Improvements in Street Tram Cars, especially for Cable or Electric Cars.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1896-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Street Tram Cars, especially for Cable or
Electric Cars.
I, ANDREW MCGILL, of 31 Moray Place, Dunedin, in the Colony of
New Zealand, Builder and Contractor, do hereby declare tho 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 :-
The object of this improvement is to produce a street tram car, that requires no
grooved tram rails, no rails on the street, that is not liable to be jolted by stones,
or to run over persons and crush them; and one that runs more smoothly than
is often now the case, as stones or such like are not liable to get on the rails."
This is effected by making 'the tunnel now made for cable cars, rather larger
than is now required and placing the rails in it, these would be preferably ordinary
railway rails; and running a strong trolley in and through the tube. The car is
fixed to this trolley by broad but thin plates of metal, which run through the
usual groove, as the gripper now runs; these support the car just over the
groove, in such a manner that the car has the appearance of an ordinary car,
but with no wheels or rails to he seen, as there is nothing seen from the street,
but the continuous groove that now forms part of a present cable car line.
In a cable line, the gripper acts as now, and as shewn, and in cars propelled by
any means, the breaks are applied' to the ironwork of the groove, as slipper, or
wedge breaks or to the wheels or axles.in.the ordinary way, but to be connected
from the breaks to the ear, if the latter, by thin rods that pass through the slot
as the gripper now does in cable systems.
In electric cars, the motor would be fixed to the trolley and the controlling rods
or levers would go up through the said slot, to the cars; and in. any system, it is
obvious that the tube would be more convenient for carrying pipes, or wires, for
any purpose, than the present tubes; owing to their slightly increased size, so
that they can be eutered.
Referring to the accompanying drawing :-
Figure 1, is an cud view of any street car, combined with a section of the tube
of a cable car,
and shewing the whole arrangement.
Figure 2, is a sectional elevation of the same, shewing the cable, and the
working of the whole.
Figure 3, are details of a slight modification of the bar that supports the car,
to enable it to turn independently of either the trolley or the car; if there are
sharp curves in the line.
A, is any form of street car, to which this invention may be applied."
B, is the ordinary tabe, but rather larger than is usual now, so as to give room
for the trolley, rails and the eleceric, or travelling cable.
C, are the rails, preferably best railway rails, which will allow deeper flanges
than general tram flanges.
D, are any sleepers, such as the longitudinal ones shewn.
E, E, E, are any ribs, forming the frame-work of the tube which may be lined
as now in any desired manner, the top of these carry the plates forming the
continuous slot, and preferably a lower slot for guide wheels L, to prevent
friction of the plates against the sides of the slot.
the usual carving sheaves.

page_text: G, is the gripper made as usual and G! the travelling cable, G any cable such
as an electric cable, which could have branches as shewn dotted, to branch to
buildings as required.
H, is the trolley running in the tube as shewn, carrying the car by strutted
bars passing up as shewn, and ending at the car by any springs K.
J, are the uprights from the trolley to the car and J, are same capable of
turning in grooves and secured by bolts.so as to turn freely but without shaking,
they are kept in position by the wheels L.
In this invention any suitable materials or sizes may be adopted.
Although only one trolley is shewn on the drawing, there could be bogies, or
trolleys at each end where long cars are required; if the gripper was wanted in
the centre of the car it would be on a sliding frame to allow of a side.movement
at curves, otherwise it would be over one of the trolleys and as shewu.
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. In any system of street car propulsion, the combination of rails placed below
the street line, in a tunnel or tube having an open slut to the street, with an
underground trulley carrying the car on broad thin plates running up through the
said groove, (such as A, B, C, D, E, H, J, (or J, K, L,) substantially as shewn
in the drawing, and described and explained herein.
2. In cable tramways, the method of running the car, by its being carried by
plates and connected to a trolley running under-ground, the said connection being
through the usual slot in the street, the break being worked so as to act
on the top of the slot plates, or in the slot, or through the slot to the wheels
or axles below, in a similar manner to the working of the gripper, (such as
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, G, H, J, (or J',) K, L,) substantially as shewn and
described herein.
3. The method of working electric tramways by placing the motor on an under-
ground trolley, and controlling same from a car carried over the trolley, the
connection being through the slot in the street, substantially as described and
explained herein.
Dated, at Dunedin, in the. Colony of New Zealand, this 16th day of
CHOCT 1050.
A. MCGILL.
G. F. Redfern & Co.,
4 South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.