A METHOD OF CON- 'STRUCTING A TRAVELLING SUSPENSION RAIL OR ROADWAY, APPLICABLE, AMONG HERO ACA BRIDGE AND LIFTING AGENT
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT. to Daniel Lancaster Banks, of Kennington, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, for the Invention of "A METHOD OF CON-
'STRUCTING A TRAVELLING SUSPENSION RAIL OR ROADWAY, APPLICABLE, AMONG
HERO ACA BRIDGE AND LIFTING AGENT"
AS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Daniel Lancaster Banks
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th January 1859.
. I,. DANIEL LANCASTER BANKS, of Kennington, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A METHOD
OF CONSTRUCTING A TRAVELLING SUSPENSION RAIL OR ROADWAY, APPLICABLE, AMONG
OTHER USES, AS A BRIDGE AND LIFTING AGENT," to be as follows:-
¡My invention consists in laying down, at any desired distance apart, two
rails or sets of rails, between which the suspension railway is to be constructed
and used. I mount a stout frame upon railway or other wheels, and set a
similar frame upon both sets of rails. The frames carry the uprights, which
are to form or act as buttresses between which the suspension chains are to be
carried. In order to give stability to and maintain the buttresses 'in, their
upright position, I carry bars downwards from the frame, and mount rollers,
or.wheels horizontally or diagonally on the lower ends thereof, which wheels
run against the ground or masonry beneath the surface of the earth or level of
the rails, and are prevented from rising by a projecting flange or block fixed

page_text: beneath and parallel to the rails. The frame is weighted, and, if found
necessary, counterbalance and weighted levers are run out laterally from the
buttresses in order further to give support and steadiness to them. The
suspension chains or rods carry upright rods, wires, chains, or bars to which a
rail or roadway extending from buttress to buttress, and from one rail or set of
rails to the other, is attached. I provide means of winding up or letting out
the suspension chains in order to allow of the suspension way moving at an
angle other than a right angle to the fixed lines of rail. Or one frame may
be set up in the centre of a circle, and a line of circular railway established
round it, whereby the suspension railway may move all round the circle.
Where required I provide means for causing my suspension railway to travel
along a set of rails laid at right angles or diagonally to one of the fixed rails
or sets of rails already described. In such case témporary supports will
become necessary. It will be readily understood that by the adaptation
of chains, ropes, and windlasses, the suspended way may be used for raising or
lifting weights.
A
Again, should the way not be strong enough to support any carriage or
article passing over it, support may be given to the same from below.
speaking tube for communicating from one end of the suspended way to the
other, or from frame to frame, may be used. Or I suspend my road or railway
from transverse rods or bars supported by suitable posts and properly tied, and
so arrange the connections, that the way may, if required, be made to travel
across between the posts.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Daniel Lancaster Banks in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 13th July 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DANIEL
LANCASTER BANKS, of Kennington, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Daniel Lancaster Banks, Her special license that I, the said Daniel
Lancaster Banks, my executors, administrators, and assigns,or such others as
I, the said Daniel Lancaster Banks, my executors, administrators, or assigns,

page_text: should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed,should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A
METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A TRAVELLING SUSPENSION RAIL OR ROADWAY, APPLICABLE,
AMONG OTHER USES. AS A BRIDGE AND LIFTING AGENT," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Daniel Lancaster Banks, by au instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and inmediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Daniel Lancaster Banks, do hereby
declare the nature of iny said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention consists in laying down, at any desired distance apart,
two rails or sets of rails or other manufactured ways, the road or sward
between which the suspension railway is to be constructed and used. I mount
a stout frame upon railway or other wheels, and set a similar frame upon both
sets of rails. The frames carry the uprights which are to form or act as
buttresses, between which the suspension chains, rods, or bars, or other lines,
modes, or apparatus of suspension are to be carried. In order to give
stability to and maintain the buttresses in their position, by preference, I
carry bars downwards from the frame, and mount rollers or wheels hori-
zontally on the lower ends thereof, which wheels run against the ground or
masonry beneath the surface of the earth or level of the rails, and are pre-
vented from rising by a projecting flange or block fixed beneath and parallel
to the rails. The frame is weighted, and, if found necessary, counterbalance
.and weighted levers are run out laterally from the buttresses, in order further
to give support and steadiness to them. The suspension chains or rods carry
pendant rods, wires, chains, or bars, to which a rail or roadway extending
from buttress to buttress, and from one rail or set of rails to the other, is
attached.
It will be obvious to the practical man, that by an arrangement involving a
combination of three or other number of rails or roadways with other support-
ing appliances, that the practical value and working effectiveness of this
Invention will be largely improved. I provide means of winding up or letting

page_text: out the suspension chains in order to allow of the suspension way moving at
an angle other than a right angle to the fixed lines of rails; or one frame
may be set up in the centre of a circle, and a line of circular railway
established round it, whereby the suspension road or railway may move all
round the circle.
Where required, I provide means for causing my suspension road or rail-
way to travel along a set of rails laid at right angles or diagonally to the
fixed rails or sets of rails already described. In such case temporary supports
may become necessary. It will be readily understood that by the adaptation
of chains, ropes, and windlasses, the suspended way may be used for raising or
lifting weights.
Again, should the way not be strong enough to support any carriage or
article passing over it, support may be given to the same from below... A
speaking tube for communicating from one end of the suspended way to the
other, or from 'frame to frame, may be used. In some cases I suspend my
road or railway from transverse rods or bars supported by suitable posts
and properly tied, and so arrange the connections that the way, if required,
may be made to travel across between the posts.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that
purpose I
shall refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the
Figures.
Figure 1 on my Sheet of Drawings represents a side elevation of one
arrangement of my travelling suspension rail or roadway, with the ascending
road broken off at each end; Figure 2 is a corresponding halfplan of the same;
and Figure 3 is an end elevation of one of the buttresses and travelling car-
riages. According to this arrangement the suspension rail or roadway A is
carried upon two sets of fixed rails, B, B, laid on a suitable foundation
of brick or stonework C, or upon wooden sleepers or other constructed way,
or upon the surface of the ground itself, as found most convenient. This
suspension way is hung from the chain or other lines, or other suspension
arrangements D, D, which are suspended or supported from the timber or
other framings or buttresses D¹,D', mounted upon the strong travelling frames
or carriages E, E. These carriages are each fitted with one or more pairs of
travelling wheels or broad rollers F, F, which run upon the rails or surface, by
which means the whole structure may be easily moved from place to place
along its guide rails or surface; G, G, are bars or struts, which, by preference,
I carry downwards from the upright frames or buttresses, and on the lower

page_text: ends of each which I attach a pulley or roller H, which runs either direct upon
the ground against the side of a trough or channel formed in the masonry,
as shewn in the Drawings. In this case the pulleys or rollers are or may be
prevented from rising by a projecting flange or block 1 in the upper part of
the trough or trench. By this means great stability is obtained, and the
buttresses are maintained in an upright position. The suspension roadway
itself may be of any of the well-known systems employed in the construction of
suspension bridges, or it may be constructed on the bowstring or lattice girder
principle, as I do not confine myself to any particular plan, as long as it is
constructed on the suspension principle: I are bow stays for connecting and
steadying the two rails of the suspension railway, where the space between
such rails is left open. In some cases it will be found convenient to connect
à crane with one or both of the buttresses, as shewn at K.
In order to add still further to the stability of the rail or roadway A, the
travelling carriage E may be weighted and weighted levers or arms may be
carried out from the base of each buttress, as shewn at J, on one of the
buttresses in Figure 1. The lever J is made adjustable on a centre at L, and is
capable of being raised or lowered after the fashion of a derrick so as to
diminish or increase its leverage and consequent steadying action upon i the
frame. Suitable windlasses or other mechanical purchases M, M, are carried
by each buttress, to which windlasses or purchases the ends of the suspension
chains or ropes are attached, and theythence pass round the guide pulleys N,N,
and over the guide pulleys O,O, in the upper portion of the buttresses; bythis
arraugement I am enabled to wind or tighten up the suspension chains or
slacken them out at pleasure, thereby allowing the suspension rail or roadway
to travel at any desired angle other than at a right angle to the fixed lines of
rails B, B, as shewn by the diagram plan, Figure 4.
This arrangement of chains, or ropes and windlasses, enables the suspension
way to be employed in lifting and moving heavy weights,theweight being sus-
pended from the roadwayitself or from anyblock or other convenientconnection
travelling on the roadway at any point between the buttresses. The travelling
frames or carriages E, E, are connected by a central pin or pivot P, or by
other suitable means, with the upright frames or buttresses, for the purpose of
allowing them to swivel or lock round, as in the case of the front pair of
wheels of an ordinary vehicle. This arrangement, in conjunctionwith suitable
turntables B1,placed in the fixed railways B at the desired points, enables the
carriages E to be locked round to any desired angle, and the whole structure
to be run on to another set of rails, as shewn in the diagram plan, Figure 5.
When running upon a hard surface without the rails B; the turntables may

page_text: be dispensed with; should the suspension way be not strong enough to support
a carriage or article passing over it, it may be strengthened and supported from
below, as shewn in Figure 1, where Q represents light iron tie rods, and R, R,
are supporting wheels. The height of these wheels should be capable of
adjustment, so as to allow of any unevenness of the surface of the ground.
These wheels, as well as the carriage wheels, may be mounted on any suitable
bearing springs for the purpose of preventing undue vibration.
According to another arrangement, one frame or buttress may be set up
in the centre of a circle and a line of circular suspension or other rail-
way B established round it, as in diagram Figure 6,. whereby the frame
may move all round the circle of rails or roadway. If found desirable the
fixed rails B, B, may be laid upon pontoons, punts, floating or not in canals or
trenches, as the case may be, or buoyant sleepers may be used for supporting
these rails; or these rails B may be suspended from ropes, chains, or bars
carried by fixed portable or travelling posts, as illustrated at S, S, in Figure 7,
where B represents the lines of rail, and A the suspension way travelling
thereon. The posts S, S, are shewn in the Drawing as carried on wheels T, T,
and extending downwards into a trench in the ground, as shewn at s; or, the
posts may simply rest upon the surface of the ground, or be fixed in it, and be
steadied bysuitable rods or stays secured byscrew piles or anchors, or transverse
rods, beams, or bars, fixed across the posts properly tied, may be used for
carrying or suspending the end of the way A, in lieu of the suspension
chains and rails.
In certain situations and for certain purposes, instead of carrying the
suspended rails or roadways as herein-before described,advantagemaybe taken
of the actual sward or other natural ground surface to place carrying rollers
or wheels thereon, for supporting the suspension roadway. Figures 8 and 9
represent two transverse diagrams of the rails of my suspension way, shewing
the carriage wheels in Figure 8 running on the outside edge of the rails, and
in Figure 9 on the inner side; Figure 8 represents also the carriage as being
hung or suspended below the axles and way, whilst in Figure 9 it is placed
above them. When the wheels run upon the outside of the rails, with the
carriage below, as in Figure 8, the suspension way may or may not be closed
or filled in between the rails, but in the case of the wheels running on the
inside with the carriage above, as in Figure 9, it may be open to afford facility
for the dragging of any implement or load over the ground between the rails.
The buttresses may be travelled along their supporting ways or rails B, by
means of anchors or screw piles attached to chains, wire ropes, or other con-
nections hauled by portable engines or by any other power in connection

page_text: with suitable mechanical arrangements, and by preference such power and
mechanical arrangements may be used in connection with the way for any of
the purposes or uses to which the way is applied.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,
First, the general arrangement and construction of travelling suspension
rail or roadway, as herein-before described.
Second, the mounting of any suspension bridge or way upon travelling
carriages or buttresses, for the purpose of traversing the same over the ground,
as herein-before described.
Third, the application and use of crabs, windlasses, or purchases to and on
travelling suspension ways, for the purpose of winding up or letting out the
suspension ropes or chains, and forlifting weights, as herein-before described.
Fourth, the peculiar modes of imparting firmness and stability to the piers
or buttresses of travelling suspension ways, as herein-before described.
Fifth, the application and use of a circular suspension or other rail or road-
way for carrying a suspension roadway, so that the latter may traverse
circularly, as herein-before described.
Sixth, the application and use of a suspension rail or roadway travelling
upon another way supported by chains, ropes, or bars, carried by fixed or
portable posts, as herein-before described.
Seventh, the application and use of a speaking tube for effecting vocal com
munications between the different parts of my suspended roadway, as herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Daniel Lancaster Banks, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of July, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-nine.
DANIEL LANCASTER BANKS. (L.B.)