IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TIP-VANS OR WAGONS
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Vickery at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 14th December 1881.
HENRY VICKERY, of Old Kent Road, Camberwell, in the County of Surrey,
Coach Builder and Wheelwright. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
TIP-VANS OR WAGONS."
The principal objects of this Invention, which relates to improvements in the
construction of tip-vans or wagons, are:-So to construct, arrange, and combine
the parts of such vans or wagons (which are used principally for contractors'
purposes for the collection and removal of mud, dirt, debris, dust and other refuse,
or for other similar purposes) as that the bulk of the contents shall be carried
considerably lower than in such vans or wagons as at present constructed, and
well to the rear of the centre of motion, so that the tipping or tilting of the van
or wagon body, and emptying of the contents, may be more speedily and easily
effected than as hitherto.
In carrying ny Invention into practical effect, I mount the front or turning
wheels in the fore carriage in a usual manner, and to each side of the fore carringe
I connect a rearward extending side bar or frame which at its rear extremity is
curved downwards. The van or wagon body is balanced or supported between
these side frame bars by short projecting axles or trunnions in opposite journals or
bearings bolted to the side frame bars a little to the rear of the centre of their length.
The fore half or end of the van or wagon body is well raised above the fore-
carriage to allow of the free turning of the front wheels,-but the rear half or end
thereof is made considerably lower, and may be made lower than the axle of the
hind wheels. This peculiar construction of the van or wagon body is of great
advantage in enabling the bulk of the contents of the van or wagon being
carried very low and well to the rear, so that the labor of tilting or emptying the
loaded van or wagon is greatly facilitated. The hind wheels are mounted on a
cranked axle, the springs supporting which are connected to the underpart of the
hind part of the van or wagon body. The lower edge of the tail-board is hinged to
the hind extremity of the side frame bars, and when the van or wagon body is in
its normal position, the tail-board abuts flush with the open end thereof and is
DO31

page_text: suitably held there against, but when the van or wagon body is tilted upon its
centres, the hinges of the tail-board allow of the latter moving outwards so as to
accommodate the upper edge of the descending end of the van or wagon body, but
otherwise the tail-board retains its position and does not fall with the van or wagon
body, being supported by the side frame bars which do not turn with the van or
wagon body, this is also an important feature of my present improvements. The
axle of the hind wheels, is, in the normal position of the van or wagon body, well
in rear of the centre motion of the latter; but in the tilted position of the van or
wagon body, the rear wheels being attached to the latter, of course partake of its
movement, and thus move towards the front wheels until the cranked axle comes
under or nearly under the centre of notion of the van or wagon body, when the
lowest edge of the rear end of the latter reaches the ground arresting the motion,
the whole contents then falling clean out of the interior and directly onto the
ground. The tail-board is prevented from falling back by side chains attached to the
side frame bars, and it is held flush with the open end of the van or wagon body
when the latter is in its raised position by side or self acting catches. The fore
end of the van or wagon body is also held secure when in its raised position, or
until it is required to tilt it, by means of self-acting or other catches carried by the
-fore-end-of-the-side_frame_bars. For convenience of tilting the van or wagon
body, one or both of the side frame bars may be provided with a tipping or tilting
lever the short end of which is inserted under the van or wagon body in front of
its centre of motion, the long arm thereof extending forward to a convenient
position for being reached and actuated.