Patent GB-190522275-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Rails for Railways and the like
Inventor: BURNABY ARTHUR ST VINCENT
Filed: 1905-11-01
Granted: 1906-08-30
Abstract: 22,275. Burnaby, A. St. V. Nov. 1. Rails; sleepers; rails, securing to . sleepers; single-rail railways; elevated railways.-Relates to flexible rails for use in mono-rail and elevated railways and in railway systems generally, and to means for supporting and maintaining the tension in such rails, reference being made in the Provisional Specification to the railway described in n Specification N o . 5893, A.D. 1905. The rail a, Figs. 2 and 3, is supported at intervals by pillars g mounted upon springs e so as to slide in sockets f formed in a concrete or like foundation, and is connected to the upper part of the pillars by clips c and prevented from end movement by plates c' bolted to th e clip. The rail may be supported at intermediate points directly upon elliptical springs, the lower branches of which are connected to vertically-sliding pillars. The rail may be supported upon helical springs j, Fig. 6. In cases where the rail ends are spliced together, the tension in the rail may be adjusted by a screw l<2> provided with an eye l<1> through which the rail passes and with an adjusting-nut l<3> mounted in the support l. The central gap of the support l is bridged by a piece l<4> shaped to form a continuation of the rail surface. In cases where the rail ends are not spliced together, they may be passed through grooves formed in the support k, Fig. 9, and be formed with enlarged heads k<1> which bear against blocks k<3> formed with flanges k<2> bolted to the support k, the tension in the rail being adjusted by varying the number of blocks k3. The support k is in two pieces connected by plates k<5> and having the upper edges formed as a continuation of the rail surface. In a modification, the rail ends are connected to a plate m, Fig. 12, provided with a pin m<1> which projects through slots m<2> in the sides of the support. The tension in the rail is increased by a jack or like device, one part of which is attached to the pin m<1> and the other part to a pin m<3> fixed to the support, the plate m being maintained in the adjusted position by the insertion of blocks m<4> above the pin m<1>. The rail portions a may pass over rollers m<5>. In another modification, the rail is secured to clips which are similar to those in Fig. 3 but are capable of longitudinal adjustment in the support. The rail may be supported upon semi-elliptic springs n, n<1>, Fig. 17, arranged at right-angles to each other in the manner shown, or with the ends of both springs bearing upon the ground. In a modified form of support, the springs are dispensed with, the clips which hold the rail being secured in plates o', Fig. 18, which are pivoted at o<3> to side plates o<4> connected by pivots o<5> to links o pivoted to a support p which is anchored to the ground. Fig. 22 shows a support designed to carry a duplex rail. The rails are preferably in the form of cables, which may be protected against wear by short lengths of metal tubing or by a helical wrapping of metal ribbon or wire, the wire serving also as a means of attachment to the supports. In lieu of cables, short lengths of rigid rail pivoted together and preferably of tubular section or having a vertical web, chains covered with short pieces of metal tubing, metal links, or ribbons may be used. The rails may be used also as guide or safety rails.