US699918A - Trace. - Google Patents

Description

699-9|3i I I Patented May l3, I902.

*- P. m. GUTLEBER.

TRACE.

(Application filed July 13, 1901.)

(No Model.)

THE Nomus PErERs 00., Pno'ro-uywou wgsmncmm u. c.

UNITED STATES,

PATENT EFICE.

PHOENIX M. GUTLEBER, OF LIBERTY CORNER, NEW JERSEY.

TRACE.

SPECIFICATION forming-part of Letters Patent No. 699,918, dated May 13, 1902.

Application filed July 13, 1901. Serial No. 68,174. (No model.) i I a citizen of the United States, residing at- Lib-" erty Corner, in the county of Somerset and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and usefulTrace, of whichthe following is a specification.

ticularly to draft connectionsfl'and has for its object to ease the fdraft u pon the'shoulders of draft-animals,'thereby to obviate sore shoulders, and also to provide for easing the strain,

particularly when starting a vehicle.

Itis furthermore designed toarrange for independent endwise movement of the traces, so as to accommodate for unequal strain thereon, and also to provide for automatically taking up the slack in either trace which is due to abnormal strain on the opposite trace.

Another object resides in arranging for the convenient application and removal of the trace forming the general feature of this invention and to provide for applying the same to form a connection between a harness-collar and a draw-bar or whiffietree without ma terially altering these parts or any other parts of the harness.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings,andparticularlypointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, propor tion, size, and minor details maybe made within the scope of the claimswithout departing. from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the present invention in its applied position. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of a trace embodying my invention. 1

i ec arac ers 0 re er nce i na ecor-. Lkh t ffe desg t V responding parts in both figures of the-drawlngs. 7

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there has been illustrated aha'rness collar 1, having the usualhames 2, and it' is the purpose of the presentinvention to form an improved draft connection between the collar and the draw-bar or doubletree 3, which is commonly provided witha pair of whiffletrees, one of .which has been indicated at 4.

In carrying out the present invention there is provided a pulley-block 5, having a suitable snap-hook 6, which is designed to be engaged with a suitable ring orhook '7, carried by the whiffietree, soas to be detachably con- This invention relates to harness,.a'nd par nected to the draw-bar. The forward end of this block is provided with a hook 8, to which is connected one end of a trace 9, which may be formed of rope or other suitable material and is reeved through a guide or pulley block 10, car'ried'by the harness-collar, from which guide the trace returns to and is reeved through the block 5 and then carried forwardly and rigidly connected to the collar. The forward end of the lower trace portion 11 is connected to the collar by means of a strap-and-buckle connection 12, that is carried by the usual hams-staple 13. or pulleylO has an elastically-yieldable connection with the collar by means of the opposite coiled or helical springs 14, which have their rear ends connected to the block, from which they diverge, and have their-forward ends connected to the hame, the lower spring being connected to the staple 13.

When the draft-animal moves forwardly, a tension is im mediately placed uponeaoh trace, as the part 11 thereof i'sirigidly connected to the harnesscollar, and therefore must move forwardly with the animal; but by reason of the springs 14; the block or pulleylO yields in a rearward direction,'wherebya sudden jerk or strain is relieved from the shoulders of the animal, and in view of the fact that the contiguous trace has its opposite ends fixedly connected to the collar and the draw bar a portion of the draft is applied to the draw-bar, so that the latter moves forwardly simultaneously with the animal, but at aless rate of speed, until the springs let have be- ,come fully stretched, after which the movement of the animal and the draw-bar will be simultaneous. However, should the wheels of the vehicle strike a rut or other obstruction the jar caused thereby will be taken up by the springs 14. 1

From the foregoing descriiptioirit will be seen that the springs afford tin-elasticallyyieldable element to takeup any sudden jerk The guide or strain, and thereby obviate rubbing of the collar upon the neck of the draft-animal; This easing action of the springs is particularly advantageous in starting a Vehicle, as said springs Will yield under the first strain, and thereby apply the draft gradually.

By reason of the endwise movement of the trace, due to the mounting thereof in opposite blocks or guides, and the elastic connection between the doubled portion of the trace and the collar any slack is automatically taken up, so as to obviate looseness or sagging of the trace, and thereby maintain the same in a comparatively taut condition.

It will be noted that the present form of trace may be applied without altering or changing the collar, the draw-bar, or any of the parts of the harness, and therefore is complete in itself and may be applied to take the place of common traces.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. A draft connection consisting of opposite pulleys, one of which is provided with an elastic fastening, and a flexible trace having its intermediate portions reeved through the opposite pulleys, one end of the trace being fixed to the other pulley and the opposite end of the trace having a fastening for engagement with the part to which the first-mentioned pulley is to be connected.

2. A draft connection, consisting of opposite pulleys, one of which is provided with angularly-related spring-fastenings for engagement with a harness-collar, and the other being constructed for connection to a draw-bar, and a flexible trace having its intermediate portions reeved through the opposite pulleys, one end of the trace being fixedly connected to the said other pulley,and the opposite end of the trace having a collar-engaging fastening.

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

PHOENIX M. GUTLE BER.

Witnesses:

F. W. SOMERS, F. W. VooRHEEs.

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