IMPROVEMENTS IN SUSPENSION TRAMWAYS OR LIGHT TRACTION WAYS FOR STREET OR HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND PURPOSES, AND FOR CARRIAGES TO BE USED THEREON." OTHER "
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Stevenson, of Wantage, in the County of Berks,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SUSPENSION TRAMWAYS OR
LIGHT TRACTION WAYS FOR STREET OR HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND
PURPOSES, AND FOR CARRIAGES TO BE USED THEREON."
OTHER
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Stevenson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th June 1877.
GEORGE STEVENSON, of Wantage, in the County of Berks, Engineer. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SUSPENSION TRAMWAYS OR LIGHT TRACTION WAYS FOR STREET OR
HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND FOR CARRIAGES TO BE USED
THEREON."
The main objects contemplated and advantages expected to be obtained by the
introduction of the proposed new safety suspension tramway or light traction way,
are,-
Firstly. The reduction to a minimum weight of all engines, vehicles, and carriages
used for the propulsion or conveyance of passenger or other traffic along its lines.
Secondly. Greater safety and ease both for passenger and goods traffic will be
attained by its means in transit from one point to another in crowded thoroughfares,
along the highways in country districts, or other places, than by any of the existing
modes of conveyance, while it is also considered to be highly adapted for numerous
other purposes.
Thirdly. A great reduction in the amount of motive power required for propelling
traffic along its lines will be obtained, as compared with the motive power required
for working railways and street tramways generally.
Fourthly. The cost of construction of the proposed suspension tramway or light
traction way will be but small in comparison with the outlay usually incurred in
the formation of ordinary railways and street tramways.
And, fifthly. A great saving will be effected in wear and tear over railways and
tramways generally on account of the greater simplicity and lightness of the rolling
stock proposed to be used on the lines,

page_text: The mode of construction proposed to be adopted for the new safety suspension
tramway or light traction way consists in the formation of single or double line of
rails formed in the manner shewn on the plan, and suspended from vertical bracketted
columns, or from brackets projecting from buildings or archways, or in any other
way required; the columns, brackets, and bearings to be placed at convenient
distances froin each other along the outer edge of the pavements in streets, or by
the side of the highways, or in other places, as indicated; the strength, height, and
bracket projections for the lines and the bearings for the rails will vary according
to the strength and gauge of the line required, and also the materials of which the
proposed tramways or traction ways shall be formed and constructed; the lines
will be suspended from the brackets of columns, as shewn on the plan, and the
columns will be braced and bracketed on one side only for a single line, and on
both sides for a double line; when suspended from archways or buildings the
bearings for the clips will vary in strength and in mode of fixing, according to
circumstances, and the carriages used on the lines will be suspended from and
secured to the lines in the mode shewn on the plan and section.
The great advantages claimed for this Invention over the ordinary railways or
street tramways consist in the particular formation of the permanent way which is
proposed to be constructed so as to be supported by clip suspension by the special
arrangement designed. The rails, and timbers to which the rails are bolted, are
kept in their position by means of strong wrought-iron saddle clips, which will
span the line at intermediate distances for supporting it, and preventing expansion
of the rails, sufficient.roon being left in the clips for the free passage of the
travelling wheels and driving wheels of the engines, cars, and carriages used on the
line in the manner described on the plan and section.
The arrangement made for constructing the proposed tramway or light traction
way above the carriages used on the line, and also above the traffic on the public
roads, does not interfere in any way with the public traffic either in the streets or
on the highways, great safety and simplicity in locomotion being obtained on account
of the impossibility of any of the carriages or cars used on the lines leaving the
rails, and from the brake power being sufficient to bring the carriages to an almost
'immediate standstill when required.
The motive power to be used for propelling the traffic along the lines will vary
according to circumstances, horse power may be available for the purpose when the
traffic is light; but where the traffic is heavy, steam or compressed air may be used
to greater advantage, the lines being adapted to be worked by any known motive
power, and at almost any reasonable speed with the greatest safety, the object of
the Inventor being to obtain security against accident, cheap and easy travelling
both for passengers and goods, as well as an inexpensive mode of constructing the
proposed lines without incommoding the ordinary street and highway traffic.

page_text: .
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Stevenson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th
December 1877.
GEORGE STEVENSON, of Wantage, in the County of Berks, Engineor. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SUSPENSION TRAMWAYS OR LIGHT TRACTION WAYS FOR STREET OR
HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND OTHER. PURPOSES, AND FOR CARRIAGES TO BE USED
THEREON.
"
This Invention has for its object improvements in suspension tramways or light
traction ways for street or highway traffic and other purposes, and for carriages to
be used thereon.
The mode of construction of the proposed lines of trainways or traction ways
consists in forming the lines by means of clip suspension in the manner shown at
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Drawing hereunto annexed. The carrying or
bearing clips marked A of the lines are intended to be formed of steel, iron, or
other material, either in one piece, bent or forged to the required shape, or made
with side pieces forming cheeks, and connected with blocking out pieces and
tightening screws, or any other manner required. These clips will be fastened, as
the case may require, either with bolts and nuts, cotters and wedges, clamps and
screws, or other means for supporting the lines to projecting brackets of vertical
columns, joists of buildings, archways formed of timber, brick, stone, iron, or other
materials, in any place or manner required. The lines of rails forming the said
tramway or traction way will be formed of double rows of wrought steel or iron
rails B, rolled to a flat section, with ribs, as shown, or to any other similar section,
but will vary in weight and strength, and will be fixed to any gauge required; the
rails will be set on edge and fastened at the joints with wrought-iron plates and bolts
or rivets as required, the rails will be bolted to either wood, steel, or iron girders C,
of varying strength and dimensions, according to circumstances, and kept securely at
the required distance apart from one another by intermediate clips A¹
The means employed for supporting the clips A, which carry the lines of the
tramways or traction ways, will vary according to circumstances, but always be
made so that the lines are suspended from the clips in the manner described.
In the streets of cities and towns, and along the side of highways and other
places, columns composed of wood or iron, or partly of either of them, or made of
other material, may be employed with arms bracketted therefrom, as indicated, or
the clips may be fastened to so as to depend froin brackets fixed to buildings, as also
from archways or bearings formed of wood, iron, or other material, the strength of
the columns and bearings, their height from the ground, the length and strength of
the brackets projecting from them will vary according to the gauge and strength of
the lines required, as well as the mode of fixing the columns, brackets, and arch-
ways. Where columns are used they will be bracketted on one side for a single
line, and on two sides for a double line, and when more than two lines are required
they can be suspended from double rows of columns or archways formed of timber
and iron, or other materials, as required.
The engines, carriages, cars, wagons, trucks, or other vehicles used on the said
tramways or traction ways will be formed so as to depend from wheels running
upon the rails above in the manner shown in the Drawings, but will vary in con-
struction as to the size, weight, shape, and kind, according to the requirements; they
will be suspended by means of carrying rods made of steel, iron, or other material,
from the axles of the travelling wheels in the manner indicated, and from any
number of wheels that may be required for each vehicle.
The carrying rods may also be provided with wheels D, D, to bear against side
rails or plates on the supporting girders C, to prevent sideway oscillation of the
vehicles.
At Figures 3 and 4 the carriage is shown to be suspended directly from the
carrying rods.

page_text: At Figures 1 and 2 the carriage is shown to be supported on springs interposed
between it and a platform carried by the carrying rods; this way of supporting the
carriage is shown on a larger scale in cross section at Figure 6. In this Figure G is
the platform attached to the carrying rods; H, H, are other rods secured to the
upper part of the carriage, and passing through springs I, of steel, india-rubber, or
other material which rest upon the platform. The rods H have each a collar upon
them to bear upon the top of the springs.
The vehicles may be made so as to contain the motive power for propelling them
singly, or such vehicles as contain their own mode of propulsion may be made so as
to propel any number of carriages. An arrangement for effecting this is shown at
Figure 4 of the Drawings. A small vertical boiler and engine is mounted at one
end of the carriage, and gives motion by a belt to a central belt wheel E, on the
axis of one pair of the supporting wheels F. These wheels are seen on a larger
scale at Figure 5, in this Figure is also shown a cross section of one of the supporting
clips and of the girders and rails.
In place of the engine being placed at one end of the carriage it may be in other
suitable position, as for example, if the carriage is supported on springs in the
manner shown at Figures 1, 2, and 6, the engine may be on the upper platform G;
other motive power than steam may also be used, as for example, compressed air
contained in a suitable receiver.
The vehicles travelling on the lines may also be propelled either singly or in any
number by animal power, or by an engine containing motive power attached by
means of connecting rods or couplings to such vehicles, or propelled by any engine
fixed at any point on or near any of the lines of the suspension tramways or
traction ways. The brake power will be arranged in the manner shown, and can
be applied either by manual power or by any other motive power used for the
propulsion of vehicles travelling on the lines.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that I claim,-
First. The construction of suspension tramways or light traction ways for street
or highway traffic and other purposes, substantially in the manner herein described.
Second. The construction of carriages, substantially as herein described, with
supporting wheels and side steadying wheels to run on such suspension tramways
or light traction ways.
Third. The construction of carriages substantially as herein described, with
reference to Figures 1, 2 and 6.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Stevenson have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
CFORCE STEVENSON