Improvements in and connected with Single-rail Railways, and Vehicles therefor.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 24th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 30th Nov., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Single-rail Railways, and
Vehicles therefor.
I, FREDERICK JOHN ROWAN, of 121, West. Regent Street, in the County of
Glasgow, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object to improve the construction of single-rail or
central-rail railways and parts connected therewith and vehicles therefor, so as to
obtain strength and durability with moderate original cost and small expenditure
for upkeep together with other practical advantages.
In carrying out my invention I support the rail upon a series of transversely
placed A-frames or trestles made of steel or iron of T or I section or of double
headed railway rails, in single pieces bended to the required form, or each consisting
of separate pieces riveted at the apex to each other and to a longitudinal iron or
steel girder of T or I section, the rail being fixed directly to the top of such
girder, or upon an interposed wooden plank. The vehicles are fitted with vertical
wheels to run upon the central rail, and also with horizontal or inclined wheels or
rollers in lower positions to steady the vehicles laterally by running along plates
fixed to the lower parts of the trestles. At the parts where these plates for the
rollers are placed the trestles are strengthened by horizontal cross pieces-and
these horizontal cross pieces and the upper parts of the trestles are connected from
trestle to trestle by diagonal or oblique ties which impart rigidity and strength to
the entire structure. The trestles, which may in some cases be made partly or
wholly of timber, rest upon transverse sleepers of timber or of dished steel or iron
plates. Or the feet of the trestles may rest upon stone or concrete blocks.
When steam is used for traction a twin locomotive is employed, consisting of two
boilers, of the ordinary locomotive type, or two upright water-tube or other boilers,
The two boilers
placed one on each side of the central rail, and at a lower level.
and other parts on the two sides are connected and carried by a box framing of a
saddle-like form and which is mounted upon the wheels running on the central rail.
Two steam cylinders placed longitudinally and horizontally on each side above the
level of the central rail act on crank pins on wheels on the upper ends of two
vertical shafts, these wheels having spur teeth and gearing together above the
central rail. The vertical shafts by means of cranks on them and connecting rods
give motion to two other vertical shafts nearer the cylinder end of the locomotive;
and the four shafts have fixed upon their lower ends wheels which bear on each side
of the web of the central rail. The driving is effected by the action of these four
wheels on the web of the central rail, provision being made for making the wheels
grip the rail between them as much as may be necessary, such gripping action
affording secure hold and control in ascending and descending inclines. The
driving may be effected in some cases by a single pair of gripping wheels, and in
other cases more than two pairs may be required.
The wagons, passenger carriages, or other vehicles, consist in each case of two
lateral dependent parts carried by two or more transverse saddle-like steel or iron
frames of Tor I section, the central higher parts of which are fixed to longitudinal
girders or frames mounted on wheels which run upon the central rails, suitable

page_text: coupling and buffer apparatus being provided for connecting two or more vehicles
in a train. For a long and heavy load, such as a boiler, provision is made for
carrying it upon two wagons and above the central rail.
For this purpose, a
platform is arranged to be above the rail and having fixed to it lateral dependent
framing to be supported by the lower lateral parts of the wagon; and on the
platform is fitted a swivelling table, plate, or frame, provided with suitable
appliances for securing the boiler or other load upon it.. With the swivelling
arrangement a boiler or other load carried by two wagons can be conveyed round
curves.
For braking purposes provision may be made for applying gripping blocks to the
web of the central rail; or brakes may be applied to the driving or running wheels
or both; or the pressure on the shafts of the driving wheels may be increased.
Dated this Twenty-fourth day of January 1895.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
Improvements in and connected with Single-rail Railways, and
Vehicles therefor.
I, FREDERICK JOHN ROWAN, of 121, West Regent Street, in the County of
Glasgow, North Britain, 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, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object to improve the construction of single-rail
or central-rail railways and parts connected therewith, and vehicles therefor, so as
to obtain strength and durability with moderate original cost and small expenditure
for upkeep, together with other practical advantages.
Apparatus embodying my invention is shown on six accompanying sheets of
explanatory drawings,
Figure, 1, on Sheet, 1, thereof being a diagrammatic side elevation.
Figures, 2, 4, 6, and 3, 5, 7, are respectively end elevations and side elevations of
three modifications of trestles or rail supports hereinafter described.
Figure, 8, on Sheet, 2, Figure, 9, on Sheet, 3, and Figure, 10, on Sheet, 4, are
respectively a sectional plan, a longitudinal vertical section, and a transverse
vertical section of my improved traction engine certain details shown in one view
being omitted from the other two for clearness.
Figures, 11, and 12, on Sheet, 5, are respectively a side and an end elevation of
a goods wagon.
Figure, 13, is a transverse vertical section of a passenger carriage.
Figures, 14, and 15, show wagons adapted to carry a particular kind of load.
Figures, 16, 17, and 18, on Sheet, 6, are respectively a transverse vertical
section, a longitudinal vertical section, and a horizontal section of a brake van.
In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the
same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
In carrying out my invention I support the rail, A, upon a series of transversely
placed A-frames or trestles, A 1, made of steel or iron of T-section (Figures, 2,
and 3), or of I-section, or of double-headed railway rails (Figures, 4, and 5) in
single pieces beuded to the required form, or each consisting of separate pieces
riveted at the apex. to each other (Figures, 6, and 7) and to a longitudinal iron or
steel girder, A. 2, of T or I-section, the rail being fixed directly to the top of such
girder, or upon an interposed wooden plank, A3, as shown in Figures, 6, and 7.
The vehicles, B, C, D, and E, are fitted with vertical wheels, G, to run upon the
central rail, A, and also with horizontal (or it might be inclined) wheels, or

page_text: rollers, H, in lower positions to steady the vehicles laterally by running along
At the parts where
plates, H 1, fixed to the lower parts of the trestles, A 1.
these plates, H 1, for the rollers, H, are placed the trestles, A1, are strengthened
by horizontal cross pieces, J, and these horizontal cross pieces, and the upper parts
of the trestles are connected from trestle to trestle by diagonal or oblique ties, J 1,
The trestles which may
which impart rigidity and strength to the entire structure.
in some cases be made partly or wholly of timber rest upon transverse sleepers, J 2,
of timber or of dished steel or iron plates. Or the feet of the trestles may rest
upon stone or concrete blocks.
When steam is used for traction a twin locomotive, B, is employed, consisting
(as shown in Figures, 8, 9, and 10) of two boilers, K, and L, of the ordinary
locomotive type, or two upright, or water-tube or other boilers, placed one on each
side of the central rail, A, and at a lower level. The two boilers, K, and L, and
other parts on the two sides are connected and carried by a box framing, M, of a
saddle-like form, and which is mounted upon the wheels, G, running on the central
rail, A. Two steam cylinders, K 1, and L1, placed longitudinally and horizontally
on each side above the level of the central rail, A, act on crank pins, K 2, and L 2,
on wheels, K 3, L3, on the upper ends of two vertical shafts, K4, and L 4, these
wheels having spur teeth and gearing together above the central rail. The vertical
shafts, K 4, and L4, by means of the crank pins K 2, L 2, connecting rods, K 6, L 6,
and crank disks, K 7, L 7, give motion to two other vertical shafts K 8, and L 8,
nearer the cylinder end of the locomotive; and the four shafts have fixed upon
their lower ends, wheels, P, Q, which bear on each side of the web of the central
rail. The driving is effected by the action of these four wheels, P, Q, ou the web
of the central rail, A, and mechanism is provided for making the wheels grip the
rail between them as much as may be necessary, such gripping action affording
The mechanism for
secure hold and control in ascending and descending inclines.
insuring the wheels, P, Q, gripping the rail sufficiently consists of metal or other
wedges, P 1, placed between the journal bushes, P 2, of the shafts, L4, L 8, and
pieces, P3, attached to the framing, M, by springs, P 4, the wedges being con-
nected by a rod, P 5, having one end screwed and passing through a toothed
wheel, Q1, gearing with another toothed wheel, Q2, movable by a handwheel, Q3.
By turning the handwheel, Q3, the wedges, P 1, may be moved either way,
such movement tightening or slackening the pressure of the wheels, P, Q, on
the rail.
The wagons, C, passenger carriages, D, and brake van, E, consist in each case
of two lateral dependent parts, R, carried by two or more transverse saddle-like
steel or iron frames, R 1, of T or I-section the central higher parts of which are
fixed to longitudinal girders or frames, R2, mounted on wheels, G, which run upon
the central rail, suitable coupling apparatus, R 3, and suitable buffer apparatus, R 4,
being provided for connecting two or more vehicles in a train. For a long and
heavy load, such as a boiler, provision is made for carrying it upon two wagons, C,
and above the central rail (as shown in Figures, 14, and 15). For this purpose a
platform, S, is arranged to be above the rail and has fixed to it lateral dependent
framing to be supported by the lower lateral parts of the wagon; and on the
platform is fitted a swivelling table, plate, or frame, S2, provided with suitable
With the swivelling
appliances for securing the boiler, S 3, or other load upon it.
arrangement a boiler or other load carried by two wagons can be conveyed round
curves.
For braking purposes a carriage or van, E, is employed such carriage having
gripping wheels or rollers or blocks, T, which are made to grip the web of the
central rail. Each wheel or roller, T, is carried in a frame, T 1, sliding in
guides, T2, attached to the main frame of the carriage and the wheels are pressed
to bear on the rail web by a screw spindle, T 3, movable by a handwheel, T 4.
Brakes may however be applied to the driving wheels, P, Q, of the engine or
running wheels, G, of any or all of the vehicles; or the pressure on the
shafts, K4, L4, K 8, L 8, of the driving wheels may be increased.

page_text: .
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:―
1. The construction, arrangement, and combination of parts constituting the
single-rail railway substantially as herein before described.
2. The construction, arrangement, and combination of parts constituting the
improved locomotive for single-rail railways substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The construction, arrangement, and combination of parts constituting any
of the improved vehicles for single-rail railways substantially as hereinbefore
. described.
4. In vehicles for single-rail railways the improved supporting and swivelling
appliances for carrying a load extending over two wagons substantially as
hereinbefore described.
:
5. In vehicles for single-rail railways the improved braking appliances
- substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this Twenty-third day of October 1895.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.