Improvements in and relating to Devices for Carrying Loads on Animals' Backs, chiefly applicable for Military Purposes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1891
CUBE DELE
Improvements in and relating to Devices for Carrying Loads on
Animals' Backs, chiefly applicable for Military Purposes.
I, ANDREW HUGH BOGLE, of 32, Victoria Street, in the City of Westminster,
Major General late Royal Artillery, 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 :-
My invention relates to apparatus for carrying loads on animals' backs, chiefly
applicable for military purposes, and consists more particularly in improvements in
and relating to cavalry and other saddles for carrying machine guns and other
loads.
My improvements are designed to provide for carrying such loads steadily even
when the animal is moving at a pace quicker than a walk.
In carrying my said invention into practice I construct the arches of the saddle
in a special manner, and I provide the same with hooks to which the suspension
arms for carrying the loads are hung, and with bearings beneath the said hooks in
which bearings the suspension arms when hung in the aforesaid hooks lie. I,
moreover, connect the carrier frames on each side of the saddle by a girth strap
which when drawn inwards produces an upward pressure of the ends of the arms
against the hooks. By these means I provide for firmly holding the loads and
securing great steadiness even when the animal is moving fast.
My said invention also comprises other improvements hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawings-
Figure 1 is a side view of an improved cavalry saddle constructed according to
my invention.
Figure 2 is an end view of the same, the saddle pads being indicated by broken
lines.
Figure 3 is an end view showing the carrier frames in position on the saddle.
Figure 4 is a front view of one of the suspension arms and chocks adapted for
carrying a machine gun and stand.
Figure 5 is a section on the line a, x, Figure 2.
Figures 6 and 7 are detail views of the bearing for the suspension arm hereinafter
described.
Figure 8 is a view of a strap hereinafter described, and
Figure 9 is a front elevation of an ammunition rack constructed according to my
said invention.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the saddle supplied with side-boards A' as used in the ordinary cavalry
saddle, and B, B, are the arches to which the said boards are attached. I prefer
to construct the said arches B in two parts, which are securely riveted together
one part consisting of angle iron, and the other a of a rectangular bar of such
dimensions as to fit in the angle iron bas clearly shown in Figure 5. On each arch
I construct long hooks e slightly curved on their inner surfaces. The said hooks
are formed on the part a of the said arch and some distance from the ends, and at
each end of the arch I form or fix a bearing block d preferably constructed of gun
metal and of the shape shown in Figures 6 and 7. e. e. are the carrier frames or
chocks for supporting the loads which frames are fixed to the lower ends of arms f
that are provided at their upper ends with eyes f¹ for hooking on the hooks c.
Moreover the upper ends of the arms fare slightly curved so as to be adapted to

page_text: the shape of the hooks. The said arms when in position on the saddle lie in the
bearings d which they are constructed to fit, and the upper ends of the arms are
pressed against the hooks by the weight of the load. I prefer to form the said
arms (except at their upper ends which are flat) of half-round section the flat side
being uppermost and the curved side bedding in the bearings d, and I join the lower
ends of the said arms by a bar f2.
It is obvious that the load will tend to cause the arms f to pivot about the
bearings d and act to force the upper ends of the said arms upwards or outwards
against the hooks c and this action ensures steadiness of the load even when travelling
at a quick pace.
1
Moreover by means of a girth strap which is secured to the bars 2 on opposite
sides of the animal and which is drawn tight when the loads are in position the
aforesaid outward pressure on the hooks c is increased thereby more firmly securing
the loads. Lateral movement of the arms fis prevented by the bearings d in which
the arms rest.
It is desirable that the chocks e should be made as short as possible to secure the
minimum of weight and in some cases the length of the chock is insufficient to admit
of an encircling strap for securing the load thereto being placed on either side the
suspension arm f. In such cases I provide a special strap constructed in two
parts h, h, Figure 8 which parts are connected by a link 2. This link is constructed
to embrace the suspension rod f and the two parts of the strap are of such a length
as to bring the buckle into the most convenient position for fastening. The said
link serves to retain the strap in position when unbuckled and at the same time it
allows of a certain amount of play when being buckled.
""
To adapt my invention to the ordinary native wooden saddles used for camels I
dispense with the arch B while retaining the hooks and bearings d fixing them to
the camel's saddle in any suitable manner. The suspension arms f on being hung
on the hooks e will rest in the bearings d and the security and steadiness of the load
will be ensured.
The arms are made sufficiently long to enable the loads to be placed in position
on, and removed froin the carrier frames or chocks without requiring the camel to
sit down and hence I effect a considerable saving of time.
For carrying ammunition I employ a skeleton rack i constructed with a separate
compartment or division for each ammunition box, and provided with separate
straps attached to the division uprights of each compartment for securing the
boxes independently of each other. I am thus enabled to remove anyone or more
of the said boxes without disturbing the others. The said rack is fixed to a pair of
arms adapted for hooking on the hooks e and lying in the bearings d as above
described.
с
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that I am
aware that the carriage of light guns on the backs of animals has already been
practised to some extent but the load has usually been placed over the animal's spine
and consequently any speed greater than that of a walk would be impracticable.
But by my invention I provide in all cases as above set forth for hanging the load
to the saddle so as to be suspended at the animal's side. What I claim is :-
First. A cavalry or other saddle having arches provided with hooks and bearings,
substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Second. A cavalry or other saddle provided with bearings for the suspension
arms of the carrier frames in combination with hooks on which the said arms are
hung, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Third. A cavalry or other saddle provided with hooks on which the suspension
arms of the carrier frames are hung, and bearings for supporting the said arms, in
combination with ammunition racks substantially us, and for the purpose, specified.

page_text: Fourth. The apparatus or device constructed substantially as described and shown
in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, to be used on an animal for the carriage of a load
in the manner above set forth.
Dated this 10th day of January 1891
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.