AN IMPROVED MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED FOR LOCOMOTION ON RAILROADS AND OTHER ROADS, WHICH IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER ENGINES FOR EXERTING POWER
Year: 1838

page_text: PEPPERCORNE'S SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
RYDER PEPPERCORNE, of Vauxhall, in the Parish of Lambeth and County of
Surrey, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Thirty-first day of January, in the first year of Her reign, and
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said George
Ryder Peppercorne, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said George Ryder Peppercorne, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said George Ryder Peppercorne, my executors,
administrators, or 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
the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "AN IMPROVED MACHINERY
TO BE EMPLOYED FOR LOCOMOTION ON RAILROADS AND OTHER ROADS, WHICH IS ALSO
APPLICABLE TO OTHER ENGINES FOR EXERTING POWER;" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said George Ryder Peppercorne,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
George Ryder Peppercorne, do hereby declare that the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof,
reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
The principle of my Invention consists in converting the external or indirect
motion which takes place in the ordinary draught of carriages by quadrupeds,
into a more direct or primary action, by which the animal is enabled to exert
his power with more economy, greater safety, and at much higher velocities.
It is well known that in ordinary draught a great part of the horse's muscular
action is exerted to carry his own weight, and above a certain velocity nomen-
tum obtained by the carriage at this point not being continued to or partaken of
by the horse, soon ceases, and the animal is constrained to exert his power at
a lower velocity, by which one part of his muscular force is consumed in carrying
his own weight, and the other that of dragging the weight of the carriage.
My Invention consists, therefore, in the application of a certain combination
of machinery to effect the raising and suspending or supporting quadrupeds fit
for locomotion on a carriage or framework supported on wheels, by which the
whole or great part of the weight of the horse is carried by the interposition
of certain springs, bars, girths, and braces. This framework being connected
to the carriage for conveyance, whatever momentum may be obtained is com-
bined of the weight of the horse as well as of the conjoint carriage, and will
follow the law of accelerated motion; the naturally interrupted action of
draught is converted into a motion, which, being transmitted continuously and
directly to the carriage, constitutes it a primary machine for locomotion. The
action which takes place is perhaps better described by saying, that in ordinary
draught the power of the horse is incapable of accumulation, whereas the object
of the present Invention is to store up the average expenditure of force by the
horse as constant additions to the ultimate momentum.
B
Plan I. shews a side view or elevation of the conjoint carriage; and Plan 2,
the ground plan, viz, the carriage of the horse A, and that for conveyance
(which in this plan has the form of a photon), connected together at C
by a vertical hinge or joint; (a, a, a,) is the axle, passing over the back of
the horse, and screwed or stepped into two blocks (b, b, b, b,) which are firmly
coupled to the under shafts (h, h, at (c,c,); this axle slides freely in a bent
part of the axle arms (c, c). It will be seen by the front view, Plan 3 (Fig. 1),
that these axle arms are quite independent of the axle (a, a, a, a, a,); the shafts
or frames (h,h,) is borne by two springs d, d, firmly coupled in the bed of the

page_text: axle arms at d, d; e, e, is the suspension spring bar, sliding freely on (a, a,);
ff, the springs, to be of wood or metal, connected by a cord, chain, leather
brace, or metal rods to g, g, the saddle bar, which also, as (e, e,) slides freely
on (a, a). This saddle bar is thus formed: the parts k, k, are truly turned to
fit corresponding sockets bored in the arms g, g, in which they would revolve
freely, but are stopped by two studs m, m, which fit two cuts or slots in 9,9,
which is shewn more plainly in Fig. 2 (Plan 3), which is a section of g, g,
the cut or slot being one quarter of the circumference, or any other less
part, as one-sixth of a circle. It will be seen hereafter that this cut is to
allow the horse connected to the saddle (n, n,) to k, k, k, to depress his hind
quarters or haunches, for the purpose of backing the carriage; he is stopped for-
wards by the stud m, m. n, n, the saddle (a side view of which is shewn at Fig. 3,)
(Plan 8,) is connected to the saddle bar (at n, n,) by pins passing through
two tenons in the saddle-tree, which is iron, fitting corresponding sockets
k, k. In Plan I. p, p, are one, two, or more bent supports between h and a. I
call them the upper shafts, although, when made of elastic wood, they answer
the purpose of springs, acting upwards. In the latter case I prefer to make
them in two more slips in the manner of the plates of metal springs, the one
sliding on the other through brackets or couplings fixed to one or the other
slip. 9,9, is a bar, at the two ends of which is fixed the leather brace pass-
ing over the axle a, a, which carries at the other end the spring bar e, e;
round the centre of this bar q, q, is passed a leather brace, which is
fixed to some central part of the upper shafts, and being continued to the
winch t, t, is wound upon its axis or roller, and acted on by the lever as
shewn in Plan I. I have described the leverage which I employ, but it is
evident that other leverage may be employed, the object being to raise the
horse by the spring bar e, e. In some cases the spring bar e, e, and springs f,f,
may be dispensed with, the bar q, q, being made the spring, and connected directly
to the saddle bar. Connected to p, p, by a bolt at r, are two check plates of iron,
which carry the axis of the winch, and form one half of the vertical hinge con-
necting the carriages; the connecting bolt of this hinge is an upright rod C,
furnished at the top with a transverse rod to which rims may be attached at
the other end, and under the carriage it carries a wheel, and round which is
passed a rope or chain in the manner shewn in the ground plan, and fixed at
v, v; the object of this leverage is to guide or turn the conjoint carriage.
It is evident that there are other modes of effecting this, but I prefer the above
described. w is a cross piece, removed by withdrawing the pins for the admis-
sion of the horse. I here observe that I do not restrict myself to any particular
method of turning the carriage, but the above described method is the one I

page_text: prefer; but the bent supports p,p, may be fixed to the carriage for conveyance,
and traverse on the top of the upper axle a, a, a, a, as is usual with four-
wheeled carriages.
There is also another method I employ for this purpose in connection with the
vertical joint at C. This plan is shewn by Plan 4, in which A, A, is what I !
call a double traversing perch, which bears upon the centres of either pair
of axles; the two ends of this perch are not fixed, but allow either axle to
traverse to the extent of two slots cut through the perch in the manner
shewn by the dotted lines. The connecting bolts which traverse the slots being
fixed to the axles, a bar B, B, which is shewn in section at Fig. 2 (Plan 4), is
fixed athwart the perch, and on the under side is an iron bar which allows the
top of the connecting bolt of the hinge or joint C to traverse thereon. When
the carriage is turned, it will be in the way shewn by the dotted lines, the hinge
or joint C traversing to B, and the axles towards each other by the slots in the
perch. I claim the application] of this perch generally to carriages. I have
called the axle a, a, a, a, a, the upper axle, because in Plan I. the dotted
lines under the axle a, a, a, show the application of an under axle, which I
claim to employ in certain cases where great strength is required, or more than
one horse is driven abreast. The application is also shewn in Plan 3, Fig. 1.
In this case the bent axle arm c, c, is formed in the same way below as it is
above the centres of the wheels, but it carries neither springs nor shafts; the
under axle slides through a hole as in the upper part, and is prevented coming
out by two blocks, through which are fixed transversely four pins, and attached to
these pins are chains or slight rods, the direction of which is shewn by the dotted
line carried on each side of the shafts h, h, up to e, e, the spring bar; when
this latter is lowered it lets fall the under axle to the ground, and allows the
ingress or egress of the horse; when raised, it carries with it the under axle
out of the way of the horse's feet, and clear of the ground. It is evident from
the Plans that all that is required to adapt this conjoint carriage as a locomotive
for railways is to provide suitable wheels, which need no particular description;
it is also evident that the joint or hinge is not indispensable for railways.
The next feature of my Invention is a brake or skid, which is shewn in
Plans I. and II., to be acted on by the driver without removing from his seat.
x, a, are two springs of wood or metal, fixed across the axle or the bottom of the
carriage; they are connected at y by a bar or rod, which carries two other rods
hanging freely, y, z, to within about twelve inches of the ground; these vertical
rods are again connected together by a bar which forms the axle of the brake, two
small wheels 2, which may be formed of wood, with an iron tire of some substance,
and I prefer that their circumference should be cut away, as shewn, to corre-

page_text: spond with the periphery of the carriage wheel. From the axle of these small
wheels a cord or chain is carried, as shewn, round a loose pulley or sheave on
the main axle, or fixed to some part of the carriage near the axle; the cord is
continued upwards, and acted on by a small winch, as shewn, in the seat of the
driver; the axis of this winch passes through the seat, and acts in like manner
on the other side. By acting on the winch the cord first draws the small
wheels or skid close to the periphery of the carriage wheels, and, if greate
friction is required, by tightening the cord the centrifugal action of the main
wheel will draw the brake by bending the springs a, a, between the periphery
of the large wheel and the roadway; the action of the springs is confined to a
certain distance by a chain fixed to the body of the carriage. I claim the
application of this brake to all wheel carringes. In some cases the springs x, x,
may be replaced by two levers turning on the main axle; in this case the brake
must be raised and lowered; the springs save one of these motions. I do not
claim the particular leverage herein described, but the particular mode of
applying the small wheels z, z.
Another feature of my Invention of this mode of employing horse power is
shewn in Plan 3, Fig. 4, to illustrate the manner in which the horse's power
is employed for fixed engine purposes. As the means of suspension, &c. have
been previously described, it will be sufficient to state, that I convert the upward
and downward, or alternate rise and fall, which the springs give to the horse
into a rotary motion, by connecting the saddle bar to a crank movement.
There is a peculiarity in the crank which I claim as my Invention, and which
I sometimes employ. The lever d, d, which with the axle c forms the crank,
is not fixed thereto, but slides freely in either of two modes (viz'), by a hole
bored at right angles through the axis of the fly-wheel, or by a slot in the
lever d, d, itself, and which allows the axis c to traverse it, grooves being cut
in c for that purpose. The Plan shews either way in the same Figure. I call
this a centrifugal crank, because the length of its leverage varies with and
accommodates to the work to be done, or the quantity of power employed,
which is particularly needful in the above mode of employing horse power, as
the horse's paces are necessarily irregular. I remark here that I employ
a movable platform to induce the horse's motion, with having been heretofore
used I do not describe. I should observe that in Plan 1 the upper shafts p, p,
are fastened to the upper axle a, a, a, a, by a leather brace, which is passed
under and over the axle, and continued all the way down the shafts or
springs p, p. I have also omitted to describe 2 C springs introduced in the
Plan, which are not indispensible, but when used are to support the above
upper shafts p, p, and add to their elasticity; the bending of the latter is allowed

page_text: for by slots in the cheek plates of the winch at r. When two horses are to be
driven abreast, no alteration need be made in the arrangements. They may
be raised simultaneously or separately. I prefer, nevertheless, to support the
centre of the axle a, a, by another upright resting on an additional shaft or
pole to pass between the two horses. In some cases I employ one or more
horses in front, connected to the wheel horses in the usual way by traces and a
splinter bar. This, of course, does not apply to railways, where each horse
must be supported in order that he may be carried with the same velocity as
the carriage. Should it, however, be desirable to have a horse or horses
in front, I continue the upper shafts beyond the axle bar a, a, by which it is
supported, to a convenient distance for suspending the front horse by an iron
frame similar to the bent or cranked axle a, a, of the wheel horse, but connected
to the upper shaft by a central bolt, which allows it to traverse freely round;
the lower ends are to be connected by traces to a splinter bar in the usual
way, the front horse being furnished with the same description of saddle as the
wheeler, connected and suspended in the same manner.
I have thus described to the best of my knowledge the manner in which my
Invention is constructed, but it is evident that there are certain parts which
may be varied under different circumstances.
But I claim as my Invention the raising and supporting, &c. all quadrupeds
upon the carriage, as described, with a view to their exerting their power to
greater advantage than by ordinary draught when unsupported:
I claim the application of this principle to all carriages, whether pleasure, agri-
cultural, or industrial, and those used for military purposes, as well as artillery
or gun carriages, and such carriages as have been used as sleighs by the medium
of runners in lieu of wheels in certain cases, the same combination for suspend-
ing or supporting the horse being used (vizt), first, the combination of upper
or upper and under axle, axle arms with the shafts, the leverage of whatever
kind for raising or lowering the horse, the bars, saddle, &c.; second, the double
traversing perch; third, the brake; fourth, the centrifugal crank, and its
application to the above combination, as well as for general purposes.
And I do not in all cases use all the parts of this machinery, but what is
sufficient of them, with lightness and strength, to produce sufficient leverage
to raise and sustain any quadruped, with a view to locomotion, in the manner
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Ryder Peppercorne, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight
GEORGE RYDER (L.s.) PEPPERCORNE.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Thirty-first day of July, in the
second year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the said George
Ryder Peppercorne came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery,
and acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein
contained and specified, in form above written. And also the Instrument
aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made in the fifty-
fifth year of the reign of His late Majesty King George the Third.
Inrolled the Thirty-first day of July, One thousand eight hundred and
thirty-eight.