Patent GB-190713779-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for the Transport of Material.
Inventor: SHREWSBURY RICHARD WILLIAM
Filed: 1907-06-14
Granted: 1908-06-11
Abstract: 13,779. Shrewsbury, R. W. June 14. Vehicles for elevated railways and tramways ; suspending - apparatus load, securing; brakes.- Apparatus for transporting logs, trunks of trees, and other material over difficult country is constructed to run on a single elevated rail, the load being suspended on each side, and is provided with skid shoes or wheel brakes applied by the weight of the load and released by hand-mechanism which raises the load-supporting frame relatively to the wheel axles. In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, two horizontal members A, A' are connected b y strengthening-plates to a central vertical member B having an upward extension B' stayed to the member A' by'rods or wires C. The apparatus is supported at each end by a wheel E carried in a frame consisting of three forked radiating members F, F<1>, F<2>, the member F being attached to a block D', and the other two being connected together by a stay rod or wire F<3>. A tubular rod D, passing through the member F' and seated in the block D<2> so as to form a pivot about which the truck frame can turn, is rigidly secured to a collar A<3> which is pivoted at A<4> to the end of the member A' so as to allow the rod D and truck frame to tilt longitudinally, the upper end of the rod being guided in a fork A' formed on the member A. A rod G, pivoted to the truck-frame member F<2>, carries a roller G<1> running in a groove in the member B', so that when the inner end of the rod G is pulled downwards by a cord or chain H connected to a windlass, the truck frame is tilted outwards about the pivot A<4>, thereby raising a brake shoe, carried on the underside of the block D', out of contact with the rail. Brake blocks acting on the wheels and actuated by tilting the truck at the same or opposite ends of the apparatus may, however, be used instead of skid brakes. Both cords H may be wound on the same drum or on separate drums of the windlass, which is operated by a band-wheel J' and provided with a suitable detent. In a modification, the bars G are connected to a sleeve or collar sliding on the member B<1>. Mounted on each side of the blocks D' are hemispherical sockets M, Fig. 3, in which fit the ends of laterally projecting rods N, Fig. 2, slung from the upper ends of the pivots D by wires, cords, or chains &c. 0 and connected by fore and aft members. Bars P, P' are pivotally suspended from the rods N, the bars P' being preferably pivoted to clamps N<2> adjustable on the rods N. The load, logs of wood for example, is first supported on tables provided with lifting-jacks, and the two parts are approximately balanced by a light trial frame running on the rail. The apparatus is then run over the load, and the bars P, P<1> are crossed and allowed to fall on the logs, which are then secured to each pair of bars by a lashing S connected at one end to the bar P, and detachably secured at the other end to the bar P' by a peg, hook, or other device P<3>. The bars are stayed by inclined rods Q, universally jointed to the member A' and connected to the bars at their intersection by the lashing S. Passengers or goods may be carried by suspending cars or trucks from the arms M. In the form shown in Fig. 9, the truck frames are pivoted to a rod D which is rigidly fixed to a hollow member A<6> connecting the upper and lower members A, A'. A rod K<1> carrying the brake block K slides in each member A<6>, the lateral rods N in this case being socketed in the brake blocks, and the stays 0 being connected to the upper ends of the rods K<1>. The rods K<1> are slotted to take the short ends G' of levers pivoted to the lower member A' and preferably having antifriction rollers engaging the upper sides of the slots. The brake blocks, together with the loadcarrying arms, are raised when the outer ends of the levers are pulled down by cords H, secured at one end to the frame A', passing round pulleys G<5>, H', and connected at the other end to the windlass. In both forms, the raising of the load-snpporting frames when the brakes are released serves to lift the load clear of its temporary supports. Guide-rollers U, engaging the rail or its support, are carried in horseshoe frames U<1> secured to the blocks D' in the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, or in brackets U<2> secured to the member A' in the form shown in Fig. 9. In place of the crossed bars P, P each arm N may carry a rigid fork, or a pair of crossed arms which may be adjustable, capable of sliding on the arm N and held in position by pins or catches. In Fig. 8 is shown an alternative brake for use with the apparatus shown in Fig. 9. In this case, the stays 0 are connected to the members A<6> and the arms N, each provided with a brake block, are pivoted to the rods K<1>, so that, when the rods K<1> are lowered, the blocks K grip the sides of the rail. The whole apparatus may be made of wood, including the wheels, which may have flanges, or flat tyres running on plain or grooved rails. A platform or seat (not shown) is provided for the brakes-man.