Improvements relating to the Shafts of Carriages and the like for Preventing or Reducing Jerking Strain Upon the Draught Animals.
Year: 1887

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Shafts of Carriages and the like for
Preventing or Reducing Jerking Strain Upon the Draught
Animals.
I, CARL ADOLF SUNDGREN, of Gefle, in the Kingdom of Sweden, Clerk, 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:-
My invention relates to an arrangement of parts whereby the so-called "horse
protectors" and the alterations to the harness which are requisite when such protectors
are employed are rendered unnecessary.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 represents a plan of the hind part of a pair of shafts provided with my
improvements, and
Figure 2 is a sectional front view of the same.
Figures 3 and 4 show a modification.
A is the intermediate or back bar of the shafts, which, by means of hooks or the
like, is in some convenient manner attached to the vehicle. This bar has at each end
an iron arm or bracket B fixed by screws or rivets. At the outer end of each of
the said arms is pivotted one end of a link C the other end of which link is jointed to
the shaft D.
E are other links of the same length as the links Cand uniting the ends of the bar A
with the shafts D. These links permit the shafts to move forwards or backwards in
their longitudinal direction.
In the ends of the bar A are fixed spindles F placed parallel with the shafts D.
These spindles are each provided with two washers G and H, and spiral springs I are
placed between them on the spindles F. The rearmost washer G bears against a
shoulder on the spindle F and the front washer H against a nut in front of it screwed
fast to the spindle.
In front of the washer H and behind the washer G are eye bolts K', K respectively
fixed to the shafts D and projecting out therefrom.
By this arrangement when the shafts are in use and the animal draws the carriage

page_text: or the like the shafts will be drawn forward, whereby the eye bolts K will be caused
to move forward the washers G and thus compress the spiral springs I.
In this
manner the jerking strains and shocks produced when the carriage or the like is
drawn along over rough ground, are reduced to a minimum.
When the progress of the horse is stopped abruptly, or when the carriage or the
like is passing down a hill, the spiral spring similarly reduces the strains and shocks
by the front eye bolts K₁ forcing the washers H backwards and causing the spiral
springs I, to be compressed against the rear washers G, the springs thus receiving the
strains or shocks which may then occur.
In the modification shown in plan view at figure 3 and in sectional side view at
figure 4 the arms B are of somewhat different shape and the rearnost eye bolts K are
replaced by plates which are not fixed to the shafts but are fixed to rectangular iron
rods L passing over the eye-bolts K'. Both branches of the said iron rods work in
recesses in the edges of the eye-bolts K', so that the latter guide and support the said
iron rods. When the carriage or the like is drawn along the springs are compressed
by the iron rods L as the latter will be moved forward by the eye-bolts K'.
On the other hand the eye-bolts K', will compress the springs when the shafts are
forced backwards.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
:-
1. An arrangement of mechanism adapted to the shafts of a carriage or the like and
consisting in spindles projecting from the intermediate or back bar of the shafts the
said spindles being surrounded by spiral springs placed between washers secured to
the spindles outside of which washers are eye-bolts projecting from the shafts so that
the spiral springs shall be compressed when the shafts, which by means of links are
movable on their back bar, are advanced as well as when they are moved backwards,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The modified arrangement in which plates are employed instead of the rear eye-
bolts the said plates being connected to rectangular iron rods passing over the front
oye-bolts whereby the said rods when the shafts are pulled forwards are moved by the
front eye-bolts, thus effecting the compression of the springs, substantially as and for
the purpose herein before described.
Dated the 13th day of December 1887