Improvements in the Shafts of Carriages.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in the Shafts of Carriages.
A communication to me from abroad by ALPHONSE LABARRE, of Voyon, in the
Republic of France.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and Engineers,
of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby :
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
*This invention relates to the shafts ordinarily used for drawing wheeled carriages of
different descriptions, and it has for its object a novel method of constructing such
shafts and attaching them to the carriage so that they cannot become disconnected
when in use, whilst they can be easily removed when required.
Each shaft is connected to a joint or jaw carried by the frame of the carriage, the
end of the shaft fitting into the joint, to which it is pivotted by a horizontal transverse.
pin passing through the sides of the latter.
The hole near the end of the shaft through which the pin passes is in the shape of a :
notch curved forward and down, its open end being at the bottom of the shaft.
The back end of the shaft extends nearly to the bottom of the joint, so that when
the shaft is horizontal or nearly so it cannot be lifted off the pivot but when turned up
into a position vertical or nearly so sufficient space is left between it and the bottom of
the jaw to allow it to be moved laterally and downward until the notch is freed from
the pivot, and the shaft can then be lifted vertically off and removed. The ends of the
transverse pivot are rivetted or otherwise secured so that it cannot come out, as is
sometimes the case in the method ordinarily used in which a bolt is used having a nut
liable to be shaken off by vibration allowing the bolt to come out and the shaft to fall
down.
The shaft is preferably made somewhat wider or formed with stops or projections on
its sides, a short distance in front of the notch so that when turned up vertically it is
carried upon the joint by these projections and can neither fall forward or backward,
whilst by lifting it for a short distance it can be readily removed entirely.
Dated thin 15th .. 1000

page_text: Republic of France.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and Engineers,
of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement, and
accompanying drawing (that is to say) :-
This invention relates to the shafts ordinarily used for drawing wheeled carriages of
different descriptions, and it has for its object a novel method of constructing such
shafts and attaching them to the carriage so that they cannot become disconnected
when in use, whilst they can be easily removed when required.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of the invention, the same letters of
reference indicating the same parts in the several figures.
Each shaft is connected to a joint or jaw A carried by the frame of the carriage, the
end of the shaft B fitting into the joint, to which it is pivotted by a horizontal
transverse pin p passing through the sides of the latter.
The hole near the end of the shaft through which the pin passes is in the shape of a
notch mn, curved forward and down, its open end being at the bottom of the shaft.
Figures 1 and 2 shew this arrangement the shaft being in its normal position, when
the carriage is in use.
The shaft is then very firmly connected to the carriage, from which it can only
become separated by the breaking of the bolt p.
The back end of the shaft B extends nearly to the bottom of the joint, so that when
the shaft is horizontal or nearly so it cannot be lifted off the pivot but when turned up
into a position vertical or nearly so sufficient space is left between it and the bottom of
the jaw to allow it to be moved laterally and downward until the notch is freed from
the pivot, and the-shaft can then be lifted vertically off and removed. This position is
shewn in figure 3.
The ends of the transverse pivot or pin p are rivetted or otherwise secured so that it
cannot come out, as is sometimes the case in the method ordinarily used in which a
bolt is used having a nut liable to be shaken off by vibration allowing the bolt to come
out and the shaft to fall down leaving the horse attached to the carriage on one side
only.
The shaft is preferably made somewhat wider or formed with stops or projections on
its sides, a short distance in front of the notch so that when turned up vertically it is
carried upon the joint by these projections and can neither fall forward or backward.
The dotted line in figure 3 shews how the shaft is held at the back by the jaw A and
in the front by the pin p.

page_text: By lifting the shaft for a short distance it can be readily removed entirely.
By an inverse operation it can be replaced instantly without the use of any tool.
It is obvious that when the shafts are fixed in an upright position the carriage can
be readily moved about without risk of the shafts falling, whilst if the shafts be
entirely removed the carriage can be readily brought into places too low to take it
with the shafts raised.
In figures 4 and 5, the notch m¹, n³, instead of being curved as shewn in figures 1
and 3, makes a right angle, its method of operation being the same as in the first case.
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 what I claim is :—
•
1. The shaft for carriages, which can be instantly removed and replaced, substantially
as described and shewn.
2. The combination of the jaw A; notched end m, n, of the shaft, and fixed pin or
pivot p substantially as and for the purpose described and shewn.
EDWARDS & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.