Improvements in and applicable to Suspension-tracks for Overhead Cable or Railway Systems.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 25th May, 1894-Accepted, 14th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and applicable to Suspension-tracks for Overhead
Cable or Railway Systems.
I WILLIAM JOHN BREWER, Civil Engineer, care of Walter Alfred Barlow
7 John Street, Bedford Row, London, W.C. do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows :-
:―
This invention relates to certain improvements in and applicable to suspension-
tracks for overhead cable or railway systems.
The cable tracks before referred to may be combined with a rigid or girder
track for a portion of their length or may be so combined at their stations or
termini, or the end stations instead of being termini can be curved to form a
continuous track at the same time that improved grip or carrier means are
employed.
In combination with such improved tracks or railway systems I employ turn-
tables at certain points where tracks are required to converge or diverge or that
the vehicles are to be shunted into sidings or branches.
The turntables will be fitted with stops and brakes and will be substantially
inverted turntables the points of rest being provided by platforms supported on
side supports with clear-way between.
This system can be employed in works, yards, and over spaces for purposes of
transport.
For over-head railways, so called, for use in cities, towns and so forth the support-
pedestals heads, or track-ways will be, according to this invention, carried through
openings or frames upon the columns or supports thereof. The upper part of
these open frames will accommodate over head cables or suspension tracks with
suspension means, or other means to like effect for cars.
There may also be employed in such constructions a lower cable and grip or
track consisting of an idle-cable upon which or in connection with which the car
haulage means are combined with safety clutch appliance or running anchor to tow
the carriage or to preserve its vertical position.
Between the sideway arms of the suspension means, wheels or runners may be
mounted upon cross spindles or axles having bearing in the centre web of the
carrier at one end and in the said arms at the other end of said spindles or axles
for purposes of engagement with haulage ropes; or, otherwise, with an idle-cable
for a safety clutch or brake device.
For purposes of a ferry or other means of transit where traffic would not be
sufficient to require an attendant the haulage car is to be combined with an
automatic device for reception of the amount of fare for the passage. A winch
action and grip device would in such cases be conveniently set up and employed in
the car or vehicle of transport in combination with a cable track.
In a girder track a double bascule device will be employed, in some cases, in
combination with other of my improved means, so that the ends of the bascule
girders, supported midway and at each ends, may have their ends raised and
lowered to form a sufficient incline and an alterable incline for to and fro traffic

page_text: and so that the gravity may also be used partially for giving power for actuation
of the track-vehicle during a portion of the progress or on the return journey of
same.
וווו..
1000
Per Walter A. Barlow,
W. J. BREWER,
Applicant,
7, Johu Street, London, W.C., Consulting Engineer and Patent Expert.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and applicable to Suspension-tracks for Overhead
Cable or Railway Systems.
I WILLIAM JOHN BREWER, care of the Firm of Thacker & Company,
87 Newgate Street, in the City of London, Civil Engineer, formerly c/o Walter
Alfred Barlow 7, John Street Bedford Row London W.C. 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 :-
This invention relates to certain improvements in and applicable to suspension-
tracks for overhead cable or railway systems and in part relates to further improve-
ments upon and in connection with the subject matter set out in the Specification
filed with the application for Letters Patent No. 17786 dated 21st September 1893.
0 The cable tracks described in the Specification before referred to may be
combined with a rigid or girder track for a portion of their length or may be so
combined at their stations or termini; or the end stations instead of being termini
can be curved to form a continuous track at the same time that my improved grip
or carrier means are employed.
In combination with such improved tracks or railway systems I employ turn-
tables at certain points where tracks are required to converge or diverge or that
the vehicles are to be shunted into sidings or branches.
The turntables will be fitted with stops and brakes and will be substantially
inverted turntables the points of rest being provided by platforms supported on
side supports with clearway between. This system may be employed in works,
yards and overspaces for purposes of transport.
For overhead railways, so called, for use in cities, towns & so forth the
support-pedestals, heads or track ways will be according to this invention carried
through openings or frames upon the columns or supports thereof. The upper
part of these open frames will accommodate overhead cables or suspension tracks
with my improved suspension means or other means to like effect for cars.
There may also be employed in such constructions a lower cable and grip or
track consisting of an idle cable on which or in connection with which the car
haulage means are combined with safety clutch appliance or running anchor to tow
the carriage or to preserve its vertical position.
Between the sideway arms of the suspension means described in my former
Specification herein before referred to wheels or runners may be employed mounted
upon cross spindles or axles having bearings in the centre web of the carrier at
one end and in the said arms at the other end of said spindles or axles for purposes
of engagement with haulage ropes or otherwise with an idle cable for a safety clutch
or brake device.
For the purposes of a ferry or other means of transit where the traffic would not
be sufficient to require an attendant the haulage car is to be combined with an
automatic device for reception of the amount of fare of the passage. A winch
action and grip device would in such cases be conveniently set up and employed in
the car or vehicle of transport in combination with a cable track.
In a girder track a double bascule device will be employed in some cases in

page_text: combination with other of my improved means so that the ends of the bascule
girders supported midway and at each end may have their ends raised and lowered
to form a sufficient incline for to-and-fro traffic and so that the gravity may also be
used for giving power for actuation of the track vehicle during a portion of the
progress or on the return journey of same.
And in order that the said invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures in the annexed sheets of drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all figures.
Figure of the drawings represents an end elevation of one form of overhead
cable way constructed according to the present invention.
Figures 2 & 3 are alternative arrangements suitable for crossing rivers and the
like.
Figure 4 represents a transverse section of a depending web or support employed
for supporting the track cables; Figure 5 represents a fixed terminal device for
receiving the ends of the track cables when it is desired to run the truck or car on
to solid rails such as for instance on to a turntable.
Figures 6 & 7 show alternative forms of construction of the depending webs or
supports, in which double-headed rails secured to the supports are employed for the
track instead of cables.
Figures 8 & 9 represent another arrangement of the track and supports in which
the cables are replaced by a continuous rail with outwardly projecting flanges.
upturned for supporting the car wheels.
Figures 10 & 11 show in elevation and plan an overhead system suitable for
workshops in which solid rails are employed in combination with a turntable.
The arrangement shown in Figure 1 is suitable for overhead cable tracks in cities
and so forth and comprises frames A to which are secured at suitable intervals.
supports or brackets B for carrying the track cables C. The car is suspended from
the said track cables upon wheels carried in vertical guides substantially as shown
& may he propelled in any convenient manner. In the arrangement shown a rope
is provided to the car for draught purposes. In Figure is shown an arrange-
ment of bascule bridge supporting track cables and having a rope haulage system
comprising a winch and clutch by means of which the truck or car can be hauled
backwards & forwards along the track.
Figure 4 shows a modification of my depending web or support described in the
Specification filed with my application for Letters Patent No. 17786, dated
21st September 1893. In the present arrangement in addition to the sideway
extending arms for carrying the track cables, wheels or runners X are provided
mounted on cross spindles secured to the centre web, the said wheels or runners
being intended for carrying the haulage cable. In Figures 6 & 7 the depending
web or support D is made in two halves for convenience of manufacture the said
halves being secured together by flanges and bolts for instance.
In lieu of grooves.
provided in the arms, however, for supporting the track cables as in my former
invention hereinbefore mentioned the arms may be made to take into solid rails .J
which extend the whole length of the system. In the drawings I have shown.
double-headed rails provided with holes to receive the ends of the sideway
projecting arms the said rails being secured on the ends by nuts and washers, pins
or other suitable means. It will be understood that I do not confine myself to this.
form of rail or to the method of securing it to the supports.
In Figs. 8 & 9 the depending webs or supports and tracks are all in one, that is to
say they form a continuous girder or double rail which can be rolled or manufactured
in any other suitable way. In the arrangement shown the upper part N may be
secured to beams and the like and may be continuous as shown or may be provided
at suitable intervals only and to this the lower part M having the sideway
projecting flanges T which form the rails is secured. The car or truck may be
suspended in a similar manner to that shown in the prior Specifications filed with
my application for Letters Patent herein before mentioned. It will be understood

page_text: that instead of making the parts M N separate these may be made in one piece.
Figures 3, 10 & 11 show methods of employing the solid tracks shown in Figures 6,
7, 8 & 9. In Figure 3 I have shown the arrangement for crossing a ravine, river
or the like in which case the girder or rail having sideway projecting flanges is
pivoted at about its centre to an overhead structure in such a way that by means of
a winch, or other suitable device and gripping arrangement either of its ends can be
raised or lowered so as to enable the car or truck suspended therefrom to traverse
the track by gravity. I may combine with this arrangement an automatic device
for receiving the amount of the fare.
In Figures 10 & 11 a number of solid or cable tracks constructed according to
this invention are secured to the superstructure of a building and converge towards
a central turntable so that the trucks or cars cau be shunted in different directions.
In arrangements of this class in which cable tracks are employed a device similar
to that shown in Figure 5 may be employed. This consists of a double clip which
may be secured above in any suitable way & has holes provided to receive one end
of each of the track cables which may be secured in any usual manner.
These clips
therefore form a rigid connection between the cable & solid ways.
In all the forms of my invention hereinbefore described the main feature consists
in the sideway projecting arms or flanges of the supports which allow of the
uninterrupted passage of the cars from end to end of the system.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Suspension cable ways or tracks for passenger or freight purposes consisting
of frames each carrying at their upper sides supports or brackets with inwardly
projecting arms for carrying the track cables or rails from which the car or cars can
be suspended substantially as hereiubefore described & illustrated with reference
more particularly, to Figure 1 of the drawings.
2. In suspension cable ways or tracks the employment in combination with the
primary cable or cables of depending webs or supports for carrying the track
cables the said webs or supports having sideway projecting arms for carrying the
said track cables and being provided with wheels or runners mounted on spindles
substantially as herein before described and illustrated with reference more par-
ticularly to Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.
3. In suspension cable ways or tracks the employment in combination with the
primary cable or cables of depending webs or supports made in halves or not the
said supports having sideway projecting arms constructed to receive continuous rails
substantially as hereinbefore described & illustrated with reference more par-
ticularly to Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In combination with suspension cable ways or tracks of the kind hereinbefore
specified the employment of continuous girders or rails having two sideway
projecting flanges for supporting the suspended cars substantially as described.
5. In suspension cable ways or tracks the employment of fixed terminal devices
for receiving the ends of the track cables to enable the car or cars to run on to a
turntable or other device to enable the said cars to pass from one track to another
having rigid rails substantially as hereinbefore described more particularly with
reference to Figures 5, 10 & 11 of the accompanying drawings.
6. The several arrangements and combinations of parts constituting the suspension
cable ways or tracks for the purposes mentioned and as herein before described &
shown in the several figures of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 25th day of May 1894.
WILLIAM JOHN BREWER.