Improved Means for Harnessing and Instantly Unharnessing Horses.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 28th Dec., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Harnessing and Instantly Unharnessing
Horses.
We EDUARD Wulff of 105 Andrássystrasse, Circus Manager and ALBERT
VÁSÁRHELYE 2 Podmaniczkygasse of no occupation both of Budapest in the
Kingdom of Hungary 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 the present invention is an improved system of harnessing which
is especially adapted for harnessing rapidly the four horses of a four-in-hand and
for unharnessing them instantly in case of danger. The apparatus is however
constructed so as to serve also for fewer than four horses.
In the accompanying drawings the invention is shown in Fig. 1 in plan, in
Fig. 2 in side view.
Fig. 3 represents on a larger scale a whiffle bar for use with this invention.
Fig. 4 shows the same in horizontal section and
Fig. 5 is a section on lines a-x of Fig. 3.
Fig. 6 represents a considerably simplified construction of the end of the whiffle
bar in front view.
Fig. 7 is a section on lines y-y of Fig. 6 and
Fig. 8 is a section on lines of Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 shows the part between x-y and y-z of Fig. 2 on a somewhat larger
scale and in vertical section.
Figs. 10, 11, and 12 show also on a larger scale the attachment bar for the
leaders in side view, front view and plan.
Fig. 13 is a section on lines ¹¹ of Fig. 10 where the attachment bar is shown
at the moment of unharnessing the horses.
Fig. 14 is a section on lines y', y¹ of Fig. 11.
Fig. 15 shows the pole-head in plan and partly in horizontal section. Fig. 16
shows the latter in side view.
This invention consists firstly of four whiffle bars A constructed so as to release
the traces w fixed to their ends by means of rings a' (Fig. 5) or hooks f¹ (Fig. 7)
by the simple pulling of a string; this same string is also conuected with the pole
head D and detaches from the latter the neck straps of the wheelers. An
important part of this invention is the attachment bar E for the whiffle bars
of the leaders. This is constructed in such a manner that on pulling the string
above referred to, the attachment collapses in the middle and the two parts will
hang down vertically thus permitting the wheelers to pass onward without
hindrance.
"",
The whiffle bars A (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) consist each of two tubes a connected by
an annular flat strong metal box b by means of which they are fixed by sockets c in
such a manner to the end of the attachment bar d (or E respectively) as to be
immovable in a vertical direction and only play very little in a horizontal
direction. The outer ends of these tubes a are closed by cylindrical heads in
which an inner free space i is left formed by two walls and which space i is
accessible from the exterior. The tubes a are closed near the socket by a cross-
piece j and in each tube a slides a rod m provided with a guide disk k corresponding
to the interior diameter of the tube, which rod is pushed outwards by a spring?
between the disk and the crosspiece j. The exterior end of each rod m crosses
the space i somewhat into the wall f. In the socket ba vertical shaft n is put, the
lower part of which protrudes below out of the socket 6 and carries a long lever

page_text: which is arranged just under a tube a parallel to the same. The shaft n has inside
of the socket & two arms p p diametrically opposite to each other each of which is
connected with the interior end of one of the rods m by a chain q. By turning
the lever o the rods m are withdrawn into the tubes a and leave the spaces i in the
heads e.
The rod m may also be pushed out of the space i by means of the
button put in the outer end of each head e beyond the wall ƒ which button is
pushed outwards by a springs and secured from falling out by means of a ring t.
The button is provided at its margin with a tongue u, which, adjusting itself to
the cylindrical interior sides of the head e passes through the two walls and g
and stops against a disk v of the pin m so that by pushing the button into the
head e the tongue u pushes back the rod m. The ends of the rods protruding into
the spaces i serve for attachment of the traces. The traces are provided at their
ends with rings a¹ (Fig. 5) which, after the rod m has been moved back by means
of the button r, are brought into the spaces i, through the slit whereupon the
button is released and the rod m, springing back, engages the ring a¹. It is
obvious that by turning the lever o both traces may be released at the same time,
so that the horse becomes free. The same construction is adapted for 2 or 4 whiffle
bars. All 2 or 4 levers o are to be drawn by one cord 6' (Figs. 1 and 2) and all
horses to be released at the same time.
The whiffle bars A are much simplified and therefore cheaper and better if the
head is omitted as is shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8.
€
In this case the ends of the
tubes a are closed by an eccentric hollow cap into the interior of which the end
of the pin m protrudes. The hollow space d' of the cap has an entrance by a
broad slit e and the traces w are provided with hooks instead of the rings a
at their ends. These hooks are brought into the space d' through the slit e¹ and
are hung on the ends of the pins. The usual unharnessing by hand is done
then by unhanging the hook f¹, while with immediate danger it is effected in
the above mentioned way by means of the lever o.
With this means of unharnessing, also a peculiar pole-head D (Figs. 1, 2, 15
and 16) is used. It is constructed in principle like the whiffle bars but, of course
with the necessary modifications. The pole-head D comprises the socket for
fastening at the end of which is joined the horizontal tube i constructed like
the whiffle bars and stiffened at both sides by means of horizontal forks h¹
against the porket 9. The interior arrangement of this tube is the same as
that of a whiffle bar (rile Fig. 15) with the exception of the entrance slit h
being made here below and the middle construction of the metal box b being
cited since the pins m are drawn by the chains q', which, for this purpose
are brought to the middle through rings or loops and passing out of the
teket through an opening are joined to the cord above mentioned b. In
the slit of the pole-head the collar chains of the wheelers are attached by
cans of rings in the same manner as the traces are to the whiffle bars.
The pole-head D, for four-in-hands, has also under each of the exterior arms of
the forks a means for harnessing the collar chains. This means consists of a
fork(Figs. 2 and 16) lying in a vertical plane and closed at the front by a
spring arm m¹ so that the rings of the chains have only to be pressed through
under the arm m¹ for being hung into the forks 1. Being freed from the whiffle
bars, the rings of the collar chains pass out, of themselves, from the forks . Of
course these forks will only be employed with two of the horses and only in
order that at time of danger the horses may be instantly released entirely. The
pole-head > is provided in the tront near the tube with 3 studs to which
The attachment bar E for the whiffle bars of the leaders can be fastened.
The attachmert har Eis connected to the studs of by cans of a strong link
iere A Think, is at its fore-part, provided with strong strap-ilke
horizontal box opea at the top into which box the atment our proper is
put. This attachment bar is composed of the two horizontal arms and which
tre final in the ends of the box so as to be able to turn round the horizontal
pinsrespectively the short interior ends of bars de lie in the box in such s
2
:

page_text: manner that the shorter end of the arm d presses down the short end of the arm e
and for this purpose this end of the arm d2 has at its lower side a link g³ which
protrudes downwards through a slit of the short end of e³ and a slit of the
box (Fig. 11). Into the end of the link g2 protrudes the short end of a lever
with two arms (Figs. 10 and 14). This lever j2 is arranged to be turned behind
the slit in two lugs in a direction perpendicular to the attachment bar E so
that the arm working into the link is very short while the other arm is very
long and protrudes far under the pole 1. The end of the long arm of j is bent
upwards and formed into a ring m² (Fig. 9) which is kept in a socket n³ similar to
those in the whiffle bars fixed below on the pole l' by a pin p² operated by spring o².
The hind part of the pin p² is connected with the cord before mentioned. It is
in consequence, obvious that, by drawing the cord, the pin p² is drawn back and
releases the lever, the long arm of which falls downwards by its own weight by
means of which its shorter arm will turn out of the link g2 and will release the
same. In consequence also the long ends of the arms of the attachment bar fall
downwards by their own weight and that of the whiffle bars (Fig. 13) and hang
vertically at both sides of the box c² and give in consequence free way to the
wheelers released at this moment. The work of unharnessing as a whole will be
clear from the above description of the separate parts.
For four-in-hands, Figs. 1 and 2 the horses are harnessed, after fastening and
arranging the attachment bar E in the manner above described. The levers o of
the whiffle bars A the cord g¹ and the pin p² are connected with the cord b¹ in such
a way that on drawing this cord, first the levers of the fore whiffle bars then the
cord from the pole head and the pin p2 and lastly the levers of the hinder whiffle
bars are disconnected. Of course the difference of time in these proceedings is
scarcely susceptible, but nevertheless in consequence hereof, first the leaders will be
freed, then the arms d' and e fall down and then the wheelers will be freed and can
run away without touching the attachment bar, E. The cord 6' may in any suitable
way be led to the coach box or to the interior of the coach and be manipulated by
means of any suitable hand lever or other means.
If only two horses are harnessed, the attachment bar E is taken away and the
cord is connected only with the levers of the whiffle bars and with the cord q¹ of
the pole-head.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
In means for harnessing and unharnessing horses especially suitable for four-in-
hands.
1. The while bars A composed of two tubes a kept together by a box b closed
at their ends by heads e in which parts pius m, pressed by springs towards the
heads e, are fitted in such a way as to work with their exterior ends into the spaces i
of the heads e and to hold fast there the rings a¹ of the traces w which rings are
inserted through corresponding slits h, into the spaces i, the interior ends of rods m
being connected by means of chains q with the arms p of a shaft n, the lower end of
which shaft protrudes out of the box and bears a long lever o by the turning of
which the pins m can be drawn back from the heads e in order to release the
traces to.
2. The combination with the device above claimed of the buttons in the
ends of the heads e pressed outwards by the springs s, which buttons, pressed
into the heads e, push back by a tongue u the pin m for permitting the insertion
of the rings a' of the traces and for removing the same by hand.
3. The construction of the whiffle bars A having at their ends hollow flat
caps in an eccentric position perpendicular to the tubes a and arranged in
such a manner that the pins m work with their ends in hollow spaces d' of the
caps c', accessible from without through a slit el whereby the traces can be
attached to the pins m by means of hooks f¹ without displacement of the pios.

page_text: 4. A pole head D to which the rings of the collar chains or straps can be fastened
in the same manner as the rings of the traces into the whiffle bars, this pole-head D
having also the forks lying in a vertical plane below the pole head, the
opening of which forks is closed by means of spring pawls m', this arrangement also
serving for the attachment of the collar chains or straps of the wheelers.
5. The attachment bar E bearing the whiffle bars A for the leaders, represented
in Figs. 10 to 14, and which is fastened on the top of the pole head D by means of
a link b² so that it can be taken off, and which bar has horizontal arms d³ and e³
adapted to fall down at both sides in the described way for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 28th day of October 1895.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18 Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicants.