IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAYS, IN ROLLING STOCK FOR SAME, AND IN OTHER APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH.
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Stone, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF RAILWAYS, IN ROLLING STOCK FOR SAME, AND IN OTHER APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH.
"
Sealed the 14th November 1873, and dated the 22nd May 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Stone at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd May 1873.
THE
I, ROBERT STONE, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby
IN
"IMPROVEMENTS
declare the nature of the said Invention for
CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAYS, IN ROLLING STOCK FOR SAME, AND IN OTHER APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in erecting a framework in any line or direction
which it is proposed to form the railway. This framework is spaced at
intervals supported by pillars, and carries, in the case of a double line,
eight light rails. These rails are fixed, four on the bottom of the
framework, and four inverted on the top and inside the framework. The

page_text: framework is closed in on both sides with wire or other suitable network,
suitable openings being left for the stations.
The carriages or rolling stock are formed to open at one or both sides,
the seats being so placed that passengers travel sidewise, or travel face
to face, the windows and doors being at the sides in the usual position.
Each carriage is fitted with eight small wheels, namely, four on the
bottom to take the weight, and four on the top to guide and support the
carriage. The train of carriages is worked by an endless band or rope
from station to station, the endless band or rope being carried on pulleys
and driven by stationary engines placed at suitable distances. The band
is so arranged that the trains can be easily fastened and worked, as is
well understood.
A suitable method of driving the endless chain or band, so far as to
prevent slip, consists in milling or corrugating the edges of the wheels
on which the endless band runs. The band or chain may also be made
with corrugated projections to take into the corrugations on the wheels
before mentioned. This method will prevent all chances of slipping.
In some cases the railway can be worked by locomotives set on the
rails in manner similar to the carriages before mentioned.
The advantages attendant on this system are lightness of construction,
cheapness of crection and maintenance, great speed combined with
safety, and security from accident or collision.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Robert Stone in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 17th November 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
STONE, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Robert Stone, Her special
licence that I, the said Robert Stone, my executors, administrators,

page_text: and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Stone, my executors,
administrators, 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
THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAYS, IN ROLLING STOCK FOR SAME, AND IN OTHER
APPARATUS CONNECTED THERE WITH," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Robert Stone, 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters

page_text: Upon reference it will be seen that the Invention consists in erecting
a framework A in any line or direction in which it is proposed to form
the railway. This framework A is spaced at intervals, and carries in
the case of a double line eight light rails. These rails are fixed, four
on the bottom of the framework, as at B, and four inverted on the top
of and inside the framework, as at C. The sides D of the framework A
are closed in to any height required with latticework, wire, or other net-
work, with suitable openings for the stations. The carriages E are
fitted with eight small wheels, namely, four on the bottom, as at F, to
take the weight, and four on the top, as at H, to guide, steady, and
support the carriage. The train of carriages may be worked by an
endless band or rope from station to station, or by locomotives, set on
the rails in manner similar to the carriages E.
Referring to the modification shown at Figure 2, it will be seen that
a single inverted rail G is substituted on the top of the framework for
the rails C, and a single guiding or steadying wheel K is substituted for
the wheels H.
.
Referring to the modification shown at Figure 3, it will be seen that
the top guiding wheels and rails are entirely dispensed with, the frame A
is also reduced in height, and is arranged to carry the horizontal side
rails L, and the carriages are fitted with horizontal wheels M. running
on the rails L.
Referring to Figure 4, it will be seen that the wheel N is milled or
corrugated on its edge, and the endless band or chain O is arranged to
take on to the projections on the wheel N. There may be also fitted a
corrugated friction wheel P in connexion with the wheel N. This
method will prevent all chance of slipping. The train can be attached
to the endless band by any known method.
Referring to Figure 5 it will be seen that R is a wheel or pulley with
a V groove S on its surface. There is also a V piece T attached to the
strap U and running in the groove S, thus preventing slip.
The advantages attendant upon this system of constructing railways
and rolling stock for same, and apparatus connected therewith, are
lightness of construction, cheapness of erection and maintenance, great
speed, combined with safety and security from accident or collision.
Also, it is most applicable in cases of war, in consequence of its quick-
ness of erection, as a stock can always be kept on hand for emergency.

page_text: Having now described the nature, object, and purposes of this my
Invention, and shown how the same may be carried out into practical
effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to any
special dimensions or size, as it will be well understood that the same
may be considerably varied, but what I claim as the Invention secured
to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid is,―
Firstly. A railway consisting of a framework which carries two
vertical running or carrying rails, and two inverted steadying or guiding
rails, the rolling stock being fitted with suitable wheels, as shown and
described at Figure 1 of the annexed Drawings, substantially in the
manner and for the purposes set forth.
Secondly. A railway consisting of a framework, which carries two
running or carrying rails, and one inverted steadying or guiding rail,
the rolling stock being fitted with suitable wheels, as shown and
described at Figure 2 of the annexed Drawings, substantially in the
manner and for the purposes set forth.
Thirdly. A railway consisting of a framework, which carries two
running or carrying rails, and two horizontal steadying or guiding rails,
the rolling stock being fitted with suitable wheels, as shown and
described at Figure 3 of the annexed Drawings, substantially in the
manner and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Stone, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-
three.