Improvements in Cycle and Vehicle Tracks and Foot-paths.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cycle and Vehicle Tracks and Foot-paths.
I, SANFORD BONTON DICKINSON, of Corning, N.Y., U.S.A., Inventor, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This my invention relates more especially to cycle tracks and foot-paths, but
is also applicable to smooth tracks laid in roads and especially on steep hills
where smooth pavements are laid side by side to facilitate the traffic of vehicles,
and also in places where the making of the entire roadway of sound and smooth
surface would be too expensive. The object of the invention is to provide a
metallic and wooden track or pathway which will be of cheaper construction,
capable of being more readily laid, of smoother surface, and more durable, than
tracks the kind at present in use.
The
By this invention I provide a series of metallic pillars which are sunk below
the surface of the ground or, in the case of raised tracks, are partly sunk; the
foundation for them being preferably prepared with concrete or cement.
upper ends of the pillars are formed with lugs to which suitable lengths of
channel or T-iron are bolted, or, in order to save the time expended in bolting,
and the cost of the bolts, the side flanges of the channel iron extend inwardly,
either at a right angle, or other suitable angle to engage beneath the lugs on
the pillars. The ends of the channel-iron are suitably bolted together with a
suitable space or compressible material between the meeting ends to permit of
expansion due to heat. The channel iron, or iron of other suitable section, may
have a central longitudinal rib which depends into transverse slots in the upper
ends of the pillars.
Cross strips are arranged at suitable intervals transversely of the channel iron-
and matched flooring is secured lengthwise thereon. The flooring is smoothly
planed and treated with hot petroleum.
A suitable awning or cover can be constructed over the track.
When the track is used in the roadway for vehicles as afore-mentioned, the
cross-strips and wood flooring may be dispensed with; the wheels running on
the channel or other metal extending between the pillars.
Dated this 7th day of April 1899.
P. R. J. WILLIS,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
improvements in Cycle and Vehicle Tracks and Foot-paths.
I, SANFORD BONTON DICKINSON, of Coning, N.Y., U.S.A., Inventor, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to eyele trucks, but more particularly to smooth tracks
improvements in Cycle and vehicle Tracks and Foot-paths.
I, SANFORD BONTON DICKINSON, of Coning, N.Y., U.S.A., Inventor, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to eyele trucks, but more particularly to smooth tracks

page_text: laid in roads and especially on steep hills when smooth pavements are laid side
by side to facilitate the traffic of vehicles, and also in places where the making
of the entire roadway of sound and smooth surface would be too expensive. The
object of the invention is to provide a metal and wooden track or pathway which
will be of cheaper construction, capable of being more readily laid, of smooth
surface, and more durable than tracks of the kind at present in use.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this
specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in all the views:-
Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention applied to a street or road.
Fig. 2 shows a supporting column broken away and partly in section, together
with top plan view and section of girder or beam in position, and shewing
method of attachment. Fig. 3 shows another form of supporting column broken
away and partly in section together with top plan view, and section of girder or
beam in position and showing method of attachment. Fig. 4 shows side eleva-
tion and top plan view of channel girder or beam. Fig. 5 shows sections res-
pectively on the lines 1-1 and 2-2 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 shows section and top
plan view of sole or carrying plate applicable to girder in Fig. 4 and herein-
after described. Fig. 7 shows elevation and top plan of another form of girder
or beam. Fig. 8 shows sections respectively on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 shows section and top plan view of sole or carrying plate applicable to
girder in Fig. 8 and hereinafter described.
The roadway A is shown provided with a channel B for guiding one wheel of
a wagon and with a track Con which may run the other wheel of a wagon, and
on which also may run bicycles. The channel B has upwardly extending side
flanges B, outwardly extending lugs B near its extremities and similar inter-
mediate lugs B³. The channel B is sunk in the ground and is supported at
intervals by columns 1) having rectangular tops 1 with upwardly and inwardly
extending flanges 12 the bottom of the columns having flanges 13 to increase
the stability. A wooden packing is placed on the top of the column to pre-
vent vibration. The ends of the girders B with their flanges B are meshed
with the flanges D2 and secured in position by means of wedges d'. The track C
is provided at each side with downwardly extending flanges C¹, outwardly extend-
ing lugs C2 near its extremities and similar intermediate lugs C. The track C
is laid on the surface of the roadway with the flanges C extending thereinto,
and the track is supported at intervals by columns E having rectangular tops E
the bottoms of the columns having flanges E. A wooden packing e is placed
on the top of the column to prevent vibration. The ends of the girders or beams C
with their lugs C2 are meshed with the rectangular top El and secured in posi-
tion by means of wedges e¹. The channels B may have sole or carrying plates F
attached to the lugs 33 so as to embrace the tops of the columns thus increasing
the stability of the structure, or they can be used to form joints or connections
between those ends of the channels which do not mesh with the tops of the sup-
porting columns. In a like manner sole or carrying plates G can be used in
conjunction with the track C.
Though only one form of the track is shewn on the drawings it will be readily
understood that I can use in conjunction two channels or two flat tracks or other
sections than those shewn and can connect the same intermediately by means of
wooden or other flooring, or can sink the columns until the tops are level with
the surface of the roadway, or by means of them form an elevated roadway; or
can use conical or tapered columns, or can cover in the trackway whether elevated
or at the ground level, all without departing from the spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
claim is
(1) A cycle or vehicle track consisting of sections of channel or flat nieta

page_text: plates provided at intervals of their length with outwardly transversely extend-
ing lugs, metal columns extending upwardly or sunk flush with the roadway
and having upwardly and inwardly turned flanges adapted to engage over the
aforesaid extending lugs and to be secured from movement and vibration, and
the means for uniting the ends of the sections intermediate of the columns, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth.
(2) A cycle or vehicle track consisting of sections of channel or flat metal
plates provided at intervals of their length with downwardly and inwardly pro-
jecting lugs, metal columus extending upwardly from or sunk flush with the
roadway and having horizontally outwardly extending flanges adapted to engage
in the aforesaid downwardly and inwardly extending lugs and be secured from
movement and vibration and the means for uniting the sections intermediate of
the columns, all substantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth.
Dated this 10th day of January 1900
P. R. J. WILLIS,
Agent for Applicant.