CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS ON WHEEL CARRIAGES
Year: 1816

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
BANKS, of Hadley, in the Parish of Wellington, and County of Salop, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Fourth day of May,
in the fifty-sixth year of His reign, give and grant unto me, the said Richard
Banks, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, His especial licence, full power, sole
privilege and authority, that I, the said Richard Banks, my exors, admors,
and assigns, should and lawfully might, during the term of years therein
mentioned, make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS ON
WHEEL CARRIAGES;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso
that if I, the said Richard Banks, shall not particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and cause
the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within
six calendar months. next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent, that then the said Letters Patent, and all liberties and advantages
whatsoever thereby granted, shall utterly cease, determine, and become void;
as in and by the same (relation being thereunto had) may more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Richard Banks, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and

page_text: manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described and
ascertained in and by the Drawings hereunto annexed, and the following
references or description thereof, that is to say:
This waggon is constructed and formed in a new and different way to any
other waggon, the hind wheels used in the waggon are above the common size,
and the carriage or perch pole is removed from its usual place, and made in
two, and fixed so far apart so as to admit the body of the waggon to go
between them as near the ground as the state of the road will admit. The
hind wheel in this waggon being above the common size used in waggons,
gives an opportunity to put part of the bottom of the body below the axletree,
and making the waggon wider than the common width is a great advantage;
the wheel being higher and the carriage or perch pole being so fixed give an
opportunity to attach springs thereto, and suspending the body of the waggon
to the springs with slings, so that the whole of the body so fixed is in a
slinging motion when at work. The shafts are attached to the body and not
to the axletree, which is not the usual way, and slide over a guide fixed to the
axletree to guide the fore wheels, the guide is connected to the shaft by the
pin d. I don't claim anything in this waggon but what is new, and not the
same as other waggons. The use of springs in this waggon I do not claim,
but the form in which it is made and the mode in which it works different to
other waggons, as described in the Drawings and Specification. The cart
is hanged 011 springs with slings similar to the waggon, and the shafts with
the springs move backward and forward
the assistance of springs upon
rollers, with or without teeth, working with the help of inclined planes similar
to the methods used in the gigs.
My Invention shews in the different Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
and 11, in the Drawing of gigs, the utility of moving the bodies of two-wheel
chaises or carts or other two-wheeled carriages forward or backward as the
unevenness of the road may require; viz., if a horse be drawing a chaise or
cart on rising ground, he must by this Invention draw part of the weight
on himself, the body moving on the shafts with the assistance of inclined
planes, slides, rollers, or toothed wheels, as in Figure 1, otherwise the body,
shafts, and springs that carry the body move all together upon toothed wheels,
or rollers, as in Figures 5, 8, and 9. When the horse ceases to draw, the
weight will go back off the horse upon the wheels by means of springs or
inclined planes, as shewn in the Drawings 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11,
so that by this Invention of mine the horse will be able to go considerably
further in a day than is usually accomplished in the common mode. This
Invention does not require any assistance, while in action, from the rider or

page_text: driver of these carriages. No more of the body of the gig is shewn in these
Drawings than what is necessary to explain the Invention. The rollers and
inclined planes in Fig. 1, 3, and 5, may have teeth in the same way as the
rollers and racks, Fig. 8 and 10. Figures 12 and 13 in the Drawings of the
gigs is a wheel constructed with steel spokes with a little iron at each end
fixed in a cast-iron nave in a dovetail form, as shewn in Figure 13. The
spring axletree, as shewn in Figures 14 and 15, will give way under heavy
pressures and return to its proper form, as represented in those Figures, and
the size must be in proportion to the weight it has to carry.
The Waggon. Figure 1 is a side view of the waggon without the body.
a, the shafts; b, the end of the piece of timber that goes across the fore part
of the body of the carriage the shafts are attached to; c, c, is the guide made
fast to the axletree which the shafts slide backwards and forwards upon, and
being attached to the shafts by means of the pin d which slides in the mortice
of the guide letter c to turn the fore wheels after the horse; e, the axletree;
f, the end of the piece of timber that goes on the axletree that the dropper
pin works in; g, the uprights that go upon the boulster and support the end
of the carriage pole; h, h, the carriage pole; i, the hind axletree; k, a
block of wood between the axletree and the spring; 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, part of
the framing of the body of the carriage; m, m, m, the outline of the body;
n, n, n, the springs; o, the end view of the spring that goes across the carriage;
P. p, p, the slings that connect the body of the waggon with the springs;
9, 9, the fellies of the fore and hind wheels.
Figure 2nd is a ground plan of the waggon without the body. a, a, a, the
shafts; b, b, the piece of timber that goes across the fore part of the body
of the carriage the shafts are attached to; c, c, is the guide made fast to the
axletree which the shafts slide backward and forward upon, and is attached to
the shafts by means of the pin d; f, the boulster which goes over and prevents
the sight of the axletree e; h, h, the carriage poles; i, the hind axletree;
1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, part of the framing of the body of the carriage; o, o, the end
of the springs which are fastened to the cross piece 1; q, q, q, q, the fore and
hind wheels; r, r, places for the fore wheels to go in to turn on the lock
under the carriage pole h.
Figure 3rd is an end view of the waggon without the body. c, c, the
guides; e, the fore axle; f, f, the boulster; g. 9, the uprights that go upon
the boulster and support the end of the carriage pole, letter h; h, h, the
carriage poles; i, the bind axletree; k, k, blocks of wood between the axle-
tree and the springs; 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, part of the framing of the body of the
carriage; m, m, m, the outline of the body; n, n, m, n, the springs; o, the spring

page_text: that goes across the carriage and lies behind the boulster f, fi p, p, the
slings that connect the body of the waggon with springs; q, q, the wheels;
r, r, the nave of the fore wheels.
Figure No. 4 is a side view of the body of waggon.
e is the fore axletree;
i is the hind axletree; 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, part of the framing of the body of the
carriage; a, a, d, d, m, m, m, m, m, m, m, m, m, m, other parts of the
framing of the body of the carriage; n, the springs; 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, cross rathes
before and behind the body; p, p, short cross stays to connect the rathes;
9, circular stay; r, place for the fore wheels to go in; s, s, is the bottom of
the fore part of the waggon; t, t, is the bottom of the hinder part of the
waggon; u, u, upright front rathes; v, v, upright hind rathes; x, x, two short
middle rathes.
Figure 5, ground plan of the body of waggon. a, a, a, a,' outside rathes at
the top that go the whole length of the body; b, b, b, b, top inside rathes that
terminate at letters c, c; d, d, d, d, two middle rathes the whole length of the
body; e, e, e, e, two short middle rathes which correspond to x, x, in Fig. 4;
1, 1, 1, 1, 1, part of the framing of the body of the carriage; p, p, p, p, short
cross stays; o, o, cross rathes before and behind; q, q, circular stays.
Figure 6, an end view of the body. a, a, the outside rathes at the top;
b, b, the inside; d, d, d, d, two middle rathes the whole length of the body;
1, part of the framing of the carriage; o, o, cross rathes behind; 2. q, circular
stays; r, r, places for the fore wheels to go into ; &, s, is the bottom of the
fore part of the waggon; t, t, is the bottom of the hinder part of the waggon;
u, u, an upright rathe in the front of the body; v, v, v, v, v, v, upright rathes
at the hinder part of the body.
Carts. Figure 1. is a side view of a cart. a, a, a, a, a, a, à, shafts;
b, b, b, b, the guides made fast to the axletree to turn the wheels after the
horse; c, c, c, c, the springs and slings; d, d, the end of the springs under
the bottom of the carriage; e, the end of the cross spring that is fastened to
the axletree; ff, the sill for the bottom of the body; g, the top rathe;
h, h, h, h, h, h, h, h, h, h, h, h, h, h, h, h, h, h, h, 'h, h, the side framing of the
body; i, i, a part-fastened to the axletree to fix the roller in which the spring
and shafts slide; k, the roller that carries the spring and shafts; l, the collar
which connects the guide and the shafts.
Figure 2, an end view of the part i, i, Figure 1, shewing the roller, spring,
shaft, and guide. a, the shafts; b, the guides; c, the spring; and d part of
the axletree; i, i, the part fastened to the axletree; k, the roller.
Figure 3rd is a ground plan of the cart in Figure No. 1. a, a, a, a, a, a, a,
the shafts; b, b, b, b, b, b, the guides; c, c, the springs; d, d, d, d, the ends of

page_text: the springs under the bottom of the carriage; e, e, cross spring; f,f,f, f, the
sills for the bottom of the body; 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, the top rathes; 1, 1, the collar
that connects the guides to the shafts.
Figure 4th is a side view of another cart. a, a, the shafts; b, b, a stay
that turns down to lay hold of a sling that carries the body; c, c, the bottom.
sill of the body; d, d, the top framing; e, e, the uprights of the side of the
body; f, the end of the axletree; g, the sling.
Figure the 5th a ground plan of Figure 4. a, a, the shafts; b, b, b, b, two
stays that turn down to lay hold of the sling that carries the body; d, d, d, d,
the top framing; f, the axletree.
Figure 6th shewing the axletree and in what manner the slings are hanged
to the axletree. a, end view of shaft; b, a stay that turns down on the
hinge c to lay hold of the sling g.
Gigs. Figure No. 1 sheweth the body of the cart or gig to move upon
wheels or rollers attached to the shafts, the shafts and springs not sliding.
1, the bottom of the body; 2, 2, the ends of the bearer that carry the body;
3, the slide the bearers go on to carry or move the body backwards and
forwards upon the wheels or rollers 4, 4; 4, 4, the wheels or rollers that carry.
the slide No. 3; 5, 5, the inclined planes which the rollers move on to give
motion to the body backwards or forwards; 6, a pin going under the bottom of
the body for the horse to draw by; 7, 7, springs; 8, the end of the axletree;
9, a guard to keep the body from being thrown off the rollers, as shewn at 10.
Figure No. 2 is an outline of the ground plan of the bottom of the body of
Figure No. 1. 1, 1, 1, 1, the outline; 9, 9, strap going under the body for
pin No. 6, Figure 1, to go to for horse to draw by.
Figure 3 sheweth that the shafts, springs, and an oblong square are all
fastened together, and move on rollers or pullies to carry the bodies and
springs as they are or may be fixed. 1, 1, 1, shafts; 2, 2, stays that go from
the shafts to the springs; 3, springs; 4, 4, an oblong square fastened to the
springs, and moves upon roller 7, the axletree moves in this oblong square;
5, 5, screw pins which hold the oblong square to the springs; 6, the end of the
axletree; 7, the roller or wheels the oblong square moves upon; 8, 8, guide, as
shown in Figures 7 and 5, with an addition of two joints o, o, and the roller
and guide is fastened to the axletree in the same manner as in Figure 7; 9; end
of the spring, as shewn at 9, Figure 4; 10, an eye to attach the horse.
Figure 4, an outline of the ground plan of the bottom of the body of
Figure 3d. 1, 1, 1, 1, the outline; 6, part of the axletree; 9, 9, a double
spring clasped to axletree 6.
Figure 5 sheweth the shafts and block stays moving on a pulley or wheel to

page_text: carry and body of the gig or cart as they are in general attached to them. 1, 1, 1,
shafts; 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, block stay that carrys the shafts, and moves upon roller 4;
3, end of the axletree; 4, roller that carries the block stay 2, 2, 2, 2, 2; 5, a
guide to turn the wheels after the horse, as shewn in Figure 7, the lower end
is made fast to the axletree, and the upper end slides through a socket No. 6
at the shafts; 7 is the end of the spring; 8 shews where the block stay will
act on the spring 7.
Figure 6. 1, 1, 1, 1, is an outline of the ground plan of the bottom of the
body of Figure 5; 3, part of the axletree; 7, 7, a double spring clasped
to the axletree 3.
Figure 7, sheweth in what manner the roller No. 4 and the end of the
guide No. 5 is connected to the axletree 3, and Figure 7 is also an end view
of Figure 5, shewing, the axletree, roller, and end of the guide, and is figured
to correspond with it.
Figure 8 shews the shafts and springs to move upon racks and tooth wheels
to carry the bodies and springs as they may be fixed to them. 1, 1, 1, shafts;
2,2, stays that go from the shafts to the springs; 3, springs; 4, 4, racks that
go above and below the toothed wheels; 5, the end of the axletree; 6, 6, toothed
wheels that go between the racks 4, 4.
Figure 9th is a ground plan of racks, wheels, and shafts or spindles in
Figure 8. 1, middle part of the axletree, as 5 in Figure 8; 2, 2, 2, 2, racks;
3, spindle that connect the tooth wheels 6, 6, in Figure 8.
Figure 10 is an end view of the racks and toothed rollers in Figure 8;
4, 4, the racks; 6, the toothed wheel or roller.
Figure 11th works with only one roller or toothed wheel, and is in every-
thing else like Figure 8 and 9 and 10. 1, spring; 2, 2, racks; 3, toothed
wheel or roller; 4, guide.
Figure 12 is an end view, and Figure 13 is a side view of a waggon,
cart, or gig wheel, of which 1 is a cast-iron nave; 2, 2, 2, 2, steel spokes
with some wrought iron at each end; 3, 3, felly; 4, the nave, in Figure 13 s
drawn larger to shew how the spokes are fastened in by being dovetailed.
In witness whereof, J, the said Richard Banks, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixteen.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-eighth day of October,
in the year of our Lord 1816, the aforesaid Richard Banks came before our
said Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stampt according to
the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Thirtieth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixteen.