Patent GB-190316771-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Recreation Railways.
Inventor: JACKMAN STEPHEN EDWARD
Filed: 1903-07-30
Granted: 1903-09-10
Abstract: 16,771. Jackman, S. E. July 30. Railways for recreation. - Relates to the construction and arrangement of a switchback railway, a side view of which is shown in Fig. 1. The railway is provided with a single continuous track for the cars, which, during their descent, pass several times round the structure, arriving finally in a home stretch F<1> leading to an approximately semicircular station portion A, where the cars D are emptied and filled again. The structure occupies only a small space of ground, which is approximately oval. The station portion of the track leads to an inclined track B, up which the cars D are hauled by an endless chain C driven from a power house E, Fig. 1, placed inside the track. The chain C is fitted with cross-bars, which engage projections D<1>, Fig. 4, or arms depending from the bottom of the car. Backward movement of the cars is prevented by a succession of pairs of pivoted check arms H, the front ends of which extend into the path of pins D' on the cars, and have a limited sliding movement ; the underside of the arms are preferably provided with a ball or roller bearing. As the car moves up the track, the arms H are pushed forwards and cleared by the pins D<2>; the arms then fall back against stops, and themselves form back-stops in the path of pins D', to prevent the cars from running backwards. A U-shaped siding G, Fig. 7, leading from the station part of the track, is provided for the storage of cars not required for use. Segmental switch rails are pivoted at the ends of the siding G, and are adapted to be swung up and down by blocks and tackle G<3>, G<4>, supported from carriages G<5>, G<6> mounted on guides projecting over the station portion of the tracks. The Figure shows one side of the siding connected with the main track to allow cars to run off the siding on to the main track. Each of the cars D, Fig. 4, is provided with horizontal antifriction rollers D<3> at the sides, to run against guard rails D<4> to prevent undue swaying of the cars. In order to control the speed of a car, independently of the occupants of the car, when it reaches the home stretch F<1>, Fig. 1, this stretch is provided with a number of brake devices, one in front of the other, each consisting of pairs of beams I, Fig. 10, and P, Fig. 7, mounted lengthways and capable of being raised to engage brake bands or shoes D<5>, Fig. 10, extending along the bottom of the car. The brake beams rest on the upper ends of arms I<3>, which are pivoted in pairs at I<4>, to the support of the track, and are connected by cross-bars P. The several cross-bars I<5> are connected by a longitudinal link I<6>, operated through a pivoted lever I<7> from a hand-lever J, Figs. 7 and 10. The cars are finally stopped at the station by similar brake beams K, Fig. 7, controlled from a lever L. When the car has been emptied of its passengers, the brake is released to allow the car to run to a second set of brake beams K<1>, which are controlled from a lever L<1>, to stop the car again for fresh passengers to enter. The car is again released, allowing it to run to the up-track B, where it is engaged by the chain, and hauled to the top for the next journey. To ensure the release of the brake beams, the links are provided with counterweights N attached by ropes passing over guide-pulleys. The cars themselves are also preferably provided with brakes, to enable the attendants to control the cars independently of the operator at the station.