TEPRATEEPERS IN STARLE EXTTINGS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Hallen Cottam and Henry Richard Cottam,
of St. Pancras Iron Works, Old St. Pancras Road, in tho County of
Middlesex fo- the Invention of “ TEPRATEEPERS IN STARLE EXTTINGS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Hallen Cottam
and Henry Richard Cottam at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 1st June 1859.
We, GEORGE HALLEN COTTAM and HENRY RICHARD COTTAM, of St. Pancras
Iron Works, Old St. Pancras Road, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STABLE FITTINGS,"
to bo as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in stable fittings. In con-
structing the partitions of the stalls or of the loose boxes of stables it is
difficult, particularly when wrought-iron posts are employed, as is described in
the Specification of a former Patent granted to us, dated October 31st, 1857,
& numbered 2777, to form a good connection between the post and the metal
cill or piece, which receives and holds the lower ends of the boards forming
the partition. For this purpose we form at the end of the cill a button or
projection, the length of which is greater than its width, and in connecting the
cill to the post the button or projection is passed through a slot or opening in
the post, and is then locked by turning it one quarter round; if a wrought-
iron post be used, such as is described in the Specification of the Patent above

page_text: referred to, the opening formed from top to bottom of the post to receive the
planking, will also serve to receive the button or projection on the cill, and
when a cast-iron post is employed a slot may be made in it for the purpose.
The ramps or gratings now usually employed to form the top of the partitions
of stalls and loose boxes we form of wrought-iron bars, bent to a wavy form,
thus
such bars make a ramp or grating much superior to those heretofore made of
cast iron, as the bars are not liable to have sharp edges, as is the case with
cast bars, and they form gratings superior to those formed from straight bars
of wrought iron, as when such bars are used horses commonly rub their noses
up and down the bars, and thus disfigure themselves. In arranging latches
on the doors of loose boxes, we employ a latch bolt mounted on a centre,
and so placed that when the door is closed, and it is turned down, it enters
a slot in the post, as heretofore; but in order to prevent the bolt projecting
beyond the door should it be turned down when the door is open, wo form the
slot or passage in which the latch works of such a length as to allow the
latch, should it be turned down when the door is open, to fall by its own
weight within the edge of the door, so as to offer no projection against which
a horse might be injured.
When those descriptions of mangers are employed which are capable of
turning into and out of the stall, swinging on a vertical axis, in order to
prevent the possibility of the manger being left in an intermediate position,
and so as to form a dangerous projection within the stall, we mount such
mangers in such a manner that when not secured they will of themselves turn
out of the stall; this we prefer to do by mounting the manger on a falling
hinge, or by mounting it on an axis in a slightly inclined position, so that its
own weight prevents it remaining in an intermediate position. In place of
arranging the manger to turn out of the stall it may be arranged to turn into
it, if desired.
In constructing mangers furnished with covers, which, when out of use,
turn down out of the way by passing through a slot in the manger plate, we
arrange such plates to fall below the level of the manger plate when out of
use, so that they may not, as heretofore, offer a sharpe edge above the manger
plate, against which a horse may injure himself. In order to prevent the
manger block making a noise as it rises and falls as the horse moves about, S
the block has a projecting flange or flanges of leather or other packing
attached to it, and it is caused to rise and fall within a tubular guide, so that

page_text: the edge of the projecting flange or flanges resting on the guide keeps tho
block from contact with it. In some cases we make the block of a tubular
form, and place the leather or other flanges, so as to project interiorly, and a
solid rod passing through the interior of the block is employed as a guide.
The edges of the flanges, as in the former case, serve to keep the block from
contact with the guide. In paving the stalls of stables and loose boxes we
employ gutter blocks made of cast iron; the upper surface of the block is
roughened so as to be suitable to form a portion of the pavement; along the
centre of the block the gutter is formed, and in order to avoid the necessity of
laying the pavement on an inclination, which is fatiguing to the horse, wo
make the gutter taper, that is to say, deeper at one end than the other, so
that the necessary fall may be obtained without inclining the pavement in the
direction of the length of the stall. To from the head of the stall, wo employ
plates of cast iron, which are enamelled, and havo a suitable pattern formed
on them, so that each plate may have the appearance of a number of tiles
fitted together; these plates may be attached to the wall of the stable by
screws or otherwise; they may also be used in fitting the interior of loose
boxes.
In order to keep the crupper of harness from losing its form when hung up
while damp, we employ a crupper bracket, which is so formed that the
crapper when hanging on it is kept in its proper curved formed by being bent
by its own woight & that of the other parts of the harness attached to it
over a suitably formed surface.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Hallen Cottam and Henry Richard Cottam in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st December 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, GEORGE
HALLEN COTTAM and HENRY RICHARD COTTAM, of St. Pancras Iron Works,
Old St. Pancras Road, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said George Hallen Cottam and Henry Richard Cottam, Her special
licenco that we, the said George Hallen Cottam and Henry Richard Cottam,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said

page_text: George Hallen Cottam and Henry Richard Cottam, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STABLE FITTINGS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that we, the said George Hallen Cottam and Henry
Richard Cottam, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under our or their hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or
them, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said George Hallen Cottam and Henry
Richard Cottam, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in stable fittings. In con-
structing the partitions of the stalls, or of the loose boxes of stables, it is
difficult, particularly when wrought-iron posts are employed, as is described in
the Specification of a former Patent granted to us, to form a good connection
between the post and the metal cill or piece which receives and holds the lower
ends of the boards forming the partition; for this purpose we form at the end
of the cill a button or projection, the length of which is greater than its width,
and in connecting the cill to the post, the button or projection is passed
through a slot or opening in the post, and is then locked by turning it one
quarter round. If a wrought-iron post be used, such as is described in the
Specification of the Patent above referred to, the opening formed from top to
bottom of the post to receive the planking will also serve to receive the button
or projection on the cill, and when a cast-iron post is employed, a slot may be
made in it for the purpose.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a cast-iron post for a stall or loose box con-
structed in the manner above described; the same Figure also shows the cill
in section. Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the post taken at the level of
the cill; the same Figure also shews a plan of a portion of the cill. Figure 3
is a vertical section of a portion of the post, and also shows a side view of part
of the call. The post is constructed as heretofore, with the exception of having
a slot a formed in it just above the ground line, and the cill also is of the usual
form, except that it has a button or projection 6 formed at its end; this

page_text: cast iron, as the bars are not liable to have sharp edges, as is the case with
cast bars, and they form gratings superior to those formed from straight bars
of wrought iron, as when such bars are used, horses commonly rub their noses
up and down the bars, and thus disfigure themselves. Figure 5 is a side view
of a ramp constructed in this manner. In order to bend the bars, we employ
a block of cast iron with ridges and furrows of the desired contour; the bar
to be bent, when at a red heat, is clamped to the edge of the block, it is then
hammered down to the form of the first ridge and again clamped in the furrow
beyond, and so on if a number of bends have to be made. In place of this
arrangement, crimping rollers may be employed with advantage if a large
number of bars have to be bent. The bars, when bent, we lay in a sand
mould and cast on to them a top and bottom rail, so as to complete the ramp,
as is shewn in Figure 5, or, in some cases, we employ top and bottom rails of
wrought iron; theso rails are drilled to receive the ends of the bars, which are
drawn down to a smaller diameter than the centre portions of the bars, and
when the ends of the bars have been placed through the holes in the rails,
they are clenched or rivetted beyond.
In arranging latches on the doors of loose boxes, we employ a latch bolt
mounted on a centre, and so placed that when the door is closed and it is turned
down it enters a slot in the post, as heretofore; but in order to prevent the
bolt projecting beyond the door, should it be turned down when the door is
open, we form the slot or passage in which the latch works of such a length as
to allow the latch, should it be turned down when the door is open, to fall by
its own weight within the edge of the door, so as to offer no projection against
which a horse might be injured. Figure 6 is a front view of a portion of a
door of a loose box having a latch applied to it arranged in the manner above
described, together with a portion of the post against which the door shuts;

page_text: Figure 7 is a vertical section, and Figure 8 is an edge view, also partly in
section, of the same. a, a, is the case of the latch; b is the bolt which works
between the two side plates of the case; it is mounted on the spindle c; this
spindle passes through holes in the side plates of the case, and is capable of
turning freely; d, d, are recessed plates attached to the woodwork on each side
of the door; each of these plates has a hole at its centre, through which the
extremity of the stem of one of the handles e, e, is passed, and it receives a
screw nut e' beyond to secure the handle to the plate, the edge of the plate
being then retained between a flange on the stem handle and the screw nut;
the stems of the handles are hollow interiorly, and fit the ends of the square
spindle c. The front plate of the case, as the Drawing shows, has a slot cut in
it for the passage of the end of the bolt, and this slot is of such a length as to
allow the bolt by its own weight to fall into the position in which it is shown in
Figure 7 when the door is open. When, however, the door is closed against
the post, and the bolt is turned down, it assumes the position shown by the
dotted lines in the same Figure, the bottom of the slot in the post which
receives the end of the bolt, stopping it in this position. In some cases we
employ a catch, to prevent the bolt being raised by a horse rubbing against the
handle within the stall, as is perhaps otherwise possible.
When those descriptions of mangers are employed which are capable of
turning into and out of the stall, swinging on a vertical axis, and passing
through an opening left for them in the boarding of the stall or box, in order
to prevent the possibility of the manger being left in an intermediate position,
and so as to form a dangerous projection within the stall, we mount such
manger in such a manner, that when not secured, they will of themselves turn
out of the stall; this we prefer to do by mounting the manger on a falling
hinge, such as is commonly used for doors, and so that the manger in turning
out of the stalls descends a distance regulated by the incline of the hinge, or
the same object may be attained by mounting the manger on an axis in a
slightly inclined position, so that it own weight prevents it remaining in an
intermediate position. In place of arranging the manger to turn out of the
stall, it may be arranged to turn into it, if desired. In constructing mangers
furnished with covers, which, when out of use, turn down out of the way by
passing through a slot in the manger plate; we arrange such plates to fall
below the level of the manger plates when out of use, so that they may not, as
heretofore, offer a sharp edge above the manger plate, against which a horse
may injure himself. Figure 9 is a section of a manger and manger plate so
constructed. a is the plate for covering the manger; it passes through a slot
formed for it in the manger plate, and has two projections a¹, a', from it at the

page_text: two ends of its upper edge, to prevent it falling through; these projections rest
on supports formed for them below the level of the manger plate, so that the
upper edge of the cover may descend to this level. A recess is formed in the
manger plate at 6 sufficiently large to allow the edge of the plate a to be taken
hold of by the finger and thumb, in order to draw it up. In order to prevent
the manger block or halter ball making a noise as it rises and falls as the
horse moves about, the block has a projecting flange or flanges of leather or
other packing attached to it, and it is caused to rise and fall within a tubular
guide, so that the edge of the projecting flange or flanges resting on the guide,
keeps the block from contact with it. Figure 10 is a section of a block and
guide thus arranged. a is the tubular guide, 6 the block, and the halter, to
which it is attached; the block is made in two parts, which are held together
by knotting the halter above and below the block. is a disc of leather placed
between the two parts of the block, and which serves to keep the block itself
out of contact with the guide. In some cases we make the block of a tubular
form, and place the leather or other flanges so as to project interiorly, and a
solid rod passing through the interior of the block is omployed as a guide; the
edges of the flanges, as in the former case, serve to keep the block from con-
tact with the guide. Figure 11 is a longitudinal section of a block and guide
thus constructed. a is the guide; b the block, which is made in three parts,
held together by screws, and having between them leather discs c, c; d is the
halter attached to the block. In paving the stalls of stables and loose boxes,
we employ gutter blocks made of cast iron; the upper surface of the block is
roughened, so as to be suitable to form a portion of the pavement; along the
centre of the block, the gutter is formed, and in order to avoid the necessity of
laying the pavement on an inclination, which is fatiguing to the horse, we
make the gutters taper, that is to say, deeper at one end than the other,
so that the necessary fall may be obtained without inclining the pavement in
the direction of the length of the stall. Figure 12 is an end view of such a
block; it is, by preference, made of such a length, that the single block may
extend from the centre of the stall to the transverse gutter usually placed at
the end thereof. To form the head of the stall, we employ plates of cast iron,
which are enamelled, and have a suitable pattern formed on them, so that each
plate may have the appearance of a number of tiles fitted together; these plates
may be attached to the wall of the stable by screws or otherwise; they
may also be used in fitting the interior of loose boxes. Figure 18 is a front
view of three such plates; we usually cast them about inch thick, and
with projections an eighth of an inch high, to form the pattern; the plates are
enamelled in the ordinary manner, and may be fixed by screws, or otherwise.

page_text: In order to keep the crupper or harness from losing its form when hung up
while damp, we employ a crupper bracket, which is so formed that the
crupper when hanging on it is kept in its proper curved form by being bent by
its own weight, and that of the other parts of the harness attached to it over a
suitably formed surface. Figure 14 is a side view, and Figure 15, a front
view of a crupper bracket, such as above described; its form is clearly shown
by the Drawing; the dotted lines represent a crupper placed upon it.
In witness whereof, we, the said George Hallen Cottam and Henry
Richard Cottam, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thirtieth
day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-nine.
G. HALLEN COTTAM.
(LS.)
HENRY RICHARD COTTAM. (L.S.)