Improved Means of Connecting Draught Animals to Vehicles and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 1st Nov., 1899-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Connecting Draught Animals to Vehicles and the
like.
I, THOMAS HARGREAVES BRIGG, of Thornton Road, Bradford, Yorkshire,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improved means of connecting the traces of animal
hauled wheeled or other vehicles to the fore-carriages or shafts of such vehicles,
and has reference to improved arrangements of spring trace connections which
enable me to obtain a compound spring action in such devices, which is of par-
ticular advantage when the device is applied in the improved system (now well-
known as the "Brigg Easy Haulage System") of connecting draught animals to
vehicles, ground implements and the like, as the means of effecting the down-
wardly bearing force brought into action by the draught of the animal, forming one
of the counter-acting forces the co-operation of which is peculiar to said system;
by the obtainment of a lowly placed connection of the traces to the vehicle; though
it is also applicable, when applied separately from means of effecting the counter-
acting force above referred to, to ordinary vehicles in which a lowly placed trace
connection is required, and also to vehicles in which the traces are connected
to the vehicle in the line of the shafts or in a practically horizontal line.
of pre-
The improved device, in all of its modifications, serves the useful purpose
venting the vibratory motions of the vehicle incidental to irregularities of the
road-way, especially of the fore-carriages of vehicles fitted therewith, from being
communicated to the draught animal or materially lessens the buffeting effects
of any such communicated motion; but will be herein described with more parti-
cular reference to its more general use for also obtaining in an improved manner
the lowly placed trace connection above referred to, and which, when applied in the
improved manner herein described, will avoid certain disadvantages incidental to
the manner in which the lowly placed trace connection has hitherto been applied.
The improved trace connection is constructed of a spring-like formation with
forward and rearward connectable fulcrums or focuses of action, the forward one
of which only is in operation when the animal is in light draught and both the
forward and rearward ones of which are brought into operation when the animal
is in heavy draught. The rear spring part is preferably of shorter radius and
greater leverage than is the forward spring part, which latter may be made of any
length determined by the desired low position of the attachment of the traces to
the vehicle, which attachment is effected by connecting the traces to the free ends
of such forward spring parts by ordinary trace hooks.
The forward and rearward spring parts are connected by a chain or other suit-
able connection in such manner that, when the animal is in light draught, the pul!
of the traces will only be on the forward spring parts, and as that, when the
animal is in heavy draught, the resistance of the forward spring parts will be
augmented by the greater resistance of the rearward spring parts brought into
action by the tautening of the connections between the forward and rearward spring
parts.
In one modification of the invention, the forward and the aft spring parts are
made in one piece, the forward spring part being formed of a convoluted for-
mation with a squared through hole at the axis serving to receive a squared bolt

page_text: the ends of which support side plates or levers which depend and are connected
by a pin on which a trace hook is supported, and the aft spring part being formed
with an eye and adapted to be connected to the trace hook by a chain or the like,
which, while the animal is in light draught, hangs freely, the trace hook then
taking its resistance from the forward spring part only, but, when the animal is in
heavy draught, is tautened, the trace hook then taking its resistance from both
the forward and the aft spring parts. The part of the connection between the said
forward and aft spring parts thereof is doubled together and formed at its forward
end with an eye by which it can be secured by a screw pin to the underside of the
shaft, and, at a more rearward part and preferably over the forward spring part,
it is designed to be clamped to the shaft by an ordinary clip.
The trace hook may be applied as a slip hook, in which event, the depending
ends of the side levers or plates may be connected by an easily removable locking
pin passing through the two lever ends and the trace end, the lever ends being
sufficiently distanced apart to allow of the trace to pass between them, so that,
should the connected animal fall, the pin can be immediately withdrawn and the
trace loosened.
In another modification, in lieu of the side plates or levers carried by a bolt passing
through a square through hole at the axis of the convoluted spring part, I con-
tinue the innermost convolution of the spring radially thereof, outwards and down-
wards, forming its depending end as a trace hook integral with the spring, by
which means I can produce the entire device with its two spring parts and trace
hook integral in one piece and very cheaply. Or, a separate trace hook may be
applied to an eye formed at the termination of the depending radial continuation
of the convoluted spring.
In the case of vehicles, such as dog-carts and the like, fitted with swingle trees,
I apply a cross bar to the shafts and suspend the swingle tree therefrom by leather
straps, and link the swingle tree to the depending spring ends and connect the
latter by chains to the vehicle axle at parts some distance apart. Or, two springs
may be used one at each end of the swingle tree and then the chains as usual
from the swingle tree to the axle preferably from each end of the swingle tree.
By such means, I can obtain a greatly improved action, easier and less fatiguing
to the animal and avoiding the insufficiency of existing spring trace attachments,
when applied solely as such, and avoiding the disadvantages incidental to the
rigid lowly placed trace connections hitherto employed, when employed in carry-
ing out the said easy haulage system.
When applying the improved spring trace attachments conjunctively with means
of effecting the counter-acting force above referred to in vehicles fitted with fore
carriages in carrying out the said easy haulage system, I can also apply both the
improved spring trace attachments and the means for effecting the counter-acting
force together to the fore and rear parts of the fore-carriage as aforesaid, clipping
and bolting the same thereto, and making the part for carrying the spring by
which the counter-acting or lifting force is effected forwardly of the clip of a
bifurcated formation between which the lifting spring is centered and located.
Dated this 1st day of February 1899
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents, 321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Connecting Draught Animals to Vehicles and the
like.
I, THOMAS HARGREAVES BRIGG, of Thornton Road, Bradford, Yorkshire,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner

page_text: the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
-
This invention relates to improved means of connecting the traces of animal
hauled wheeled or other vehicles agricultural implements and the like, whether
having two axles or one axle, to the fore-carriages or shafts of or to such vehicles,
and has reference to improved arrangements of spring trace connections which
enable me to obtain a compound spring action in such devices, which, when the
device is applied in the improved system (now well known as the "Brigg Easy
Haulage System") of connecting draught animals to two axled vehicles, is of
peculiar advantage as the means of effecting the downwardly bearing force
brought into action by the draught of the animal, forming one of the counter-acting
forces the co-operation of which is peculiar to said system, by the obtainment of a
lowly placed connection of the traces to the vehicle, and in such use avoids cer-
tain disadvantages incidental to the manner in which the lowly placed trace con-
nection has hitherto been applied; though it is also applicable, when applied
separately from means of effecting the counter-acting force above referred to, to
ordinary two axled vehicles in which a lowly placed trace connection is required,
and also to such vehicles in which the traces are connected to the vehicle in a prac-
tically horizontal line.
Both in such application and in its application to one axled vehicles, the
improved device serves the useful purpose of preventing the vibratory motions of
the vehicle incidental to irregularities of the roadway, especially of the fore-
carriages of vehicles fitted therewith, from being communicated to the shoulders,
limbs and feet of the draught animal or materially lessens the buffeting effects of
any such communicated motion, and offers a yielding resistance to the impulses
of the draught animal, and especially in the case of one axled vehicles serves the
important object of securing an angle of trace as nearly at right angles to the
animal's shoulders as possible, whereby the maximum physical comfort is secured
to the animal in its draught efforts.
The improved trace connection is characterized by being constructed of a spring-
like formation with forward and rearward connectable fulcrums or focuses of
action, the forward one of which only is in operation when the animal is in light
draught and both the forward and rearward ones of which are brought into
operation when the animal is in heavy draught. The rear spring part is preferably
of shorter radius and greater leverage than is the forward spring part, which latter
may be made of any length determined by the desired low position of the attach-
ment of the traces to the vehicle, which attachment is effected by connecting
the traces to the free ends of such forward spring parts by ordinary trace hooks.
The forward and rearward spring parts are connected by a chain or other suitable
connection in such manner that, when the animal is in light draught, the pull of
the traces will only be on the forward pliable spring parts, and as that, when the
animal is in heavy draught or effecting sudden jerks, the resistance of the forward
spring parts will be augmented by the greater resistance of the rearward spring
parts brought into action by the tautening of the connections between the forward
and rearward spring parts.
:
The accompanying drawings represent various modifications of the invention
which will hereinafter be severally referred to.
Figure 1, represents one modification of the invention, showing the same in
situ and Figs. 2, & 24, represent enlarged detail views thereof.
In this modification, the forward and the aft spring parts, a, b, are made in one
piece, the forward part, a, being formed of a convoluted formation with a squared
through hole, c, at its axis serving to receive a squared bolt, d, the ends of which
support two side plates or levers, e, which depend and are connected by a pin, f,
serving to support a trace hook, g, and the aft part, b, being formed with an
5 eye, h, adapted to be connected to the trace, 7, by a chain or the like, i, which,
while the animal is in light draught, hangs freely, the trace hook then taking its

page_text: resistance from the forward spring part, a, only, but, when the animal is in heavy
draught, is tautened, the trace then taking its resistance from both the forward
and the aft spring parts. That part of the connection between the forward and
aft spring parts, a, b, thereof is doubled together and formed at its forward end so
that it can be readily clamped to the vehicle shaft, j, by ordinary clips, k, or by
a clip and screw pin, or otherwise in any convenient manner.
The trace hook, g, may be applied as a slip-hook, in which event, the pin, f,
may consist of an easily removable locking pin passing through the two lever, e,
ends, and the trace, 7, end, the lever ends being sufficiently distanced apart to
allow of the trace to pass between them, so that, should the connected animal fall,
the pin, f, can be immediately withdrawn and the trace be loosened.
Fig. 3, represents a modification applicable to common vehicles, and in which the
entire device with its two spring parts, a, b, and trace hook, g, is made integral
in one piece and very cheaply, the innermost convolution of the spring part, a,
being continued outwards and downwards and having its depending end, g,
formed as a trace hook. Or, such depending end of the spring part, a, may be
made as an eye to which a separate trace hook may be applied.
Figs. 4, and 5, represent, in elevation and plan respectively, the application of
the invention to vehicles, such as dog carts and the like fitted with swingle-
trees, m, to which the traces, 1, are directly connected, and with "C"-springs, n
In such cases, the swingle-tree is suspended by leather straps, o, from a cross-
bar, p. applied to the shafts, and is connected by chains, q, to the depending
ends of the spring parts, a, of two of the improved devices applied to the vehicle
axle, r, at some distance apart.
The improved device is applicable both to single and to pair horse vehicles, the
springs being shaped to accommodate the splinter bar of pair horse vehicles, as
represented, by way of example, in Fig. 6, in which s, represents the splinter
bar, and t, the roller bolt applied to the extension, g, from the depending spring
part, a, of the device.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A spring trace connection characterized by being constructed of a spring-like
formation with fore and aft spring parts connected by a chain or the like in such
manner that, when the connected animal is in light draught, the pull of the trace
will be on the fore spring part only, and, when the animal is in heavy draught,
or effecting sudden jerks, both the fore and aft spring parts will be brought into
operation; as set forth.
2. The construction of such device hereinbefore described with reference to
Figs. 1, and 2, of the accompanying drawings.
3. The construction of such device herein before described with reference to
Fig. 3. of the accompanying drawings.
4. The application of such device hereinbefore described with reference to
Figs. 4, and 5, of the drawings.
5. The modification hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 6, of the 4
drawings.
D1711 1
1000
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents, 321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.