Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/441

407&#93; CAR wittee of the Society, and many- other speAators } but, as apprehen- sion was entertained that passen- gers might suffer injury from the motion of the carriage, after the horses were disengaged, Mr. D. has added a gripe tor stopping Ihe wheels j so that, by one pull of the chain, the animals may be dis- charged, and two bolts be propelled on ilic nave of the two fore-wheels, in such manner as effedtually to retard their motion. CART.— In the 2d volume of CAR [407 '* Communications to fhe Board of Agriculture," we meet with a de- scription of a Drag- Cart, and an ingenious method of regulating th» centre of gravity of the load j by Lord SoMERViLLE. This memoir is illustrated with plates, from one of which we have selected the fol- lowing figvire, representing a per- spective view of a cart designed tQ be drawn by two strong oxen, with a pole, yoke, and bows ; such car- riage being calculated to convey 45 cwt. In the front of the body of this eart, is represented the manner in which the centre of gravity of the load is adjusted ; in order to prevent it from pressing too much on the animals, when descending a hill : the front of the cart is ele- vated by means of a toothed rack screwed on it, and worked by a pinion, and the handle a ; being immediately connected with the pole c. — By the aid of this pinion and rack, the front of the carriage is raised in a greater or less degree, according to the declivity ; so that the weight of the load bears more pn the axle, and less on the necks of the cattle. On the side of this cart is deli- ncated the position, in which the friSiion-drag is applied, and iJ made to press in a greater or less degree, according to the steepness of the descent. — b,b, Is thpfri&ion- lar; one end being con-nefted with the tail of the cart, by means of a small chain ', and the other being fastened to the front by a toothed rack b, d, that catches on a staple in such front ; so that the fridion- bar may be made to aft more or less powerfully on the side of the wheel, at the discretion of the driver :-— the notches, or teeth, on this rack should be set as closely together, as circumstances will per- mit. The friftion-bar, in the figure above given, is stated by Lord S, to be placed lower on the wheel D d 4 thaa