US366530A - Vehicle-shafts - Google Patents

Description

(-No Model.)

S. TOOMEY.

VEHICLE SHAFTS.

Patented July 12, 1887.

www, JM im mm/[5555. )fom wdk UNITED STATES SAMUEL TOOMEY, OF CANAL DOVER, OHIO.

PATENT OFFICE VEHICLE-SHAFTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,530, dated July 12, 1887.

Application filed October 2S, 1886. Serial BT03211410. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, SAMUEL TooMEY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Canal trussing and improved construction of crossbars connecting the shafts, all substantially as set forth. These improvements are designed especially for sulky-shafts, but may be applied to any kind ofvehicle where they may be useful.

In the. annexed drawings, Figure l represents a top view of a pair of sulky-shafts provided with my improvements; Fig. 2, au under side view of the same; Fig. 3, a side view thereof; Fig. 4, a cross-section in a plane indicated bythe line l, Fig. l; Fig. 5, a section in aplane indicated by the line 2 2, Figi; Fig. 6, a side View of a cross-bar truss-plate, showing a slight modification in its construction.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

In the drawings, A A represent a pair' of sulky-shafts to which my improved trussing is applied. Such shafts, receiving a part of the weight of the driver, and especially the weight and pressure of his feet and legs upon them, require especial strength and stiffness in a vertical direction; and, also, because the pressure of the drive-rs feet is outward as well as downward, it is required also to have additional strength in a horizontal direction, though not to so great a degree as in the vertical direction. By my invention I provide for strengthening the shafts both vertically and horizontally and to the proper degree in both directions by a single trussing, as follows:

The shafts proper may be of ordinary forni and the trussing applied thereto without changing the original construction, so that the improvement :may be applied to those already in use or made. Upon the under side of the shafts the truss bars or plates B B, of wood or metal, are applied, being secured at their ends to the shafts by screws, bolts, or clip bands, as found most convenient or desirable. I have shown si mple screws for the purpose, intended to represent any equivalent means. The trussplates might extend the whole length of the shafts; but it is sufficient,and generally preferable, to have them shorter, extending along the middle part of the shafts, where they are principally needed. Between the shafts and truss-plates is a proper number of stays, C C, inthe form of bolts, blocks, or straps-screwbolts and thimble-blocks being shown in the drawings.

Now, to give the trussing a double bracing action against both vertical and horizontal strain, the truss-plates B B arelocated beneath the outer edges of the shafts A A, and the stays C O are arranged obliquely downward and outward between the shafts and trussplates, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Thus the desired bracing in both a vertical and horizontal direction is effected, while the stay-rods pass centrally through theshafts and truss-plates, or substantially so.

The shafts are connected by two bars, D E, one forward of the other, and both curved, with their concave sides forward, the forward bar, D, giving additional room for the horse. The bars D E also are curved upward on the under side, as shown in Fig. 4, to give abundant room for the riscl and fall of the horses buttocks in trotting or traveling. lIhese two bars D and E, I connect at several places along their length by stays G G or G G. I have represented at G G stay-bolts with thimble-sleeves thereon, like the trussing-stays of the shafts; and at G G, I have shown simple stay-blocks screwed to the tops of the bars, and having shoulders a a, Fig. 5, fitting against the inner edges of the bars. These constructions are considered equivalent in effect. In addition to the staying of the two bars together in a horizontal direction, I truss at least the front bar, D, in a vertical direction.

The trussing, as shown, consists of a curved or bent truss-plate, II, secured to the upper side of the bar at its ends, curved upward in the middle, and connected with the bar between its end fastenings by stays I I of any construction, as shown or otherwise. Thus not only are the shafts braced together horiventing the curving upward ofthe bars when' the shafts are held to the horse by the girth. A`In Sullriesthe bar D will support the front vend of the sulky-body. The body may rest on a iiattened or straight part of the truss-plate H, of the forni shownin Fig. 4; or the trussplate may be curved through its whole length ou top, as shown in Fig. 6, there being blocks b b fitting the crown of the truss-.plate and affording a plane upper su 'riace to receive the body, as indicated.

I claim as my inventionl. The shafts of a vehicle provided with a trussing obliquely downward and outward in direction, substantially as and for the purpose herein speciiied. y l

2. Vehicle-shafts A A, having truss plates or bars B B under their outer edges, and connecting-stays C C, obliquel y downward and outward in direction, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

8. In combination with shafts A A of a vehicle, two curved parallel bars, D E, connecting the shafts, the said connectingbars being connected with each other by a series of crossstays, G G G', substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

4. Iu combination'with shafts A A of a vehicle, a bar, D, connecting the shafts, having a trussplate, H, thereon, and stays I I between the bar and trussplate, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

5. In a sulky, in combination with shafts A A, a connecting'bar, D, having a convex truss plate or bar, II, upon which the front end of the ,body of the sulky rests, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

' SAMUEL TooMEY.

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