IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO THE WHEELS OF CARRIAGES GENERARET, FOR THE PORTOSE OF REDUCING DRAUGHT THEREOR
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Seton, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid
Lothian, Coach Builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE
LETTERS PATENT to Charles Seton, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid
Lothian, Coach Builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE
TO THE WHEELS OF CARRIAGES GENERARET, FOR THE PORTOSE OF REDUCING
DRAUGHT THEREOR"
Sealed the 20th December 1859, and dated the 19th October 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Seton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 19th
October 1859.
I, CHARLES SETON, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, Coach
Builder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
APPLICABLE TO THE WHEELS OF CARRIAGES GENERALLY, FOR THE PURPOSE OF REDUCING
THE DRAUGHT THEREOF," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of a new method of adapting to the wheels of vehicles
generally, an endless travelling road, tram, or railway for the wheels to roll
upon, for the purpose of reducing the draught of the wheels, which is con-
siderable on rough roads.
In adapting the above-mentioned improvements to the wheels of vehicles
according to this Invention, it is proposed to turn a recess at one or both sides
of the felloe of the wheel to receive the flange or turned up edge of a flat piece
of metal, said flange being kept in the aforesaid recess by a ring of metal
affixed to the felloe of the wheel, either at one or both sides of said wheel, as

page_text: may be desired; the aforesaid flat piece of metal is hinged to the other similar
flat-shaped pieces, into the form of an endless belt, which should encircle
closely the felloe of tho wheel to which it is applied, the before-mentioned flat
ring keeping said belt in proper position on the felloe sideways.
Another part of this Invention consists in connecting together the axles on
which the wheels are placed, by which the fore wheels of four-wheel vehicles,
instead of being smaller than the hindermost wheels, as is at present the case,
all the wheels may be of the same size, the peculiar feature of novelty of this
part of my said Invention consisting in causing the hindermost wheels to move
sideways with the fore wheels in the act of turning the corners of streets, roads,
or ways, instead of the fore wheels only turning as heretofore practised. The
means by which it is proposed to effect this part of my said Invention is by
employing two rods crossing each other diagonally, the ends thereof being
respectively affixed to each of the axles, so that they shall operate as tension
rods to pull the hindermost axle in an opposite direction to the foremost axle,
thus compelling all the wheels to move in an arc of a circle, thereby facilitating
the draught of the vehicle to which they are applied, and considerably lessening
the wear and tear of the wheels thereof.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Seton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th April 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
SETON, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, Coach Builder, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Charles Seton, Her special licence that I, the said Charles
Seton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Charles Seton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
APPLICABLE TO THE WHEELS OF CARRIAGES GENERALLY, FOR THE PURPOSE OF RE-

page_text: DUCING THE DRAUGHT THEREOF," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Charles Seton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Seton, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention consists of a new method of adapting to the wheels of
vehicles generally an endless travelling road, train, or railway for the wheels to
roll upon, for the purpose of reducing the draught of the wheels, which is
considerable on rough roads.
In adapting the above-mentioned improvements to the wheels of vehicles
according to this Invention, it is proposed to turn a recess at one or both sides
of the felloe of the wheel to receive the flange or turned up edge of a flat
piece of metal, said flange being kept in the aforesaid recess by a ring of metal
affixed to the felloe of the wheel, either at one or both sides of said wheel, as
may be desired, the aforesaid flat piece of metal is hinged to other similar flat
shaped pieces into the form of an endless belt, which should encircle closely
the felloe of the wheel to which it is applied, the before-mentioned flat ring
keeping said belt in proper position on the felloe sideways.
Another part of this Invention consists in connecting together the axles on
which the wheels are placed, by which the fore wheels of four-wheel vehicles,
instead of being smaller than the hindermost wheels, as is at present the case,
all the wheels may be of the same size, the peculiar feature of novelty of this
part of my said Invention consisting in causing the hindermost wheels to move
sideways with the fore wheels in the act of turning the corners of streets, roads,
or ways, instead of the fore wheels only turning, as heretofore practised. The
means by which it is proposed to effect this part of my said Invention is by
employing two rods crossing each other diagonally, the ends thereof being
respectively affixed to each of the axles, so that they shall operate as tension
rods to pull the hindermost axle in an opposite direction to the foremost axle,
thus compelling all the wheels to move in an arc of a circle, thereby facilitating
the draught of the vehicle to which they are applied, and considerably
lessening the wear and tear of the wheels thereof.
In order to explain this Invention as completely as possible, I now proceed

page_text: thereon respectively as follows:-
:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 exhibits a side elevation of the fore and hind wheels of a carriage
or other vehicle constructed according to this Invention; Figure 2' is a top
plan view of that part of this Invention relating to a method of connecting
together the fore and hind wheels of vehicles by which all of the wheels may
be of the same size, as above stated; Figure 3 is an elevation of Figures 1
and 2; Figures 4 and 5 are cross sections of parts herein-after described
and referred to. At each of the foregoing Figures similar letters of reference
are employed to denote corresponding parts in so far as such parts appear or
can be seen at each of such said Figures respectively.
At Figure 1, A is the felloe of the wheel, the outer periphery whereof has a
recess formed therein, as at a (Figures 4 and 5); B, B, are pieces of wrought or
cast metal or angle iron (exhibited in cross section at Figures 4 and 5), connected
together by links or otherwise, as at B; C is à flat ring of metal screwed to one
side of the felloe A, so that when the pieces B, B, are all connected together
and placed around and over the felloe of the wheel, the ring C serves to keep
the pieces B in their proper position around the said felloe. The effect of thus
constructing wheels is as follows:-As the wheels revolve by the draught of
the vehicle to which they are connected, they press upon that one of the system
of pieces B, B, which is immediately under the centre of the box of the wheel,
and roll thereon each one in succession. The system of pieces B should be of
such length as to allow each piece to lie flat on the surface of the ground
during the time the wheel rolling over it, as exhibited at Figure 1.
..I would here remark that if desirable I propose to cover one or other or
both surfaces of each of the pieces B with vulcanized india-rubber or othér
similar substance, principally to render them noiseless when in action;
and this applies more particularly to the wheels of broughams and other like
carriages.
I now proceed to describe the construction of the arrangement exhibited at
Figures 2 and 3 as follows:-D, D, are fore and hind axles; 'E, E, wheels
thereon; G, the spindle bar connected by rods H, H, to the curved pieces I, I,
which are fixed on the axles D, D; these curved pieces work against other
corresponding curved pieces fixed to the under side of the cross piece K, to
which the ordinary weight springs L, L, are affixed. M is a strong pin passing

page_text: through the piece K and the axle D, and constituting the axis for the axle to
turn upon; N, N, are wrought-iron rods connected to the fore and hind
axles D, D, as exhibited, so that, supposing a vehicle with the above improve-
ments adapted thereto, to be going round a corner, the effect will be to vary
the position of the bind axle and wheels simultaneously with any variation of
position of the fore or front axle and wheels through the agency of the rods
K, K, one rod pulling and the other pushing; by these means the fore wheels
do not require to pass underneath the body of the vehicle, as usually practised,
and thus I am enabled to have the fore and hind wheels all of the same size;
moreover, by causing the position of the hind wheels to alter with the fore
wheels, there will be less strain on the wheels, consequently less wear thereof,
and the draught of the vehicle will be considerably lessened or reduced.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of my said
Invention of "Improvements applicable to the Wheels of Carriages generally
for the Purpose of Reducing the Draught thereof," together with the best means
I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect, I hereby
declare my Invention to consist in and I claim the modes above particularly
described, set forth, and represented for carrying the said improvements into
practical effect.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Seton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
CHARLES SETON. (L.S.)