US813866A - Trace-tightener. - Google Patents

Description

No. 813,866, PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906.

' G.S.DAVBY.

TRACE TIGHTENER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 25, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@ZZZZ min No. 813,866. I PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906.

G. S. DAVEY.

TRACE TIGHTENER.

APPLIGA'TION FILED A G. 25, 1904.

2 SHEETSSEEET 2.

. Tighteners, of which GEORGE S. DAVEY, OF FRANKFORT, MICHIGAN.

TRACE-TIGHTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1906.

Application filed August 25, 1904. Serial No. 222,167.

To (10% whom, it may concern:

Be it known that-I, GEORGE S. DAVEY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Frankfort, county of Benzie, and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trace or Tug the following is a description.

My invention relates to means for attaching draft-animals to their loads, especially vehicles and the like, and has for its object the production of a device for the purpose described which shall be strong and convenient in its operation and which is provided with means for maintaining a slight tension on the traces under all conditions.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like or similar reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a plan view of my device. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a modified form of my device. Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially on line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 shows my device as applied to an ordinary pair of thills. Fig. 6 shows my device as applied to the tongue of a vehicle, and Fig. 7 shows my device as applied to a curved carria e tongue or pole.

- n the preferred form of my device, (shown in Figs. 1 and 2,) 1 is a clevis or equivalent part having a pin 2, to which the whiffletree or other device for attaching one or more draftanimals is secured. A slide 3 is formed upon one limb of the clevis 1, arranged to slide longitudinally upon the guide or ways 4, which are preferably formed from a single piece of material arranged to be attached in any preferred manner to the load to be moved;

A curved arm 5 is formed upon the forward end of the guide 4, having its end 6 forked to engage the end of the pin 2 when at its forward limit of movement. A stop 7 is also formed, preferably, between the ways of the uide 4 to engage the slide 3, so that when the forked end 6 of the arm 5 engages the pin 2 the stop 7 will engage the slide 3, preferably simultaneously communicating the draft upon the pin 2 to the stop 7 and arm 5 and relieving the ways from any strain when the clevis reaches this position.

Normally the clevis 1 is resiliently held at the-opposite end of the ways from the arm 5 by a spring 8 or equivalent means attached to the clevis 1 in any preferred manner and to an extension 9 on the ways 4, as shown, or equivalent means for the purpose.

In the form shown in Fig. 3 the end 6of the arm 5 is extended backward and connected to the extension 9, and a slot 10 is provided in the extension through which the pin 2 projects and moves substantially as before "described.

Any desired method may be employed to attach my device to vehicles or other loads, the methods shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 having proved very satisfactory in practice and clearly illustrates the manner in which my device is intended to be employed. In operation when a horse or other animal is attached to a vehicle or other object by my device the clevis 1 may be moved forward slightly upon the ways to connect the tugs, so that even when backing the load the spring 8 will have sufficient tension to keep the traces up and prevent their becoming unhooked. As soon as tension is put upon the traces to move the load forward the clevis 1 moves to the front end of the ways 4, the slide 3 contacts with the stop 7, and the pin 2 engages the arm 5, providin a firm attachment for moving the load. y slack in the traces will be instantly taken up, avoiding the risk of accidental unhitching.

As shown in Fig. 5, the front part of my de vice is secured to the cross-bar 18, while braces 11 11 firmly connect thc rear to the thills 12 12, thus serving to firmly maintain the parts in proper relative position. The swingletree 13 is shown attached to the clevis l, with the tugs or traces 14 14 properly secured thereto.

Fig. 6 shows my device secured to the ordinary straight wagon-tongu'e, the device lying flat thereon and securely attached thereto by bolts, screws, or other suitable means. As here shown, the doubletree or evener 15 is in place in the clevis, provided with the usual swingletrees 16 16.

Fig. 7 shows my device attached to a bent pole, in which a suitable support 17 may be secured to the pole, forming a substantially fiat base for the device, which is secured thereto and to the pole.

Having thus described my improvement, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. Hence I do not IIO wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form and construction shown.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A device of the kind described, consist ing of a substantially U shaped guide provided with means for securing the same in position, in combination with a slidable clevis, lateral extensions on the base of said clevis adapted to engage and loosely embrace lateral extensions on the upper parts of said guide, a pin 2, movement of said clevis and pin being parallel to said guide, resilient means tending to draw and normally maintain the clevis near the rear end of said guide, and a stop and arm arranged in the path of the clevis and pin adapted to simultaneously engage the base of the clevis and upper part of the pin respectively. p

2. A device of the kind described, consisting of a substantially U shaped guide provided with means for securing the same in position, in combination with a slidable clevis, lateral extensions on the base of said clevis adapted to engage and loosely embrace lateral extensions on the upper parts of said guide, a pin 2, movement of said clevis and pin being parallel to said guide, resilient means tending to draw and normally maintain the clevis near the rear end of said guide, a stop and arm arranged in thepath of the clevis and pin adapted to simultaneously engage the base of the clevis and the upper part of the pin respectively, and an extension of the arm adapted to engage the pin and maintain the clevis against strain or displacement while sliding on the guide.

' In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEO. S. DAVEY. Witnesses:

LEVI W. DAVEY, J. T. MORRIS.

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