Improvements in Suspended Cable Tramway Systems.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 28th Feb., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Suspended Cable Tramway Systems.
I, REGINALD HADDAN, of the firm of Herbert & Co., Patent Agents, of
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention, a communication to me from abroad by Eugène Espiau
of Barcelona, in the Kingdom of Spain, Engineer, 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 suspended cable tramway systems, and consists
principally in certain improvements for the application thereto of a system of rope
traction to replace animal traction hitherto usually employed on such systems.
Reference being made to the annexed drawings illustrating the invention.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of part of the cable way, one of the posts supporting
the latter and a car suspended on the stationary cable supported by said posts.
Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, and
Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing also a car with movable stair way for descent
from or ascent into the car.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation of the upper part of one of the posts.
The supporting cable is formed of steel wire cable supported by posts of iron.
a represents the cable-A the posts which are placed at distances of from thirty to
fifty meters according to the nature of the land traversed. The cable may be
maintained stretched by means of the clamp consisting of the two jaws b¹ b² fixed
together by bolts & nuts, placed at the upper end of each post, stretching may be
done at each alternate post, or at every third, fourth or other number up to
every tenth post, each post being preferably supported by guys to take the strain
of the cable.
The cars are suspended on two grooved pulleys c c, one at each end above the
car and connected to the latter by hangers d d. The car may be suspended
higher or lower by regulating the length of these hangers or by other appropriate
means.
The wheels cc carry in their peripheral grooves a band of rubber to prevent
vibration and deaden the noise which might otherwise be produced by rolling of
the wheels on the cable.
The traction cable is shown at e e, and is operated as follows; At one end of
the line or in the most convenient place is stationed a suitable engine having a
grooved pulley provided with forks for seizing the traction cable and preventing it
from sliding or slipping off when drawn by the revolution of the pulley. The speed
of the engine is regulated according to the speed with which the cars are desired
to travel on the line; at the other end of the line is a stretcher which holds the
traction cable always taut. The engine may be driven by steam, electric, or
hydraulic power and should be sufficient for the heaviest traffic the line will be
called upon to carry.
The cars are connected to the traction cable by a special grip hh formed of two
parts i Fig. 1, the one corresponding to the upper surface, the other to the lower
surface of the cable, and each serving as supports for pressure wheels which seize
the cable by means of the pressure given them by rotation of the spindle m with
contrary screw threads engaging respectively with the parts i i. The spindle m is
turned by the attendant by means of the hand wheel n on the car which hand wheel
is connected with the spindle by rods and bevelled gear o o¹ as shown.
The upper
end of the shaft o is also screw threaded and in it screws a nut t connected by rod &
to a brake lever so that when the rod o is turned in a direction to free the traction

page_text: cable the brake lever c is moved against the side of the running wheel c and acts
as a brake on the latter to stop the car.
To provide for the passing of curves where holders are required to hold the
traction cable along the course of the line, the suspending cable is set up with
descending grades by suitable arrangement of the heights of the supporting posts,
so that the car may be released from the traction cable prior to arriving at the
holders of the latter, and will by reason of the descending grades pass along over
these points and be attached again beyond the holders without loss of speed.
The traction cable is supported at each post by a grooved pulley and the cable
is held thereon by a movable fork kept in place by its own weight or by a spring
so that it may be thrust aside by the grip h h which is shaped to ride over the
pulley.
To prevent abrupt shock of attachment the car is connected to the grip through
the intervention of springs p p.
To provide for the ascent and descent of passengers, a special movable stairway
is placed at each end of the car (Fig. 3). To the floor of the car is hinged a ladder
or stairway B which may be raised or lowered by a movement of rotation on an
axle fixed on the flooring, this movement is performed by means of a hand lever D
turning a pinion E which moves a rack which also controls a toothed pinion which
revolves the stairway on its axle. When the stairway is raised it serves as a.door
to close the platform of the car as shown at B Fig. 1. To hold the car steady
during the ascent and descent of passengers, a counter bar I is pivoted under the
car and is moved at the same time as the stairway so that when the latter is down
the counter bar is also down and rests upon the ground and when the stairway is
raised the counter bar is also raised. The counter bar may be operated by a chain
and disc or segment N on the shaft of the hand lever D.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is
In suspended cable tramway systems,
1.) The combination of the suspending cable with posts. and clamps therefor
with descending grades at curves, the traction cable supported by grooved pulleys
and retained thereon by movable forks, and the car having the grip. and the
brake system operated simultaneously therewith, substantially as illustrated and
described.
2.) A car having a movable stairway attached thereto and adapted to be raised
or lowered in combination with a counter bar I adapted to be, simultaneously
raised and lowered, for the steadying of said car substantially as set forth.
Dated this 20th day of November 1890.
HERBERT &. Co.,
Agents to Applicant.