IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT, APPLICATION, AND MODE OF WORKING MOVEABLE OR TRAVELLING TRAMWAYS OR RAILWAYS FOR VEHICLES TO RUN ON COMMON ROADS
Year: 1877

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to John Joseph Halcombe, of Balsham, in the County of
Cambridge, Clerk in Holy Orders, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE ARRANGEMENT, APPLICATION, AND MODE OF WORKING MOVEABLE OR
TRAVELLING TRAMWAYS OR RAILWAYS FOR VEHICLES TO RUN ON COMMON
ROADS."
Sealed the 8th March 1878, and dated the 25th October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Joseph Halcombe at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th October 1877.
JOHN JOSEPH HALCOMBE, of Balsham, in the County of Cambridge, Clerk in Holy
Orders. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT, APPLICATION, AND MODE OF
WORKING MOVEABLE OR TRAVELLING TRAMWAYS OR RAILWAYS FOR VEHICLES TO
RUN ON COMMON ROADS."
The Invention has for its object improvements in the arrangement, application,
and move of working moveable or travelling tramways or railways for vehicles to
run on common roads. For this purpose I provide the carriage proper with two
sets of wheels arranged for different gauges of tramway, and I cause these wheels
alternately to run on and be supported by two pairs of tramways, also of different
gauges, to correspond with those of the wheels.
Each pair of tramways is carried by a separate frame, and the two frames are so
fitted and arranged as to work the one within or upon the other.
Each frame is provided with a suitable number of supporting wheels to run on a
common road, and the tram lines are capable of being alternately raised and depressed
so that as one set of wheels has completed its traverse on one pair of tram lines, and
the other set of wheels are running on the other pair of lines, the first pair of tram
lines shall be depressed for the purpose herein-after mentioned.

page_text: Each frame is connected by a rope, chain, or other suitable means to a drum or
pulley on the vehicle proper, and by means of reversing gear these drums or pulleys
are alternately thrown into or out of gear with one of the running axles of the
vehicle, whereby the one frame is first moved forward, and then the other, and in
such motions of the frames the tram lines carried thereby are by means of cords,
chains, or other suitable means actuated by the aforesaid ropes, depressed to enable
them in the forward motion of the frame to clear the one set of wheels, and then
when they have gone forward beyond the vehicle they are liberated and caused to
rise into position in readiness for use.
If desired the vehicle may be supported on one axle, in which case I employ a
central trough-shaped tram line for a central wheel fixed at one or both ends of the
vehicle, in which case the said central wheel or wheels are formed so that the
periphery thereof is capable of being supported by a moveable rail connected to one
of the frames, and working at the bottom of the trough of the central rail which is
fixed to the other frame, whilst the sides of the central wheels are capable of running
and being supported upon the sides of the said trough rail.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-I will suppose that the two frames
are in their closed position; the vehicle at such time. is supported on one pair of
tram lines, and runs thereon until it arrives at and is entirely supported by the
other pair of tram lines; the first-mentioned pair of tram lines are then by the action
of one of the pulleys or drums depressed to enable them to clear their corresponding
wheels, when by the action of the same pulley or drum the inner frame is rapidly
moved forward so as to bring its tram lines into position for use, when the reversing
gear causes the aforesaid drum or pulley. to be thrown out of gear, and the other
drum or pulley into gear, when the other or outer frame is operated in like
<manner.
The vehicle and apparatus may be drawn or propelled forwards by horse, steam,
or other power.