US403051A - L peters - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

CHARLES KIESER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY W. IRONMONGER AND LOUIS O. GUDE, OF SAME PLACE.

DRAFT-EQUALIZER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,051, dated May 7, 1889.

Application filed October 27, 1888. Serial No. 289,287. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES KIEsER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft-Equalizers and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates in general to that class of draft-equalizers which are designed to equalize the draft upon the two horses of a span when either of the forward wheels of a wagon meets an obstruction, and it relates more particularly to my patent, No. 311,838,

on which this is an improvement.

The object of the invention is to provide an equalizer adapted to be readily attached to any wagon, to provide means whereby the doubletree may be located near to or far from the body of the wagon, and to provide means for easing the strain upon both the team and the wagon when the team starts suddenly and when a heavy load has to be started.

To this end my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts forming a draft-equalizer, hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a drawing of a portion of a wagon, showing a draft-equalizer in longitudinal vertical section according to my invention. Fig. II is an under side view of the same. Fig. III is a rear end view of the equalizer. Fig. IV is an under side view showing the slide-bar reversed.

5 represents a wagon-pole attached in any usual manner to the hounds 6, and 7 shows the forward axle of the wagon, to which the tongue and hounds are attached by a pivot or king-bolt, 24.

8 represents the base-plate of my equalizer, adapted to be bolted directly to the under side of the hounds, and provided with two projecting ribs, 9, which slant inward, forming between them a dovetailed slideway in the line of draft to receive the draw bar 10. The draw-bar is made hollow to receive a spring, 11, that rests its forward end against a stud, 12, which projects within the draw= bar from the base-plate 8, and the spring acts at its rear end by pushing against a gate, 13, that is secured to the end of the draw-bar by means of a bolt, 14. By loosening this bolt the gate 13 may be swung thereon to one side to permit the draw-bar to pass over the stud 12 and afterward to admit the spring 11, after which it may be swung to place behind the spring, and there be made fast by the bolt 14 to hold the spring to its work.

15 repnesents any common doubletree centrally pivoted to the draw-bar upon a vertical bolt, 16. The lower end of this bolt is supported by a link, 17, which is hinged at one end between a pair of ears, 18, that project downward from the draw-bar. A nut, 19, on the bolt 16 holds up the link and the doubletree. When the nut is removed, the forward end of the link 17 may be swung down off from the bolt, permitting the doubletree to be removediwhile the link still remains attached by its hinge to the draw-bar.

19 is a yoke hung midway upon the bolt 16, and provided with eyes in its ends, whereby the brace-chains 20 may be attached at one end of each, the other end of each being attached to the forward axle, 7 near the wheels. The yoke 19 is free to swing a little on the bolt 16, to rest midway on shoulders 21 of the draw-bar, whereby the bolt 16 is relieved of part of any sudden strain coming through one of the chains. Now, if either wheel is suddenly stopped against an obstruction, that end of the axle will draw backward and the chain on its side will draw the draw-bar backward; but the draw-bar, being fitted to slide in parallel ways, draws the doubletree by its center straight backward, thus straining alike on both horses, and by the resistance of both horses the team-pole is prevented from lashing so far from side to side as it usually does when not thus supported.

The spring offers a yielding medium between the team and the wagon, which is of great relief to the team in starting heavy loads, because the resistance is thus gradually overcome, and the spring also receives the first strain or shock when either wheel strikes an obstacle, thus again relieving the team. The spring is of great service when used without the chains.

\Vhen it is desired to work the team closer to the wagon, the draw-bar may be taken out of the slideway at the forward end and replaced the other end foremost in the rear end of the slideway, and do service, as shown in Fig. 1V Some of the advantages of this invention over my former patent hereinbefore referred to are: Its form is designed to be cast into shape of malleable iron or steel, it is more compact, and it is more easily attached to all wagons, there being but one piece-the base-plate 8which requires to be attached to the wagon, and the face of that is flat and plain and only about nine inches square, thus requiring only a flat surface of similar extent on the hounds or the under side of a broad team-pole for attachment.

22 represents a shoulder on the draw-bar adapted to abut against the base-plate 8 when the spring has been compressed as far as it is safe. This is only serviceable in the reversed position of the draw-bar and when the chains are not in use, to prevent ovcrstraiuing the spring.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I believe to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the base-plate 8, provided with the slanting ribs 9, formingadovetailed slideway, and further provided with the stud 12, projecting within the said slideway, the draw-bar 10, fitted to slide in the said way and made hollow and provided with a removable end or gate, 13, and further provided with means for attaching a doubletree, and a spring, 11, adapted to fit between the said stud 12 and gate 13, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination of the draw-bar 10, providedwith the hinge-ears 18 at one end and a bolt-hole at the other end, and the link 17, hinged between the said ears and having a bolt-hole to register with the said bolt-hole in the draw-bar, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination of the base-plate 8, pro vided with the slideway described, the drawbar 10, fitted to slidein the said way and having a removable end or gate, 13, the bolt 16 in the draw-bar, the yoke 19, freely pivoted on the said bolt, shoulders 21 on the draw-bar, adapted to engage each arm of the yoke, and chains 20, adapted to connect the ends of the yoke with the wagon-axle 7 near the wheels, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination of the base-plate 8, provided with the slideway described, and with the stud 12, projecting therein, the hollow draw-bar 10, fitted to said slideway, and the gate 13, pivoted upon the end of the draw-bar to swing across the end of its hollow, substantially as shown and described, whereby a spring may be admitted and held within the draw-bar, as set forth.

5. The combination of the base-plate 8, provided with the slideway and the stud 12, projecting therein, as described, and the drawbar 10, fitted to be reversed in the said slideway, substantially as shown and described.

(5. The combination of the base-plate 8, provided with the slideway and the stud 12, proj ecting therein, the draw-bar 10, reversibly fitted tothe slideway and provided with a shoulder, 22, adapted to engage the base-plate, and a spring, 11, adapted to tit within the said draw-bar and proportioned to be guarded by the said shoulder against being overstrained, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I aitl'ix my signature in presence of: two witnesses.

' CHARLES KIESER.

\Vitnesses HENRY W. IRONMONGER, JNo. T. MADnoX.

Images