IMPROVEMENTS IN TWO WHEEL CARRIAGES, CARTS, OR OTHER CONVEYANCES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Duddy, of Ulcombe, in the County of Kent,
"
for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN TWO WHEEL CARRIAGES, CARTS, OR
OTHER CONVEYANCES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Duddy at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th May 1880..
HENRY DUDDY, of Ulcombe, in the County of Kent.
Two WHEEL CARRIAGES, CARTS, OR OTHER CONVEYANCES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My Invention relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of
two wheeled carriages, carts, or other conveyances, and has for its object, 1,
protecting the wheels from collision or other accident; 2, lowering the centre of
gravity of the body of the carriage or other conveyance, and thereby avoiding the
danger of upsetting; and 3, affording shelter to the driver and passengers from the
influence of weather.
My Invention consists, firstly, in mounting each wheel on a short separate axle
carried in bearings by two springs, one spring being placed on the inside of the
wheel and the other outside. On the back and front ends of the springs are
mounted and secured the cross-trees which carry the shafts and body of the carriage
or other conveyance. By this arrangement the wheels are enclosed and protected
from injury by collision or other accident. At each end of the front cross tree
carrying the shafts is attached a strengthening piece which is curved or splayed
inwards towards the shaft, to which it is secured, and acts as a guard to the
carriage by deflecting any colliding body; stays or strengthening pieces also extend
between the front cross tree and the centre or other convenient parts of the
springs.
The body of the carriage, cart, or other conveyance may either be attached
directly to the cross trees or suspended therefrom at its four corners so as to equally
distribute its weight on the axles of the wheels. If desired, for obtaining access
to the interior of the carriage, cart, or other conveyance, at the lowest possible
level, the top and back frame bar of the same is cut away in the middle, aud a door-
way formed thereat extending downwards to the bottom of the carriage, the
CD
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page_text: divided top bar being connected to the bottom frame by strong ties or bars so as to
form a solid frame therewith as if the top bar was in one piece.
In lieu of the springs being placed at the insides of the wheels the shafts may
be extended backwards in the usual manner, and the cross trees attached thereto
for carrying the body of the carriage, which in this case is mounted on springs
secured at each end to bars suspended from the cross trees, and in lieu of the springs
on the outsides of the wheels the strengthening pieces before mentioned may be
extended backwards parallel with the shafts and secured to the cross trees in a
similar manner.
Secondly. In the arrangement described under the first part of my Invention,
there being no cranked or through axle to contend with, but a clear open space
between the two wheels, I am enabled to attach the body of my carriage or other
conveyance considerably lower than is the case at present, thereby lowering the
centre of gravity, and avoiding the danger of upsetting, so fruitful of injury to life
and limb under the present construction.
Thirdly. I employ, in combination with my improved carriage, cart, or other
conveyance, a hood or covering of canvass, tarpaulin, or other material, which is
attached to the ends of radial arms hinged to a central stem which is stepped or
inserted into the seat or other central part of the carriage. The arms being folded
downwards and outwards stretch the hood or covering over the occupants of the
carriage, in which position it is further spread out and secured by cords or other-
wise to the frame of the carriage, thereby affording protection against the influences
of sun, wind, or rain.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Duddy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th November
1880.
HENRY DUDDY, of Ulcombe, in the County of Kent.
Two WHEEL CARRIAGES, CARTS, OR OTHER CONVEYANCES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My Invention relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of
two wheel carriages, carts, or other conveyances, and has for its object, 1,
protecting the wheels from collision or other accident; 2, lowering the centre of
gravity of the body of the carriage or other conveyance, and thereby avoiding
the danger of upsetting; and 3, affording shelter to the driver and passengers
from the influence of weather.
My Invention consists, firstly, in mounting each wheel on a short separate axle
carried in bearings by two springs, one spring being placed on the inside of the
wheel and the other outside. On the back and front ends of the springs are
mounted and secured the cross trees which carry the shafts and body of the carriage
or other conveyance, as hereafter more particularly described. At each end of the
front cross tree carrying the shafts is attached a strengthening piece which is
curved or splayed inwards towards the shaft, to which it is secured, and acts as a
guard to the carriage. By this arrangement the wheels are enclosed and entirely
protected from injury by collision or other accident.
In lieu of the springs being placed at the insides of the wheels the shafts may
be extended backwards in the usual manner, and the cross trees attached thereto
for carrying the body of the carriage, which in this case is mounted on springs
secured at each end to bars or straps suspended from the cross trees, and in lieu of
the springs on the outsides of the wheels the strengthening pieces before mentioned
may be extended backwards parallel with shafts; secondly, by the above arrange-
ment, there being no cranked or through axle to contend with, but a clear open
space between the two wheels, I am enabled to attach the body of my carriage
or other conveyance considerably lower than is the case at present, thereby lowering
the centre of gravity and avoiding the danger of upsetting, so fruitful of injury to
life and limb under the present construction; thirdly, I employ, in combination
with my improved carriage, cart, or other conveyance, a hood or covering of canvas,
tarpaulin, or other material, which is attached to or otherwise carried by the ends
of radial arms hinged to a central stem which is stepped or inserted into the seat
or other convenient part of the carriage. The arms being folded downwards or
outwards stretch the hood or covering over the occupants of the carriage, in which
position it is secured by cords or otherwise, thereby affording protection against
sun, wind, or rain. And in order that my Invention may be well understood,
I shall now proceed more particularly to describe the same, reference being made
to the accompanying Drawing, like letters of reference indicating corresponding
parts in all the Figures. Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Figure 2 a plan of a two
wheeled cart or carriage constructed according to my Invention.
To
a, a, represent the wheels mounted on short separate axles b, b, cach of which
is mounted in bearings c, c, carried by the springs d, d, one spring being on the
outside and the other on the inside of each wheel a, as shewn. On the back and
front ends of the springs d, d, are secured the cross trees e, e, carrying the shafts f, f,
cross bar g, footboard h, and other parts usual to this form of conveyance.
any convenient part of the cross trees e, e, the body i of the cart or carriage is
attached or suspended by straps j, j, as shewn, and to each end of the front cross-
tree e is fixed a strengthening piece which is curved or splayed forwards and
inwards towards the shaft f, to which it is secured. By this arrangement the
following advantages are obtained:-1, the wheels a, a, being entirely enclosed

page_text: are protected from injury by collision or otherwise, and any colliding body will be
deflected by the curved or splayed pieces k; and 2ndly, there being no cranked or
through axle, but a clear open space between the wheels a, a, the body i of the cart
or carriage can be brought as low as desired, thereby lowering its centre of gravity
and avoiding the danger of upsetting as at present the case.
In the arrangement seen in Figures 3 and 4 in lieu of placing the springs d, d,
at the sides of the wheels a, a, as in Figures 1 and 2, the inside and outside
bearings c, c, of the latter are mounted and secured directly onto the backwardly.
extended portions of the shafts f, f, and strengthening pieces k, k, respectively, in
which case the body i of the cart or carriage is carried on springs 1, 1, suspended (or
otherwise attached) by straps m, m, to any convenient part of the cross trees e, e.
This Invention may also be applied to four wheel carts or other conveyances.
If desired, for obtaining access to the interior of the cart or carriage at the lowest
possible level, the top and back frame bar of the same is cut away in the middle,
and a doorway formed thereat extending downwards towards the- bottom of the
cart or carriage, the divided top bar being connected to the lower framing by
strong ties or bars so as to form a solid frame throughout as if the top bar was in
one piece.
In Figures 1 and 2, n represents a hood or covering of canvass, tarpaulin, or other
material, which is carried by radial arms o, o, hinged to a central stem which is
stepped or inserted into the seat or other convenient part of the cart or carriage.
The arms o, o, being folded downwards or outwards stretch the hood or covering
over the occupants of the cart or carriage, leaving open spaces on each side of the
latter, in which position it is secured by cords or straps. In Figures 3 and 4 the
hood n in lieu of a central stem is carried by an upright folding frame which
consists of two upright side bars 1, 1, attached to the sides of the cart or carriage and
hinged at their upper ends to a cross bar 2; a second cross bar 3 carrying a short
central stem 4 is pivoted to the upper side of the cross bar 2, and being moved into
the position seen in Figure 4 the hood or covering n is placed over the whole and
stretched over the cart or carriage by the folding arms 5, 5, which are hinged near
the lower ends of the upright side bars 1, 1. The hood or covering is then secured
by cords or straps, as in Figures 1 and 2. When used in combination with movable
flaps or coverings to the open spaces this hood or covering affords an efficient pro-
tection against all weathers.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I claim as my Invention is,―
1. Carrying the wheels of a cart, carriage, or other vehicle, on short separate
axles in lieu of a through or cranked axle, substantially as and for the purposes
described and illustrated by the Drawing.
2. The combination and use with the shafts and crosstrees enclosing the wheels
of curved or splayed strengthening pieces extending backwards (or not) on the out-
sides of the wheels, substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and
illustrated by the Drawing.
3. The construction and application of adjustable hood or covering to a cart,
carriage, or other conveyance, substantially as and for the purpose herein before
described and illustrated by the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Duddy, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
HENRY DUDDY. (L.S.)