An Improved Method of and Means for Adjusting the Load on Heavy Carts and other Two Wheeled Vehicles and Applying the Brake.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 10th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Means for Adjusting the Load on
Heavy Carts and other Two Wheeled Vehicles and Applying
the Brake.
1, WILLIAM HOLLINGWORTH, of Eckington, near Chesterfield, in the County
of Derby, Quarry Owner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention is for the purpose of adjusting the load so as to take the weight
off the horse's back when going down hill, and putting on a brake at the same time.
It also puts a little weight on the back when going up hill and takes it off when
the horse stands at ease and is adjusted automatically or by hand in the following
manner:-
All the harness hooks are fastened to a moving rod which runs on the top of the
shafts to an adjustable lever or crank near the cart body, so that when the horse
pulls the levers on the top side it pushes back the axle on the under side which
works in a slide under the shafts, and thus puts the load on the back. When going
down hill the act of the horse holding the load pushes the rod and lever the reverse
way bringing the sliding axle and wheels forward against a brake, the displacement
of the load more than overcoming the bearing down tendency of the brake on the
back of the horse, thus making it light on.
By means of a handle fastened on the end of the shaft to which the lever is fixed,
the load can be adjusted or fastened in any position whilst in motion, with or
without the aid of the horse.
The axle can be so fitted with a spring as to put the load on a balance when the
horse stands at case.
The brake can be placed in any position in the same slide that the axle works in,
and by the action of springs is allowed to slightly move forward with the wheels as
they push against it so that the greater the pressure on the brake, greater will be
the weight behind the axle to overcome the downward pressure on the back of the
horse.
Dated this Twelfth day of August 1890.
WILLIAM HOLLINGWORTH.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Means for Adjusting the Load on
Heavy Carts and other Two Wheeled Vehicles and Applying
the Brake.
I WILLIAM HOLLINGWORTH, of Eckington, near Chesterfield, in the County
of Derby, Quarry Owner, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
for AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE LOAD ON
HEAVY CARTS AND OTHER TWO WHEELED VEHICLES AND APPLYING THE
BRAKE," 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 an improved method of adjusting the load on carts or
other two wheeled vehicles, and applying the brake at the same time also to take
the weight off the back when going down hill, and to put it on when going up hill,
also to balance the weight when the cart is stood, the action of which may be
worked either automatically or by hand.

page_text: In the construction of this invention I fasten the harness hooks to a sliding rod
on the top of each shaft which rods are secured to a lever working on a bracket
fixed underneath the shaft.
To the bottom of the said lever is attached a connecting rod which passes
through or under the end of the brake cross piece under the body of the cart and
is secured to the axle of the wheels which axle works in a slide attached to
blocks under shaft. The brake works in the said slide and is held in position by
small spiral springs and bolts which allows it to move as the pressure becomes
greater against it.
Behind the axle is fixed a plate spring which straightens as the horse ascends
hills allowing the axle to move back and the weight forward, and when stood still
the weight on the back is instantaneously removed by the action of the said spring
resuming its proper position which places the axle under the centre of the cart.
The cart body is balanced and fastened to a wooden bed which works between
the shafts on pivots making it easy to shoot up even though the axle be in the
heavy on position.
The levers or cranks are toothed each edge to receive catches for the purpose of
regulating the load when going up or down hill, or to keep the load in one position
for any given period.
By fixing a handle on one of the levers the apparatus may be worked by hand,
and fixed in any desired position by means of the said catches as described.
The chief feature of this invention is in being able to regulate the load to ease the
horse and to actuate the brake either automatically or by hand, the action being
that when the horse pulls the levers it brings forward the cart and pushes back the
axle thus putting the load on the back. When going down hill the action of the
horse bearing back moves the levers the reverse way putting back the cart and
bringing forward the axle and wheels against the brake which puts the load more
behind the centre and makes it lighter on, the pressure on the brake being greater
and the load lighter on according to the inclination of the hill.
The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention the same letters of reference
apply to the different views.
Figure 1 is a plan shewing the shafts and frame of the cart with the apparatus
attached as before described. A and B are the harness hooks, C moveable rods
running on the top of the shafts and being connected to levers D which are coupled
to connecting rods E, which rods are secured to the axle F of the wheels, G is the
slide in which the axle and brake H work, also small spiral springs I, J is the
wood bed on which the cart is pivoted, K being the plate spring for the purpose of
bringing the cart into position, L is the handle attached to the lever to be able to
regulate the load if desired by the assistance of small catches M and N.
Figure 2 is a side elevation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
Firstly. An improved method of or means for adjusting the load or carts to
relieve the horses and to suit the gradient, also in applying the brake éither
automatically or by hand.
Secondly. In the construction of an apparatus for putting a load light on or
heavy on by means of rods running down the shafts working loosely thereon which
are attached to levers or cranks and forward on to connecting rods attached to the.
axle which axle works with the brake in slides under the cart, the axle having:
affixed thereto a leaf spring for the purpose of bringing it into its original position;
also in having attached to the lever a handle for the purpose of being able to
regulate the load by means of small catches acting upon the toothed edges of the
levers or cranks.
Thirdly. In the construction of an arrangement for adjusting the cart or wheels

page_text: so that the load can be moved or fixed forward or back much or little to suit the
driver, as hereinbefore specified, described and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this and dox of Ten 1901
W. MCGOWAN,
Agent for the Applicant.