Improvements in and relating to Cable Railways.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Cable Railways.
We, JOSEPH DUNOTT and FRANK J. RICHARD, both of No. 818 Girard
Avenue Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 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 :→
Our invention relates to improvements in cable crossings and has for its object
to provide mechanism whereby a cable car can be carried around a curved portion
of a track when released from the main cable, or carried across the crossing of two
cables.
For this purpose the said invention consists first, of a series of jointed' or
connected blocks adapted to move in a curve, and provided with means for
contacting with the grip arm, and second in the combination of parts substantially
as hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 represents a plan view of a conduit track with cross and diverging
branches, and a switch, and carriage with operative mechanism therefor embodying
our invention.
Figures 2 and 3 represent respectively views of the switch in different positions.
Figure 4 represents an end view of the switch with sectional view of the conduit.
Figure 5 represents a horizontal section on an enlarged scale of a portion of the
carriage.
Figure 6 represents a horizontal section of the carriage the spring arm being
depressed.
Figure 7 represents a top view of a carriage block, the .spring arm being shown
as engaging the grip arm.
Figure 8 represents a side view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the device.
Figure 9-represents a section on line a, a Figure 8.
Figure 10 represents a perspective view on a reduced scale of the block
containing the spring arm which contacts with the grip arm.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
A designates a conduit having the diverging branches B and C, with curved
connecting portions, and the cross conduit D connected therewith. Movable on
the tracks or guides E, which are secured in said conduits is a carriage F, formed
of a number of short blocks or tracks linked together at their ends, so as to be
adapted to easily move by means of the rollers G, along the curved portions of the
said tracks.
Connected with pins or studs H on one side of a block of the said carriage F,
are the ends of a cord or chain J, which latter passes around the rollers K, L, M
and N and a drum N* being wound around the latter a number of times to prevent
its slipping therefrom. The direction of the rotation of the drum N* determines
the direction of movement of the cord J, and consequently of the carriage F. Any
suitable motor or means may be employed for rotating the drum N*.
To guide the carriage F in its movements, so that it will travel on the proper
track, a switch P is provided, said switch having three tracks thereon Q. Q', Q'
corresponding to the tracks E of the main conduit and branches, respectively. To
move the switch laterally on its supports P¹, and thereby-adjust the same, it is
connected by two bars R with the rotary toothed wheels S, which mesh with racks T
on a-sliding bar U. The bar U is operated by means of a gear wheel-V which
meshes with a rack W on said bar U, and a rack X on a sliding bar Y.
One of the blocks F* of the carriage is provided with a pivoted 'arm A², one end

page_text: of which is normally held or projected outward from the side of the block by means
of a spring B', so that the inclined face B* of the lower end of the grip may ride
on the same, pressing it within the block, and thus passing over it, whereby the said
arm may engage and bear against the grip arm when the carriage is moved in the
direction of the same.
The carriage of such length, and the paris are so arranged, that when the sad
carriage is returned to the track in the main conduit, the block containing the
spring controlled arm has passed over and is a short distance from the switch;
which is then adjusted for the proper track. The grip arm after riding over the
spring arm A¹ is released from the main cable and motion is imparted to the
drum N*, so as to move the carriage bringing the end of the arm A¹ against
the grip arm, so as to force the latter with the attached car around the curve, after
which the motion of the drum is reversed, so that the carriage is returned to the
track E in the main conduit A, where it is in readiness for another car.
In the cross conduit D, a carriage F¹ is employed, similar in character to the
carriage F in the conduit A, and the carriages are of such length that when not in
operation they are out of the way of each other, so that there need not be any
depression of either track. The carriage F' is operated by means similar to those
operating the carriage F. In the vicinity of the drum Nx is an alarm C¹ in an
electric circuit D', and which is operated in any ordinary manner, so as to notify
the operator at the drum of the time for rotating the same.
It will be seen that by constructing the carriage of short blocks or trucks linked
together, the same can easily be made of a proper length to suit any curve or
crossing.
Having now- particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
First. A conduit with a diverging branch, tracks in the said conduit and branch,
à carriage consisting of linked blocks guided on the said tracks, cords connected
with said carriage, and mechanism for operating the said cords, said parts being
combined substantially as described.
Second. A conduit having a diverging branch, tracks in the said conduit and
branch a switch with tracks connecting sections of the said tracks and a linked
carriage movable on said tracks and having a spring arm adapted to contact with a
grip arm, said parts being combined substantially as described.
Third. A. main track having a diverging branch, a switch with tracks thereon
adapted to connect sections of the said main track and diverging branch, mechanism
for laterally moving the said switch, linked blocks movable in the said tracks, a
spring arm projecting from one of the said blocks and adapted to be engaged by a
grip arm and mechanism for operating the said blocks, the said parts being combined
substantially.as described.
Fourth. In a cable crossing, a carriage consisting of linked blocks, one of which
bás a pivoted spring arm, a track, and a grip arm with an inclined face on the side
of its lever end, the said parts being combined substantially as described.
Fifth. In a cable crossing, a main track and diverging branches, a switch with
tracks thereon corresponding to the said main track and diverging branches, and
means substantially as described for adjusting the said switch the said parts being
combined substantially as described.
Sixth. In a cable crossing, a main track and diverging travellers, a switch with
tracks thereon corresponding with the said main track and diverging branches,
ratory toothed wheels having an eccentric arm pivoted to the said switch, and n
sliding bar with racks thereon meshing with the said wheels substantially as
described.
Seventh. In a cable crossing, a main track and a diverging branch, a switch
with tracks thereon adapted to coincide with the said main track, the other to unite

page_text: the said main branch and diverging branch, a carriage consisting of linked trucks
movable on the said tracks, a spring arm attached to one of the said blocks, and a
grip arm adapted to ride over and he engaged by the said spring arm, the said
parts being combined substantially as described.
Dated this 6th day of October 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.