IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTS FOR REMOVING REFUSE MATTER FROM ROADS, AND FOR WATERING THE SAME
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Rac, of Sydenham, in the County of Kent,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARTS FOR REMOVING
REFUSE MATTER FROM ROADS, AND FOR WATERING THE SAME."
Sealed the 16th April 1869, and dated the 19th October 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Rae at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th October 1868.
I, JAMES RAE, of Sydenham, in the County of Kent, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
CARTS FOR REMOVING REFUSE MATTER FROM ROADS, AND FOR WATERING THE
SAME" to be as follows:-
My improvements relate to the construction of a cart which may be
use either for watering roads or for removing mud and filth therefrom.
The said improvements consist chiefly in constructing such carts with
a tank or receptacle, which is supported upon the axle of the cart in such
a momer that it can be conveniently filled through a suitable aperture,

page_text: aperture.
The said Invention also consists in the means whereby the required
adjustment of the cart may be readily and conveniently effected, and in
the arrangement of the said tank in such a manner in combination with
the shafts that the weight of the tank and its load does not bear on the
horse.
The said improvements also consist in the arrangement of pipes and
valves, whereby the liquid may be more conveniently distributed from
the cart.
I construct the tank or receptacle of my improved cart of iron or
other suitable material and in a cylindrical or other convenient form.
The two ends of the said tank are connected by a hollow shaft or tube,
the whole being rivetted or otherwise firmly secured together and made
water-tight. The tank is preferably constructed of plate iron and is
galvanized or painted. The opening through which the tank is filled and
emptied is provided with a lid or door, which is hinged at the side of the
opening in such a manner that it may be readily opened and closed. The
said door is provided with side flanges, which when the cart is being
used for the collection of mud or lilth in streets or thoroughfares prevent
the splashing of the same. When open these doors may be held by a
ratchet, or chain, or by other suitable means, and when closed the lid
rests on a projection outside the tank forming a tight joint therewith, the
side flanges being turned downward inside the tank. The tank may be
constructed with a flat portion or side extending from end to end of the
tank, and from the back of the opening about one-fourth of the distance
around the periphery of the said tank, so that the same need only be
turned partially over to eject the contents which are thrown to the rear
of the cart. The axle of the cart, which is provided with wheels in the
ordinary manner, passes through the central tube or hollow shaft which
connects the two ends of the tank, and this tube is provided with
bearings whereby it is supported to turn freely on the said axle. The
tank should be evenly balanced on this axle, so that little pressure is
required to adjust it. To effect this adjustment or tipping of the cart I
employ either a worm and worm wheel, or bevilled or other suitable
wheel gearing. I attach the worm wheel to the side of the tank, and
gear into the said wheel a worm or screw, which is fixed on a spindle
fitted to turn in suitable bearings supported upon the shafts of the cart,.

page_text: the said spindle being provided with a handle arranged in a convenient
position to allow the same to be manipulated. When bevel gearing is
used 1 fix on the side of the tank a wheel or segment, which is geared
into a pinion fixed on a spindle supported on the shafts, and provided
with a handle. When my improved cart is to be used for watering roads
I provide the tank with perforated pipes arranged at the sides and rear
of the cart. The said pipes are provided with valves, which are so
arranged that the water may be thrown from either the sides or rear of
the cart or both, as desired. In narrow streets where it is desirable to
avoid wetting the pavements the side valves may be closed, but in broad
roads or other thoroughfare the rear and side valves may both be opened.
The driver's seat is supported upon stanchions or brackets fixed to the
front rail which connects the shafts of the cart.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Rae in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th April 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
RAE, of Sydenham, in the County of Kent, Engineer, 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 sixty-eight, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said James Rae, Her special licence that
1, the said James Rac, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said James Rae, 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 IN CARTS FOR REMOVING
REFUSE MATTER FROM ROADS, AND FOR WATERING THE SAME," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Rae, 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

page_text: 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 James Rac, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to. the accompanying Drawing
forming a part of this Specification:--
My improvements relate to the construction of a cart which may be
used either for watering roads or for removing mud, dust, and liquid or
solid refuse matters.
The said improvements consist chiefly in constructing such carts
with a tank or receptacle which is supported upon the axle of the cart
in such a manner that it can be conveniently filled through a suitable
aperture, and can then be reversed or turned over
through the said aperture.
to empty itself
The said Invention also consists in the means whereby the required
adjustment of the cart may be readily and conveniently effected, and
in the arrangement of the said tank in such a manner in combination
with the shafts that the weight of the tank and its load does not bear
on the horse.
The said improvements also consist in the arrangement of pipes and
valves, whereby the liquid may be more conveniently distributed from
the cart.
I construct the tank or body of my improved cart of iron or other
suitable material, and in a cylindrical, semi-cylindrical, or other con-
venient form. The two ends of the said tank may be connected by a
hollow shaft or tube, the whole being rivetted or otherwise firmly
secured together and made water-tight. The tank is preferably con-
The opening
structed of plate iron and is galvanized or painted.
through which the tank is filled and emptied is provided with a lid
or door which is hinged at the side of the opening in such a manner
that it may be readily opened and closed. The said door is provided
with side flanges or boards which when the cart is being used for the
collection of mud or filth in streets or thoroughfares prevent the
splashing of the same. When open these doors may be held by a
ratchet, or chain, or by other suitable means, and when closed the lid

page_text: rests in a projection outside the tank, forming a tight joint therewith,
the side flanges being turned downward inside the tank. The tank
is preferably constructed with a flat portion or side extending from end
to end of the tank, so that the same need only be turned partially over
to eject the contents which are thrown to the rear of the cart. The
axle of the cart, which is provided with wheels in the ordinary manner
may pass through the central tube or hollow shaft which connects the
two ends of the tank, the tube being provided with bearings whereby
it is supported to turn freely on the said axle; the tank should be evenly
balanced on this axle, so that little power is required to adjust it.
Instead of passing, the axle through the said tube, I may place the
same below the tank. To effect the adjustment or tipping of the cart
I employ either a worm and worm wheel or part of a wheel or bevelled
or other suitable wheel gearing; I attach the worm wheel or part of the
wheel to the side of the tank or the bottom, and gear into the said
wheel a worm or screw which is fixed on a spindle fitted to turn in
suitable bearings supported upon the shafts of the cart, the said
spindle being provided with a suitable handle arranged in a con-
venient position to allow the same to be manipulated by the driver.
When bevel gearing is used I fix on the side of the tank a wheel or
segment which is geared into a pinion formed on a spindle supported on
the shafts and provided with a handle.
When my improved cart is to be employed for watering roads I provide
the tank with perforated pipes arranged at the sides or bottom and rear
of the cart. The said pipes are provided with valves which are so
arranged that the water may be thrown from either the sides or rear of
the cart or both as desired. In narrow streets, where it is desirable
to avoid wetting the pavements, the side valves may be closed, but in
broad roads and other thoroughfares the back and side valves may both
be opened. The driver's seat is supported upon stanchions or brackets
fixed to the front rail which connects the shafts of the cart.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a side view of a cart constructed according to my Inven-
ion with a circular body and with one wheel removed showing the
ipping gear; Figure 2 is a plan of the same; Figure 3 is a cross
section on the line A', B', Figure 2. In these Figures B are brackets
or supporting the spindle of the worm pinion P, which gives motion

page_text: to the wheel W used for tipping the cart body and placing it in any
required position while being loaded; T is the tube fixed in the said
body and through which the axle passes; D is the door or mouth of
the cart body.
Figure is a side view of a cart whose body is elevated for the
purpose of tipping the load over a wall or raised substance from six
to eighteen inches high. The body is suspended on brackets and is
operated by the worm wheel W and worm pinion P in the same manner
as the cart as shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a plan of the same;
Figure 6 is a cross section on the line C, D, Figure 5; D', D', are
portable boards to be employed when the cart is to be used for carrying
dust and other refuse matter; F is a hinged flap to keep slops from
overflowing, and which may be turned up or down at pleasure; S is the
seat and M the footboard for the driver; R, R, are brackets for support-
ing the cart body, the said brackets being screwed to the shaft.
Figure 7 illustrates another modification of my Invention, and shows
clearly how the pipes are arranged when the cart is to be used for
watering purposes.
Figure 8 represents a modification of the tipping gear, shewing the
worm wheel fixed upon the bottom instead of at the side of the cart
as shewn in Figure 4; Figure 9 is a plan of the cart shown in Figure S
Figure 10 is a cross section of the same. S' is a sector fitted on the
under side of the body; W is the worm piuion for turning the wheel;
W is the worm spindle, and H the handle for turning the same;
B*, B, are the brackets for supporting the body: D', are the portable
boards to be used when the carts are employed to carry dust; F is the
hinged flap to keep the slops or liquid matters from overflowing..
fitted
Figure 1 is a plan of the water distributing pipes a which are.
to the bottom of the slop cart. These pipes are so arranged that
when the cart is to be used for watering purposes they can. be put
on and taken off in a few minutes.
Figures 12 and 18 are sections of the stop valve b; these valves are
to prevent the escape of the water at either end of the distributing
pipes a:
When the carts are employed in watering narrow streets the
driver has it in his power while sitting on the cart to close one or both
of the valves b as may be found necessary, and thus prevent any
annoyance to persons by the splashing of their clothes while walking
on the footways.

page_text: Having thus fully described my said Invention, and shown how the
same may be conveniently and advantageously constructed and used,
I wish it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise form and
arrangement of any of the details herein-before described as these may
be varied within such limits as will not impair the efficiency of the
cart when the same is used either for collecting mud slops and dust or
for watering roads, and I claim such a cart provided with an adjustable
body or tank with worm wheels and pinions and with valves and
distributing pipes, combined and operating substantially as and for the
purposes set forth. •
In witness whereof, I, the said James Rae, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
JAMES RAE. (L.S.)