AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR INSTANTLY AND AUTOMATICALLY ATTACHING HORSES TO SHAFT VEHICLES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert Dickinson, of Huddersfield, in the County of
York, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
FOR INSTANTLY AND AUTOMATICALLY ATTACHING HORSES TO SHAFT
VEHICLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert Dickinson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th November 1881.
HERBERT DICKINSON, of Huddersfield, in the County of York. "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR INSTANTLY AND AUTOMATICALLY ATTACHING
HORSES TO SHAFT VEHICLES."
The object of my Invention is to save time in harnessing horses to shaft vehicles,
also in greatly simplifying such harness by dispensing with a portion thereof. I
connect the trace and the tug, and so dispense with that part of the trace which is
attached to the front part of the vehicle. I then connect the tug and the breech
strap, so doing away with the breech strap round the shaft; the tug simply slides
on the shaft and is secured by a self fastening catch formed so that for either
drawing or backing it performs the office of the ordinary trace and breech, thus
being automatically secured and instantly released.
The fastener projects from the shaft in an L form, its end having a notch into
which the end of an hinged arm rests, the arm being held in position by a spring,
so that the arm will give way for the entrance or exit of the tug, but is returned
into position by the spring; two holes and pins may be employed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Herbert Dickinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd May
1882.
HERBERT DICKINSON, of Huddersfield, in the County of York. "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR INSTANTLY AND AUTOMATICALLY ATTACHING
HORSES TO SHAFT VEHICLES."
The object of my Invention is to save time in barnessing horses to shaft
vehicles, also in greatly simplifying such harness by dispensing with a portion
thereof.
1 connect the trace to the tug, and so dispense with that part of a trace which is
usually continued and attached to the front part of the vehicle. I then connect the
tug and the breech strap, so doing away with the breech strap round the shaft; the
tug simply slides on to the shaft and is secured by a self-fastening catch formed
so that when either drawing or backing it performs the office of the ordinary trace
and breech, thus being automatically secured and instantly released.
The fastener projects from the shaft in an L form, its end having a notch in
which the end of the hinged arm rests, formning a guide for the same, the arm being
held in position by a spring, so that it will give way for the entrance or exit_of
the tug, and is returned into position by the spring. Pins or other arrangement of
fastener may be employed.
Such being the nature and object of this my said Invention, in order that the
same may be fully understood I have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings
illustrative thereof, and have marked the same with figures and letters of reference,
similar letters of reference in licating the same or corresponding parts throughout
all the Figures of the Drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 shews an elevation of horse and trap with my improvements attached.
Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged views of fastener.
I connect the trace A to the tug B, and so dispense with that part of the trace
which is usually continued and attached to the front part of the vehicle C. I then
connect the tug B and the breech strap D, as shewn, instead of passing it round
the shaft in the ordinary manner; for connecting them to the links or rings K of
the tug I preferably use the ordinary spring snap links; one portion E of the
fastener projects from the shaft in an L form, its end F bears in a notch at the end
of the hinged arm G forming a guide for the same, the arm being held in position
by a spring H bearing on a pin J so that the arm G will give way for the
entrance or exit of the tug B, and is returned into position by the spring H; pins
or other arrangement of fastener may be used, but I preferably use the one
illustrated and described.
By the above arrangements the tug simply slides on to the shaft and is secured
thereto by the self-fastening catch, which is formed so that when either drawing or
backing it performs the office of the ordinary trace and breech, thus being
automatically secured and instantly released.
Having thus fully described and particularly ascertained the nature of this my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same may be performed or carried
into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim as the Invention to be
secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
Firstly. Connecting the trace A and the breech D to the tug B for simplifying

page_text: and facilitating the harnessing and unharnessing of horses to and from vehicles,
such as shewn and described.
Secondly. The fastener (in combination with the above arrangement), as shewn
and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert Dickinson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
HERBERT DICKINSON. (L.S.)
Witness,
JOHN E. WALSH,
Patent Agent and Consulting Engineer,
Halifax, Leeds, and Bradford.