Improvements in Crossings for Cable Railways.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Oct., 1890--Accepted, 27th Dec., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Crossings for Cable Railways.
I, JAMES PATTERSON ORR of No. 638, Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, in the County of
Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Doctor of Medicine,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described, and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of this invention is to provide a crossing especially designed for cable
railways and so arranged as to bring the crossing cables near each other, at the same
time preventing the cables from coming into contact and also obviating the usual jar.
incident to the cars passing over the intersection of the rails.
The invention consists principally of a frame carrying two sets of pulleys, of which
one sot supports the main cable while the crossing cable passes underneath the other
set of pulleys.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate correspoding parts in all
the figures.
Figure 1 is a plan view of the improvement;
Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same, taken on the line - of
Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a detail sectional view, taken on the line y-y in Figure 1 ;
Figure 4 is a plan view of the crossing; and
Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation of the grip.
As illustrated in Figures 1 and 4, the main track A, is crossed at right angles by
the track B, and the said main track is provided with the usual rails A¹ and A, while
the other track B is provided with the two rails B1 and B2. The rails A' and A² are
provided with the sections A3 and A, between the rails B1 and B2, and in a similar
manner sections B³ and B₁, are placed in the rails B and B between the rails A¹
and A. The several sections A³, A and B3, B4, form in the middle, openings A³
and A, B, and B6, for the passage of the cable grips held on the cars passing over
the said tracks A and B respectively.
The openings B and B, are in line and form part of the grip slot A7, of the main
track A, while the other openings A and A°, are in line and form part of that
portion B, of the grip slot B', which bends to one side at the crossing of the tracks A
and B. (as plainly illustrated in Figure 4,) which bent and slot part serves to swing
the cable grip of the track B to one side, as hereinafter more fully described.
In the track A is located the cable C, and the track B is provided with the cable D,
the former passing over the pulleys E and E', and the cable D passing under the
pulleys F and F, arranged at right angles to the pulleys E and E¹, respectively.
The four pulleys E, E, F and F', are mounted to turn in a light frame G, supported
by the cable 1), and held in position by a lever H, extending in the direction of the
cable D. When the frame G is in the position shown in Figure 2, the car with its
grip, passing over the main track A, is propelled by the cable which is lifted off the
pulleys E and E when the car passes the crossing, and the frame G is held in position
by the lever H when the cable C is lifted off the pulleys E, E'.
When the side track car with its grip D', passes upon the crossing on the track B,
the cable D is released from the grip jaws and the grip swings to one side in passing
through the bent portion B38 of the slot B'.
At the intersections of the two track rails A' and A2 with the crossing track rails B'
and B2, are arranged short rails 1, 1, 12, 13, respectively, which stand in line with the
main track rails A' and A2 when a car passes over the main track A on the crossing,
but when a car is to pass over the track B, then the position of the said rail
'ת

page_text: soctions I, I'1' and I', is changed so as to make the rails B1 and B2 continuous to
prevent any jar of the car when passing over the crossing
The device for changing the position of the short rail sections I, 1', 12 and 13, is as
follows: The said sections are secured on disks I, each fastened at the upper end of
a vertical shaft J, J, J, J³, respectively, mounted to turn in suitable bearings in the
car track. On the shaft J is secured a crank arm K, pivotally connected by a link K³,
with a crank arm K', on the shaft J2, which latter is located opposite the shaft J in
line with the rail A¹.
The shaft J is provided with a crank arm K³, pivotally connected by a link K³,
with a crank arm K+, secured on the shaft J³. A crank arm K, standing in an
opposite direction to the arm K', is secured on the shaft J', and is pivotally connected
by a link K, with a crank arm L', secured on a longitudinally-extending shaft L,
mounted to turn in suitable bearings in the track B and parallel with the rails thereof.
On the shaft J is secured a crank arm K7, extending in an opposite direction from
the crank arm K, and pivotally connected by a link K, with a crank arm L, on the
shaft L previously mentioned.
When the shaft L is turned, the crank arms L' and L' by their connections with the
shafts Jand J³, give the same a quarter turn, so that the said shafts, by their connec-
tion with the shafts J and J1, turn the latter the same distance whereby the rail
sections 1, 1, 12 and 13, are given one-quarter turn so as to disconnect the rails A¹
and A2 from the rail sections A3 and A', and connect the rails B and B with the
rail sections B³ and B. A car now travelling on the track B passes over the con-
tinuous rails B and B, thus avoiding all jar when passing over the crossing.
The device for turning the shaft L is arranged as follows: On the left-hand end of
the shaft L is secured a crank arm L³, pivotally connected by a link L, with the free
end of a lever N, pivoted at N' near the middle of the track B, said lever N being
provided with an offset part N², extending in an inclined position over the cable D to
he engaged by a pulley D, held on the free end of a spring D³, secured on the cable
grip D, see Figure 5, of the car travelling on the track B in the direction of the
a¹
arrow (Figure 1). When the pulley D2 on the cable grip engages the under side of
this lever N, it raises the same, thereby pulling on the crank arm L3 so as to turn
the shaft 1, whereby the shafts J, J', J and J³, are turned as above described and
the positions of the rail sections I, 11, 12, and 13, are such as to make the rails B' and B2
continuous.
In front of the lever N is arranged a similar lever O, also adapted to be engaged by
the pulley D on the cable grip D1, so as to raise the said lever O. The latter supports
at its free end a downwardly-extending rod 0, supporting a pulley 02, over which
passes the cable D, so that when the lever O is raised by the grip of the car approaching
the crossing, said cable D is also raised to the position shown in dotted lines in
Figure 2, whereby the said cable becomes disconnected from the grip and the latter
swings sidewise, as previously stated, to remain disconnected from the cable until the
crossing is passed. The moment the pulley D.on the grip D' has left the end of the
lever O, the latter then drops to its original position, as shown in Figure 2, so that
the grip can pass over the lever P to the left of the pulleys F¹ and F. and over the
cable C, without touching the latter.
In order to hold the cable down while the grip passes over it as described, a flat
lever Pis pivoted next to the lever () and carries on its free end a pin on which is
mounted a pulley P₁, adapted to engage the top of the cable when the lever P
is swung downward by the grip D (see Figure 5,) passing over it and at the
same time over the cable C. The lever P is held in an inclined normal position
by a weighted arm P³, as plainly shown in the drawings, and serving to return
the lever to its normal position after the grip has passed off the pulley end of the
said lever.
On the right-hand side of the crossing in the track B is arranged a lever Q,
similar in construction to the levers N and O previously described, and pivotally
connected by a link Q¹, with an arm Q, secured on a shaft Q³, mounted to turn
in suitable bearings and extending transversely of the track B below the rails and

page_text: under the cable D. The arm Q' carries a pulley Q, engaging the under side of
the cable D. An arm Q, carrying a weight Q, is also secured on the shaft Q3
and serves to hold the pulley Qin place against the under side of the cable D.
When the grip of the car on the track B after having passed the crossing, engages
the lever it raises the latter, and by the link Q₁ swings the arm Q upward,
so that the pulley Q on the said arm Q raises the cable 1) to the position shown
in dotted lines in Figure 2. The upward swinging motion of the arm Q² is
assisted by the weighted arm Q, which swings downward as soon as it has passed
its perpendicular position. The grip in passing from the bent part B to the
straight part of the slot B7, now swings inward and again grasps the cable D,
which will carry it and the car forward in the usual manner. The grip then
engages a lever. R, constructed similarly to the levers N and O previously
described, and pivotally connected by a link I, with a crank arm L', secured on
the shaft L. When the latter is turned, by a car approaching the crossing in the
direction of the arrow a', the said lever R is dropped into the position shown in
dotted lines, and its weight on the arm L prevents the shaft L from turning,
thus locking the rail sections I, 11, I and I³. The lever R is also connected
with one end of a rope or chain R³, extending downward and passing under a
pulley R2, and then extending toward the crossing and passing under a pulley R,
to which the end of the rope R³ is secured. The pulley R is fastened on the
shaft Q3 previously mentioned.
The operation is as follows:
When a car travelling on the track B approaches the crossing, the grip of the
car acts on the lever N, so as to turn the shaft L to change the position of the
track sections 1, 1, 12, and 13, and to make the rails B and B continuous, as
previously described. As the grip advances, the lever is raised, and by its
rod O and pulley 02, raises the cable D, which on account of passing under the
pulleys F and F, raises the latter and also the frame G supporting the other
pulleys E and E¹, over which the cable passes, so that the latter is also raised, but
the two, cables are prevented from coming in contact with each other, as one
passes under the pulleys F and F respectively, and the other passes over the
pulleys E and E' respectively, both sets having their centres in one horizontal
plane. When the grip nears the end of the lever O, it disengages the same, by
the grip swinging to the left on entering the curved part B of the slot B', and
thus permitting the cables C and D) and their frame G to drop down to their
former position, shown in Figure 2. The grip next comes in contact with the
lever Q, so that the weight is thrown forward and downward, causing the
raising of the cable D, etc., so as to allow the grip to swing in and grasp
the cable D, which takes place when the grip leaves the curved part BB and passes
into the straight part of the slot B'.
The grip next comes in contact with the lever R, so that the latter is raised and by
its rod L acting on the arm L', turns the shaft L backward to its former position,
whereby the several shafts J. J, J and J, are turned in the opposite direction so as
to move the rail sections I, I, 12 and 13 back into their normal position, whereby the
rails A and A' are made continuous. A car coming from the main track A finds the
cables C and D in their proper position, and when a car on the cross track B
approaches the crossing the above described operation is repeated, and thus the rail
sections I, I, I and 13, are changed to make the rails B and B continuous.
It will be understood that when the lever N stands in its natural position, the
lever R stands horizontally, and vice versa, so that the car running in the direction of
the arrow a', after crossing the track A, finds the lever R in a lowermost inclined
position, caused by the raising of the lever N. When the lever R swings downward,
the rope R is slack and permits the counterbalancing weighted arm Q to swing
downward, whereby thh pulley Q and cable D are raised, as before described.
When the shaft L has been turned by the lever R to shift the track sections I, I',
12, 13, the shaft will be locked in position until again turned by the lever N, as
illustrated in Figure 3.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is―
1. In a cable railway crossing, the combination, with two cables crossing each
other, of a frame adapted to be raised and lowered and two sets of pulleys arranged
thereon, one set of pulleys supporting one of the said cables, while the other cable
passes under the other set of pulleys, substantially as shown and described.
2. In a cable railway crossing, the combination, with the main and the crossing
track rails, of sectional rails located at the intersections of the said track rails and
mounted to turn horizontally to alternately make the main track rails in the crossing
track rails continuous, substantially as shown and described.
3. In a cable railway crossing, the combination, with the main and the crossing
track rails, of sectional rails located at the intersections of the said track rails and
mounted to turn horizontally to alternately make the main track rails and the crossing
track rails continuous, and means, substantially as described for operating the said
sectional rails when a car approaches the crossing on the crossing track, substantially
as shown and described.
4. In a cable railway crossing, the combination, with two cables crossing each
other, of a frame having two sets of pulleys arranged thereon, one set of pulleys
supporting one of the said cables, while the other cable passes under the other set of
pulleys, and a lever held in line with one of the said cables, to be engaged by the
cable grip and swung upward to raise the two cables and the frame, substantially as
shown and described.
5. In a cable railway crossing, the combination, with two cables crossing each
other, of a frame having two sets of pulleys arranged thereon, one set of pulleys
supporting one of the said cables while the other cable passes under the other set of
pulleys, and a weighted lever adapted to be operated on by the cable grip, and to
engage with its free end the said supported cable on its top, substantially as shown and
described.
6. In a cable railway crossing, the combination, with two cables crossing each
other, of a frame having two sets of pulleys arranged thereon, one set of pulleys
supporting one of the said cables while the other cable passes under the other set of
pulleys, a weighted lever adapted to be operated on by the cable grip, and a grooved
pulley held on the free end of the said lever to engage the said supported cable on its
top, substantially as shown and described.
7. In a cable railway crossing, the combination, with two cables crossing each
other, of a frame having two sets of pulleys arranged thereon, one set of pulleys
supporting one of the said cables, while the other cable passes under the other set of
pulleys, a lever held in line with one of the said cables, to be engaged by the cable
grip and swung upward to raise the two cables and frame, and a pulley supported on
the said lever and engaging the respective cable, substantially as shown and described.
S. In a cable railway crossing, the combination, with the main and the crossing
track rails, of sectional rails located at the intersections of the said track rails and
mounted to turn horizontally to alternately make the main track rails and the crossing
track rails continuous, a lever arranged in the crossing track and adapted to be
engaged by the cable grip of the car travelling on the said crossing track, a shaft
connected with the lever and turned by the latter, and intermediate mechanism to
connect the said shaft with the said sectional rails for operating the same when the car
approaches the crossing, to make the crossing track rails continuous, substantially as
shown and described.
9. In a cable railway crossing, the combination, with the main and the crossing
track rails, of sectional rails located at the intersections of the said track rails and
mounted to turn horizontally to alternately make the main track rails and the crossing
track rails continuous, a; lever arranged in the crossing track and adapted to be
engaged by the cable grip of the car travelling on the said crossing track, a shaft
connected with the lever and turned Ly the latter, an intermediate mechanism to

page_text: connect the said shaft with the said sectional rails for operating the same when tho
car approaches the crossing, to make the crossing track rails continuous, and a
counterweight to lock the said shaft in place, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 28th day of October 1890
JAMES PATTERSON ORR.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.
JAMES PATTERSON ORR.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.