US332452A

US332452A - Wagon-tongue support

Info

Publication number: US332452A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1885-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 1902-12-15

Description

(N0 Modelz) J. SMALLEY.

WAGON TONGUE SUPPORT.

No. 332,452. Patented Dec. 15, 1885.

mummy \Mummy- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES SMALLEY, OF FAGTORYVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

WAGON-TONGUE SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part. of Letters Patent No. 332,452, dated December 15, 1885 (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES SMALLEY, residing at Factoryville, in the county of VVyoming and State of Pennsylvania, and a citizen of the United States of America, have invented a new and Improved Automatic XVagon-Tongne Support; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 represents a top or plan view. Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section, and Figs. 3 and 4 represent details of my invention.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The forward end of the tongue or pole of a wagon or vehicle should be supported in such a manner that no weight shall rest upon the necks of the horses or other beasts of burden drawing the wagon or vehicle. This support should be given by such mechanical devices as will allow the greatest latitude of motion in the pole or tongue of the wagon or other vehicle, either upward for the purpose of storing the wagon or vehicle when not in use, or downward to allow an animal to step over the pole or tongue, when desirable. Moreover, the device should admit of easy and rapid adjustment, to meet the varying sizes of beasts of burden drawing the wagon or vehicle. All these results should be attained by means so cheap and simple that every owner of a road-wagon can afford to buy and use one, and any and all persons with the ordinary tools found in every place where road wagons or vehicles are in use can apply and regulate them. To accomplish these results is the object of my invention.

The device which I employ for accomplishing the purposes above set forth is formed and applied as follows: a a, b b, c c, d d, e, and h h is a single piece of steel wire or other suitable material of proper size, the longitudinal arms b b resting on the hounds O at y, as shown in Fig. 2, provided with two coiled springs, c c, opposite each other, with angular arms d (1 extending from the coiled springs forward of the bolt j at such an angle that the whiffletrees, which are pivoted at X, cannot under any circumstances interfere with its free working, united by the transverse arm 6 )ver the pole or tongue A. The longitudinal arms I) b are bent at right angles with the hounds G at a. From this point they are bent downward, as shown in Fig. 2 at t, and then turned inward and across the hounds parallel with the bend at a. A stirrup or U-shaped piece of steel or other suitable material provided with hooks f f, as shown in Fig. 4, passes under and outside the pole or tongue A, forward of the tongue-bolt j, and hooks over the transverse arm 6, as shown in Fig. 1 at ff.

The action of the coiled springs c c is double-first, an upward strain pulling on the stirrup or U at ff, Fig. 1, and raising the tongue or pole; second, an inward tension at i, Fig. 2, binding the device at any place firmly to the hounds without screw, staple, pulley, nail, or any other fastening whatever. To the double action of the coiled springs cc is added in this device the resilience of the longitudinal arms I) b, the angular arms dd, and the transverse arm 6.

To adjust the tongue or pole to the required elevation, it is only necessary that the device be moved forward on the hounds to raise the tongue, or backward to lower it, the automatic clamping device holding it perfectly secure at any desired point. To release it entirely,raise the tongue or pole until the hooks f f cease to bear on the transverse arm 6, and remove the stirrup or U-shaped piece of steel wire.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An automatic wagon tongue support consisting of a single piece of round, square, or angular steel or other suitable material, provided with two longitudinal arms resting on the hounds at any desired point, two coiled springs opposite each other, two angular arms, and a transverse arm engaging at its forward part with a stirrup provided with hooks, said stirrup passing under and outside of the tongue on each of its sides, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a wagon-tongue support, of the coiled springs with the longitudinal, transverse, and angular arms bearing on the top and sides of the hounds, forming an automatic clamp, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name.

JAMES SMALLEY.

Witnesses:

GEo. A. TRANSUE, J. E. PERRY.