Improvements in the Method of Mounting the Axles on Carts or Two-wheeled Vehicles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 7th Mar., 1995-Accepted, 13th Apr., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of Mounting the Axles on Carts or
Two-wheeled Vehicles.
1, EDWARD MURGATROYD, of 140 Every Street, Nelson, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object the mounting of axles and attachment of the
same to the body of a two wheeled vehicle, in such a manner that, on the horse
drawing the vehicle on a level or up an inclined road, weight is automatically
placed on the back of the horse in proportion to the easy or hard draught, and on
the horse descending an inclined road, for the weight to be automatically removed
from its back in proportion to the resistance of the horse in the shafts, and thereby
to enable the horse yoked in the shafts of the vehicle, to more easily travel with
its load.
I accomplish my object in the following manner. To the axle on each side of
the cart or other two wheeled vehicle is secured a plate, having in the centre a
raised portion curved at the top and recessed; each end of the plate is also raised
some distance from the axle.
To the underside of the cart body, and in the centre of the same longitudinally,
is secured another plate at each side of the cart or the like, the last named plates
resting upon the curved surfaces and engaging with the recesses of the lower or
axle plates. Corresponding raised portions or projections are made on the upper
plates which engage with those at the ends of the lower plates in such a manner
that, when placed in the required. position. on the vehicle, there is a narrow space
between the end projections of the top and bottom plates.
On a horse drawing a vehicle having the axle mounted according to my invention,
the upper plates secured to the vehicle ride upon the before mentioned curved
projections of the lower plates; and by the act of the horse drawing, the axle is
slightly tilted, causing the back projections of the axle plates to automatically
come in contact with those on the vehicle and tend to lift the back portion of the
cart upwards, thus putting more weight upon the back of the horse.
On descending an incline, the front projections automatically come in contact
with the front portion of plates, thereby tending to raise the front portion of the
vehicle and remove some of the weight from the horse.
Instead of arranging the plates as described, they may be as follows. A plate
is secured to the axle on each side of the vehicle, and provided with a raised pro-
jection above the axle with its upper surface curved. Resting on each raised
projection is a plate secured to the body of the vehicle and recessed for the raised
projections; each end of the plate is extended in the direction of the axle plates,
and of such length that, the axle plate comes in contact with the same, as required
for putting weight or removing it from the back of the horse on the latter drawing
or resisting in the shafts..
My invention is also applicable to two wheeled vehicles fitted with springs in
which case the bottom plates are secured to the axle as before described, and the
other to the springs, instead of to some portion of the body of the vehicle.
Dated this 6th day of June 1894.

page_text: Two-wheeled Vehicles.
I, EDWARD MURGATROYD of 140, Every Street, Nelson, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, 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 :--
This invention has for its object the mounting of axles and attachment of the
same to the body of a two wheeled vehicle in such a manner that, on the horse
drawing the vehicle on a level or up an inclined road, weight is automatically
placed on the back of the animal in proportion to the easy or hard draught; and
upon the horse descending an inclined road, for the weight to be automatically
removed from its back in proportion to the resistance of the horse in the shaft, and
thereby enable the horse yoked in the shafts of the vehicle to more easily travel
with its load.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will describe the same in
detail by making reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 represents a side view of an ordinary cart with my improvement added
thereto, and the near wheel removed for better illustration.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of my improvement, and
'
Fig. 3 is a detail shewing how my improvement may be applied to a vehicle fitted
with springs.
To the axle tree A. at each side of cart B. or other two wheeled vehicle,
I secure a plate C. having a raised portion D. thereon formed with a curved recess E.
at the top. The ends C! C' of plate C. are also raised some distance above the
axle as shewn for the purpose hereinafter described.
To the underside of the cart B. and in or about the centre of the same
longitudinally, and at each side thereof, I secure another plate F. provided with a
curved surface at G. which engages with the recess E. on each plate C.
Corresponding raised portions F Fare formed on each upper plate F. and of
such length, that when the vehicle is ou level ground at rest, there is a space H. H.
between the end projectious of the top and bottom plates C. and F. respectively.
On a horse drawing the cart or other vehicle B. on level ground or up an incline,
the axle A. is slightly tilted somewhat as shewn by Fig. 2 causing the back
projection C to come in contact with the projection F thus tending to lift the
back portion of the cart upwards, thereby putting more weight upon the back of
the animal.
On backing the cart or descending an incline, the action is reversed, that is to
say, the front projections C' automatically come in contact with the projections F
thereby tending to raise the front portion of the vehicle, and thus remove some of
ine weight from the animal's back.
When my improvement is applied to two wheeled vehicles fitted with springs,
the plate C. may be secured to the axle tree A. and the top plate F. secured to
the underside of the ordinary bearing spring J, somewhat as shown by Fig. 3.
It will be obvious that my object may be accomplished by reversing the position
of the plates C. and F, that is, securing the plates F. to the axle and the plates C.
to the body of the cart or spring, the weight resting on the curved pieces G. in the
respective recesses E. of raised portion D. In any case a tongue L. is inserted in
a recess formed in each raised portion D. and a pin inserted through the respective
holes K. thus securing the two plates C. and F. together.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
1. The method of regulating the weight on the back of an animal yoked in the
shafts of a cart or other two wheeled vehicle by supporting the weight of the cart
or the like on raised surfaces mounted in recesses in a manner that one plate is
allowed to rock on the other for some distance until the projections at the ends of
the plates come in contact, all arranged substantially in the manner and for the
purpose as herein before set forth.
2. Plates C. having a recess E. formed thereon for the reception of a corre-
sponding curved surface on each plate F. combined with the axle and body of
a cart or with the spring J. of a two wheeled vehicle, substantially in the manner
and for the purpose as hereinbefore set forth.
3. The combination of the parts forming the complete apparatus for
automatically regulating the load on the back of an animal in the shafts of a cart
or the like, in accordance with the motion of the said cart or other vehicle and
gradation of the road, substantially in the manner as hereinbefore set forth and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 6th day of March 1895.
JOHN WAUGH,
Agent.