Patent GB-206744-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in ropeway cars
IPC: B61B12/02
Filed: 1923-01-08
Abstract: 206,744. Tamamura, Y. Jan. 8, 1923. Single-rail and suspended vehicles.-A ropeway car comprises a carriage, a clip, and a receptacle, connected by a " quadrilateral " and a main shaft in such a manner that the three elements are capable of relative motion with respect to one another about the main shaft, so that the elements will adjust themselves automatically to maintain a state of equilibrium as the external conditions vary. The carriage 8 for a double rope system comprises rollers 6 and a box-like structure 9 in which works a centre slider 10 carrying a transverse axle 12 and two side sliders 11 which carry depending hook bars 17, the box-like structure being provided with slots in each of its sides to permit movement of the sliders. The axle 12 is provided with wheels 14 and has a projection 13 to which parallel links 32 are pivoted, the lower ends of the links being pivoted to a projection on a supporting arm 29 which forms an end bearing for the main shaft 24 carrying the suspension rod 25. The fore part of the main shaft 24 is formed into a crank head 31 on which the tail pivot 37 of the shorter lever arms 20 of the cable grip is mounted rotatably and the rear part of the shaft carries the rotatable holder 30 of the tail pivot of the longer lever arms 19 of the cable grip. The head axis 21 of the grip extends beyond the cranked end of the shaft 24 and is jointed to the two hook bars 17 by bolts 23. At the entrance and exit of a station, a bent rail 2 is provided for the wheels 6, and parallel rails 3 for the wheels 14. When leaving a station, the car runs on to the bent path 2 by its own inertia whereby the inclined rail 2 pressing on the wheels 6 forces the head axis 21 of the grip to become parallel with the hauling rope 5; as the car travels along the inclined portion of the bent path 2 the grip fastens on to the hauling rope and the car bends due to the tractive effort of the hauling rope 5. Such change from the straight position to the bent position is effected by an abrupt swing of the supporting bars 32 and the hook bars 17, the central slider 10 and the lateral sliders 11 displacing upwardly in the box 9, allowing the carriage for a moment to remain stationary until the traction of the hauling rope draws the connecting-members 32 and 17 out to their full lengths. The ropeway is constructed so that the distance between the carrying rope or the incline of the bent path 2 and the hauling rope 5 is narrower than normal at the starting point of a station and is gradually widened until it becomes normal at the point where the connecting-members 32 and 17 become perpendicular to the ropes as the car progresses. In a modification for a single rope system, Figs. 7 and 8, the carriage 8 carrying the wheels 6 is mounted slidably on a supporting bar 32, and a pair of hook bars 17 connect the carriage 8 with the grip head axis 21. The main shaft 24 supports a rear holler 30 to which the longer lever arm 19 is mounted rotatably, an extension 36 of the rear holder being provided with a compression spring 37, which, by means of a slider 35, pivoted arm 34 and working bar 33 rigidly fixed to the supporting arm 29, prevents undue oscillations of the rollers 14. The shorter lever arms 20 are pivoted to the carriage 8 and the head axis 21. In working, the wheels 6 are pressed down by the inclined part of the bent rail 2 which causes the hauling rope to press the grip upwardly with equal force; hence the stronger the pressure downwardly of the bent and inclined rail the greater will be the upward pressure of the hauling rope. On arriving at a station, the car is supported by means of side rails 3, and the grip is at the same time pulled down by the hauling rope 5, whereby the jaws are opened and the rope released. Specification 1565/07, [Class 104, Railways &c.], is referred to.