Year: 1886

page_text: I, ERNEST DE PASS, of 68 Fleet Street in the City of London, Fellow of the
Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is an improved apparatus designed to reduce
gradually and efficiently the speed of run-away horses so as to avoid accidents
which may occur when, by some cause, a horse suddenly bolts, and also to prevent
the possibility of accidents when a horse runs at an unsafe speed.
This apparatus, which is in the form of a break, operates under pressure and
traction simultaneously exerted and acts only gradually upon the legs of the
horse to which it is applied.
The apparatus is composed of a rack carrying, at one of its extremities, two
rings provided with straps, and at the other a screw-threaded bar upon which is
screwed another bar forming a T with the said rack. This latter bar is provided,
at its two extremities, with rollers over which pass the straps fixed to the two
rings arranged at the first mentioned extremity of the rack, and serves to maintain
the straps apart from one another. The apparatus is fixed to the floor of the seat
of the vehicle in such a mauner that the rack and the T bar may be at the saine
height as that of the hind legs of the horse, and at a sufficient distance therefrom
so as not to interfere with the motion of the animal.
The rack may be set in motion by means of a crank handle operating an endless
screw gearing with a helicoidal wheel mounted upon the same shaft as a pinion
which engages with the said rack. Any other equivalent mechanisin may how-
ever be used in order to produce the same result.
The straps, which are fixed by means of rings to the first mentioned extremity
of the rack, pass respectively over the rollers fixed upon a box or casing enclosing
the apparatus and thence over another set of rollers to the two extremities of
the T bar. These straps are respectively connected on each side of the horse with

page_text: two rings fixed to the extremities of the side bars secured to the horse's collar.
These bars are terminated on the side opposite to one of their rings, by a flexible
blade forming or connected to a spring, such as a barrel spring for instance. The
apparatus is fixed to the horse's harness by means of a plate, secured to the collar,
either by screws and nuts, or by any other known simple and speedy means.
The
shape of the side bars may be modified in any suitable manner, as for instance they
may be curved, in which case the side bars are fixed to the horse's collar, as above
described. The bars thus placed on each side of the horse, draw or pull under the
action of the spring the straps passing over the second set of rollers, while the
lower extremities of these bars reach a height corresponding to that of the top of
the horse's fore legs. As soon as the driver notices that the horse is going at a
dangerous speed, he need only turn the crank handle, or a fly wheel, if such is made
use of, in order to move the rack forward, when the T bar acts gradually and
without sudden shock, by pressing upon the hind legs of the horse. The rings of
the first mentioned extremity of the rack exert a pull upon the straps fixed to the
rings of the side bars and gradually bring the cross strap connecting these two
rings to bear upon the top of the fore legs of the horse. In this manner the speed
of the animal is gradually and efficiently brought under control, the risk of an
accident to the horse, vehicle, or person riding therein, being thus avoided.
In order to avoid injuring the horse by too hard a pressure, the T bar may be
provided with india-rubber, or with any other elastic material.
When the vehicle is standing still, the driver can, before he leaves his seat, give
a few turns to the crank-handle, and thus place the horse under control without it
being necessary to otherwise secure the animal. All risk of the horse ruuning
away being thus prevented, the driver has no need to watch either horse or
vehicle. The apparatus may be used for one or several horses. In the case of two
horses it will be sufficient to fit upon the T bar, four rollers instead of two, the
arrangement of the springs and side bars remaining the same.
The said springs and bars may be fitted, when required, to the extremities of
the shafts of the vehicle.
Traction may likewise be exerted upon the bit whose extremities would, in such
case, be connected, by means of straps, to the rings of the side bars.

page_text: i
Improved Apparatus for Stopping Runaway Horses.
I, ERNEST DE PASS, of 68 Fleet Street, in the City of London, Fellow of the
Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of said invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
The object of this invention is an improved apparatus designed to reduce,
gradually and efficiently, the speed of runaway horses so as to avoid accidents,
which may occur when, by some cause, a horse suddenly bolts, and also to prevent
the possibility of accidents when a horse runs at an unsafe speed.
.
This apparatus, which is in the form of a break; operates under pressure and
traction simultaneously exerted, and acts only gradually upon the legs of the horse.
The accompanying drawings shew, by way of example, the chief features of my
invention.
Fig. 1, is an underside view of the mechanism, Fig. 2 is a plan of the same,
Fig. 3 is a side elevation, Fig. 4 shews detailed parts, and Fig. 5 is a modification
of the arrangement shewn in Fig. 4.
This apparatus consists of a rack A, B, carrying at one of its extremities A, two
rings provided with straps, and at the other B, a screw threaded bar upon which is
screwed another bar C, D, forming a T with the said rack. This bar C, D, is pro-
vided at its two extremities with rollers, over which pass the straps fixed to the
two rings arranged at the first mentioned extremity A, and serves to maintain the
straps apart. The apparatus is fixed to the floor of the seat of the vehicle in such
a manner that the rack and the T bar are at the same height as the point where
the hind legs of the horse begin, and at a sufficient distance therefrom, so as not to
interfere with the motion of the animal.
The rack may be set in motion by means of the crank handle r, operating an
endless screw 8, gearing with a helicoidal wheel t, mounted upon the same shaft as
the pinion o, which engages with the said rack. Any other equivalent mechanism
may however be used in order to produce the same result.
The straps fixed by the rings to the first mentioned extremity A, pass respectively
over the rollers g and g', fixed upon the box or casing enclosing the apparatus, and
thence over the rollers g" and gIII, to the two extremities of the bar C, D. These
straps are respectively connected on each side of the horse with two rings, such
as x, fig. 4, which terminate the flexible bars n, secured as about to be described,
to the horse's collar. These bars terminate on the side opposite to the ring x, in a
flexible blade forming or connected to a spring, such as a barrel spring for instance.
The plate p, is secured to the horse's collar, either by screws and nuts, or by any
other known simple and speedy means. I do not restrict myself to the form of the
bar shewn in fig. 4, as it may be modified in any suitable manner, as for instance,

page_text: it may be curved. The bars thus placed, on each side of the horse draw or pull,
under the action of the spring, the straps passing over the rollers g, g¹, gl, g.
The lower extremities of these bars reach a height corresponding to that of the top
of the horse's fore legs. A strap, fixed at its two ends to the rings m, is stretched
or pulled in front of the horse's legs. As soon as the driver notices that the horse
is going at a dangerous speed, he need only turn the crank handle v, or a fly wheel,
in order to move the rack forward; the bar C, D, acts gradually, and without
sudden shock, by pressing upon the hind legs of the horse. The rings on the
extremity A, exert a pull upon the straps fixed to the rings x, of the bars n, and
gradually bring back, upon the top of the fore legs of the horse, the strap stretched
between the two rings m, m. In this manner the speed of the animal is gradually
and efficiently brought under control, the risk of an accident to the horse, vehicle, or
person riding therein, being thus avoided.
In order to avoid injuring the horse by too hard a pressure, the bar C, D, may be
provided with india-rubber, or with any other elastic material.
When the vehicle is standing still, the driver can, before leaving his seat, give a
few turns to the crank handle, and thus place the horse under control without it
being necessary to otherwise secure the animal. All risk of the horse running
away being thus prevented, the driver has no need to watch either horse or
vehicle. The apparatus may be used for one or several horses. In the case of two
horses, it will be sufficient to fit upon the bar C, D, four rollers instead of two, the
arrangement of the springs and bars n, remaining the same.
I have
may apply it if required. When
back to its former position by
Gauge marks may be provided
The said springs and bars may be fitted, when suitable, to the extremities of the
shafts of the vehicle, but if preferred, may be fitted to the horse's collar.
Traction, may likewise be exerted upon the bit whose extremities would, in such
case, be connected by means of straps to the rings m or x, of the bars n.
not discovered any use for this arrangement, but
the horse is stopped, the apparatus is brought
turning the crank handle in a reverse direction.
to indicate how far such a result is accomplished.
Fig. 5 shews a modification of the mechanism serving to control the fore legs of
a runaway horse. This modification has the advantage over the mechanism shewn
in Fig. 4, of being readily adjustable to horses of different sizes by means of the
piece 1, which slides in a sleeve or socket 2.
This piece 1, is fixed to the horse's collar, it is then more or less pushed into the
sleeve or socket 2, according to the size of the animal.. A pressure screw 3, firmly
secures these two pieces together. The socket 2, terminates at its lower part in a
spiral spring 4, the axis 5, of which traverses the lever 6, formed integrally with
the transverse rod 7. The spring is wound in such a manner that it tends to
raise the rod 7, and hold it in the position shewn in the drawing. The extremities
of the rod 7, are provided with curved parts 8, over which pass chains firmly
secured to the rod 7, and terminate respectively in two rings, suitably arranged to
receive the ends of the traces 9, 9. The two forked ends 11, 11, have for their
object to prevent any lateral motion of the chains. As shewn in Fig. 5, the rod 7,
is above the horse's fore legs, and does not interfere with its motion. Should the
horse run away,
the traction exerted upon the traces 9, 9, by means of the rack,
has for object to move downwardly the rod 7, in the direction shewn by the
arrow. This rod 7, rotating upon the axis 5, descends upon the horse's fore legs.
This motion is aided by the curvature of the parts 8, 8. The horse, held at the
same time in front and at rear, is compelled to gradually stop its course, which
takes place without accident. The mechanism carrying the spring barrel may be
fixed to the shafts of the vehicle, instead of being secured to the horse's collar. It
is sufficient for this purpose to use the arrangement shewn in dotted lines in
fig. 5, by giving to the piece 2, a suitable length.
If needed, the horse's bit may be connected to the extremities of the rod 7, by
means of straps and when this rod is brought down by the rack, the said straps

page_text: pulling upon the bit gradually bring the horse's head in such a position that he will
not be able to throw up his head.
Having now described the nature of the said invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent:
1. The improved apparatus hereinbefore described and shewn, by way of example
in the accompanying drawings, and for the purpose set forth.
2. Any apparatus serving to reduce the speed of runaway horses, and to eventually
stop them, based upon the use of bars or belts lowered simultaneously, or successively,
upon the fore and hind legs. of a horse, or either upon the fore legs, or upon the
hind legs, in the manner substantially as herein before described.