or Waggons are Moved by Chains or Cables.
Year: 1888

page_text: or Waggons are Moved by Chains or Cables.
We CONSTANTIN KLINIK, Engineer, of Konigshütte, Upper Silesia, and FRANZ
ZAWISCHA, Morchant, of Beuthen, Upper Silesia, do hereby declare the nature of our
said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has reference to that kind of railways (above or below ground), by
which waggons containing ore, coal, or persons, are moved from place to place. The
invention consists essentially in the employment of a chain, which is constructed and
arranged as hereinafter described, and to which are attached devices for connecting
with the waggons, and also in the arrangement of special courses for the chain, of such
a nature, that an easy working of the entire chain course may be obtained, and
so that the chain courses are of cheap construction, and disturbances in their working
are obviated.
The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings in the preferred ways in
which it may be carried out.
Figure 1 shews in elevation an arrangement of the chain-movement, below ground,
in accordance with this invention.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same and,
Figure 3 is a view of the propelling device.
Figure 4 shews to a larger scale, part of a straight length of the chain course.
Figure shews in longitudinal section a so-called lower conduct of the chain course,
in which the axis of the chain course is crossed by a line of rails.
Figure 6 shews an arrangement of the chain course in horizontal curves.
Figure 7 shews the means for the propulsion of the chain.
Figure 8 shews a modified arrangement of the lower conduct with special conducting
rollers and Figure 9 shews in cross section such a conducting roller.
Figure 10 shews in plan part of the chain, with a section of the device for
carrying the waggon along.
Figure 11 shows a single link of the chain in longitudinal section.

page_text: Figure 24 shows the chain propulsion sheave in longitudinal section.
Figure 25 shows the periphery of the sheave to an enlarged scale with the chain
placed thereon.
Figure 26 is a sectional elevation of the sheave; and, Figure 27 is a plan of the
sleave.
An endless chain railway according to this invention is constructed as follows. Of
a chain conducted through cylindrical ways and operated by a suitable motor and
carried by specially constructed devices, and having devices to bear against the
axle of the transport waggon, to carry the same along with it.
The chain is of length to suit the particular position and can be conducted in any
suitable horizontal and vertical curves, and in straight lines, and is provided at the
places of the curves, or at other places, where it may appear requisite with closed
conducting rails, that give to the chain its required curved movement. For straight
distances it is sufficient to carry the chain on rails. The lubrication of the chain
is provided for by the chain, when passing round its propelling sheave dipping
into an oil box.
The construction of the chain and its separate parts, is fully shown in figures 10
to 19 inclusive.
The links a, a of the chain are constructed of cast steel, and are provided at 6, 6 with
holes for the connecting bolts c, c, which holes are axially at right angles. The links
are formed with forked ends and these forked ends d serve for the reception of rollers e
and e¹. These rollers respectively serve for conducting the chain in horizontal and
vertical directions. In cases where the rollers are not required to be set so closely
some of them may be dispensed with, and a sheave (Figures 15 and 16) may be
substituted for the rollers ee¹, represented in Figures 13 and 14.
Certain of the links a at fixed distances one from the other, are provided with studs
or devices for carrying along the waggons. The studs are attached at the side of
the chain links a, and have a peculiar twisted shape of such a form that the bearing or
buffer surface of the studs come in line with the centre of the chain links. The said
bearing surface of these studs consists of the rubber buffers g, 9, in order to make the
striking of the stud upon the waggon elastic. These rubber buffers are inserted into
the head of the stud, against a web h, in order to lessen the shock.
J
Under the above described arrangement, the chain links will bend at option
in a horizontal or vertical direction, and can be changed in their respective
positions.
The conducting rails for the chain are in part closed and in part plain rails, that is
to say, where the chain moves in curves (both vertical and horizontal curves) they are
always closed, while on the straight distances partly closed and partly plain conducting
rails can be used. For long straight distances closed conducting rails are used at
intervals, in order to prevent oscillation of the chain links.
A closed conducting rail is shown in Figures 20 to 23.
The chain link rollers run not only horizontally along the sides c', c¹ of the con-
ducting rails, but also vertically at c², c³. The conducting rails are provided at. k
(Figures 21 and 23) with a longitudinal groove, through which the stud passes. These

page_text: closed conducting rails may be bent, like those shown in Figures 5 and 6, or be
in straight lengths, as required, but they are always arranged so that the rollers
run with a slight play along the horizontal and vertical sides and can thus be
carried on.
The plain conducting rails (Figures 5, 6, 20, 21 and 22) are constructed of plate
or other rolled iron or of cast iron, and serve merely to give a straight course to the
vertical conducting rollers of the chain links.
The propulsion of the chain is effected by any suitable motive power, for example,
a steam engine may be used for the purpose, arranged as shown in Figures 1 and 2 in
proximity to the forwarding shaft, for example in the side wall of the forwarding
course, lying opposite the shaft.
The chain is an endless one running in the direction of the arrows (see Figure 2).
At both ends of the chain course closed conducting rails, bent downwards (Figure 7),
are placed, conducting the chain to the propulsion sheave (Figures 25 to 27).
The periphery of the propulsion sheave is shown in an enlarged scale in Figure 25.
The sheave is arranged so that the horizontal rollers of the chain links lay themselves
into grooves on the sheave, and the bolts of the vertical rollers take into recesses on
the sheave. The chain links run in a groove on the sheave.
The propulsion of the chain is obtained by the sheave drawing the chain from one
course and delivering it to the other course. A tightening device is provided at the
other end of the chain course, as shown in Figure 1, by the sheave at this end being
moveable in a vertical direction, tightening the chain by the weight of the sheave or
by mechanical means.
Both the propulsion sheave, and the tightening sheave run in a receptacle, filled with
oil, in which the chain dips, thus getting oiled while in movement.
Lower conducting courses of the chain-rails for dropping the chain at crossings,
can be provided by a combination of bent closed conducting rails, shown in Figure 5.
Thus the use of conducting rollers at present used for this purpose in railways of this
type is dispensed with.
Instead of these bent conducting rails for the lower course, conducting rollers m,
such as shown in Figure 8 may be used. These rollers are grooved in such a way that
room is provided for the studs f, as shown in Figure 9.
Where the chain course is dropped at a crossing, the tracks are interrupted. The
waggons arriving at such crossing points are either transferred again to the chain by
workmen, stationed at such places, or are pushed on to the crossing tracks according
to their respective destinations.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In a rail or tramway of the kind herein described, an endless chain having links
provided with rollers and with studs or their equivalent, and a conducting rail pro-
vided with a longitudinal groove, for conducting the rollers of the chain links, said
chain being arranged in such a manner that it is put in motion by a propulsion sheave
or wheel, and the said studs or equivalent devices thereon being adapted to move the
waggons or cars; substantially as described.
2. In a rail or tramway of the kind herein described, an endless chain, arranged
and constructed in such a manner that the links thereof are connected together by
bolts or pins which bolts or pins bear conducting rollers e and e¹, said rollers serving
as a means of conducting the chain horizontally and vertically, certain links of the
chain being provided with studs which lie in the same horizontal plane as the axle of
the waggons or other vehicle to be propelled; substantially as set forth.
3. In connection with a chain of the type herein described, a closed conducting
rail (having a longitudinal slot k) for conducting the chain in curves, the said chain
being adapted to lay itself horizontally by rails such as c and el and vertically by
rails such as cand c³, and the studs of the chain being arranged to pass through
the said slot k.

page_text: 4. In a rail or tramway of the kind herein described, bent or curved conducting
rails of the kind specified, for conducting the chain below the rails, and track crossings,
and without the use of conducting rollers.
5. In a rail or tramway of the kind herein described, the combination of the
chain links a, a, having the propelling studs ffixed thereon, the conducting rail
the conducting rail having the slot k therein, bent or curved conducting rails having
a slot & therein, and chain wheels; operating substantially as described.
6. The combination with the chain composed of links a, a having rollers e, e¹,
of the studs having buffers g, g; substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 1st day of October 1888.
CONSTANTIN KLINIK.
FRANZ ZAWISCHA.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
15, Water Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents.