IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS APPLIANCES TO BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH WIRE TRAMWAYS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Hodgson, of Merlin Lodge, Fulliam, in
the County of Middlesex, Director of the Wire Tramway Company,
Limited, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
APPLIANCES TO BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH WIRE TRAMWAYS."
OR
Scaled the 6th August 1872, and dated the 9th February 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Hodgson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 9th February 1872,
I, CHARLES HODGSON, of Merlin Lodge, Fulham, in the County of
Middlesex, Director of the Wire Tramway Company, Limited, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
OR APPLIANCES TO BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH WIRE TRAMWAYS," to be as
follows

page_text: system of transport patented by me on the 30th day of July in the
year 1868, No. 2281, and consists,―
Firstly. In arranging clip levers or lugs in the inner faces of the
blocks or "heads" which bear upon the rope to prevent them slipping
when ascending gradients, the clip levers being so pivotted that they
press against the rope and pinch it with a pressure increasing in pro-
portion to the inclination of the rope. The face of each lever is a
segment of a circle struck from a point in rear of the pin upon which
the lever moves, so that the friction of the rope brings the faces together
and causes the necessary grip to be obtained. The levers work in pairs,
and their faces are slightly inclined to permit of the boxes being lifted
off the rope freely.
The Invention consists, secondly, in arranging pinions on the shafts
or spindles of the bearing pulleys, so that one of the pair becomes driven
by the other; this enables the portion of the rope moving from the
engine to be drawn along by the power of that portion of the rope
which is moving towards the engine, an advantage of great importance
when the loads have to be moved from where the engine is situated.
The third improvement consists in so combining short rails at the
sides of the pulleys with extra pulleys situated over the rope, that the
carriage boxes can pass over them whilst the rope is held down, thus.
ensuring the rope remaining in the pulley grooves at whatever gradient
it may be travelling up or down.
The fourth improvement consists in the employment of hanging
brackets in combination with trestles, between the legs of which the
loads can pass, the brackets being so arranged that the rope can be
hooked on, and the rollers of the carriage boxes travel over the hooks
with freedom. This plan is more particularly applicable for the fixed
supporting rope system on which the carriages are drawn to and fro by
animal or manual power for long distances over level plains.
My fifth improvement consists in pinning or jointing half-hoop,
semi-ellipse, or other shaped bars forming cages to the lower ends of the
bars which are suspended from the blocks, so that cane, straw, or other
similar material can be supported in a loose manner therein, and be
carried in a suspended manner by my first system, each suspended bar
being provided with a catch which can be released to allow of the cages
tipping over for discharging their contents.

page_text: My sixth improvement consists in uniting two of the ordinary
"heads" for supporting the boxes, or any modification of such heads,
by a swivel bar of wood or metal, from which by one or more hangers
the box or other load shall be suspended, the object being to guard
against the slip which sometimes takes place when the single heads
arrive at or leave the pulleys. By means of the double head united as
proposed there will always be one head resting on the rope whilst the
other is passing the pulley.
.
My seventh improvement consists in employing a vertical instead of
a horizontal driving wheel, and in combining with it two wheels or
sheaves, one vertical and fixed and the other horizontal and carried on
slides or a truck, so as to be capable of being drawn back by a weight
or by power, and thus taking up slack at the driving end of the, line
instead of at the distant terminus, as heretofore.
My eighth improvement consists in so constructing the framework of
the supporting posts of a line of wire tramway that the height may be
easily varied from time to time; this may be done either by having a
portion of the post to rise and fall telescopically, or by constructing the
top frame with three or more legs hinged to it, which can be approached
or spread out, thus regulating height in the same way as in the case of
surveying instruments.
My ninth improvement consists in placing the posts or post frame-
work of a line of wire tramway and one or both terminals on wheels,
so that the whole can be moved forward in a direction at right angles
to the line of tramway, or that one terminus may pivot on its centre
and the other move, allowing the line to take up various radial positions,
the object being to follow rapidly the collection of a crop or the
excavation of mineral, or facilitate the spreading of clays or manure.
My tenth improvement consists of constructing the post frames of a
hollow tapering form with spiral lattice bars of wood or iron, so as most.
effectively to employ the strength of the material against the various
strains to which these posts are subjected.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Hodgson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 9th August 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
HODGSON, of Merlin Lodge, Fulham, in the County of Middlesex,
Director of the Wire Tramway Company, Limited, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Charles Hodgson, Her special licence that
I, the said Charles Hodgson, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Charles Hodgson, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
OR APPLIANCES TO BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH WIRE TRAMWAYS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Hodgson, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Hodgson, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings here-
unto annexed, that is to say:-
My Invention relates to the construction and arrangement of
apparatus or appliances to be used in connection with the wire rope
system of transport patented by me on the 30th day of July, in the
year 1868, No. 2281, and consists, --
-

page_text: Firstly. In arranging clip levers or lugs a, a, as shown in Sheet 1 of
the Drawings annexed, in the inner faces of the blocks or heads b, b,
which bear upon the rope c to prevent the blocks and the load suspended
therefrom from slipping when ascending gradients, the clip levers being
pivoted at d so that they press against the rope and pinch it with a
pressure increasing in proportion to the inclination of the rope. The
face of each clip lever is a segment of a circle struck from a point, as
at e, in rear of the pin d upon which the lever moves, so that the
friction of the rope brings the faces together and causes the necessary
grip to be obtained. The levers work in pairs, and their faces are
slightly inclined, as shown in Figure 1, to permit of the boxes being
lifted off the rope freely. Any number of these clips can be employed
upon or in the same block, preferably in pairs, and two pairs to each
block, as seen in Figures 2, 3, and 4, the blocks being connected in
pairs by a connection bar g, from the centre of which the pendent
bar h springs to permit of the load always assuming a horizontal position
notwithstanding the angle at which the rope may be.
The Invention consists, secondly, in arranging pinions on the shafts
or spindles of the bearing pullies, so that one of the pair becomes
driven by the other; this enables the portion of the rope moving from
the engine to be drawn along by the power of that portion of the rope
which is moving towards the engine, an advantage of great importance
when the loads have to be moved from where the engine is situate.
This is shewn on Sheet 2, Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the Drawings,
where i, i, are pinions on the shafts j, j, on which two pullies k, k, are
mounted working from opposite sides of a post or standard 1, the pullies
being driven one by the other by the action of the taut end of the rope
as it is being drawn along by the power of the engine; the load, in
boxes or otherwise suspended, being arranged to pass in the space
formed between the vertical line of the pulley groove and the side of
the post.
The third improvement consists in so combining short rails at the
sides of the pullies with extra pullies situated over the rope that the
carriage boxes can pass over them whilst the rope is held down, thus
ensuring the rope remaining in the pulley grooves at whatever gradient:
it may be travelling up or down. This plan will be understood by:
referring to Sheet 3, Figures 9 and 10, of the Drawings, in which.
Figure 10 is a plan of the apparatus shown in side view in Figure 9;.

page_text: m, m, are the short rails at the side of the pullies, n, n, and over which
the rope c is free to run, while it also runs under an additional pulley o
arranged upon the frame p and about mid distance between the pair of
pullies n, n, for the forward action of the rope, and also over and under
other pullies for the backward action of the rope, as indicated by the
arrows.
For the sake of clearness I have represented the two ends of the rope
as moving at inclines opposed to each other and in opposite directions,
and in many instances the pullies and the frames would be so set, but
it is not essential that they should be so in all cases, as the blocks,
particularly those referred to in Sheet 1, with the small grooved rollers
q, q, for taking on to the short rails m, m, can pass the central or hold
down pullies o on the level by the momentum of the load and the speed
at which it may be travelling.
The fourth improvement consists in the employment of hanging
brackets in combination with trestles, between the legs of which the
loads can pass, the brackets being so arranged that the rope can be
hooked on and the rollers of the carriage boxes travel over the hooks
with freedom. This plan is more particularly applicable for the fixed
supporting rope system, on which the carriages are drawn to and fro by
animal or manual power for long distances over level plains. Figures
11 and 12, Sheet 3, show this construction. The brackets r, r, are
supported by cross bars 8, 8, forming stays or tie bars at the ends
upper
of the legs t, t, which rest upon or are fixed into the ground at intervals,
so that the fixed rope is supported in the grooves of the pullies u, u,
for the blocks with the suspended load to pass over them freely as they
are pulled along by a separate rope attached to the pendent rods, and to
the animal or other draught power, as before explained, or the blocks
and loads can be drawn along the fixed rope by a moving rope arranged
below if desired. The height at which the pullies u, u, are fitted is
determined by the kind of goods or produce to be moved, the pulley
spindles v, v, being held horizontal by stretches or steadying bars w.
My fifth improvement consists in pinning or jointing half-hoop,
semi-ellipse, or other shaped bars forming cages to the lower ends of the
bars which are suspended from the blocks, so that cane, straw, or other
similar material can be supported in a loose manner therein and be
carried in a suspended manner by my first system, each suspended bar

page_text: being provided with a catch, which can be released to allow of the cages
tipping over for discharging their contents. This is explained by
reference to Sheet 4, Figures 13 and 14, showing how the half-hoop or
semi-ellipse frames, x, x, are jointed to the depending rods h, h, these
being for the sake of convenience jointed to permit of the load assuming.
a horizontal position when moving over inclined portions of the rope.
I provide a catch y on the curved part of the pendent bar to take hold.
of or into an aperture of the cage, on releasing which the cage is free.
to turn over, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 14, to discharge its
contents, the free end of the cage being slightly overweighted to
facilitate that movement.
-
My sixth improvement consists in uniting two of the ordinary "heads
for supporting the boxes, or any modification of such heads,, by a swivel
bar of wood or metal,, from which by one or more hangers the box or.
other load shall be suspended, the object being to guard against the slip.
which sometimes takes place when the single heads arrive at or leave
the pullies. By means of the double block or head 6 united there will
always be one head resting on the rope whilst the other is passing the.
pulley. This is shewn in Sheet 1, already referred to, the heads or
blocks 6 being so to speak double, that is, one head or block is at, either
end of a cross or connecting bar g, the centre of the heads being pivoted
on the pin to permit of one or other of the heads being in contact
with the rope when passing the points of support, notwithstanding the
opposite head being "off" the rope.
My seventh improvement consists in employing a vertical instead of
a horizontal driving wheel, and in combining with it two wheels or.
sleaves, one vertical and fixed and the other horizontal and carried on
slides or a truck so as to be capable of being drawn back by a weight,
or by power, and thus taking up slack at the driving end of the line.
instead of at the distant terminus, as heretofore. This combination of
vertical driving wheel and two sheaves is shewn in Sheet 5 in side.
elevation, Figure 15, and in plan, Figure 16; A. being the vertical driving
wheel geared into by the pinion B on the shaft C, the shaft being driven
by a strap D from a prime mover in proximity. The driving wheel has
attached to it or formed in the same casting a sheave or grooved
wheel E, round which the travelling rope c passes to impart the neces-
sary movement, the rope being first led round the periphery of a
horizontal taking-up wheel F, arranged upon a separate framing, G. or

page_text: upon the same framing II, in order that the slack of the rope caused by
the sag between the posts or by the weight of the load can be taken up
as desired, the horizontal wheel acting as a compensating anchor for
keeping the rope taut and preserving its efficiency, whether the load
be heavy or light.
In some cases I mount the frame upon wheels arranged at right
angles to the length, so that it can be moved laterally across a field at
intervals; by this means, as say the crop is being gathered, it can be
removed without increasing the labour to any great extent.
I have shewn the horizontal wheel or sheave F for taking up the
slack rope upon a separate frame, and at a lower level than the frame
H of the vertical driving wheel. It will be easily understood by the
dotted lines that the whole can be arranged upon the same level. The
arrows indicate the course of the rope and the curved end bar J, over
which the blocks travel when the turn for the reverse movement takes
place, the blocks being provided with rollers q to bear and travel upon
the bar after leaving the rope, which they are compelled to do by the
system for which my previous Letters Patent were granted. K is the
sheave running loosely upon the shaft L so that its motion is inde-
pendent of the sheave fixed to the driving wheel.
My eighth improvement consists in so constructing the framework of
the supporting parts of a line of wire tramway that the height may be
easily varied from time to time. This may be done by having a portion
of the post to rise and fall telescopically, as is represented in Sheet 6,
Figures 17, 18, and 19, where the frame M is mounted upon wheels N, N,
to enable it to be moved from one part of the ground to another as the
gathering or completion of the transport is effected in lines or breadths,
as referred to in the previous Figure in which the frame is movable.
The frame has a central upright P formed with sockets or guide pieces
in which the pulley support is arranged, its height being regulated
according to circumstances and fixed by screw bolts or other appliances.
It is not essential that the telescopic or elongating post supporters be
upon travelling frames, as they can be fixed into the ground, as shown
at Figures 5 and 8, Sheet 2 of the Drawings.
-
By another arrangement I construct the top frame or the bottom
frame with three or more legs hinged to it, which can be approached or
spread out, thus regulating height in the same way as in the case with

page_text: surveying instruments. This will be understood by reference to Figures
20 and 21, Sheet 6, in which the legs Q are shown partly extended in
full lines and wholly extended in dotted lines, as also closed up in dotted
lines. Each leg is pivoted to a bracket R at S whose lower part is
slotted, the slot being formed from the pivot as a centre so that each leg
can be moved outwards or inwards to regulate the height of the pullies
k, k, and be there secured by bolts and nuts, as shown more clearly in
Figure 21.
My ninth improvement consists in placing the posts or post frame-
work of a line of wire tramway and one or both terminals on wheels, so
that the whole can be moved forward in a direction at right angles to
the line of the tramway, or that one terminus may pivot on its centre and
the other move, allowing the line to take up various radial positions, the
object being to follow rapidly the collection of a crop or the excavation
of mineral, or to facilitate the spreading of clays or manure. This will
be easily understood by reference to Figures 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 of the
Drawings, the only difference being that the wheels on which the framing
is mounted would be capable of moving as upon castors to suit the con-
centrical or the radial line struck as it were from one end, this being
determined by the distance from the fixed end.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, although I do not limit
myself to the exact construction, arrangement, or combination of parts
shown and described for overcoming many of the difficulties which have
arisen in the working of my system since the date of my Patent herein-
before referred to, I desire to claim,―
Firstly. Arranging pivoted levers or clips in or to the blocks or heads
whereby a self-acting bite of the rope is obtained, substantially as
described and shewn on Sheet 1 of the annexed Drawings.
Secondly. Forming inclined surfaces or faces to such clips to facilitate
the heads leaving the rope when lifted, as described and shown.
Thirdly. I claim the means of facilitating the driving of one pulley
of a pair by the other when used for the purposes described.
Fourthly. I claim the employment of short rails at the side of and in
combination with hold down pullies when employed for the purposes
described.

page_text: Fifthly. I claim the employment of hanging brackets in combination
with trestles as described and shown when used for the purposes set
forth.
Sixthly. I claim pinning or jointing skeleton cages to the pendent
arms used in wire rope transport and for the purposes described.
Seventhly. I claim uniting two heads by a swivelled bar, substantially
in the manner and for the purposes described.
Eighthly. I claim the employment of vertical driving wheels for wire
rope transport in combination with a horizontal sheave for the purposes
set forth.
Ninthly. I claim the employment of telescopic or raising and lowering
pulley supports on the frames of wire rope transporting lines.
Tenthly. I claim the employment of frames of which the legs can be
spread out or closed in and secured in the manner and for the purposes
described.
Eleventhly. I claim fitting wheel frames to the supports of wire rope
transporting lines for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Hodgson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of August One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-two.
Witness,
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street,
London.
C. HODGSON.
(L.S.)