I PROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A TRAVELLING SUSPENSION SUSPENSION RAIL OR ROADWAY TO BE USED FOR THE CULTIVATION OF LAND
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Daniel Lancaster Banks, of 3, Kennington Row,;
. Kennington Park, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IM- I
PROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A TRAVELLING SUSPENSION
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Daniel Lancaster Banks
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 15th January 1859.
I, DANIEL LANCASTER BANKS, of 3, Kennington Row, Kennington Park, in
the County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A TRAVELLING
SUSPENSION RAIL OR ROADWAY TO BE USED FOR THE CULTIVATION OF LAND," to
be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to certain improvements ou my Invention for
which a Patent has been already applied for on the 13th day of January 1859,
No. 112. The present improvements are these:-Instead of having the rail
or roadway to extend from one rail or set of rails to the other, I have an
opening or space left between the one rail or set of rails and the other, so that
a frame or other apparatus projecting from the carriage may traverse
between the two rails or sets of rails, or be suspended beneath them. I also
provide means for lengthening or shortening the upright suspension rods so as
[Pries 8d.1

page_text: to accomodate the suspension rail or roadway to the undulations of theground,
for instance, by having the upright'suspension rods constructed with sliding
joints, or by other mechanical means. Also, I have a trench in the ground in
which sleepers are laid, upon which I place my rails, and on this the move-
able buttresses travel, the same being firmly kept in position by means of
guide wheels acting against the side or sides of the trench. And in order to
increase the stability of the moving buttresses, I have wagons of earth
or other temporary weights which can be secured to the buttresses when in
use, or detached from them when moved, as may be found necessary.
Instead of two lines of suspension rods, and upright rods, and rails, as
specified in the Provisional Specification of my aforesaid application for
Letters Patent (No. 112, A.D. 1859), I use only one or more than two
lines of suspension rods, with the necessary upright rods and rails.
The carriage travelling along the railway to which the plough or other im-
plement or thing is. attached, I actuate by means of shafts passing from
buttress to buttress, carrying a wheel or wheels which drive other wheels,
which work into a rack attached to the rail or roadway, or by an independent
stationary engine, or by the engine or engines connected with and intendedfor
moving the buttress or buttresses. The above is a description of the nature
my
said Invention, the details of which may be varied in practice.
of
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Daniel Lancaster Banks in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 15th July 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DANIEL
LANCASTER BANKS, of 3, Kennington Row, Kennington Park, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Daniel Lancaster Banks, Her special license that
I,the said Daniel Lancaster Banks, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Daniel Lancaster Banks, my executors, adminis-
trators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein ex-
pressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within

page_text: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF CON-
STRUCTING A TRAVELLING SUSPENSION RAIL OR ROADWAY TO BE USED FOR THE
CULTIVATION OF LAND," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Daniel Lancaster Banks, 'by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, 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
mouths next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent:
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Daniel Lancaster Banks, 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 certain improvements upon and modifications
of the Invention for which I obtained Letters Patent on the Thirteenth day
of January, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, (No. 112), whereby
such Invention is rendered specially applicable to agricultural purposes. "
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I
shall now proceed to describe certain modifications under which my
improvements may be judiciously carried out in actual practice, reference
being made to the two Sheets of illustrative' Drawings, and to the letters
and figures marked' thereon.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 of my Drawings is a side'elevation of a portion of 'mý
suspension railway, with its travelling carriage or frame, as set upon its line of
rails, and Figure 2 is a corresponding plan of the same. In this arrangement
the lines of suspension rail or roadway A are suspended from 'their end
buttresses or framings by means of the rods or links B, from which are hung
pendant links C, terminating at their lower ends in short chains D, or sliding
or screw joiut pieces, or otherwise, as shewn in detail at Figure 1, Sheet 2,
by lengthening or shortening which I am enabled to accommodate my sus-
pension rail or roadway to the undulations or irregularities of the ground, as
shewn in Figures 2 and 3, Sheet 2. The space E between the lines of rails
is left quite open, so that any frame or necessary apparatus has free liberty to
traverse along between them from end to end." And each length of the rail or
roadway A may be jointed or flexibly connected to its neighbour in the series
to allow of free adjustment. Upon this line or lines of rails there is placed a
traversing carriage. F, running on four wheels G, and capable of travelling
from end to end of the line of suspended rails: This carriage may also be

page_text: suspended or hung from a double suspension rail A', placed at a higher level
than the rails A (as shewn), or on the same level, or below them and midway,
or at any other point between them, as shewn in Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1;
the frame F of this carriage, which may be open and constructed in any con-
venient way, carries upon its surface a transverse line of rails H, upon which
is an upper carriage frame I, carried on four wheels J. In this way a most
complete and convenient series or arrangement of traverse actions of the parts
is secured. In the first place, the main suspension rails A and A' may
traverse transversely or otherwise upon ground rails or upon the ground
surface. Then upon these rails there is the traverse of the carriage F, in the
direction of the length of the rails, and again a transverse traverse of the top
carriage I, so that great command of position is obtained. The ground
buttresses or frames which carry the main suspension ways, are carried by
preference on wheels, which rest upon lines of rails laid in trenches, running
in a direction transverse to the length of the main suspension rails. These
bottom wheels are retained in position by guide wheels acting against the
side or sides of the trenches; and waggons of earth or other heavy masses are
placed by the sides or ends of the buttresses for the purpose of giving them
stability, such weights being removeable at pleasure, when re-adjustment is
necessary. When trenches are used, they may be worked either as simple dry
trenches or guide ways, or they may act as canals. For example, when water
is in them, the supporting rollers or wheels of the buttresses, which are
made hollow for the purpose, are buoyed up clear off the rails, and when a
traverse takes place, the rollers or wheels roll or float along in the water,
whilst when the water subsides, the rollers or wheels again come down on
the rails. The rollers or wheels may be formed so as to act as paddles.
Figure 3 on Sheet 1 of my Drawings is a side view of a travelling carriage
to be used (as shewn at E, Figure 2,) to which a plough or other agricultural
implement or a platform is or may be attached, such carriage being set upon
a continuous line of rails, and fitted up with wheel gearing for driving it..
Figure 4 is a corresponding view at right angles to Figure 3, and showing
the propelling gearing more completely; there A is the carriage resting by the
four wheels B upon the rails C. A continuous longitudinal shaft D, of rectan-
gular section and driven by any convenient prime mover, works. through
bearings on the carriage frame, and carries a pair of bevil wheels E, either of
which by means of the engaging and disengaging clutch F can be put in gear
with the wheel G, fast on the upper end of a short. vertical spindle H. This
latter spindle is carried in bearings on the travelling carriage frame, and it has
at its lower end a spur pinion I in gear with a toothed rack or line of teeth

page_text: on the rail J. In the Drawing I have shewn an additional rail or rack, but in
practice I prefer to make the rack teeth on one of the supporting rails C. In
this way, as the shaft D continuously revolves, the operation of the pinion I
upon the toothed rail J will traverse the carriage along the rails C as desired,
whilst the attendant can reverse the direction of the traverse as may be
required. With these arrangements ground may be tilled or other operations
performed with great ease and economy, as the tilling implements have
perfect freedom to travel between or below the lines of supporting rails. The
arrangements shown in Figures 3 and 4 are of course available for use either
in connection with my main suspension rails or buttresses or independently.
Figure 2 (on Sheet 2) of my Drawings is a side elevation on a smaller
scale, and Figure 3 is a cross section of my suspension way and carriage,
previously illustrated at Figures 1 and 2 (Sheet 1), shewing the mode of
applying the same to the cultivation of land. In this case I attach or connect
to the carriage F or to the carriage I a series of ploughs or other agricultural
implements. In my Drawings I have represented a reaping machine in
connection with the carriage. I prefer also to interpose bearing springs, as
shewn in Figure 2, between the implement and the carriage.
The carriage and implement are caused to travel along by the actuating
mechanism at E, which is a modification of that previously described and
illustrated at Figures 3 and 4, Sheet 1, such modification consisting in causing
the brackets, which carry the gearing, to slide vertically on the side of the
carriage, whilst the moveable or lever bearings a have their fulcrums ad-
justable vertically in a slotted bracket fixed to the rails. By this means
the gearing or mechanism will adjust itself so as to allow the main shaft to
be horizontal; whilst the roadway and rack is undulated as at A, A'.
In Figure 4 I have shown the application of a clod crusher or roller to the
carriage F. Figures 5 and 6, Sheet 1, represent a side view and plan of a
travelling carriage to be used with my suspension rail or roadway fitted with a
pair of reversed ploughs A. Or in lieu of this actuating gearing or mechanism
an independent stationary engine may be used for the purpose of hauling the
carriage by means of a rope and winding drum or grooved pullies, and dragging
a harrow B. The ploughs are attached by bolts C to the beams D, which
work on centres E in the main framing F, and are capable of being hauled up
and let down by the ropes or chains G and windlass H, so as to bring each
plough into alternate action and to avoid the necessity for turning at the
headlands. Figure 5 on Sheet 2 represents a transverse detailed section of a
box rail hung from a single line of suspension, the implements A being suitably
connected with the carriage B, the wheels of which run on rails or ledge

page_text: made on opposite sides of the box. Figure 6 represents an inverted suspended
rail, the carriage wheels A running on each side thereof, and connected with
the pendant angle frames B, which carry other wheels C bearing against the
under side of the Trail, and preventing the carriage wheels from jumping off
the rail. The implement is attached or connected in any convenient manner
with the rod or bar D descending from the frames B. Figures 7 and 8
(Sheet 2) represent in side elevation and cross section the mode I propose to
adopt in making the rail bearing surface of my suspension ways to admit of
their assuming the undulated form shewn in Figures 2 and 3 (Sheet 2).
a, a, are a number of lengths of thin planking, built up so as to break joint
with each other, and secured together by bolts at intervals as shewn in
dotted lines. The top surface of the timber is covered with metal plates b,
and a longitudinal wrought iron rod c is secured along the surface of this
plate, for the purpose of guiding the wheels passing along the way.
Figure represents a general plan of a piece of land laid down for the
purpose of being cultivated and worked by means of steam power applied
through the agency of my travelling suspension rail or roadway. The land
is divided into broad strips A, A, the strips being alternately grass and
arable land.
The wheels carrying the frames which support the suspension way B, run
at any desired distance apart upon the narrow strips of sward C, C. The
carriage D runs along the suspension way to and fro between the strips of
sward, and drags with it any of the ordinary agricultural machines or imple-
ments for tilling, draining, or cultivating the land or for otherwise operating
thereon, or upon growing crops during the progress of growth, or for the after
purpose of cultivation. Figure 10 represents a side view of a portable field
fence, which I propose to use in connection with my system of travelling
suspension ways. This fence is seen in plan on a smaller scale in position in
Figure 9. It is fitted with wheels so constructed as to sink with the ground,
and so fix and steady the fencing. Thus fences may follow after and in the
track of the wheels carrying the suspension (as shewn in Figure 9),although
they may obviously be employed when my suspension system is not in use.
In some cases, if found desirable, suspended ways may be employed for
carrying the travelling buttresses, such ways being suspended from posts
or pillars fixed in or built on the ground. When posts are used they may
be so arranged as to be capable of being removed after the ground has
been operated upon, and again used when necessary..
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

page_text: nto effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be 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 and construction of travelling suspension rail
or roadways to be used for the cultivation of land, as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of adjusting the level or position of the
travelling suspension rails or roadways by means of flexible or lengthening
and shortening links or pendant roads, for the purpose herein-before described.
Third, the application and use of moveable waggons of earth or other
weighty masses for steadying the buttresses or carrying frames, as herein-
before described.
Fourth, the application and use in travelling suspension rails or roadways
of either one only or more than two lines of suspension rods.
Fifth, the system or mode of cultivating land, wherein the cultivating
implements are attached to or hung from the travelling carriage, as herein-
before described.
Sixth, the system or mode of actuating the traversing cultivating carriage
by means of suitable gearing working a rack and pinion movement, as
herein-before described.
Seventh, the general combination of travelling suspension rail or road-
ways with various agricultural implements for tilling, draining, or
cultivating the land, or otherwise operating upon the soil or growing
crops, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Daniel Lancaster Banks, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of July, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-nine.
DANIEL LANCASTER BANKS. (L.S.)