Improvements in or connected with Road Vehicles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 25th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 25th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 26th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Road Vehicles.
I, HENRY SMITH, of The Midland Carriage Works, Northampton, Carriage Builder,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in or connected with road vehicles.
The object of the first part of this invention is to render two wheeled vehicles less
oscillatory from the motion of the horse while trotting also to afford great comfort to
the occupant of the vehicle.
To effect this, I carry the back of the shafts round, or I attach shafts to a half
round plate or band which at the centre is rove through a skeleton, or other frame
and is connected to a helical or like spring also fitted within the frame, the opposite
end of the spring is attached to the frame.
From the under side of the front body on each side I connect a bar, to the front
ends of which the shafts are pivotted and on which they can oscillate due to the
movements of the animal but which oscillations are absorbed by the helical spring
before mentioned.
The skeleton, or other frame is of such a height as to permit of the shafts being
arranged to a body which is "sett" low for easy entrance and exit.
The second part of my invention relates to a novel arrangement of appliances to
the under part, or body of a vehicle, so that the axle can be drawn, or be pushed by
said appliances according to whether they are fitted in advance, or to the rear of the
axle whereby I am able to use transverse, or cross springs between the body and axle,
instead of side springs, as is usual.
According to this second part of my invention, I fit a straight or a curved iron to
the under part or body of a vehicle and by an eye or joint at the lower end of said iron I
connect the axle by a link, either directly, or by another joint, or eye. I support the
body upon a cross, or transverse spring, such as a single or double elliptic, or some
other form of spring which may be suitable, said spring preferably having its centre
secured to the axle.
This second part of the invention is also applicable to the hind axles of four wheeled
vehicles and enables me to dispense with the long under perch without affecting the
full lock of the front under carriage.
Two or more of my appliances can be attached to the same vehicle.
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021
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Road Vehicles.
I, HENRY SMITH, of The Midland Carriage Works, Northampton, Carriage Builder,
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 improvements in or connected with road vehicles.
The object of the first part of this invention is to render two wheeled vehicles less
oscillatory from the motion of the horse while trotting also to afford great comfort to
the oconnani of the vehicle

page_text: To effect this, I carry the back of the shafts round, or I attach shafts to a half round
plate or band which at the centre is rove through a skeleton, or other frame and is
connected to one or more helical or like springs also fitted within the frame, the
opposite end of the spring being attached to the frame.
From the under side of the front body on each side, I connect a bar, to the front
ends of which, the shafts are pivotted and on which they can oscillate due to the
movements of the animal, but which oscillations are absorbed by the helical spring
before mentioned.
The skeleton or other frame is of such a height as to permit of the shafts being
arranged to a body which is "sett" low for easy entrance and exit.
This first part of my invention will be clearly understood by the annexed drawings,
Figures to 4 inclusive.
Figure 1 is a perspective elevation of the appliances. A, A, are the shafts bent at
the back portion B, or they may be attached to a half rounded back strap plate or
strap held and supported at its centre by two springs C, C, one at top and one at
bottom, to put it in balance between them. The springs C, C, are within a skeleton
shaped box D which is attached by the prong E to the body of the vehicle at the
central front part.
F, F, are loops or eyes attached to the under part of the shafts A, A, and from
these loops stay or tie rods G, G, lead to the front side frame H. of the vehicle, as
shown in Figure 2.
The tie rods G, G, may terminate in scrolls I for the attachment of links J, the
other ends of which are connected to clips encircling the axle of the vehicle as
draught rods thereto, or separate irons may be provided for the purpose.
K is a transverse spring affixed to the axle and also to the body of the vehicle for
bearing the weight. The parts I, J, K are further described in the second part of my
Invention.
Figures 3 and 4 are front and plan views of a similar compensation apparatus-
slightly modified in detail.
In this, the shafts A, A, terminate in a curved strap B around the front of the
skeleton box D with only one spring within it, which spring becomes compressed and
is put into tension by the weight of the person or persons while riding, which tension
is increased in proportion to the number of persons entering the vehicle in succession
and should the balance of the vehicle be out of the proper order such as by person
sitting very forward for the greater weight to be on the animals back, or such as
by two persons getting into the vehicle at the same time from opposite sides of the
vehicle, I place a rubber pad as a buffer in the bottom of the skeleton frame D for
the bottom of the strap L to bear upon and so relieve shock or concussion that would
probably be given.
It also prevents undue strain upon the spring C in the skeleton frame D when the
vehicle is going down hill.
To prevent undue strain upon the spring should the load be too far back so that the
vehicle hangs, I attach two plates M M to the strap L to come into contact with
small springs N N suspended from ears PP projecting from the back of the skeleton
frame D, so that the springs N N when the plates M M touch them counteract such
tendency.
The second part of my invention relates to a novel arrangement of appliances to
the under part or body of a vehicle, so that the axle can be drawn or be pushed by
said appliances according to whether they are fitted in advance, or to the rear of the
axle, whereby I am able to use transverse or cross springs between the body and axle,
instead of side springs as is usual.
According to this second part of my invention, which I show applied to a two
wheeled vehicle, at Figure 2 and to a four wheeled vehicle, at Figure 5, I fit a
straight or a curved iron I to the under part or body of a vehicle, and by an eye or joint
at the lower end of said iron, I connect the axle by a link J either directly, as before
described with reference to Figure 2, or as at the hind under carriage, Figure 5, by

page_text: another joint or eye Q. I support the carriage upon a cross or transverse spring,
such as a single or double elliptic, or some other form of spring, which may be
suitable, said spring K preferably having its centre secured to the axle.
The application of the second part of my invention to the under front carriage of
four wheeled vehicles, enables ine to dispense with the long under perch without
affecting the full lock of the front under carriage.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Fitting to the body of a two wheeled vehicle an appliance with a spring or
springs for taking up and absorbing the oscillations of coupled shafts, as described
and substantially as shown at Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings.
2. Pivotting coupled shafts of a two wheeled vehicle in advance of their point of
suspension, as and for the purpose or purposes described with reference to Figures
and 2 of the annexed drawings.
3. The appliances shown at Figures 3 and 4 of the annexed drawings, for
supporting the back portion of coupled shafts of two wheeled vehicles for use
alone, or in combination with the additional springs N, N, as and for the purposes
set forth.
4. The appliances I, J, with or without Q fitted between body and axle, or axles of
vehicles for draught purposes and employed in combination with transverse main
springs, as described with reference to Figures 2 and 5 of the annexed drawings.
The 25th day of Daren 1890.
The 25th day of Diaren 109U.
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London, Patent Agent,
Agent for the said Henry Smith.
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London, Patent Agent,
Agent for the said Henry Smith.