Improvements in the Folding Heads or Covers of Victorias and other like Wheeled Vehicles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 7th Feb., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Folding Heads or Covers of Victorias and
other like Wheeled Vehicles.
I, JOHN GEORGE HARRISON, of Noel Road, Edgbaston, near the City of
Birmingham, Manager of Works, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in the folding hoods or covers, of
victorias, and other like wheeled vehicles, and has for its object, the retaining of
the said hood or cover, in determined positions, and also the balancing of the same;
and which said retention of the hood, is accomplished without the aid of stay joints
and contrivances, such as levers, bolts, or handles, and the balancing of the hood,
allows the same to be opened and closed by the occupant of the vehicle.
In a hood constructed according to my invention, I employ a main slat iron,
cranked at its lower end, and jointed to the
end of a bracket
upper
secured to
the elbow rail, and which said joint, is the main centre, to which the lower end of
the valance rail, is connected, and jointed.
arm,
Disposed between the valance rail, and main slat iron, are folding slat irons,
jointed at the junction of the cranked part of the main slat iron, and adapted to fold
independently of each other, and of the other cognate parts.
Connected to the back of the body of the vehicle, and stretched over, and con-
nected to extension arms, of the slat irons, comes the cover, which is folding, on the
hood being opened, or partly opened.
The hood is retained in three positions, viz. :-closed, partly closed, and fully
opened, by spring systems or stays, consisting of tubes, working telescopically
within each other, with springs enclosed within them, and with the outer ends of
the tubes, jointedly connected to portions of the hood respectively.
Instead of employing two spring systems, for retaining the hood in three
determined positions, I may employ in a like manner, three or more, for retaining
the hood in four or more positions, according to the number of spring systems
employed.
Thus, the hood of the carriage, is divided into segments, and each segment pro-
vided with an independent spring, so that the opening of the hood, is easily accom-
plished by the successive compression of the springs.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents in side elevation, closed, a
carriage hood or cover, or one side of the same, constructed, arranged, and com-
bined, according to my invention.
The said hood or cover, which is particularly adapted to victorias and other
like wheeled vehicles, is provided with spring systems, or devices, whereby the
hood admits of being retained in three positions, to wit, open, partly closed,
and closed.
The spring systems, consist of tubes, working telescopically within each other,
and within which, coiled springs are enclosed, and take their abutments upon the
ends of the respective tubes, in manner that the parts of the hood, to which they
are connected, are forced forwards or backwards, according to the axial line of
pressure of the said spring systems.
Figure 2 represents the said hood, partly opened, or the valance rail, which
forms the front of the side of the hood, turned back, to a semi-opened position.
Figure 3 represents the said hood, fully open and the parts constituting the same
collapsed. Portions of the spring systems in Figures 1, 2, and 3, are represented
in section, in order to exhibit the telescopic working of the enclosing tubes, and
also the springs.

page_text: Figure 4 represents one of the spring systems, upon an enlarged scale, showing
the enclosed outer ends of the tubings, and the impingement of the ends of the
springs against them. It also exhibits the jointing of the rear spring system, to
the upper end of the main slat iron, which is both hinged and swivelled, to admit
of the proper adjustment of the bracket work, supporting the sides of the hood.
The enclosing tubes of the springs. form stays, besides fulfilling the office of
casings of the springs.
The same letters of reference, indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawings.
As the parts of both sides of the hood are alike in construction, I will only
describe one of them..
a is the valance rail, consisting of a folding stile, and constituting the front part
to the hood, and jointed at its lower end to the main centre, at the upper branch ²,
of the upright bracket c, whose lower and base part ³, is connected to the elbow
rail or frame d, while the upper inner part of the said bracket, has an inwardly
directed branch c', to the extremity of which, the lower end of the spring system e,
is jointedly connected at 2, whilst the upper end of the said system, is jointedly
connected at e³, to the main slat iron f; surmounted by an arm or strut, while
the lower end f³, is cranked, and the branch part of it, jointedly connected to
the main centre, upon which the said hood turns.
, are intermediate slat irons, surmounted by arms g, g, and with the lower
ends of the said slat irous, independently jointed, and arranged to fold upon the
joint centre, carried by the crank part 3 of the main slat iron, to which a
second spring system h, is connected at its lower end, by a joint 12, passing through
an extension, of the part 3, as aforesaid, whilst the upper end of the said spring
system, is hinged or jointed at ³, to the inside upper part of the valance rail a,
whose upper end has rigidly connected to it, the covering, which is stretched over,
and connected to the tops of the arms and connected-at-d², to the elbow
rail or body of the vehicle carrying the hood.
The spring system e, consists of a tube e, working telescopically within a tube e¹,
having closed outer ends, against which, the ends of an enclosed spring, take their
-abutments, and force outwardly the said tubes, on an increase of distance taking
place between the joint centres, consequent upon the same making a different
angular movement to that of the slat iron, to which it is connected.
The upper joint e³, besides being arranged to turn outwardly, swivels upon a stud
or pine as best-seen-in-Figure 4.
is the inner tube, working telescopically within the outer tube h, respectively
jointed at their outer ends, to main slat iron, and valance, and within the said tubes,
is enclosed a spring k, whose pressure is exerted upon the ends of them.
ACTION ON OPENING THE HOOD.
Assuming it to be in the position Figure 1, the moving of the valance rail's lower
end, upon its joint centre b, and the turning inwards of the said valance rail, towards
the main slat iron, and from front to rear, causes a constant diminution in the
distance between the joint centres 2, and 3, of the spring system h, thereby com-
pressing the spring, until the axis or line of pressure of the said spring system, is
lineable with the main centre b, but immediately the said line of pressure, travels
beyond the main centre, then the spring's pressure is exerted in a contrary direction,
and retains the hood in a half open position, as in Figure 2.
It will be understood, that when the hood is closed as in Figure 1, the pressure
of the spring is exerting itself from the slat iron, or forward of the hood, thus
keeping the valance rail, and its cognate parts, in a closed or forward position, and
the covering i, tant or tight over the ends of the extensions of the slat irons, and
the body and top of the valance; whilst the slat irons g, g², which are independent,
admit of folding, on the turning back of the valance rail.
From this description it will be understood, that the spring's pressure is exerted

page_text: forward, when the axis at its lower end comes rearward of the main centre, and
rearward, when coming in front of, or above the main centre, so that by the
changing of the position of the lower parts of the spring system aforesaid, fore and
aft of the main centre, the line of pressure retains the fore part of the hood in its
opened or half open position.
By the further rear movement of the valance rail from the position Figure 2,
towards the main slat iron, the said slat iron, valance rail, and folding parts, are
caused to move collectively and rearwardly upon the main centre, which compresses
the spring enclosed within the system e, consequent upon the angular movement
thus made, and causes the lower centre e², of the same, or the axis or line of pressure
of the spring system directed from the said centre, to fall or come above the main
centre, in manner, that the pressure of the spring is exerted downwards and rear-
wardly, thereby retaining the hood in its open position, as represented at Figure 3.
Thus when opening the carriage head, the hood or cover is turned or thrown
back upon the main centre, through the intervention of the valance rail, and main
slat iron, with the spring system h, being acted until the valance rail becomes
adjacent to the main slat iron, and thus having passed the centre, the spring ceases
to act in that direction, and allows the hood or cover to partake of a partly opened
form, and then further, by forcing the main slat iron backwards, and collectively
with the valance rail, to a horizontal position, or in juxta position to the elbow rail,
the lower joint of the spring system of the rear part, or the line of pressure, passes
or comes above the main centre, hence the holding of the hood or cover down, for
an open carriage.
By dividing up the hood into segments, and employing with each segment,
independent springs, a considerable advantage is obtained over those of the ordinary
construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
First Holding or retaining the hoods or covers, of victorias, and other like
wheeled vehicles, in three or more positions, by two or more springs, or spring
systems, constructed, jointed, arranged, and working, with respect to the other parts,
substantially as described and set forth, whereby stay joints are dispensed with.
Secondly: -The employment, jointing, and arrangement of springs, or spring
systems, for their lower ends to travel fore and aft of the main centre, upon which
the hood turns, whereby the said hood is retained in three or more assigned positions,
by the change of line of pressure, and the said hood or cover balanced; and which
said springs, or spring systems, are arranged, jointed, operate, and co-operate, with
the other parts, substantially as, and for the purpose as set forth.
:
Thirdly Subdividing the opening and closing parts of the hood or cover, into
separate and independent working segments, and employing in connection with each
segment, independent springs, which admits of the said segments, being individually
opened or closed, and the whole of the parts of the hood, opened or closed succes-
sively, substantially as described and set forth.
Fourthly The combination with the valance rail, main slat iron, intermediate
arms or slat irons, and bracket, of spring systems e, h, substantially as described
and set forth, whereby the hood or cover is retained in three, or more positions.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1890.
JOHN GEORGE HARRISON.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.
JOHN GEORGE HARRISON.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.