AN IMPROVED METHOD OF HANGING THE BODIES, AND OF CONSTRUCTING THE PERCHES, OF FOUR- WHEELED CARRIAGES, BY WHICH SUCH CARRIAGES ARE RENDERED LESS LIABLE TO BE
Year: 1809

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
STRACEY, of Parliament Street, in the Parish of Saint Margaret, Westminster,
within the City of Westminster, Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third, in and
by His Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain,
bearing date the Twenty-third day of January, in the forty-ninth year of His
reign, for Himself, His heirs and successors, did give and grant unto me, the
said Edward Stracey, my executors, administrators, and assigns, by myself or
themselves, or by my or their deputy or deputies, servants or agents, or such
others as I, the said Edward Stracey, my executors, administrators, or
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term of years therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within that part of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, the Dominion of
Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF HANGING THE BODIES, AND OF CONSTRUCTING THE PERCHES, OF FOUR-
WHEELED CARRIAGES, BY WHICH SUCH CARRIAGES ARE RENDERED LESS LIABLE TO BE

page_text: OVERTURNED, AND OF CONSTRUCTING PERCH BOLTS AND COLLAR BRACES;" in which
said Letters Patent there is a proviso obliging me, the said Edward Stracey
in and by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to
describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in His
Majesty High Court of Chancery within one calendar month next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Edward Stracey, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained as follows, with reference to the Plates, Figures, Drawings,
words, and letters numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4, in the margin of these Presents, and
the letters therein mentioned and thereto affixed, and the descriptions therein
given, and which are given in order the more fully to explain and disclose the
nature of my said Invention, that is to say :-
This, my Invention, embraces four objects, viz*,-
1st. The constructing of the perch of a four-wheeled carriage in such a
manner that either of the axletrees may have a vertical motion independant
of the other, so that one axletree may remain parallel to the plane of the
horizon whilst the other is perpendicular to it, or, in other words, that the
axletrees may be in different planes at the same time.
2nd. The hanging of the body on the springs of such a carriage in such a
manner as will tend not only to diminish the liability of its being overturned,
but add also to the ease of its motion.
3rd. The forming of a collar brace which shall almost immediately bring
the body to an equilibrium should the centre of gravity be moved.
4th. The forming of a perch bolt, by the use of which the carriage may be
more easily turned to the right or left, and the friction that now takes place
by the use of the common perch bolts between the wheel plates, the transom
bed, and the fore axletree bed, reduced almost to nothing.
Carriages constructed on my principle differ but little in appearance from
other four-wheeled carriages, the chief distinction lying in the construction of
the perch, and in its having a revolving motion, and in the hanging of the
body on the springs.
1st. The perch of my Invention is formed of ash or other tough
wood, or of iron, and may be of the same length and diameters other
perches are made, the size of the perch being proportioned to the strength
required. The fore part of this perch is fixed to the transom bed in front

page_text: in' the usual way, and the after part of it, instead of being fixed. in the
hind axletree bed as usual, is so contrived that the perch has the power of a
revolving motion in it, being connected to this axletree bed by a cylindrical
box made of metal, through which the perch passes at the junction of the
perch wings, and then enters another cylindrical box of metal fastened
in the hind' axletree bed itself, in both which boxes the perch is allowed
to turn freely, that part of it which works in the box at the junction of the
perch wings being guarded with a collar of brass or other suitable metal
to reduce the friction; and that part of it which' works in the box in the hind
axletree bed being a cylindrical axis made of iron or other tough and hard metal
(something resembling the arm of a common axletree) fixed at the end of
the perch, and secured in that box by a strong nut screwed on to the end of
the axis; the diameter of which axis may be from one to two inches or more as
necessary. The box at the junction of the perch wings should be placed
immediately opposite to the centre of the hind axletree bed, so that a strait
line passing through the centre of that box would also pass through the centre
of the box in the hind axletree bed. This axis of the perch working in the
hind axletree bed as above described may if required be made to work in a
similar manner in a box fixed in the hind spring bed (see Drawing No. 1).
The internal parts of these boxes, as well as all the other parts where any
friction takes place, should always be kept well greased. The perch being
thus allowed to turn on its axis, the fore axletree bed may have any degree of
obliquity required (provided that the body is not hung on the carriage) from
the plane of the horizón given to it without affecting the horizontality of the
hind axletree bed, and vice versa (see Drawing No. 1), and it' is by the
instrumentality of this motion, co-operating with the inode of hanging the
body on 'the springs, and by the aid of the collar braces herein-after to be
described, that the body of the carriage may be kept' nearly on the true level,
or at least sufficiently so as to prevent its being overturned, although either the
fore or hind axletree may have a great degree of obliquity from the plane of
the' horizon. It is evident that a similar effect and security may be obtained
by inverting the construction of the perch above described, as by having the
fixed part of the perch of the hind axletree bed, and the revolving part in the
transom bed in front, or by making the perch revolve on an axis at each end,
or by any other mode which will allow the hind and fore axletree berls, when
connected by means of a perch, to be in different planes at one and the same
time, as by permitting one axletree bed (provided that the body is not hung
upon the carriage), to remain parallel to the plane of the horizon, and by
making the other stand perpendicular to it (see Drawing No. 1.)

page_text: 2nd. I shall next proceed to describe the mode of hanging the body on the
springs, as being, in point of importance, the second essential to my method o
constructing carriages; for, in consequence of this power of motion above
described, given to the axletrees independantly to each other, it is necessary to
adopt a mode of hanging the body different to that at present used, in orde
that the main braces may accommodate themselves in a certain degree to the
motion of the axletrees (by allowing them materially to change their planes
without much affecting the level of the body). To effect this, the body is to be
hung on springs, which may be upright, C, whip, or other springs acting in a
similar manner and affixed to the carriage in the usual mode. The principal
variation of my Patent Invention from the common method of hanging the
body on the springs consists in the body loops, which must be so extended that
the ends of them may come nearly under the shackles of their respective
springs, and each of them so formed as to end in a cylindrical axis of one to
two inches or more in length, and of sufficient strength to support the body,
and on each of these body loop axes.a shackle for the reception of one of the
main braces should be fitted, ending in a cylindrical box or socket made so as
to work and turn on the axis of the body loop, and secured to it by a nut and
pin, and the connection between these shackles and their respective boxes or
sockets should be by means of a strong joint working towards the front and
hind part of the carriage, in the direction of the perch, and the shackles should
be of such sufficient length that when working or falling towards their respective
springs, they may be able to work or fall entirely clear of their respective body
loops, and these axes and joints should always be kept well. greased (see
Drawing No. 2). The body-is-then to be hung by the main braces attached
to these shackles on the springs in the same manner as other carriage-bodies
are usually hung. The body being thus hung, the action is as follows:-
Should either of the hind or fore wheels descend into a low spot-in-the road, or
ascend a raised surface, the boxes or sockets on the body loops will turn on
their axes nearly the tenth of circle; and to that inclination will the body, with
the co-operation of the collar braces hereafter to be described, be enabled to
preserve its equilibrium sufficiently so as not to-be-overturned. Thus to a
certain limit my-Invention is calculated to prevent the overturning of carriages
on four wheels, and at the same time to produce greater ease in the motion
(see Drawing No. 2). This mode of hanging the bodies of four-wheeled
carriages may be applied generally to all such carriages as have upright, C
whip, or any other springs acting in a similar manner, whether the perches-of
sucli carriages are or are not formed and constructed in the manner above
described, and such method will greatly add to their case and security.

page_text: 3rd. The next object is the collar brace invented by me, which is thus formed:-
A cylinder or roller, made of metal or wood or other substance sufficiently strong,
being in diameter about two inches and a half, and in length about three inches
and a half, has an axis made of iron or other suitable metal passed through
and fixed firm in its centre, and projecting about half an inch at each end of
the cylinder or roller, the axis being supported at each end by an upright
pieco of metal or wood (being standards for the cylinder or roller) fastened on
the perch at the place where collar-brace rings are usually fixed, on which
standards the axis is allowed to turn round freely, being always kept well
greased (see Drawing No. 3); and then over or underneath this cylinder or
roller, when thus fastened on the perch, let a strap proper for a collar brace
be conducted from a collar-brace ring (to which such strap is attached) fixed
opposite to the cylinder or roller under the right hand or off side of the body,.
which strap is to be drawn tight and screwed on the opposite side of the.
cylinder or roller, and then over or underneath this cylinder or roller let a
similar strap be conducted from a collar-brace ring (to which such strap is
attached) fixed opposite to the cylinder or roller under the left hand or near
side of the body, which strap is to be drawn tight and screwed on the opposite
side of the cylinder or roller. If the straps are attached to the collar-brace
rings by buckles, they may be let out or taken in as necessary.
The diameter
of the cylinder or roller must be proportionate to the motion it is desired that
the body should have to the right or left, and the length of the cylinder or
roller must be proportionate to the breadth of the collar brace intended to be
applied, and the height of the standards must of course be proportionate to the
diameter of the cylinder or roller it has to support, so. as to admit the collar-
brace strap to move easily between the cylinder or rollar and the perch. This
cylinder or roller may also be affixed, if thought proper, on the body, underneath
and just over the perch, with one end of each collar-brace strap affixed thereto,
as above described, and the other ends thereof affixed by rings as usual to the
perch, and may be applied to all carriages.
My Invention therefore is the application of this cylinder or roller generally
to the collar braces of carriages. By means of this collar brace, should the
centre of gravity of the body of the carriage be moved by any inequalities in
the road, or otherwise either to the right or left, the equilibrium will be almost
immediately restored by the motion of the cylinder or roller on its axis, and
the consequent lapping and unlapping of the straps; for to whichsoever side
the body is impelled, on that side will the collar brace be lengthened, and of
course the opposite collar brace proportionably shortened, so that one side is

page_text: made to operate as a check on the other, in order to bring the body to its true
centre.
4th. The fourth and last object is the perch bolt of my Invention, which is
made of iron or other tough and liard metal, two or three inches shorter than
the common perch bolt, and the diameter proportioned to the strength required.
Round the centre of this perch a collar of iron projects a quarter of an inch or
more from the surface, and about the eighth of an inch in thickness, and on
the upper side of this collar or projection to the upper extremity of the bolt is
formed a right-hand male screw, the threads of which may be from an eighth
to a quarter of an inch apart, and on the lower side of this collar or projection
to the lower extremity of the bolt in like manner is formed a left-hand male
screw, the threads of which may be from an eighth to a quarter of an inch
apart (see Drawing No. 4, Fig. A), care being taken to proportion the threads
of both screws to the weight they have to carry. To this perch bolt are to be
adapted two female screws or taps made of iron or other tough and hard
metal, one for the right-hand male screw and the other for the left-hand male
screw (see Drawing No. 4, Fig. B). The flanches of these female screws or
taps are then to be sunk and bolted, one into the under part of the transon
bed and the other into the upper part of the fore axletree bed.. The perch
bolt is then to be screwed, each male into its proper female screw or tap, and
the bolt turned round until screwed perfectly tight, and the fore axletree bed
brought parallel to the hind axletree bed. When the perch bolt is thus
properly placed and well greased, the fore axletree bed may be turned either to
the right or left, with much greater case than if the common perch bolt were
made use of, the usual friction between the beds and the wheel plates being
almost wholly removed from their being gradually separated by the lifting of
the screw in the act of turning; and another advantage gained by this con-
sriction of the perch bolt is, that, the transom bed being thus serewed to
the fore axletree bed, the motion of the carriage will be more steady. This
perch bolt may be applied in general to four-wheeled carriages of all
descriptions. And I do hereby declare that my said Inventions are capable
of being applied in a veriety of other forms agreeably to these Presents,
which will readily occur to any competent workman who shall have perused
the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Stracey, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and nine.
EDWP STRACEY. (L.S.)

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Thirteenth day of
February, in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid Edward Stracey came
before our Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specifi-
cation aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the same Thirteenth day of February, in the year above written.
Inrolled the same Thirteenth day of February, in the year above written.