tenon, z, within the collar, x: by this arrangement the collar, x, and consequently the wheel, F, cannot turn without also turning the revolving breech. The arrangement in fig. 13, shews that the spiral spring only raises the cock and turns the breech, and a large spring placed over the spiral spring releases the cock and discharges the gun. A, is a lever in connection with the cock, having two claws; against one the large spring, B, acts and releases the cock, and against the other claw the wheel, c, acts to raise up the cock and draw back the large spring. D, is a stop against which the wheel, c, rests when it has quitted the lever, A; in order that this stop should not prevent the spiral spring from drawing back, it is fixed upon a small rod with a hinge, as shewn at the end, F, having a guide-piece, G. is the case containing the spiral spring. 1, is a stop to prevent this case from turning. K, is a shaft or axis, to which is fixed one of the ends of the spiral spring, and which transmits the movement to the wheel, c. L, is a spring for the same object as described in the previous figures. M, is a small spring which keeps the rod, E, and the stop, D, in a proper posi tion; the action of this arrangement is the same as that previously described. I would remark, that the arrangement which I have found best to answer in operation, is that described in figs. 7 and 8.

Having thus described the nature of the invention, and the manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that I lay no claim to the application of revolving breeches to fire-arms, they having been before used; nor do I confine myself to the precise details herein given, so long as the character of the invention be retained; and I would have it understood, that what I claim as the invention communicated to me is, first, the mode of constructing fire-arms with the revolving breeches, in such manner that the act of pulling the trigger will discharge the gun, and by withdrawing the pressure therefrom, the breech will revolve and bring up a fresh barrel to be dis

charged, the other parts returning to their original position, as herein described at figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13.

And, secondly, in the mode of constructing fire-arms with revolving breeches applied thereto, in such manner as to dispense with the cock or hammer by bringing each nipple, having a cap thereon, successively in contact with a moveable stop, which will explode the cap and so discharge the gun, as herein described at figs. 1, 2, and 3.In witness whereof, &c.

Enrolled April 14, 1842.

MOSES POOLE.

Specification of the Patent granted to JOSEPH Wright, of Carisbrook, Isle of Wight, Mechanic, for Improvements in Apparatus for Dragging or Skidding Wheels of Wheeled Carriages.-Sealed March 22, 1841.

WITH AN ENGRAVING.

To all to whom these presents shall come, &c., &c.— My invention relates to a mode of applying apparatus to the skid-pans of wheeled carriages, whereby a skid-pan can be placed under a wheel, in order to skid or drag it, and when desired the skid-pan is removed, by allowing the wheel to pass over it, by releasing the drag-chain; and in order that my invention may be most fully described and readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed, in the various figures of which the same letters of reference are used to indicate similar parts.

Description of the Drawings.

Fig. 1, represents a side view of a stage coach, having my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2, is a back view of the coach; and the various

other detail views shew the principal parts on a larger scale, by which their construction and manner of acting will be more readily traced. a, is the skid-pan. b, is a link by which the skid-pan is connected to the rod, c, by pin-joints at e, e, as is shewn. The rod, c, moves on a pin-joint or axis at d. To the hind axle is affixed the apparatus, f, to which the axis or pin-joint, d, is affixed. This apparatus, f, consists of the quadrant frame, f, which is affixed by means of the straps or lugs, f, to the hind axle of the coach, as is shewn in figs. 1 and 2. f, is a curved lever, which moves on an axis, ƒ3, carried by the quadrant, f. This lever is at all times pressed outwards at its hinder end, by a spring, f*, as is shewn, by which means the fore end of the lever, ƒ3, has at all times a tendency to remain pressed against the upper part of the incline of the edge of the quadrant, f, by which means when the rod, c, is in front of the apparatus, ƒ, and is allowed to drop, in order to lay the skid-pan in front of the hind wheel, the lever, f, will act as a guide to direct the rod, c, and prevent its descending in a perpendicular line, in the following manner: - c', is a projection from the side of the rod, c, and from such projection, c', descends another projection, c2, as is clearly shewn in the drawing at fig. 3; and the nature of the apparatus, ƒ, and parts connected therewith will readily be traced on examining figs. 4 and 5, as well as figs. 1 and 2. The drawing now under description shews the parts in the positions they would be, when the wheel is skidded or dragged, the red lines shewing the position of the parts immediately after the wheel has passed over the skid-pan, and the black dotted lines in fig. 1, shew the position of the parts when the skid-pan is raised out of use. g, is the drag-chain connected at one end with the lever, c; and at its other end there is a link, g1, by which it is retained and held secure when dragging the wheel; but in unskidding the wheel, this link, g', is so arranged, together with the apparatus used therewith, that the chain, g, can

be released and allow of the wheel passing over the skidpan, which mode of unskidding the wheel constitutes a peculiar character of arrangement in the apparatus constituting my invention. h, is a bar affixed to the fore carriage of the coach, and i, is a rod also affixed to the fore carriage of the coach, as is shewn; the rod, i, being used in order to assist in supporting the bar, h. At the fore part of the bar, h, and just where it is affixed to the forecarriage, it is formed into a curved projection, h1, on which the link, g1, is received, and securely held when the wheel is dragged. 7, is a forked lever, embracing the projection, h', and moving on an axis or pin, l, passing through the bar, h, as is clearly shewn at figs. 6 and 7; and it is by means of the lever, l, that the link, g1, of the drag chain, g, is released, when it is desired to unskid the wheel, and this operation is performed by the simple act of raising the rod, m, which is attached to the lever, /, as is shewn, by which means the link, g', will be raised off the projection, h', by which the chain, g, will be released, and the skid-pan allowed to pass under the wheel. n, is a cord or chain attached to the link, g1, by which the chain, g, is drawn back to the projection, h', after the wheel has passed over the skid-pan, such cord or chain passing over the pulley, o, and under the pulley, p, thence up to the barrel, g, where it is made fast; and when that barrel, q, is moved round, the cord or chain, n, will be wound up. s, is another cord or chain attached to the link, g, and rod, c, passing over the pulley, t, then under the pulleys, v, v; it is made fast to the barrel, g1: hence when the barrel, q', is caused to turn, the chain or cord, s, will be wound up, and the skid-pan will be raised up into the position shewn by black dotted lines in fig. 1; but it should be remarked that when the skid-pan has passed under the wheel, the arm, c, will not be caused to stand out towards the wheel; but on being drawn up by the cord, s, the projection, c, will come on the inside of the lever, f2; and the projection, c', will be raised above the plate, f, as is shewn by dotted lines in fig. 3, such plate, ƒ3, supporting

the end of the projection, c', as the rod, c, descends to skid the wheel, as is clearly shewn at fig. 3. And it will readily be understood, that in drawing up the rod, c, by the cord, s, that the projection, c, will pass from under the lever, f, at the fore end thereof, which it is allowed to do by the spring to that lever, such spring immediately closing the fore end of the lever, f, on to the incline of the quadrant, and thus again is in a position to guide off the rod, c, when it is again let down to skid the wheel. The barrels, q, q', are connected together and are moved by the handle, w, which is made capable of folding, in order to be out of the way, as is shewn at figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11, where the parts which work the cords are shewn separately. q, is a plate affixed to the barrels, q, q', and it has a special groove formed therein, as is shewn. x, is a lever, having a projection or stop, x', which, entering into the recess, y, in the plate, q3, locks it from movement, till the lever is raised. The position of the parts in fig. 1, as above mentioned, is such as they would assume when the wheel is skidded; the position of the parts in figs. 8 and 9, is such as they would assume when the skid-pan is raised out of use; and in order to lower the skid-pan, the lever, x, is to be raised, when the cords would be free and the skid-pan would descend: all which will readily be un. derstood on examining the drawings aided by the description above given.

Fig. 12, shews the side view, and

Fig. 13, is a back view of another carriage, having my invention applied thereto; and the parts are shewn to be in the position they would assume immediately after having released the skid-pan, and the wheel having passed over it. In these figures, as well as in the detail figures on a larger scale, the parts are all marked, with the same letters of reference as those above given, and the description thereof will apply to the present figures, there being only very slight variations in some of the details, which will be evident to a mechanic on comparing the drawings.