Improvements in Guards or Spring Hook Appliances for Harness and Draw Gear for Lessening the Jerks to which Horses and other Draught Animals are Exposed.
Year: 1884

page_text: Improvements in Guards or Spring Hook Appliances for Harness
and Draw Gear for Lessening the Jerks to which Horses and
other Draught Animals are Exposed.
COMUNID
"
I, PETER JENSEN of 33 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex Fellow of
the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature of said invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN GUARDS OR SPRING HOOK APPLIANCES FOR HARNESS AND
DRAW GEAR FOR LESSENING THE JERKS TO WHICH HORSES AND OTHER DRAUGHT
ANIMALS ARE EXPOSED". and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
.
The improvements refer to guards or spring hook. appliances for harness and
draw gear whereby the pull or draught is rendered elastic and the jerks to which
draught animals ordinarily are exposed will be lessened. These appliances may be
used, in any convenient part or parts of the harness or draw gear, and if desired
also in the backing gear such as the collar chains.
.
The drawings represent two different classes of appliances constructed according
to this invention. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the one class or form having a piston p,
a cylinder c, and a buffer spring f to be compressed; while Figures 3 and 4 illustrate
the other one, without piston and cylinder, but with a buffer spring composed of
two or more thin, helical springs working by extension. Both classes or forms are
provided with external helical springs. Figure 1 is a section of one modification of
the first class with four exterior helical springs 8, 81. Figure 2 is an outside view of
a modification with two exterior helical springs 8, s'. Figure 3 is a section and
Figure 4 an outside view of an appliance of the second class with two exterior.
springs 8 8. The guard or appliance having to meet all the exigencies, from the
little cart with a resistance of only a few kilogrammes to the waggon heavily
loaded with a manyfold greater resistance, and this under the influence of a great
number of circumstances the strength of the materials, the number and strength of
the springs and the whole form of the appliance must be in conformity therewith.
The same letters indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures.

page_text: For connecting the apparatus with the draw-gear of the cart or carriage several
modes and forms may be used, of which one is represented here namely the hook k
at one end and the ring b at the other. These may change places, if the connection
with the draw-gear is thereby facilitated.
8
In the forms shown in Figures 1 and 2, there are provided on the hook k and on
the ring b two projecting rings o¹ and e respectively which are provided with as
many holes as requisite for fixing the helical springs s 8 therein by introducing
their ends in the holes, which ends are then riveted. The hook k is prolonged into
a bar and the ring b into a cylinder e the exterior diameter of which latter is
made to suit the interior diameter of the outer springs & which can move easily on
the cylinder c. The piece connecting the draw-gear with its projecting wings e e
and the cylinder c may be made either of one piece or of two or three pieces to be
joined afterwards. The opposite end of the bar p is provided with a disc l, the
diameter of which is smaller than that of the cylinder c just so much as wanted to
permit the disc to move easily in the cylinder c. The disc serves to guide the
bar p and the cylinder and for transferring the violent shocks to the one end of the
buffer spring surrounding the bar p. The other end of the buffer spring fis
acted upon, in the opposite direction by another disc c¹ secured in the other end of
the cylinder c and provided with a hole, of sufficient size to permit the bar p to
move easily therein. The length of the bar p and of the cylinder c depends on the
space wanted for the elasticity of the exterior springs 8 8¹ and only about a tenth
part of this space will be sufficient for the buffer spring when in the compressed
state. By this disposition the extension of the exterior springs will be limited, but
without the buffer spring f they would be damaged, when occasionally exposed to
a violent pull.
The open end of the cylinder is closed with a cork c² or covered
with a piece of sheet-iron.
In Figures 3 and 4 a cone is formed on the inner end of the hook k and of the
ring band surrounded by exterior springs 8 s¹, whereby a means is obtained for
securing the ends of the latter. In this modification two or more thin helical
springs fare used as buffer springs working by extension.
These two springs are fixed at one end by introducing them in holes made in
the cone end of the hook k and riveting them outside.
The length of these springs is nearly equal to that of the buffer spring f
Figures 1 and 2. They are fixed in and continued through a disc e and forming a
single oblong loop p which extends nearly to the cone at the ring b.
In this cone another loop c of the same length is passed through the former
loop p at a right angle therewith. The exterior springs 8 s having been extended
as far as permitted by the two loops p and c the buffer springs f are acted upon so
that the most violent shocks are received in the little space of elasticity of these
strong springs f, whereby the exterior springs are preserved from damage. If the
buffer springs f need to be strengthened by more springs these are at one-end
secured in the cone at k in the same manner as those of the two former, but
without passing through the disc e they are attached therein. In order that the
disc may not hurt the wire of the exterior springs a cylinder c² is secured thereto
by turning over the edge at one of its ends as shown.
This last modification can be arranged so, that the buffer spring or springs-f in
lien of being placed inside the exterior springs are arranged between the end of the
cone and the draw gear. In this case the extension of the exterior springs 8 8¹, is
limited only by the two loops p and c and the buffer spring receives thus both the
feeble and the heavy shocks.
Although in the drawing the exterior springs are represented as made of round
wire, they may also be made of steel wire with square, rectangular, elliptic or round
flattened section. However a longer experience is wanted for judging which form
of section will be most convenient. In some cases only one exterior spring may be
sufficient. The appliance may be enclosed in a suitable cover.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim

page_text: as the invention communicated to me and in connection with spring hook appliances
for harness and draw gear:
First: The combination with one or more helical springs 8 81 of one or more
stronger helical buffer springs f which preserve the former springs from being
damaged substantially as described.
Second The combination of one or more helical springs 8, 8', with a cylinder c
and piston e and rod p working therein and with a buffer spring faround the said
rod the springs 8, 81 being at one end connected to the cylinder having a ring b
for attachment to the draw gear and at the other end to the rod e having a hook k
for attachment to the draw gear and operating in such manner that when exposed
to a jerk and the cylinder with ring b and the rod with hood k are pulled apart and
the springs 88 extended the buffer spring f is ultimately brought into action
substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.
Third The combination of one or more helical springs a s¹ with a loop c and a.
loop with disc e and cylinder c³ and with buffer springs f connected to the loop p,
the said springs 8. 8, being at one end connected to the attachment ring b and at
the other end to the attachment hook k and operating in such manner that when
exposed to a jerk and the ring b and hook kare pulled apart and the springs 8, 8¹
extended, the buffer springs f are ultimately brought into action, substantially as
described, with reference to Figures 3 and 4.
Dated this eighth day of February 1884.