Patent GB-190505893-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Electrically Propelled Vehicles and Permanent Way therefor.
Inventor: BURNABY ARTHUR ST VINCENT
Filed: 1905-03-20
Granted: 1906-02-22
Abstract: 5893. Burnaby, A. St. V. March 20. Single - rail railways ; rope railways; elevated railways ; electric railways ; electric locomotives and motor vehicles.-Relates to improvements in electrically - pro p e l l e d vehicles and permanent way of the kind described in Specification No. 15,216, A.D. 1901, in which an upper and a lower rail are employed, the vehicle being supported between them, and consists in making the upper or both the upper and lower rails flexible, and in providing suitable supports for the same, and in arranging the upper wheels of the vehicle free to revolve in a vertical plane. Fig. 1 is a side view of the permanent way, and Fig. 3 a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1. The upper cable A is supported upon three different forms of standards, a main standard b, a secondary standard c, and a special standard d, Fig. 6, for curves. The main standard comprises two side-frames, with legs b<1> embedded in concrete, the frames being connected by a transverse girder b<6> beneath which are arranged cross-cables b<7>, connected at their ends to beams b<8> which are adjustable vertically in the guides b<9>. The clip e is suspended from the crosscables, and is arranged to grip a split tube a<3> enclosing the upper cable A. Another form of main standard is shown in which a bow-spring takes the places of the cross-cables. The secondary standards c comprises two side frames c<1>, connected by cross-cables c<2> which pass through the sideframes and are enclosed in any suitable manner. The frames c<1> are pivoted at their bases to groundplates c<6>, and are arranged to slope outwards slightly. In order to reduce the number of standards necessary at curves, two cables g, Fig. 6, are supported along the sides of the track, carrying cross-cables g' for the support of the upper rail. Two heavy main standards b are arranged at the ends of the curve, and the special standards d are located in pairs along the curve at opposite sides of the track. The side-cables are anchored at the ends of the curve and pass round pulleys d<2> on the standards d, which are pivoted at their bases in a similar way to the standards c. The cross-cables g' are attached to the side-cables g by collars g<2>, preferably split and flanged so as to grip the cables g. At curves the upper rail is slightly displaced so as to cause the vehicle to tilt. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation on the line 4-4, Fig. 1, showing the means for supporting the lower cable. The lower rail B carries a split collar a<3>, which is gripped between plates i, bolted together. Several pairs of these plates are supported by side-frames i<3>, which are pivoted to the ends of a lever i<5> fulcrumed in brackets i<6>. This form of support may also be used for the upper rail. In a modification of this arrangement, the lower rail is clamped in a bracket, which is supported on an elliptic spring j, the bracket being guided vertically by a pillar j<1> sliding in a foundation socket j<2>. An ordinary spiral spring may be used. For joining the lower cable sections, the cable ends are passed through grooves in blocks k, Fig. 18, the head being located in a movable socket k<1>. A series of holes k' are provided in each block k so that the sockets k<1> are adjustable, the thrust being taken up by blocks k<3> of various dimensions. The two blocks k have their upper surfaces rounded, and are connected by plates k<5>. The connectors for the upper cables are similar in construction, except that the cables are bent only through a right-angle. In another arrangement, Fig. 15, the cables are spliced together. The holder n is grooved to receive the cable, which is curved downwards and passes through an eye n<2> at the upper end of a screw n<3> engaging a nut n<4>. The gap between the two end portions of the holder is bridged by a plate n<5> which forms a travelling-surface for the wheels. The cables consist of stranded wires a', Fig. 7, covered with a helical metal wrapping a', the edges of which overlap and are preferably chamfered. In a modification, the wire is covered with short lengths of tubing, which can be formed in halves to facilitate replacement. Two or more cables running side by side may be used instead of a single cable, the various supports &c. being suitably modified. The details connected with the lower rail are not claimed as part of the present invention, but are embodied in Specification No. 22,275, A.D. 1905. The trolly on the vehicle for engaging the upper rail has its wheels o vertical and provided with deep grooves. The wheels are arranged in pairs, and are carried by side-frames o', pivoted to the spring- supported central pillar o<3>. The side-thrust is taken by spiral springs supported round studs between the pillar o<3> and the side-frames of the vehicle. According to the Provisional Specification, the standards supporting the upper rail may be replaced by hoops or arches. Also, at crossings, a short section of the main line may be pivoted in order to make the crossing-line continuous when necessary. At junctions, a plate mounted on rollers and provided with two rail sections, one for the main line and the other for the branch, is used. Internal-combustion engines may be used instead of electric propulsion.