Improved Means for Releasing Horses from Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1899-Accepted, 24th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Releasing Horses from Vehicles.
I, JOHN TICHNOR PEIRCE, of Breland, in the Parish of Tangipahoa and State
of Louisiana, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
-
This invention is a horse detaching device adapted for use in connection with
vehicles of all kinds for the purpose of releasing the horse at once whenever it
becomes necessary, and especially in case the horse should run away.
The object of the invention is to provide a device which is cheap and simple
in construction and can be applied to vehicles now in use.
With this object in view, the invention consists in the peculiar construction
of the various parts and in their novel arrangement or combination, all of which
will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings forming part of this specification
Fig. 1 is a view of a whiffletree or singletree with my horse detaching device
applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is an inverted plan of the device of the right end of the whiffletree.
Fig. 3 is a front face view of such parts.
Fig. 4 is a detail partly in section and partly in elevation.
Fig. 5 is a view showing the position of the holdback, and
Fig. 6 is a detail view of the holdback.
In carrying out my invention, I employ an ordinary whiffletree or singletree A,
and fit a ferrule B upon each end, each ferrule having the plates C and D integral
therewith and projecting from the outer end, the upper plate C being angular
in form, while the plate D projects straight out, but is bent up as shown at D¹
and between these plates is pivoted the whiffletree hook E, angular in form, one
member E being adapted for engagement by the trace, while the other E is
intended to engage the lower end of an elevated lever or catch I', mounted upon
the end of a rock shaft G, journaled above the whiffletree in bearings lugs G¹
integral with the ferrules B. The catch lever has an upwardly projecting arm F
which connects with an operating lever by means of any suitable operating rod.
The forward end is enlarged as shown at F3 to prevent passing too far down through
the perforation C in the plate C, and it is also formed with a stop arm F+ to
prevent too much of a backward and forward upward movement of the catch
lever, said lever being normally held down by means of a spring rod H fastened
to the whiffletree, the free end being connected with the catch lever forward of
its pivotal point.
The above description refers to the device upon the right end of the whiffle-
tree, and the device upon the left end of the same construction except that the
catch lever at that end has no stop and operating arms, but it is carried by the
same rock shaft and operates simultaneously with the catch lever at the right.
The holdbacks K are secured upon the top sides of the shafts and project for-
wardly in order to permit the breech strap to slip from the thills. In operation

page_text: the forward end of the whiffletree hook engages the forward end of the catch lever
and the rear end is positioned to receive and hold the traces and the spring rod
will hold all the parts in their normal positions. Should it become necessary or
desirable to release the horse at once, the operating arm of the catch lever is
drawn back and this raises the forward end, releasing the hook, which swings upon
its pivot and the traces slip from the hooks, and as the holdbacks project for-
wardly the horse can escape at once from the shafts. If desired the operating
lever can also be connected to a brake lever to apply the brakes the moment the
horse is released.
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-
1. In a device of the kind described, the combination with the ferrule, having
plates at the end, of a whiffletree hook pivoted between said plates, the rock
shaft journaled upon the ferrule, the catch lever carried by said shaft, said lever
having its forward end passing through an opening in the top plate to engage
the forward end of the whiffletree hook, and means for releasing the lever, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
2. In a device of the kind described, the combination with the ferrule, having
plates at the end of a whiffletree hook pivoted between said plates, the rock shaft
journaled upon the ferrule, the catch lever carried by said shaft, said lever having
its forward end passing through an opening in the top plate to engage the forward
end of the whiffletree, a stop near the forward end of the lever and a stop arm
at the rear end, the operating arm and the spring rod, all arranged and adapted
to operate, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 23rd day of May 1899.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.