CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF AND MODE OF APPLYING WINGS OR DIRT SCREENS OVER THE WHEELS OF CARRIAGES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Wycherley, Carriage Builder, of Oldbury,
in the County of Worcester, and West Bromwich, in the County of
Stafford, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF AND MODE OF APPLYING WINGS OR DIRT SCREENS OVER THE
WHEELS OF CARRIAGES."
Sealed the 4th August 1863, and dated the 11th February 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Wycherley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th
February 1863.
I, HENRY WYCHERLEY, Carriage Builder, of Oldbury, in the County of
Worcester, and West Bromwich, in the County of Stafford, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUC-
TION OF AND MODE OF APPLYING WINGS OR DIRT SCREENS OVER THE WHEELS OF
CARRIAGES," to be as follows (that is to say):-
My Invention has for its object the prevention of the highly objectionable
vibration commonly imparted to such parts of carriages when in use, arising
from the mode of attaching the same to the body of carriages above the springs,
as now commonly adopted, and I effect this by attaching independent auxiliary
springs, either outside or inside, above or below the springs used for supporting
the carriage body, and to the ends of these auxiliary springs I form an
extension that supports the wing (which may be made with or without flanges)
at each end that sweeps over the periphery of the wheel, leaving about an
inch and half play, more or less, between the periphery of the wheel and the
under side of the screen or wing, and on the top of the auxiliary springs,

page_text: immediately in contact with the axletree or in other suitable position on the
same, I fix two pins screwed or their equivalents, tapped with a broad head,
and over these pins a continuous support is applied attached to the wing or
screen underneath the crown or highest part, or otherwise as convenient, from
whence it curves down near perpendicularly, and then taking a quick curve
with a suitable bole to pass over the pin or its equivalent before described, and
continuing along on the top or bottom of the axletree, which may be curved or
straight as desired, when another hole is formed for passing over a correspond-
ing pin or its equivalent, and then to be curved up also as before described
and attached to the other or corresponding wing or screen.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Wycherley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th August 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
WYCHERLEY, Carriage Builder, of Oldbury, in the County of Worcester, and
West Bromwich, in the County of Stafford, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Henry Wycherley, Her special license that I, the said Henry Wycherley,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the said
Henry Wycherley, 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF AND MODE OF APPLYING WINGS OR DIRT SCREENS
OVER THE WHEELS OF CARRIAGES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Henry Wycherley, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 Henry Wycherley, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained. in. and by the
following statement (that is to say:-
My Invention has for its object the prevention of the highly objectionable
shaking motion or vibration commonly imparted to such parts of carriage;
named in the title, when in use, which arises from the mode now commonly
adopted of attaching the said parts to the bodies of carriages-above the springs,
and I effect this by attaching independent auxiliary springs either outside or
inside above or below the springs used for supporting the carriage body, and
to the ends of these auxiliary springs I form extensions that support the wings,
which may be made with or without flanges at one or both. of the ends that
sweep over the periphery of the wheels, and between the rim or periphery of
the wheels that are uppermost and the under side of the wing or screen I
prefer leaving about an inch and a half or two inches play, more or less, and
on the top of the auxiliary springs, immediately in contact with the axletree
or in other suitable position on the same I fix two pins or their equivalents,
tapped with a broad head or otherwise, and over these pins a continuous
support is applied attached to the wing or screen underneath the crown or
highest part, or otherwise as convenient, from whence it curves down nearly
perpendicularly, and then taking a quick curve with a suitable hole to pass
over the pin or its equivalent before described, and then continuing along on
the top of the axletree (which may be curved or straight as desired), when
another hole is formed for passing over a corresponding pin or its equivalent
on the other side, and curved up as before described and attached to the other
or corresponding wing or screen, as will be well understood by referring to the
Drawings hereunto annexed'; and although I have not thought it necessary to
elaborate the Drawings by exhibiting my improvements as applied to four-
wheeled carriages, nevertheless its applicability and general means of attach-
ment exhibited and herein-after referred to are as applicable to four as well
s to two-wheeled carriages of such construction and form as to render dirt
creens or wing guards desirable, such wings in all cases being supported
lirect from the axle or axles of such carriages, and not in any instance
onnected with the body of the same, from whence it will be seen that the
vings or guards will not be subject to any fluctuating position depending upon
he varying weight of the use or occupants of the carriages more or less
epressing the springs to which it is attached.

page_text: gig or carriage, and may be of this or any other form of construction now
commonly used; D, D, and D', D¹, are the auxiliary springs, to which are
attached the connecting arms E, E, and E', E', for connecting and supporting
the wings or dirt screens F, F, and Fi, F, while the vertical or central portions
of the dirt screens are supported by the arms marked G, G, which are held
by two vertical screws secured to the seat of the auxiliary springs, not shown
in this view in their attachment or connection with the axletree, as will be
distinctly seen by referring to Fig. 2, which is an end view of Figure 1, the
same parts to avoid confusion being marked with the same letters of reference,
and in this view the form of the arms G, G, for supporting the wings is shown,
as also the round-headed pins H, H¹, partly shown in dotted lines, for holding
the part G in a central position, the pins H, H', passing down through the
arms G, G, and auxiliary springs D and D', and into the seats J and J', for
supporting the same; and here I will observe that between the under sides of
the heads H and H' and the top sides of the auxiliary springs D and D¹
sufficient play is left to counteract the irregular motion of the wheels travelling
over a rough road, transferring that motion to the wings, and this is effected by
the elasticity of the auxiliary springs before referred to marked D and D',
which being connected to the dirt screens or wings by the arms E and E,
destroys the slight vibration that would otherwise occur. Fig. 3 simply
exhibits as much of the axletree B necessary for illustrating this connection.
D¹ is the auxiliary spring in section, and J' the seat for the same, also in
section, and the space between the lower surface of the arm G and the top
side of the spring D shows the proportionate distance, according to the scale of
the Drawing, that I think requisite to allow for the elastic force of the springs,
to counteract which will be seen further illustrated by referring to Fig. 4,
which is a sectional view of Figure 2 taken through the dotted line K, K, in
which all the parts as they appear are marked with the same letters of
reference, and to avoid confusion I have omitted the shafts and other parts;
but supposing the dirt screen or wing F, F, F, with its arm G, was depressed
to the extent of the distance left between the surface of the auxiliary spring
and the under surface of the arm or part G, it would be in the position
indicated by the dotted semicircular line marked M, M, M, being about equi
distant from the periphery of the wheel. I have not represented a flange
around the wings here shown, as it would be obvious to any skilled workman
how the same may be applied or formed with it, and to more or less extend
over the tire and rim of the wheel. Supposing the arrow N to represent the
direction the wheel may be travelling, a scraper as here shown, marked P, may
be applied to the wing, and to be so conveniently set with its lower edge in

page_text: immediate proximity to the wheel as not only to prevent splashes being thrown
up, but also to scrape from the periphery of the wheel snow, dirt, or other
objectionable matter over which carriage wheels are liable to pass, and yet be so
constructed as not to offer any undue pressure or resistance to the general free
action of the wheel.
Having thus given a general description of my Invention, and the manner
in which the same may be carried into effect, I wish it understood that I do not
contemplate confining myself (in giving effect to my Invention) to the general
detail herein described and exhibited, as the same may be diversified in a variety
of ways according to the style of two or four-wheeled carriages to which the
same may be applied, as, for instance, an additional supporting spring
may be applied, as exhibited at R, R, Figure 2, the same being secured
to a seat fastened to the centre of the axle; this spring unites its effect upon
both ends of the bar or arm G, G, so as to keep it uniformly elevated against
the heads of the pins H and H'; and again, instead of making the connecting
arms E, E, and E, E, as exhibited in Figure 1, they may be advantageously
formed of the shape exhibited in dotted lines in the same Figure; but what I
claim and wish protected by these my in part recited Letters Patent is, the
distinct use of auxiliary springs secured to the axle for supporting the wings
or guards of carriages, in contradistinction to their being supported or connected
with the bodies of such carriages.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Wycherley, have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Tenth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
JAMES S. COCKINGS, C. E.,
Patent Agent,
Birmingham.
HENRY WYCHERLEY. (L.B.)