Improvements in Splinter-bars, and Harness Attachments therefor.
Year: 1894

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Splinter-bars, and Harness Attachments therefor.
ROBERT WILLIAM CRICHTON B.E. Elagh House, Stewartstown, Co. Tyrone,
Ireland, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
:-
This invention consists of a wooden "splinter bar" fixed between the shafts
(in the case of one horse vehicles) in the ordinary way. Through the centre of
the "bar" is a horizontal hole about- of an inch in diameter passing from front
to back, and "bushed." with brass or gun metal. In the front or perpendicular
face of the "bar" and concentric with this hole is cut a circular bed about an
inch deep into which is fitted (and free to turn) a double "disc" of iron or brass
fixed on a short "journal" or axle which passes through the hole in the "bar" and
has just liberty enough to turn or roll.
thick ;
The outer or front disc-which is firmly screwed or cast on the journal as part
of itself is about 33 inches in diameter and
this disc fits flush against
the face of the bar and forms a cap or cover for the above mentioned "bed"" into
which the back, or under disc (a full of an, inch smaller in diameter and of the
same thickness) fits, leaving a space of about inch between the two inner faces of
the discs which are kept apart by a small collar on the "journal:"
ช
"
The back end of this "journal" extends a short distance behind the bar
and has squares and screw threads formed on it to take a small lèver-handle that
can be fastened on with a hut so that by drawing this handle to one side through a
vertical angle the double disc in front of the "bar" is turned through the same
angle.
-
On the upper and lower sides of the "bar" and behind the discs are two
segmental "caps" of brass fastened down with wood-screws so as to be concentric
with the discs. The front sides of these caps are open and the edges vertically
faced so that when fixed in position they lie tightly against the exposed parts of
the inner face of the front disc and fit edge to edge with it to form as it were-
a neatly closed box inside which the other disc, is free to roll, (the outer disc in
rolling rubs, against the edge of this box).
"
The back faces of the " caps are closed with solid vertical sides which
strengthen the bar and hide the inner parts totally from view.
t
In the front face of the splinter bar extending from the disc-bed in the centre to
near the two ends is a horizontal groove about of an inch wide and the same in
depth; imbedded in this groove are two iron rods with curved and flattened cranks
that pass into the space between the discs and are there fixed on two strong little iron
or steel pivots screwed into one of the discs and countersunk in the other; these
pivots are placed one near the top of the discs and the other' on exactly the
opposite side of the diameter so that when the rods are pivotted in position one of
the curved cranks is turned upwards and the other downwards.
1.
On each of the outer or shaft ends of these rods is screwed a straight crank
about 1 inches long and pointing forward at right angles to the rod having each
a straight "spud" on the front end of the crank (and screwed on at right angles
to it also) on which spuds are fastened the traces. Each of these spuds passes
through a hole of an exact fit in a kind of bracket; made of brass or iron, and

page_text: fastened into the angles between the splinter bar and the shafts by strong wood
screws.
It is on the free ends of these spuds (which point towards the inner faces of the
shafts and reach to within about an inch of them) that the holes in the traces are
placed and secured in position by a falling "block" of the same material as the
bracket and hinged into it as part of itself. These blocks lift up by a finger-loop
to allow the traces to be passed on to the spuds and are then laid down into their
place in the "sheers" of the bracket between the shaft and the spud so that the
traces are locked when on, and are " released by simply pulling the "lever-
handle"
to the left side through an angle of about 30° which turns the discs
through the same angle and thereby draws each of the rods simultaneously along
the groove towards the centre of the bar and brings the spuds out of the traces
which are free to fall out of the brackets or sheers and are supported along the
horse's hips by two little straps from the crupper or breeching.
"
This movement of the rods towards the centre of the bar at the same instant, is
caused by the curved crank of the right hand rod being hung on the top pivot
between the discs, and that of the left hand rod on the bottom one. When the
lever-handle-which points upwards along the face of the dashboard is pulled
towards the left side, the top pivot comes also to the left, bringing the right-hand
rod with it, and the under pivot moves towards the right at the same time bringing
the left-hand rod with it, therefore the two rods, lying in the same line along the
groove, are forced to meet, as it were, between the discs but are stopped by the
journal-collar after moving of an inch each along its groove which just draws
the trace spuds clear out; then by pushing the handle back to its old place the
rods and spuds are shot out and into position for "re-hitching" the traces.
The lever handle is kept in an upright, or any other position required, by a
strong little spring fixed on top of the bar inside the upper "cap," before
mentioned, and behind the inner disc through which a little spud on the spring
plays in a ❝ cain-slot."
In the case of a double harness vehicle the action is just the same but the roda
are double the length and have four brackets instead of two.
The whole of the metalwork to be "plated" or burnished to protect it from
rust, and the timber in the "bar" to be of the kind used by coach-builders in
such work.
This bar is of about the same scantling as the ordinary splinter-bar in use on
vehicles at present, only it is grooved in the front face to carry the rods, which
alters its cross section, and has the disc-bed and hole at its centre for the action.
which is not unsightly but ornamental and compact, and instead of the common
trace" hook it has the "brackets" above mentioned screwed on at its ends.
"
Dated this 25th day of June 1894.
ROBERT WILLIAM CRICHTON, B.E.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Splinter-bars, and Harness Attachments therefor.
I, ROBERT WILLIAM CRICHTON, formerly of Elagh House, Stewartstown,
Co. Tyrone, now of Draperstown, Co. Derry Civil 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 relates to an improved construction of splinter bar for horse
vehicles and to improved attachments for fastening and releasing the traces.
The several improvements constituting the invention are pointed out in the
claims at the end of this Specification.
"

page_text: היי
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or lined
At the centre of the "bar," a, a horizontal hole c (Figs. 9 and 13) about # of
an inch in diameter is bored through from front to back and is "bushed"
with brass or gun metal d. In the front of the bar and concentric with this hole c is
cut, as shown at Figs. 4 and 13, a circular bed e about an inch deep into which is
fitted (so as to be free to turn) a disc f of iron or brass having a square hole in its
centre and having also a curved slot. In front of the disc f is a second disc g
which fits flush against the face of the bar a and forms a cap or cover for the
bed e.
This disc 9 has a spindle h made in one with or secured to it which passes
through the square hole in the disc f and right through the hole e in the bar
projecting out at the back a short distance. The inner and outer discs f, g are
kept about inch apart by means of a collar i on the spindle h. A square
which fits in the square hole in the disc is also made on the spindle.
Pinned on the backwardly projecting end of the spindle is a crank spindle j
by means of which the discs g, f, can be turned to the right or left. One or more
rubber washers k or a spring may be fitted between the crank and the bar a for
the purpose of retaining, by its elasticity, the disc g tightly in place. If desired
in lieu of or in addition to the above the disc g may be connected to the disc f by
an easily removable screw as indicated in dotted lines at 1/2 Fig. 9.
washers k, k may be fitted at each side of the rubber washer k.
Friction
On the upper and lower sides of the bar a and behind the discs are two
segmental metal caps 1, m so fastened down by means of bolts n as to be concentric
with the discs. The front sides of these caps are open (see Figs. 8 10 and 13) and
the edges vertically faced so that when fixed in position they lie tightly against
and bear on the exposed parts of the inner face of the front disc g and fit edge to
edge with it so as to form, as it were, a neatly closed box inside which the other
disc is free to turn. The outer disc g, when turning, rubs against the edge of
this box. The back faces of the caps are closed with solid vertical sides see
Fig. 11 which strengthen the bar a and hide the inner parts totally from view.
Fitted on the upper side of the bar a within the cap is a V shaped spring o
(Figs. 14 and 15) having a pin or projection o' at its end which passes through and
works in the slot of the disc f. A horizontal groove p, pl is cut in the front
face of the splinter bar from the disc bed e in the centre almost to the two ends
(see Figs. 2 and 4) and in this groove are embedded two iron rods q, g¹ (see also
Figs. 6 and 7) having curved and flattened cranks r, r¹ that pass into the space
between the discs g, J. and are there fixed on two strong iron or steel pivots 3, s,
screwed into the disc f and at their ends entering recessed holes in the inner face

page_text: of the disc g. These pivots are placed the ones near the top of the disc f and the
other sat a point diametrically opposite so that when the rods q, q' are pivotted
in position and the disc fis moved the one crank is turned upwards and the other
downwards.
On the outer or shaft end of each of these rods q, q' is screwed a straight
crank (see also Fig. 5) which projects forward at right angles to the rod and has
a straight speed or pin u in its front end which also projects out at right angles to
the crank. The traces r, v¹ are fastened on these pins by means of eyelet holes.
Each of these speeds or pins passes through a hole in an arm w¹ of a bracket w
made of brass or iron and fastened by strong, screws into the angles between the
splinter bar and the shafts b.
It is on the free ends of these "speeds" or pins (which point towards the
inner faces of the shafts and reach to within about an inch of them) that the
boles in the traces, are placed and securely locked in position by falling
blocks a hinged at into the brackets w, and having curved recesses (Fig. 16)
on their undersides which fit round and close down upon the ends of the pins u.
Steadying projections are, also made on the blocks which lock into recesses in
the brackets w, as shown at Fig. 5.
The blocks are lifted up by finger loops a¹ so as to allow the traces to be
passed on to the speeds u whereupon they are each laid down into their places in
the "sheers" of the brackets w, between the shaft and speed, so that the traces
are locked and securely held in placed. The traces are released by simply pulling
the lever handlej to the left hand (as shown at Fig. 10 which, of course, shows
the movement as towards the right side of the figure) through an angle of
about 30° which turns the discs, g, through the saine angle and thereby draws the
rods, simultaneously along the groove p, p¹ towards the centre of the bar and
brings the pins or speeds u, out of the traces which are then free to fall out of
the brackets being supported along the horse by two little straps from the crupper
or "breeching" which must be attached to the " tugs or
"trace bearers" and
not to the shafts.
"
This movement of the rods towards the centre of the bar at the same instant, is
caused by the curved crank r of the right hand rod q being hung on the top pivot s
between the discs and that of the left hand rod g on the bottom one s. When
the lever handlej which points upwards along the face of the dash board is pulled
towards the left side the top pivot comes also to the left bringing the right hand
rod with it, and the under pivot moves towards the right at the same time bringing
the left hand rod with it, therefore the two rods lying in the same line along the
groove are forced to meet as it were, between the discs, but are stopped by the
journal collar i after each moving about of an inch along its groove which just
draws the trace speeds a clear out; then by pushing the handle back to its old
place the rods and speeds are shot out and into position for rehitching the traces.
The lever handle is kept in an upright or any other position required by the
spring o.
In the case of a double harness vehicle the action is just the same but there are
four brackets instead of two and the rods q, q' are made double the length each rod
being provided with two cranks t, see Fig. 17. The two inner cranks t, t are fitted
on the rods, g', as shown. The rods pass through grooves in the back of the two
inner brackets.
The spindle h may be any length so as to suit the position the lever handle j
must take to be either behind the dash board (in the case of a trap or dog cart) or
in front of the dickey (in the case of a "side car"). The lever handle also may
be of any description to suit the special form of vehicle to which the mechanism
is attached.
The whole of the metal work is preferably plated or burnished to protect it
from rust, and the timber in the bar may be of the kind generally used by coach
builders for such work.
This bar is of about the same scantling as the ordinary splinter bar in use or

page_text: vehicles at present only it is grooved in the front face to carry the rods which alters
its cross section and it has the disc bed and hole at the centre for the action which
is not unsightly but ornamental and compact and instead of the common trace
hook it has the brackets above mentioned at the ends.
•
my
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
consider novel and desire to claim is:
:―
1. A splinter bar for vehicles having movable discs or equivalent mechanism by
means of which movable rods can be caused to catch or release the traces
substantially in the manner hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings
annexed:
2
2. The brackets w having hinged blocks for locking the traces on the pins u,
substantially as hereinbefore described and shown on the drawings annexed.
3. In combination, the splinter bar, the movable discs f, g, fitted thereto and
capable of being operated by the crank handle j, the rods q, q' with their curved
cranks 7, pivotted to the discs, and the brackets w, substantially as hereinbefore
described and shown on the drawings annexed.
4. The general arrangement and combination of parts of the improved splinter
bar and its attachments, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown on the
drawings annexed.
.
Dated this 26th April 1895
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.