IMPROVEMENTS IN: THE RUNNING GEAR OF FOUR-WHEELED CARRIAGES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Thomas, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Carriage Builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN:
THE RUNNING GEAR OF FOUR-WHEELED CARRIAGES."
Sealed the 23rd December 1862, and dated the 30th June 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Thomas at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th June 1862.
I, WILLIAM THOMAS, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Carriage
Builder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE RUNNING GEAR OF FOUR-WHEELED CARRIAGES," to be as follows:-
This Invention embraces improvements applicable to all four-wheeled
vehicles, whether both the fore and hind wheels are intended to "lock,"
the fore wheels only; but as such improvements are especially suitable for:
omnibusses and other heavy vehicles in connection with a system of tension.
rods known as the "equi-rotal lock arrangement," and as I have added.
certain parts, herein-after described, to this "equi-rotal lock system," I prefer
illustrating my improvements as part of an omnibus capable of being drawn
by horses attached to either end.
The body of the omnibus is supported by springs of any known form resting
on, suspended from, or in any way attached to the axles, and the" carriage
parts" are fitted in the ordinary manner. On the axles near the inner ends
of all the naves of the wheels are secured brackets, which carry studs, pins,
or bolts for receiving the ends of the tension rods of the "equi-rotal lock
system." These rods are made preferably of metal, and are carried diagonally

page_text: from the near fore to the hind off wheel, and from the off fore to the nea
hind wheel.
The foregoing is the usual "equi-rotal lock arrangement;" but to preven
friction and clattering" of such tension rods I use four or more friction
rollers, so arranged in a frame or bracket that the rods shall be kept a suffi
cient distance from each other. The gear to which the pole of the said
omnibus is fixed, as well as the gear permitting quick turnings to be made, is
the same both ends, and the main parts of each end consist of four metal
tension rods, two or more elliptical-shaped metal bars, rods, or springs, a
"fitchel piece," and a curvilinear metal forging with a bracket or brackets,
and friction roller or rollers to work therein. All the tension rods are jointed
on studs, pins, or bolts secured by brackets or otherwise to the axle, two at or
near to the same, and close to the naves of the wheels. One of these tension
rods at each side is carried forward, or near to the front of the omnibus, and
is there coupled by a joint to two or more elliptical-shaped metal bars, rods,
or springs. The other two tension rods are carried forward, and almost meet
near the centre of the said elliptical bars, rods, or springs, and the "fitchel
piece" or socket for the pole is secured in the same position, that is, equidistant
from the ends of the elliptical bars, rods, or springs. The bracket or brackets
are secured or jointed to the said "fitchel piece" to the elliptical bars, rods,
or springs, or to both of them, and pass upwards and encampass a cur-
vilinear or other suitably formed metal forging, principally in a horizontal
position, and made fast by flanges or otherwise to the bottom of the body of
the omnibus. This curvilinear piece allows the bracket or brackets and the
elliptical bars, rods, or springs, as well as the tension rods to travel or move
laterally a sufficient distance for quick turning of the omnibus, friction being
diminished by a roller or rollers in the ends of the said bracket or brackets.
A further improvement in running gear consists in making the naves of
wheels of the kind known as the "Patent mail axle and wheel" of iron
instead of iron and wood combined, the sockets for the wooden spokes being
cast or formed in the nave.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Thomas in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th December 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM 8!
THOMAS, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Carriage Builder, send
greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Thomas, Her special licence that I, the said William Thomas, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Thomas, 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 THE RUNNING
GEAR OF FOUR-WHEELED CARRIAGES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
1, the said William Thomas, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Thomas, 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
(that is to say)—
This Invention embraces improvements applicable to all four-wheeled
vehicles, where both the fore and hind wheels, or the fore wheels only, are
intended to "lock;" but as such improvements are especially suitable for
omnibuses and other heavy vehicles, in connection with a system of tension
rods known as the "equi-rotal lock arrangement" or system," and as I have
added certain improvements, herein-after described, to this "equi-rotal lock
arrangement or system," I prefer illustrating my improvements as part
of an omnibus capable of being drawn by horses attached to either
end.
Carriage builders and others acquainted with manufacturers of the class to
which my Invention has reference will readily see and understand the modifi-
cations necessary for advantageous application of my improvements to vehicles
of different kinds, both for public and private use, and I will therefore proceed
to set forth the particulars of my Invention as above stated, viz., as part of
an omnibus capable of being drawn at either end, and suitable for narrow
streets where there is not sufficient space for convenient turning.
The body of the omnibus, which may be made of any convenient form, is

page_text: supported by springs of any known kind, resting on, suspended from, or in
any way attached to the axles; and the "carriage parts" are fitted in the
ordinary manner. On the axles near the inner ends of the naves of every
wheel are secured brackets, which carry studs, pins, or bolts, for receiving the
ends of the tension rods of the "equi-rotal lock arrangement or system."
These rods are made, preferably, of metal, and are carried diagonally from
the near fore to the off hind wheel, and from the off fore to the near bind
wheel. The two sentences immediately preceding this, when taken in con-
nection with other parts of this Specification shew or explain the usual
"equi-rotal lock arrangement or system." But to prevent friction and
"clattering" of such tension rods I use four or more friction rollers so
arranged, in a frame or bracket, that the said rods shall be kept a sufficient
distance from each other, and the friction reduced to a minimum, both in
turning and during the shaking and jolting in straight running. The gear to
which the pole of the said omnibus is fixed, as well as the gear permitting
quick turnings to be made, is the same at both ends, and the main parts of
each end consist of four metal tension rods, two or more elliptical shaped or
otherwise formed metal bars, rods, or springs, a "futchel piece," and a
curvilinear metal forging, with a bracket or brackets, and friction roller or
rollers thereon. All the tension rods are jointed on studs, pins, or bolts,
secured by brackets or otherwise to the axle; two at or near each end of the
same, and close to the inner ends of the naves of the wheels. One of these
tension rods at each side is carried forward to or near to the front or end of
the omnibus, and is there coupled by a joint to two or more elliptical or other
metal bars, rods, or springs.
The other two tension rods are carried forward and almost meet near the
centre of the said elliptical or other bars, rods, or springs, and the "futchel
piece or socket for the pole is secured in the same position, that is, equi-
distant from the ends of the elliptical or other bars, rods, or springs. The
bracket or brackets is or are secured or jointed to the said "futchel piece,"
to the elliptical or other bars, rods, or springs, or to both or either of them, and
pass and encompass a curvilinear or other suitably formed metal forging―
principally in a horizontal position-made fast by flanges or otherwise to the
bottom of the body of the omnibus. This curvilinear piece which carries the
whole of the "fore draught gear" allows the bracket or brackets and the
elliptical or other bars, rods, or springs, as well as the tension rods to travel
or move laterally a sufficient distance for quick turning of the omnibus,
friction being diminished by a roller or rollers in the ends of the said bracket
or brackets.

page_text: A further improvement in running gear consists in making the naves of
wheels of the kind known as the "Patent mail wheel of iron, instead of
iron and wood combined, the sockets for the wooden spokes being cast or
formed in the nave.
And in order that my said improvements may be thoroughly understood I
have hereunto attached a Sheet of explanatory Drawings which I have marked
with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those herein-after
mentioned.
Fig. 1 is a bird's eye or plan view of the running gear of an omnibus of
the description herein-before mentioned, turned upside down or inverted, with
part of the body of such omnibus, all my improvements being shewn in the
arrangement; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. taken about the middle of the
same arrangement when uninverted; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same
uninverted arrangement; and Fig. 4 a transverse section of the same arrange-
ment taken through one pair of wheels, and principally intended to shew the
form of the naves of the wheels known as the "Patent mail wheels" berein-
before more particularly mentioned. In all these views like letters of refer-
ence denote the same parts.
a represents the wheels; b, the axles; c, the springs; d, the "carriage
parts; e, the bottom of the body; in Fig. 1 the longitudinal strengthening
beams of such body are shewn by dotted lines f, the brackets with bolts g, for
coupling the "equi-rotal tension rods" h, and bolts i, to which the fore draught
tension rods j, j, are jointed. These brackets are here shewn secured to
the axles and springs, but this is not indispensible as they, the said brackets or
their equivalents, may be attached to either of them, but preferably to the
axles. k, the friction rollers attached to the equi-rotal tension rods h. The
said friction rollers work on circular through bolts or pins 7, and have plates
m at top and bottom and between the said rollers. The said " equi-rotal
tension rods "pass diagonally through between the said friction rollers, and
thus have one at or bearing on the opposite surfaces of both rods, thereby
preventing the rods from coming in contact with each other and reducing
friction in whatever position the rods, and the wheels acting therewith, may
assume. n, the elliptical shaped bars, jointed or fastened by bolts or pins o to
the tension rods j, the ends of which latter may be made to receive shafts, or
may be formed with scroll irons or otherwise to connect to traces with or with-
out the intervention of "swingle trees," or they may be arranged in any
convenient way for attaching the horses. The said bars n are also, fastened or
coupled by bolts or pins p to the tension rods j', and the "futchel piece" q
forming the socket for the draught pole is thereto attached by bolts,r; s, the

page_text: curvilinear metal piece secured to the body of the omnibus by flanges and
bolts or otherwise as may be found convenient. Such curvilinear metal
piece may be variously formed to suit the carriage to which it is to be fitted.
As here shewn it carries or supports the tension rods j, j', the elliptical bars n,
and the "futchel piece" 9 by the brackets u (any desired number of which may
be used) which are fastened to the said "futchel piece," or they may be
fastened to any or all of the parts to be carried as above mentioned; v, the
friction rollers in the said brackets. In addition to carrying the fore draught
gear as above mentioned this curvilinear piece prevents the said fore draught
gear from travelling too far to the side, and although I have here shewn a
form curved downwards and forwards it will generally be sufficient to curve it
downwards only, and with the latter shape the curve at the ends, where it
turns upwards to be fixed to the body of the vehicle, is just of sufficient size to
receive the rollers and check their travel.
In Fig. 4 the "Patent mail wheel" is represented in section; w shews the
parts of the naves, or naves proper, which I cast or otherwise form in one piece
of metal with openings for the axles and spaces or sockets for the spokes; x
shews caps screwed over the outer ends of the naves; y, shoulders on the
axles. The naves and axles are kept together and in position by the plates or
flanges, and bolts and nuts, carried through the naves.
In fitting or adapting a brake to an omnibus or other carriage arranged or
constructed as above mentioned, or to any vehicle having my improvements
as part thereof I prefer obtaining the power necessary to work the brakes
from the "back drag" of the horses yoked to the carriage.
66
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Improvements in the Running Gear of Four-wheeled Carriages," and the
manner in which the same may be applied and carried into use, I would have
it understood that I do not confine myself to all the details laid down, as
various modifications may be made without departing from the nature of my
said improvements, neither do I confine myself to the use of the said running
gear to any particular. class or kind of vehicle, as part or parts or the whole
of such running gear is or are more suitable for some descriptions of vehicles
than for others; but what I claim as my Invention is-
Firstly, the use of four or more friction rollers on, or to be bear on,
equi-rotal tension rods," substantially as and for the purpose. herein
specified.
Secondly, the curvilinear metal piece s, and the brackets u, with their
fastenings, substantially as and for the purpose herein-specified.
Thirdly, the arrangement of fore draught and "locking" gear herein-before

page_text: described and shewn in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, consisting
principally of the tension rods j, j', metal bars, rods, or springs u, "futchel
piece" q, curvilinear pieces, and bracket u, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Fourthly, the particular arrangement and distribution of my improved
running gear shewn in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings and herein-
before specified, whether the omnibus or carriage to which the said running
gear is fitted or applied is made to be drawn from one or both ends.
And, fifthly, casting or otherwise forming in one piece of metal the naves of.
the wheels known as the "Patent mail wheels," as herein set forth, the shape"
being particularly shewn in Fig. 4 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Thomas, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
In the presence of
JOHN THOMSON KING,
Patent Agent,
4, Clayton Square,
Liverpool.
WILLIAM THOMAS. (L.S.)