IMPROVEMENTS IN CABLE TRACTION RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS RELATING MORE PARTICULARLY TO THE MEANS AND APPLIANCES USED FOR ACTUATING REGULATING & GUIDING THE CABLES & CARRIAGES CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Wright of No 10 Cornhill in the City of London
Civil Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CABLE TRACTION
RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS RELATING MORE PARTICULARLY TO THE MEANS AND
APPLIANCES USED FOR ACTUATING REGULATING & GUIDING THE CABLES &
CARRIAGES CONNECTED THEREWITH Communicated to me from abroad by
Charles Farquhar Findlay Civil Engineer of Chicago United States of
America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Wright at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th October 1882.
JAMES WRIGHT of No. 10 Cornhill in the City of London Civil Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CABLE TRACTION RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS RELATING MORE
PARTICULARLY TO THE MEANS AND APPLIANCES USED FOR ACTUATING, REGULATING
AND GUIDING THE CABLES AND CARRIAGES CONNECTED THEREWITH." [Commu-
nicated to me from abroad by Charles Farquhar Findlay Civil Engineer of
Chicago United States of America]
In the Specification describing the Invention for which I made application to
the Commissioners of Patents, for a grant of Letters Patent dated the 20th of June
1882 being No. 2,919 I fully set out the method I adopt for constructing &
forming the roadway and tunnels of Cable Tramways & Railways and also my
plans for guiding and directing the Cables singly or in pairs within the tunnel
under the roadway and also the appliances for transmitting to and for cutting off
from the traffic carriages the motion of the Cables as well as the ineans for guiding
and regulating the motion of the latter along the roadway. My present invention
relates to further improvements connected with the moving parts of several of the
appliances used in Cable traction Railways and Tramways
The first part of my invention relates to the apparatus which I employ to take
up the slack and to regulate the tension upon a cable or Cables in motion. Hitherto
this has been effected by means of a suspended constant weight acting upon a
carriage which bears the mounted tension wheel round which the Cablo is bent, so

page_text: that by giving a horizontal backward and forward motion to the tension wheel a
corresponding, but uncertain increase or diminution of tension is given to the
Cable. I propose instead of using the constant weight producing this uncertain
variability of tension to use a variable weight by which the variation of tension
can be pre-determined and made constant at particular moments and places; also
by means of a constant weight with varying leverage and moment
This power to regulate and adjust the variability of the tension I consider
essential for the proper and economical working of the Cable system of traction,
it may be effected in different ways, but that which I prefer to adopt is as
follows:-
At each terminus of the roadway is fixed a tension wheel, the one mounted
vertically, the other borizontally: the cable is warped over the one wheel, passes
along the tunnel to the other terminus of the road, and is bent round the other
horizontal wheel at that end, and returning along the tunnel again passes under
the first wheel so as to form a continuous endless cable, which by means of a fixed
Engine, driving gear & pullics, receives motion, causing it to traverse from end to
end backwards and forwards, as long as the fixed Engine acts.
The first initial tension wheel is mounted vertically, having its axle & bearings
upon a frame or carriage, so arranged as to travel within a limited space back-
wards & forwards: attached to this frame is a chain, which passing over a guide
pulley has suspended by it a weight: from this weight by means of another
independent chain is-suspended a-second weight and from this second weight by
means of another chain is suspended a third weight, & in a similar manner from
this third weight a fourth and so on. When the frame or carriage is at the
extremity of its traverse, the first weight only hangs from the carriage chain, the
other weights & chains resting one upon the other, and all upon a fixed support.
When the framo of the tension wheel through tho action of the Cable travels
forward, the first weight rises and gradually lifts the second weight by the chain
attached to the first, which increases the weight pulling against the frame, as the
traverse movement of the frame increases, another weight is lifted & the pulling
weight against the frame is again increased & so on; by gradually adjusting the
lengths of the suspensory chain and the weights, any desired tension can be
brought to bear upon the Cable at any point in its path and at any time
The horizontal tension wheel at the other end of the roadway is mounted upon
a similar traversing carriage: the chain attached to this Carriage passes round the
central part of a drum, mounted at a little distance in advance, so that a traverse
of the carriage produces rotation of the drum upon its axlo: upon the prolongation
of the axle of this drum and parallel to the outer face of each end is mounted a
fusee or conical pulley with a spiral on the face: attached to the centre of tho
fuseo is a rope or chain passing round the spiral, the other end of the rope being
affixed to the centre of the other fusee passing round its spiral, the central
suspensory part of the rope carrying a block with a weight suspended: the action
of this arrangement is, that a backward or forward motion of the tension wheel
carriage, caused by the Cable, is transmitted by the chain to the drum, causing it
to rotate, & this motion is in turn transmitted by the drum to the fusees causing
them to rotate, and the rope or chain supporting the weight winds or unwinds,
lengthening or shortening the radius from which the weight is suspended and
increasing or diminishing its moment, or the force pulling against the tension wheel
frame the pitch of the fusces may be made so as to produce any pre-determined
amount of resistance to the cable, and have any variation of tension
The next part of my invention relates to the forms & arrangements of pullies
for guiding the cables when moving within the tunnel, and also for guiding &
regulating the tension of the same, more particularly in passing round curves in
the roadway, each cable keeping its own independent line. And this is especially
applicable to my System of using duplicate cables as described in the Specification
of my said Patent dated the 20th of June 1882 No. 2,919, wherein the mode of
forming the roadway and tunnel and fixing the cable carrying pullies is fully set out.

page_text: When a pair of Cables are used and when the line is straight a pair of pullies are
mounted within the tunnel, preferentially one slightly in advance of the other,
although they might be parallel and even on the same axlo: theso pairs of pullies
are distributed throughout the length of the tunnel
The Pullies when used in duplicate are each formed with a flange on the outer
side, when only one cable is used, there need only be one pulley, having however a
flange on both sides, so as to prevent the cable slipping off. The inner faces of the two
pullies are without flanges & are so arranged as to project inwards the one beyond
the face of the other, so that in rounding a curve should the cable slip off its proper
pulley, it would still be supported by the pulloy of the other cable: Parallel, but
outside each of these pullies are mounted, one on each side, two other sheaves or
pullies of larger diameter, which are used to carry, each an auxilliary cable
hereinafter described: by this arrangement the pulley chambers along the tunnel
follow each other at intervals and being made larger than the tunnel, there is more
room for access and for examining or repairing the pullies
When however the roadway & tunnel is not straight, but curved in order to
guide & preserve the proper tension on the cables I adopt a different arrangement.
In this case the axles of the two bearing pullies are mounted so as to be nearly
normals to the line of the curve: the pullies themselves being vertical and nearly
opposite each other, but the inner pulley standing higher than the outer one and
having only one flange, while the outer one has a double flange: in the front of tho
two bearing pullies is mounted a horizontal guide pulley, the lower end being
cylindrical, while the upper is conical and cut in the shape of a fusee: in the front
of this fusec is mounted also horizontally another cylindrical guide pulley and over
this second pulley and upon its axle, but loose is mounted another pulley nearly
similar in shape and size to the one under it, and arranged so that its hub sits in an
annular cup on the upper surface of the lower fixed pulley, which is recessed out to
fit the upper inner cable which runs against it, & on the vertical pulley in front of
it, & keeps its place against the horizontal guide pulley and the vertical carrying
pulley by means of its tension and weight, and to ensure its being held by its tension
against the loose pulley and kept clear of the front carrying pulley when the grip, in
passing round the curve lifts it up, the loose pulley has its surface cut with
shallow spiral grooves, which feed tho cable downwards, when it revolves on the face
of this pulley:
The other outer Cable and its pulley being deeper down and so far out that when
the cable is laid down by the grip it does not come into contact with the other
carrying pulley or its cable, but is caught by the conical pulley with the spiral
grooves, which in revolving pays out the cable by means of these grooves assisted
by its own weight, till it reaches its position on its own pulley.
If from any cause the lower and outer cable should come into contact with the
loose pulley, the spiral cuts with its own weight would make it descend, and not
being able to rest on the upper carrying and guiding pullies it would find no rosting
place till it reached the conical fusee which would then pay it out until it came
upon the periphery of its own bearing pulley.
The introduction and use of a fusee or pulley with spiral grooves, either
cylindrical or conical in form, and with its axis either vertical or inclined, may with
great advantage be adopted in other parts of .a tramway and in various positions,
wherever there is a risk of the cables getting out of their true lines..
The next part of my invention relates to the introduction & use of auxiliary
cables of smaller diameter than the carrying cables running within the tunnel and
driven at a much greater speed and to be used solely for the purpose of transmitting
power to cables or other machinery at distant parts from the prime motor.
The Cables actuated by the prime motor and driven at a high rate of speed, pass
along the tunnels over the large sheaves or pullies before referred to, and are to be used
for the purpose of transmitting motion to the carrying Cables at crossing points and
sidings, or on side lines, or for shunting or any of the other many motor purposes
of Tramways and Railways,

page_text: The tension of these cables may be adjusted in a manner similar to that
described for the carrying cables, and generally in passing round a curve by means
of horizontal tension wheels, with or without movable bearings and weights.
The next part of my invention relates to a method of raising a cable so that it
may be inserted within the jaw of the grip either at starting or when a cable
has been slipped out of the grasp of the grip, or when it is desired to let go the one
cable from the grip and take up the other cable. In that case I propose to fix at
intervals along the tunnel carrying pullies, mounted upon axles, one extremity of
which turns or radiates upon a trunnion pin, when it is desired that the grip
should take the cable carried by this pulley: the pulley is caused to rotate upon its
trunnion until it reaches the height of the jaw of the grip, when by means of a
lever clutch on the grip the cable is passed within the jaw of the clutch
The next part of my Invention relates to an improvement in shunting the
carriage or train of carriages with the Engine or grip carriage from one line of
rails when the journey may have been completed on to another so as to make the
return journey, or where a single line of rails is used to permit the one carriage
to pass on to the siding and allow the other carriage to continue on the line of
tramway.
When the object is that the return carriage should pass on to the siding and
allow the other carriage to pass, one of the carrying pullies of the main cable,
mounted at or near the points where the crossing commences, is toothed in its inner
--periphery, and within which works a pinion, which communicates motion to another
pulley in its rear and placed in the tunnel, which passes under the crossing and the
siding. A series of carrying pullies, similar to those in the main tunnel, are
mounted along the crossing and siding.
The return crossing, at the other end of the siding where it again joins the main
line, has either a tension pulley or an arrangement like that described for
obtaining motion as at the commencement of the crossing at the other end: A
cable or two cables are then bent over the pullies at the points, and along the
siding, and return backwards in the same way as the main line. When a carriage
is to be shunted, the pinion is thrown into gear and motion is communicated to
the driving pulley, & the pulleys and cables passing along the crossing and siding:
the carriage grip unhooks the main line cable and takes up the siding cable and passes
on to the siding, either resting there or passing along it and on to the main line.
If there be a double line & it is wished to transfer the carriages for the return
journey on to the other line, the usual crossing is made between the two lines, and a
tunnel formed underneath: Arrangements may be made to actuate an endless
cable moving over pullies at each end of the crossing, motion being obtained
from the main, or the auxiliary cables in the manner just described, or by mounting
a motor pulley in either of the tunnels under the main line of roadway and actuating
it by means of either the carrying or the auxiliary cables, it is made to com-
municate motion to a cable passed round it, and a pulley at each end of the crossing,
or, if there be a grip carriage in front of one or more traffic carriages, and it is
required at the end of the journey to transfer them for the return journey to the
other line, then there will be a duplicate arrangement similar to the last mentioned,
with two crossings, two Cables and either five or six pullies, the grip carriage or the
motor Engine passing over the first crossing & the carriages moving on and passing
over the second.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Wright in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th February 1883.
JAMES WRIGHT of No. 10 Cornhill in the City of London Civil Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CABLE TRACTION RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS RELATING MORE
PARTICULARLY TO THE MEANS & APPLIANCES USED FOR ACTUATING REGULATING
AND GUIDING THE CABLES AND CARRIAGES CONNECTED THEREWITH [Communi-
cated to me from abroad by Charles Farquhar Findlay Civil Engineer of Chicago
United States of America]
"
In the Specification describing the Invention for which I made application to the
Commissioners of Patents for a grant of Letters Patent dated the 20th of June 1882
being No 2,919 I fully set out the method I adopt for constructing and forming the
roadway & tunnels of Cable Tramways & Railways & also my plans for guiding and
directing the Cables singly or in pairs within the tunnel under the roadway and
also the appliances for transmitting to, and for cutting off from the traffic Carriages,
the motion of the Cables as well as the means for guiding & regulating tho
motion of the latter along the roadway My present invention relates to further
improvements connected with the moving parts of several of the appliances used in
Cable traction Railways and tramways.
The first part of my invention relates to the apparatus which I employ to take
up the slack and to regulate the tension upon a cable or cables in motion. Hitherto
this has been effected by means of a suspended constant weight acting upon a
carriage which bears the mounted tension wheel round which the cable is bent so
that by giving a horizontal backward and forward motion to the tension wheel a
corresponding but uncertain increase or diminution of tension is given to the cable.
I propose instead of using the constant weight producing this uncertain variability
of tension to use a variable weight by which the variation of tension can be pre-
determined and made constant at particular moments and places-also by means
of a constant weight with varying leverage and moment.
This power to regulate and adjust the variability of the tension I consider essential
for the proper and economical working of the cable system of traction: it may be
effected in different ways but that which I prefer to adopt is as follows:-
At or near each terminus of the roadway is fixed a large tension wheel or pulley
the one mounted vertically the other horizontally: the cable is warped over tho
one wheel passes along the tunnel to the other terminus of the road and is bent
round the other horizontal wheel at that end, and returning along the tunnel again
passes under the first wheel so as to form a continuous endless cable which by
means of a fixed Engine driving gear and pulleys receives motion causing it to
traverse froin end to end backwards and forwards, as long as the fixed Engine acts.
The first initial tension wheel is mounted vertically having its axle and bearings
upon a frame or carriage, so arranged as to travel within a limited space backwards
and forwards: attached to this frame is a chain which passing over a guide pulley
has suspended by it a weight: from this weight by means of another independent
chain is suspended a second weight and from this second weight by means of another
chain is suspended a third weight, and in a similar manner from this third weight a
fourth and so on: when this frame or carriago is at the extremity of its traverse, the
first weight only hangs from the carriage chain, the other weights and chains resting
one upon each other, and all upon a fixed support: when the frame of the tension
wheel through the action of the cable travels forward the first weight rises and
gradually lifts the second weight by the chain attached to the first, which increases

page_text: the weight pulling against the frame, as the traverse movement of the frame
increases, another weight is lifted and the pulley weight against the frame is again
increased and so on: by gradually adjusting the lengths of the suspensory chain
and the weights any desired tension can be brought to bear upon the cable at any
point in its path and at any time.
The horizontal tension wheel at the other end of the roadway is mounted upon
n similar traversing carriage: the chain attached to this carriage passes round the
central part of a drum mounted at a little distance in advance, so that a traverse of
the carriage produces rotation of the drum upon its axle: upon the prolongation
of the axle of this drum and parallel to the outer face of each end is mounted a
fusec or conical pulley with a spiral on the face: attached to the centre of the
fusce is a rope or chain passing round the spiral, the other end of the rope being
affixed to the centre of the other fusee passing round its spiral, the central
suspensory part of the rope carrying a block with a weight suspended-the action
of this arrangement is, that a backward or forward motion of the tension wheel
carriage, caused by the cable is transmitted by the chain to the drum, causing it to
rotate, and this motion is in turn transmitted by the drum to the fusees causing
them to rotate, and the rope or chain supporting the weight winds or unwinds,
lengthening or shortening the radius from which the weight is suspended and
increasing or diminishing its moment, or the force pulling against the tension
wheel frame the pitch of the fusees may be made so as to produce any pre-
determined amount of resistance to the cable; and have any variation of tension.
The next part of my invention relates to the forms and arrangements of pullies
for guiding the cables when moving within the tunnel, and also for guiding and
regulating the tension of the same, more particularly in passing round curves in the
roadway,
each cable keepi its own independent line. And this is especially
applicable to my system of us duplicate cables as described in tho specification of
iny said patent dated the 20th of June 1882 No. 2919 wherein the mode of forming
the roadway and tunnel and of mounting the cable pullies and guiding the cables
is fully set out.
When a pair of cables are used and when the line is straight a pair of pullies are
mounted within the tunnel preferentially one slightly in advance of the other,
although they may be parallel and even on the same axle: these pairs of pullics are
distributed throughout the length of the tunnel: the inner faces of the two pullies
are preferably without flanges and are so arranged as to project inwards the one a
beyond the face of the other so that in rounding a curve should the cable slip off
its proper pulley, it would still be supported by the pulley of the other cable:
parallel but outside each of these pullies are mounted two other sheaves or pullies
which are used to carry each an auxiliary cable, with this arrangement the pulley
chambers are formed along the tunnel at intervals and being made larger than the
tunnel there is room for access & for examining or repairing the pullies. When
however the roadway & tunnel is not straight, but curved in order to guide &
preserve the proper tension on the cables I adopt a different arrangement
In this case the axles of the two bearing pullies are mounted so as to be about
normals to the line of the curve, the pullies themselves being vertical & nearly
opposite each other, but the inner pulley standing higher than the outer one &
having only one flange, while the outer one may have a double flange: in the front
of the two bearing pullies is mounted a guide pulley, the lower end being cylin-
drical, while the upper is conical and cut in the shape of a fusce, or the whole may
be cylindrical with inset faces of smaller diameter or a series of circular discs with
diminishing diameters In the front of this fusee is mounted horizontally another
cylindrical guide pulley, & over this second pulley & upon the same axle, but loose,
is another pulley similar in shapo to the one under it, and arranged so as to sit on
the upper surface of the lower fixed pulley which is hollowed out to fit the upper
inner cable which runs in front of it: the loose pulley has its surface cut with 5
shallow spiral grooves: The outer cable & its pullies are placed at a lower level so
as not to come into contact with the inner cable.& its pullies

page_text: The use of a fusee with spiral grooves may be used in other part of the Tramway
tunnel & in various positions for better guiding the cables wherever there is a risk
of the cables getting out of their true lines.
The next part of my invention relates to the introduction and use of auxiliary
cables of smaller diameter than the carrying cables & running within the tunnel, &
to be used solely for the purpose of transmitting power.
.
The cables are actuated by the prime motor & driven at a high rate of speed
pass along the tunnel over the large sheaves or pullies before referred to & are
used for the purpose of transmitting motion to the carrying cables at crossing
points and sidings or on side lines or for shunting or any of the other many motor
purposes of Tramways and Railways.
The next part of my invention relates to a method of raising a cable so that it
may be taken into the jaw of the grip, either at starting or when a cable has been
slipped out of the grip, or when it is desired to let go the one cable from the grip
& take up the other cable: in that case I propose to fix at intervals along the .
tunnel pullies mounted upon axles, one extremity of which turns upon a pin which
may be made to act by means of a spring or a rack & pinion or other elevating
appliance so that when it is desired that the grip should take the cable carried by
this pulley by means of spring or elevating gear it is raised until it reaches the
height of the jaw of the grip when by means of a lever clutch on the grip the cable
is passed within the jaw of the clutch
The next part of Invention relates to an improvement in shunting the carriage
or train of carriages with or without the Engine from one line of rails when the
journey may have been completed on to another, so as to make the return journey
on the latter, or where a single line of rails is used to permit the one carriage to
pass on to the siding & allow the other Carriage to continue on the line of tramway
When the object is that the return carriage should pass on to the siding & allow
the other carriage to pass, one of the carrying pullies of the main cable mounted
at or near the points where the crossing commences is toothed on its inner periphery
& within which works a pinion which communicates motion to another pulley in
its rear & placed in the tunnel which passes under the crossing & the siding. A
series of carrying pullies similar to those in the main tunnel are mounted along the
crossing & siding.
The return crossing at the other end of the siding where it joins the main line
has either a tension pulley or an arrangement similar to that described for obtaining
motion at the points at the entrance to the crossing & siding at the other end :
A cable or two cables are then bent over the pullies at the points & along the
When a carriage is
siding & return backwards in the same way as the main line.
to be shunted the pinion is thrown into gear and motion is communicated to the
driving pulley & the pulleys & cables passing along the crossing & siding: the
carriage grip unhooks the main line cable & takes up the siding cable & passes on
to the siding either resting there or passing along it & on to the main line.
If there be a double line & it is wished to transfer the carriages for the return
journey on to the other line the usual crossing is made between the two lines & a
tunnel formed underneath: Arrangements may be made to actuate an endless
cable moving over pullies at each end of the crossing, motion being obtained from
the main or the auxiliary Cables in the manner just described or by mounting a
motor pulley in either of the tunnels under the main line of roadway & actuating
it by means of either the carrying or the auxiliary Cables it is made to communicate
motion to a cable passed round it & a pulley at each end of the crossing or if there
be a grip carriage in front of one or more traffic carriages & it is required at the
end of the journey to transfer them for the return journey to the other line, then
there will be a duplicate arrangement similar to the last mentioned with two
crossings two cables & either five or six pullies, the grip carriage or the motor
Engine passing over the first crossing & the carriages moving on & passing over
the second
For the purpose of- illustrating & better comprehending some portions of my

page_text: Invention I have appended to this Specification the accompanying drawings of
some of the parts.
The general details of the whole of my system of cable traction Tramways the
mode of constructing them, the appliances for guiding & conveying the cables into
& within the tunnel & for transmitting the motion of the Cables to the Carriages
are fully set out in the Specification of my Patent Nº 2,919 dated 20th June 1882
& a reference to the drawings & description in that Specification may be of
assistance in seeing the connection of the various parts.
Figs 1 & 2 are sectional plans for the purpose of illustrating the relative
positions of the initial & terminal tension wheels with respect to the Engine or
prime motor & the connection with the cables before & after passing along the
tunnel & are preliminary to the detailed drawings & description of the wheels
themselves shewn in Figs 4. 5. & 6 which are enlarged drawings of the tension
wheels shewing the mode of regulating & adjusting the variable tension upon the
cables.
Fig 3 is a plan shewing the mode of guiding the auxiliary & the carrying
cables round the sharp curve at the corner of two streets nearly at-right angles. &
also of regulating their tension
Fig 1. E is the Engine or prime motor the main driving shaft being a which
through the gearing g. g. gives motion to the main driving pullies P P, round
which are bent the two carrying cables a a, which pass over the guide pullies b b₁
--go direct into the tunnel. & (in-Fig 2) pass round-the-terminal horizontal tension-
wheels T T & return again passing over the guide wheels b' b; & the driving
pullies P P & then to the initial tension wheels T T, & continuing again the
outward & inward motion
Fig 4 is an enlarged elevation of the initial tension wheel T₁ (similar to T)
The main wheel F is mounted upon a frame & which is arranged to traverse
backwards & forwards. on. the small. wheels h h a chain is attached to the
carriage & passes over the small pullies e e, & is fastened to the weight W
from Whangs attached another chain, attached to another weight W₁ & ;
from W, hangs attached another chain fastened to the weight W, & similarly
with &W, &c When the chain & the weights are not in tension the
bottom weight rests upon the solid bed & bears all the weights above it: as the
carriage & the pulley move towards the cable the weight W is raised & acts against
the pull of the carriage: as the carriage moves towards the cable W, W. W, &c in
succession come into action & gradually produce an increasing pull upon the
wheel F & through the wheel upon the cable which passes round it By adjusting
the lengths of the suspensory chains & the masses of the weights W. W, W, W, &c
any desired tension may be put upon the cable & this may be so regulated as to
come into action at any particular moment
3
In Figs 5 & 6 are shewn an elevation & an end view of the terminal tension
wheel T (similar to T₁) The wheel F' is mounted horizontally & the traversing
carriage or frame ‹ is acted upon by the chain passing over the pulley e: the other
extremity being attached to & wound round the drum m (fig 6) Upon this drum
are mounted a pair of fusces f₁f, having spiral threads cut on their outer faces:
A chain or rope K is attached to the centre of the fusee f₁ & after passing round
its spiral turns on a pulley g & then bends round the spirals of f. & is attached
to its centre: the pulley has a weight & suspended to it: as the traversing
frame & moves from or to the drum the latter is caused to rotate: its rotation gives
a similar motion to the fusees which cause the chain K to wind or unwind & 5
either lengthen or shorten the arm of the suspended weight 8, thus increasing or
diminishing the tension on the cable: the radius of the fusee may vary in any
proportion so as to give the best results
On straight lines the arrangements of the initial & terminal tension pullies will
be sufficient to regulate the tension on the pullies, but Fig 3 shews how this is 5
secured in passing round a sharp curve joining one street at a large angle with

page_text: another, the outer auxiliary cable x is passed round the outer pulley & the
inner ones y passed round the peripheries of the pullies m. m.
Fig 7 is a plan of the roadway shewing a double curve & the arrangement of the
cable & the pullies in passing round the curve. If there be only one cable then
the rollers or pullies carrying the cable are mounted on the inside of the curve,
the cable running round their inner periphery as shewn in fig 7.
Fig 8 shews a similar curve whero there are two cables: in this case the cable
on the inner side runs upon a conical spirally grooved pulley similar to that beforo
described while that on the other side passes round the outer periphery of an
ordinary or horizontal pulley: in passing round the curve the inner cable alone
would be grasped by the grip.
Fig 9 shews the curve the same as before but here I use on the inner side a
conically grooved pulley such as before described, or a series of horizontal pullies
all mounted loosely on the same vertical axle, the diameter of each pulley less than
that of the one below it forming in elevation a sort of a truncated cone which
carries the cable round the inner part of the curve, directly opposite this inner
horizontal concentric group of pullies I arrange a similar set or group, but having
their axis horizontal, or it may be a regular truncated cone pulley so that the end
having the greatest diameter will rotate nearly touching the periphery of the
largest pulley, on the other group, the result of this arrangement will be that both
cables will be kept in tension & either may be used
Fig 10 is an enlarged section of the pullies used in this arrangement
Having now described my Invention & how the same is carried out I wish it
understood that what I claim as new & desire secured by the before in part
recited Letters Patent is :-
1 The combination & arrangement of parts in the tension wheels in Figs 4, 5,
& 6 of the accompanying drawings by which instead of using a constant weight
producing uncertain variability of tension I use a variable weight by which the
tension may be predetermined & made constant or uniform or as predetermined at
particular times as shewn in fig 4
2 I also claim the mode of effecting the same result by a constant weight with a
varying leverage or moment as shewn in figs 5 & 6.
8 I claim the particular form & arrangement of pullies for guiding Cables
round curves as shewn in figs 7. 8 & 9.
4 I claim the mode of guiding & regulating the tension of cables when rounding
a sharp curve as shewn in Fig 3
5 I claim the method of shunting a carriage or train of carriages from one lino
of railway or tramway to another or on to a siding substantially as herewithin
described & set forth-In witness whereof I the said James Wright have
hereunto set my hand & seal this thirteenth day of February 1883
JAMES WRIGHT (L.S.)