US23901A - Convertible cabriagke-shai t - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets--Sheet 1.

R. J. coLv-m.

Whiflietfee.

Patentd May 10, [859.

Mai-Zena;

r w W I N. PEIERS. PHOTO LITHOGRAPH v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. R. J. COLVIN.

Whifiletree.

Patented May 10,. 1859.

N: PETERS, PHOTO-LITMOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. n c.

} "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT I. GOLVIN, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONVERTIBLE CARRIAGE-SHAFT.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 23,901, dated May 10, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Bonner I. COLVIN, of the city and county of Lancaster, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Combined Pole and Shaft- Arrangement for Converting a One-Horse to a Two-Horse Vehicle; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and

exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1, is the shaft, and Fig. 2, the pole arrangement. Fig. 3 shows the overlapping and combination of the shouldered ends of the shafts, when converted into a pole, with the adjustable braces attached. Fig. 4, is the pole-crab or yoke with its hinged caps. Fig. 5 shows the double and swivel trees, with their bolt, spring and strap arrangement for disengaging the traces, which may be used in connection with the pole-crab. Fig. 6, is one of the ends of the swivel tree opened, showing the coiled spring and shouldered bolt.

In order to convert the shafts K, L, Fig. 1, into a pole as shown by Fig. 2, the thumbscrews On the bolts Y, R, and E are removed and the bolts drawn out, upon doing which the shouldered ends of the shafts will slide to the center, overlap so that the holes in each correspond for the admission of the bolt Y, and double tree (Fig. 5), firmly uniting both into one between the circular slot or bars A. At the combined ends of these slot-bars A, are counter shoulders adapted to those on the ends of the shafts V. These ends have a projection to which the adjustable braces I, are affixed at one end and carried back to the pole-stays B, and attached to the eyes F, by the same bolt previously used in the eyes E. The pole stays, B, are hinged to the aXle O, by the clips W, in the ordinary manner, while they are united forwardly to the slot-bars A, by a plate X. Then, by slipping the caps a, of the pole-crab or yoke N (Fig. 4:) over the ends of the combined shafts in front, the

pole is complete.

The advantage in using caps over the ends instead of pegs entering into, must be very apparent, rather strengthening the poles than weakening them; besides pegs are liable to bend, while the caps (being hinged) are readily slipped on or off. This in combination with a double tree and swivel trees shown by Fig. 5, with combined strap M, acting on all the bolts, will disengage the traces by a simple pull, when the horses become ungovernable. The hinged caps will then be drawn from the ends of the combined shafts and the horses perfectly disengaged from the vehicle.

I am aware that swivel-trees of a similar construction have been used, in one horse vehicles. I do not claim the device separate from the combination in which I use them for two horse vehicles with the hinged caps 2, on the pole-crab N, aforesaid.

The slot or segment bars A, may be simplified and improved together with the pole stays B, as shown by Fig. 7. Instead of the plate X, two curved and projecting ends Q are cast to the lower segment bar, extending back for the support of the adjustable braces I, to be attached at F, and to the projecting ends V, of the shafts (K, L Fig. The pole stays B, are then attached to the outer and lower side of the segment bars A. These stays have a jointed piece at 1, with a pivoted thill attachment 2, to enable the same to be adjusted to vehicles, when the clips are variable in their distances apart, as illustrated by Fig. 8. The curved slot or segment bars in either case answer the double purpose of sliding guides and sup ports to both the pole or shaft arrangement. These bars A as shown, are united externally, with beveled shoulders between them, adapted to the counter shoulders on the ends of the shafts K, L, combining as shown by Fig. 3, together with the project-ing ends V, and the adjustable braces I, which latter afiord additional strength and security.

I am aware that adjustable shafts for vehicles, capable of being united to form a pole or tongue are not new and I therefore lay no claim thereto,but

That I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The attachment of removable shafts by means of the adjustable braces I, I, and the hinged caps z, 2, of the pole-crab N.

2. The curved or segment bars A,.for1ning a transverse horizontal slot in which the shafts are supported at their rear end, both when separated in the ordinary way, and when united together as a pole.

3. The hinged and pivoted thill attachment, for accommodating the width of the same to different positions of the clips upon the axle.

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