Improvements in Apparatus or Appliances for Conveying Passengers or Goods from Place to Place.
Year: 1886

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus or Appliances for Conveying
Passengers or Goods from Place to Place.
I BENJAMIN WALMSLEY of East Burnham in the County of Bucks, Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide simple and efficient means whereby
passengers and goods can be conveyed long or short distances with facility, comfort
and safety, and the invention is particularly designed for carrying people short
distances of say two or three hundred yards for example across water courses,
from an elevated position to a lower one or on the same level for recreation or
otherwise.
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For this purpose I employ wire ropes from or between which the carriage or
carriages or travelling frame is suspended, these ropes are suspended or supported
at each end upon standards or trestles over which the ropes are passed, the ends of
the said ropes being secured to guys or other holdfasts in the ground when the
standards or trestles are the terminal points of the line but when these are not so
I provide means as hereafter described for enabling the travelling carriage or
carriages to pass the standards or posts which carry the line wires.
The carriages or cars which are intended to convey passengers between two
points along the before mentioned ropes are preferably made of conical form, the
apex of the cone being somewhat flattened and the base enlarged so as to form a
platform on which the seats for the passengers are arranged. The platform is made
of cross rods and between and to these the seats are fitted, the side supports of the
carriage go up and over the top of the frames which act as the framework of and
bearings for an axle to which grooved pulleys are keyed and these pulleys rest and
revolve on the wire or other ropes before mentioned; but where the carriages have
to pass posts, they will be suspended from a centre rod between the posts. The
wire ropes are united at suitable intervals by cross bars on which concave guide
rollers are loosely mounted and over which a rope from the axle of the carriage
runs to a winch which may be at each end of the distance to be travelled and this
rope acts as a brake or speed regulator for the carriage travelling on the wire rope
or frame or to pull the same along when the terminus is level with the starting
point. The passengers are seated on seats at or near the base of the carriage and
these seats may be made of wicker, wood or other suitable material.

page_text: The object of making the carriage or car of conical form is to increase the safety
with which the same may be used, the centre of gravity being thus brought low
down, it is next to impossible for the car to overturn.
When the wire rope comes to a post which the carriage has to pass the grooved
wheels come in contact with a lever the fulcrum of which is on the post, the
travelling wheels depressing one end of the lever or levers, for there would be one
for each wheel, raises the opposite end which carries a roller, which latter in its
turn raises the rail ropes and allows the carriage to pass, which done, the levers
return to position ready for the next carriage and so on continuously.
The form of the frame when required to pass posts or supports is the same or
similar to the frame for carrying the conical shaped carriage with the addition that
the frame is continued beneath the wire ropes, and supports other pulleys one or
more for each rope to run on. The attachment to the frame will be from the
before mentioned continuation beneath the ropes and between the post or supports
by a tension rod or other means according to the requirements of the goods to be
carried. The form of the carriage depends on what is to be carried; for comfort,
safety and lightness of carriage for passengers the conical form supported by a
centre rod would be best, but for goods any form most suitable for carrying coals,
minerals, manure &c, it would much depend how the different articles were to be
loaded or unloaded &c.
The attachment and detachment for use in a double or single line with an
endless regulating rope is by a clip and pulley contained in a frame fixed to the
main axle which would enable any number of cars to be in use or not, as wished
and would allow the endless regulating rope free play.
The ropes are eased from the weight of cars not in use by platforms beneath the
arrival and departure stations attached to levers weighted a little more thau the
weight of the empty car so that directly the car is unloaded its weight is taken off
the ropes and when loaded its own weight of goods or passengers finds its bearing
on the ropes the arrival of the car moving a bolt to allow the platform to rise; on
departure of car a spring forces the bolt on to the depressed platform to keep it in
its place until the arrival of the next car and so on.
Dated this 10th day of January 1886

page_text: Passengers or Goods from Place to Place.
I, BENJAMIN WALMSLEY, of East Burnham in the County of Bucks, Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The object of my invention is to provide simple and efficient means whereby
passengers and goods can be conveyed long or short distances with facility, comfort,
and safety; and the invention is particularly designed for carrying people short
distances of say two or three hundred yards, for example across water courses,"
from an elevated position to a lower one, or on the same level, for recreation or
otherwise.
For this purpose I employ wire ropes from or between which the carriage or
carriages or travelling frame is suspended, these ropes are suspended or supported
at each end upon standards or trestles over which the ropes are passed, the ends of
the said ropes being secured to guys or other holdfasts in the ground when the
standards or trestles are the terminal points of the line. The carriages or cars
which are intended to convey passengers between two points along the before
mentioned ropes are preferably made of conical pyramidal form, the apex of the
cone being somewhat flattened and the base enlarged so as to form a platform on
which the seats for the passengers are arranged. The platform is made of cross
rods and between and to these the seats are fitted, the side supports of the carriage
go up and over the top of the frames which act as the framework of and bearings
for an axle to which grooved pulleys are keyed and these pulleys rest and revolve
on the wire or other ropes before mentioned.. The wire ropes are united at
suitable intervals by cross bars on which concave guide rollers are loosely mounted.
and over which a rope from the axle of the carriage runs to a winch which may
be at each end of the distance to be travelled and this rope acts as a brake or
speed regulator for the carriage travelling on the wire rope or frame or to pull the
same along when the terminal is level with the starting point. The passengers are
seated on seats at or near the base of the carriage and these seats may be made of
wicker, wood or other suitable material.
The object of making the carriage or car of conical form is to increase the safety
with which the same may be used, the centre of gravity being thus brought low
down, it is next to impossible for the car to overturn.
The form of the frame may be the same or similar to the frame for carrying the
conical shaped carriage with the addition that the frame is continued beneath the
wire ropes and supports other pulleys one or more for each rope to run on.
The attachment to the frame will be from the before mentioned continuation
beneath the ropes and between the post or supports by a tension rod or other
means according to the requirements of the goods to be carried. The form of the

page_text: carriage depends on what is to be carried, for comfort, safety and lightness of
carriage for passengers, the conical form supported by a centre rod would be best;
but for goods, any form most suitable for carrying coals, minerals manure &c it
would much depend how the different articles were to be loaded or unloaded &c.
In order that my invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will now proceed to fully describe the same with reference to the accom-
panying drawings.
Figure 1 is a diagram side elevation and Figure 2 is a diagram plan view of an
apparatus or appliance, constructed according to my invention for conveying
passengers or goods from place to place. These views are shown on a very small
scale and are only intended to give a general idea, without details, of the
invention.
Figure 3 is a half vertical transverse section, Figure 4 is a part sectional plan,
and Figure 5 is a partial end view of the upper runner frame.
Figure 6 is an end view, and Figure 7 is a sectional plan of the upper runner
frame complete but shown on a smaller scale than the parts shown at Figures 3, 4
and 5. Figure 8 shows in front elevation partly in section, and Figure 9 in plan
one of the travelling frames or carriages arranged and constructed according to my
invention drawn on a smaller scale than the details of same hereafter shown and
described. Figure 10 is a side elevation Figure 11 is a front view partly in
Bection, Figure 12 is a sectional side elevation, and Figure 13 is a plan of the
upper runner frame of the carriage wherein the lower running wheels and frame-
work connected therewith are dispensed with. Figure 14 is an end elevation and
Figure 15 is a side elevation of the end supports or standards of the parallel cables
or suspended rails which I employ when two supports or standards are used one
being at each terminus.
Figure 16 shows in side elevation, and Figure 17 in plan, a diagram view of
apparatus or appliances for conveying passengers or goods from place to place
wherein a single line of cable instead of a double line according to my invention is
employed. These figures are drawn to about the same scale as the diagram views
Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 18 is a side elevation partly in section, and Figure 19 is a plan, of the
lower platform and one of the seats on same, the other half showing the iron
framework of the travelling carriage, and Figure 18 also showing the cable runner
as applied to the single cable line.
Figure 20 is a sectional end elevation, and Figure 21 is a side elevation, of the
runner detached, on a larger scale than it is shown at Figures 18 and 19.
Figure 22 is a side elevation and Figure 23 is an end elevation of one of the
end standards which I employ in connection with the single cable line.
Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in all the figures.
AA are the suspended cables. Two of these cables are shown at Figures 1
and 2 to form a line of rails, whereas at Figures 16 and 17 one such cable only is
shown. In all cases the cables are preferably made of steel wire. B B are the
standards or columns shown separately at Figures 14 and 15 and 22 and 23
supporting the cables A A and one standard may be placed at a higher or an
equal level with the other all as found requisite. With reference particularly to
Figures 3, 4, 5 6 and 7 which show in detail and together the runner and framework
thereof, C is the frame carrying by brackets C₁ the bearings for the shaft D;
E E are the running wheels carried by the shaft D; F is the under framework
bolted to the frame C and carrying the wheels F¹. The cables A are between the
wheels E and F¹; G G are eye bolts carried by the lower frame F, to or from
which bolts the platform of the car is suspended by steel wire ropes G¹; D¹ are
collars on the shaft D between which the draw or drag rope H passes as shown at
Figures 1 and 3; I are distance rods best seen at Figure 3 but also at Figures 1
and 2, for keeping the cables at proper distances apart such distance pieces also
form pivots for rollers for preventing the dropping or sagging of the drag rope
they may be kept in the central position by collars marked 1' Figure 3.

page_text: With reference particularly to Figures 10, 11 and 12 and 13 in which the under
frame is dispensed with, C is the upper frame having four depending arma
C, C¹, C¹, C¹ forming brackets for the fixed axle D on which the grooved bearing
wheels E are mounted and are free to revolve the central portion of the spindle D
forming a fixture for the steel wire draw or brake rope Ĥ the loop of which lies
between the two fixed collars D¹ before described. The outer depending arms C₁
each carry two lugs C and C³ through which eye bolts pass for carrying four steel
wire ropes GG¹ G¹ G¹ when four such ropes are used, but when six ropes are
employed as shown the remaining two are passed through eye bolts in the end of
the shaft D. AA are the cables; I shows one of the distance rods, and I¹ the
roller on same.
With reference to Figures 8 and 9 it will be seen that the ropes G¹ carry the
platform J, this is also illustrated at Figures 1 and 2. This platform is preferably
composed of an iron framework covered with planking the base is composed, as
shown, of an irregularly shaped frame L or of rectangular form as at Figures 1
and 2 and may be provided with seats or fittings according to the purposes to
which the apparatus is intended to be applied and used; for passenger traffic the
whole outer framework is surrounded by wicker or other suitable caging; L'L' are
eye bolts to which the steel ropes G² are connected.
With special reference to Figures 14 and 15 showing the standards B in detail;
M M are the pulleys over which the cables A. A pass to the holdfasts in the ground
as shown at Figures 1 and 2 between such holdfasts and the column they may be
provided with means for tightening up or adjusting the tension of the cables A.
N is the central pulley for carrying the drag or brake rope over the top of the
standard B to a winch or drum O shown at Figures 1 and 2. There may be a
drag rope and winch or drum at each end where required and which would be the
case when the line is horizontal or nearly so. Where double lines are employed
there may be a continuous or endless drag rope, passing over or round drums at
each end.
With special reference to Figures 20 and 21, C is the frame carrying the single
bearing wheel E. F¹ is the under guide wheel and A the cable between same.
The frame C is flanged at F and strengthened by ties Ct bolted to the sides of the
frame C. The flanged parts F carry eye bolts G for the steel ropes G¹ to be con-
nected thereto. The wheels E and F are preferably provided with gunmetal
bushes and run on steel spindles D and F¹.
With reference to Figures 18 and 19 the runner and frame before described
supports by steel wire ropes G¹ and eye bolts. L¹ the platform composed of the
angle iron framework L and flooring J, this platform is shown of rectangular form
and is shown provided with seats P for two persons, or arrangements may be made
for carrying other numbers.
With reference to Figures 22 and 23 B B are the standards; M is the pulley at
top over which the cable A passes to holdfasts as shown at Figure 16.
The drag or brake rope is here shown attached to the lower part of the car and
is continuous or endless passing over pulleys N running in bearings provided at
the lower part of the standard B. The drag or brake cord H. is shown as passing
round the horizontal drum H. Where desired an upper guard runner as at H
Figure 16 may be carried above the lower pulley N of the drag rope and it may be
conveniently carried by a bracket bolted on to the standard B.
The attachment or detachment of the cars in a double or single line with an
endless drag or brake rope may be by a clip and pulley in a frame fixed to the
framework C whereby any number of cars can be attached or detached as required.
The cable ropes may be relieved from the weight of the cars not in use by plat-
forms attached to levers weighted somewhat more than the weight of the empty
car and so arranged that directly the car resting on such platform is unloaded its
weight will be taken off the cables A and when again loaded its own weight and
that of goods and passengers again depresses the platform and the car finds its
bearing on the cables. The arrival of the car at its destination may operate a bolt

page_text: governing the rise of the platform, and on the departure of the car a spring may
force the bolt over the depressed platform to keep it in place until the arrival of
the next car, and so on.
The diagram views Figures 1, 2, 16 and 17 show the apparatus or appliance
applied to the purpose of conveying passengers over a water course in the case of
Figures 16 and 17, and from hill to hill in the case of Figures 1 and 2, the latter
showing the double cable arrangement, and the former the single cable arrange-
ment, but in either case the one or other may be employed as found most suitable
for the work to be accomplished. The car or carriage rests on the platform before
referred to, or it may rest on the ground itself or on the cable with a platform at
the side for the convenience of passengers entering the carriages, or any other
convenient arrangement may be adopted according to circumstances.
If then the line is inclined.as shown at Figure 1, when the car is ready to start
it is only necessary to slacken or to pay out the brake rope H, when the carriage
by its own weight will travel along the cable or cables to the opposite side, and for
the return journey the carriage or car is drawn back by the brake cord H and
winch or drum O worked by hand or power, and when there are two or more cars
travelling in contrary directions the downward travel of one will assist at any rate
the return journey of the other car and in some cases accomplish it altogether.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
•
1st. In apparatus or appliances for conveying passengers or goods from place to
place, the arrangement and combination of frames, pulleys and guides arranged
and operated substantially as described and illustrated with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
2nd. In apparatus or appliances for conveying passengers or goods from place
to place, the construction and employment of carriages or cars of conical, or pyra-
midal form, together with the means described and shown for suspending same to
the cable or cables, and the formation and fittings of the platform all substantially
as herein before described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying
drawings together with any mere modification or modifications thereof.
3rd. The general arrangement of apparatus or appliances for mounting single or
double cables combined with the aforesaid carriages or cars all constructed and
acting substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Tad this 10th
1000