IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF 'SHAFTS " AND POLES FOR VEHICLES A communi
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF 'SHAFTS
"
AND POLES FOR VEHICLES A communi
LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHAFTS AND POLES FOR VEHICLES" A communi
cation from abroad by Arsène Victor Sillière of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th December 1881.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of 53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHAFTS AND POLES
FOR VEHICLES." [A communication from abroad by Arsène Victor Sillière of Paris,
France.]
This Invention has for its object to so construct the shafts and poles of carriages
and other vehicles that they shall be unbreakable and sufficiently flexible or
elastic, and it consists in constructing such shafts and poles of a central rod or core
of steel, iron, or other metal covered or enveloped by a sheath formed of discs of
cardboard, leather, waxed leather, compressed paper, or other suitable fabric or
material jubtaposed upon the core or rod, glued or united by other suitable adhesive
material, and forcibly compressed together so as to form a solid continuous covering
or body, presenting a smooth surface capable of being painted and varnished in the
usual way. Shafts and poles thus constructed present the appearance of those
made of wood but have the advantage of being absolutely unbreakable whilst
possessing the necessary flexibility.
Shafts and poles constructed in this way may be furnished with the ordinary
ironwork and other accessories which may be attached in any suitable way or
preferably in the way hereafter described which combines strength and simplicity.
This method consists in forming the lugs or irons, which retain the harness or to
which it is attached, in one with, or in attaching them to, discs or washers of iron
or steel which are interposed at the proper places between the discs of leather or
other material of which the external portion or body of the shaft or pole is formed,
and form a part thereof.

page_text: In order that the Invention may be more readily understood I have illustrated
an example of a shaft constructed according to the Invention, in the annexed
Drawings and will proceed to describe it more fully with reference thereto.
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section and Figure 2 a plan of a carriage
shaft unprovided with the usual harness attachments which may be affixed in any
convenient manner.
Figures 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. and 8. illustrate on a larger scale the mode above described
of fixing the lugs or staples to the shaft in the course of its construction.
Figures 3 and 4 represent a face view and section of one of the discs or washers a
of cardboard compressed paper leather or other material as applied upon the central
rod or core b of steel or iron
Figures 5 and 6 are similar views of one of the metal discs chaving formed in
one with it a projection d and Figure 7 shows part of the shaft with a disc c
interposed between the dises a and the part d projecting to form a lug or attach-
ment for the harness.
Figure 8 represents the shaft on a smaller scale and partly in section with three
of the metal discs c interposed between the discs a
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
The metal rod or core b may be of round or square section according as metal
discs c carrying the lugs or staples for the harness are or are not to be interposed
between the discs u. These discs are pierced with a hole corresponding to the rod
upon which they are juxtaposed united by adhesive material, and compressed into
a solid body as above described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th June 1882.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of 53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex
Patent Agent
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHAFTS AND POLES
FOR VEHICLES" A communication from abroad by Arsène Victor Sillière of Paris
France.
This Invention has for its object to make the shafts and poles of carriages and
other vehicles-practically unbreakable and yet sufficiently flexible or elastic, and
it consists in constructing such shafts and poles with a central rod or core of steel,
iron, or other metal passing longitudinally through the body of the shaft or pole,
and in forming the said body of discs of cardboard, leather, waxed leather,
compressed paper, or other suitable fabric or material juxtaposed upon the core or
rod, glued, or united by other suitable adhesive material and forcibly compressed
together so as to form a solid continuous covering or body presenting a smooth
surface which may be painted and varnished in the usual way. Shafts and poles
thus constructed present the appearance of those made of wood, but have the
advantage of being absolutely unbreakable whilst possessing the necessary
flexibility.
Shafts and poles constructed in this way may be furnished with the ordinary
ironwork and other accessories which may be attached in any suitable way, or
preferably in the way hereafter described which combines strength and simplicity.
This method consists in forming the "stoppers" for the back strap (or any other
attachments for the harness to the shaft) in one with discs or washers of iron or
steel-interposed at the proper places between the discs of leather or other material
constituting the body of the shaft or pole, the metal discs thus forming a part of
the body itself or the stoppers or other attachments for the harness instead of
being formed in one with the metal discs may be fixed thereto or otherwise
attached.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood, I have illustrated
an example of a shaft constructed according to the Invention in the annexed
drawings and will proceed to describe it more fully with reference thereto. The
construction of a pole will be sufficiently obvious without illustration. Figure 1
represents a longitudinal section, and Figure 2 a plan of a carriage shaft unprovided
with the usual stoppers for the back strap or other harness attachments which may
be affixed in any convenient manner. Figures 3. 4. 5. 6. 7 and 8 illustrate on a
larger scale the mode above described of fixing the stoppers for the back strap or
the attachments for the breeching or other part of the harness to the shaft in the
course of its construction. Figures 3 and 4 represent a face view and section of
one of the discs or washers a of cardboard, compressed paper, leather, or other
material as applied upon the central steel or iron rod or core b. Figures 5 and 6
are similar views of one of the metal discs c having formed in one with it a
projecting lug d forming a stopper for the back strap, and Figure 7 shows part of
the shaft having interposed between the discs a a metallic disc c provided with the
projecting lug or stopper d for the harness. Figure 8 represents the shaft on a
smaller scale and partly in section with three of the metallic discs c furnished with
lugs or stoppers d interposed between the discs a. The same letters of reference
indicate the same parts in all the figures.
The metal rod or core b may be of square or round section according as metal
discs c carrying the stoppers or other harness attachments, are or are not to be

page_text: interposed between the discs a. It is provided with a collar or shoulder near its
rear end and a screw or other cap is applied to the front end after the discs have
been applied on the rod in order to bind them together and form a finish to the
point of the shaft. These discs a and c are pierced with a hole corresponding
to the rod b upon which they are juxtaposed and the discs « are united by
adhesive material and forcibly compressed together to form a solid body as above
described.
Having described the nature of the said Invention of "Improvements in the
Construction of Shafts and Poles for Vehicles" and the manner of performing the
same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is.
1st. The construction of the shafts and poles for vehicles of discs (of cardboard,
paper, leather, or equivalent material) juxtaposed upon a metal rod or core and
glued and compressed together to form a solid continuous body substantially as
herein described and shown in the Drawing.
2nd. The combination with a shaft for vehicles made of discs upon a metal core
which passes through them, of metal discs carrying the stoppers or other harness
attachments and interposed between the discs forming the body of the shaft,
substantially as shown and described.
In witness whereof I the said Alexander Melville Clark have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty fourth day of June. A.D. 1882.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)