Improvements in Elevated Carriers.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 20th July, 1897-Accepted, 22nd Jan., 1898.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Elevated Carriers.
I, RUFUS LEONIDAS ANDERSON, Farmer, of the Town of Energy, in the County of
York, and State of South Carolina, one of the United States of America, 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 apparatus for transmitting mail matter, parcels or
packages, and other devices, from one point to another in an expeditious and efficient
manner.
The invention consists of combining an electric motor with a traveler having a
contacting device to engage an electric wire to propel the traveler and carrier over a
track wire.
The invention further consists of the construction and arrangement of the novel
mechanisms as well as the combined apparatus which will be more fully hereinafter
described and claimed.
The object of the invention is to provide means for conveying mail matter or
parcels from a central point to rural districts by rapid transit and without the delay
and inconvenience consequent upon the transmission of mail and other matter by
ordinary vehicles and other means now commonly employed.
In the accompanying drawing :-
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional elevation of an apparatus embodying the
invention.
Figures 2, 3 and 4 are perspective views and an elevation, respectively, in detail,
of the elevator, traveler and carrying device.
Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of a buffer used in connection with the
apparatus.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of one of the supporting poles and its attachments.
Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of the wire supporting arm adapted to be
attached to the poles.
Figure 8 is a detail perspective view showing the arrangement of parts of the
device at an exchange or main station.
Figure 9 is a diagrammatic elevation of a modified form of the apparatus wherein
electricity is used as the propulsive medium.
Figure 10 is a detail perspective view of the trolley arm used in connection with a
traveler for contacting with an electric wire.
Referring to the drawings, wherein similar numerals of reference are employed to
indicate corresponding parts in the several views, the numeral 1 designates a track
wire of any suitable form of construction and is secured at one end to a main or
exchange station. As shown in Fig. 1, the main or sending station has erected
thereat a starting apparatus consisting of a pair of upright guides 2 supported by a
suitable base, and having at the lower portion thereof a release opening 3 constructed
by removing the flanges of the guides for a purpose which will be presently set forth.
At the upper part of the said guides 2 is a forwardly projecting cap or head 4 having
mounted therein a sheave or pulley 5 with a suitable covering or sheathe 6. The

page_text: said cap or head is so positioned on the guide as to permit a part of the latter to
project upwardly to accomodate the proper operation of the mechanism coacting
therewith and has in its front end a slot 7 with a guide 8 projecting thereinto, and
consisting of a metallic plate with an inner angular bend 9 so arranged as to form a
space with the adjacent wall of the slot 7 and at its inner portion is constructed with
an overturned lip 10 to which the end of the wire 1 is secured. The said wire 1,
after its securement by the lip 10 passes along against and parallel with the angular
bent end of the said plate, so that the device which moves thereover will contact with
the said angular bent end of the plate. The form of uprights just described will be
used at small stations or sub-stations while the construction and arrangement shown
in Fig. 8 will be employed at exchange or main stations, and wherein a series of the
said uprights are arranged contiguously and to receive wires from different stations.
In the construction shown in Figure 8, the parts are all arranged similarly to those
described in connection with the single pair of uprights shown by Fig. 1 with the
exception that the heads extend across each other, preferably at a right angle, and as
shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the said heads may be hooded by applying a covering
thereover to protect the working parts. Adjacent to the said cap or head, in
connection with a portion of the uprights is an engaging arm 11, which is adapted
to release mechanisin in a manner that will be hereinafter set forth. Movably
mounted in the uprights and engaging guide grooves 12 therein is an elevator 13
consisting, preferably, of a rectangular fraine having guide flanges on opposite sides
thereof to engage the said grooves 12 and also formed with or having attached thereto
an outwardly projected seat 14 with spring clamps 15 of suitable dimension attached
to opposite sides thereof. In the said seat 14 is also movably mounted an impelling
rod 16 which is spring actuated and has an enlarged head extending beyond the front
of the seat. The rear end of the said impelling rod is pivotally connected to the
lower end of a trip arm 17 movably attached to a slotted pivotal block 18 having its
upper end recessed as at 19, the latter being adapted for engagement with the rear
hooked end 20 of an angularly arranged trip arm 21, having an upwardly projecting
end 22 on the opposite side of the elevator frame for engagement with the arm 11.
When the upwardly projecting angularly bent end of the trip arm contacts with
the arm 11, the impelling rod is liberated to deliver a propulsive force against the
device which will be presently described. It will be understood that the said
impelling rod will be drawn back when the trip arm is engaged by the trip latch,
and that the release of the latch from the upper end of the said trip arm will
free the impelling rod to be actuated by its spring connection.
Immediately above the seat 14 is a hanger arm 23 with an outer reduced end 24
projecting beyond the engaging head of the impelling rod, and standing a little
above the top surface of the said seat. To the upper end of the elevator is secured a
suitable attaching loop 25 to which a rope, cable or chain 26 is secured, and passes
upwardly over the sheave in the cap or head as heretofore set forth, the free end
depending for convenient engagement from below at the base of the uprights. By
this means, the elevator can be moved upwardly through the uprights, and will
lower by its own weight. When the elevator reaches the lower portion of the
apparatus, it can be removed through the releasing opening, and the rope, cable or
chain disconnected therefrom.
By this means, a single elevator can be used in connection with a series of upright
guides, all of the latter being provided with similar releasing openings.. Of course,
the releasing openings permit the elevator to be readily positioned in connection
with the upright guides for proper operation.
A traveler is engaged by the elevator and consists of a main bar 27 with recesses 28
on opposite sides of the opposite ends thereof, thereby making the device, as an
entirety, reversible, and to the said bar 27, upwardly projecting arms 29 are attached
and spaced apart, the said arms being bent across the top of the bar in such manner
as to project upwardly therefrom in a plane parallel with the further side and have
their upper ends formed with return bends 30 embracing and providing a bearing
for grooved wheels 31 adapted to have applied thereto a non-conducting covering,

page_text: or of themselves constructed of non-conducting material of such nature as to resist
the passage of electricity therethrough. The free ends of the return bands 30 of
the said arms project sufficiently below the lower terminations of the grooved wheels
to prevent the latter from becoming readily disengaged from the track or wire
over which they move, and on the outer side, the said arms are braced by a
cross strip 32, to thereby hold the same in proper relation to each other.
opposite ends of the arms 29 extend below the central portion of the under side
of the bar 27, and are formed into loops 33 for a purpose which will be presently
described.
The
In connecting the traveler to the elevator heretofore described, the clamps 15
embrace one end of the bar 27 fitting in the recesses 28, while the supporting
arm 23 has the wheels 31 mounted thereon. In this arrangement, the end of the
bar 27 abuts against the projecting head of the impelling rod 16, which of course,
has been retracted, and is held set by the trip latch in the manner previously set
forth. The carrier 34 is removably attached to the loops 33 by a screw rod 35 or
other analogous device, and the rope, cable or chain attached to the elevator is then
operated to raise the latter, together with the traveler and carrier depending
therefrom, to the upper part of the upright.guides, and under the cap or head. The
several parts are so arranged in connection with the cap or head and the adjacent
portion of the upright guides, that when the upwardly projecting end of the trip
latch 21 strikes the engaging arm in connection with the upright guides, the
wheels 31 of the traveler will be in direct alignment with the wire 1, through the
medium of the reduced end 24 of the supporting arm 23 passing under the lip of
the guide plate 8 to form a continuity with the said guide plate and the wire
supported thereby. At the same time, the impelling rod 16 is released to deliver
its full force against the traveler and start the same upon the wire 1.
The carrier 34, is intended to convey mail matter, or may be used for any other
purpose desired, and in lieu thereof, a well known form of parcel carrier may be
substituted. The said carrier, in its preferred form is entirely closed with the
exception of an opening 36 at one side having an interiorly arranged sliding
door 37 provided with a hasp at one end to engage a staple, and be securely
locked.
On one side of the carrier, a clock dial 38 is exposed by means of which the
time of starting or arrival of the carrier may be readily determined, and at
opposite ends, the said carrier is formed with spring buffers 39. The said carrier
is contracted towards its opposite ends in regular curved lines, and is enlarged at the
center being bulged in cross section to form a receiving compartment of considerable
size, and the material employed in the construction thereof will be of light weight,
preferably, aluminun, but it will be understood that any variation may be made in
this respect as found desirable.
The poles 40 used in supporting the wire 1 intermediate of the stations or relays
are preferably formed of metal and have enlarged bases 41 which rest in the ground.
This affords an easy arrangement of the poles and they can be further imbedded
in the ground at their lower ends, if it is found necessary. The broad bases 41
prevent the poles from sinking, and the latter are supported by guy cables or
wires 42 fastened at their lower ends to suitable devices, and at their upper ends
attached to a suitable clamping cuff 43.
Removably and adjustably mounted on the upper ends of the poles are clamping
collars 44, one of which is shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and each of which has projecting
therefrom a metallic arm 45 which as shown is preferably given a half turn, and is
secured to an interposed insulator 46; the said arm 45 being integral with one side
of the clamping collar 44. To the opposite side of the insulator 46, an angular bent
support 47 is secured, having a part thereof standing upwardly in a vertical plane
and embracing the wire 1.
The collar 44 through its adjustable arrangement permits a change in the level of
the wire as may be found desirable to have the said wire run in the proper plane for
the accurate operation of the traveler which moves thereover.

page_text: At each station, exchange, relay or other place where the wire 1 may enter,
and where the removal of the traveler and detachment of the elevator is had, a
buffer 48 is located and consists of a rectangular frame 49 with a rear seat 50, and in
the open portion of the said frame 49 is a disc or flat head 51 having a rearwardly
projecting stem or shank 52 freely movable through an opening in the seat 50
encircled by a coiled spring 53 which tends to normally throw the said disc or head 51
outwardly, and also cushions the same. The said disc or head 51 is suspended
within the frame 49 by suitable diagonally arranged springs 54. These springs act
as auxiliaries in cushioning the said head or disc, and at the same time hold it in a
central position for engagement. When the traveler and its carrier enter a station
or other place, the buffer 39 on the outer end of the carrier will strike the head or
disc 51, and by an easy action stops the traveler without injury to the parts, it being
seen that the buffers 39 project a considerably distance beyond the opposite sides of
the traveler and receive the force of the blow.
The rear projecting end of the stem or shank 52, when this operation ensues, is
adapted to strike a gong or suitable trip mechanism or contacting device to operate
a signal at a distance and notify the keeper of the station, relay or exchange, that
a traveler with a carrier has arrived.
As shown by Fig. 9, the poles 40 have two wires mounted therein, the wire 1 as here-
tofore described and also an upper wire 55. Each of the said wires are supported
by suitable arms, and the upper arm 56 on each pole is reversed to properly suspend
the wire 55 similarly to the construction usually employed in trolley systems. Where
the said wire 55 runs into a receiving or intermediate station, it is elevated as
at 57 to release the contacting device which will be presently described therefrom
to cause the traveler and its carrier to be manipulated as heretofore described, a
buffer being situated at said stations to cushion the traveler and carrier in stopping
the same.
The buffer used in this connection is similar to that shown and
described in connection with the other forms of the device. At the side
of the receiving or intermediate station opposite to that through which
the traveler and carrier enter, the wire 55 is again depressed a proper distance above
the wire 1 to permit the traveler and carrier to be sent onwardly to the succeeding
station.
The traveler, in this instance, has mounted thereon an electric motor 58 of suitable
construction which actuates or rotates the wheels 31, and leading from the said
motor is the trolley arm 59 having in its free end a trolley wheel 60 adapted to bear
against the electric wire 55, and said trolley arm intermediate of its arm, as clearly
shown in Fig. 10, has a lateral bend 61 for the purpose of spanning the wire 1 and
positioning the trolley wheel 60 directly under the wire 55. In this form of the
device, the wire 55 will be electrically influenced from a suitable electrical generator
as is common in such constructions, and at the receiving or intermediate stations
elevation of the traveler and carrier by means heretofore set forth is not necessarily
required in view of the fact that the motor 58 will propel the traveler upgrade and
thereby attain the same result as when propulsion by gravitation alone is
secured.
It will be understood that the several devices heretofore set forth are to be used in
connection with the electrical devices, in the same manner as with the apparatus
employing solely gravitation as the propulsive medium when found applicable.
Whenever the wire 1 extends inward to a receiving station, relay or exchange, it
projects downwardly at an incline as shown in Fig. 1, and through the lower portion
of the upright guides, if desired, or stop outside of said guides. In either event,
the buffer heretofore set forth will be applied in proper engaging position and the
wire or wires running into the lower end of the guide will be attached to a suitable
post or other device as shown in Fig. 1. Where a number of the upright guides are
employed in connection with an exchange station, the wires will be increased corres-
pondingly in number both above and below, that is one set of upright guides will be
employed for sending on one side, and another set on the opposite side for receiving,

page_text: and also the wire 1 will be arranged in connection with the upper part of the
uprights or guides to extend in either direction therefrom, and the elevator in
this arrangement can be reversed for operation with the wire extending in either
direction. At a relay or intermediate station, where one pair of upright guides
are employed alone, the receiving wire will run in at the bottom of said guides,
and the sending wire extend outwardly from the top so that when a carrier
arrives over the bottom wire, a keeper or operator will, through the medium of
an elevator similar to that heretofore described again elevate the traveler with its
carrier and send it on over the upper wire. At a terminating station, the wires
will be similarly arranged for both receiving and sending.
The wire 1, through the insulated features heretofore set forth,
adapted for use
in transmitting or receiving telegraphic or telephonic messages, and by a slight
rearrangement, wires which have been suspended for this purpose can be readily
used for engagement with the traveler and the other mechanism. It will also 'be
understood that telephonic or telegraphic connection can be made at suitable points
by station keepers, as at the exchanges or intermediate relays in rural districts,
whereby a ready communication can be had with any point along the line in reference
to any carrier or mail matter transmitted thereby, the said carriers, for this purpose,
being supplied with suitable numbers or designations so that a proper record or
registration may be kept at points desirable.
It will also be understood that mail pouches of ordinary form may be placed
within the carrier 34, supplied with destination tags, and when the carrier arrives at
the different intermediate stations or relays, the pouch belonging to any one of said
stations can be removed by the proper person, and the carrier then sent onward to
its further destinations.
The improved apparatus heretofore set forth will replace the ordinary Star Route
methods of conveying mail in rural districts, as well as stage coaches and other
vehicles, with evident advantages. It is also intended to be used in large buildings
requiring transferring apparatus or between two buildings, and in this use the
carrier heretofore set forth may be replaced by well known devices of a similar
character, or a platforin, so long as it preserves the features of disconnection and
ready attachinent to the traveler.
It will also be understood that at intermediate stations, and to accomodate the
inequalities in the surface of the ground suitable platforms or analogous devices may
be erected, whereon, and from which, to receive and send the traveler with its
carrier. Many, other advantages will appear from time to time to those using the
apparatus, and changes within the scope of the invention may be made in the
several parts without in the least departing from the nature or spirit of the
invention.
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
1. In an apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a pair of
upright guides provided with grooves therein and having a releasing opening at the
bottom formed by cutting the lower portions of the uprights away, an elevator con-
sisting of a frame provided with flanges to engage said grooves in the guides, a
traveler separably supporting a carrier and adapted to be raised by said elevator, a
wire extending from the upper portion of the guides, a second wire entering the
lower portion thereof at the point where the releasing opening is formed, and
a spring buffer having a stem adapted to actuate a signal, substantially as
described.
2. In an apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with upright
guides, an elevator removably mounted in said guides, a traveler and carrier adapted
to be supported by said elevator, a wire connected to said guides, and a buffer in

page_text: line with said wire having a movable stem adapted to actuate a signal, substantially
as described.
3. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of upright guides, a
wire attached to the upper portion thereof, an elevator movably mounted in said
guides and comprising an impelling rod trip mechanism and a supporting-arm, a
traveler having wheels adapted to rest on the said arm of the elevator and provided
with a projection also engaged by a portion of the elevator, a carrier detachably con-
nected to the said traveler, and a wire extended into the lower portion of the guides,
substantially as described.
4. In an apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a wire having a
inclination at a suitable point, upright guides at the point of inclination, an elevating
device in removable connection with said upright guides, a traveler and carrier
adapted to engage the said wire and elevating device, and a buffing device adjacent
to said guides, said wire being bent from the upper part of said guides, substantially
as and for the purposes specified.
5. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of upright guides
having a releasing opening at the lower portions thereof, an elevator in removable
connection with said guides comprising an impelling rod, trip mechanism and a
supporting arm, a cap at the upper portion of the guides having an opening therein
with a guide plate, a wire attached to a part of said guide plate, a projection to
operate the said tripping device when the elevator is raised, a traveler supporting a
carrier adapted to be raised and impelled by the mechanism of said elevator,
and a wire attached to the said guide plate, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
6. In an apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of upright guides
having caps or heads thereon with an opening at one side or end, a guide plate
extending into said opening and having a lip, a wire attached to the said lip, an
elevator movably mounted in said guides and comprising an impelling rod, trip
mechanism and an arın with a reduced end, a traveler supported by said arm and
having a carrier depending therefrom and means for releasing the trip mechanism,
the reduced end of the said arm engaging the lip to place the traveler in line with
the wire, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
7. In an apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of guides, an
elevator movably mounted therein and having an arm projecting therefrom with a
reduced end, a support in connection with the guides provided with a guide plate
having a lip thereon, a wire attached to said lip, and a traveler adapted to engage
the arm of the elevator, and having depending therefrom a suitable carrier, said
reduced end of the arm engaging the lip to place the traveler in proper alignment
with the wire, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
8. In an apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a wire, a support
therefor, a guide plate having a lip to which said wire is attached, an elevating
device with a projecting arm having a reduced end, and a traveler supporting a
carrier and adapted to engage said arm, the said reduced end of the arm of the
elevator engaging the lip to align the traveler with the wire, substantially as and
for the purposes specified.
9. In an apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a wire, over
which telegraphic or telephonic messages are adapted to be sent and a traveler with
wheels having insulating contacting surfaces bearing directly on the said wire and to
move over the said wire, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
10. In an apparatus of the character specified, the combination with a traveler of
a carrier and a removable attaching device for connecting the carrier, substantially
as and for the purposes specified.
11. In an apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a traveler of
a carrier and a removable rod for separably connecting said devices, substantially as
and for the purposes specified.
12. In a device of the character set forth, a carrier having opposite tapered ends
and a central bulged portion, spring-buffers located in the said tapered ends, and

page_text: interiorly arranged sliding door in one side of the bulged portion, and an exposed
clock dial.on a part of said bulged portion, substantially as described.
Dated this 19th day of July 1897.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicant.