IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE ENGINES, A PORTION. OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER VEHICLES IN WHICH IT MAY BE DESIRED TO DETACH THEIR BODIES QUICKLY FROM THEIR DRAWBARS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Bernard Massey, of Stafford, in the County of Stafford,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE ENGINES, A PORTION.
OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER VEHICLES IN WHICH IT MAY BE DESIRED TO
DETACH THEIR BODIES QUICKLY FROM THEIR DRAWBARS."
Sealed the 23rd January 1880, and dated the 23rd August 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Bernard Massey at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd August 1879.
BERNARD MASSEY, of Stafford, in the County of Stafford, Engineer. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FIRE ENGINES, A PORTION OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER VEHICLES
IN WHICH IT MAY BE DESIRED TO DETACH THEIR BODIES QUICKLY FROM THEIR
DRAWBARS."
The object of this Invention is so to construct fire engines that they may be more
quickly and readily brought into action than at present, and that when in action
the parts may be so firmly locked together that they may not be liable to move,
and thus that accidents from this reason may be prevented.
The first part of my Invention relates to an improvement in the folding levers.
Hitherto these levers have been so constructed that after they have been opened it
is necessary for them to be locked by hand by sliding a socket over the joint of the
lever, but it is found that in the working of the engine this socket is often worked
off, and accidents have thereby often occurred to the men working the engine. My
improved lever is self locking, and is so constructed that when the fold of the lever
is opened the socket is forced back by au inclined surface which is formed on the
lever to which the fold is attached, and when it has passed this inclined surface it
is pressed inwards by a helical spring over the joint, and the locking is thus
complete.
The second part of my Invention relates to the removal of the swingletrees (or
sway bars), and this part of my Invention may be used in other vehicles of a similar
character when it is desired to detach the bodies quickly from their drawbars.
Instead of the swingletrees being attached to the drawbar by the usual hooks, I
attach them in the following manner :-I provide a suitable double link (which is
to receive the single link attached to the swingletree), and through this double link
Patice G71

page_text: by means of a helical spring I cause to shoot a bolt or bar, which in its normal
position will hold the said double and single link together. The further ends of
this bolt are in turn actuated upon by a suitable lever, which (when it is desired to
release the swingletree) is by means of the before mentioned lever withdrawn. It
will be understood that the movement of the before described lever will by any con-
venient mechanical contrivance be made to act upon both swingletrees at the same
moment.
The third part of my Invention relates to the locking of the forecarriage of a fire
engine. When the engine is brought into position for working it is necessary, as
will be understood, before pumping commences, that the forecarriage should be
locked. This I accomplish by providing holes or slots, one in the upper and the
other in the lower plate of the turntable, and these are so situated that when the
forecarriage of tho engine is square these holes or slots will be in a right line
the one with the other. On the upper plate of the turntable I provide a suitable.
stud and spring, the stud being allowed to pass through the before mentioned hole
in the upper plate, but prevented by a stop from entering the hole in the lower
plate of the turntable. When it is desired to lock the forecarriage nothing more is
required than to release this stop, when the stud.shoots through the hole or aperture:
provided, in the lower plate (so so on. as the two come in a right line), and the
locking is complete.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Bernard Massey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd February
1880.
BERNARD MASSEY, of Stafford, in the County of Stafford, Engineer. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FIRE ENGINES, A PORTION OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER VEHICLES
IN WHICH IT MAY BE DESIRED TO DETACH THEIR BODIES QUICKLY FROM THEIR
DRAWBARS."
The object of this Invention is so to construct fire engines that they may be more
quickly and readily brought into action than at present, and that when in action
the parts may be so firmly locked together that they may not be liable to move,
and thus that accidents from this reason may be prevented.
The first part of iny Invention relates to an improvement in the folding levers..
Hitherto these levers have been so constructed that after they have been opened it
is necessary for them to be locked by hand by sliding a socket over the joint of the
lever, but it is found that in the working of the engine this socket is often worked
off, and accidents have thereby often occurred to the men working the engine. My
improved lever is self locking, and is so constructed that when the fold of the lever
is opened the socket is forced back by an inclined surface which is formed on the
lever to which the fold is attached, and when it has passed this inclined surface it.
is pressed inwards by a helical or other spring. over the joint, and the locking is
thus complete.
The second part of my Invention relates to the removal of the swingletrees (or
sway bars), and this part of my Invention may be used in other vehicles of a similar
character when it is desired to detach the bodies quickly from their draw bars.
Instead of the swingletrees being attached to the draw bar by the usual hooks, I
attach them in the following manner:-I provide a suitable double link (which is
to receive the single link attached to the swingletree), and through this double
link by means of a helical spring I cause to shoot a bolt or bar, which in its normal
position will hold the said double and single link together. The further ends of
this bolt are in turn acted upon by a suitable lever, which (when it is desired to
release the swingletree) is by means of the before mentioned lever withdrawn. It
will be understood that the movement of the before described lever will by any con-
venient mechanical contrivance be made to act upon both swingletrees at the same
moment.
The third part of my Invention relates to the locking of the fore carriage of a fire
engine.
When the engine is brought into position for working it is necessary, as will
be understood, before pumping commences, that the fore carriage should be locked.
This I accomplish by providing holes or slots, one in the upper and the other in
the lower plate of the turntable, and these are so situated that when the fore
carriage of the engine is square these holes or slots will be in a right line the
one with the other. On the upper plate of the turn table I provide a suitable stud
and spring, the stud being allowed to pass through the before mentioned hole in
the upper plate, but prevented by a stop from entering the hole in the lower plate
of the turn table.
When it is desired to lock the fore carriage nothing more is required than to
release this stop, when the stud shoots through the hole or aperture provided in the
lower plate (so soon as the two come in a right line), and the locking is complete.
And in order that my Invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into practise, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereto annexed.

page_text: my improvements. The end a of side lever b is bevelled, as shown at c, and to the
clip d is attached a spring box e. A pin g is inserted in folding lever h, and forms
an abutment for spring in box e to press against.
The spring always tends to force the clip d away from pin a. By the simple
operation of turning over the folding lever into working position the clip d strikes
on the incline at c, and is forced back towards pin g, compressing the spring j until
the folding lever is in working position, when the clip d is forced by the spring
onto the end a of side lover b. By taking hold of the spring box e and drawing it
back the levers are uncoupled. This arrangement is applicable to existing fire
engines, of which the levers, handles, and clip shown are parts.
Figure 3 is a side elevation, and Figure 4 a plan of another of my improved
arrangements of lever clip similar to Figures 1 and 2, except that the folding lever h
has a horn, on the end of which the incline c is formed. The spring box e, clip d,
and pin g are placed on the lever b. When turning over the folding lever h into
position for working, the incline con horn & strikes the clip .d and forces it back
until the folding lever comes into position, when the spring j forces the clip d onto
the horn and couples the levers.
Figure 5 is a front elevation, and Figure 6 a side elevation on an enlarged scale
of the clip d, the spring box e, pin g, and spring j.
Figure 7 is a side elevation, and Figure 8 a plan of another of my improved
arrangements of lever clip. On the end a of lever b is fixed a saddle piece l, having
a spring box m containing a pinn and spring o. The end of pin n is bevelled like
a door latch, as shown; the other end is fitted with a small cross handle. A hole p
is made in folding lever h, and as it is turned over into working position the edge
of folding lever strikes on the inclined end of pin n, and forces it back against the
pressure of the spring o until the hole p comes opposite to pin n, which enters and
locks the levers. The saddle clips round the side of folding-lever h, and prevents
any side shake; by taking hold of handle on end of pin n it may be withdrawn and
the levers uncoupled. The saddle piece may be placed on the opposite side of
fulcrum of side lever, and a horn formed on folding lever h similar to Figures 3
and 4; or the saddle may be placed on folding-lever h, or on a horn on it, and be
moved to engage with the lever b as the lever his turned over into position.
Figure 9 is a side elevation, Figure 10 a section, and Figure 11 a plan on an
enlarged scale of the saddle piece l, spring box m, pin n, and spring o.
Figure 12 is a side elevation, Figure 13 a plan of another form of my improved
lever clips. On the end a of side lever bis fixed a spring ? having a catch piece s
formed on it; a saddle t is also placed on end of a. As the folding lever is turned
over into position for working it strikes the inclined catch pieces and forces back
the spring until the lever is in working position, when the spring forces for-
ward the piece 8 over the top of lever hand locks it. The saddle t binds the levers
together sideways. When it is required to release the levers the spring > is forced
back until the piece 8 is clear of top of folding-lever h, which can then be folded up.
Figure 14 is a side elevation, Figure 15 a section, and Figure 16 a plan on an
enlarged scale of the spring r, the piece 8, and saddle t for this arrangement.
A horn may be formed on lever h, and the spring and saddle t placed on
opposite side of fulcrum 7 of sido lever, or they may be placed on folding-lever or a
horn on folding-lever, and by the action of placing the levers in working position be
brought to engage with the side lever b.
Figure 17 is a side elevation, Figure 18 a plan, and Figure 19 a front elevation
of an improved sway bar coupling, arranged and constructed in accordance with
another part of my improvements. a' is the splinter bar of a locking carriage, attached
to which are jaws band guides c¹, through which pass pins e', forced apart by a
spring fin sleeve g'; cotters ' fast in sleeve gl pass through slots in pin e. By
moving the sleeve g¹ from left to right the left hand pin is withdrawn, and from
right to left the right hand one, in both cases compressing the spring f', which on
releasing the sleeve g¹ forces either pin back into jaw b¹. The link j¹ on sway bar

page_text: is slipped onto pin e¹ and between jaws b¹, as shown. By moving the sleeves g¹
these pins el are withdrawn, and the sway bars released.
Figure 20 is a side elevation, Figure 21 a plan, and Figure 22 a front elevation
of another of my improved arrangements of sway bar couplings similar to that.
shown in Figures 17, 18, and 19, except the sleeve b¹ is fixed between the guides c¹
and another guide m¹; the pins el have projecting fingers n¹ which engage with a
quadrant o¹ moved by means of a handle p¹ on it. Moving the quadrant to the
right hand withdraws the right hand pin.e', and to the left the left hand pin c¹, thus
releasing the sway bars.
Figure 23 is a side elevation, Figure 24 a plan, and Figure 25 a front elevation
of an arrangement of my improved sway bar couplings, by which the sway bars are
released on removing the pole a². Pins be passing through jaws c² and guides d'arc
connected by links e² to ends of levers 2; on the fulcrum g and attached to and
moving with the levers fs is a lever h² and weight 2, and on the same fulcrum and
attached to the levers f2 and 2 is a lever ³, which when the pins b² are through
the jaws c² clips the pole a² then in position for travelling; but when the pole a² is
removed the lever is released and the weight 1 on lever h³ is unsupported, and
falling withdraws the pins be from the jaws c², and releases the sway bars.
Figure 26 is a plan, and Figure 27 a front elevation of another of my improved sway
bar couplings; by means of, which the sway bars are released on removing the pole a².
Collar pins passing through: jaws m² and guides n² are forced in a direction
towards each other by springs o² in boxes p2; links 2 connect the pins to levers &
and t2; the lever s2 is fixed on a vertical pin u², held in suitable bearings, and on
the same pin is fixed a lever v²; the lever t is on a sleeve w³ around pin u², and on
the sleeve is fixed a lever x²; on the pole a² is a pin 22, which when the pole is in
position for travelling is clipped by the levers v, x², acting under the influence of
the spring o: When the pole a² is removed, and with it the pin 2, the levers v and
move together with a scissor like motion, and the springs.o withdraw the pins l²
from jaws m, and release the sway bars.
Figure 28 is a plan showing position on top locking ring of locking carriage of a
fire engine, showing the position of an arrangement of mechanism for setting the
locking carriage before working the engine, in accordance with another part of my
improvements; Figure 29 is a cross section, and Figure 30 a sectional elevation of
this arrangement. A stand a³ fixed on top of top locking ring contains a collar pin b³
with bandle and stop d³ at top. A spring e³ resting on collar of pin b³ always
tends to press it downwards. The bottom end of pin 63 passes through a hole in
top plate of locking, and when the handle is in position, shown in Figures 28 and
29, the stop being then over a slot in the ring at top of stand, the pin 63 enters a
hole in the bottom ring of locking if the carriage is in position for setting, but if
not, by moving the carriage round to the right or left the spring e forces down the
pin b directly the holes come fair. The pin 63 can be lifted by handle cand
fixed by stop d³, so that its lower end will clear the bottom plate, as shown in
Figure 30. The spring e keeps the pin 63 firmly in position when working the
engine.
Figure 31 is a plan, Figures 32 and 33 side elevations of another arrangement for
setting the locking carriage of the engine in accordance with my improvements.
On the top plate of the locking is fixed the spring f³, this spring passing through
an eye on spring g³; at the end of the spring is a jaw holding a stop and handle h³.
When the stop and handle 3 are in position shown in Figure 32, the end of pin g³
is clear of bottom locking ring, but when the handle is turned over, as shown in Figure
33, the pin g³ will enter a hole in bottom ring when the carriage is in position for
setting. The spring always tends to force the pin g³ downwards, and the form of
handle and stop prevents any danger of the pin g³ locking the carriage, except it be
intended for it to do so.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming or carrying the same into practice, I would remark that I do not claim any
of the mechanical parts separately which are well known and in common use,

page_text: neither do I confine myself to the exact details herein before described so long as the
novel character of my Invention is retained, but what I claim is,
First. The improved arrangement and construction of mechanism applied to the
folding levers of fire engines so as to render them self locking, substantially in the
manner and for the purpose herein before described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
Second. The improved arrangement and construction of sway bar couplings and
mechanism applicable to fire engines and other vehicles whereby the bodies can be
readily detached from the draw-bars when required, substantially in the manner
hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25;
26, and 27 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
Third. I claim the improved arrangement and application of mechanism for
locking the fore carriages of fire engines before pumping commences, substantially
in the manner and for the purpose herein before described with reference to Figures
28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Bernard Massey, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Nineteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
BERNARD MASSEY. (L.S.)