Improvements in Common Road Carriages.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 5th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 10th May, 1890
Improvements in Common Road Carriages.
I BENJAMIN THOMAS NEWNHAM of Fernleigh, Richmond Park Road, Kingston on
Thames, in the County of Surrey, Carriage Builder do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to carriages designed to carry one or more passengers,
according to one arrangement, on two wheels with a. pair of shafts and one horse
therein much as in what are generally known as "Patent Safety" or
"Hansom
cabs; or the vehicle may have four wheels..
"
In this class of cab as at present used there is not too much room for two persons
in the best and in others two full sized riders are crowded whilst any attempt to
accommodate a third "fare" involves his sitting partially inside and partially outside
the cab to the inconvenience of all.
My object is to provide for a third or third and fourth additional persons being
carried conveniently and for more convenient accommodation for any less number.
In carrying out one arrangement of my invention I construct my improved
Hansom with two large wheels side by side on opposite ends of an axle of peculiar
construction. This axle has a reduced prolongation at each end on which are secured
the wheels in usual fashion and kept outward by an enlargement on each inner side
of these ends then the axle is continued direct horizontally for a short distance at
each side towards the centre in a straight line forming at these parts means for
attachment of the spring plates by means of spring flaps, ears or plates projecting
thence in rear of the heel-board of the "body" to be described; the two sides of the
axle are united by a somewhat flat curve trending horizontally and rearwardly. The
body is extended farther forward and rearward of the transverse vertical line of the
axle than is usual and the forebody is differently shaped but the total length over
all is only triflingly increased if at all. The usual doors are dispensed with generally
for convenience and a swing flap or double and folding flap is substituted, hinged
below the body, say, to or in line with the step irons.
The rear of the body at the riders seats is formed recessed inwardly at the middle
to admit of the parts surrounding the drivers legs being received therewithin and is
extended outwardly at the sides to give more seat rooni.
The middle portion of the back seat is reduced, removed or made removable
according to taste or convenience.
At each side of the vehicle the upper body is designed to overhang the lower body
and springs, this overhanging portion enables a seat at each side to be gained
partly from the ledge formed and partly by folding, fixed or removable additional
parts.
The drivers legs being located somewhat within the actual body of the cab he can
be made more comfortable in bad weather and the back booting can be lightly and
elegantly designed. The driver's seat may slide forward and backward on adjustable
guides for slight adjustment of balance.
The usual trap through which to speak to the driver I design to better exclude
falling rain, to better convey sound and exclude side draughts in use by placing it
angled or sloped downward and backward with side ears.
The lamp within the vehicle may be placed either against the inwardly projecting
wall, together with supporting folding holders for bags, umbrellas etc. drip pan etc. or
the lamp especially if an electric one can very usefully project from the roof near to
the locality of the usual trap.

page_text: For some uses I find it convenient to provide the improved carriage with a pair of
small fore wheels and a box and under work to connect it to its supporting axle and
to the body.
For two horses with a two wheel vehicle I use either an arrangement similar to
known curricle harness and hanging arrangement and pole; or, I use a pole of
peculiar construction having provision for pole straps connecting straps or the like,
a bugle or cross bar at right angles to the pole, and in front of the horses chests
loops passing over their necks to rest behind the collars or otherwise. The pole
extends rearward for most of its length horizontally to near the line of the splash
board, where it dips suddenly downwards and then bands inwardly to a pivot pin or
equivalent connection on which it pulls, another set of stops or a cradle arrangement
controlling lateral movement. The vertical swing relatively of pole and body of the
vehicle is controlled by plate springs or equivalent spring means so as to avoid
rigid connection which would be liable to convey to the rider the unpleasant or
irregular motion of the animals.
The loops sustaining the pole of the curricle fashion gear may be mide of very
ornate design and be divided and lock at the upper most part or at the outer sides to
facilitate passing around and over the horses withers.
In some cases I form the head and sides of the Hansom or like body to fold but I
prefer to form the head, sides and drivers perch to lift off or be removable so as to
leave an open or somewhat buggy like or phaeton carriage, according to the two
or four wheel lower construction adopted.
Dated the 5th day of July 1880
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for tho Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Common Road Carriages.
1 BENJAMIN THOMAS NEWNHAM of Fernleigh, Richmond Park Road, Kingston
on Thames, in the County of Surrey, Carriage Builder, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the saine is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has reference to carriages designed to carry one or more passengers.
According to one arrangement on two wheels with a pair of shafts and one horse
therein much as in what are generally known as "Patent Safety" or "Hansom" cabs ;
or the vehicle may have four wheels.
In this class of cab as at present used there is not too much room for two persons
in the best, and in others two full sized riders are crowded, whilst any attempt to
accommodate a third " fare involves his sitting partially inside and partially
outside the cab to the inconvenience of all.
My object is to provide for a third, or third and fourth additional persons, being
carried conveniently and for more convenient accommodation for any less number.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a side view & Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view and Fig. 3 an underside view
of one arrangement of my invention adapted to a Hansom with two large wheels a a
side by side on opposite ends of an axle 6 of peculiar construction. This axle has a
reduced prolongation at each end on which are secured the wheels a in usual
fashion and kept outward by an enlargement on each inner sides of these ends,
then the axle is continued direct horizontally for a short distance at each side towards
the centre in a straight line, forming at these parts means for attachment of the
spring plates c by means of spring flaps d the ends of which pass through eyes 6* in
the plates 3 forined on the axle, and are secured by nuts in ordinary manner.

page_text: The axle projects thence in rear of the heel board of the "body" e to be described,
the two sides of the axle being united by a somewhat flat curve trending horizontally
and rearwardly as shewn at b5 (Fig. 3).
The body e is extended farther forward and rearward of the transverse vertical line
of the axle 6 than is usual, and the forebody is differently shaped, but the total length
over all is only triflingly increased if at all.
The rear of the body e at the back of the riders seats his formed recessed inwardly
at the middle to admit of the parts surrounding the drivers legs being received
therewithin and the portions of the back behind the riders is enlarged at e¹ e¹ to give
more inside seat room.
The middle portion of the back seat is reduced at h³, or removed, or made
emovable according to taste or convenience.
At each side of the vehicle the upper body e is designed to overhang the lower
body and springs c; this overhanging portion enables a seat 22 at each side to be
gained partly from the ledge formed, and partly by folding, fixed, on removable
additional parts.
The drivers legs being located somewhat within the actual body of the cab he can
be made more comfortable in bad weather and the back booting can be lightly and
elegantly designed.
The driver's seat g may slide forward and backward on adjustable guides for slight
adjustment of balance.
The seats h, also can be drawn forward adjustable distances by a rack motion
either by lifting or by a crank movement so as to aid in adjusting the balance of the
vehicle when desired, in any of the ways such as are well understood by coach
builders, or any convenient manner.
The lamp within the vehicle may be placed either against the inwardly projecting
wall together with supporting folding holders for bags, umbrellas etc. drip pan etc. or
the lamp, especially if an electric one, can very usefully project from the roof near
to the locality of the usual trap.
For some uses I find it convenient to provide the improved carriage with a pair of
small fore wheels ii (as shewn in Fig. 4) and a box k and underwork to connect it
to its supporting axle and to the body e.
In some cases I form the head and sides of the Hansom or like body to fold but
I prefer to form the head sides and drivers perch to lift off or be removable so as to
leave an open or somewhat buggy like or phaeton carriage according to the two or
four wheel lower construction adopted, in any manner found most convenient and as
will be well understood by builders of carriages of this description.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a vehicle of the Hansom or similar type, the construction and arrangement of
various parts forming the axle, seats and driver's perch, substantially as and for the
purposes herein before set forth.
2. The arrangement or combination of parts of a vehicle substantially as and for
the purposes set forth in respect of Figs. 1 and 2.
3. In a common road vehicle the combination or arrangement of parts thereof sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth in respect of Figs. 3 and 4.
4. In a common road vehicle the construction, arrangement and use of axle curved
or compassed rearwardly so as to admit the carriage being built with greater accomo-
dation rearwardly for passengers substantially as herein before set forth.
Dated the 5th day of April 1890.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.