IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM APPLICABLE TO LOCOMOTION AND THE APPLICATION OF A WELL-KNOWN MOTIVE POWER IN CONNECTION WITH CERTAIN APPLIANCES TO THE PROPULSION OF VEHICLES RUNNING ON PORTABLE RAILS, RAILROADS, AND TRAMWAYS
Year: 1871

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Pidding at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd August
1871.
I, WILLIAM PIDDING, of Saint George's Terrace, Peckham, in the
County of Surrey, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM APPLICABLE TO LOCOMOTION AND
THE APPLICATION OF A WELL-KNOWN MOTIVE POWER IN CONNECTION WITH CERTAIN
APPLIANCES TO THE PROPULSION OF VEHICLES RUNNING ON PORTABLE RAILS,
RAILROADS, AND TRAMWAYS," to be as follows
In lieu of the foot or chair to be used in connection with my portable
rails as described in my Patent, No. 1894, dated 21 June 1869, I
propose adopting the following arrangement:-The sections or portions
of the portable rail are to be placed, as described in my said Patent
1894, each section or length of rail having each end bent at right
angles, or any suitable angle. To each end of each section or length
of rail I connect by a hinge, swivel, or any suitable joint a foot or
chair for taking the bearing on the surface of the ground, the said
feet or chairs I prefer to be slightly rounded on their under surfaces,
and to be so attached to each section or length of rail that their position

page_text: is to be at right angles with the longitudinal position of the rails. In
that part of each length or division of the rail or rails (which compose
my portable rail) to which the arms or spokes connected with the naive
are attached I insert or fix a bush of gun or other hard metal for
the purpose of receiving the pin or bolt which connects the spoke or 5
arm of the said rail or rails. Such gun or other metal bush to be of
such a length and project from the outside of the rail or rails as is
suitable to and in proportion to the distance of the end of the arm
or spoke from the rail or rails suspended from or attached to the said
or spokes. The object of the lengthening of the said gun or 1
other metal bush being to ensure a steadiness of action; the application
of the said gun or other hard metal bush being to lessen wear.
arms
I purpose, in some instances, applying as a motive power clockwork
or other machinery as in connection with my portable rails, and further
to have the said clockwork or other machinery wound up by fixed or 1
moveable steam or other power not being in connection with the
vehicles at appointed stations on the route or journey. I apply the
herein-before last-stated arrangements to railroads and tramways.
It may be advantageous sometimes to use for the herein-before stated
purpose a moving motive power, and it will mostly be so when the
vehicles are used for agricultural purposes.
I sometimes use the herein-before stated motive power in connection
with horse power for the propulsion of vehicles running on portable
rails and tramways.
To insure the series of rails or links, which form my portable rail
lying in a parallel position with each other at their ends and in con-
tact sufficient to form a continuous seat for the wheel passing over
them I apply springs or any other known mechanical arrangement or
connection suitable or applicable to the required purpose.
For ensuring the links or scries of rails forming the portable rail
coming into a parallel position with the surface of the ground in its
rotation and at the time it is required to be in a proper position for the
running wheel to pass over, I adopt the following means:-Separately
or in conjunction as may be desirable the several rails forming the
continuous portable rail are to be attached centrically and by adjustment
of their weight to the arms or spokes, so that whatever the position of
the arms or spokes on nearing the ground may be the rails are always
in a parallel position to the surface of the ground with which in their

page_text: rotation they are coming in contact. Springs may be attached to any
part of the rail and connected with the arms or spokes to aid or ensure
the position of the rails as herein-before described.
I propose to apply a break acting upon the extreme ends of the arms
or spokes of the continuous portable rail. As a means of adjustment
to counteract wearing of any of the connecting or connected parts of
the rail or rails, and of the arms or spokes, I purpose making the said
arms or spokes in two pieces or lengths (divided at any suitable point)
and connecting the said two parts or lengths by an elongated nut or
union joint internally screwed or tapped at either end, the ends of the
parts of the arms or spokes being screwed with suitable thread to fit
into the said union joint. By the adjustment of the union joint the
arms or spokes may be lengthened or shortened as required for com-
pensation of wear in any of the connected parts. The said union joint
to be kept firm in its position by check nuts on the parts of the arms
or spokes, the said check nuts being turned or screwed down on to
the ends of the union joint to prevent its shifting.
I shall exemplify my Invention in my Complete Specification by
means of diagrams.