US712621A - Whiffletree. - Google Patents

Description

No. 7l2,62l. Patented Nov. 4, I902.

c. w. THBELKELD.

WHIFFLETBEE.

(Application filed Feb. 28, 1902.]

(No Model.)

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(Zlver/lfflirelkelt, flwm/wboz llNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CALVERT WOODFORD THRELKELD, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

WHIFFLETREE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,621, dated November 4, 1902.

Application filed February 28, 1902. Serial No. 96,143. No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, CALVERT WooDFoaD- THRELKELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful VVhiffletree, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to whiffletrees; and one of the main objects of the same is to provide a simple and efficient device for securely fastening a trace to the tree, so that it will not become accidentally detached, thereby eliminating the objectionable unfastening and dropping of the trace when going down grade or turning a corner, said fastening means being practically as inexpensive: as the hooks and clips now ordinarily em-} ployed.

In the drawings there is illustrated the pre ferred embodiment of the invention; but the construction set forth is open to such slight changes and modifications as the scope of the 5 The body of the whitlfletree is designated by the reference-numeral 10 and is of substantially the usual construction and shape. On the rear side of its terminal is located a wear block 1l,havin g atransversely-disposed notch 12 contiguous to its outer end, said notch being arranged to receive the terminal ring 13 of a trace. holding-spring 14, that extends over the notch and bears against the portion of the' ring seated therein.

The spring 14 is preferably formed of. a single piece of looped wire the arms of which are spaced apart, the ends of said wire being seated in longitudinally-disposed grooves 15, arranged in the exposed face of the wearblock contiguous to its inner end. A bolt 16, which is employed for securing the wearblock to the whiffletree-body, passes between the ends of the spring-wire and a washer l7, placed upon the bolt, bears against said ends Fig. 2 is a side eleva This ring is held in place by a to hold them in place, this washer being fastened by a nut, as 18, threadedon the bolt. The free end of the spring is bent up to form a lip 19, and the adjacent face of the wearblock is beveled, as shown at 20, thereby providing an entrance-mouth which will facilitate the placing of the ring 13 upon the whiffletree.

The whiftletree connection is secured in substantially the same manner, said connection being inthe form of a ring 13", which may be attached to a tongue, plow-beam, or doubletree, said ring engaging in a notch 12, in this case formed directly in the whiffletreebody and being held in the notch .by means of a spring 14, formed of looped wire, the terminals of which are fitted in grooves 15* and held in place by a bolt 16*, that passes through the body.

Passing through the outer portion of the wear-block 11 just inside the transverse notch 12 is another fastening-bolt 21, that alsopasses through the whiifietree-body, a nut 22 being threaded on said bolt and bearing against the block to hold it in place. The threaded end of the bolt 21 projects between the side arms of the holding-spring 14, forming a guide to prevent the lateral displacement of the spring, and upon the end of the bolt is secured a stopnut 23, which limits the movement of the spring away from the notch.

The manner of attaching the device will be perfectly apparent. The ring is placed upon the end of the whiffletree, and when forced upon the same will 'pass between the spring and the wear-block until it seats itself in the groove, whereupon the spring will force itinto said groove and hold it in place therein. As a result, the trace will be securely fastened in place and will not become acciend the structure may be made in different sizes to meet the various requirements.

From the foregoing it is thought that th construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. For instance, the spring 14 instead of being made of wire may be formed out of spring-plate metal of the same general shape illustrated. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a whiftletree, the combination with a wear-block having a notch, ofaholding-spring mounted upon the wear-block and normally covering the notch, said spring being movable away from the notch, and a stop carried by the wear-block and spaced from the notch to limit the movement of the holding-spring away from the same.

2. In a Whiffletree, the combination with a wear-block havinga notch, ofa holding-spring mounted upon the wear-block and normally coveringthe notch, said spring being movable away from the notch, and means for securing the block to a whiffletree, said means carrying a stop to limit the movement of the spring.

3. The combination with a Whiffletree, of a wear-plate secured to the whiftletree and having a pair of longitudinally-disposed grooves or seats, a spring formed of a looped wire, the terminals of which are located in said grooves or seats, and a bolt passing between and engaging the terminals to hold them in said seats.

viaeei- 4. In a whiffletree, the combination with a wear-block, of a holding-spring located upon the Wear'block and comprising a looped wire the arms of which are spaced apart, a bolt for securing the block to the whiffletree, said bolt engaging the terminals of the wire to secure them to the block, and another bolt passing through the block and between the arms of the spring, said bolt carrying a stop to limit the movement of the spring.

5. The combination with a whifiletree having a notch in one face, of a ring engaging in the notch, and a spring secured at one end to the side of the whiffletree having the notch and extending longitudinally along the same, said spring having its free end spaced from the whiffletree and bearing against the outer portion of the ring to hold said ring in the notch.

6. The combination with a whiffietree having a notch and spaced grooves located at one side of the notch, of a spring extending longitudinally along one side of the whiftletree and over the notch, said spring comprising a looped wire, the terminals of which are spaced apart and located in the grooves, and fastening means engaging said terminals.

7. The combination with a Whiffietree having a notch, of a holding-spring mounted upon the whiftletree and normally covering the notch, said spring being movable away from the notch to permit the admission thereto of a trace ring or loop, and a stop carried by the whiftletree to limit the movement of the holding-spring away from the same.

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

CALVERT WOODFORD THRELKELD.

Witnesses:

L. Y. I\IASON, C. L. BAKER.

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