Im- PROVEMENTS IN ENDLESS OR PORTABLE RAILWAYS FOR FACILITATING THE TRACTION OR DRAUGHT OF VEHICLES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Dunlop, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Grain Merchant, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN ENDLESS OR PORTABLE RAILWAYS FOR FACILITATING THE
TRACTION OR DRAUGHT OF VEHICLES."
Sealed the 24th October 1861, and dated the 10th May 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Dunlop at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th
May 1861.
I, ANDREW DUNLOP, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Grain Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ENDLESS OR PORTABLE RAILWAYS FOR FACILITATING THE
TRACTION OR DRAUGHT OF VEHICLES," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of endless or
portable railways, which are applicable to the wheels of vehicles so as to reduce
their draught, and cause them to be drawn with much greater facility over
rough or uneven ground.
Under one modification each wheel of the vehicle runs upon a series of short
rails which are jointed together at the ends so as to form a flexible band, as
it were, surrounding the periphery of the wheel. There are, by preference,

page_text: eight of these rails to each wheel, and each rail is, in order to obtain as much
lightness as possible combined with the requisite degree of strength, formed
of wood cased with iron. The rails are connected together in pairs by means
of rods of malleable iron, that is to say, each rail is connected to the one
that is diametrically opposite to it. The rods which are jointed to the centres
of each pair of rails extend inwards towards the centre of the wheel, where
they are connected by means of moveable links to each other, and these links
are also jointed at their centres to a ring having two laterally diverging arms,
which ring runs loosely on the axle. This arrangement is adapted for wheels
keyed to the axle, but where 'the wheel runs loosely on the axle the ring
runs upon a bush projecting laterally from the nave of the wheel and
encircling the axle. The rods with their connecting links thus form a series
of parallelograms around the axle, the motion of the wheel causing the several
pairs of rails to move regularly and accurately round its periphery. The
ends of the rails where they are jointed together are fitted with adjustable
chairs which support the rails a short distance above the ground, and adjust
themselves to the inequalities of the road. The overlapping ends of each pair
of rails are bored to admit of a strong bolt passing through the holes; this
bolt forms the axis of the joint, and its extremities are supported in two
short beams of iron arranged one on each side. of the ends of the contiguous
rails. The beams are formed with screwed ends and are attached by nuts
to a curved plate at each end which passes below the rail. These curved
plates are of a segmental figure, their extremities extending to about the
level of the upper surface of the rails. Each curved plate rests in the
adjustable chair, the inner surface of which corresponds in figure to the
curvature of the plates. In this way the chairs are moveable about the
plates to a given extent, and this motion is facilitated by fitting to the upper
part of the chairs on each side an antifriction roller which moves over the
inner face of the segmental plates. The chair consists of two side plates with
these antifriction rollers between them; at the lower part they have pendent
lugs, to which are jointed conical metal blocks, each of which is formed with
laterally projecting journals which support a metal ring that moves freely
about the journals. The rings rest upon the ground and their connection with
the side plates of the chair give them the flexibility of a universal joint.
Each chair rests upon two of these supporting rings or feet, and there are
two chairs to each joint of the rails. Thus as the vehicle progresses these
feet are successively brought on to the ground, and should one rest upon a
stone the rollers move up or down the curved guides, the flexibility of the
"

page_text: foot at the same time assisting this action. So that whatever inequalities of
an ordinary nature are encountered, the rails remain level or nearly so, and do
not in any way impede the motion of the vehicle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Andrew Dunlop in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
November 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ANDREW
DUNLOP, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Grain
Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Andrew Dunlop, Her special license that I, the said Andrew Dunlop, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Andrew
Dunlop, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ENDLESS OR
PORTABLE RAILWAYS FOR FACILITATING THE TRACTION OR DRAUGHT OF VEHICLES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Andrew Dunlop,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of them, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Andrew Dunlop, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon, that is to say:→
My said Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of endless

page_text: or portable railways or supporting surfaces, which are applicable to the wheels
of vehicles of various kinds, so as to reduce their draught, and cause them to
be drawn with much greater facility over rough or uneven ground than has
hitherto been attained.
Under one modification of my improvements each wheel of the vehicle runs
upon a series of short rails, which are jointed together at the ends, so as to
form a flexible band, as it were, surrounding the periphery of the wheel. There
are, by preference, eight of these rails to each wheel, and each rail is, in order
to obtain as much lightness as possible combined with the requisite degree of
strength, formed of wood cased with iron. The rails are connected together
in pairs by means of rods of malleable iron, that is to say, each rail is con-
nected to the one that is diametrically opposite to it. The, rods, which are
jointed to the centres of each pair of rails, extend inwards towards the centre
of the wheel, where they are connected by means of moveable links to each
other, and these links are also jointed at their centres to a ring having two
laterally diverging arms, which ring runs loosely on the axle. This arrange-
ment is adapted for wheels keyed to the axle, but where the wheel runs
loosely on the axle the ring runs upon a bush projecting laterally from the
nave of the wheel and encircling the axle. The rods with their connecting
Hinks thus form a series of parallelograms around the axle, the motion of
the wheel causing the several pairs of rails to move regularly and accurately
round its periphery. The ends of the rail where they are jointed together are
fitted with adjustable chairs, which support the rails a short distance above
the ground, and adjust themselves to the inequalities of the road. The over-
lapping ends of each pair of rails are bored to admit of a strong bolt passing
through the holes; this bolt forms the axis of the joint, and its extremities are
supported in two short beams of iron arranged one on each side of the ends of
the contiguous rails. The beams are formed with screwed ends, and are
attached by nuts to a curved plate at each end which passes below the rail.
These curved plates are of a segmental figure, their extremities extending to
about the level of the upper surface of the rails. Each curved plate rests in
the adjustable chair, the inner surface of which corresponds in figure to the
'curvature of the plates. In this way the chairs are moveable about the plates
to a given extent, and this motion is facilitated by fitting to the upper part of
the chairs on each side an antifriction roller, which moves over the inner face
of the segmental plates. The chair consists of two side plates with these
antifriction rollers between them, and at the lower part they have pendent
Hugs, to which are jointed conical metal blocks, each of which is formed with

page_text: laterally projecting journals, which support a metal ring that moves freely
about the journals. The rings rest upon the ground, and their connection
with the side plates of the chair give them the flexibility of a universal joint.
Each chair rests upon two of these supporting rings or feet, and there are two
chairs to each joint of the rails. Thus, as the vehicle progresses, these feet
are successively brought on to the ground, and should one rest upon a stone,
the rollers move up or down the curved guides, the flexibility of the foot at
the same time assisting this action. So that whatever inequalities of an
ordinary nature are encountered, these rails remain level or nearly so, and do
not in any way impede the motion of the vehicle.
And in order that my said Invention of "Improvements in Endless or Portable
Railways for Facilitating the Traction or Draught of Vehicles" may be properly
understood, I shall now proceed to describe certain actual detailed modi-
fications of the machinery, apparatus, and means which I prefer to adopt in
practice for carrying out of my plans, reference being had to the explanatory
Sheet of Drawings, which I have hereunto appended for the purpose of
indicating the general arrangements under which I am of opinion that the
Invention may be judiciously worked, that is to say :-
Figure 1 on the accompanying Sheet of illustrative Drawings is an external
side or longitudinal elevation of the detached wheel of a waggon, cart, or
other vehicle, as fitted with one of my endless or portable railways, or
supporting surfaces for the wheel to work upon in its revolution, instead of
upon the direct surface of the natural roadway. In this particular position of
the rail movement, the rails, by preference cight in number, are represented
as forming a square figure surrounding the wheel, or in what may be called
the zero position, just prior to the bending forward of the front joint for the
time being of the rails, that joint being in a horizontal position with the axle
of the wheel. In this view a portion only of the adjustable chairs, three in
number, is represented, in order to avoid complexity, the wheel being shown
as resting upon these chairs through the intervention of two rails. Two of the
operating rods and two links of the rail movement only are shown in this
Figure. Figure 2 is a similar side elevation, showing the rails with their links
and chairs in a different position, the whole of the parts being here represented
in their complete arrangement, with the exception of the rods and links, of
which only four of each are delineated. The wheel is represented as resting
upon a single rail with two chairs beneath, whilst two more are in the act of
descending. Figure 3 is a partial edge elevation of Figures 1 and 2. Figure 4
is an enlarged and partially sectional end elevation of one of the adjustable:

page_text: chairs, showing the rail, wheel, and adjusting movement. Figure 5 is a plan
of the same, showing a portion of the rails and other details; and Figure 6 is
a side elevation of the same corresponding to Figure 5.
According to the arrangement as delineated in the accompanying Drawings,
the axle A has keyed to it a strong wooden wheel B, the periphery of which is
fitted with a flanged metal tyre C. In this modification of my improvements,
each wheel of the vehicle is carried upon an axle supported from a double
framing. The tyre of each wheel rests upon one of a series of rails D, which
are jointed together so as to form an endless flexible band surrounding the
wheel, the motion of which causes these rails to be brought in succession
beneath the wheel. Each of the rails D is of a T-shaped figure at the central
part, as shown in vertical section in Figure 4. The ends of each rail Dare
forked, as shown in the plan Figure 5, one extremity being made with two
projecting ends, and the other with three; the extremities of these parts being
tapered off to admit of a certain amount of lateral motion or play at the joints
of the rails. A circular aperture is made through the forked ends of the rails,
and this aperture is tapered or widened outwards, as shown by the dotted lines
in Figures 5 and 6, to admit of the lateral play of the axle E, which passes
through the rails, and serves also as an attachment for the chairs and foot
pieces. The ends of the axle E beyond the central part are squared, and these
ends pass through slots or rectangular openings formed in a pair of short beams
or side frames F, the construction of which is best seen in Figure 6. The ends
of the axle E pass through these frames, and there is riveted or otherwise
attached to them the blade springs G, which give way when the axle E is
from any cause forced endwise from its central position, and it is restored when
the pressure is removed. The slots in the side frames F are made of sufficient
length to admit also of the axle E having a considerable extent of motion in
its lateral direction. When not otherwise acted upon the ends of the axle are
kept in a central position by means of the helical springs H, which extend
from the inner part of the side frame F into the tubular boxes I; these boxes
are fitted to slide to and fro in openings formed in the partitions of the frame F,
and their ends press against the sides of the axle E. In this way, when the axle
is removed from its central position arising from obstacles or inequalities in the
road, the arrangement of the springs restore the axle to its normal position when
the obstacle is passed. The ends of the parallel frames or beams F are passed
over, and within certain limits are moveable about the pivots J' projecting up
from a pair of curved or segmentally-shaped plates J, which are supported in
the front and end plates K; these plates are made duplex, and are bolted

page_text: together, having a segmental piece bolted between them, on which the seg=
mental plates J rest, the intervening piece being curved to a corresponding
figure. The duplex plates K extend upwards at each end above the curved
parts of the plates J, and at this part is fitted a stud carrying an antifriction
roller L, which rotates against the inner and upper surface of the curved plate
J, and serves to facilitate the motion of this part of the chair and of the feet.
The curved pieces bolted between the frame plates K extend out beyond the
frame plates, where an eye is formed, through which a bolt M is passed; this
bolt serves to connect the socket piece N to the projecting part. A piece of
india-rubber or other suitable material O is interposed between the socket
piece N and the projecting part, the orifice in the socket piece, as well as the
bolt M, at that part being squared so as to connect the parts firmly together.
The lower part of the bolt M forms a large convex head, which supports the
adjustable foot P in such manner that it moves freely in any direction within
certain limits. This freedom of motion is obtained by making a circular
opening in the upper part of the foot, so that it moves easily about the bolt M,
the contiguous surfaces being also made smooth and corresponding accurately
in figure. The advantages arising from these adjustable chairs and feet are,
firstly, the feet and ends of the plates K, to which they are attached in the
manner described, adjust themselves to any ordinary inequality in the roadway.
Upon this occurring the feet adjust themselves by moving in the socket pieces,
and the plates K move up or down so as not to alter the level of the side
beams F, or the rail itself in the transverse direction. The rail is therefore
left free and corresponds with the level of the tyre, or in other words with the
level of the axle lengthwise; secondly, while the feet and their connected part
thus adjust themselves to the inequalities of the road, they also modify the
effect on the level of the rails in the direction of their length. For example;
if one side of one foot rests upon a stone two inches higher than the roadway,
the end of the plates K, which rest on the said foot, would only be elevated
one inch, and at half way between the end of the plates would only be raised
half an inch, so that the plate J, and the ends of the short beams F, which in
turn rest on it, would be elevated half an inch, and midway between the ends
of the beams where the axle E passes through, would only be elevated one
quarter of an inch; but more than this, and what would be of more ordinary
occurrence on an ordinary roadway, if one foot rests above the average level of
the roadway, and another foot connected with the same joint below the level,
one would compensate the other. And it would only be the difference between
the height of the one and the depression of of the other, modified as before, that

page_text: would effect the level of the rails in the direction of their length. Thus the
rails as they are successively laid down in front of the wheels afford a smooth
and nearly level surface for the wheels to roll upon. The feet also rest steadily
upon the road, and do not grind it away as with ordinary wheels.
1
In this modification of my Invention the wheel B is shown carried on a
short axle A, the journals of which rotate in axle boxes fitted in a double
frame of the carriage; this mode is preferred for single or compound vehicles
adapted for heavy loads, and to facilitate the turning round of the vehicle when
required. The nave of the wheel is, by preference, formed as shown in
Figures 1 and 2, forming large disc-like centre, the parts extending beyond
the spokes being bound by iron rings. A small shoulder is formed on the axle
in front of each disc, and a series of rings Q, each having two laterally pro-
jecting parts. These rings Q, which serve as the primary connecting parts for
connecting the rails D in pairs, correspond to the number of pairs of rails used,
which in the example given is four; there are, consequently, four of these ring
pieces Qarranged on each side of the wheel, and they are free to move round
the axle independently of one another, and the arms or bars are therefore free
to approach or recede from each other as the different positions of the rails
may require. To each end and on each side of the ring pieces Q is jointed at
the centre a link R, the ends of which are jointed to the connecting bars or
rods S, which are connected to the cross rods T. These rods pass through the
oval centres of the rails, and each pair of rails are connected in like manner
on both sides of the wheel B, so that as the rails are brought down to the
ground in succession each pair moves exactly in unison. In Figure 1 the
rails D are shown in the position they assume when the wheel is passing over
the junction of two rails, when the series of rails form a square; the central
part of the upper pair of rails rests upon the periphery of the wheel; in this
Figure only two of the rails are shown coupled; this is done in order to avoid
complexity, and to show more clearly the simple mode of coupling the rails.
In Figure 2 the rails are shown in the position they assume when the wheel
has progressed to the centre of one of the rails; in this Figure four of the
rails are shown coupled and connected to the ring pieces Q. To prevent the
adjustable chairs from falling forward with a sudden blow as the rails move
over the upper part of the wheel, as well as to sustain them in a fair position
as they approach the ground, a curved spring U is fitted in the segmental
plates J. These springs are in contact with the under sides of the rails, and
thus prevent the chairs from falling over too suddenly; at the same time they
yield when any extra pressure is exerted upon the parts. This object of pre-

page_text: venting concussion may also be obtained by forming an eye at each end of the
side frames F, and connecting the several frames to each other by means of
chains or other suitable flexible materials. This mode of connecting the side
frames by means of chains is indicated by the red lines in Figure 2 of the
accompanying Drawings. In Figure 5 the forked ends of the rails D are
-tapered off towards the ends; the object of this is to allow for the lateral
.deviation of the rails when the vehicle is caused to turn, and so avoid the
twisting or or wrenching of the rail, which for the time being is held firmly on
the ground by the weight of the wheel. This system of endless rails may also
be readily adapted to wheels running loosely upon their axles, in which case
the boss of the wheel is extended on each side in a lateral direction, to admit
of the ring pieces being fitted around them. Where vehicles arranged with
these endless rails are required to traverse over soft ground, in order to prevent
the feet from sinking therein, a disc or square piece of wood is fitted to each
foot. In this case the feet P are made with flanges to admit of the attachment
thereto of the wooden sole pieces, either by means of screws or bolts. When
the feet are arranged in this way the large surface they cover prevents them
from sinking into the soft ground, and if the vehicle is required for an ordinary
hard road the wooden sole pieces are readily removed.
Instead of arranging the adjustable chairs in the manner shown, they may
be modified in various ways, and formed of a smaller number of parts, so as to
be less expensive in the manufacture. Such modifications, whilst they serve
to keep the rail in the required level position or nearly so, nevertheless, do not
possess all the advantages which the more complete arrangement I have
shown has.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that what I consider novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement, construction, and combination of parts
forming the improved endless railway for reducing the draught of vehicles,
as herein-before described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second, the system or mode of arranging endless railways, and applying the
same to vehicles of various kinds, as herein-before described and shown
in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification of the constructive
details.
Third, the system or mode of connecting the rails of portable railways by

page_text: means of expanding or contracting arms or rods arranged upon each side of
the wheel, in such manner that each rail may be connected to the rail diame-
trically opposite, as herein-before described and shown in the accompanying
Drawings, or any mere modification of the said arrangement.
Fourth, the system or mode of arranging and constructing adjustable chairs,
and their application to endless or portable railways, for the purpose of main-
taining the rails in a level or nearly level position as regards lateral deviation,
irrespective of stones, hollows, or impediments in the roadway, as well as
modifying the effect in a longitudinal direction, as herein-before described
and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification of the
same.
In witness whereof, I, the said Andrew Dunlop, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of November, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-one.
ANDREW DUNLOP. (L.S.)