An Improved Appliance for use in connection with Trace Hooks in Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Appliance for use in connection with Trace Hooks in
Vehicles.
I, FREDERICK GILES of Tivoli Road, South Yarra, in the Colony of Victoria,
Australia, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention is devised to prevent any shock passing from the traces to the
body of a vehicle when a sudden motion or pull is made by the animal as in starting
or passing over obstructions. Instead of securing the trace hook rigidly to the
cross-piece connecting the shafts of a vehicle, I elongate the rod of the trace hook
and pass same within and through a spirally coiled spring and secure it against the
said spring with a nut, so that any shock or vibration is neutralized by the elasticity
or cushioning of the spring and very little, if any, transmitted to the body of the
vehicle.
The appliance may be secured to the cross piece connecting the shafts or to the
shafts themselves or where a swingle-tree is in use it may be used to form its
connection with cross piece.
I will now refer to the drawings in which-
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the appliance shewing its connection with a cross piece
connecting shafts.
Fig. 2 is a similar view but with part shewn in section.
Figs. 3 and 4 shew the manner of applying the invention to swingle-trees.
Figs. 5 and 6 shew the manner of applying the invention to the shafts of a
vehicle.
The invention consists of a metal spring "A" coiled into spiral form and
enclosed within a cylindrical box or casing "B" (see Figs. 1 and 2), one end of
spring being formed to rest evenly against the inner end of the box "B" and the
final coil at the outer end being preferably reduced in circumference to form a stop
by which the rod of trace hook may be held in position by a nut "M." This nut
can be screwed up or loosened as required to increase or decrease the elastic tension
of the spring
"A." The trace hook "C" may be of the usual circular form but
its rod "D" is elongated to pass through the coiled spring. A stop "E" is
provided on the hook to operate against a plate "F" secured to the crosspiece "G"
which connects the shafts "H." "The rod "D" is formed of square section and is
passed through a corresponding bore formed in plate "F" through the cross-
piece "G" and within and through the coiled spring "A" and is terminated in a
thread to which the nut "M" is screwed and held in position against the
spring "A." The cylindrical box " B" enclosing the spring and rod has its inner
end closed in to form a flange "K" for securing said box to cross piece.
Bolts "L" pass through the cross piece and are secured against the plate "F" by
means of nuts.
The outer end of box "B" is preferably closed in with a cap "J" which may
be screwed or otherwise secured in position.
Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 the appliance is shewn in connection with a swingle-
tree. A collar "N" encircles the box "B" and is attached to a bolt "O" which
The rod "D" is held in
passes through the cross piece and is held by a nut.
position within the spring by a nut as before and passes without the box and is
bifurcated to form a centre "Q" on which the swingle-tree swings. The trace hooks
are formed and secured in the ordinary manner to the swingle-tree "R."
The appliance may also be attached to the shafts if desired as in Fig. 5 in which
a bent plate "S" is secured to the box and may be bolted to the shaft, or as in

page_text: Fig. 6 in which a plate "S" is secured to and extends throughout the length of
the box and projects at each side so that it may be secured or bolted to the shaft,
but I do not confine myself to these methods alone as various modifications for
securing the box "B" may be employed.
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 trace hooks for vehicles-The combination with the trace hook of a spiral
spring as "A" for the purpose herein before set forth.
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2. In trace hooks for vehicles-The combination of a spiral spring as "A" with
a casing as B" "said casing having lugs or flanges to form a connection with the
vehicle substantially as set forth.
3. In trace hooks for vehicles-The employment and arrangement of a spiral
spring and bifurcated rod in connection with a swingle-tree substantially as
described and as particularly referred to in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.
Dated this 6th day of February 1893
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
70 & 71, Palace Chambers, Westminster, London, S. W.,
Agent for the said Applicant.