Im- PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIAGES AND VEHICLES AND OF WHEELS APPLICABLE THERETO
Year: 1863

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Andrè Etienne at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th November
1863.
I, ANDRE ETIENNE, of Great Portland Street, Oxford Street, in the County
of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIAGES AND VEHICLES AND OF WHEELS
APPLICABLE THERETO," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in certain improvements in the construction of
carriages and other vehicles and of wheels applicable thereto. In carrying
out the first part of my Invention, I employ two springs crossing each other
at right angles and presenting four points of support, on which I fix a frame
of wood and suspend the carriage body thereon by the intervention of two
small springs on the frame so as to create a double suspension and to diminish
the friction. Secondly, I support carriages, omnibuses, and other vehicles on
three wheels, as follows:-I place the two wheels on one axle under the
centre of the body in such manner that the carriage body shall rest thereon
almost in a state of equilibrium or balance, so that the front wheel, which is
placed in a central line with regard to the two wheels and in or beyond the
front of the carriage, shall bear no portion of the weight, but simply serve to
steady and guide the vehicle; by which improvements only two points of
friction are created instead of four, the draught being proportionately assisted
by the reduction of about half the friction. The third improvement in the
construction of the wheels consists in making their circumference of a series of
three irregular curves; for example, if the circumference of a circle be

page_text: divided into six equal parts, and three of those parts alternately be raised by
irregular curvilinear lines, it will follow that at three periods of each revolution
the wheel will acquire an impetus as it revolves from the raised curves to the
lesser circumference, whereby the horses will be enabled to draw the carriage
with very increased facility. The spokes must be made of the necessary
varying lengths to suit the felloes and tyre. To prevent the overturning of
the carriage, I suspend the body thereof at each end in a line with the centre
and above the centre of gravity by means of two pivots set in vertical bars and
in communication with the springs and wheels, so that when the wheels rise
over an impediment in the road the level position of the carriage body is
maintained, being aided by the weight of the passengers; and in the event of
the wheels overturning, the carriage body cannot be affected, since the pivots
could have no power to throw over the body, which would preserve its balance,
and, if necessary, springs may be attached to the bottom of the carriage body
to relieve any slight shock from its settlement upon the ground. The splinter
bar is made so as to be released from the pole or shafts or the carriage frame]
by means of hooks and rings,' under the control. of the coachman, who, by
releasing a spring, can disengage the pole or shafts or the splinter bar, and
leave the carriage to come. to a state of rest.