IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH ROPE OR WIRE TRAMWAYS OR 'SHOOTS."
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Scarlett Fraser, of 45, Portman Square, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED
WITH ROPE OR WIRE TRAMWAYS OR 'SHOOTS.""
Sealed the 4th January 1878, and dated the 27th October 1877.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Scarlett Fraser at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th October 1877.
3 3
ROBERT SCARLETT FRASER, of 45, Portman Square, in the County of Middlesex.
IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH ROPE OR WIRE TRAMWAYS OR SHOOTS.'
The object of this Invention is to convey loads up hill as well as down hill to
great distances with ease, safety, speed, and regularity, and without injury to the
"traveller or carriage and the load conveyed; also in such a manner as to ensure
complete control over the "traveller" at any point of its travel, all as herein-after
described.
"
I generally for each line employ a single wire rope fastened at supports at each
terminus; the distance between the latter may be even a mile or more.
"
Where required two lines may be used at the same time, a loaded " traveller "
or "travellers" by preference proceeding in one direction along one line, and an
"traveller
empty
or "travellers" returning simultaneously by the other line, the
driving machinery being reversible, as required, and worked by hand or power.
The traveller consists of a saddle framing fitted with wheels riding on the wire
rope. These wheels may be two, but by preference three or more in number; their
spindles work in some approved grease boxes, such as used for railway carriage
wheel axles. There is also one or more wheels mounted in the traveller frame below
the wire rope, so that the latter may ride in the groove of said wheel or wheels, the
spindle or spindles of which are also efficiently lubricated, say, by means of a grease
axle box or needle lubricators; the lower wheel is not always in action, but is
applied for steadying the traveller in a high wind, which generally causes the wire
rope to vibrate, thus tending to cause the quickly running "traveller" to jump up
and leave the wire rope. I cover the traveller, when required, with a casing, say, of

page_text: bright sheet copper, and at each end I arrange a plough or fender for pushing aside
any branches or other objects that might hinder or obstruct the road. The sides of
the traveller framing are below the wire rope, connected by a bottom plate hinged
to each side; one of the hinge bolts is removable.
The load or loads are suspended from hooks or otherwise under the traveller.
For transporting loads of great length two or more travellers are connected
together.
"
The traveller is by means of suitable winding gear hauled up the ascending wire
rope, and the return or descending journey is accomplished by gravitation. The
ascent is, where it is possible or convenient, arranged for the empty traveller, and
the descent for the loaded traveller.
The traveller is, by a whale line of very powerful but light description, con-
nected to a drum on the driving gear.
For some purposes a whale line with wire interwoven may be used. The driving
gear, when used for a double line, consists, mainly, of two drums mounted in suitable
framing, and by means of cog wheel or other gearing made to turn in opposite
directions by hand or power. What I may call the first drum is mounted on a
spindle carrying a fixed pinion and a sliding pinion. The driving spindle carries
fly wheel and also a sliding wheel that by suitable clutch gear can be thrown in
or out of gear with the fixed pinion on the drum spindle aforesaid, which. pinion
gears with a wheel on the spindle of the second drum; this latter wheel slides on its
spindle, and can by clutch gear be thrown into gear with the wheel.
A
The first drum spindle is fitted with brake wheel. Brake and clutches are all
worked from one place or platform.
.
The drums may be made with staves lantern shaped. The whale lines from the
drums are attached to the traveller by suitable connections or couplings to prevent
kinking. The whale line after it leaves the drum passes over a sinall deep flanged
pulley working pivotted on a rest or support, which can be slid up or down by
worm wheel or other gear, telescopically or otherwise to suit. The brake is put in
use in case of breakage of ropes, and generally to control the speed. The drums
revolve in opposite directions, one winding whilst the other unwinds.
When the traveller returns, descending the incline, the aforesaid clutch wheel
and pinions are thrown out of gear, thus allowing the drum to revolve freely, the
brake on the drum shaft being also off, or only slightly checking the speed.
Although here only described as on the single traction work principle, on single or
double wire, the object may be attained also by gravitation, water, or steam,
on the endless rope traction principle; the winding gear would then be at the lower
end station.
Where steam is applied as the driving power I prefer to fix a vertical inverted
engine to the platform framework above the winding gear.
Where intermediate supports are required, I provide an upper shunt wire and
lower fender rail.
This Invention may be applied for overhead passenger and goods traffic. in streets
and roads; the line wire is then supported on suitable brackets or pillars. The
tram car suspended therefrom may be steadied by pulleys on each side of a guide
rail fixed against the pillars.
The tram car may be worked by a stationary hauling engine at each end of the
line, or by engine power on the car itself, means being provided for instantaneously
throwing the car out of gear with the hauling appliances.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Scarlett Fraser in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th April 1878.
ROBERT SCARLETT FRASER, of 45, Portman Square, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH ROPE OR WIRE TRAMWAYS OR 'SHOOTS," "
"
The object of this Invention is to convey loads up hill as well as down hill to
great distances with ease, safety, speed, and regularity, and without injury to the
"traveller or carriage and the load conveyed; also in such a manner as to ensure
complete control over the "traveller" at any point of its travel, all as herein after
described.
I generally for each line employ a single wire rope fastened at supports at each
terminus; the distance between the latter may be even a mile or more.
Where required two lines may be used at the same time. This latter arrange-
ment is shown in plan at Figure 1, Sheet 1, and in side elevation at Figure 2.
I will here premise that I do not claim the application of such a single or double
wire line without intermediate supports as my Invention, as I am well aware that
it is old and well known, but I claim, as hereafter specified, a novel mode of using
it in connection with a traveller of a novel construction, and in connection or not
with peculiar winding gear.
°
A and B are what may be termed the up and down lines respectively, the ropes
being the ropes being fastened at each terminus in any suitable and well known
manner. C, C, are the "travellers" or carriages, which are of a peculiar construction,
presently to be described; D is the winding gear, also presently to be described.
I prefer to let a loaded traveller or travellers proceed in one direction along one
line, and an empty traveller returning simultaneously by the other line, the driving
machinery being reversible as required, and worked by hand or power.
The traveller is shewn on Sheet 2; Figure 3 being a side elevation; Figure 4, an
end elevation; and Figure 5, a plan of same. It consists of a saddle framing a
fitted with wheels b, b, riding on the wire rope A. These wheels b may be two in
number, as shewn, or three or more. Their spindles work in some approved grease
boxes c, such as used for railway carriage wheel axles for instances. There are also
one or more wheels & mounted in the traveller frame a below the wire rope A, so
that the latter may ride in the groove of the 'said wheel or wheels d, the spindles of
which may also be efficiently lubricated, say, by means of grease axle boxes or needle
lubricators; the lower wheel & is not always in action, but is applied for steadying
the traveller in a high wind, which generally causes a wire rope to vibrate, thus
tending to cause a quickly running traveller to jump up and leave the wire rope.
By this means I can employ a greater speed with safety, and avoid the heretofore
frequent accidents of the travellers leaving the wire rope.
The traveller may when required be covered with a bright sheet copper casing or
cover e. The frame a is at each end formed like a plough or fender for pushing
aside any branches or other objects that might hinder or obstruct the road.
The lower part of the frame a may be formed below, as here shewn, and open on
one side, or the sides may be closed and connected by a bottom plate hinged to each
side; one of the hinge bolts being removeable for the purpose of putting the traveller
on the rope, or removing it therefrom with facility. The form here shewn however
can be used for passing intermediate supports, which will be described further ou.
The lower wheel d may rise and fall on a spring.
The load or loads are suspended from hooks f, as shewn, or otherwise, under the
traveller. For transporting loads of great length two or more travellers are con-
nected together.
Figure 6 is a side view; Figure 7, an end view; and Figure 8, a plan of a
traveller of similar construction, but fitted with a self-acting brake for bringing the
carriage to a standstill at any desired point of the line, say, for instance, at a point
near a terminus to prevent the traveller from running into the winding gear ;^g, g,

page_text: are two brake blocks, which, when the arm h of the sliding bar j comes in contact
with a stationary stop fixed at the desired point of the line, are pressed hard against
the wheels or pulleys b. The barj is connected with a key k working in slanting
slots in the plates 1, 1; m is a spiral spring tending to force the blocks off the
wheels b, b. In other respects the traveller is similar to the one first described..
Other self-acting brakes may be applied than those here described, and acting in
different ways.
Thus the lower wheel or wheels may, for instance, be brought up
so hard against the line as that the latter is nipped tightly between the upper and
lower travelling wheels, and either wheel may be fitted with brake blocks as well.
The traveller is by means of suitable winding gear hauled up the ascending wire
rope, and the return or descending journey is accomplished by gravitation, as is well
understood. The ascent is, where it is possible or convenient, arranged for the
empty traveller, and the descent for the loaded traveller.
Figure is a side elevation, partly in section, of a suitable winding gear (shewn
to a smaller scale at Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1); and Figure 10 is an end elevation
of same.
E, E', are two winding drums mounted on spindles F, F', which work in bearings
on the outer frames G, G, and the middle frame H; I is a countershaft fitted with
fly wheel J, and caused to revolve by strap taking on the strap pulley K; K¹ is the
loose strap pulley; or the spindle I may be worked by hand power by means of
suitable winch handles. The spindle I has two spur wheels L and N, the
former gearing directly into the pinion M on the drum spindle F, and the latter N
gearing with the pinion P on the drum spindle F1 indirectly by the intermediate
wheel O; the two spindles F and F¹ thus revolve in opposite direction.
drums E and E' are loose on their spindles, but may be thrown into fixed connec
tion with them by means of sliding cone Q, Q¹, operated by levers 9, 9¹, (Figures 1
and 2, Sheet 1).
The
The parts R, R', of the clutch form brake wheels, which can be operated by any
suitable brake blocks and levers, when the strap is on the loose pulley K³, or
when the drum or drums are clutched out, thus ensuring perfect control over the
machinery.
Many other arrangements of gearing and clutches and brakes may be used than
here shown, wherefore I do not restrict myself to this particular arrangement, but
what constitutes this part of my Invention is clearly stated among the claims at
end of this Specification.
Brakes and clutches and the gear for throwing the strap from one pulley to the
other are all arranged to be worked by one man from one place or platform.
The traveller is connected to its drum by means of a whale line of a very powerful
but light description. For some purposes a whale line with wire interwoven may
be used. It is attached to the traveller by suitable connections or couplings to pre-
vent kinking, as will be observed on Figure 2, the whale line, after it leaves the
winding drum passes over a small deep flanged pulley r, working pivotted on a rest
or support 8, which may be made to slide up or down by worn wheel or other
gear, telescopically or otherwise, to suit.
When the traveller descends the incline, the corresponding drum clutch is thrown
out of gear, thus allowing the drum to revolve freely, the brake being slightly on to
check the speed if the incline is great, or quite off if the incline is moderate.
Figure 11 is an end view, and Figure 12 a side view of a single winding gear,
worked by handle t on fly wheel u (or it may be worked by power) and mounted
on wheels, which is useful in some situations. There may be a long handle at each
end of the fly wheel shaft, to enable several laborers to work it. v is the brake
wheel, and w the winding drum.
Figure 13 is a plan of an endless wire tramway, worked by a water wheel;
Figure 14 is an end elevation of the water wheel and driving gear; Figure 15 is a
side elevation of the drum and the gear for adjusting the same.
S is the water wheel; a spur wheel T on its shaft drives a pinion U, the spindle of
which works in bearings on the frames V, and carries a sleeve y, having a bevel

page_text: wheel z at each end; the sleeve works on a feather on the spindle, and either of the
bevel wheels z can by a lever W be thrown into gear with the bevel wheel X on
the upright spindle F, which also carries a winding drum E. The upright spindle
F' at the other terminus of the wire tramway also carries a winding drum E', the
endless band or wire passing round them both. The bearings of the spindle F' are
on a frame or plate G, which by means of the adjusting screws I, I, can be brought
nearer to or further from the stationary frame H, thereby tightening. the endless
wire as required. The travellers C work on the permanent wire lines A and B,
and are attached by cords to the endless wire, and, if desired, by spring hooks or
clamps, which by coming against some stationary obstruction placed near the
terminus are loosened from the endless wire. The clutch lever W enables the
driver to reverse the direction of the endless travelling wire, or to stop its motion
altogether (by putting the lever in the middle position).
Where intermediate support of the stationary wire line is required, I use a peculiar
arrangement enabling the travellers to pass the supports unhinderedly. This arrange-
ment is shewn at Figures 16 to 19.
Figure 16 is a side view of the support; Figure 17, an end view of same,
shewing part of the bracket whereon it rests; Figure 18 is a plan; and Figure 19,
a vertical central section. A is a bracket, fastened on to a post; B is a plate,
fastened to the bracket A by means of screws, and made in one with a lower rail,
which I call a fender rail. Rollers may be fitted to the bracket for the whale line
to be supported on to prevent sagging.
Figure 20, Sheet 1, illustrates a mode of working two wire lines by a water
wheel or other motor revolving continuously in one direction; A is a water wheel,
which by straps and pulleys is so connected with two winding drums B and C, that
they may turn in either direction, these drums B and C being at the same time so
arranged that when the water wheel or other motor is thrown out of gear with
these drums they may turn in the same or in opposite directions by a descending
load on one wire line, pulling up an empty carriage on the other wire line.
D is a broad pulley on the water wheel shaft, and d a strap, from which it can be
thrown on to a fast pulley E, or a loose pulley F, on the counter shaft G; in the
latter case the water wheel is disconnected, and does not drive anything.
The counter shaft G carries two broad pulleys or drums H and J, with straps h
and h', and j and ¹, respectively, the straps h and j being what is called open, and
the straps and j' crossed. These straps take on to the pulleys K, L, M, and N,
O, P, respectively, the former being on the spindle b of the winding drum B, and
the latter on the spindle c of the winding drum C. The centre pulleys O and
L are fast on the spindles; but the pulleys N, P, and K, M, are loose on the spindles;
the open straps h and j on the crossed straps h¹ and ¹ may be brought on to the
fast pulleys L or O, respectively; according as the open or the cross straps are thus
brought on to the fast pulleys, so will the direction of revolution of the winding
drums B or C be.
To utilize a descending load on one line to draw up a lighter ascending load on
the other line, the water wheel is thrown out of gear by shifting the strap d on to
the loose pulley E, and according as the open straps h and j or crossed straps h¹, j¹,
are used on the fast pulleys L and O, so will the drums B and C revolve, and either
in the same or in opposite directions.
The two drums B and C may, if desired, be united by clutch as here shewn; Q
and R are brake wheels on the drums B and C, or their spindles.
Figure 21 is an end view, and Figure 22 side view of a receptacle, suitable for
conveying manure and other such material along a wire tramway. It is made of
framework, by preference of wood, and covered all over with wire gauze or other
light and sufficiently strong material; the bottom swings down on hinges, as
shown in dotted lines; one side a is also made to flap down, as shown in dotted
lines; the side flap a is opened when the receptacle has to be fitted, and the bottom
flap is let down when it has to be emptied.
And having thus described and ascertained the nature of this Invention, I

page_text: declare that I am aware that various forms of wire tram lines or rope shoots
have heretofore been used, and proposed to be used, wherefore I do not claim such
line generally, but I do claim,―
Firstly. The application to wire tramway carriages or travellers of one or more
wheels below the line, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Secondly. The general construction and arrangement of such travellers, as described
and shewn.
Thirdly. The various modes of and apparatus for driving such travellers or
carriages along wire lines by hand or power, substantially as herein described and
shewn.
And, Fourthly. The rail appliances for passing supports, substantially as herein
described and shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Scarlett Fraser, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 20th day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.