Improvements in Devices for Disconnecting or Unyoking Horses from Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Disconnecting or Unyoking Horses
from Vehicles.
I, JOHANN PETER GREB-CLEEMANN, of 29, Grosse Bockenheimerstr., Frank-
furt a.M., in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to devices for attaching and detaching or unyoking
parts of the harness of horses or other animals from each other or from the
vehicles, the object being to allow of a rapid unyoking or disconnection of the
different parts of the harness even under very difficult conditions, for instance, if
the horses have fallen, whereby the traces are tightly stretched. They can further-
more be easily adapted to existing arrangements and therefore do not necessitate
any alterations in the vehicle or in the harness.
It consists essentially of a movable shackle one leg of which serves to receive
parts of the harness, whilst the other leg is locked or shut by means of a movable
or sliding spring controlled bolt.
In the accompanying drawings are shown two arrangements embodying my
invention, in which :-
Figure 1 shows an arrangement for attaching the traces to the vehicle, in the
closed position.
Figure 2 shows the same arrangement in the open position.
Figure 3 shows a snap hook in the closed position.
Figure 4 shows the same when hooking in the same.
Figure 5 shows it opened, unhooking for disconnection or unyoking.
Further modifications are not described in this provisional description.
The invention consists essentially of a shackle piece A with legs B and C. The
shackle A is connected by means of the hinge D with the part E which is fastened
to 'the vehicle or to the harness.
Over the leg B, there is as shown in Figure 1 slipped a trace F on which the
horse pulls in the usual way. Of course four such devices are provided in a
double-horse vehicle.
In Figure 2, the trace F is shown as slipping off from B.
With the snap hook (Figures 3 to 5) the leg B is connected to rings on the
harness.
The leg B is held fast in its position in Figure 1 by the pin G which locks the
leg C. The pin G is held in its place by the spring H. To the pin G there is
fixed a lever J which is shown in Figure 1 in two sections taken at right angles to
each other. The part E is formed at its lower part with a cylindrical convex
portion K to which the lever J is fitted with its recess L. But if the lever J be
turned through 90° into the position shown in Figure 2, the lever J draws back
the pin G and the way is left free for the leg C.
The movements are similar in the case of the snap-hook Figures 3-5. In this
case the leg C is held by the nose G which is firmly fixed or made in one with the
lever J. The spring H holds the lever J in its position and permits also of the

page_text: snap hook being hooked in the ordinary way. But if the snap hook is to be
opened, then the lever J is pressed back until the nose G releases the leg C.
In all the arrangements the length of the lever J and the ratio of the legs B
and C to each other are made such that release from C is also possible even when
a great force is acting upon the leg B. Finally safety devices may also be pro-
vided for the purpose of preventing a bending of the shackle A, when ornamental
shapes are desired which would have the effect of weakening the construction.
Dated this 7th day of December 1897.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc.M. Inst.C.E., M.I.Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.
Improvements in Devices for Disconnecting or Unyoking Horses
from Vehicles,
I, JOHANN PETER GREB-CLEEMANN, of 29, Grasse Bockenheimerstr., Frank-
furt, a. M., in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturer, 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:—
The present invention relates to devices for attaching and detaching or unyoking
parts of the harness of horses or other animals from each other or from the
vehicles, the object being to allow of a rapid unyoking or disconnection of the
different parts of the harness even under very difficult conditions, for instance, if
the horses have fallen, whereby the traces are tightly stretched the devices can
furthermore be easily adapted to existing arrangements, and therefore do not
necessitate any alterations in the vehicle or in the harness.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention.
Figure 1 shows an arrangement for attaching the traces to the vehicle, in the
closed position.
Figure 2 shows the same arrangement in the open position.
Figures 3 and 4 show another modification of Figure 1.
Figure 5 shows the device constructed in the form of a snap-hook which is shown
in the closed position.
Figure 6 shows the same when hooking in the same.
Figure 7 shows it opened, unhooking for disconnection or unyoking.
Figure 8 shows the use of a special safety device for preventing an uninten-
tional opening of the snap hook shown in Figures 5-7.
The invention in all its modifications consists essentially of a movable shackle-
piece A with legs B and C. The shackle A is connected by means of a hinge D
with a part E which is fastened to the vehicle or to the harness.
A movable lever J which is also connected to the part E, serves according to
its position to hold the shackle A fixed or to release the same. The lever J acts
either directly or indirectly upon the shackle A that is to say upon the legs of
the latter.
In all the arrangements the length of the lever J and the ratio of the legs B
and C to each other, are made such that release from C is also possible even when
a great force is acting upon the leg B.
Over the leg B which is connected by means of the hinge 1 with the fixed
part E there is as shown in Figures 1-1 slipped a trace F on which the horse pulls
in the usual way. Of course four such devices are required for a two horse
vehicle.

page_text: The device is held closed by reason of the leg C taking behind a bolt G which
is kept thrust forward by a spring H.
In order to open the device (position shown in Figure 2), it is necessary to turn
the lever J which is connected to the bolt G. In consequence of the bulged shaped
part K of the part E and of the corresponding concave portion of the lever J, a
turning of the lever J produces a backward movement of the bolt G, and a
release of the leg C, that is to sav. of the shackle A.
As shown in Figures 3 and 4, for the purpose of giving to the leg, B a still more
secure position, there is further arranged a bolt G¹ with a spring H¹. The bolt G¹
is firmly held by means of a special leg C¹ with shackle D1, which acts as a sub-
stitute for the leg C, and the said leg is itself held fast by means of the bolt G
upon which the spring H and the lever J act in the same manner as in Figures 1
and 2.
The movements are similar in the case of the snap-hook Figures 5-7. In this
case the leg C is held by the nose G which is firmly fixed or made in one with 'the
lever J. The spring H holds the lever J in its position and permits also of the
snap hook being hooked in, in the ordinary way, Figure 6. But if the snap hook
is to be opened, then the lever J is pressed back until (Figure 7) the nose G
releases the leg C.
The safety device for the snap hook, Figure 8, consists in the arrangement on
the leg C of a tongue-piece M which takes behind a ring N pivotally mounted on
the part E. This ring is formed with a recess 0 which when moved over the
tongue-piece M by rotating the ring N, releases the said tongue-piece and with it
the leg C that is to sav, the shackle A.
In order that the ring N shall not be able to rotate of itself, there is arranged
between the part E and the ring a small braking spring P.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:―
(1) A device for readily disconnecting parts of harness even when such are under
strain, characterized by the fact that a rotary shackle A serving to attach a trace
or the like, is held fast either directly or indirectly by means of a movable bolt
or catch G, but is released by the drawing back of the bolt or catch G by means
of a lever J, after a ring N (when such is used) has been rotated.
(2) In the device specified in Claim 1, the arrangement of a safety device for
preventing the unintentional opening of snap hooks, said safety device consisting
of a rotatable ring N taking over a tongue M of the shackle A.
(3) The improved devices for disconnecting or unyoking horses from vehicles,
substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
this th day of september 1.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc.M.Inst. C.E., M.I.Mech. E.,
Chartered Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.