A NEW METHOD OF HANGING COACHES, VIS-A-VISS, AND OTHER BODIES, SO THAT IN CASE THE CARRIAGE SHOULD BE OVERTURNED THE BODY WILL REMAIN UPRIGHT AND FREE FROM THE GROUND
Year: 1787

page_text: . TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
DAVIS, of Long Acre, Coachmaker, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date the
Eleventh day of August, in the twenty-seventh year of His reign, did give
unto me, the said John Davis, His special licence, full power, sole priviledge
and authority, that I, the said John Davis, during the term of fourteen years
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within that part of Great Britain called England, the Dominion of Wales,
and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "A NEW METHOD OF
HANGING COACHES, VIS-A-VISS, AND OTHER BODIES, SO THAT IN CASE THE CARRIAGE
SHOULD BE OVERTURNED THE BODY WILL REMAIN UPRIGHT AND FREE FROM THE
GROUND;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging
me, the said John Davis, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, to cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within one calendar month next after the
date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, relation being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Davis, in compliance with the
said proviso, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention of A
New Method of Hanging Coaches, Vis-a-viss, and other Bodies, so that in case
the Carriage should be Overturned the Body will remain Upright and Free

page_text: from the Ground, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is
contained in the several Plans or Drawings hereon made, with the references
thereto, and description herein-after set forth (that is to say) :-
The springs for the hanging of bodies upon the principle of this Invention
are fixt on a block in a horizontal position on the carriages with bolts or clips.
A, in the Drawings mark'd Fig. 1 and 2, is the spring of a circular form,
comprehending nearly about two hundred and fifty-four degrees of a circle,
and in diameter from fourteen inches to six feet and seven inches, according
to the different size of carriages. a, the block constructed for the springs of
this description; B is a circular frame made of iron, from one foot to four
feet diameter. On the outside of this frame are fixt shackles or loops to
fasten or hold leathern or chain braces from the spring in different directions,
and by which the frame is supported in the centre of the spring according to
the Drawing. C is a semicircle or circle with a curvilineal top or intersection
made of wood, and cased with either iron or wood traversing within the circle
B, which casing is extended on the exterior edge, so as to form a groove which
clips or embraces the outside frame. In the groove are fixt rollers m, m, for
the better movement of the said circle or semicircle according to the Draw-
ings. d, d, are two or four square or round openings, through which are
inserted the four or eight main stays (as may be required) which support the
different bodies of the carriages. In the several shackles or loops which are
fixt to the outside frame B, are the notches e, e, e, to receive a bolt or ketch f
which is moved by a pendulum, with leavers or without, and inclosed in a
box or casing G, fastened to the inner frame. The bolt or ketch is brought
out or put in the said notches by the motion of the pendulum H, which plays
on a pivot made through the inner frame C, which pendulum is check'd in
its swing by a leathern or chain brace I running over a roller fixt to the
inner frame C according to the said Drawings, and which pendulum may be
concealed or exposed.
Fig. 1 represents the spring and frame, with a semicircle and the pendulum
concealed in a box or case, which box or case is described by letter K.
Fig. 2 represents the spring and frame, with a circle and the pendulum
exposed.
The Drawing markt Fig. 3 represents the body hanging on the four ends of
two semicircles L, L, L, L, grooved into the back rail, which carries the weight
of the body, and leads in the two openings described in the Drawings Figs. 1
and 2, by letters d, d; and letter K in this Drawing shews the dimensions of
the box that the private pendulum works in as described by the same letter in
Fig. 1. N, N, N, N, are the main stays by which the different bodies of the

page_text: carriages are supported. This Drawing also shews the method of the forepart
with the box.
The Drawing markt Fig. 4 represents the carriage and body compleat.
A, the springs, as before described; H, the pendulum; N, N, N, N, the main
stays, the two front brought forward to support the driver's box or seat, which
receives the like advantage by this Invention as the body of the carriage or
vehicle when the carriage is overturned. By the springs and carriage being
constructed upon the principles herein described, as the carriage goes over,
the bolt or ketch f is drawn by the swing of the pendulum. The semicircle
C traverses round the circular frame B, and the bolt or ketch shooting into
one or other of the side notches e, e, e, according to which side the carriage
may be inclining, keeps the body and box always in its perpendicular direction.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Davis, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of September, in the twenty-seventh year
of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third, by the grace of
God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the
Faith, and so forth, and in the year of our Lord One thousand seven
hundred and eighty-seven.