US1573755A - Tongue-supporting gear for draft animals - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 16 1926. 1,573,755

R. C. WORKMAN TONGUE SUPPORTTNG GEAR FOR DRAFT ANIMALS Eiled May 22, 1924 l2 ll I? l j X f f ,1

Patented Feb. 15, 1926.

ROBERT CHAPMAN \VGRKMAN, OF CAMDEN, SOUTH CARGLTQIIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF T0 SHAND ENGINEERING AND SALES CQMPANY, OF OOLUlviBIA, SOUTH CAR- OLINA, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

TONGUE-SUPPGRTING GEAR FOB, DRAFT ANIIVIALS.

Application filed May 22, 192-4.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, ROBERT CHAPMAN TVORKMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Camden, in the county of Kershaw and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tongue-Supporting Gears for Draft Animals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a tongue supporting gear, for draft animals, and is es pecially useful in connection with heavy vehicles or implements travelling over rough surfaces.

With the usual tongue supporting means comprising simply chains or the like, the draft animals are often subjected to great discomfort and severe punishment, as a result of side thrusts and jerks incident to the lateral movement of the tongue or pole, when the vehicle is travelling over rough ground.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide means for absorbing or cushioning these shocks so as to protect the draft animals from the disastrous efi'ects thereof. A further object is to provide means for also cushioning the vertical movements of the end of the tongue so as to relieve the animals necks from unnecessary and excessive irritation.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved tongue supporting gear;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof; and

Figure 3 is a side elevation on a smaller scale, showing my improved gear as it appears whein in use.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my improved tongue supporting gear comprises a breast yoke 1, which may be either of wood or metal, but is shown as consisting of a wooden bar. To the ends of this breast yoke are secured clips or brackets 2, and

each of these brackets is suspended by means of links 3 and 4, from the middle point of a Ushaped substantially rigid neck yoke The ends of each of these neck yokes are arranged to lie at opposite sides of the animals neck, and such ends are suspended by means of links 6 and elastic tension devices, from lugs or rings 11, carried by the usual Serial No. 715,173.

hames 12, which it around the draft collar 18. As shown, the elastic tension devices referred to comprise a hanger 7, secured to one of the links 6, and having its upper ends bent over to constitute hooks 7. A rod or link 9 extends between the arms of the hanger 7, and is secured at its lower end to a suitable abutment, as for example, a disc or plate 10. Interposed between the hooks 7 and the disc or plate 10, and surrounding the hanger 7 and link 9, is a compression spring 8. It is obvious that a load applied to the yoke 5 will draw down upon the hangers 7, and serve to compress the springs S, such springs thus constituting resilient means for supporting the load. Other forms of elastic tension or resilient supporting means may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A tongue engaging ring 14 is provided, and is suspended below the breast yoke 1,

from the downwardly bent ends 2 of the clips or brackets 2. The suspending means comprises a pair of links 15, engaging the ring 14, a pair of links 21 engaging the brackets 2, and elastic tension devices interposed between said links. Each of said elastic tension devices may be similar to those above described, and comprises a hanger 16 having hooked ends 17, between which and a disk 20, is interposed a compression spring 18, the disc 20 being connected by a rod or link 19, with one of the links 21. Itwill thus -be seen that any lateral movement of the tongue supporting ring 14 is resisted and cushioned by one or the other of such elastic tension devices.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, it will be seen that the tip 22 of the pole or tongue 23 is inserted in the ring 14, and is thus supported. It will be seen that not only arelat era-1 thrusts of the tongue cushioned and controlled by means of the springs 18, but the weight of the tongue is carried through the springs 8 and any sudden vertical movements are cushioned thereby. Furthermore, all parts of the improved supporting means are freely suspended. That is to say, the ring 14 is suspended from the breast yoke 1, and the breast yoke 1 is suspended by links from the neck yokes 5, while the neck yokes are themselves freely suspended from the hames. By virtue of this construction, any binding or clamping of the parts is prevented, and

all of the elements are free to move so as to adjust themselves to the strains existing at any particular moment.

hat I'claim is:-

Tongue supporting gear comprising a breast yoke and a pair of bow-shaped neck yokes attached to the ends thereof at their middle, draft haines having lugs adjacent their upper portions, and elastic tension devices connecting the ends of said neck yokes Withsaid lug, whereby the said neck yokes are resiliently suspended.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ROBERT CHAPMAN l VORKMAN;

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