Cable Rail
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 19th June, 1886.
Complete Left, 18th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 18th Mar., 1887.
I EDWIN POWLEY ALEXANDER of 36 Southampton Buildings in the County of
Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows :—
This Invention so far as regards Cable Railway apparatus whilst capable in certain
of its features of general application to cable railways has relation more particularly
to the apparatus of that class of cable railways wherein the propulsion of the car is
effected by means of an endless cable travelling within a tube or tunnel between the
tracks said cable being provided at intervals throughout its length with stops adapted
to engage with an arm or arms projecting from the car through the slot of the cable
tube, and more especially does this part of the said invention relate to the improve-
ment of such apparatus as is used in cable railway systems of the character set forth
in the specifications to certain Letters Patent granted in the United States to
C. W. Rasmusen, October 25th, 1881 and October 24th 1882 and deposited in the
patent office library August 15th 1884.
The objects of my improvements in cable railway apparatus are first to improve the
construction of tube or tunnel for the travelling cable.
In the cable railway systems shewn by the said patents of Rasmusen, the endless
cable was supported upon trucks fixed in such proximity to each other throughout its
length as to engage with the arms of spider wheels or sprocket wheels that were
mounted upon the axles of the car and projecting through the slot of the cable tube.
This construction is objectionable for the reason that it necessitates the use of a
multitude of trucks far in excess of the number necessary to support the travelling
cable. Another object of my present invention is to avoid the use of more trucks
than is necessary to sustain the cable, and to this end my invention consists in providing

page_text: the cable with an improved construction of stop adapted to engage with an arm or
arms projecting from the car, and secondly in providing the cable with a series of
stops in suitable proximity to engage such arms and with supporting trucks at proper
distances throughout the length of the cable. In this connection also my invention
consists in connecting the trucks which sustain the cable to the stops thereon, instead
of directly to the cable itself so that any lateral strain or deflection of the cable will
not effect the movement of the trucks.
A further object of my invention is to improve the construction of truck for
sustaining the travelling cable and to provide improved means whereby the lubrication
of this truck can be automatically effected.
A further object of this invention is to provide improved means whereby a cable
provided with stops and trucks can be transferred around the curve of a roadway and
the drums at the terminals of such roadway. To this end this invention consists in a
series of pulleys located at the curves of the roadway below the top of the cable tube
and having their proximities provided with grooves to receive the cable and its stops
or trucks. In this connection my invention also consists in the construction hereinafter
defined of the pulley or drum for the curve or terminal of the roadway.
A further object of this invention is to provide means whereby cable cars may be
transferred across the swinging or draw bridges that intersect the roadway. To this
end this invention consists in placing upon the bridge a supplemental cable and
providing means whereby said supplemental cable may be thrown into and out of gear
with the main cable. This feature of the invention it will be seen is applicable alike
to the apparatus of any railway system. In this connection also my invention consists
first, in providing short connecting cables between the main cables and the bridge cable
whereby the car may be transferred from the one to the other; secondly in providing
a friction gear between the main cable and the bridge cable whereby the latter may be
gradually started; thirdly in mechanism for throwing the short cables which serve to
connect the main and bridge cables into and out of gear with the latter.
A further object of this invention is to provide means whereby any severe strain
sufficient to break the cable will cause a stoppage of the cable before such point is
reached. To this end this invention consists in connecting the main driving drum of
the cable with the engine by a friction drum.
The following are the characteristic features of the said improvements in or
appertaining to cable railways.
1. A tube or tunnel for the endless cable consisting of a bottom plate and two side
plates mounted upon said bottom plate and provided with inner flanges projecting
beyond the rails in the tube and adapted to receive bolts.
2. A propelling cable provided with stops formed of separate sections having
open seats therein to receive the cable, said sections being so arranged as to be bolted
together.
3. A propelling cable provided with stops formed of separate sections one of said
sections being provided with a mortise and the other section with a groove adapted
to receive said mortise and each of the side sections being provided with a seat for
the cable.
4. A propelling cable having stops or buttons fixed thereto throughout its length
and provided also at intervals with sustaining trucks.
5. A propelling cable having stops fixed thereto throughout its length and having
sustaining trucks at suitable intervals connected to the stops of the cable.
6. The combination with a propelling cable having suitable stops fixed thereto
throughout its length and provided at suitable intervals with sustaining trucks the
axles of which are beneath said cable and are connected with the stops thereof.
7. The combination with the cable of a sustaining truck comprising a pair of wheels,
an axle to which said wheels are fixed, and a bearing for said axle connected with a
stop upon the cable.
8. The combination with the propelling cable of a truck comprising a pair of wheels,
an axle for said wheels, a bearing for said axle and an oil box in communication withi
said bearing.

page_text: 9. The combination with the propelling cable of a sustaining truck provided with
grooved wheels having thereon rings of sound deadening material.
10. The combination with the propelling cable of stops affixed thereto and sustaining
trucks, said stops and trucks being pivotally connected together.
11. The combination with the propelling cable of stops affixed thereto sustaining
trucks connected to said stops and situate beneath the cable, and guard straps extending
from the top of said trucks around the cable.
12. The combination with a cable railway car having a sprocket wheel carried thereby
of a travelling cable provided throughout its length with stops or buttons adapted to
engage with the arms of the sprocket wheel and provided also with trucks for supporting
said cable.
13. The combination with the main cable having stops thereon of a series of pulleys
situato between the rails of the track at the curves of the roadway and having their
peripheries provided with special grooves or seats to receive the cable and the stops
respectively.
14. The combination with the main cable having stops thereon of a series of pulleys
situate at the curves of the roadway between the rails of the track and having their
peripheries provided with special grooves or seats to receive the cable and the stops,
and with spaces for the arm projecting from the car.
15. The combination with the main cable having stops thereon and having sustaining
trucks of a series of pulleys situate at the curves of the roadway and having their
peripheries provided with grooves to receive the cable the stops and the truck.
16. A drum for reversing the direction of travel of the cable, having in its periphery
a groove to receive the cable and seats to admit the stops and trucks of the cable.
17. A drum for reversing the direction of travel of the cable having in its periphery
a groove for the cable, special seats .for the cable stops and for the cable trucks, and
seats to admit an arm projecting from the car.
18. The combination with the main cables and their terminal drums at each end of
a bridge of a supplemental cable upon the bridge and suitable means whereby said
supplemental cable may be thrown into and out of gear with the main cable.
19. The combination with the main cables and their terminal drums at each end of
the bridge of a supplemental cable upon the bridge and short connecting cables adapted
to extend between the main cables and the bridge cable.
20. The combination with the main cables and their terminal drums at each end of
the bridge of a supplemental cable upon the bridge, connecting chains or cables adapted
to extend between said main cables and bridge cable and a moveable support for said
connecting cable.
21. The combination with the main cables and their terminal drums at each end of
a bridge of a supplemental cable upon the bridge connecting chains or cables for
throwing said main cables and bridge cable into gear, moveable supports for said
connecting cables and suitable operating mechanism for said supports.
22. The combination with the main cables having stops thereon to engage with an
arm projecting from the car of terminal drums for said cables situate at each end of
the bridge, a supplemental cable provided with stops and situate upon the bridge,
suitable drums for said main and supplemental cables and means of throwing said
supplemental cables into and out of gear.
23. The combination with the main cables having stops thereon and their terminal
drums at each end of a bridge of a supplemental cable baving stops thereon and
sustained upon the bridge and connecting chains or cables having stops thereon and
arranged to extend between said main cable and bridge cable.
24. The combination with the main cable at the end of the bridge, and supplemental
cable upon the bridge and their respective terminal drums of a friction gear for
imparting movement from the main cable to the supplemental cable.
25. The combination with a driving wheel for the cable or friction gear for imparting
movement to the cable from the main engine.
The improvements in cars or carriages to be used in connection with cable railways
relate to that class of cars wherein the attachment of the car to the constantly moving

page_text: cable is effected by means of suitable arms projecting from the car into the slot of the
cable tube and adapted to engage with stops fixed at intervals upon the travelling
cable; and more particularly to improvements upon the construction of cable railway
cars described in the specifications to the aforesaid Letters Patent of the United States.
In the said specifications the endless travelling cable was described as mounted upon a
series of trucks fixed thereto at short intervals throughout its length and adapted to
travel upon rails formed within the body of the cable tube or tunnel and upon each of
the axles of the car wheels was placed a sprocket or spider wheel having arms adapted
to engage with the supporting trucks of the cable.
Among the difficulties encountered in the construction set out in the said specifica-
tions were the following:-The hubs of the sprocket or spider wheels were subject to
constant wear by reason of the rotation of the car axles and as it was necessary to
have the projecting arms of such wheels of sufficient length to enter the slot of the
cable tube and engage with the cable supporting trucks it was found necessary also to
cut the bottom of the car floor in order to provide sufficient space for the free revolu-
tion of such arms. One object of this part of the present invention is to obviate the
use of the two sprocket wheels heretofore proposed, and to avoid the friction upon the
hub of the single sprocket wheel substituted therefor, and also to bring such sprocket
wheel into such proximity to the cable tube that the cutting of the car floor to permit
the free revolution of the sprocket wheel will be avoided. To this end my invention
consists in the combination with a cable railway car of a sprocket or spider wheel and
a frame for sustaining said wheel independent. of the axles of the car wheels. In this
connection also the said invention consists in mounting the sprocket or spider wheel
within a frame which shall extend between the axles of the car wheels and to a point
below the plane of said axles so that the journal bearing of the sprocket wheel may be
brought below the plane of the car axles and into such proximity to the cable tube as
to avoid the cutting of the car floor to permit the free revolution of such wheel.
A further object of this invention is to provide improved mechanism whereby the
sprocket wheel mounted beneath the central portion of the car may be operated from
one or both of the platforms thereof and to this end the said invention consists in the
combination with a cable railway car of a sprocket wheel a frame for sustaining said
sprocket wheel beneath the central portion of the car, a friction drum and strap for
controlling the movement of said sprocket wheel a lever for said strap and a suitable
connection or connections extending from said strap to the winding post or posts at
the end of the car.
A further difficulty incident to mounting the sprocket wheels upon the axles of the
car wheels, is that in case of any obstruction, such for example as a fire hose across
the cable tube it was impossible to remove the sprocket wheel from the tube so as to
permit it to pass over such obstruction. A further object of this invention is to so
mount the sprocket wheel that its arms can be readily lifted out of the slot of the
cable tube in order to avoid obstruction, or for other purposes. To this end the said
invention consists in providing a sustaining frame for the sprocket wheel in which
said wheel will be mounted in such manner as to permit of its vertical movement.
In traversing the curves of a cable road it is desirable in order that the arms of the
sprocket wheel may properly enter the tube that said arms should be capable of a
slight movement in a lateral direction. It has been proposed to accomplish this object
by fitting the arms of the sprocket wheel into laterally yielding seats in the body of
such wheel. The present invention has for its further object to avoid the necessity of
mounting the projecting arms of the sprocket wheel in yielding seats and to this end
consists in mounting the sprocket wheel itself within bearings which will permit of its
lateral movement. In this connection the said invention also consists in providing
springs for pressing the sprocket wheel towards a central position after it has been
moved therefrom by the curve of the tube.
The characteristic features of this portion of the said invention consist of the
following combinations with a cable railway car :-
1. A sprocket wheel and a frame for sustaining said sprocket wheel independent of
the axles of the car,

page_text: 2. A sprocket wheel and a frame for sustaining said sprocket wheel extending
between the axles of the car and to a point below the plane of said axles whereby
the journal bearing of the sprocket wheel may be brought below the plane of the
car axles.
3. The sprocket wheel and a sustaining frame for the same consisting of bars
supported from the car axles and having their central portions depressed and provided
with suitable journal bearings for the sprocket wheel.
4. A sprocket wheel, a frame for sustaining said sprocket wheel beneath the central
portion of the car, a friction drum and strap for controlling the movement of said
sprocket wheel, a lever for said friction strap and suitable connections extending to
the winding post at the end of the car.
5. A sprocket wheel a frame for sustaining said sprocket wheel beneath the central
portion of the car, a friction drum and strap for said sprocket wheel a double elbow
lever connected to said friction strap and suitable connections extending from said
lever to both ends of the car.
6. A vertically moveable sprocket wheel and a sustaining frame for said sprocket
wheel.
7. A vertically moveable sprocket wheel and a frame for sustaining said sprocket
wheel between the axles of the car.
8. The vertically moveable sprocket wheel the frame for sustaining said sprocket
wheel beneath the central portion of the car the vertical brackets and the journal
boxes for the sprocket wheel arranged to slide in said bracket.
9. A laterally moveable sprocket wheel and a suitable frame for sustaining the same.
10. A laterally moveable sprocket wheel a frame for sustaining said sprocket wheel
and suitable springs for pressing said sprocket wheel towards a central position.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Appertaining to Cable Railways and Cars
or Carriages Used thereon.
I EDWIN POWLEY ALEXANDER of 36 Southampton Buildings in the County of
Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature
of the said invention (communicated to me from abroad by Hobart W. McNeill of
Oskaloosa State of Iowa United states of America) and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement
The present invention whilst capable of general application to cable railways so far
as certain of its features are concerned, has relation particularly to the apparatus of
that class of cable railways wherein the propulsion of the car is effected by means of
an endless cable travelling within a tube or tunnel between the tracks, said cable being
provided at suitable intervals throughout its length with stops adapted to engage with
an arm or arms projecting from the car through the slot of the cable tube; and more
especially does the said invention relate to the improvement of such apparatus as is
used in cable railway systems of the character set forth in certain Letters Patent of
the United States dated October 24th 1882 No. 266520 granted to C. W. Rasmusen.
The objects of this invention are first to improve the construction of tube or tunnel
for the travelling cable and to this end my invention consists in the construction of
tunnel hereinafter described, and particularly defined in the claims.
In the cable railway system shown by the said Patent of C. W. Rasmusen, the
endless cable was supported upon trucks fixed in such proximity to each other
throughout its length as to engage with the arms of spider wheels, or sprocket-wheels
that were mounted upon the axles of the car and projected through the slot of the
cable tube. This construction is objectionable for the reason that it necessitates the
use of a multitude of trucks far in excess of the number necessary to support
the travelling cable. An object of my present invention is to avoid the use of more
trucks than is necessary to sustain the cable, and to this end my invention consists in
providing the cable with an improved construction of stop adapted to engage with an
arm or arms projecting from the car and secondly, in providing the cable with a series
of stops in suitable proximity to engage such arms and with supporting trucks at
proper distances throughout the length of the cable. In this connection, also, my
invention consists in connecting the trucks which sustain the cable to the stops
thereon, instead of directly to the cable itself so that any lateral strain or deflection of
the cable will not affect the movement of the trucks.
A further object of my invention is to improve the construction of truck for sustain-
ing the travelling cable and to provide improved means whereby the lubrication of the
truck can be automatically effected. To this end the invention consists in the novel
construction of the truck hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims
at the end of this specification.

page_text: A further object of my invention is to provide improved means whereby a cable
provided with stops and trucks may be transferred around the curve of a roadway and
the drums at the terminals of such roadway. To this end my invention consists in a
series of pulleys located at the curves of the roadway below the top of the cable tube
and having their peripheries provided with grooves to receive the cable and its stops
or trucks. In this construction the invention also consists in the construction herein-
after defined of the pulley or drum for the curve or terminal of the roadway.
A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby cable cars may be
transferred across the swinging or draw bridges that intersect the roadway. To this
end the invention consists in placing upon the bridge a supplemental cable and
providing means whereby said supplemental cable may be thrown into and out of gear
with the main cable. This feature of the invention it will be seen, is applicable alike to
the apparatus of any cable railway system. In this connection also, the invention
consists first in providing short connecting cables between the main cables and the
bridge cable whereby the car may be transferred from the one to the other; secondly,
in providing a friction gear between the main cable and the bridge cable whereby the
latter may be gradually started; thirdly in mechanism for throwing the short cables
which serve to connect the main and bridge cables into and out of gear with the
latter.
A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby any severe strain
sufficient to break the cable, will cause a stoppage of the cable before such point is
reached. To this ond the invention consists in connecting the main driving drum of
the cable with the engine by a friction gear.
Figure 1 is a view in vertical transverse section through the cable tube, the cable
and one of the cable trucks. Figure 2 is a plan view and Figure 3 is a view in
vertical longitudinal section through a portion of the cable, one of its supporting
trucks and the adjacent stops. Figure 4 is a sectional view of fig. 7. Figure 5 and
fig. 6 are plan views of the two sections of which cach cable stop is composed.
Figure 7 is an edge view of one of the cable stops. Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation
of the sprocket wheel and sustaining frame of the car showing its position with respect
to the stops and trucks of the cable within the tube. Figure 9 is a plan view of the
apparatus at a curve of the roadway, parts being broken away for better illustration.
Figure 10 is an enlarged plan view of one of the pulleys at a curve of the roadway
showing its position with respect to the cable and its stops and trucks. Figure 11 is
an enlarged view in vertical transverse section through the cable tube and one of the
pulleys at a curve of the roadway. Figure 12 is a plan view and fig. '12" a side view
of a drum at a terminal of the roadway for reversing the direction of travel of the
cable. Figure 13 is a plan view of the roadway showing the end of the bridge and
the adjoining abutment, parts being broken away to illustrate the subjacent mechanism.
Figure 14 is a view in vertical transverse section on line of figure 13. Figure 15
is a view in vertical section on the line y-y of fig. 13. Fig. 16 is a plan view in
reduced scale showing the main cable and the friction gear for imparting movement
to said main cable from the driving engine. Figure 17 is a view in vertical section
on the line of fig. 16.
The cable tube which will rest upon the cross ties of the track, consists of the bottom
plate A suitably bolted to such cross ties and the plates B and B which constitute the
sides and top of the tube. The plate B has its inwardly bent bottom portion b
fastened to the bottom plates A by means of suitable bolts or rivets and through the
side of the plate B pass the bolts or rivets & which serve to firmly unite the parts to
the angular brackets C the flanged bottom portions of which are bolted, as shown
at c to the bottom plate of the tube. The side plate B' is in like manner secured to
the bottom plate A by means of suitable bolts or rivets 63 passing through the inwardly
bent bottom portion of this plate, and by means of bolts is fastened to the bracket
piece C, the angular bottom portion of which is bolied to the base plate, as shown at c.
The top B2 of the side plate B extends over the greater portion of the top, being
separated from the top B³ of the side plate B₁ a sufficient distance to form the slot o
through which the projecting arms of the spider wheel W that is carried by the car

page_text: (see fig. 8) will pass to engage with the stops on the endless cable. Within the tube
and at the bottom angles of the plates B and B are placed the rails or ways B
whereon will travel the wheels of the trucks that sustain the endless cable, and in the
upper corners of the tube, similar rails B will be placed to secure the accurate move-
ment of the trucks within, the tube. By forming the side plates of the cable tube
with the inwardly projecting bottom portions, I am enabled to firmly secure the tube
to its bottom plates and by means of the brackets C also bolted to the hottom plate
and to the side walls of the tube to connect the side plates and bottom plates so
rigidly together as to avoid all danger of displacement or disarrangement of parts.
In figure 8 of the Drawing is illustrated the sprocket wheel and its sustaining frame
above the cable tube, the arms of this wheel being of sufficient length to engage with
the stops upon the cable, these stops being placed in such proximity to each other as
to successively catch the arms of the sprocket wheel W when such wheel is free to
revolve. The stops E upon the endless cable E' are preferably formed of two
sections e and e¹ each section having an open slot from one side to the centre, which
will permit it to be slipped over the endless cable, and being provided with a seat e²
wherein the cable will rest when the sections have been placed thereon. The section e
is provided with a dove tailed rib or mortise e adapted to fit within the corresponding
dovetailed grooves et formed in the section e¹ when the two parts of the stops are put
together, as shown in fig. 7; and if desired, corrugations may be formed upon the
faces of the seats e corresponding with the depressions between the strands of the
cable so that when the stops are placed thereon they will be held in fixed position
against all danger of slipping. In order to fix the stops upon the cable, the sections e
and e¹ of each stop will be slipped over the cable from the opposite sides thereof in
such manner that the dove tailed rib of the section e shall enter the corresponding
seat of the section e¹ and the stops will then be placed in a power press and will be
forced upon the cable until they firmly bind the same, after which suitable rivets will
be passed through the holes e from side to side of the stops to securely hold the
sections together. By thus forming the stops of the sections with open seats so that
they may be placed upon the cable from the opposite sides thereof, I am enabled to
clamp the stops much more securely to the cable than would be possible were they
slipped over the same from the ends. As the stops E serve to engage with the arms
of the spider wheel W that is carried by the car, it will be seen that these stops must
be in such proximity to each other throughout the length of the cable that when the
car is stopped the spider-wheel will be continuously revolved by the successive
engagement of the stops with the projecting arms.
As in my improved construction the sustaining trucks of the endless cable do not
engage with the projecting arms of the spider wheel of the car,
it is only necessary
that these trucks should be placed sufficiently near each other to prevent the sagging
of the cable against the bottom of the tube. Each truck consists of a pair of wheels F
firmly keyed upon an axle F¹ so as to turn therewith and the tread of the wheels is
preferably grooved, as shown, and fitted with the rings of rubber or other sound-
deadening material. The axle F1 of the truck is journaled with in a suitable bearing
that is formed at the rear portion of the oil reservoir G with the bottom of which such
bearing communicates by means of suitable ducts.
This oil reservoir G is provided with an orifice to admit the lubricant such orifice
being closed by a suitable cap g' and from the front end of the reservoir projects the
tongue G which serves to connect the reservoir, and consequently the truck with the
stop E of the cable, (see fig. 2). The cable stop E in front of each truck is provided
with a seat or opening e into which the tongue G¹ will enter, and through this stop
is passed the pin or screw e whereon the tongue G will be pivotally held. It will
be observed that the slot e of the stop E is somewhat broader than the tongue G¹ so
as to permit of a slight lateral movement of the tongue within the slot, so that any
lateral strain upon the cable stops will not affect the accurate movement of the
supporting trucks. To the top of the journal bearings g is preferably bolted a strap y
which loosely encircles the cable.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that the arms projecting from the

page_text: sprocket wheel of the car into the slotted cable tube do not engage with the trucks of
the cable, but engage with the series of stops that are firmly 'clamped thereon. Hence
the only function of the trucks is to sustain the cable, and the necessity of placing
these trucks closely together is thereby avoided.
In figures 9, 10 and 11 of the drawings is illustrated my improved mechanism for
transferring the cable, its stops and its sustaining trucks around the curves of the
roadway. At such point of the roadway the cable tube is enlarged, as shown in
figure 11, to receive the pulleys or drums H, the axle of cach drum being journalled
in the top plate I and the bottom plate l' of the tube, and the top plate can be held in
position by the brackets 12 placed between the pulleys near the slot of the tube and by
means of a suitable support 13 at the opposite edge of such plate. The several.
pulleys of the series are placed on a curve with the peripheries as close together as
possible and each pulley is provided upon its periphery with the grooves adapted to
receive the body of the cable, with the seats to admit the stops of the cable, with the
seats for the wheels of the cable trucks, and seats for the arm projecting from
the sprocket wheel of the car. It will be observed that the peripheries of the several
pulleys of the series from beginning to end of the curve lie beneath the slot of the
cable tube and these pulleys will be formed of such diameter as to avoid the necessity
for materially increasing the width of the slot along the curves. From this
construction it will be seen that the arm projecting from the sprocket wheel of the car
remains in the slot of the tube as the car traverses the curve and is in constant
engagement with the stops of the cable. By providing the series of pulleys with the
peripheral seats, as shown the necessity for reversing the position of the cable and its
trucks, as heretofore deemed necessary is avoided.
At the terminal of the roadway where it is required to reverse the direction of the
travel of the cable, I provide a large terminal drum K the axle K¹ of which will be
suitably journaled in the top and bottom plates Land I and the diameter of which
will be preferably equal to the distance between the cable tubes of the adjoining
tracks. The periphery of this drum is provided with the groove k adapted to receive
the endless cable and with the seats k to receive the cable stops, and the seats k² is
admit the wheels of the cable trucks.
From this construction it will be seen that in reversing the direction of travel of
the cable it is simply required to pass it around the terminal drum, all necessity for
twisting the cable incident to turning the pulleys into a vertical position as heretofore
provided for, being entirely avoided."
The mechanism for transporting cable railway cars across bridges is illustrated in
figs. 13, 14, and 15 of the drawings. Upon the abutments at the ends of the bridge
and between the parallel tracks of the roadway, will be placed a terminal drum K
around which the main cable will be passed to reverse its direction of travel, this
terminal drum being of the construction hereinbefore described with the addition that
from the underside of its rim, studs or pins will project downwardly from the points
immediately back of the seats formed in the periphery of the drum to receive the
stops upon the cable.
At each end of the bridge M. a terminal drum K of the construction hereinbefore
described will also be provided, and around such terminal drum will extend an endless
supplemental cable M' provided with stops corresponding in number and position with
the stops upon the main cable, and provided also, if desired, with sustaining trucks,
such as those already described. In order to communicate motion to the supplemental
or bridge cable from the main cable, and at the same time to provide a means for
transferring the car continuously from one cable to the other, I employ the short
connecting cables N two of such cables being placed upon the abutment at each end of
the bridge. These connecting cables N may be made in the form of sprocket chains
passing over suitable sprocket wheels O and O¹ the axles of which are sustained at the
opposite ends of a travelling frame P. At suitable distances throughout the length of
the connecting chain N are placed the studs or projections which engage with the
pins & depending from the rim of the terminal drum K of the main.cable, and receive
motion from such drum as it is revolved by the main cable. From the upper har p
12

page_text: •
of the travelling frame P extend the arms p¹ to which is connected a flat bar p² that
extends between the drums o and o' and serves as a bearing support for the connecting
cable N. The underside of the lower bar is provided with the rack as shown,
and the outer end of this lower bar is downwardly bent, as at 7 and is provided with
a friction wheel whereon the end of the travelling frame is sustained. The racks p
rest upon and engage with the pinion R upon the shaft R', the outer end of this shaft.
being provided with a mitre gear that meshes with a corresponding mitre gear on
the end of the vertical shaft R2 which is sustained by the standard S and receives
motion through the mitre gear wheels and and the hand crank St. The shaft R¹
extends across the abutment and is provided at its opposite end with a pinion R³ which
engages with the travelling frame of the adjoining track of the roadway, as seen in
fig. 14. The sprocket wheel O at the outer end of the travelling frame P, has its
lower portion formed as a friction drum which engages with the frictional drum T
formed beneath the periphery of the terminal bridge drum. From the construction,
as thus defined it will be seen that the connecting chain N by reason of the fact that
its teeth are engaged with the pins of the terminable drum of the main cable, is
constantly driven by such drum. If therefore by turning the crank S and the
shafts R2 and R' the driving frames P are caused to move forward to the position
shown in figure 15 the friction drum of the sprocket wheels O O' will be forced into
engagement with the friction drum T of the terminal drum upon the bridge and will
cause this drum to gradually revolve and impart movement to the supplemental or
bridge cable M. It will also be seen that as the projecting arm of the sprocket wheel
of the car is moved along in front of one of the stops of the main cable, one of the
teeth or studs of the connecting cable N will pass behind said arm, and will move said
arm forward from the main cable until it passes in front of one of the stops of the
supplemental or bridge cable, which latter stop will thus continue to advance the arm
of the car across the bridge. When the bridge is to be swung open, in order to
permit the passage of vessels the crank arm S will be turned in such manner as
to cause the pinions R and R3 of the shaft R' to move the travelling frame backward
until the drum is in such position as to no longer obstruct the swinging of the
bridge. By the foregoing construction, the details of which can be varied within wide
limits, I am enabled to provide a means whereby cable cars can be readily transferred
across the bridges that may intersect the lines. By providing a friction gear for
communicating movement from the main cable to the supplemental cable of the bridge,
I am enabled to gradually start such supplemental cable and thereby avoid all danger
of breakage which would be liable to occur in case the entire power of the main
cable were exerted at once to overcome the inertia of the supplemental cable and its
drum.
In order to prevent the breakage of the cable in case of any obstruction being
placed in the tube to engage with the cable stops or trucks thereof I connect the
main driving drum of the cable with the engine by means of a friction gear of any
desired construction which can be adjusted so as to slip before the breaking point of the
cable is reached and which will yet exert sufficient power to drive the cable and any
load that in the ordinary course of traffic would be placed thereon. In the diagram
fig. 16 and the sectional view Fig. 17, I have illustrated one form of friction gear
whereby motion may be communicated from the engine to the cable. In these
figures V is a friction drum to which revolution is imparted from the engine through
the medium of a suitable pulley and driving belt this friction drum being mounted
within a sliding frame V which will enable it to be adjusted by means of the threaded
rod
and nut to bring it against the friction drum W around the driving pulley w
of which the main cable will pass. In the diagram figure 16 the main cable is shown
as passing around a terminal wheel K the construction of which is similar to the
terminal drums already described, and around the drums K K and K which will be
placed upon the slack side of the cable for the purpose of keeping the same taut
the construction of these drums being similar to that of the terminal drums herein-
before described. The drum K in fig. 16 may be mounted in the usual terminal
carriage, to the rope of which suitable weights will be attached in the usual

page_text: manner, and yet allow it to move slightly with the expansion and contraction of the
cable. The drum is also shown as mounted upon a carriage a to which is attached
the threaded bar Y which together with the nut Y¹ serves to adjust the carriage and
the drum K in order to produce tension upon the slack side of the cable.
};
The improved construction of cable railway car, particularly adapted for use in
connection with apparatus of the kind hereinbefore described, is illustrated on sheet 3
of the drawings.
Figure 1 is a view in vertical longitudinal section at one side of the sustaining
frame of the sprocket wheel.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the car wheels and axles, the sprocket wheel and its
sustaining frame.
Figure 3 is an enlarged view in vertical transverse section through the sprocket
wheel and its supports through the cable tube beneath the same.
Figure is an enlarged detail view in side elevation of the sprocket wheel and a
portion of its sustaining frame.
Figure 5 is a view in transverse section on line - of figure 4".
A designates the floor of the car body which will be supported in the usual manner
upon the axles B of the car wheels B. Between the axles B extends the sustaining
frame of the sprocket or spider-wheel, this frame consisting of the bars C and CT.
The ends of these bars are supported by means of the straps cupon the axles, or by
any other suitable connection with the axles or their journal supports, so as not to be
affected by the movement of the car springs. The bars C and C of the sustaining
frame incline downwardly from the axles towards the central portion of the car and
are preferably connected together by means of short cross bars and from the upper
face of each of the bars Cand C rises a journal bracket D the bottom of these
brackets being bolted to the bars C and C. On the inner faces of the brackets D,
suitable ribs are formed upon which slide the journal hoxes E of the axle F of the
sprocket wheel and friction drum, these journal boxes being preferably of sections
suitably bolted together. The body of the sprocket wheel G which in the construction
shown also constitutes the body of the friction drum may be formed of malleable iron
or other suitable metal, while the arms g of this wheel which are bolted to the body as
at are preferably formed of steel and comparatively thin. If desired, however the
sprocket wheel may be formed separate from the friction-drum it being simply
necessary that it should be held in such relation to such drum that the movement of
the wheel may be controlled by that of the drum. The periphery of the wheel G is
formed with a friction groove between the flanges and within this groove fits the
friction strap H which serves to check or arrest the movement of the wheel. One end
of the strap is fastened to the bar that is hinged to the bar that extends
between the main bars of the sustaining frame while the opposite end of the friction
strap is connected to the arm of the elbow lever I which is journalled within a
bracket. K that is bolted, as shown at upon the sustaining frame. To the outer
sides of the bars Cand of the sustaining frame of the sprocket wheel are bolted
the plate springs L the free ends of which project upwards and bear against the
ends of the axle of the sprocket wheel. It will be observed that this axle is fitted
within its bearings in such manner as to be capable of lateral movement, and the
purpose of the springs is to restore the axle to a normally central position after it
has been moved therefrom. To the arm of the elbow lever I will be attached a
chain or cable M connecting this lever to the winding post M³ at one end of the car,
and from the other arm of the lever, will extend the chain or cable N leading to the
winding post N at the opposite end of the car. To the top of the journal boxes of the
sprocket wheel and friction drum are fastened suitable loops O which when the
sprocket wheel and friction drum have been lifted in vertical direction, will engage
with the hooks O' at the top of the journal brackets and will serve to sustain such
wheel and drum in elevated position. A latch engaging with notches in the
brackets may also be used to hold the journal boxes at the top or the bottom of
the brackets. It will be observed that in the floor of the car a irap door A¹ is formed

page_text: through which the sprocket-wheel may be reached, and through which also the arm
of this wheel may project when it has been elevated. The blades or arms of the
sprocket-wheel are of sufficient length to extend through the slot of the cable tube P
and engage with the stops R fixed upon the cable S at suitable distances corresponding
with the arms of the sprocket-wheel. The cable is supported as shown upon the
trucks at proper intervals throughout its length these trucks being connected to the
stops of the cable.
By the construction above defined as will be seen I employ but a single sprockei-
wheel instead of two sprocket-wheels as described in the specification to the aforesaid
Letters Patent of the United States No. 266520-granted to C. W. Rasmusen and by
the use of a sustaining frame for such sprocket wheel I am enabled to journal such
wheel independently of the car axles so as to avoid the wear incident to placing such
wheel upon the constantly rotating axles. Moreover it will be observed that by
extending the supporting frame below the plane of the car axles the sprocket-wheel
brought in such proximity to the cable-tube as to avoid the necessity of cutting the
car floor to permit the revolution of this wheel. It will be readily seen that by lifting
the sprocket-wheel in vertical direction, its projecting arms can be removed from the
cable-tube so as to permit this wheel to pass over any obstructions, such for example
as a fire hose across the tracks, or intersecting cross tracks or switches. By placing
the sprocket-wheel beneath the central portion of the car and extending suitable
connecting chains or cables from its friction drum to the ends of the car, the movement
of the sprocket-wheel from either end of the car can be readily controlled at pleasure,
since by winding either the chain M or M the elbow lever I will be turned in such
manner as to force the friction strap to check the movement of the drum. By
sustaining the axle of the sprocket-wheel G in the manner shown, a slight lateral
movement of such wheel will be permitted as the car is traversing a curve of the
roadway.
The operation of the improved cable car will, from the foregoing construction be
readily apparent.
When either of the winding posts at the end of the car has been turned so as to
cause the friction strap to bind upon the friction drum and consequently check the
movement of the sprocket-wheel, one of the arms of the sprocket wheel will be caught
by a stop of the endless cable and the car will thus be moved forward. If now it is
desired to stop the car, the winding post at the end will be released so as to relieve
the pressure of the friction strap upon the drum and permit the sprocket-wheel to be
revolved by the stops of the cable which will engage successively with the projecting
arms. It will be readily understood that the sprocket wheel could be located near one
side of the central portion of the car in case it should be deemed desireable to locate
the cable tube near one of the tracks.
The features of the car which I regard as novel will be particularly defined in the
following claims.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :—
1. In a cable railway apparatus, a tube or tunnel for the endless cable comprising a
bottom plate A, side plates B and B mounted on said bottom plate, and provided with
the inner flanges projecting beyond the rails of the tube and adapted to receive bolts,
substantially as described.
2. In cable-railway apparatus, a propelling cable having stops throughout its length
formed of separate sections, said sections, being provided with seats to receive the cable
and with over-lapping projecting portions connected by bolts extending in the direction
of the length of the cable, substantially as described.
3. In cable railway apparatus, a propelling cable provided with stops formed of
separate sections, one of said sections being provided with a mortise, and the other
section with a groove adapted to receive said mortise, and each of the said sections
being provided with a seat for the cable substantially as described.

page_text: 4. In cable railway apparatus, a propelling cable having stops or buttons fixed
thereto throughout its length and provided also at intervals with sustaining trucks
substantially as described.
5. In cable railway apparatus a propelling cable having stops fixed thereto through-
out its length and having sustaining trucks connected at suitable intervals to certain
of said stops of the cable, substantially as described.
6. In cable railway apparatus the combination with a propelling cable having
suitable stops fixed thereto throughout its length and provided at suitable. intervals
with sustaining trucks, the axles of which are beneath said cable and are connected
at intervals with certain of the stops thereof substantially as described.
7. In cable railway apparatus, the combination with the propelling cable of a truck
comprising a pair of wheels, an axle for said wheels, a bearing for said axle and an oil
box in communication with said bearing substantially as described.
8. In cable railway apparatus, the combination with the propelling cable of a
sustaining truck provided with grooved wheels, having thereon rings of sound-
deadening material, substantially as described.
9. In cable railway apparatus, the combination with the propelling cable of stops
affixed thereto, and sustaining truck, said stops and trucks being pivotally connected
together, substantially as described.
10. In cable railway apparatus, the combination with the propelling cable, of stops
affixed thereto, sustaining trucks connected to said stops and located beneath the cable,
and guard-straps extending from the top of said trucks around the cable substantially
as described.
11. In cable railway apparatus, the combination with a car having a sprocket wheel
carried thereby of a travelling cable provided throughout its length with stops or
buttons adapted to engage with the arms of the sprocket wheel, and provided also with
trucks for supporting said cable located much further apart than the stops, substantially
as described.
12. In cable railway apparatus, the combination with the main cable having stops
thereon of a series of pulleys located between the rails of the track at the curve of
the roadway and having their peripheries provided with grooves or seats to receive
the cable and the stops respectively, substantially as described.
13. In cable railway apparatus, the combination with the main cable having stops
thereon of a series of pulleys located at the curve of the roadway between the rails of
the track and having their peripheries provided with grooves or seats to receive the
cable and the stops and with spaces for the arm projecting from the car, substantially
as described.
14. In cable railway apparatus, the combination with the main cable having stops
thereon and having sustaining trucks, of a pulley or drum. for changing the direction
of the cable, provided with grooves to receive the cable, the stops and the trucks
substantially as described.
15. In cable railway apparatus, the drum for reversing the direction of travel of the
cable, having in its periphery the groove for the cable, the seats for the cable stops and
scats for the cable trucks and the seats to admit an arm projecting from the car
substantially as described.
16. In cable railway apparatus, the combination with the main cables and their
terminal drums at each end of the bridge of a supplemental cable upon the bridge,
and suitable means whereby said supplemental cable may be thrown into and out of
gear with the main cable, substantially as described.
17. In cable railway apparatus, the combination with the main cables and their
terminal drums at each end of the bridge of a supplemental cable upon a bridge, and
short connecting cables adapted to extend between the main cables and the bridge
cable substantially as described.
18. In cable railway apparatus, the combination with the main cables and their
terminal drums at each end of the bridge, of a supplemental cable upon the bridge,
connecting chains or cables adapted to extend between said main cables and bridge
cable and a moveable support for said connecting cable substantially as described,

page_text: 19. In cable railway apparatus, the combination with the main cables and their
terminal drums at each end of the bridge of a supplemental cable upon the bridge,
connecting chains or cables for throwing said main cables and bridge cable into gear,
moveable supports for said connecting cables and suitable operating mechanism for
said supports, substantially as described.
20. In cable railway apparatus, the combination with the main cables having stops
thereon to engage with an arm projecting from the car, of terminal drums for said
cables, located at each end of the bridge, a supplemental cable, provided with stops,
and located upon the bridge, suitable drums for said main and supplemental cables and
means of throwing said supplemental cables into and out of gear, substantially as
described.
21. In cable railway apparatus, the combination with the main cables having stops
thereon and their terminal drums at each end of a bridge of a supplemental cable
having stops thereon and sustained upon the bridge, and connecting chains or cables
having stops thereon and arranged to extend between said main cable and bridge cable
substantially as described.
22. In cable railway apparatus the combination with the main cable at the end of
the bridge, and supplemental cable upon the bridge and their respective terminal
drums, of a friction gear for imparting movement from said main cable to the
supplemental cable substantially as described.
23. In cable railway apparatus the combination with a driving wheel for the cable
of friction gear for imparting movement to the cable from the main engine substan-
tially as described.
24. The combination with a cable railway car, of a fixed sprocket-wheel frame, and
a vertically moveable sprocket-wheel sustained by said frame but adapted to be raised
and lowered independently thereof substantially as described.
25. The combination with a cable railway car, of a sprocket wheel, a fixed frame for
sustaining said sprocket-wheel beneath the central portion of the car, a vertically
moveable sprocket-wheel sustained by said frame, a friction drum connected with the
sprocket-wheel a friction strap connected with the drum in a manner permitting said
drum to move in vertical direction, and a fixed lever connected to said strap and
suitable connections between said lever and the operating device at the end of the car,
substantially as described.
26. The combination with a cable railway car, of a laterally moveable sprocket
wheel, a frame for sustaining said sprocket-wheel and suitable springs for pressing said
sprocket-wheel towards a central position, substantially as described.