
the joint, and when the pole head is in its normal position rests or
presses against the back half of cach cyc By the use of my polc head
I can dispense with having the chains double as is now done
chain used is fastened at one end to the collar of the horse or draught
animal and the end fitted to the pole head may terminate in a link or
projection which fits into the hole. Also when desired an eccentric or
projection is fitted to the parts that secure the animal to the pole head,
so that in the ordinary position it is below the opening, but as soon as
the animal falls the eccentric or projection rises and forces the parts of
the pole head asunder
The
My Invention also refers to improvements on my Letters Patent
dated March 12th, 1872, No 766, and the improvements consist of
arrangements whereby the spring acting on the catch, as described in
the Specification of said Letters Patent, is so constructed as to act both
on the catch and on the movable portion of the eye so as to allow of
free movement of both those parts, and the spring for this purpose I
prefer should be a sear or blade spring.
Also a further improvement consists in enclosing by a box or case,
either of metal, leather, or similar material, those portions of the

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig 1 is plan of one form of constructing my improved pole head,
Fig. 2, front view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is sectional view of Fig. 1 on
linc A, B.
Fig. 4 is plan view of a form of pole head with V groove and corre
sponding projection; Fig 5 is plan view of a polc head with groove
and corresponding projection somewhat similar to Fig 4.
The various arrangements shewn by the Drawings embody thrcc
forms of actions for the two parts composing the pole head: Fig. 1 has
the two parts flush or of plain surface, Fig 4 has on one part of the
pole head a V projection with a corresponding groove on the other (or
front) part, Fig. 5 is an arrangement somewhat similar to Fig 4, but the
projection with the corresponding recess is of the form thus
In these Figures A is front part of the pole head, and B the back
part to each part (A and B), of which half rings or eyes for holding the
pole chains to pole are cast, C, pole to which part B of pole head is
attached by screws or other suitable fastenings, the part (B) has cast on
it a portion D which passes through the front part A of the pole head,
an opening is left in front part for the bolt' E, F is front plate or
washer, G, spiral spring In fitting together the two parts A and B
forming the pole head the part D is introduced through part A, the
spiral spring G is then placed round said portion D, the part (A) covering
same and spring, securing said spring from being clogged by dirt and a
such like The washer or front plate F is placed against said spring (G,)
and the bolt E passed through hole or opening in the washer or front
plate F and secured by the nut f As regards the rings or cyes the part
cast on portion A is marked a, and that on B marked b. The half
rings or eyes are in each case somewhat different in form. In Figs. 1 a
and 4 the half rings are at right angles to one another, in Fig. 5 they
are parallel. In Fig 1 the parts a project under the parts b And to
release the animal (if fallen) all that is required is to pull forward part A.
which releases the animal fallen but retains the pole chain securing tho
other animal. In Fig. 4 the weight of the animal in falling releases the 3
pole chain, the other animal being held as in Fig. 1, in Fig. 5 the

page_text: action is similar to Fig. 1, but in this case the pole chains of both
animals are released
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and
object of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed or carried out in practice, I hereby declare that I claim
the Invention of "Improvements in Connecting and Disconnecting
Apparatus, applicable to Pole Heads or Crabs for Carriages and
Vehicles, and to other Uses," substantially as the same is herein-before
set forth and described in this Specification by the words preceding the
Description of the Drawings, such Invention being illustrated for the
better exemplification thereof by the accompanying Drawings hercin-
before descriptively referred to, it being understood that I do not claim
nor do I limit myself to the use of the mere constructive details herein-
before described, as the same may be varied without substantially
departing from the nature and character of my said Invention, as the
same is herein-before set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Bray, junior, have herc-
unto set my hand and scal, this Twenty-ninth day of January, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
SIX
GEORGE BRAY, Jx². (L.S.)
Witness,
T. MORGAN,
Secretary,
Inventors' Patent Right Association, Limited,
21, Cockspur Street,
Charing Cross.