US381481A - Detachable draft-frame for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

, L. G. MOWRY.

DETACHABLB DRAFT FRAME PoR VEHICLES. No. 381,481.

Patented Apr. 17, 1888.

Inv/enger, 513mm 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

,Zwv @vigor (iii UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI G. MOWRY, OF BUFFALO, NEV YORK.

DETACHABLE DRAFT-FRAME FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICTION forming part of Letters Patent No. 381.491, dated April 1'7, 1888.

Application tiled January 23. 1888. Serial No. 261.568. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

This invention relates to a detachable draftframe which is more especially designed for use in connection with portable tire-engines and hook-and-ladder trucks. In localities or districts where the streets have considerable grade,and especially in the winterscasomwhen the condition ofthe streets renders the draft of heavy wheeled vehicles difficult, it is necessary to attach three draftanimals to the engine or truck.

The object of my invention is to constructa strong, light, and durable frame to which the whiftletrees and the thills for the center animal are hung, and which can be readily attached to the engine or truck, or be removed therefrom.

The invention consists of theimprovements which will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure l is a top plan View of my improved draft-fran1e and the front portion of the frame of a portable fire-engine. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section in line x x, Fig. l. Fig. 3 isa similar view in line y y, Fig. l. Fig. 4t is a vertical longitudinal section of one of the poles of lthe thills and the draft-frame in line z z, Fig. 1. Fig. .5 is a vertical crosssection in line w w, Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the draft-frame.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several gures.

A represents the front portion of the frame of a portable engine, which may be of any ordinary construction.

B represents the detachable draft-frame, to the front side of which the poles C C of the thills are independently pivoted in any suitsnitable manner, so that the center animal can enter between the thills from the sides thereof, Without backing into the same, by raising one of the thill-poles. rIhe poles C C are preferably braced by diagonal'rods c c', secured with their front ends to the inner sides of the thillpoles and pivoted with their rear ends to thethiIl-fralne B in line with the pivots of the 'chill-poles. The whiffletrees, which are piv- 'oted to the under side of the frame B, are of the usual draftequalizing type, and are shown by dotted lines in Fig. l. The frame Bis provided on its rear side with a short tongue or pole, D, arranged at right angles thereto, and which passes through an opening or socket, d, formed in the front cross-piece, a, of the engine-frame. The tongue D is provided at its rear end with a stud or pin, d, which engages in an opening or socket, e, formed at the lower end of a depending arm, E, secured to the adjacent part of the engine-frame. The main portion or body of the frameB and tongue D is constructed of wood, and the tongue D is formed at its front end with a tenon, d, which tits in a mortise formed in the frame B,

and is secured therein by a vertical bolt, f,'

which also serves as a support for the main frameF of the whifiletrees, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

gg represent metallic re-enfoxcing plates secured, respectively, to the upper and lower sides ofthe frame B and tongue D, and h is a metallic re-enforcing strap extending around the edge of the frame B and tongue D and secured thereto by bolts or rivets. These re-enforcing plates and straps stiien and strengthen the frame and its tongue.

I represents a spring-catch attached to the tongue D, and whereby the latter is detachably secured in place in the sockets or openings dand e. The catch I is arranged in a recess, z', formed in the tongue D, and is pivoted at its rear end between lugs or ears formed on the upper reenforcing plate, g. The front end of this catch projects through an opening, i', formed in the top plate, g,'and bears with its front end against the rear side of the crosspiece a, when the tongue is attached to the en gine-frame.

j is a wedge sliding in the recess t and adapted to bear against the lower curved or inclined front end of the catch I, so as to cause the front portion of the catch to project through the opening z" and hold the same against the rear side of the cross-piece a. The wedge j is IOU 2k v i 381,481

provided with a horizontal stem or rod, j', which is guided in a longitudinal opening formed in the tongue D.

7c is a spiral spring surrounding the stein of the wedge and interposed between a plate, 7c', secured to the end of the opening, and a shoulder or offset formed on the stem. This spring forces the stem j inwardlyv and causes the wedgej to raise the front end of the catch I.

Z is a lever pivoted to the frontv side of the frame B and attached at one end to the stem of the wedge j. Upon pressing thefree arm of the lever inwardly toward the frame B the wedge j will be withdrawn from the catch and allow its outer end to drop into the recess t' and clear the crosspiece a, in which position of the catch the tongue D can be withdrawn from its sockets in the engine-frame, or beinserted into the same. 'A flat spring, m, is preferably interposed between the upper sidel of the catch I and the top plate, g, to facilitate theV retraction of the catch into its recess when the wedge is moved forwardly. The lever Z' is so. arranged that it can be operated by the knee,.so that the frame can be attached and removed by a single person. Theframe is attached to the engine by simply passing its-` tongue through the sockets d and c, when the;l catch will automatically lock the tongue in position.

Theicatch I is provided on its upper side with a nose or shoulder which bears against the rear edge of the opening t" when the tongue D is in position, and thereby relieves the pivot of the catch from strain.

It is obvious that my improved catch may be applied to an ordinary tongue or pole, if desired.

n, Figs. 2 and 4 represents horizontal plates secured to the under side of the draft-frame B at opposite ends thereof, and o represents simi- -lar plates secured to the adjacent under sides ofthe thill-poles GC', so that when the latter are in a horizontal position the rear ends of the` plates n will abut againstl the adjacent ends of the plates o and support the poles in this position. A

I claim as my invention- 1..The combination, with the frame of a portable fire-engine or other vehicle, of a draft-frame detachably'secured to said frame, apair of thills pivoted to said draft-frame,

and whiflietrees, also attached to said draftvvided with a cross-bar, a, having a socket or opening, and a depending arm, E, having a socket or opening, e, of a draft-frame, B,

yprovided with a tongue arranged in said sockets, a vspringcatch, wherebythe tongue is removably secured in its sockets, and a pair of thills pivoted to thedra'ft-frame B, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, withthe frame A, having a cross-bar, a, and sockets d e, and the draft-frame B, having a tongue, D, arranged in said sockets, of a catch pivotcd to said tongue and adapted to bear against the cross-bar a,.

a wedge, j, whereby said catch is operated,a spiral spring, k, whereby said wedge is held against said catch, and a lever, whereby said wedge `is retracted from the catch,xsubstan tially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the draft-frame B and tongue D, of relenforcing plates g g, secured to opposite sides of the frame B and its tongue, and a re-eforcing strap,l 7L;- secured tothe edges of said parts, substantiallyV as set forth. .l

6. The combination, with the draft-frame B, provided with plates n, of the thill-poles C C', provided with plates 0, abutting against the plates n, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 21st day of January 1888.

LEVI e. MowRY.

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