Improvements in Apparatus for Stopping Runaway Horses.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Oct.,
1893
Complete Specification Left, 12th July, 1894-Accepted. 18th Aug., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Stopping Runaway Horses.
I, ANGELINA GARDNER of 7 and 9 Frederick Street, Liverpool in the County
of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object an apparatus for stopping runaway horses, and
is designed to take the place of the dangerous appliances so often designed or
employed for releasing runaway animals from their vehicles, and thus to preclude
the danger of the vehicle upsetting which is so likely to ensue when the animal is
released, as in the systems above referred to, to which the present invention is in
every way superior.
In carrying my invention into effect, the plan which I prefer is to provide a
supplementary shaft in proximity to the axle of the vehicle, which is capable of
lateral movement and of being thrown into and out of gear with the wheels,
When thrown into gear,
suitable stops being provided to limit its lateral motion.
this shaft rotates with the wheels; when disconnected, it remains stationary.
The bridle, bit, snaffle or other part of the head gear is connected either
directly with this shaft. or through the bridle reins by means of a cord, strap or
the like.
The mode of action is as follows:-
In its normal condition, the shaft remains absolutely stationary, but, if the horse
runs away, all that is necessary is to move the shaft laterally by means of a
suitable hand lever, thus putting the shaft in gear with the wheels. The shaft is
thus rapidly rotated, winding round it the cord, rein or strap which connects it
with the head gear of the horse. By this means, an immensely strong pull is
exerted on the horse's head or mouth, and, as this pull will go on increasing so long
as the vehicle is in motion and the shaft remains in gear, the horse is compelled to
stop. By this means, complete command is had over the horse, and the pull may be
arranged in various ways so as to pull against the jaw, or upwardly into the angle
of the mouth, et cetera.
It is obvious that the invention can be applied to two or four wheeled vehicles
and vehicles with one, two or more horses, and, in the case of a four wheeled
carriage, the shaft may be applied to the front or back wheels. Means may be
provided for locking the shaft in and out of gear, or springs may be employed for
causing the shaft to slip into gear immediately the hand lever is released from a
catch, or vice versa.
Dated this 11th day of October 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Stopping Runaway Horses.
I, ANGELINA GARDNER of 7 and 9 Frederick Street, Liverpool in the County
0 of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention has for its object an apparatus for stopping runaway horses and is

page_text: designed to take the place of the dangerous appliances so often designed or
employed for releasing runaway horses from their vehicles, and thus precludes the
danger of the vehicle upsetting which is so likely to ensue when the animal is
released in the systems above referred to.
The invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings, in
which,
Figure is a longitudinal section of a vehicle to which my apparatus is
applied,
Figure 2 a view showing the head gear and the front part of the horse,
Figure 3 a plan view from below of the vehicle set forth in Figure 1.
In these,
A is a supplementary shaft in proximity to the axle B. C is a roller of wood oD
the supplementary shaft, and D a roller roughened in any suitable manner so as to
bite into and gear with the wooden roller C. It is obvious that any form of
wheelwork now in use for connecting these two, and more especially friction
apparatus, can be used instead of the arrangement shown, Robertson's V friction
gear would be also very suitable for this purpose. E E are two small pulleys on
the subsidiary shaft A, and FF two chains, cords or straps, connected in any
suitable manner with the head gear of the horse; these straps, ropes or cords have
preferably a spring attachment G so as to prevent sudden and violent jerks on the
horse's head. The cord F is shown in Figure 2 passing through a ring H on the
shaft ; it is obvious however that it could pass through a ring on the collar
Lis a treadle
alongside or close to the ring in which the ordinary reins K pass.
connected by link gearing M and bar N with two links P P linked to the shaft A.
A spring attachment Q can if desired be placed round this link P tending to keep
the wheels C and D apart except when a pressure is applied.
The mode of action is as follows-
The horse running away, the driver immediately presses on the treadle L, this
draws the link motion M, bar N and links P forward, compressing the spring Q
and causing the wheel C to come in contact with the wheels D. The carriage
continuing to go forward causes the wheels D to rotate and thus to wind up the
cord F upon the pulley E; this cord pulling on the head stall of the animal pulls
his head in more and more as the carriage proceeds until it is forced to come to a
stand or have its neck broken. The spring & prevents violent jerking of the head
through this mechanism. The moment the horse stands, the driver takes his foot
off the treadle L, the link motion flies back through the expansion of the spring Q
and the wheels D and E are removed from contact; the horse now seeking to get
his head into a comfortable position draws back the cord F from the pulleys E,
which unwind accordingly. It is not necessary however to have either the
spring or the spring G, and if the shaft A be placed below the shaft B instead
of to one side of it, its own weight will keep it off the shaft B except when the pull
is on.
It is obvious that the invention can be applied to two or more wheeled
vehicles, and vehicles with one, two or more horses, and in the case of a four
wheeled carriage, the shaft A may be applied to either front or back wheels.
Means may be provided for locking the shaft in or out of gear, and also springs
may be employed for causing the shaft to spring into instead of out of gear
immediately the hand lever instead of the treadle L is removed from a catch. It
will be evident that this apparatus can if desired be also used as a brake.
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―
1. In an apparatus for stopping runaway horses, the combination of a subsidiary
shaft capable of being brought into gear with the wheel shaft, a pulley or pulleys
on this subsidiary shaft and a cord or other line passing round these pulleys and
connected with a head stall in such manner that, whenever the subsidiary shaft is
brought into gear with the wheel shaft, the cord or line shall be wound up by the

page_text: motion of the carriage thus bringing an extraordinary powerful pull upon the
horse's head until it is forced to stop.
2. In combination with an apparatus whereby the movement of the car shall be
caused to bring a pull upon the horse's head, a spring in the line whereby severe
jerking of the head is obviated.
3. In combination with an apparatus which can be brought into gear so as to
cause the further movement of the carriage to bring a strong pull upon the horse,
a spring device whereby, the moment the hand or foot of the driver is taken from
the apparatus, the apparatus, and consequently the horse's head, is released.
Dated this 11th day of Jul 1894
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham, and London,
Patent Agents.