Improvements in and relating to Saddles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Dec., 1895-Accepted, 4th Jan., 1896
Improvements in and relating to Saddles.
We, JEAN FRANÇOIS VICTOR PETITFILS, of 41 Rue de Richelieu,
Manufacturer, and AUGUSTE JOSEPH SANDRON, of 189 Rue Lafayette, Civil
Engineer, both of Paris, in the Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to eaddles and has for its object to replace the ordinary
saddle-bow, generally made of wood, wood and steel, or steel, by a saddle how of
aluminium or alloys of aluminium and strengthened by the application of steel
strips, bands or wires either provided or sunk therein during the casting or fixed
by other means.
As aluminium alone does not possess the necessary degree of elasticity we let
into the metal, and more particularly into the parts of the structure requiring
elasticity at the same time as great strength, either corrugated, fluted, or plain
steel bands or strips, or wires or groups of steel wires or else a complete carcase of
stamped sheet steel.
Moreover, in order to avoid the generally high cost incurred by the work of
arranging the gullet of the saddle according to the width of the animal's withers,
we may provide our saddle bow with springs having adjusting screws by means of
which the gullet of the saddle may be widened or narrowed without any necessity
for changing irons or having recourse to special workmen.
In carrying our said invention into practice we may strengthen only the bow
piece by a steel band or strip undulated or plain in transverse section in order to
give to this part of the bow which has to bear the greatest strain a greater
elasticity. This strengthening strip inay either be let into the metal or else be
flush with the interior or exterior contour of the bow-piece.
We may also strengthen each hand of the bow by means of a steel strip. These
strips terminate at each end in a dove-tail and are pierced with holes so that these
enlarged ends may be sunk into the aluminium at the time of the casting and that
the liquid metal when traversing the said holes may after its solidification so to
speak form rivets which firmly keep the strips in their places, while the greatest
part of these strips is flush with the lower face of the bow band.
Each of the steel strips may be replaced by two or more wires preferably made
half round in section, whose fint face is flush with the lower face of the bow bands
into which these wires are sunk; the extremities of these wires may be curved or
bent sideways for the sake of greator strength.
Instead of employing independent steel strips or wires for each part of the bow
we may also atanip from sheet steel a single piece constituting a carcase or core for
the casting of aluminium which forms the body of the bow.
The device for adjusting the gullet of the saddle consists of two plate springs
retained by screws which traverse the metal at the intersection of the bow-picce
bands and the bow banda. By turning these screws in the required direction, for
example with the aid of a key engaging with a square hole with which the heads
of these screws are provided, we move the plate springs, whose rear extremity. is
attached in any suitable manner to these bands, towards or from the bow bands so
that the gullet of the saddle will be enlarged or narrowed in proportion.
In lieu of two plate springs we may employ only one spring placed below the
bow-piece, to the bands of which its two extremities are attached by means of a

page_text: single-screw traversing the band of the bow-piece at its top. By simply turning
this screw we put the spring more or less in or out of tension, thus enabling the
gullet of the saddle to be widened or narrowed and to assume the desired width.
For adjusting the gullet we may also employ a plate spring whose extremities
are prolonged to the extremities of the bands of the bow-piece, so that by operating
the screw we may vary the distance of the two branches from the spring within
comparatively wide limits.
Stamped or cast bow such as herein before described possesses all the desired
qualities of strength, clasticity and lightness.
The carcases, strips or wires of steel may be completely sunk into the aluminium
or one of their faces may be flush with that of the corresponding parts of the bow.
The specified mode of manufacture is applicable to saddle bows of any description
and also to small saddles, bolsters, pads, and the like.
Dated this 2nd day of March 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Sonthampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in and relating to Saddles.
We, JEAN FRANÇOIS VICTOR PETITFILS, of 41 Rue de Richelieu,
Manufacturer, and AUGUSTE JOSEPH SANDRON, of 189 Rue Lafayette, Civil
Engineer, both of Paris, in the Republic of France, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide a substitute for the usual saddle-tree,
nude of either wood or steel, or of a combination of both, by constructing a
saddle-tree of either pure aluminium or a suitable aluminium alloy, and strengthening
the same either by means of steel plates, hoops, bands or wire, embedded or sunk
in the casting, or otherwise fixed thereto; or by means of undulations, corrugations,
or ribs formed in the body of the saddle-tree itself.
lu one case, in order to strengthen the saddle-tree, we propose to sink in the
metal, and more particularly in those parts of the structure which are required to
combine elasticity with a great power of resistance, either undulated, grooved or
fluted, or smooth steel hoops, plates or bands, or wire, (either one or a set of wires),
or a complete frame-work, stamped or cut out, with a die or stamp-hammer from
sheet-steel.
In the alternative case, the requisite resistance or strength is, for all practical
purposes, secured both in the bars and in the fork or forks of the saddle, solely by
means of undulations, corrugations, or ribs provided the body of the saddle-
tree of aluminium or an alloy of aluminium, so that the lightness and yieldingness or
flexibility of the saddle aro in no way interfered with; such rihs or corrugations
being produced either by stamping or cutting, or in the casting direct.
With a view, moreover, to avoiding the expense generally involved in providing
means for securing the desirable freedom for the horse's withers,-in keeping with
the width of that part of animal's body, the improved saddle-tree may be provided
with springs adjustable by means of screws whereby the wither-band may be either
expanded or contracted, without its being necessary to change the fittings, or to
employ special skilled labour for the purpose.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing
in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a saddle-tree constructed in accordance with
the invention;
Figure 2 is a plan view thereof;

page_text: Figure 3 is a section on line 1-2, of Figuro 2, drawn to an enlarged scale, and
illustrating one method of providing for the freedom or relief of the horse's
withers.
Figures 4 and 5 are detail views, drawn to an enlarged scale and illustrating, by
way of example, two different modes of employment of steel bands or hoops;
Figure 6 is a bottom view or inverted plan of one half of a modified form of
saddle-tree, wherein each of the bara is strengthened by a piece of steel hoop or
plate;
Figure 7 is a detail view relative to this modification ;
Figures 8 and 9 relate to anothur modification wherein the saddle-bars are
strengthened by means of wire.
Figure 10 is a plan view of an aluminium saddle-tree wherein a steel frame is
sunk.
Figure 11 represents a modified wither-band adjusting device, as an alternative
to the arrangement shown in Figure 3;
Figures 12, 13 and 14 relate to that form of the improved saddle-tree, which is
solely strengthened by means of ribs or undulations, this being what is termel the
English" saddle-tree-a fancy pattern for officers.
"
Figure 12 being a section on line 3-4 Figure 13;
Figure 13 a plan or top view of this form of saddle-tree; and
Figure 14 being a section on line 5-6 Figure 12.
In the construction shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, it has been assumed that only
the fork a is strengthened by means of a steel band or plate 7, either of a wavy
section, as shown in Figure 4, or smooth, as illustrated in Figure 5, so as to impart
greater flexibility to this part of the saddle-tree, as it is the one which, sustains the,
greater strain. This strengthening band or plate b may be sunk in the metal, as
shown, or be flush with either the internal or the external outline of the fork.
I
As shown in Figure 6, each saddle-bar c cay also be strengthened by means of a
steel plate d. We prefer to construct these plates in the shape represented in
Figure 7, i.e. to enlarge each end thereof in dove-tail shape as at d' and to make'
perforations at d, in such a manner that these enlarged ends may be embedded,
in the aluminium in the process of casting and that the liquid metal, on having
passed through the said perforations, may form rivets, as it were, and firmly
retain the plates d in position; while the enlarged portions are flush with the inner
surface of the saddle-bar c.
As illustrated in Figure 8, each of the steel plates d may be substituted by two,
or a greater number of wires e for example; such wires being preferably of semi-
circular section, and so.. arranged that thoir flat surface is Hush with the inner
surface of the saddle-bars wherein such wires are embedded or sunk (Figure 9); :
the ends of these wires may be curved or bent on the sides, so as to give increased
strength to the structure.
From Figure 10 it will be seen that, instead of employing separate steel plates or
wires for each part of the saddle-tree, a complete strengthening frame or core fin
one piece, may be stamped or punched out of a sheet of steel, so as to forin a
support or backbone, as it were, for the aluminium casting which forms the body of
the saddle-tree.
The wither-band adjusting device, as shown in Figure 3, consists of two fht
springs, g, retained by screws h passing through the metal at the point of
in.ersection of the fork-bars and tree-bars of the saddle. By turning the screws h
in the required direction, say by means of a key or spanner inserted into the square
recess wherewith the ends of the screws are provided, the flat-springs g g are moved
closer to, or further froin, the saddle-trec bars, as the case may be; the rear
euds of such springs being secured to the said bars in any convenient manner
so that the space for the horse's withers is correspondingly widened or narrowed
down.
Instead of two flat springs g, a single spring, such as i, may be employed, which,
in that case, is placed under the fork to the bars of which its two ends are secured
I
'
I
1

page_text: by means of a single screw & passing through the tops of the said fork bars. By
the simple operation of this screw k the spring is either compressed or expanded as
the case may be, thereby correspondingly widening or contracting the space for the
horse's withers, or in fact adjusting it precisely to the desired width.
Or in order to suitably provide for the withers, a flat spring, such as is shown
ati in Figure 11, may be employed, the ends of which are extended as far as the
enda of the fork bars, so that, by operating the screw k the arms of the spring may
bo moved closer together or farther apart, an adjustment within comparatively
wide limits being thus provided for.
Figures 12, 13 and 14 show a form of saddle-tree constructed on the same
improved principle, but strengthened solely by means of ribs or undulatious
provided in the body of the saddle-tree itself. In this case the said body of the
saddle-tree, made of either aluminium or an aluminium alloy has a thickness of
three millimetres only as the bars 11 aud fork m. It is strengthened at the bars by
two ribs extending parallel to the inner recess and joining in the rear through
the medium of the curve n', which is also parallel to the inner curved edge.
The ribs or undulations n n join, in front, a rib or wave p produced by "cupping"
or stamping in the fork m. This undulated portion joins, and is continued by, a
second similar rib or undulation pl which follows the uprights of the fork, at the
extremities of which it terminates.
The ribs or undulations app are preferably produced by the outward
cupping or stamping of the saddle-tree body; so that the said ribs or undulations
project above the saddle-tree.
In the fork, the counter part of the ribs or undulations referred to receives the
wither band 9, which is so stamped or shaped as exactly to fit the ribs p p¹, to
which it may be rivetted, soldered or otherwise secured."
The wither-band imparts to this portion of the saddle-tree as much strength and
rigidity as it may be desired to possess.
The cast or stamped saddle-tree, as herein described, combines all the qualities
that are desirable, riz. strength, flexibility and lightness.
Where resistance is provided for by means of a steel framework or skeleton, or
by steel plates or wire, such steel parts may bo sunk bodily within the aluminium ;
or one of their sides or surfaces may be flush with the corresponding surface of the
saddle-tree.
The methods of manufacture herein specified apply to all kinds of saddle-
trees, as well as to all saddles, saddle-pads and kindred articles of every
description.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inveu
tion and in what manuer the same is to be performed, we declare that what wo
claim is :-
:
(1.). A saddle-tree of aluminium or an aluminium alloy, cast or stamped and made
flexible and resistant either by a suitable arrangement of steel fittings at the parts
it is desired to strengthen and make flexible, or by the provision of undulations or
ribs in the body of the saddle-tree itself, substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawing.
(2.) In combination with a saddle tree of aluminium or au alloy of aluminium, an
arrangement for imparting thereto the required resistance and strength, consisting
of bands, plates, hoops or wire of steel wholly sunk or submerged in the
metal of the saddle-tree, substantially as described and illustrated in the
drawing.
(3.) The same arrangement of bands, plates, boop or wire of steel for
strengthening the aluminium saddle-tree above referred to, but with the hands,
plates hoop or wire laid flush with one side or surface of each of the parts to
which they are applied, substantially as described and illustrated in the drawing.
(4.) In combination with a saddle-tree of aluminium or an aluminium alloy, a
steel skeleton or frame-work bodily sunk in the metal of such saddle-tree, but flush

page_text: with the whole or part of one of the surfaces of the said saddle-tree, substantially as.
described and illustrated in the drawing.
(5.) In combination with a saddle-tree body of aluminium or aluminium alloy,
ribs, undulations or corrugations provided in the parts of the saddle-tree to be
strengthened, and produced by casting, stamping or cupping, substantially as
described and illustrated in the drawing.
(6.) In combination with a saddle-tree of aluminium or aluminium alloy, provided
with ribs or undulatious, a wither-band for strengthening the fork, substantially as
described and illustrated in the drawing.
(7.) In combination with a saddle-tree of aluminium or aluminium alloy, an
arrangement for relieving the horse's withera, comprising a single spring placed
underneath the fork and enabling the space for the withers to be adjusted in
height by means of a screw, substantially as described and illustrated in the
drawings.
(8.) In combination with a saddle-tree of aluminium or aluminium alloy, an
arrangement for relieving the horse's withers, comprising two or more combined
springs located laterally to the withers and parallel to the saddle-bars whoreon they
rest at one end, the opposite end of each being adapted to bo moved closer to, or
farther away from, the body of the saddle-tree by means of a sorew, substantially
as described and illustrated in the drawing.
Dated this 2nd dex of December 1895
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants..