AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS TO VEHICLES DRAWN BY AFFRIGHTED HORSES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Davis, of Snow Hill, Birminghain, in the
County of Warwick, Dyer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS TO VEHICLES DRAWN BY AFFRIGHTED
HORSES."
Sealed the 11th March 1862, and dated the 18th September 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Davis at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 13th
September 1861.
I, WILLIAM DAVIS, of Snow Hill, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Dyer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS TO VEHICLES DRAWN BY AFFRIGHTED
HORSES," to be as follows:-
One part of my Invention consists of a metal plate, having a series of bolts
or studs about an inch and a half in length projecting from its surface. This
plate is attached to the inside end of the hub of a wheel of an ordinary
vehicle, in connection with this two flat pieces of. metal, of a desired length
slightly tapered, are rivetted or otherwise held together upon their surfaces.
In the shortest of these pieces there is a slot which acts as a slide; at the end
of the other piece there is a clip in the form of a prong, the sides of which are
screwed at their respective ends for the purpose of uniting the same with the
axle between the wheel and body of the vehicle, its proximity to the hub of
the wheel being determined in proportion to the projections upon the metal
plate. Near to that end of the piece of metal which clips the axle there is a
moveable joint and a flat spring, which said spring is affixed to, and works
upon the sides of both pieces of metal, and also serves to keep the two pieces
in a proper position. When there is great pressure exerted upon the spring,

page_text: it has a tendency to displace itself; to obviato this liability, I use an india-
rubber ring, which passes over both picces of metal, holds the end of the
spring, and regulates its elasticity. The action of this part of my Invention
may be stated thus:-When connected with a vehicle, and not in use, it
retains an upright position; the upper end of the longest piece of metal has
a hook or other arrangement for holding the reins. When the horse is
affrighted, it is necessary to press down the shortest piece of mefal, the lower
end of which comes in immediate contact with the bolts or studs upon the
metal plate simultaneously acting upon the flat spring and moveable joint,
thus forcing the upper part of the apparatus backward, through which the
reins are then tightened in an unusual degree.
The other part of my Invention consists of a circular metal ring, having
teeth similar to a cog wheel; the said ring is fixed upon the inside end of the
hub of the wheel nearest the body of the vehicle. In connection with this
ring, there is a metal tubo having a slot near its upper end; between the
slot and upper end, inside the tube, there is a strong spiral spring, the which
acts upon a rod or sliding bolt inserted into the other end of the tube. At
the outside end of the said rod there is a piece of flat metal of a. triangular
shape, a part of which is serrated; in conjunction with this there is a moveable
joint clip and spring of the form described in the first part of my Invention;
a hook or other receptacle for the reins is affixed at the upper end of the metal
tube.
The action of the apparatus may be stated thus:-When the sliding rod
is not in use the spiral spring is depressed, but when in use, the rod being
released from the slot, the spring elongating itself presses the rod downwards,
the toothed end of which comes in contact with the serrated ring upon the
hub of the wheel, at once acting upon the moveable joint and spring, and
forcing backward the upper end of the metal tube, through which great force
is exerted upon the mouth of the horse. The advantages are the same when
the horse is unguarded; the précaution to be taken is to lower the slide in
each apparatus before leaving the vehicle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent; filed
by the said William Davis in the Great Seal Patent Office, on the 13th
March 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM 3
DAVIS, of Snow Hill, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, "Dyer, send
greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord: One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Davis, Her special license that I, the said William
Davis, ny executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said William Davis, my executors, administrators, and assigns," should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain'
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS TO VEHICLES DRAWN BY
AFFRIGATED HORSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Davis, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
. NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Davis, do hereby declare thie
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement, refer-
ence being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
One part of my Invention consists of a metal plate, having a series of bolts
or studs about an inch and a half in length projecting from its surface; this
plate is attached to the inside end of the hub of a wheel of an ordinary
vehicle. In connection with this two flat pieces of metal of a desired length
slightly tapered are rivetted or otherwise held together upon their surfaces;
in the shortest of these pieces there is a slot which acts as a slide. At the end
of the other piece there is a clip in the form of a prong, the sides of which
are screwed at their respective ends for the purpose of uniting the same with
the axle between the wheel and body of the vehicle, its proximity to the hub
of the wheel being determined in proportion to the projections upon the
metal plate. Near to that end of the piece of metal which clips the axle
there is a moveable joint and a flat spring, which said spring is affixed' to and'
works upon the sides of both pieces of metal, and also serves to keep the two
pieces in a proper position. When there is great pressure exerted upon the
spring it has a tendency to displace itself; to obviate this liability, use an
india-rubber ring, which passes over both pieces of metal, holds the end of

page_text: the spring, and regulates its clasticity. The action of this part of my
Invention may be stated thus:-When connected with a vehicle, and not in
use, it retains an upright position; the upper end of the longest piece of metal
has a hook or other arrangement for holding the reins. When the horse is
affrighted, it is necessary to pass down the shortest piece of metal, the lower end
of which comes in immediate contact with the bolts or studs, upon the metal
plate simultaneously acting upon the flat spring and moveable joint, thus
forcing the upper part of the apparatus backward, through which the reins
are then tightened in an unusual degree.
The other part of my Invention consists of a circular metal ring, having
teeth similar to a cog wheel; the said ring is fixed upon the inside end of the
hub of the wheel nearest the body of the vehicle. In connection with this
ring there is a metal tube, having a slot near its upper end; between the slot
and upper end, inside the tube,, there is a strong spiral spring which acts upon
a rod or sliding bolt inserted into the other end of the tube. At the outside
end of the said rod there is a piece of flat metal of a triangular shape, a part
of which is serrated; in conjunction with this thero is a moveable joint clip
and spring of the form described in the first part of my Invention. A hook
or other receptacle for the reins is affixed at the upper end of the metal
tube.
The action of the apparatus may be stated thus:-When the sliding rod is
not in use the spring is depressed, but when in use, the rod being released
from the slot, the spring elongating itself presses the rod downwards, the
toothed end of which comes in contact with the serrated ring upon the hub
of the wheel, at once acting upon the moveable joint and spring, and forcing
backwards the upper end of the metal tube through which great force is
exerted upon the mouth of the horse, the advantages are the same. When
the horse is unguarded, the precaution to be taken is to lower the slide in cach
apparatus before leaving the vehicle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a view of the plate affixed to the hub of the wheol for the
description of apparatus shewn in Figure 2, which represents my apparatus
arranged to suit vehicles of a common description; Figure 3 shews a view of
my improved apparatus, somewhat modified in arrangement and superior in
construction, the red lines representing the lever thrown back when the
apparatus is in action; Figure 4 is a side view of the same; Figure 5 is a
front view; Figure 6, a side view; and Figure 7, a back view of parts of the.
75

page_text: it will be seen that the plate (a') is formed in two parts connected together
by the pins (6', 6',) and slots or eyes (c, c,) and upon this plate are fixed the
bolts or studs (d, d'). In'(Figure 2) the plate is shewn secured to the
hub (E) of a wheel, and upon the 'axle (a) is secured. the collar (B) sup+
porting the upright standard (C); to this standard is pinned or jointed the
lever or arm. (H), at the upper end of which is the rein-holder or catch (N)
formed, as it will be seen, somewhat like a buckle, so that by the interlacing
of the reins round the tongue or centre piece (n¹), the reins are held as
securely as in the hand. In the interior. of the tubular arm or lever (H)
works a slide or bar, having a thumb knob (m) at its upper extremity moving
in a slot in the outer casing or tube, and retained until operated upon by the
hand by a small spring catch inserted in the tube (H.). At its lower end
this slide or bar assumes the form of a bolt (X) passing through the guide (O).
Instead of the tube (H). and inner sliding bar, two flat bars of, métal, 'one
working upon the other may. be employed,. if desired, the two being connected
by a stud upon one working in a slot in the other, or in any other suitable
manner.
The driver of a vehicle to which this apparatus is attached wishing to leave
bis horse,, he secures the reins in the rein-holder (n) by interlacing them
round the tongue or centre piece n¹; he then liberates the spring catch, and
frees the bolt by a slight outward movement of the thumb'knob (m), thus
allowing the bolt (X) to descend, when its lower end will come, into contact
with the studs (d'), Figure 1, upon the face of the plate (a¹) should the horse
start. The revolution or part revolution of the wheel to which this plate (a¹)
is attached throws back the lever (H) into the position shewn in red lines in
Figure 3, thereby checking and securely holding him. The backing of the
horse, to ease the pull caused by the reins, brings into action the spring R,
which operates upon the lever, and returns it to its normal position.
Figures 3 and 4 represent a modification of the above described apparatus
adapted to vehicles of a superior description. (A) is the axle of a wheel, upon
which is securely fastened the collar (B) carrying an upright standard (C)
prolonged upwards in the form of an arm (D), and to this arm is attached a
small pulley box (E) in which runs the pulley (F); over this pulley passes
the elastic spring (G) attached at one end to the standard (C), and at the
other end to the tubular lever (H). In the interior of this lever slides a
bar (I), at the lower end of which is the quadrant ratchett (K) working into
a toothed pinion (L) attached to the hub of the wheel, and by means of the
thumb knob (m) the ratchett (K) is thrown in and out of gear with the
pinion (L), being raised when the apparatus is not in use, and lowered when

page_text: required. The reins, are secured. upon the crotch or holder (n) in manner
already described, and the ratchett (K) being thrown into gear. with the
pinion (L) upon the forward motion of the wheel, the lever (11) jointed or
pinned to the standard (C) at the part (f), is thrown back at an angle, as
shewn, thereby tightening the reins, and restraining the horse. A backward
movement releases the elastic spring (G), returning the lever to its normal
position. The inner bar (I).is provided at the top end with a small catch, as
in the examplo already described, for the purpose of keeping the ratchett
out of gear with the pinion when the apparatus is not in use.
This catch
may bo either an ordinary spring catch or one similar to a bayonet lock.
The arrangements of the spring and other parts in Figures 4, 5, and 6 vary
from those already described in the adaptation of a coiled spring. In place of
the elastic spring in Figure 3 and 4, the coiled spring (T) is in this case
enclosed in the 'box (U), and is kept in position by a plate (V) placed beneath
the friction roller (W) attached to the lever (H), so that after the apparatus
has been, in use, upon withdrawing the fatchett from the pinion, or upon a
backward movement of the wheel, the tendency of the spring will return the
lever to its upright position.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I claim, without confining myself to the
precise details herein described, the general arrangement and combination of
the several parts herein exhibited and described, forming apparatus to bo
employed in connection with vehicles, for the purpose of restraining startled
horses in the absence of the driver.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Davis, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thouand eight hundred and sixty-two.
WILLIAM DAVIS. (L.S.)