The Invention
The patent, US124790A, granted to Turner Byrd, Jr., and Isaiah Byrd of Williamsville, Michigan, on March 19, 1872, is for a safety apparatus to quickly detach a horse from a carriage. The invention’s purpose is to allow the occupant of a carriage to “by simply pulling a string, effect the separation of the traces and holdbacks,” thus freeing the horse from the carriage and ensuring the safety of the driver and passengers.
Key Features of the Apparatus:
- Lever-and-Rod System: The core of the invention is a series of interconnected levers and rods that run from the carriage seat to the harness.
- Two curved levers (a) are pivoted to the underside of the carriage’s cross-bar.
- Strings or cords (d) are attached to the levers and run to the carriage seat, putting them within easy reach of the driver.
- Trace and Holdback Release: The levers are connected to rods (e) that run along the underside of the carriage’s thills. These rods are designed to release the “traces” (the straps that pull the carriage) from the whiffletree and the “holdbacks” (the straps that prevent the carriage from rolling forward) from their lugs on the thills.
- Instantaneous Detachment: When the driver pulls the strings, the levers are pulled backward. This moves the rods and a series of arms and rods that are connected to the traces and holdbacks, releasing them simultaneously from their points of attachment.
- Automatic Reset: The entire system is returned to its normal, engaged position by counter-springs (
l) when the driver lets go of the strings.
Significance of the Invention and Inventors
Turner Byrd, Jr., and Isaiah Byrd were two African American inventors from Michigan who collaborated on several patents related to horse-drawn vehicles. Their inventions addressed crucial safety concerns of the time.
- Addressing a Major Safety Issue: Before the automobile, a runaway horse was a major cause of accidents, posing a serious threat to the lives of drivers and pedestrians. The Byrd brothers’ invention provided a simple, fast, and effective way for a driver to prevent a disaster by freeing a “unmanageable” horse from a carriage. This was a significant advance in public safety.
- Ingenious Mechanical Design: The patent demonstrates the inventors’ talent for practical engineering. They created a complex but reliable mechanical system that could be operated with a simple pull of a string, showing a focus on user-friendliness in an emergency situation.
- African American Inventors: The Byrd brothers were among the many African American inventors of the 19th century who made important contributions to American technology and industry despite facing significant social and economic barriers. Their patents are a testament to their ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit, and they are a vital part of the history of innovation in the United States.
