US504822A

US504822A - Whiffletree

Info

Publication number: US504822A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1893-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 1910-09-12

Description

(N0 Medal.)

C. S. WELLS,

WHIFFLET REE.

Patented Sept. 12, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES S. WELLS, OF HERRIOKVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

WHIFFLETREE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 504,822, dated September 12, 1898.

Application filed May 26, 1893.

T0 or whom it may concern.-

1 3e it known that 1, CHARLES S. WELLS, a c tizen of the United States, residing at Herrickville, in the county of Bradford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Whifidetree, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to whifiietrees, and

has for its object to improve devices of this class by making the same of three pieces of steel put together in such shape as to brace against each other so that one piece cannot become broken without breaking all of the pieces, and the device is so arranged that it is nterchangeable from one device to another and is provided with a yielding center-bolt that acts as a swivel. With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the construction and arrangement of the parts thereof as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved Whittle-tree. Fig. 2 is a section on the line :c-m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line yy, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view ofthe device.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a centrally-located steel bar, that is projected at its center toward the front and has its ends deflected toward the rear. In rear of the said bar 1 is a pair of steel bars 2, that are spaced apart from each other vertically and arranged parallel, the space between the said bars being greater at the center and from thence said bars converge toward each other and embrace the outer ends of the bar 1, the latter standing centrally of the two bars 2 and shaping therewith a triangle. The bars 2 are projected rearward a greater distance at their centers and extend forwardly at their ends, and the outer ends of the said

bars

1 and 2 are secured together by malleable metal end-sockets 3, each of which has a pair of holes at therein to adj ustably receive a clevis or link 5, to thereby provide for adjusting of the said clevis or link to give one horse an ad- Serial No. 475,602. (NomodeL) vantage over another, if necessary. Over the central part of the two rear bars and the front bar is mounted and secured a pair of V-shaped tie-braces 6, that are bent around the bar 1 and terminate on opposide sides of the bars 2. The said braces 6 are spaced apart, and between the same and the said

bars

1 and 2 is mounted a coiled spring 7, having a washer 8 against the rear end thereof that abuts against a stop-plate 9, bent over and held on the bars 2, the said stop-plate having an opening therein through which is passed a bolt 10, and extended through the washer 8 and the central part of the spring 7. The outer end of the said bolt 10 is formed or rovided with a square head 11, that rests against a washer 12, placed against the outer end of the spring and normally forced against the inner edge of the front bar 1; and it will thus be seen that the said spring 7 is confined between the

bars

1 and 2, and has at its rear end bearing upon the stop-plate 9, that is disposed vertically. The rear end of the bolt 10 is bifurcated, as at 13, and provided with a removable bolt 14, which, as shown, has a hook 15 movably connected thereto. The bifurcated end of the bolt, together with the mounting of the bolt in the spring in the manner set forth, provides a yielding or spring swivel, and it will be understood that the hook can be removed from the bifurcated end of the bolt and the latter connected di rectly to a plow, the tongue of a wagon, or elsewhere, as may be found desirable. Covering the bottom of the central portion of the

bars

1 and 2 is a wear-plate 16, of iron or other suitable metal, to shield the spring and keep the same from wearing out when drawn upon the ground, or to prevent breakage of the spring when dropping the whiffletree upon the ground.

One important advantage of the device is the yielding nature of the bolt 10, as the load is constantly balanced on a spring, which would take all the jar from the shoulders of the horses with evident advantages.

The device is simple and effective in its nature and exceptionally strong and durable; and it is obviously apparent that changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In awhiftietree, the combination of three trian gularly-arrang ed bars, two beinglocated at the back and one in front in the central plane of the said back bars, metallic sockets receiving and connecting the outer ends of said bars and provided with holes to adj ustably receive a clevis or link, a bolt loosely mounted on the bars and extending rearwardly from them, a hook pivoted to the rear end of the bolt, and a cushioning spring intel-posed between the front end of the bolt and the back of the whiffletree, substantially as described.

2. Inawhiffletree, the combination of three triangularly-arranged bars, two being located at the back and one in front in the central plane of the said back bars, outer end sockets connecting said bars having links or clevises attached thereto, a pair of V-shaped tiebraces passing over the front single bar and terminating at the rear back bars, said tiebraces being spaced apart from each other, and a central attaching bolt, substantially as described.

3. In a whiftletree, the combination of triangularly-arranged bars, two being located at the back and one in front in the central plane of said bars, a pair of V-shaped tie braces passing over the central portions of said bars, a spring-encircled bolt mounted between said bars and braces and having a rear projecting bifurcated end, a verticallydisposed stop-plate against which the rear part of said spring rests, said bolt having a front angular head bearing against a washer placed against the front of said spring, and a bolt removably mounted in said bifurcated end of the aforesaid bolt, substantially as described.

4. In a whiffletree, the combination of hi angularly-arranged bars having a centrallypositioned bolt surrounded by acoiled spring, a pair of tie-braces connecting said bars at the center and spaced apart, and a wearplate secured over the bottom of the said bars and attached to the said braces to shield the spring, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES S. WELLS.

WVitnesses:

D. H. PLATT, W. H. SIMPsoN.