Improvements in and applicable to Suspension Cable Tracks. be carried in theing car or connected therewith
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 25th May, 1894-Accepted, 7th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and applicable to Suspension Cable Tracks.
I, WILLIAM JOHN BREWER, Civil Engineer, care of Walter Alfred Barlow,
of 7 John Street, Bedford Row, London, W.C. do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in or applicable to suspension
cable tracks for conveyance of passengers or freight, and is combined with
"haulage
means at fixed stations or it may be by electric or other power
carried in the transporting car or connected therewith.
"
The object is primarily to construct a carrying cable-track in such manner
that the carriers or supports of the carriage or car will have free and uninter-
rupted passage from end to end of the carrying suspension cable or cables
constituting the track at the same time that the cable or cables proper are
reinforced and strengthened by the supports, over arms whereof the track cables
are run and are carried.
The main cable or cables is or are to receive thimbles or sections of tubular
These
lengths forming part of "depending webs with sideway extending arms.
are carried upward and outward and the upper ends of these arms are grooved
This affords a double
to receive side cables which are to serve as the track.
cable track, that is, one cable to or on each side of the primary suspension cable
or cables.
A modification may however be employed in which there will be provided a
second and lower set of arms to support other track-cables thus giving a double
cable-track on each side of the primary suspension cable or cables.
There may be two or more primary suspension cables employed by making the
thimbles or tubular pieces with double borings through which the said primary
cables will pass (thus the said two primary cables will be one above the other in
the same vertical plane, or be disposed horizontally or three or more piercings of
the tubular pieces may be employed or provided).
These tubular pieces or sectional or partial lengths will be threaded on to the
primary cable or cables and they may be placed so as to abut end to end of each
succeeding section when very great strength is required as they will in that case
render additional but flexible or yielding support to one another.
To ensure that these sections or tubular lengths shall not move apart when
weight is in suspension there may be provided a light rope or cable the ends
whereof will have screwed pins or terminal bolts and adjusting blocks for tightening
purposes which will however in nowise detract from the flexible or yielding
character of this cable system.
To further enhance the carrying power of the primary cable or cables I provide
or furnish the thimbles or tubular pieces with eyes or holders on their upper edges
or parts to serve as holding means for guy ropes, rods or chains. Said guys at
the outer ends will be carried out to and be secured to any available anchorage..
The carriages for running upon the cable tracks as aforesaid will be hung from
a wheeled "grip
or holder, having upturned arms, of substantially inverted
Ushape, and said arms carry grooved wheels or runners, the groove whereof are of
abnormal depth to ensure depth of flange for safety.
i
Double armed "grips" are used in some cases and the double U shaped portions
will be connected by a central web connecting the outer curve of the upper:U

page_text: with the inner curve of the lower U when double tracks on each side of the
suspension system is made use of.
To relieve the track cables from frictional wear and tear, from the contact of
the runners of the "grip" or carriage-suspension-means the abnormally deep
grooves of the runners are to be provided with rubber, rope, or other suitable
tyres sunk therein.
•
It is at times desirable to reduce the weight upon the cable system by means of
a balloon in combination with the other means of support and haulage and in such
cases furnish a compound "grip" arrangement of runners upon the U arm
supports with supplementary antifriction runners or rollers to prevent the carriage
support from being lifted away from the cable tracks.
Where the condition of the ground will admit of the application, intermediate
supports may be provided consisting of side struts and a cross beam or top tie bar,
so to speak straddling the cables and suspension means from the beam to the eyes
or holders of the thimbles of the track suspenders will be used.
At the anchorage ends of the cables I carry the same over curved cams or
excentrically or centrically mounted grooved discs or drums to ensure tightening
after the slack has been taken up.
In some cases a guide rope or ropes or a towing cable may be employed below
the carriage.
Dad 01 Candamban 1002
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and applicable to Suspension Cable Tracks.
I WILLIAM JOHN BREWER, care of the Firm of Thacker & Company,
87 Newgate Street in the City of London, Civil Engineer, formerly c/o Walter
Alfred Barlow 7 John Street Bedford Row London W.C. 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 :-
This invention relates to certain improvements in or applicable to suspension
cable tracks for conveyance of passengers or freight and is combined with haulage
means at fixed stations or it may be by electric or other power carried in the
transporting carriage or connected therewith.
The object is primarily to construct a carrying cable track in such a manner
that the carriers or supports of the carriage or car will have free and uninterrupted
passage from end to end of the carrying suspension cable or cables constituting
the track at the same time that the cable or cables proper are reinforced or
strengthened by supports over arms whereof the track cables are run and are
carried.
The main cable or cables is or are to receive thimbles or sections of tubular lengths
forming part of or connected to depending webs with sideway extending arms.
These armis are curved, upward and outward and. the upper ends of the said arms
are grooved to receive side cables which are to serve as the track. This affords a
double cable track i.e., one cable to or upon each side of the primary suspension
cable or cables.
A modification may, however, be employed in which there will be provided a
second and lower set of arms to support other track cables thus giving a double
cable track on each side of the primary suspension cable or cables.
There may be two or more primary suspension cables employed by making the
thimbles or tubular pieces with double borings through which the said cables will

page_text: pass, thus the said two primary cables will be one above the other in the same
vertical plane or be disposed horizontally or three or more primary cables may
be employed in which case an equal number of piercings of the tubular pieces will
be provided.
The said tubular pieces or sectional or partial lengths will be threaded on to the
primary cable or cables and they may be placed so as to abut end to end of each
such succeeding section when very great strength is required as they will in that
case render additional but flexible or yielding support to one another.
To ensure that these sections or tubular lengths shall not move apart when weight
is in suspension there may be provided a light rope or cable the ends whereof will
thave screwed pins or terminal bolts and adjusting blocks for tightening purposes
which will, however, in no wise detract from the flexible or yielding character of
the cable system.
To further enhance the carrying power of the primary cable or cables I provide
the thimbles or tubular pieces with eyes or holders on their upper edges or parts to
serve as holding means for guy ropes, rods or chains. Said guys at their outer ends
will be carried out to and be secured to any available anchorage.
The carriages for running upon the cable tracks as aforesaid will be hung from a
wheeled grip or holder, having upturned arms of substantially inverted U-shape and
said arins carry grooved wheels or runners the grooves whereof are of abnormal
depth to ensure depth of flange for safety. Double armed grips are used in some
cases and the double U-shaped portions will be connected by a central web
connecting the outer curve of the upper U with the inner curve of the lower U
when double tracks on each side of the suspension system are made use of.
To relieve the track cables from frictional wear and tear from the contact of the
runners of the grip or carriage suspension means, the abnormally deep grooves of
the runners are to be provided with rubber, rope or other suitable tyres sunk
therein.
It is at times desirable to reduce the weight upon the cable system by means of a
balloon in combination with the other means of support and baulage and in such
case I furnish a compound grip arrangement of runners upon the U arm supports
with supplementary antifriction runners or rollers to prevent the carriage support
from being lifted away from the cable tracks.
Where the condition of the ground will admit of the application intermediate
supports may be provided consisting of side struts and a cross beam or top tie-bar,
so to speak, straddling the cables and suspension means from the beam to the eyes
or holders of the thimbles of the track suspenders will be used. At the anchorage
uds of the cables I carry the same over curved cams or eccentrically or centrically
mounted grooved discs or drums to ensure tightening after the slack of the track
cables has been taken up. In some cases a guide rope or ropes or a towing cable
may be employed below the carriage.
And in order that the said invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
mmpre particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the
several figures on the annexed sheets of drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates in side elevation part of a
cable track arranged according to one part of this invention and Figure 1 is a
cross section of the same.
Figure 2 shows a similar view of another arrangement and Figures 3 & 4 show a
side elevation and end view respectively of a further arrangement.
Figure 5 represents in transverse section a depending web or support with two
sideway extending arms for carrying the track cables.
Figure 6 is a similar view of a modification of the support arranged for four cable
tracks.
Figure 7 shows another form of construction of the depending web or support
having two arms on each side, while Figures 8 & 9 show alternative forms of
construction of these supports.
:
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>
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page_text: Figure 10 shows part of a track cable provided with removable, tubular lengths
for preventing wear of the said cable.
Figure 11 represents one form of a gripping device which I may employ for
Becuring the track cables to the arms of the depending webs or supports.
Referring to Figures 1 & 1-A is the primary cable, B the track cables, C the
thimble or sections of tubular lengths, D the depending webs or supports, and
E the car supported on wheels provided in curved arms F and travelling over the
track cables. The thimbles are shown each made in two halves secured together by
flanges & bolts and provided with an ear C. The said thimbles are firmly secured
to the primary cable and may also be prevented from slipping by being tied
together by means of guy ropes C or by other suitable means. The depending
webs or supports D are suspended from the tubular lengths or thimbles C in any
suitable manner and support on the sideway projecting arms D' the track cables, the
latter being secured to the arms to prevent them jumping out by means of the grip
arrangement G which consists of a semicircular plate of comparatively thin section
which embraces the cables & is secured to the carrier arms by bolts, studs or other
means as shown in Figure 11.
In Figure 2 the track cables are shown supported in a similar manner to that
shown in Figure 1. but in case of one of the supports giving way or breaking an
additional safeguard is provided in the form of diagonal ties which are secured to
the track cables & main cables.
Figures 3 & 4 show the track cables suspended from wooden framings J by means
of depending webs or supports. This arrangement is particularly suitable for use
in mines and the like.
In the arrangements hereinbefore described the primary cable or cables is or are
supported in any suitable manner and the track cables inay be kept taut by passing
over guides or rollers & operated by a handwheel, worm and screw or the like.
As hereinbefore stated the depending webs or supports may have on either side
one or more sideway projecting arms as shown in Figures 5, 7, & 8, or any number
of such supports may be combined in one as shown in Figure 6, or they may be
made substantially of an inverted U shape with the ends turned in as shown in
Figure 9. They may be of steel or other suitable material and may be cast, forged,
or rolled. Instead of an eye or eyes being provided for suspending such supports
as shown in Figures 5, 6 & 7 a boss may be formed, being tapped suitably for
receiving an eye-bolt or equivalent device as shown in Figure 8.
To prevent wear of the track cables these may lie protected by a number of
lengths of tubing K as shown in Figure 10, the ends of the said lengths being
formed with male and female bearing surfaces, K' K2 so as to form socket joints.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. In suspension cable ways or tracks the employment of depending webs or
supports made of steel or other suitable material for supporting the track cables the
said supports having on either side one or more projecting arms in which are
provided grooves to receive the said cables, and being suspended in any suitable
manner, either from a primary cable or cables or from rigid structures so as to enable
the car or truck suspended therefrom to pass uninterruptedly from end to end
substantially, as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
2. In suspension cable ways or tracks the employment in combination with
depending webs or supports such as D of thimbles or sections of tubular lengths such
as C provided on the main or primary cable or cables from which the said webs or
supports may be suspended substantially as hereinbefore described & illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
3. Suspension cable ways or tracks comprising one or more primary catenary cables
in combination with two or more track cables, thimbles or tubular lengths provided

page_text: on the said catenary cables, and depending webs or supports provided on either side-
with one or more double extending arms for supporting the said track cables at
suitable intervals & maintaining them in their correct relative positions sub-
stantially, as hereinbefore described & illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 25th day of May 1894.
WILLIAM JOHN BREWER.