AN IMPROVED CROSS SPRING TIP CART
Year: 1885

page_text: I, SAMUEL COLLIER, of 97 Nelson Street South, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Wheelwright do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN
IMPROVED CROSS SPRING TIP CART to be as follows:-
'
The application of one or more Springs or Bars to the axle-tree of a Cart or a
similar vehicle, in such a manner that it may be used as a Spring Cart, or as an
Ordinary Cart as desired.
The arrangement of parts forming a pivot or axis on which the body of the
cart turns when being tipped, such axis always preserving the weight of the cart
body truly above the centre of the wheels.
The combination of the Springs or Bars and the parts forming a pivot or axis for
the cart body; and the attachment of such combination to any suitable vehicle,
which vehicle I propose to call "An Improved Cross Spring Tip Cart."
I construct the axletree of the cart in the usual manner, of wood or iron, and
I place in or about the middle of its length, a frame or casing, constructed of wood
or iron; this casing or frame fits nicely to the axletree sideways, but has about
three inches play-more or less-in a vertical direction, and to its upper and lower
plates are securely attached two springs.
The upper one of the two springs has its topmost plate worked or shaped into
a semi-cylindrical groove for a short distance from each end, and in these grooves
or bearings works a stout iron bar. This bar I secure firmly to the middle and
outside pieces which traverse the under side of the bottom of the cart lengthways,
by means of clips, bolts, or any convenient method.
I arrange the bar to work in guides in a vertical direction, in such a manner
that its centre shall be always directly above the centre of the wheels, and as it
the said bar-supports the body of the cart, it is evident that when the body is
tipped, be it much or little, the weight is always maintained truly above the centre
of the wheels, and for this reason the tipping of a cart so fitted is rendered very
easy, and perfectly safe.
The lower spring has its outer ends supported by frames or shackles which are
firmly attached to the ends of the axletree.
The body of the cart is therefore supported by the bar which rests in the semi-
cylindrical grooves at the ends of the upper spring; this spring is secured to the
upper plate of the frame which slides vertically on the centre of the axle tree i the
Dine B21

page_text: lower plate of this frame bears on the centre of the lower spring, whose outer ends
are supported by the shackles attached to the ends of the axletree. The body of
the cart has by this arrangement the support of both springs, and the weight is
brought close to the bearings on which the wheels turn.
When I do not wish the vehicle to be used as a spring cart, insert blocks
between the cart body and the axletree in such a manner that the springs
are relieved of the weight of the cart body, either wholly or in part, as may be
desired.
Instead of placing one spring above, and one spring below the axle, I may place
one spring above and one spring at each side of the axle; or I may place a plain
bar above the axle and one spring below it; or I may place one bar above, and one
spring at each side of the axle; and in various other ways.
Having now described the nature of my Invention I wish it to be understood
that what I claim is
(1.) The application or arrangement of one or more springs or bars to the axle-
tree of a cart or a similar vehicle, in such a manner that it may be used as a spring
cart or as an ordinary cart, as desired.
(2.) The arrangement of a bar and parts in connection therewith, forming a pivot
or axis, upon and by means of which the weight of the body of the cart is always
maintained vertically above the centres of the wheels.
(3.) The combination of the springs or bars, and the pivoted bar and parts in
connection therewith, and the attachment of the said combination to any suitable
vehicle, which vehicle I propose to call "An Improved Cross Spring Tip Cart."
D You
100K

page_text: I, SAMUEL COLLIER, of 97 Nelson Street South, Birmingham, in the county of
Warwick, Wheelwright do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN
IMPROVED CROSS SPRING TIP ČART and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, aided by the accompanying drawings; premising that the whole or
any portion of my Invention may be applied to any existing Cart or similar
vehicle:-
Figure 1 is an elevation of a cart fitted with my Invention.
Figure 2 is the plan as seen from above, the body of the cart being removed.
Figure 3 is the back view of the axletree with all the proposed additional
fittings.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the axle-tree through its centre, having one spring
above and one spring below, as hereinafter described.
•
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the axle-tree having one top and two side springs,
as hereinafter described.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures.
A is the axle-tree constructed in the usual manner of wood or iron. It carries in
the middle of its length a casing or frame B, which I construct of wood or iron, or wood
and iron combined, but preferably wholly of iron. This casing or frame fits nicely
to the axle-tree sideways, but has a play of about three inches-more or less-in a
vertical direction, and to its upper and lower plates are securely attached-by
means of bands, bolts, or other suitable method-two springs C and D.
I will describe each spring separately, beginning with the upper one C. The
top plate of this spring I make preferably of stouter material than the other plates;
for example, the top plate may be three eighths of an inch thick, and the other
plates each one quarter of an inch thick. The top plate is shaped or worked into a
semi-cylindrical groove, as shown at E in Fig. 3, for a distance of about two inches
-more or less from each end, and in these grooves or bearings work the ends of
a stout iron bar F.
The bar F I make about one and three eighths inches diameter for a cart to carry
twenty hundred weight, and I firmly secure it to the under side of the body of the
cart by clips, see K¹, K³, K³, K* Fig. 3; each clip being bolted by means of two
lugs to the two middle and the two outside pieces to which the bottom of the cart
attached.
It is therefore evident that when the front end of the cart body is lifted up for
the purpose of tipping, the body of the cart is sustained by the bar F, and that it
moves on the ends of that bar as a centre; and as the bar F is truly vertical above
the centres of the wheels, the weight of the cart body, and its contents, bears
always vertically down upon the centres of the wheels, and for this reason, the
tipping of a cart so fitted is rendered very easy, and perfectly safe.
In another method of construction, I dispense altogether with the bar F, by
forming the top plate of the spring C into a short and stout cylindrical bar at each
of its ends, such cylindrical parts working in bearings, fitted to the under surface
of the side pieces K₁ and K*; these bearings in this case take the places of the
clips at K¹ and K' Fig. 3; or I may reverse the last named construction by forming

page_text: the ends of the top plate of the spring C into semicylindrical grooves, and con-
structing the clips K and K' each as a short bar, working in such grooves; and in
various other ways.
I will now describe the lower spring D. This spring is secured to the lower
surface of the frame B in the same manner that the spring C is secured to its upper
surface. Each outer end of the spring D is carried by two frames or shackles G,
these shackles being firmly attached to the ends of the axle-tree by being let into
its side surfaces, and further secured by bolts, as shown at H, Fig. 3. The body of
the cart has, by this arrangement, the support of both springs C and D, and at the
same time the weight is brought to the ends of the axle-tree, close to the bearings
on which the wheels turn, the centre part of the axle-tree forming a guide which
allows of about three inches of vertical motion to the frame B.
I arrange the strength of the springs in such a manner, that when more weight
than I desire the springs to carry is put into the cart, the side clips or bearings
at K and K+ come in contact with, and bear upon the ends L, L of the shafts, and
so take the additional weight; and further, when I do not require to use the
vehicle as a spring cart, I may place blocks or packing pieces between K¹ and K',
and L, L; these blocks or packing pieces I may construct of a wedge shape, and by
advancing them more or less, I may limit the action of the springs as much as may
be desired.
M in Fig. 1 is an iron plate which I attach to the frame of the cart body for
the sake of appearance.
N is a cranked arm made-of stout wrought iron; the lower part of it is secured
to the shaft, whilst the upper part is formed into a slot, in which each end of the
bar F works vertically, and is by. this means kept truly above the centres of the
wheels. The arm N may be of any other convenient shape suitable to the required
purpose.
Instead of placing one spring above, and one spring below, the axle, I may place
one spring above and one spring on each side of the axle, as shown in section in
Fig. 5 or I may place a plain bar above the axle, and one spring below it; or
I may place one bar above; and one spring on each side of the axle ; and in various
other ways.
The controlling bar or sword, or other arrangement for regulating the amount
of the tip of the cart, I may make as shown in Fig. 1, or in any of the usual
methods.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is
(1.) The application or arrangement of one or more springs or bars to the axle-
tree of a cart or a similar vehicle, in such a manner that it may be used as a spring
cart, or as an ordinary cart, as desired.
(2.) The arrangement of the bar F, and parts in connection therewith, forming a
pivot or axis, upon and by means of which the weight of the body of the cart is
always kept vertically above the centres of the wheels.
(3.) The combination of the springs or bars, and the bar F and parts in connection
therewith, and the attachment of the said combination to any suitable vehicle,
which vehicle I propose to call "An Improved Cross Spring Tip Cart."