Improvements in Waggons, or Lorries.and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct., 1894
Complete Specification Left. 1st July, 1895-Accepted, 3rd Aug.,
1895
Improvements in Waggons, or Lorries.and the like.
We, JOHN ROBERTS, WILLIAM SHONE and PETER WILLIAM SHONE, all of
34 Love Lane, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, Wheelwrights, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to waggons or lorries and the like adapted to be drawn by
horses and has reference more particularly to the shafts of such vehicles, the object
being to provide means whereby the horse is relieved of the weight of the shafts,
the arrangement being such that the necessity of departing from the usual
construction of shafts and under carriage is obvinted, and the invention is therefore
particularly applicable to existing vehicles.
We will describo our invention as applied to a four wheeled waggon or lorry of
the usual type.
As before mentioned the shafts and under carriage are of the usual construction,
but we fit in addition, two or more cranked iron brackets preferably secured to the
upper portion of the frame work of the shafts; the brackets extend rearward and
are so cranked that they pass under the draw bar or pin connecting the shafts to
the under carriage and under the foremost cross-bar of the latter. The brackets
are turned upwards just in rear of the aforesaid cross-bar; and at a point near its
end, somewhat above the plane of the shafts, each bracket is adapted for attachment.
to a spring, the other and lower end of which is secured to the front axle or other
convenient point. It will be seen that if these springs be put under tension their
elastic force will tend to turn the shafts about the draw bar as a fulcrum, the effect
being to lift the forward ends of the shafts and so relieve the horse of the weight
thereof.
We prefer usually to arrange the springs so that the force they exert is due to
their extension from an initially compressed position, as we find this more convenient
than to have them under tension.
It will be seen that our invention is especially applicable for adaptation to
existing waggons as it is only necessary to fix the cranked brackets to the shafts
and attach the springs from the ends of the brackets to a suitable point on the
axle or under carriage, there being no need for any structural alterations to the
waggon.
The cranked brackets may, of course, be bent over the draw bar and foremost
cross bar of the under carriage, but we find the construction described much more
convenient.
Dated this 1st day of Autoher 1804
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
Castle Chambers, 26 Castle Street, Liverpool;
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Women waggons or Lorries and the like.
We, JOHN ROBERTS, WILLIAM SHONE, and PETER WILLIAM SHONE, all of
34 Love Lane, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, Wheelwrights, 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 waggons or lorries and the like adapted to be drawn
by horses and has reference more particularly to the shafts of such vehicles, the
object being to provide means whereby the horse is wholly or partially relieved of
the weight of the shafts, the arrangement being such that the necessity of departing
from the usual construction of shafts and under carriage is obviated, and the
invention is therefore particularly applicable to existing vehicles.
We will describe our invention as applied to a four wheeled waggon or lorry of
the usual type, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. I is a
side elevation of the fore end of such a vehicle, partially in section on the line A. A.
of Fig. II, and Fig. II is a plan of the under carriage thereof, portions being
broken away to show the details of construction more clearly.
Throughout the drawings the same parts are indicated by the same reference
figures, and in the case of the section, the direction in which the latter is viewed is
indicated by the small arrows placed adjacent to the letters denoting the plane of
section.
As before mentioned, the shafts 1 and under-carriage 2 are of the usual
construction, but we fit in addition two (or more or less) cranked iron brackets 3,
secured preferably, as shown in the drawings, to the upper portion of the frame
work of the shafts; the brackets 3 extend rearward and are so cranked that they
pass under the draw-bar 4 and the foremost cross bar of the under-carriage, and
are adapted to swing clear in all positions of the shafts.
The end of each of the brackets 3, at a point preferably somewhat above the
plane of the shafts, is linked to a spring 5, the other end of which is linked to a
projecting stem 6 secured to the front axle or other convenient part of the under-
carriage. It is clear that, if these springs be put under stress, their elastic force
will tend to turn the shafts about the draw-bar as a fulcrum, the effect being to
lift the forward ends of the shafts and so relieve the horse wholly or partially of
the weight thereof.
The springs are preferably arranged as shown so as to be under compression
rather than under tension. 7 is a staple or bar bent into U form, with screwed
ends upon which the cross 'bars 8 slide freely; the centre bolt 9 passes freely
through the upper cross-bar 8 and has a head bearing below the lower cross-bar 8.
The force exerted by the springs can be adjusted either by means of the
nuts 10 or 11; in order to adjust by turning the latter, the upper links must be
uncoupled from the brackets 3, unless a swivel be provided, which may be done
if preferred.
Instead of fitting only two brackets 3 as shown, a third bracket and spring may
be fitted in addition at the centre of the frame work of the shafts in the case of
vehicles with very heavy shafts; and in the case of light vehicles, a central bracket
and spring only may be used.
The brackets 3 may of course be cranked over instead of under the draw-bar
and foremost cross bar of the under-carriage, but we find the construction drawn
much more convenient.
It will be seen that our invention is especially applicable for adaptation to
existing waggons, as it is only necessary to fix the cranked brackets 3 to the
shafts, to attach the stems 6 or their equivalents (which admit of considerable

page_text: variation in dimensions and form to suit oircumstances) to the axle or under
carriage, and then to couple up and adjust the springs 5, there being no need for
any structural alterations to the waggon.
The springs are made sufficiently long not to be overstrained in the event of the
ends of the shafts being accidentally brought down to the ground, as for instance,
by the falling of the horse, and it will be seen that the arrangement freely permits
the shafts to be turned upright, in the ordinary way, when the waggon is not
in use.
It is to be understood that we make no broad claim herein to the use of springs
for relieving the horse wholly or partially of the weight of the shafts, as this was
well known prior to our present invention; but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is;-
1. The use in waggons, lorries and the like vehicles, of one or more brackets
rigidly attached to the shafts or to the frame work of the latter, each of the said
brackets extending to the rearward of the draw-bar, being cranked as described,
and linked through an interposed spring to a point rigidly attached to the axle or
other convenient part of the vehicle, so as to relieve the horse wholly or partially
of the weight of the shafts; substantially as described.
2. In waggons, lorries and the like vehicles, the combination with the shafts and
under carriage thereof, of the cranked bracket 3, the stem 6, and the interposed
connecting spring 5; substantially as described and illustrated.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts forming the improvement in
waggons, lorries and the like; substantially as described and illustrated with
reference to Fige. I and II.
Dated this 28th day of June 1895,
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
26 Castle Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicants.