IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAYS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
We, EDWARD TOWNSEND GREGORY, of 4 Hayter Road, in the County of Surrey,
Secretary to a Public Company, and ASTOR KISSAM, of 31 Charlwood Street, in
the County of Middlesex, Commission Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAYS," to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to that class of railways in which the motion is produced
by the gravitation of the travelling car and its load down an inclined plane
or planes.
Our Invention consists in the construction of a roadway or railway track,
preferably elevated above the ground at its starting point, to afford a suitable
descent for the acquirement of velocity by the travelling car, the track being made
in such form as to offer least resistance to motion, and protected also against
accidents dangerous to the passengers, the car or cars being brought back to their
starting point, when their momentum is exhausted, by a hoist or lift.
In order to construct our road or track with the least resistance to motion, we
introduce as much straight or approximately straight run into the railroad as is
compatible with a return to the approximate point of starting. This we do for
example in either of the two following ways.
First. We construct a straight or approximately straight track, first descending
rapidly to confer great velocity to the travelling car, and then ascending to a
rather less altitude than the original point of departure, until the momentum of the
moving car is exhausted. At this point we introduce an automatic spring switch,
which, allowing the car to pass it from the first named track, diverts the car in its
descent on to another road built to one side of the former. There is a similar
descent and smaller final ascent on this second road to that of the first, bringing
the car back close to or approximately close to the point of starting, but at a
considerable distance below the point of starting.
Second: We may alternatively commence the run by a straight or approximately
straight track from the starting point, and then by a wide curve at the foot, bring
the track back again by a straight or approximately straight run to the starting
point, completing a pear shaped or kite shaped figure, the car again returning close
to its point of departure, but at a considerably lower level.
To efficiently protect the passengers we attach to either or both sides of the
track an extended guard of netting, which should prevent a dangerous fall without

page_text: at the same time obstructing the view. At the same time we board over the whole
frame work supporting the track or rails between and on either side of the said
rails, adding a low parapet at the sides. A long step is provided on either or both
sides of the travelling car, which extends over the top of the said low parapets, so
as to prevent the possibility of the passengers falling or getting a limb between the
moving car and the structure.
To raise the car once more to its point of departure, we employ a mechanical
hoist or lift, which may be of either of the following alternative descriptions.
First: The car, on the return from its journey, may be received into the bottom
floor of a cage travelling in vertical upright guides, and raised to the height of the
departure road above by a power winch or hydraulic ram.
Second-The said vertically travelling cage may be counter-balanced by weights
which suffice to raise both the cage and the loaded car when allowed to operate.
In this case, the cage is lowered, and the weights lifted by a winch or other power
or hydraulic appliances, and when the car reaches the cage to be lifted, the weights
may be released and lowered down, lifting the car, by the action of a friction
brake.
Third: The car may be received upon a platform which is caused to travel up
very steep inclined guides to the higher point of departure. This ascent of the
platform may be effected by chain, rope, or a screw laid between the said inclined
guides, and hauling or screwing the platform and car up to the higher level by the
application of either manual, steam, or other motive power.
The lift or hoist is preferably constructed so that the passengers may be raised to
the elevated starting level.

page_text: approximate straight run H. F. to the starting point, completing a pear shaped or
kite shaped figure A. G. H. F. the car again returning close to the point of departure
but at a considerable lower level F. The car may be raised to its original position A
by a steep incline F. A. by the exertion of the attendants or by any of the
alternative mechanical hoists hereinafter more fully described. In this case a 5
turntable A is employed where the roadway meets at right angles in order to turn
the car at right angles to its former position for restarting its journey.
The travelling car K, Figure 5, is constructed in the form of longitudinal laths k k
supported on suitable wrought iron or other frames L L, suitably braced together
by the trusses 1. l. and cross ties, the whole being mounted on suitable flanged 1
wheels M. M. so as to run with the least possible resistance upon the railed track.
To efficiently protect the passengers we attach to either or both sides of the
track a low parapet N. N. Figure 6. which may be constructed of wood, iron, or
other suitable material, or canvas stretched upon stout framing about two feet high
sufficient to afford protection to the passengers without obstructing their view. ]
Outside these parapet, guards P. P. may, if required, be constructed of netting
supported on brackets or standards projecting from the piers or posts B supporting
the elevated roadway.
A long step is provided along the side of the travelling car to prevent the
possibility of the passengers falling off the side of the car or getting a limb between 2
the moving car and the structure.
To raise the car once more to its former point of departure, we may alternatively
in place of the incline hereinbefore mentioned employ a mechanical hoist or lift
which may be of either of the following alternative descriptions.
First. The car on the return from its journey may be received into the bottom 2
floor of a cage travelling in upright vertical guides and raised to the height of the
departure road above by a power winch or hydraulic ram as shewn at T Figures 1.2.
and 9.
Second. The said vertically travelling cage may be counterbalanced, preferably
by another cage in which the passengers may descend from the point of stoppage 3
to the ground; the weight of the passengers in the descending cage will thus serve
to lift the empty car to the fresh point of departure, as shewn in Figure 7; it
being easy for a single operative to return the balanced cages to their original
position to receive the second car, by means of winch handles rotating the top
pully. In this as in the other cases, the passengers are not allowed to ascend by 3
the hoist but ascend to the point of departure by an inclined footway R or stairs S,
shown in Figures 1. 2. 3. 4. 7 and 9.
Third. The car may be caused to travel up a very steep inclined track to the
higher point of departure, by means of an endless rope W, Figure 8, operated by a
winch handle or power gearing by the operatives in charge, or by the application 4
of steam or other motive power.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1st The construction of an elevated track provided with parapets and with or
without side guards, the rails or track being laid with descending and ascending
gradients, so as to cause a car travelling by gravity to make an extended run,
returning approximately to the point of departure, but at a slightly lower level,
substantially as described.
2nd The form of such a track or road like that of a kite, that is, commencing and
terminating with converging straight tracks united at their widest ends by a large
curve and united at the converging ends by an incline and turntable or lift
substantially as described.
3rd The form of such a track or road in two approximately straight and parallel
lines united at that end farthest from the point of departure by an automatic
switch tongue substantially as described.

page_text: 4th In such an elevated gravity track or railroad the completion of the circuit
from the point of arrival at a level lower than the point of departure at a higher
level by a hoist or lift of the alternative forms, substantially as described.
Dated this 15th day of August 1884.
FELL & WILDING,
Agents for the Applicants.