CERTAIN IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIAGES
Year: 1833

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, Louis
QUANTIN, of No. 218, Regent Street, in the County of Middlesex, Carriage
Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth, did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twentieth day of December, One thousand eight hundred
and thirty-three, in the fourth year of His reign, give and grant unto me,
the said Louis Quantin, His especial licence that I, the said Louis Quantin, my
exors, adñiors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said Louis Quantin,
my exors, admors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein mentioned,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIAGES;" in which said Letters Patent
there is contained a proviso that I, the said Louis Quantin, shall cause a
particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court. of
Chancery within six calendar months next immediately after the date of the
said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Louis Quantin, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed and carried into effect, are
fully described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof,

page_text: reference being had to the Drawings annexed, and to the figures and letters
marked thereon, that is to say :-
IMPROVEMENTS made in the construction of the arms and axletrees, having
for their object to keep the arms constantly oiled throughout their
whole surface during the progress of the carriage.
These improvements consist of several reservoirs of oil, grooves, and canals,
which communicate with one another by a main canal. One of these reser-
voirs is placed at the collar of the arm, in the box; and another is a cap which
is screwed into the box at the end of the arm, along which arm a canal or
conduit is made, which forms a communication between the two first reser-
voirs. By means of this contrivance the whole length of the arm is constantly
bathed in oil, which is incessantly sent from one reservoir to the other by
the motion of the wheels during their rotation, consequently no fears need in
future be entertained either for the unequal wear of the arms, or for the naves
becoming heated by the dry friction, as is frequently the case with ordinary
axles and boxes.
EXPLANATION of the Figures in the annexed Drawing exhibiting these
Improvements.
Figure 1 is a view, lengthways and externally, of a nave in which the box
and arm of the axletree are lying. Figures 2 and 3 are views of Figure 1,
seen from each of its extremities. Figure 4 is a longitudinal section made
through the centre of Figure 1. a, the name; b, Fig. 4, cylinder of cast or
wrought iron, or brass, or any other metal, called the axletree box, lying in the
centre, throughout the whole length of the nave. This cylinder, the end of
receive exactly the spindle
which is seen in Fig. 5, is perfectly rounded to
of the axle, in the interior of which is constructed four canals, of two different
forms, which connect one reservoir to the other. These canals and their extre-
mities are seen at c, Figures 4 and 5; any one of these may be used separately
or conjoined, as deemed the most convenient. Figure 4, d, cylindric groove
made inwardly in one of the ends of the cylinder or box, forming a reservoir of
oil; in the opposite end of the box b, is made three or more grooves, which
force the oil to rise up to the reservoir during the rotation.
Description of the arm-h, in Figure 6, is the body of the arm forming
the continuation of the axletree, a part of which is seen at i; this arm and its
accessories are exhibited laterally, and its extremities are shewn by the detached
Figures 6, 7, and 8. k is an iron washer, which fits against the plate k to
- prevent the escape of the oil (and, if necessary, a second may be applied; m is
is a strong iron collar in the solid with the arm, and upon which a groove n

page_text: is made, which does not quite round the collar; at the top of this groove
a hole-p is made in a sloping direction, in order to communicate with the
apertures s made in the leather washer o, which fits against the collar m, on
the opposite side of which collar a groove is made. q is a groove forming a
canal made lengthways of the arm h, and terminating at r at the extremity
of the arm, taking the form of half a turn of a screw at s. In Figures the
4 and 6 this groove becomes deeper, and goes down to the centre, where
it comes in communication with a small cylindrical aperture t, which crosses
the end of the arm.
Oil-box called a cap:-This cap, which is made of brass or any other
metal, is seen in its place at the end of Figure 4, while Figures the 9, 10,
and 11, give a front and lateral view of its extremity, and internally it con-
sists of a body u, the interior capacity or chamber of which is seen at v,
Figure 4, containing the oil destined to lubricate the arm; this chamber
terminates on the one side with a tubular end x, which is tapped externally,
and screws into the end of the box b, and on the other side with an octagonal
bottom y to take the wrench; the body of this cap is supplied with oil at a small
hole of a screw 2, which is unscrewed when it is wished to introduce oil into
the cap without taking it off; a', in Figure 10, is a leather washer; 6 is a
groove opposite to the holes f in the leather washer o, through which groove
two holes are perforated into the reservoir d of the box.
EXPLANATION of the Effects of this Mechanism.
When all the parts of this mechanism are set in their proper places, as is
exhibited in Figure 4, and when the chamber v of the cap is filled with oil
atz, if it be supposed that the carriage is set in motion, it will easily be con-
ceived that the oil inclosed in the space A being continually impelled from the
effect of the motion, will force its way into the groove in Figure 6, that it will
ascend through this groove into the spaces, follow the groove or canal q, spread
itself all round the arm h, and enter into the reservoir d. When this reservoir
is full, the oil, impelled and compressed by the motion of the wheel, will react
in a contrary way through the canals of the box in order to return into the
space of the cap, and vice versa; during this alternate motion of the oil
the arm will be continually lubricated throughout its whole surface. But
should the oil, while being impelled towards the reservoir d, happen to escape
through the washer (which is not probable), then that liquid would enter into
the groove n of the metallic collar m, pass into the oblique aperture p, with
which his groove communicates, and again enter into the reservoir d, in
passing through the washer o, and the groove and holes b¹ of the box.

page_text: Firstly. For vehicles of slow motion I shall make several canals on the arm
finishing in half a turn of a screw, similar to those represented by the letters r
and 9, in Figures the fourth and sixth, in order that the oil, moving more
slowly, may move in greater quantities at the same time.
Secondly. From the construction, the particulars of which have been seen,
it will no doubt appear evident that this new contrivance offers the
threefold advantage of considerably diminishing the friction on the arms of
axletrees, of preventing the wear of those arms, and of keeping the naves or
stocks from catching fire from the effects of friction. Fig. 12 shews the iron
box separately. This box is made in three different parts, and are joined
either by screws, or fastened with rivets or soder.
NEW METHOD of Dragging the Wheels by moderating at will the Force of the
Draught, and to check Horses running away.
Figures 1 and 2, Plate No. 2 of the annexed Drawings, are a lateral view
and plan of a four wheeled carriage, to which the new mechanism is applied,
by means of which the motion of stage coaches and other vehicles is slackened
at will in declivities, without its being necessary to stop for that purpose.
This mechanism, which we are about to describe, has at the same time the
advantage of reducing the power given by four horses to the power that may be
required, and to employ the power that has been suppressed in the draught
in pressing against the hind wheels jointly with the person who works the
mechanism. This same mechanism also serves to stop horses that are running
away;
and is particularly remarkable from this feature, that the more the fore
horses pull, the more pressure they occasion against the hind wheels.
In this description I shall not say anything respecting the body, carriage, or
wheels of the vehicle, which offer nothing new. a, a piece of timber forming
a roller, placed in the coachman's box, and having at its outer extremity a
handle b, which the coachman turns with his left hand when he intends to set
the dragging machine at work; c is a rope which is fastened to one extre-
mity of the roller a, and passes through a pulley f, the other end being
attached at d to another rope e; one end of this latter rope is fastened to a
horizontal bar or lever g, working on a pivot at h. The rope e also passes
through a pulley i, which is fixed to the lever g, it then passes through a
vertical pulley k, and is fastened to a ring or hook 7, which forms one of the
extremities of an iron rod m, made to slide on the top of the pole, the other
extremity of which forms a hook to which the fore horses are attached. The
iron rod m is provided underneath with three rings o, p, q, which receive the

page_text: pole n, and upon which they slide at will. is a piece of iron laid laterally
against the polc. s is a piece of iron similar to the former, and laid in
the same manner on the other side of the pole. Each of these two pieces
rands has at its extremity a prominent part t and u, which are placed at a
sufficient distance from each other to allow the free passage of the rod m,
which they prevent from turning, and to which they act as guides. v is an
iron ferrule fixed at the extremity of the pole and provided with a head, within
which the other end of the rod m slides freely. a is a worm spring passing
round the pole, one end of which is fixed on the immoveable pieces r, s, and
the other part rests against the ring p, which forms part of the rod m, so
that its power tends constantly to press the ring o against the extremities of
the iron pieces and s. T, T, are chains which connect the dragging bar
with the lever g, which sets that bar in motion. a' in Figure the first is a
worm spring destined to remove the dragging bar from the wheels of the
vehicle when the handle is no longer in action.
Action and Effects of this Mechanism :-It is easy to see from this con-
struction that whenever the coachman or any other persons placed on the
seat shall use the handle 6 in such a way as to roll the rope c round
the roller, as this rope becoming shorter will exercise a power over the other
rope e, the result of which will be on the one hand to bring the dragging bar z
close to the wheels of the carriage, and on the other hand to draw the sliding
rod m towards the vehicle; the ring o being then removed from the extremity
of the picces r, s, as are exhibited in Figure the first, all the the efforts made
by the two leaders attached at c', at the extremity of rod m, will have no
other effect than to bring the dragging bar closer to the wheels, and the strength
of the horses, instead of being used in drawing the carriage, will only serve
to relieve the person who directs the handle b; when the coachman lets go the
handle the worm springs x and a dilating in order to resume their natural
length, the dragging bar z recedes from the wheels of the carriage, the ring o
fixed to the rod m, comes in contact with the ends of the pieces 7 and s, and
then the fore horses cease to exercise their efforts upon the dragging machine,
add the strength they continue to exert to that of the hind horses in order to
draw the vehicle forward. By employing the same means, should the horses
attempt to run away, it is conceivable that their action would be paralized.
OPARDIZAMIONG

page_text: In this case those parts only would be made of ropes which turn on the blocks,
the remainder would be either chains or metal rods; the handle b might be
substituted by a wheel with several handles affixed to the end of the roller.
ANOTHER PIECE of MECHANISM intended to Produce the same Effect as the
preceding.
This machine placed before the coachman is formed by a tread wheel d',
consisting of four boards e¹, set upon a horizontal axis f', and connected by
staves g. To the centre of the axis of the tread wheel is attached the end of
a rope h, in every respect similar to the rope c, and fulfilling exactly the
same functions. In order to set this machine at work, and to make it produce
the same effects as the preceding machine the coachman has merely to place
his feet upon one of the treads of the wheel that are placed before him; is a
purchase lever fixed upon the axis f¹ of the head wheel. It has at its extremity
a ring k', to which the end of a rope is fastened, which the coachman takes in
his hand in order to assist himself in working the machine.
herein described, as it is only to describe the situation they should occupy that
both of them are introduced in the Drawing.
NEW METHOD of BUILDING CARRIAGES having the Advantage over the
European Carriages of being lighter by half, and the same time
possessing the same Solidity.
This new description of carriage is particularly distinguished from those that
have been built in Europe up to the present day, by the strength of the
timber of which it is built, and the manner in which it is ironed. The timber
of which the carriage is built is partly of this country and partly foreign, such
as the stinking wood, black wood, &c. These latter give the carriage strength
and lightness at the same time. With respect to the iron work, it is applied
in the least perceptible manner, and in the places where the carriage suffers
most straining. Of this new method of building carriages I have not furnished
a Drawing as I intend to apply it to all sorts of carriages.
NEW METHOD of DETACHING the HORSE from the Shafts of a Four-wheel
Carriage when running away.
Having been run away with several times by different horses I have esta-
blished a plan to be able to detach the horses from the inside, being as

page_text: follows: A rein, which goes from the body and descends to the level of
the shafts, where it divides in two, each of its ends taking a spring to which is
affixed the iron work that holds the trace, the end of which enters the shaft
and upon which the horse exerts his strength to draw the carriage; by means
of two rollers the trace is allowed to pass and freely when the spring is drawn
back to detach the horse when running away. At the back band I would
place two spring hooks, which in drawing horizontally would hold up the
shafts, but when the traces are loosened and fall perpendicular they will cause
the hooks to open by the help of two rollers and two springs; the breeching
will be fixed partly to the back band and partly to the traces. It can be
imagined that the traces becoming loosened by the rein which goes to the body;
the remainder would detach itself by the weight of the shafts.
For which, having resided twenty-two years in the colonies, has caused me
to see the necessity, after the events that have occurred at Saint Domingo,
and which failed taking place in the other colonies of blacks in general since
that time. By means of this Precaution Governinents which have colonies
can fortify them as strong as they please without sending out one man more
than usual; such a reinforcement will be invulnerable to bullets, side arms,
climate, and epidemics. After innumerable researches for several years he has
established the following plan:-A cuirass, musket-proof, mounted on a simple
four-wheel carriage, sheltering those enclosed in it from head to foot, moving
and governed by the latter, and in which is united every means of defence,
internally and externally, in guns and pikes.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF PLATES.
Plate 4 represents a side view of the carriage. a, covering representing a
helmet; v, the round part which represents a mask with (regards) look outs,
and (mointriers) portholes; c, the (cuirass) breast plate; d, the (ceinture) belt;
e, the (jupon) skirt; f, the (frize ou pente) valance where the road is uneven.
This latter will rise or fall when necessary; 9, chains by which the valance is
hung h, the pikes fixed on hinges, which are lowered or raised at will from
the interior by means of small chains, as are represented in Plates 2 and 3;
i, the openings in the helmet, which are also seen in Figure 1.
Plate 2. j the doors; k the small wheels which assist the fore axletrec
in turning, and which is retained on the other sides by cramps and rollers;
e, the port holes, the coverings to which are hung on hinges; m, a soldier on
watch, who is within the carriage.
Plate 5, Figures 2 and 3, present a side view and verticle section of a wheel
made entirely of wrought iron (the spokes of which are oval and angular).
Plate 6 is a plan of the carriage in which are represented the soldiers in the
act of drawing it. p, the wheel which governs; 2, the (cranalliere) or tooth'd
railway, on which the cogs of the wheel p act to turn the carriage.
OBSERVATIONS.
The men enclosed in this carriage may be compared to cuirassiers on foot,
who, in spite of their armour, can go at a quick step without being more
fatigued than a common soldier would be with his usual equipments. In case
of need I will have a screwed collar which I will fix at pleasure, with a pole
carrying a splintree bar, and which would pass through an opening made in
the shirt for that purpose. At the collar of the axletree would be two rings,
each carrying a hook, to which a chain is affixed which goes to the spintree
bar; the purpose of all which would be in case they would wish to send forces
of this description to some distance and quickly, then they may affix horses
and suspend seats in the interior, on which the soldiers might be conveyed post;
a camp bed might be also made with deal planks, so that it might serve for
a moveable guard house, which could be placed where there might be any
danger of a surprise.
IMPROVEMENT UPON THE CONSTRUCTION OF LOCOMOTIVE CARRIAGES.
Plate 7 is an elevation and Plate 8 is a plan of two vehicles, which are to
be propelled by the weight they carry, and of which the heavier the weight
the more force they will have in moving Plan 7. From the dispositions which
appear in the Drawing of two large motive wheels, each of which mounted on

page_text: a carriage, of which the first is of 4 wheels, and the second of two wheels,
placed so as to receive a third carriage, and as many as one would wish to
add without injuring, because each of them produces its sufficient action; it
will thus be seen that the motion is only produced by the weight one wishes
it to carry in introducing the same in the cylinders that are suspended from
the large wheels, vide letter t, the latter of which are provided with an opening
divided into four compartments. The state in which these two vehicles are
scen represents them to be in motion by the gravity produced by the cylinders
containing the weight, as represented by the letters b, c, d. It will be easily
conceived that the latter, by their position, ought to weigh the double of those
marked e, f, g; because they are hindered in that position by the clog wheels o,
which force them to produce their gravitating action by the disposition of a
small wheel z which turns on a road intended to separate the cylinders, and
which is represented by the letter a. The two cylinders h and j are perpen-
dicular; i junction of the two vehicles at top and bottom; 1 current of air or
ventilator fixed to an air pump, which I intend making useful, if necessary,
and of which I mark the place they ought to occupy; and two wheels, as
shewn by the letters s, t, u; m, rope to the little mill; n, a bar of wood or
iron serving to wind up the machinery, and to come down by the little mill k.
I beg to remark, that without this arrangement the vehicle would go inces-
santly. p, wheel, of wood for lightness sake, which I reserve to myself to
make in iron, with teeth, to this as well as to all others to which I shall think
it expedient, and which I bring in motion to begin with rope, chain, or any
other metal, or leather. This wheel is fixed at the end of the axle of the
motrice wheel, and turns the wheels 9 and y, the one by the side of the other,
mounted on the same tree that carries at the other end another wheel
lettered, which turns wheel a, fastened to the wheel that supports the
vehicle, and which propels on an iron road r, as well as of any other in
altering the disposition of the rotation wheels, as well as the simple carriage,
which I will place agreeably to the roads one might wish the vehicles to go
over, when they will be made even. It will be evident from the above descrip-
tion that the shape of the carriage is immaterial, and may be varied to suit
the purposes to which they are to be applied.
a
Plan 8 represent a bird's-eye view or plan of the foregoing two vehicles.
is a wheel carrying the vehicle; b, a wheel shewn in the first plan by letter p,
and moving all the others by the power which is given to it by the fly wheel
or motrice, as being fastened to the end of its axle.
c, a wheel, as repre-
sented by the letters q and y in the first plan, and which turns by the same
tree the wheel r, which turns that which is fastened upon the wheel lettered a,

page_text: which serves to the rotation of these vehicles. f, tree of the motrice wheels;
9, axle supporting the cylinders, at the end of which is adapted iron arms and
a spindle of axles, supposing the wheels z, which serve to separate the cylinders
outwardly in running over the road a represented in the first plan. These
axles traverse the two wheels mounted on the tree, and forming the latter to
the cylinder. h, line representing the width of the cylinders, and their posi-
tion to the action of striking; i, junction of the two vehicles; u, the flights;
I and y two wheels, which are turned, the one by wheel p, and the other by
the wheel of the air pump.
Plate 9, one of the cylinders shown separately in which the goods or weight
are carried, and it is the changing of the position of these cylinders, as above
shown, that causes the carriage to be propelled; for in their revolution with the
wheels t, it will be seen that they are alternately forced from the centre, and
brought nearer to it, so that the leverage is lengthened and shortened, con-
sequently their effective weight, when on the longer leverage, will be greater
than on the shorter leverage, and thus propel the carriage.
In witness whereof, I, the said Louis Quantin, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Seventeenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and thirty-four.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Seventeenth day of May, in the
year of our Lord 1834, the aforesaid Louis Quantin came before our said
Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.