Improvements in Electrical Devices for Stopping and Starting Horses.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1892-Accepted, 9th Apr., 1892
L
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Communicated from abroad by THE HOLSON ELECTRIC HARNESS AND SUPPLY
COMPANY, of 114, Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois, United States of
America.]
Improvements in Electrical Devices for Stopping and Starting Horses.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent Agents
45 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, 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 means for stopping run-away head strong or fractious
horses, and for stimulating, energizing or spurring horses, and it consists in
administering to the animal an electric shock as hereinafter fully described.
My invention as applied to the stopping of horses is best carried out by za
apparatus adapted to administer to the horse an electric shock at or through the
nostrils. And my invention so far as it relates to starting the animal is best carried
out in an apparatus adapted to administer to the horse an electric shock at or about
the mid-length and upon the sides of the body.
In carrying out my invention where the animal is attached to a vehicle I have
so arranged that the electric shock may be administered by the driver of the vehicle
by the occupants thereof, where the vehicle contains other occupants than the
driver, and also whereby the shock may be automatically administered for the
purpose of stopping the horse when the vehicle has moved forward a certain
distance, and the apparatus is also so arranged that a certain amount of forward
movement of the vehicle is permitted before an electrical shock will be administered,
and whereby also no shock will be administered in any backward movement of the
vehicle.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing a horse attached to a vehicle having
a closed body and a driver's seat in front of such body.
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the invention applied to a vehicle
provided with a pole and intended to be drawn by two animals and showing
provisions for administering a shock to each of said animals by the closing of an
electrical circuit at either of three points.
Figure 3 is a rear view of the front part of a vehicle showing the manner in
which a device forming an automatic circuit closer is attached to a vehicle in order
that a shock may be automatically administered, when desired, by the forward
movement of the team hitched to the vehicle.
Figure 4 is a top plan view of the axle and wheels of a vehicle with an
automatic circuit closer attached to one end of the axle.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of a vehicle with an automatic circuit closer
thereon.
Figure 6 is a top plan view of an automatic circuit closer on an enlarged scale,
forming an element in the invention, and
Figure 7 is a side elevation thereof.
Figure 8 is a view in side elevation showing my invention as applied to the
starting of an animal.
Figure 9 is a diagram of the electrical apparatus and lines shown in Figure 8.
Figure 10 is a sectional view of a harness saddle showing terrets and contact
plates forming elements of the electrical circuit outlined in Figures 8 and 9.
In carrying out my invention I employ a source of electricity as for example, the
battery 11, which may be located beneath the driver's seat of a vehicle and I
preferably employ also an induction coil 12 so that the electrical shock is produced
ID 01

page_text: by an induced current. The battery and induction coil are connected in the usual
way and from the induction coil are led wires 13, 14 which are carried through or
supported by some convenient part of the carriage and the harness to separated
contact points resting upon parts of the body of the horse.
In carrying out that part of my invention which relates to the stopping of a
run-away, fractions or unruly horse, I preferably carry said wires 13, 14 through
or along the shafts of the vehicle to a point below the saddle and from thence
through the girth 15, martingale 16 and nose-band 17 to the contact points 18, 19,
which are located respectively within the nostrils of the animal. These contact
points are clearly shown in Figure 2. When two horses are attached to the vehicle
the wires 13, 14 are preferably carried through the pole 20, the neck yoke 21, the
straps 22, the martingales 16 and nose-bands 17, the same as in the construction
previously described. Or the wires may be carried through the reins to a point at
or near the bit and there electrically connected to the nose bands 17. I have
discovered that by placing the contact points within the nostrils a shock may be
administered which will be effective in stopping the animal and yet so mild that it
will not be injurious nor deleterious. It is further desirable to place the contact
points within the nostrils because the skin of the animal within the nostril is
always sufficiently moist to secure a good contact.
The circuit is normally open
and in order to provide for closing the circuit I employ circuit closers of any
approved form and place one at a point accessible to the driver, another accessible
to the occupants of the vehicle other than the driver, and one upon the running
gear of the vehicle so that the circuit may in the latter instance be automatically
closed. 23 represents a circuit closer located in proximity to the driver's seat.
24 represents a circuit closer within the vehicle, and 25 a circuit closer secured
upon the axle of the vehicle. These circuit closers 23 and 25 are included within
the main circuit by means of wire 26, 36 and branch wires 37, 27 and the circuit
closer 24 by means of wires 28 and 29. Branch wires 27, 37 connect with wire 29.
This automatic circuit closer 25 is particularly illustrated in Figures 3 to 7
inclusive. In the preferred construction it comprises the pivoted lever 30 whose
pivot pin 31 turns in the lugs of a clip 32 secured to the axle; a spring 33 is secured
to one side of this pivoted lever, the forward end of which lever is bifurcated and
has pivoted therein an arm 34, a spring 35 has one end secured to the pivoted arm 34
and the other to the lever 30. Wire 36 is connected with the. spring 35, and
wire 27 is connected to spring 33. The cord 38 connected with the pivoted
lever 30 extends to within reach of the driver's seat, the purpose of which cord
is to enable the driver to raise this lever so that the spring 33 thereof shall not
come in contact with the pin 39 placed on the hub of the vehicle. When said pin
comes in contact with the pivoted arm 34 in the forward movement of the vehicle,
said arm is forced around to the right and into electrical contact with the spring 33
thereby closing the circuit and administering a shock to the horse through the
nostrils. In the backward movement of the vehicle, however the pivoted arm 34
is turned to the left without being brought into contact with the spring 33 and
consequently without closing the circuit. Upon the closing of the electric circuit in
either of the ways above described an electric shock is administered to the horse
through the nostrils which has the effect of stopping the animal.
The second part of my invention which relates to the starting, stimulating or
spurring of the animal by imparting an electric shock thereto is fully illustrated
in Figures 8, 9 and 10 of the drawings and includes the battery 11, induction
coil 12 and wires 13, 14 led therefrom through the lines 40 and having a chain
section 41 in constant contact with the terrets 42 of the harness saddle 43.
Said terrets have secured on their lower ends the contact plates 44 which rest
upon the back of the animal. When the circuit is closed an electric shock is
administered to the horse through that part of the body between the contact
plates and such shock operates to start the animal if at rest and to stimulate
it to greater speed if in motion. This shock therefore acts as a spur, and is
preferably administered to that part of the body mentioned although the plates

page_text: may be located elsewhere. If desired both the stopping and starting devices.
may be used upon the vehicle at the same time, but the automatic circuit closer
should not be included in the same circuit with the contact plates resting upon
the back of the animal.
It is apparent that many modifications may be made in the structural features.
herein described, as for example, in the electrical source, in the use of the
induction coil and as to the particular manner in which the wiring is done.
The form of the circuit closers is not an essential part of the invention as they
may be of any one of a number of well known types such as push buttons
lever switches, snap switches etc. Instead of employing the chain sections to
engage the terrets, flat strips of metal may be secured between the folds of
leather forming the reins, the edges of said plates being exposed so as to.
maintain constant contact with the metal terrets.
It is evident that if a person riding on the back of a horse, or a person
walking on the ground (as in training or breaking an animal) were to act as a
vehicle for carrying the battery or other source of electricity, or if the latter
were placed upon or attached to the saddle or other trappings and suitable
wires and circuit closers attached to the saddle or other trappings an electric
shock could be administered by the person in the same manner as where the
apparatus is carried in a vehicle as before described, and this adaptation of
the invention could be made both for stopping the animal by applying the
points of contact to the nostril or other appropriate part of the body, or by
providing the saddle, crupper or other trappings with separated contact plates.
resting upon the body of the animal, an electric shock might be administered
to the body so as to stimulate, energize or spur the animal.
If the contact plates be placed beneath the saddle flaps or girth or beneath
some part of the trappings which press constantly upon the body sufficient
moisture will be present to ensure a good contact and in applying my invention as
a stimulator, energizer or spur I prefer to administer the shock at about the
middle of the length of the body and upon the sides of the animal, that is to
say beneath the saddle, flaps or girth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In an electric device for stopping horses, a normally open electric circuit,
including a source of electricity, contact points adapted to be placed within the
nostrils, and a circuit closer whereby an electric shock may be administered to the
horse at or through the nostrils, substantially as described.
Second. In an electric device for stopping horses, a normally open electrical
circuit including a source of electricity, contact points adapted to be placed in the
nostrils of the horse and a circuit closer placed on the vehicle within reach of the
driver substantially as described.
Third. In an electric device for stopping a horse, a normally open electrical
circuit including a source of electricity. contact points adapted to be placed within
the nostrils of the horse, a circuit closer on the vehicle within reach of the driver
and a second circuit closer on the vehicle within reach of the occupants thereof
other than the driver, whereby the circuit may be closed either by the driver or
the other occupants of the vehicle and an electric shock administered to the horse
at or through its nostrils, substantially as described.
Fourth. In an electrical device for automatically stopping a horse by the movement
of the vehicle, an electrical circuit including a source of electricity, contact points
adapted to be placed in the nostrils of the horse and a circuit closer adapted to be
actuated by the movement of the vehicle, whereby to administer an electric shock
to the animal at or through the nostrils, substantially as described.
Fifth. In an electrical device for stopping horses, a primary electrical circuit
including a source of electricity and an induction coil and a secondary electrical

page_text: circuit including the induction coil, and contacts adapted to be placed in the
nostrils of the horse and one or more circuit closers in each of said circuits whereby
said circuit may be closed and an electrical shock administered to the horse at .or
through the nostrils, substantially as described.
Sixth. In an electrical device for stopping a horse or horses attached to a vehicle,
an electrical circuit including a source of electricity, and a circuit closer on the
vehicle, conductors carried by the pole, shafts of the vehicle or reins and contact
points adapted to be placed in the nostrils of the horse or horses, substantially as
described.
Seventh. In an electrical device for stimulating, spurring or energizing horses,
the combination of a normally open electric circuit including a source of electricity,
separated contact points resting upon the body of the animal and a circuit closer
whereby an electric shock may be given to the horse, substantially as described.
Eighth. In an electrical device for stimulating, spurring or energizing saddle
horses, the combination of a normally open electric circuit including a source of
electricity, separated contact points resting upon the body of the animal beneath
the saddle or saddle girth and a circuit closer whereby an electric shock may be
administered, substantially as described.
Dated this 23rd day of Febru 1800
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.