US118257A - Michael miller - Google Patents

Description

MICHAEL MILLER, OF WATERLOO, INDIANA..

IMPROVEMENT IN WAGGNS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 118,257, dated August 22, 1871.

To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL MILLER, of Waterloo, in the county of De Kalb and State of Indiana, ha-ve invented a new and useful Improvement inWa-gons, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which the various parts are designated by similar letters in all the figures.

The iirst part of my invention relates to an improved fifth-wheel, by which wagons are enabled to turn more easily'and steadily than heretofore, and byits peculiar construction relieves the kingbolt ofthe greater part of the strain which it sustains in ordinary wagons.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the first part of my invention attached to that part of a wagon to which it belongs; and Fig. 2 is a section of the same taken in the line :v m, shown in Fig. l.

It consists of two annular plates, one which I call the bottom plate, shown at A, being firmly attach ed in a horizontal position to the upper side of the fore axle-tree, so that the hole through which the king-bolt passes is at its center. The upper surface of this plate, with the exception of a ledge, Z, around its outer edge, is rid ge-shaped, the inn er incline of therid ge being twicethe extent of the outer, as shown in Fig. 2. rlhe other, which I call the top plate, shown at B, is firmly attached to or forms part ofthe under side of the fore end of the couplin pole, preferably in the mann er sh own in the drawing'. The under surface of this plate is grooved to t upon the upper surface of plate A, upon which it oscillates with the movements of the wagon. The two plates are held together when the wagon is coupled by the kin g-bolt c passing through the cross-head h., which` forms the termination of the coupling-pole p. The two plates are of the same size, and I prefer to make them of the diameter of about one-third or fourth the length of ordinary axle-trees and of convenient thickness.

It will be seen that in this invention a great degree of steadiness in running and facility in turning is attained7 and that a large portion of the pull is sustained by the contiguous surfaces of the two plates A and B, which would otherwise fall upon the king-bolt, which is the case in ordinary wagons, too much strain being thereby centered on said bolt. The plates are made of metal or metal and wood combined.

Fig. 3 shows the second `part of my invention, which relates to the manner in which the hind hoinids of a wagon are attached to the couplingpole. Instead of being rigidly fixed to said pole they are attached', by screws or otherwise, to a swivelin g head, Z, made in two parts, Z Z, which head embraces the coupling-pole and turns upon it when either ofthe wheels ofthe wagon is raised, as when passing over obstacles or making short turns.

In ordinary wagons, when a short turn is made or a wheel on one side passes over an obstruction,

there is a great strain upon the coupling-gear, as y is well known, and various parts of it are frequently thus broken and twisted out of place. This is obviated by the second part of my invention, viz., the manner of attaching the hind hounds to coupling-pole by a swiveling head or its equivalent.

Having thus described my invent-ion, what I claim is- 1 r1`he combination of the swiveling head Z and the'reach with the fifth-wheel, having upon its lower plate a V-shaped annular ridge, and in its upper plate a groove to iit therein, all as shown and described, and for the purpose set forth..

Witness my hand this 30th day of M arch, 1871. Vitnesses: MICHAEL MILLER.

A. J. SINGLAIR, J. C. BOYER.

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