IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF CARTS, WAGGONS, LURRIES, CABS, OMNIBUSES, CARRIAGES, STEAM OR OTHER LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES AND WHEELED VEHICLES, SO AS TO ADAPT THEM FOR USAGE ON ROADWAY, RAILWAY, OR TRAMWAY
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Wood, of Burnley, in the County of Lancaster,
Hat Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF CARTS, WAGGONS, LURRIES, CABS, OMNIBUSES, CARRIAGES,
STEAM OR OTHER LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES AND WHEELED VEHICLES, SO AS
TO ADAPT THEM FOR USAGE ON ROADWAY, RAILWAY, OR TRAMWAY.”
Dealed the 28th August 1877, and dated the 28th February 1877.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Wood at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th February 1877.
JAMES WOOD, of Burnley, in the County of Lancaster. IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARTS, WAGGONS, LURRIES, CABS, OMNIBUSES, CARRIAGES,
STEAM OR OTHER LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES AND WHEELED VEHICLES, SO AS TO ADAPT
THEM FOR USAGE ON ROADWAY, RAILWAY, OR TRAMWAY."
The object or nature of this Invention is to construct wheeled vehicles as described
above in such a manner as to make them suitable for running on either road, rail-
way, or tramway.
The principal feature of the Invention is, that in addition to the ordinary wheels
now required by the aforesaid conveyances, there will be required revolving wheels,
the same in number as there are wheels to the vehicle or conveyance, revolving on
one or more adjustable axletrees, as the conveyance may require. These additional
wheels and axletrees will require to be made of the necessary gauge or width, so
as to make them revolve closely and firmly against the inside edge of the rails or
trams they are intended to work upon, thus acquiring the same result as is produced
by the present flange of an ordinary railway carriage flanged wheel, namely, that
of keeping the wheels and conveyance on the rails; thus it may be termed the
loose revolving flange. These revolving flanges being fixed to adjustable axletrees
71

page_text: which are worked by screw, lever, spring, or other mechanical power, may on rail-
ways or tramways be lowered so as to make them sufficiently flange against the
inside surface of the rails or trams they are working upon.
It will be seen that conveyances adopting this improvement must have wheels
that are not flanged, that is, their circumference rim must be either flat or concave.
On roadways, or the earth's surface, these revolving flanges will be raised sufficiently
by means of the aforesaid screw lever or spring, so as to allow the ordinary wheels
of the conveyance to proceed or turn in any direction required, the revolving flanges
being elevated so as to be clear of touching the surface of the ground.
A modification of these improvements might consist of an adjustable flange, not
necessarily circular in form or revolving in action, yet involving the adjustable
flange principle, and applied in a somewhat similar manner, as previously described.
Thus these improvements will be generally adaptable to all the ordinary modes of
wheel transit by road, rail, or tramway, and a great saving of time, work, and
expence now required in loading and unloading may be effected.