improvements in
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 25th July, 1887
Complete Left, 25th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 25th May, 1888
improvements in ада гегациюWIDVD www
133
for Recreation or Amusement and the Carriages therefor.
I, FRANCIS BERNARD WELCH of Manchester Chambers, Market Street, Manchester
in the County of Lancaster, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to switch-back and similar railways for recreation or amuse-
ment and to the carriages therefor and consists in improved arrangements for
transferring the carriages from one line of rails to the other and turning them, and in
improved means for preventing the carriages from leaving the rails and for retarding
their motion or stopping them in case of accident or at the end of the run.
In
The two lines of switch-back and similar railways ordinarily run at the ends of the
line into a single line with switches for the purpose of transferring the carriages from
the up line to the return line and the passengers are obliged to leave the carriages
and change their seats in order to face the direction in which the carriage runs.
order to obviate the necessity of passengers leaving their seats, I place turntables at
each end of the line upon which turntables the carriages can be run and turned
round to be transferred to the other line with their front parts in the direction in
which they are to run.
In some cases instead of using turntables I arrange the carriages so that the
upper part with the passengers can be swung round while the underframe remains
stationary and the necessity of passengers leaving their seats is thereby obviated.
In some cases instead of using turntables I arrange at the end of the lines a
moveable platform, capable of swinging partly round a fixed centre, or a segmental
turntable upon which I run the carriages and by swinging the platform partly round
transfer them to the other line. In this case by preference I arrange the carriages
to turn on their underframes as hereinbefore described.

page_text: My further improvement consists in constructing said railways with ordinary flat
rails or rails of other sections without grooves and forming the wheel tyres with
flanges on both sides to prevent the carriages leaving the rails. If the speed becomes
dangerous or the carriages have to be arrested, I retard their motion by a brake,
which consists of a brake pulley placed upon an axle or brake-pulleys placed upon
several axles of the carriage, this pulley or these pulleys being braked by blocks or by
brake bands passing round nearly the entire circumference of said pulley or pulleys,
whereby one sided strains on the axleboxes or tyres are avoided. In some cases I
apply a ratchet wheel and pawl or equivalent locking device to one or several axles to
keep them locked and prevent the carriage from moving by its gravity on inclines
when not required to do so.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Switch Back and similar Railways
for Recreation or Amusement and the Carriages therefor.
I, FRANCIS BERNARD WELCH of Manchester Chambers, Market Street, Manchester
in the County of Lancaster Engineer 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 :-
My invention relates to switch back and similar railways for recreation or amuse-
ment and the carriages therefor and consists in improved arrangements for transferring
the carriages from one line of rails to the other and turning them.
In
The two lines of rails of switch back and similar railways ordinarily run at the ends
of the line into a single line for the purpose of transferring the carriages from the up
line to the down or return line and the passengers are obliged to leave the carriages
and change their seats in order to face the direction in which the carriage runs.
order to obviate the necessity of passengers leaving their seats, I in some cases place
turn-tables at the end of the line upon which turntables the carriages can be run on
arrival and turned round and transferred to the return line with their front parts in
the direction in which they are to run.
In some cases instead of using turntables I arrange the carriages so that the body
or upper part with the seats and passengers can be turned round upon the underframe
while said underframe remains stationary, locking devices being used to fix the body
upon the underframe, in either position, by which means the necessity for passengers
leaving their seats is avoided.
In some cases I arrange at the end of the lines a segmental turntable or platform
swinging horizontally round a fixed centre upon which platform I run the carriages
and by swinging it partly round, transfer the carriages to the return line. This
arrangement is shewn in plan on the sheet of drawings appended hereunto,
Fig. 1 shewing the swinging or pendulom platform in one position and Fig. 2 in
the other, only those parts necessary for illustrating my invention being shewn andt he
general staging of the railway omitted.
The platform consists of two timber beams a and b carrying rails a¹ and band
connected by plate iron cross braces e f g h i upon which a brake or catch beam k is
fixed in the centre.
The crossbrace e contains an eye for the pivot Z which is fixed to the stage of the
railway. Underneath the beams a and b brackets with rollers or bowls m n o p are
fixed, which roll upon the plates q and fixed to the stage.
Spring catches s and tare fixed to the stage for locking the platform in either
position, the platform being released by depressing the catches.
In the position shewn in fig. 2 the platform forms a continuation of the up line and
the carriages on arrival are run upon the platform which is then moved into the
position shown by fig. 1, when it forms a continuation of the down line and the
carriages can be started on their return run.

page_text: When using this kind of platform, the carriages are by preference arranged to turn
on their underframes as herein before described.
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 I
claim is
Firstly, the arrangement of turntables in combination with switch back railways
substantially as herein before described and for the purpose set forth.
Secondly, the arrangement of carriages for switch back railways so that the body
part with the seats can be turned round on the underframe, substantially as herein
before described and for the purpose set forth.
Thirdly, the arrangement of a swinging or pendulous platform for switchback
railways substantially as herein before described and illustrated and for the purpose
set forth.
1
Fourthly, the use of a swinging or pendulous platform in combination with
carriages arranged so that the body part can be turned round on the underframe.
EMMOTT & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant