IMPROVEMENTS IN HAND TRUCKS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Saunders Prowse, of Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Shipowner, and Henry Duke, of the same
Place, Blacksmith, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HAND
TRUCKS."
Scaled the 10th September 1870, and dated the 15th March 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Saunders: Prowse
and Henry Duke at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 15th March 1870.
We, ROBERT SAUNDERS PROWSE, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Shipowner, and HENRY DUKE, of the same Place, Blacksmith,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN HAND TRUCKS," to be as follows:-
Hand trucks as usually constructed have fixed axles and movable
wheels. In consequence of the difficulty of keeping the parts of the
said axles and wheels which come into contact properly lubricated they
wear unevenly, and hence rapidly become unserviceable.
It is the object of our Invention, to provide simple, durable, and
inexpensive hand trucks. For this purpose we form each axle in 'two
lengths and attach the wheels securely thereto in such manner that
they rotate together. Each length of an axle is carried through a hollow

page_text: bush formed with bearings at the ends and a space between to contain
the oil or other lubricant, such said bush or bushes being secured to
the under side of the truck. The two lengths of axle may be connected
at their inner ends or run separately, pins or other means for pre-
venting lateral movement being employed in the latter case.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Saunders Prowse and Henry Duke in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th September 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ROBERT
SAUNDERS PROWSE, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Ship-
owner, and HENRY DUKE, of the same Place, Blacksmith, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Robert Saunders Prowse and Henry
Duke, Her special license, that we, the said Robert Saunders Prowse
and Henry Duke, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said Robert Saunders Prowse and Henry Duke, our
exccutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree 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 Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN HAND TRUCKS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
Robert Saunders Prowse and Henry Duke, our executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of our
or their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Robert Saunders Prowse and Henry

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say) :-
Hand trucks as usually constructed have fixed axles and movable
wheels. In consequence of the difficulty of keeping the parts of the
said axles and wheels which come into contact properly lubricated
they wear unevenly and hence rapidly become unserviceable.
It is the object of our Invention to provide simple, durable, and
inexpensive hand trucks. For this purpose we form each axle in two
lengths and attach the wheels securely thereto in such manner that
they rotate together. Each length of an axle is carried through a hollow
bush formed with bearings at the ends and a space between to contain
the oil or other lubricant, such said bush or bushes being secured to the
under side of the truck. The two lengths of axle may be connected at
their inner ends or run separately, pins or other means for preventing
lateral movement being employed in the latter case.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 are views
of a hand truck constructed in accordance with our Invention in which
one bush is employed and each length of axle is arranged to run with its
wheel separately. Fig. 1 is a view looking down on the bearing surface
of the truck; Fig. 2 is a side elevation; Fig. 3, a view of the wheels, axle,
bush, supporting frame, and part of the body of the truck; and Fig. 4, a
view of the under side of the wheels, bush, and contiguous parts. In all
these views like letters are marked on the same parts. a denotes the trams
here shewn made of T iron, connected and tied by the transverse bars b
and transverse lift piece c; d, handles; e, fenders formed with or secured
to a; ff, wheels cast on or with or secured by keys or other means to
axles g, g. The axles g, g¹, are turned or made true to fit outer and
inner bearings in the bush h, and they are kept in position by rings,-
collars, or washers i and i, or their equivalents, passed over or through
their inner ends, such rings, collars, or washers are passed through the
opening or slot at j, and are represented fastened to the axles by through
pins. The bush his here shown cast, cast malleable iron being pre-
ferred, with supporting brackets k, k¹, whereto the trams a are secured;
1, 1, are oil holes leading to spaces within the bush h, from which spaces
the bearing parts are efficiently lubricated, the lubrication is of con-
siderable importance, inasmuch as the loads carried vary considerably.

page_text: Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section through the wheels, axle, and
bush of a hand truck constructed according to our Invention, in which
the separate lengths of axle are so connected as to run together or in one
piece with the wheels. Herc m, m¹, are the wheels, n, n¹, the axles
connected together at their inner ends by the sleeve o, and pins p, p';
q, the bush formed in one piece with supporting brackets r, ¹, oil holes
at 8, 8', and opening at t to admit of the fitting on of the sleeve 0, and
insertion of pins o¹.
Fig. 6 is a view in elevation and section of a modification under our
Invention, each length of axle being fitted in a distinct supporting
standard bush and so formed as to run with its wheel separately; u, u¹,
are the wheels; v, v¹, are the axles with collars, w, w³, secured thereto
x, x¹, standards which rest on opposite ends of the axles, and where-
on the trams or body of the truck are carried. The standards x, x³,
are connected by the tie bar y. Oil spaces and holes may be and pre-
ferably are provided.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention and parti-
cularized the same by modifications which answer well in practice, wo
would have it understood that we do not confine ourselves to the
exact details or disposition of parts herein described and delineated:
on the Drawings, as many modifications may be made without departing
from the leading features of our Invention, what we do claim is,―
First. The combinations and arrangements of axles and wheels of hand
trucks operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein
set forth.
Second. The combinations and arrangements of wheels and axles
with bushes for the purpose herein set forth, substantially as described,
In witness whereof, we, the said Robert Saunders Prowse and
Henry Duke, have hereunto set our hands and seals, the Thirteenth
day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy.
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