A Mechanical Horse for Riding or Traction.
Year: 1896

page_text: 0
Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1896
LOOD
2002
A Mechanical Horse for Riding or Traction.
I, CHARLEY BLACKMORE, of Chesterfield Road, Bristol, Merchant, do hereby.
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a new or improved mechanical apparatus for locomotion
on ordinary roads, and has for its object to provide a motor having externally the
appearance of a horse, and fitted internally with the necessary appliances for
producing power, and by means of rods, levers, joints, shafting and the like,
propelling the machine in such a manner that when in operation it will resemble
the action of a horse, and consequently will not frighten timid living horses, as is
frequently the case with vehicles driven by mechanical means.
My invention consists in constructing an external frame having a resemblance to
a living horse, the interior of the body being fitted as a receptacle for any suitable
motor, actuated by gas, petroleum, oil, electricity, or any other suitable agent for
producing power, the legs of the horse being attached to or resting on bearings
from which the necessary connections are made to the motor for actuating them
alternately and thus propelling the whole structure. The legs may be jointed at
the knees if preferred, so as to obtain a smoother action; or instead of the legs
moving on bearings in the shoulders and loins, they may be fixed on er connected
to wheels, and from the motor the propelling force conveyed to the wheels by
shafting, universal joints, or the like, and the horse set in motion by the revolution
of the wheels. The head is fitted with contrivances for controlling the action of
the machine, and operated by reins held by the rider or driver, like as with a living
horse, the difference of force exerted in manipulating the reins serving either to
check the speed, stop or reverse the motor, or to guide the machine. The starting
of the horse is effected by pressure on the tail or some other suitable part.
A borse constructed as described, may be saddled for riding purposes, or may be
harnessed and attached to a carriage or other vehicle, and used for traction purposes,
and as its general appearance resembles living horses, either standing or in motion,
it will cause no inconvenience in the streets, while the driver or rider will be able
to proceed at any desired speed with the same ease as he now drives an ordinary
horse.
J. G. WESTLAKE,
2, John Street, Bristol, Applicant's Agent.
I, CHARLEY BLACKMORE, of Chesterfield Road, Bristol, Merchant 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 :-
My invention relates to a new or improved mechanical apparatus to be used for
locomotive purposes on ordinary roads, and has for its object to provide a motor

page_text: within a casing which has the external appearance of a horse, while internally it is.
fitted with the necessary appliances for producing or accumulating power, and by
means of rods, levers, joints, shafting, and the like, propelling the apparatus in
such a manner that it will resemble the motion of a horse, and consequently will
not be liable to frighten timid living horses, as is frequently the case with vehicles
propelled by mechanical means.
My invention consists in constructing an external frame of the shape and size of
a horse, the interior of the body and the platform or trolly on which the horse
stands, being fitted as a receptacle for any suitable motor and its accessories,
actuated by gas, petroleum, compressed air, oil, electricity, or any other suitable
agent for supplying or distributing power, the legs of the horse serving as channels
through which the necessary connections are made from one part of the mechanism
to the other, and so to utilise the space as to obtain the best results from the
propelling agent employed.
As the invention consists essentially in the construction of a frame resembling
a horse to contain any kind of motor suitable for propelling the structure, I make
no claim to any particular motor or to any special machinery for actuating the
same, but in order that my invention may be fully understood, I proceed to
describe it and a suitable means of operating it, in connection with the accom-
panying sheet of drawings, which simply illustrates a horse constructed as described,
with electricity as the motive power; if gas or oil motors are used, the trolly
would probably be fitted to contain the engine, while the body of the horse would
contain the circulating water cisterns, gas holders, bags, and the like; while with
other motors, suitable arrangements would easily be made for the distribution of
the parts.
Fig. 1 represents a mechanical horse containing the appliances for propelling
the same, and fitted outside with ordinary harness, by which it can be attached to
a vehicle for traction purposes; and
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the interior, showing a means of fitting the body
of the horse with accumulators, and contrivances for guiding and controlling the
speed.
A... A are chambers or receptacles for accumulators, storage batteries, or the
like, from which connections are made in the usual manner to a motor B, a belt
actuating the wheels C, and these propel the whole apparatus; the steering is
done by ordinary reins attached to a chain D working round a toothed wheel E,
from this a shaft F attached to a bell crank operates the steering wheels G; the
tail His pivotted at the joint to move from side to side as required, a spring or
the like keeping it firmly in any required position, a pin or catch in the body of
the horse engaging with the tail; a detachable rod is inserted which enables the
driver to press the tail and release it from the catch, and turn it in any direction;
a shaft from the tail is connected to bevel wheels I in the neck of the horse, and
from thence by a rod J and lever, the motion imparted to the tail by the driver is
communicated to any suitable known appliance for variable speed control which
may be placed at K next the motor.
The drawings illustrate one manner of applying and controlling the power, but
the appliances may be varied to any extent to meet the wishes of electrical
engineers, and the same remark will apply when other motors are used.
If it is desired to use the horse for riding, it can be fitted with the usual bridle
and saddle instead of harness, the reins and speed regulator being adjusted
accordingly; and to give the rider a motion usually associated with equestrian
exercise, the legs of the horse may be made to work on eccentrics, so that as it
travels, the front and back of the horse will alternately rise and fall.
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
The construction of a mechanical horse fitted with the necessary appliances for

page_text: producing or supplying power, the means for regulating the speed of the horse, and
for steering it in the required direction, substantially as and for the purposes
herein set forth and described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 30th day of Tour 100%
J. G. WESTLAKE,
2, John Street, Bristol, Applicant's Agent.