IMPROVEMENTS IN SINGLE-RAIL RAILWAYS AND ROLLING STOCK
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark of the firm of A M and
W Clark of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents,
for an invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN SINGLE-RAIL RAILWAYS AND ROLLING
STOCK Communicated to him from abroad by Charles François Marie
Thérèse Lartigue, of Olieste, Spain
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th June 1882.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents, " IMPROVEMENTS IN SINGLE-
RAIL RAILWAYS AND ROLLING STOCK [Communicated to him from abroad by
Charles François Marie Thérèse Lartigue, of Olieste, Spain]
This Invention relates to an improved single rail post railway and rolling stock
for the transport of passengers and troops, or sick and wounded in the field, as
well as for the conveyance of agricultural produce, minerals and earth in mining
and contractors operations, &c. The Invention consists more particularly in the
construction of the single rail post railway and of the carriage or carrier travelling
thereon.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood, I will proceed to
describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one
method of carrying it into effect. Figure 1 is an end view of the rail and carrier.
Figure 2 is a side elevation, and Figure 3 a vertical. section of the upper part of
the carrier drawn on a larger scale. Figure 4 is a vertical section through the
axis of one of the wheels. Figures 5 and 6 show details of the rail joints. Figure 7
is a diagram showing the arrangement at the junction of two lines or at a road
crossing. Figure 8 is a section and Figure 9 an elevation showing details of the
rail supports. The same letters of reference are used in all the figures to denote
the same parts.
a is a light iron rail preferably of the form shown in cross section which is
bolted at d to the upper ends of pairs of legs or standards b fixed to the ground

page_text: by spikes c or otherwise. The standards b can pivot on the bolts & being rounded
off as shown at e Figure 9 to enable them to fold alongside the rail for storage or
transport. The rail joints are made as shown in Figures 5 and 6 by a pair of fish
platesbolted to one rail end by bolts g and connected together by bolts h onto
which the notches ii of the other rail end are dropped and the bolts h then
tightened up. Junctions and road crossings are readily provided for owing to the
lateral flexibility of this system of rail road. The diagram Figure 7 shows two
such cases. a a a are the permanent rails and a¹ are the switch rails of which the
standards b' are not spiked to the ground as before but are bolted to a sole piece.
When a change of direction is to be made the attendant shifts the switch rail a¹
and its supports bodily to the new position indicated in dotted lines so as to
connect with branch line or carry the line across the road k.
The carrier will necessarily vary in form as well as the rail, according to the
intended use, one form of carrier being represented in Figures 1. 2. 3 and 4. It
here consists of two grooved wheels 7 mounted in a pair of frames m from which
are hung at point o the suspension brackets n which carry the trays or seats as
shown in Figure 1, or in other suitable manner. p are horizontal side rollers
mounted in bearings n' to prevent the oscillation of the carrier as well as its
leaving the rail. As the centre of gravity of the carrier is always much below the
point of suspension, a perfectly stable equilibrium is obtained. q is an oil cup
placed between the wheels of the carrier, as shown in Figure 2, from which the
lubricating matter is conveyed to the journals of wheels as well as to those of
rollers p through the passages r 1 represented in dotted lines in Figure 2 and in
section Figure 4.
The suspension frames or brackets n may be made of any suitable form and for
transporting agricultural produce they would be provided with baskets, while for
military purposes benches would be attached to them capable of being turned up
or down to allow of wounded men being transported on litters. Two or more of
these frames may also be coupled together for the transportation of a number of
men in a recumbent position or of a still greater number sitting. For the transport
of passengers the rail would be carried at a higher elevation and a carriage body
would be suspended one at either side of each carrier.
For mining and contractors' use, the backing of wire gauze or trellis work with
which the suspension framing n is provided would be replaced by a self tipping
skip locked by a bolt those of all the train being controlled by a rope for dis-
charging the contents of the whole train of trucks to one side or the other as
desired. For crossing rivers no permanent structure is necessary, two cables
suitably strained sufficing to support the standards b which may be varied in
height to suit the configuration of the ground
Telegraph or telephone wires may be carried upon the rail supports they being
made in sections of the same length as the rails, so that both they and the rails
may be laid simultaneously.
The carriers may be drawn either by manual or animal power or other suitable
motor, such as rope traction by means of stationary engines at each end of
the line

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 11th December 1882.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A, M, and W, Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex Patent Agents "IMPROVEMENTS IN SINGLE
RAIL RAILWAYS AND ROLLING STOCK." A communication to me from abroad by
Charles François Marie Thérèse Lartigue of Olieste Spain.
This Invention relates to an improved single-rail post-railway and rolling stock
for the transport of passengers, troops, sick and wounded in the field, agricultural
produce, minerals, and earth in mining and contractors operations, &c. The
Invention consists more particularly in the construction of the single-rail post
railway and of the carriage or carrier travelling thereon.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood I will proceed to
describe it with reference to the accompanying Drawings which illustrate one
method of carrying it into effect. Figure 1 is an end view of the railway and
carrier. Figure 2 is a side elevation, and Figure 3 a vertical section of the upper
part of the carrier drawn on a larger scale. Figure 4 is a vertical section through
the axis of one of the wheels. Figures 5 and 6 show details of the rail joints.
Figure 7 is a diagram showing the arrangement at the junction of two lines or at
a road crossing. Figure 8 is a section, and Figure 9 an elevation showing details
of the rail supports. The same letters of reference are used in all the figures to
denote the same parts.
a is a light iron rail (preferably of the form shown in cross section) which is
bolted at d to the upper ends of pairs of legs or standards b fixed to the ground
by spikes c or otherwise. The standards b are rounded off as shown at e (figure 9)
so that they can pivot on the bolts d to enable them to fold alongside the rail for
storage or transport. The rail joints are made as shown in Figures 5 and 6 by
a pair of fish plates f firmly bolted for one half their length to one rail end by
bolts g. The other halves of the plates to receive the end of the adjoining rail
between them, have bolts h already fixed slack and the rail end has notches i i
in the web which drop onto the bolts h after which the said bolts are tightened up.
Junctions and road crossings are readily provided for owing to the lateral flexibility
of this system of rail road. The diagram Figure 7 shows two such cases. a a a are
the permanent rails and a¹ are the switch or movable crossing rails of which the
standards b' are not spiked to the ground as before, but are bolted to a sole piece
so that this rail a¹ and its supports can be swung bodily to the new position
indicated in dotted lines in order to connect with the branch line or carry the line
across the road k. This shifting of the whole permanent way is a characteristic
feature of the Invention.
The carrier will necessarily vary in form as well as the rail, according to the
intended use, one form of carrier being represented in Figures 1. 2. 3. and 4. It
here consists of two grooved wheels mounted in a pair of frames m from which
are hung at point o the suspension brackets n which carry the trays or seats as
shown in Figure 1, or in other suitable manner. p are horizontal side rollers
mounted in bearings n¹ attached to frames m to prevent the carrier oscillating
or running off the rail. As the centre of gravity of the carrier is always much
below the point of suspension, a perfectly stable equilibrium is obtained. q is an
oil cup placed between the wheels of the carrier, as shown in Figure 2, from which
the lubricating matter is conveyed to the journals of wheels as well as to those
of rollers p through the passages r² represented in dotted lines in Figure 2 and

page_text: in section Figure 4. The suspension frames or brackets n may be made of any
suitable form and for transporting agricultural produce they would be provided
with baskets, while for military purposes benches would be attached to them
capable of being turned up or down to allow of wounded men being transported on
litters. Two or more of these frames may also be coupled together for the trans-
portation of a number of men in a recumbent position, or of a still greater number
sitting. For the transport of passengers the rail would be carried at a higher
elevation and a carriage body would be suspended one at either side of each carrier
in the place of brackets n.
For use at mines and embankments the backing of wire gauze or trellis work
with which the suspension framing n is provided, would be replaced by a self
tipping skip locked by a bolt those of all the train being controlled by a rope for
discharging the contents of the whole train of trucks to one side or the other as
desired, For crossing rivers no permanent structure is necessary, two cables
suitably strained sufficing to support the standards b which may be varied in
height to suit the configuration of the ground.
Telegraph or telephone wires may be carried on the rail supports, they being
made in sections of the same length as the rails, so that both they and the rails
may be laid simultaneously. The carriers may be drawn either by manual or
animal power or other suitable motor such as rope traction by means of stationary
engines at each end of the line.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is.
1st. A single rail post-railway constructed of a light rail a mounted on legs or
standards b pivoted to the rail and spiked or otherwise secured to the ground,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. A carrier for a single rail post-railway constructed of frames m, wheels 1,
horizontal side rollers p and suspension brackets n, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
3rd. In a system of single rail post-railway, the method of coupling the ends of
the rails by means of fish plates bolted to one rail end, the other rail end having
notches in its web to permit of its insertion or removal from between the plates
without removing the bolts by which it is to be, or was, secured, substantially as
shown and described.
4th. A system of single rail post-railway in which the rail at branches and road
crossings is made laterally movable bodily with its supports, substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
In Witness whereof I the said Alexander Melville Clark have hereunto set
my hand and seal this eleventh day of December, A.D. 1882.