IMPROVEMENTS IN FOUR WHEEL CARRIAGES AND OTHER FOUR WHEEL of Works. VEHICLES
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John George Harrison at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st January 1880.
JOHN GEORGE HARRISON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manager
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FOUR WHEEL CARRIAGES AND OTHER FOUR WHEEL
of Works.
VEHICLES."
My Invention has reference to the "underwork" or "fore carriage" part of four
wheel carriages and other four wheel vehicles, that is to say, those parts to which
the fore wheels are connected, and which permit of the front or fore wheels being
turned either to the right or left hand independently of the hind wheels for turning
corners or for changing the direction of the carriage or vehicle, as is well
understood.
My said Invention consists in constructing and coupling together in the manner
hereinafter described the top and bottoms beds of the said "underwork." or "fore
carriage" part of the said carriages and vehicles, whereby a larger bearing for the
moving parts is obtained, and consequently greater stability and durability than in
the parts as ordinarily constructed.
Instead of coupling the top and bottom beds of the "underwork" together by a
single perch bolt fixed perpendicularly in the top bed, on which bolt the bottom bed
turns, I couple according to my Invention the two beds together by means of two
wheels or rings of slightly different diameters engaged together at their edges, and
working upon one another in the manner herein after described.
The smaller of the two rings is fixed to the framework of the bottom bed,
carrying the spring and front or fore wheels of the carriage or vehicle, and the outer
edge or periphery of the said smaller ring has, by preference, a V shape. The
other and larger ring is made in two halves, which are bolted to the top bed,
that is, each half ring has a side cheek, crossing it as a diameter, and the said
side cheeks are fitted against the opposite sides of a crossing bar fixed to the top
bed, and by means of bolts the said half rings are bolted together and to the top
bed, and the two beds coupled together. The inner side or edge of each half
ring is hollow or concave, and has a figure corresponding to the V or other shaped
edge of the inner or smaller ring fixed to the bottom bed. By this construction
and arrangement of the parts the outer or larger ring fixed to the top bed is made
to clip or seat itself upon the edge of the smaller ring fixed to the bottom bed, and
the two beds are thereby very securely coupled together. By seating the rings of
the two beds upon one another in the manner described, the said beds are capable
.

page_text: of freely moving upon one another, the large and smooth bearing or working
surfaces provided by the said rings preventing the shaking or jolting of the
carriage or vehicle to which it is liable when the coupling of the beds is effected in
the ordinary way.
"
My Invention has the further advantage that the bearing parts require little 5
lubrication, and the extent of bearing surfaces provided prevents the "dropping
of the fore part of the carriage or vehicle when a pole is used with the said
carriage or vehicle.