IMPROVED MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING PASSENGERS, GOODS, AND MINERALS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Eugene Pavy, of the Postford Mills, Oldbury, in
the County of Surrey, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVED
MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING PASSENGERS, GOODS, AND
MINERALS."
Sealed the 10th November 1871, and dated the 16th May 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Eugene Pavy at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th May 1871.
I, EUGENE PAVY, of the Postford Mills, Oldbury, in the County of
Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVED MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING PASSENGERS, GOODS, AND
MINERALS," to be as follows:-
This relates to means of transporting passengers, goods, and minerals
by carriages or vehicles moving on an overhead rail or tramway of a fixed
character, the rails or supporting bars being laid on an incline so that
the vehicles run down by their own weight and under the care of a con-
ductor or not. The rails or trams are fixed at any convenient height

page_text: upon columns or uprights braced together by stays or tie bars to give
rigidity, and the carriages can bear direct upon the rails or be suspended
from them. The incline is made from one point to another, and these
may be at any distance apart. The lower ends are connected to the
higher ones of the next inclines by short links, up which the vehicles are
to be drawn by auxiliary power, such as a stationary engine or winch.
The lower parts of the incline may run on to a level, and stopping
stations can be arranged at those parts to enable passengers to enter and
alight from the carriage or goods to be loaded or unloaded, spiral or other
staircases being fitted thereto leading to the roadway below, or a lift may
be employed to raise the passengers or goods. The chains which draw
the vehicles up the links act automatically through a catch on the axles,
taking into the meshes or openings as they arrive. I propose to employ
guard rails or wedges at the sides of the bearing or supporting rails to
prevent any chance of the carriages leaving them during their movement.
In some cases a footway can be arranged outside for pedestrians.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Eugene Pavy in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 16th November 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EUGENE
PAVY, of the Postford Mills, Oldbury, in the County of Surrey, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-fourth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Eugene Pavy, Her special licence that I, the
said Eugene Pavy, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Eugene Pavy, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, 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 IMPROVED MEANS OF AND APPARATUS
FOR TRANSPORTING PASSENGERS, GOODS, AND MINERALS," upon the condition
"

page_text: (amongst others) that I, the said Eugene Pavy, my executors or admi-
nistrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain 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 immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Eugene Pavy, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings here-
unto annexed, that is to say:-
This relates to means of transporting passengers, goods, and minerals
by carriages or vehicles moving on an overhead rail or tramway of
a fixed character, the rails or supporting bars being laid on an incline
so that the vehicles run down by their own weight and under the care
of a conductor or not. The rails or trams are fixed at any convenient
height upon columns or uprights braced together by stays or tie bars
to give rigidity, and the carriages can bear direct upon the rails or.
be suspended from them. The incline is made from one point to
another and these may be at any distance apart. The lower ends
are connected higher ones of the next inclines by short links, up
which the vehicles are to be drawn by auxiliary power, such as a
stationary engine or winch. The lower parts of the incline may run
on to a level, and stopping stations can be arranged at those parts to
enable passengers to enter and alight from the carriages or goods to
be loaded or unloaded, spiral or other staircases being fitted thereto
leading to the roadway below, or a lift may be employed to raise the
passengers or goods. The chains which draw the vehicles up the links
act automatically through a catch on the axles taking into the meshes
or openings as they arrive. I propose to employ guard rails or wedges
at the sides of the bearing or supporting rails to prevent any chance
of the carriages leaving them during their movement. In some cases
a footway can be arranged outside for pedestrians.
The manner in which I carry my Invention into effect is represented
in the annexed Drawings, in which Figures 1 shows a series of columns
or uprights a, a, placed at intervals upon the ground, and of such a
height as to clear the ordinary traffic of a town, the columns have stays

page_text: or tie bars or plates b, b, stretching from one to the other to form a
continuous foundation for the reception of the rails c, c, upon which
the carriages d, d, are free to run in one direction by their own weight
between two given points, such as the stopping stations from which the
passengers desire to start or alight at, the rails being laid on an incline
as before-mentioned. At the bottom of each incline I arrange a level
portion of the way for the carriages to remain at rest for any given
period, and I draw or push the carriages up a somewhat steeper incline
of a connecting piece of the line by steam or other power to get the
carriages upon the higher end of the next incline down which the
carriages would be free to run towards the next station, and so on for
any distance between the two extreme ends of the line. If the structure
is of such a character that passenger carriages or heavily laden trucks
are to run upon it, I fit one or more of the axles of each carriage or
truck with a claw or catch e, Figures 2 and 3, which take into a link of
a "Vaucanson or other chain of an endless character fitted between
the rails of the ascending connecting portion, so that they are drawn
up the short incline on to the next descending one in succession, the
chain passing over pullies f, f, one of which is kept in action by the
prime mover fitted below. At the stopping stations I sometimes provide
spiral or other staircases for convenience of passengers or a lift (hydraulic
or otherwise). The rails may be flat on the tread or rounded as desired,
if they are flat I fit guard rails g, g, at the sides, and others at the
top to ensure the carriages keeping on the track, but if the rails are
round on the tread I employ grooved wheels or wheels with flanges on
one or both sides of the bearing surface.
""
It is not essential that the fixed way should be at the same incline
the entire distance between any two stations, as it may vary according
to the speed at which the carriages have to travel, in most cases the
incline would be sharper at the highest portion to afford sufficient
impetus for carrying the carriages over the less inclined portions and
on to the level portion, should such be provided, because should the
incline be continued to the next up incline the break mechanism under
the control of the guard or other attendant would be put into action
to bring the carriages to a standstill at the proper point, after which
the carriages would start themselves, to travel the remaining distance,
or to where the chain is arranged to be drawn up the connection, and
on to the highest portion of the next descending portion.

page_text: I have hitherto referred to carriages running upon fixed rails, but
should occasion require it the carriages can be suspended from them
in the manner sbewn in Figure 4, or a double set of rails can be arranged
one above the other so that passenger carriages may run upon the
upper ones and goods or mineral trucks upon the lower one, or the
two systems above referred to can be adopted, that is, the passenger
carriages above the upper set of rails and the goods trucks suspended
from the lower set of rails, the columns being provided with brackets
for supporting the two sets of rails in the manner shown in Figure 5.
My improved system of transporting passengers, goods, and minerals
is of such a character that it can be advantageously erected in moun-
tainous and hilly districts, and at little cost, it being only necessary to
fix the columns at certain distances apart to obtain the necessary
strength for supporting the load to be carried upon or by the rails laid
upon them or upon girders which span from one column to the other,
the details of which will be familiar to engineers who have studied and
superintended bridge or viaduct construction. The system can also be
adopted for transporting carriages or trucks across rivers, ravines, or
passes, or even through rivers, in which case I should enclose the rails
in an impermeable tube of a somewhat flexible character, so that it
would “give
or bend to follow the undulations of the river's bed when
it is allowed to sunk itself or be sunk by mechanical power.
"
The tube I propose to construct is as follows:--I take a series of
metal rings of a given diameter and arrange them at certain distances
apart (regular or not) upon, say, pontoons, and I envelope them in a
flexible body, such as canvas, paper, or other fibrous material, the
jacket or covering being put on in layers (spirally wound or otherwise)
until the desired thickness of envelope be attained, each layer being
caused to adhere to the previously laid one by a waterproof and binding
varnish spread or brushed over at the time of laying or winding on
of the fibrous body, the varnish or compound being used hot or cold,
according to its composition or the nature of its constituents.
entire length or the completed portion only of the tube can then be
lowered on to the bed of a river, or seaway, or into a channel previously
dredged or excavated to receive it, and be there retained by anchors,
screw or other piles and chains, or by concrete or debris being thrown
into the water over where the tube is situated. If the tube is completed
for the whole length before it is immersed the ends can be hermetically
The

page_text: "
closed, consequently its sinking powers could be controlled by allowing
the escape of the air from within through suitable valves or passages; its
position or resting" at the desired spot or place also can be put under
control if the tube is connected with air pumps so that it can be refilled
with air under pressure and caused to float again or be lifted from the
bed to a sufficient height for it to be shifted. The ends of the tube
would be at a suitable distance above the water line, and carried in shore
to any desired point to complete the connection with the fixed rails upon
columns in the “open.”
A general view of my tube is represented in Figure 6, in which a
train of carriages is shown descending into the tube, the descent being
under the control of break power from the engine below, which engine
also assists to lift or raise the carriages up the opposite incline in con-
junction with the engine on the other shore. In many cases the descent
of the train would be utilized pneumatically or otherwise to store up a
power in suitable vessels, which could in its turn be employed to assist
the engines.
It will be understood that the rails are to be laid in the tube after the
immersion, the weight of which will tend to maintain it in position.
These rails need not however be upon the bottom portion of the inside of
the tube, because should the suspended method be used the rails would
be at or near the upper part, and either upon columns on or held by
depending brackets from the rings, which brackets may be so braced one
to the other and to the rails as to give rigidity to the whole structure.
The suspended method can be carried out with great effect and with:
advantageous results commercially and financially in docks, wharves,
yards, warehouses, and other places by attaching hanging brackets or
straps to the ceiling, beams, or girders, as by certain arrangements of
junction pieces which I have invented the trucks or suspended articles
can be shifted from one line of rails to another with facility, and be
made to turn corners, or follow the curves of walls, or escape projections
hanging from the cieling; in fact to pass any obstacle which would
otherwise impede the progress of the transport. The construction and
arrangement of the junction pieces will be clearly understood by
referring to several Figures on Sheet 3 of the Drawings.
66
"
Figure 7 represents a portion of two suspended lines A, A, B, B, one
running at right angles to the other, the break or cross in either
direction being accomplished by a revolving link or suspended turn-

page_text: table C fitted with rails D, D, to recieve the truck or the parcel which
has to be passed from lines A to B, or vice versa, the rails being first
"laid" ready to receive the approaching truck which is descending the
incline in either direction, the rails be so shaped that they rise near
the "cross" to check the progress and to enable an attendant to direct
the truck down the short incline, say from a to b, to run it upon the
turntable pinions, to turning it a quarter circle to shift the direction, or to
pass it over the turntable and up the short rise on the opposite rails, say
from c to d, and then to start it down the incline to the next "cross" or
to its terminus, as desired. The turntable has holes or apertures in it
to receive a bolt or catch, which holds it steady during the passage of the
truck, which bolt can be released by pulling a cord, as shown.
Figure 8 represents how I arrange my junction pieces to enable a truck
to turn the angle of a wall according to the degree of curve given to
the pieces A, A, which are hinged to the ends of the rails B, B, so that
they can be shifted from the ends C, C, of the continuation rails to
allow of the ends D of the branch or loop rails E, E, to be bolted to
the ends C, C.
Figure 9 shows how I arrange the pieces for directing the trucks round
the corner of a wall so that they run along its reverse face. The
pieces A, A, being hinged as before to the ends B, B, to form the con-
tinuous connection with the ends C, C, but if the truck has to be shifted
on to the "loop" D, D, the pieces E, E, hinged on the ends of D, D,
are lifted and bolted to the ends C, C.
Figure 10 represents how I arrange the rails and junction pieces for
the truck to escape a ceiling beam or girder when I desire to pass the
trucks on to another line; here the junction pieces A, A, are hinged to
the ends B, B, so that they can be bolted to the continuous rails C, C,
or to the loop rails D, D.
"
Figure 11 is a perspective view of a "cross," and of another arrange-
ment of rails for enabling the suspended trucks or parcels to pass a ceiling
beam or girder K which obstructs the direct passage. The rails A, A,
on one side of the " cross are shown with terminations B, B, on the
level along which the truck is pushed by hand to bring the load C sus-
pended from the truck D, D, between two forks or hooks on the dropped
ends of a lower pair of rails so that the bail, link, or tie of the & vessel
or parcel C is brought into position for the hook on another truck F on
the lower rails to engage it; the truck F is then pushed up the "drop" G

page_text: on to the lower rails, the movement effecting the release of the hook H
of the truck D from the load so that the load can continue its journey
along the inclined rails to its destination.
I have shown the trucks in the suspended system as having two
flat edged wheels only and running upon wooden rails, but when desired
the rails may be of iron of any shape for grooved or other edged wheel
trucks to run upon, and the wheels may be arranged in fours, or two
pairs to each truck.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as 1
my Invention,―
Firstly. The employment of fixed rails laid in an inclined manner
upon columns or uprights so that the carriages or vehicles can run down
them (suspended or not) by their own weight or by gravitation, as
described and shown.
Secondly. I claim the connection between the lower end of one line
and the upper end of the adjoining line in combination with the means
referred to for raising or shifting the carriages from the lower to the
upper level, as described and shown.
1
Thirdly. I claim the adaptation of the foregoing plans or systems 2
generally for transporting passengers, goods, and minerals in successive
stages or from point to point in succession.
Fourthly. I claim the modifications of the suspension system repre-
sented in Figures 7 to 11 by which goods or parcels can be conveyed
from one point to another in docks, wharves, yards, warehouses, and 2
other places, as described.
Fifthly. I claim the employment of junction pieces, some of which
can be released to break the passage of suspended bodies in one direc-
tion while others on branch rails are secured to the main rails to
alter or change the direction into which such bodies are required to 3
travel.
Sixthly. I claim the method of arranging "drop ends
" on or to one
set of rails down which trucks or vehicles can run for receiving the load
automatically from another truck or vehicle running upon rails of a
higher level in order to pass obstacles, substantially as described and 35
shown in Figure 11 of the Drawings.

page_text: And lastly. I claim the construction of a tube or tunnel in the
manner described when employed for supporting or suspending the
inclined rails upon which vehicles are caused to travel from one point to
another, substantially as shown in the several Figures of the Drawings
hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Eugene Pavy, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of November One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-one.
10 Witness,
D. PUTTO,
Postford.
EUGENE PAVY. (L.S.)