IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STEERING OF BATH CHAIRS, PERAMBULATORS AND BABY CARRIAGES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, RIDLEY JAMES URQUHART of 3 Mona Villas, Church Road, Chorlton-cum-
Hardy, near Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STEERING OF BATH
CHAIRS, PERAMBULATORS AND BABY CARRIAGES, to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to the Steering of Bath Chairs, Perambulators and Baby
Carriages, such as are pushed by hand, without having to lift the fore wheels from
off the ground.
I propose to make one or two of the wheels, which I will call the steering
wheels, to turn free in any direction, by connecting its or their axle or axles with
a swivel placed in front of, and preferably above the axle in the following
manner: In the centre and near that end of the carriage where the guiding
wheel or wheels are placed, I attach to the framework a socket forming the swivel,
and into this I place a vertical pin or spindle, the lower part terminating with
a shoulder which forms part of, or is connected with a bent or curved rod or fork,
to the end of which the axle is attached. The pin or spindle is prevented from
dropping out, when the carriage is lifted up, by a suitable head or nut attached to the
top of it. Between the shoulder and the socket, space may be left for a spiral spring,
to reduce the concussion that the steering wheel or wheels receive, or the spring may
be placed between the frame and the carriage. The swivel joint may also be made
with broader bearing surfaces, like that used on ordinary four-wheeled vehicles,
the axle being of course some distance away from the centre of the swivel.
The steering wheel or wheels may be placed either before or behind the other
wheels, but connected in a suitable manner to a swivel or socket in front of their
axle.
By this method, the steering is made self acting, as a little pressure on the
handle to the right or left is sufficient to guide the carriage, and one hand only is
required.
This Invention consists in making the steering wheel or wheels to turn on a
swivel placed some distance in front of the axle of the said wheel or wheels, and is
more applicable to Baby-Carriages and Childrens Perambulators,

page_text: I, RIDLEY JAMES URQUHART of 3 Mona Villas, Church Road, Chorlton-cum-
Hardy, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STEERING OF BATH CHAIRS
PERAMBULATORS AND BABY CARRIAGES, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My Invention relates to the Steering or Guiding of Bath Chairs, Perambulators,
Bassinettes or Baby Carriages, and such carriages as are pushed by hand having
more than two wheels so fixed that to guide the carriage it is necessary to lift the
front or rear wheels from off the ground.
I propose to make two of the wheels which I will call the Guiding Wheels, to
turn free in any direction radially and horizontally by connecting their axle or
axles, with a swivel or socket placed vertically and at any suitable distance
horizontally from the vertical centre of the axle or axles of the said wheels in the
following manner-To the body of the carriage or framework and at any suitable
distance from that end where the guiding wheels are placed, (at present I prefer to
place the guiding wheels in the rear) I attach a vertical socket or joint forming
the swivel and into this I place a rod or spindle, the lower part terminating with
a shoulder which forms part of, or is connected with a plate or curved rod or fork
joined in a suitable manner to the axle or axles of the said wheels, which in
turning to the right or left describe part of the arc of a circle, a suitable catch and
stops being affixed to the axle and frame to prevent the wheels from turning too
far round. The rod or spindle has a suitable head or nut attached to the
top of it,
to prevent it from dropping out when the carriage is lifted up.
Or the pin may
be fixed to the framework and the socket connected with the axle in a suitable
manner. Between the shoulder and the socket, space may be left for a spiral
spring to reduce the concussion the steering wheels receive, or the spring may be
placed between the socket and the body of the carriage, or the guiding arrange-
ment may be attached to the ordinary springs used on such carriages.
In order to take the strain off the socket or pin, a broader bearing surface may
be applied, as in ordinary four-wheeled vehicles, or sliding surfaces with or without
friction rollers, may be fixed to the axle or framework or both in the necessary
places.
The Guiding Wheels may be placed either in front or rear of the carriage or
other wheel or wheels, and each may be placed on the same or a separate axle in
line, or may work independently of one another, each having its swivel
arrangement,
The swivel or socket of each guiding wheel or both may be placed at any
suitable vertical angle to and any suitable distance horizontally from the vertical
centre of the axle or axles of the said wheel or wheels.
In order that my Invention may be better understood I have attached hereunto
a sheet of Drawings, to which I will now refer. In the said Drawings Fig. 1.

page_text: represents a side view of a Baby-carriage or Bassinette with the Rear Wheels
constructed in accordance with my Invention: Fig. 2. a front view of the said
wheels, shewing the carriage in section: and Fig. 3. a plan of the bottom of the
carriage, and arrangement. In the said Figs. (a) is the swivel or socket, on which
the axle (6) connected by the fork (c) turns radially and horizontally, (d) to
which the socket is attached and (e) a radial slide and bearing for the axle, forms
a frame or plate which is connected to the springs (x. x) or if suitably constructed
to the body of the carriage. The dotted lines (O, O,) shew the position of the
wheels when turned. Figs. 4, 5 and 6. shew a Baby-carriage or Bassinette with
the Front Wheels constructed in accordance with my invention; and Figs. 7, 8,
and 9, a Bath Chair or Perambulator with the Rear Wheels so constructed. The
same explanation as to Figures 1 to 3, will suffice for Figs. 4. to 9. Any suitable
connection may be substituted for the part (c), and the socket (a) may be affixed
in any suitable manner to the framework or body of the carriage.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. Constructing the axle or axles of the two Rear Wheels of Bath Chairs,
Perambulators, Bassinettes or Baby Carriages, and such Carriages of three or more
wheels as are pushed by hand, to turn Radially and Horizontally on a swivel or
swivels placed at any suitable distance in front of the axle or axles of the said
Wheels, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and indicated hereinbefore
and in and by the accompanying Drawings.
Second. Constructing the axle or axles of the two Front Wheels of Bath Chairs,
Perambulators, Bassinettes or Baby Carriages and euch Carriages of more than
three wheels as are pushed by hand, to turn Radially and Horizontally on a swivel
or swivels placed at any suitable distance in front of the axle or axles of the said
wheels, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and indicated hereinbefore
and in and by the accompanying drawings.
Third. Constructing the axle or axles in line of two of the Wheels, whether
placed in the front or rear of Bath Chairs, Perambulators, Bassinettes or Baby-
Carriages and such carriages of Three or more Wheels as are pushed by hand, to
turn Radially and Horizontally on a swivel or swivels placed at any suitable
distance in front of the axle or axles of the said Wheels, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth and indicated hereinbefore and in and by the accompanying
Drawings.
Dated thin 12th day of Il., 1985