A SELF-ACTING CARRIAGE-WHEEL BREAK
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Biers, the younger, of No. 38, Rochester Road,
Kentish Town, in the Parish of Saint Pancras, in the County of Middle-
sex, Coach Maker, for the Invention of "A SELF-ACTING CARRIAGE-WHEEL
BREAK."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Biers at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th January
1859.
I, JOHN BIERS, the younger, of No. 38, Rochester Road, Kentish Town,
in the Parish of Saint Pancras, in the County of Middlesex, Coach Maker, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A SELF-ACTING CARRIAGE-
WHEEL BREAK," to be as follows:-
To consist in giving to the fore carriage, by means of a slot or slots, pin or
pins, bolt or bolts, joint or joints, or otherwise, "a longitudinal motion" as
well as the present rotary one, and can be applied to any manner of leverage
to work any
break on the hind wheels of carriages of every description having
three or more wheels; and further this Invention can be applied to any
vehicle drawn by means of shafts, single pole, or otherwise, and is applicable
to all carriages on two or more wheels drawn by animal power.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Biers in the Great Seal-Patent Office on the 11th July
1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
BIERS, the younger, of No. 38, Rochester Road, Kentish Town, in the Parish
of Saint Pancras, in the County of Middlesex, Coach Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent. Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Biers, the younger, Her special licence that I, the said John
Biers, the younger, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said John Biers, the younger, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
an Invention for "A SELF-ACTING CARRIAGE-WHEEL BREAK," upon the condition,
(amongst others) that I, the said John Biers, the younger, 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 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 John Biers, the younger, 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 :-
My Invention consists in giving to the fore carriage, by means of a slot or
slots, pin or pins, bolt or bolts, joint or joints, or otherwise, "a longitudinal
motion" as well as the present rotary one, and can be applied to any manner
of leverage to work any break on the hind wheels of carriages of every descrip-
tion having three or more wheels; and further, this Invention can be applied
to any vehicle drawn by means of shafts, single pole, or otherwise, and is
applicable to all carriages on two or more wheels drawn by animal power.

page_text: "A," the "perch bolt or centre pin," from which the fore carriage takes its
rotary motion, and being fixed in the said fore carriage (or otherwise), it works
in the slot "B," and thereby gives the fore carriage a longitudinal as well as
its present rotary motion, which I claim in my Patent. "B," a "slot" in the
wheel plate or centre of its rotary action, whereby the centre pin or perch bolt
"A" attached to the fore carriage takes its longitudinal motion. Some
wheel plates are so constructed as not to require a centre pin or perch bolt, but
work in a rim or selvidge, the selvidge acting the same by keeping it in its
proper position; there (and also in other instances) an elongated wheel plate
will answer the same purpose. The slot or slots also may be introduced and
inserted in some part of the fore carriage instead of being in the wheel plate or
centre of its rotary action, all of which I claim in my Patent. C," a
"double joint," one part of which (in the Drawings) is inserted in the lower
part of the bed of the fore carriage, through which the perch bolt or centre
pin "A" passes (but in cases of necessity it must be placed according to con-
venience). The other end of this joint is connected to the connecting rod" D,"
which said "double joint " having two different motions allows the springs to
have full play without interfering with the rotary motion of the fore carriage.
D," the "connecting rod," connecting the double joint "C" and the adjusting
screw "E" to the rocking bar "F." "E," the adjusting screw and joint,"
attached to the connecting rod "D," and passing through (or otherwise) the
rocking bar "F;" the two adjusting nuts (more, if required), one front and
one back of the rocking bar "I" are the means by which to regulate any
pressure required to act upon the break. "F," the "rocking bar" (this can
be made of iron, steel, or wood, elastic or otherwise), to each end of which is
attached a break "G" (in the Drawings); this and the breaks is applied to
the front of the hind wheels, but where necessary can be applied to the back
of the hind wheels. "G," the "break or drag shoe," attached to each end of
the rocking bar "F," is made of cast iron or other metal, with interstices of
wood (ribs, pegs, blocks, or in any other form,) inserted so as to form a part
or whole of its surface that presses upon the wheel, so as not to cause the
metal part to be overheated by the friction. This form or manner of break
I claim in my Patent. "H," the joint by which the rocking: bar "F" is
suspended, one (or more) on each side of the body of the vehicle, or otherwise
attached to the rocking bar "F" to allow it to work. "I," the "stop bolt ;"
this is of sufficient length to pass from the underneath part of the wheel-
plate "R" through the hole "N," provided for that purpose, behind the

page_text: circular bearing or front felloe piece "K" fixed on the front carriage; this
(the stop bolt) working in guides or friction wheels. "L," it can be carried up
at angles or otherwise, so as to communicate with the driver or to any other
part of the vehicle required; it is also provided (at one of the angles or
elsewhere) with a spring "M," and such spring can be applied to keep the
bolt up or down (any elastic spring can be applied to this). When the bolt
is down it allows the vehicle to be backed freely without the break going on;
when the bolt is up it allows the break to go on, the horses or other animals
attached to the vehicle performing both putting, the. break on and likewise
taking the same off, "that is," if the spring is so fixed that the stop bolt is to
be kept up, the pedal or foot lever "O" that works the stop bolt will only have
to be used when required to back. the vehicle; if fixed the contrary way, the
action will be reversed. "K," the "front felloe piece," of sufficient width
(according to length of slot "B") to allow for the working of the fore carriage
on the surface of the wheel plate "R," and to act in conjunction with the stop
bolt "I" to back when required. "L," the "guides or friction wheels. "M,"
the "spring," which acts on the stop bolt "I," may be so arranged as to keep
the bolt up or down by reversing its application; any elastic spring is
applicable. "N," the hole in the wheel plate "R," in which the stop bolt." I "
works at the back of front felloe piece "K" for the purpose of backing the
vehicle. "O," the "pedal or foot lever that allows the driver (or other person)
to work the stop bolt "I." "P," the "locking stops; these are fixed on the
surface of the wheel plate "R," at convenient distances, according to circum-
stances required. "R," the "wheel plate, with slot "B" inserted. "S," the
"hind felloe piece," of sufficient width (according to length of slot "B,") to
allow for the working of the fore carriage on the surface.. of. the wheel
plate "R."
With reference to carriages or vehicles on two wheels, the means by which
any break may be made self-acting is by giving the tug plates that are fixed
on the shafts an independent motion by working in slots, guides, or friction
wheels, such tug plates being attached to rods of sufficient length (working in
like manner) to have communication with the bar on which the shoe (or other
resisting means) is fixed; by these means any manner of break may be
worked. This application of power I also claim in my Patent.
Having enumerated the different parts of my Invention, as shewn, according
to the reference letters in Drawings 1, 2, and 3, I herewith proceed to
describe its action, effects, and valuable properties.
1st, there is no occasion to stop or slacken pace for the purpose of putting
the break on

page_text: 2nd, it facilitates the stopping of the carriage upon all occasions with
considerable less labour to the horses.
3rd, will be great saving in the expence required for horses, as they will not
be so liable to be lamed and rendered unserviceable; and it does not prevent
any other break being used also in cases of emergency.
4th, it is always and only in use when required.
5th, its economy and simplicity.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Biers, the younger, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
JOHN BIERS, THE YOUNGER. (L.S.)
Witness,
(L.S.) WILLIAM HENRY MARSH,
1, Oxford Street, Marylebone.