Improvements in the Running-gear of Vehicles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 24th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 24th Jan., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Running-gear of Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM WILSON HORN, of the firm of Horn & Son, of 151 Strand, London,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, (a communication to me from abroad
by Garland B. St. John, of Kalamazoo. Kalamazoo County, Michigan State, United
States of America, Inventor) do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the pivotal connection of the front and rear running-gear
of vehicles, commonly known as the "fifth-wheel ;" and the object of the invention is
to so improve the connection of these parts as to avoid the rapid wear of circles,
bolster-plates, and centre-bolts in waggons, sleighs, and other vehicles.
The invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts,
as hereinafter set forth.
A common difficulty met with in the operation of the ordinary fifth-wheel of vehicles
is the wear of the same. This is due not only to the friction of the parts themselves
but to the accumulation of dust between them, the collection of which is rather aided
than otherwise by the presence of the oil used for the lubrication of the parts. Naturally
the oil serves to retain the grit, and in combination therewith forms a composition
which tends to rapidly cut and grind the parts. To remove, as far as practicable, this
objection to the common fifth-wheel, I provide the vehicle with an improved device,
which will now be described.
I provide a casting having a conical chilled socket and provided with suitable
flanges, whereby it is attached to two bars of the running-gear by suitable bolts. This
socket is closed at the bottom so as to hold oil. To the reach or body, as the case may
be, is similarly attached a conical plug or pivot-pin which is adapted to fit in the
socket part already described. To secure the requisite strength in this pivot-pin, it
should be made of wrought-iron or steel.
It will be seen that the flange connected with this pivot-pin extends over the top of
the socket to protect it from falling dust. Further, the surface of the pin which is
exposed to the dust, is comparatively small, and fitting snugly into the upper portion of
the socket tends to prevent any dust from entering it at that point. The socket being
now supplied with a quantity of oil the parts are self-lubricating, the amount of oil in
the socket being sufficient for several weeks without attention. Thus constructed the
device affords a very simple and inexpensive coupling for the front and rear running-
gear of vehicles, and in addition to its superior wearing qualities, as already specified,
possesses the advantage of uncoupling in case of the overturning of the vehicle. The
danger incident to such accidents is thereby greatly reduced, since the team, in case
of a runaway, is attached only to the front running-gear.
The invention is also applicable to the front bob of a bob-sleigh, the socket being
attached to the ordinary cross-bar.
The socket may be attached by suitable clips to springs suitably mounted on an
axle which is curved downwardly in the middle to allow for the necessary vertical
movement of the socket.
In still another modification the socket may be similarly clipped to suitable side
pieces of an axle composed of two parts, converging at the ends and connected by
suitable clips and skeins. This construction combines in a high degree the elements
of lightness and strength, the parts being trussed together, and there being no holes
bored in them to weaken them.
The sockets may be attached to the separated portions of an iron axle, in which case
the usual bolts may be used.
Dosad this th day of March 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Running-gear of Vehicles.
1. WILLIAM WILSON HORN of the firm of Horn & Son, of 151 Strand, London
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent (a communication to me from abroad by
Garland B. St. John of Kalamazoo in the County of Kalamazoo & State of Michigan
U.S.A. Gentleman), 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 the pivotal connection of the front & rear running gear of
vehicles, commonly known as the fifth wheel" & the object of the invention is to so
improve the connection of these parts as to avoid the rapid wear of circles, bolster-
plates. & centre-bolts in wagons, sleighs, & other vehicles.
The invention consists in the construction combination, & arrangement of parts, as
hereinafter fully set forth & claimed.
In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this Specification,
Figure 1 is a plan view of a device embodying a part of my invention as applied to
the frame of platform-spring running-gear;
Fig. 2, a central longitudinal section of the same with a partial elevation of the
buggy-hody & connected parts.
Fig. 3, a similar view of the device as applied to a bob-sleigh;
Fig. 4, Sheet 2, a view in perspective showing the lower half of the coupling as
applied to a modified form of spring connected with the forward axle ; and
Figs. 5&6 the same as applied to other modified forms of axles.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A common difficulty met with in the operation of the ordinary fifth-wheel of vehicles
is the wear of the same. This is due not only to the friction of the parts themselves,
but to the accumulation of dust between them, the collection of which is rather aided
than otherwise by the presence of the oil used for the lubrication of the parts.
Naturally the oil serves to retain the grit & in combination therewith forms a com-
position which tends to rapidly cut & grind the parts. To remove, as far as practicable,
this objection to the common fifth-wheel, I provide the vehicle with an improved
device which will now be described.
Referring to the drawings, A is a casting having a conical chilled socket & provided
with suitable flanges, whereby it is attached to the bars CC of the running-gear by
suitable bolts G. G. This socket as will be seen, is closed at the bottom, so as to
hold oil.
To the reach D or body D¹, as the case may be, is similarly attached a conical plug
or pivot pin B, which is adapted to fit in the socket part already described. To secure
the requisite strength in this pivot pin, it should be made of wrought-iron or steel.
By reference to the drawings it will be seen that the flange connected with this pivot-
pin extends over the top of the socket, & thus serves to protect it from falling dust.
Further, the surface of the pin, which is exposed to the dust, is comparatively small,
& fitting snugly into the upper portion of the socket, tends to prevent any dust from
entering it at that point. The socket being now supplied with a quantity of oil, the
parts are self-lubricating, the amount of oil in the socket being sufficient for several
weeks without attention.
Thus constructed the device affords a very simple & inexpensive coupling for the
front & rear running-gear of vehicles, & in addition to its superior wearing qualities,
as already specified, possesses the advantage of uncoupling in case of the overturning
of the vehicle. The danger incident to such accidents is thereby greatly reduced,
since the team. in case of a runaway, is attached only to the front running-gear.
In Fig. 3. is shown an application of the device to the front bob of a bob-sleigh,
the socket. A being attached to the ordinary crossbar C³.
In Fig. 4. the socket is shown attached by suitable clips H. H to springs E E

page_text: suitably mounted on an axle F, which is curved downwardly in the middle to allow
for the necessary vertical movement of the socket.
Still another modification is shown in Fig. 5, wherein the socket is similarly clipped
to the side pieces F F of an axle composed of two parts, converging at the ends &
connected by suitable clips & skeins. This construction combines in a high degree the
elements of lightness & strength, the parts being trussed together, & there being no
holes bored in them to weaken them.
In Fig. 6. the socket is shown attached to the separated portions F" F" of an iron
axle F, in which case the bolts G G may be used.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The combination of a conical socket closed at the bottom for the front running-
gear of vehicles & a corresponding conical pivot-pin secured to the rear gear,
substantially as described, whereby the socket is adapted to hold oil for the continuous
lubrication of the parts, & the front and rear gear are adapted to separate in the event
of overturning.
2. The combination of the herein-described socket A pivot-pin B & the forward
axle having an aperture through the middle to receive said socket, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
3. The combination of the socket A, pivot-pin B. & an axle composed of side
pieces FF separated in the middle to admit the socket & connected at the end by
clips
skeins, substantially as described.
Dated this 54th day of Danumber 1800
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.