Improvements in Elevated Railways and in Vehicles for Use in Connection therewith.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 17th June, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 30th Aug., 1887.
Improvements in Elevated Railways and in Vehicles for Use in
Connection therewith.
I, WILLIAM BLANE MACK of the City of Boston, in the County of Suffolk and
State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Inventor, 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 :-
My invention relates to elevated railways and certain equipments therefor, and has
for its object to provide a road structure which shall be firm, safe and easily traversed,
adapting a truck thereto which shall by its structure contribute to the same ends, the
organization as a whole forming an elevated railway on which electricity may be
readily employed as a motor, and noise occasioned by a passing train minimised.
To the foregoing ends my invention consists, broadly, in an elevated railroad
comprising three rails, two arranged parallel to each other on the same horizontal
plane, and a third arranged at a lower horizontal plane, intermediate of the first two
mentioned, supports for said rails and braces connecting the several supports to
steady the rails and their supports.
My invention also consists in an improved switch adapted to railways in which the
rails of the truck are arranged as above described.
My invention also consists in the construction of a truck adapted to a road of the
character mentioned, which truck may be easily propelled and which will permit of
the turning of short curves and the application of electricity as a motor, and at the
same time be secure against derailment and against being thrown from the track.
My invention also consists in other improvements incidental to the foregoing.
For a full understanding of my invention reference is to be had to the accom-
panying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon forming a part of
this specification, in which drawings,
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved truck.
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same.
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the rails and their immediate supports, with
nantion of the froma of the latter being shown in

page_text: Figure 4 is a transverse section of a portion of the structure.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the track or road proper.
Figure 6 is an end elevation of the upper portion of a modified form of the
structure.
Figure 7 is a top plan view of the structure, showing my improved switch.
Figure 8 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 7.
In carrying out my invention, I provide rails, a, a, of suitable form, which are
supported on stringers or beams, b, b which latter are in turn sustained on braces, c, c
and held in place thereon and connected thereto by angle bars, d, d as clearly
represented in cross section in Figure 3. The rails a, a are arranged parallel with
each other and at the same horizontal plane.
e represents a rail arranged intermediate of the rails a, a and at a lower horizontal
plane, said rail e being directly supported on a T-beam f, resting on transverse
T-beams or ties g the latter being supported by girders or stringers h, of any suitable
form or structure shown in the present instance to consist each of two half beams
between which the lower ends of the braces e forming direct supports for the rails a, a
are secured.
i, i represent braces extending from the supports for rails a to the support for rail e
or other suitable portion of the track proper, and j, j represent braces or tie bars
extending between the girders or stringers h, h.
In this way a very firm and secure track or road-bed may be constructed which
may be supported on pillars or posts of any suitable form or character, or, if desired,
have its foundation on the ground.
In Figure 6, 1 have shown a slightly modified form of road-bed. In this instance
I propose to support the rails a, a (not shown in said Figure 6) on pillars or posts a¹,
constructed of angle-iron securely bolted together, and in turn supported upon
suitable stringers and cross-ties, which also sustain the immediate support c', for
the intermediate lower rail (also omitted from Figure 6). This support c¹ for the
intermediate rail consists of a chair securely bolted at suitable intervals to the cross-
ties, and adapted to have angle-irons d', bolted thereto, which angle-irons are
designed to confine the intermediate rail to its seat on chair c'.
A road-bed thus constructed may be supported on pillars or posts consisting of
angle-irons or bars e securely bolted together, and extending from directly under the
supports for the upper side rails inward and downward, and securely braced by cross-
bars or straps f¹, extending from one bar e¹ to the other, as also by like braces g,
extending from the posts a¹ to the bars or posts e. Suitable braces may also be
provided extending between the intermediate support for the rails a and posts a¹ and
the stringers or cross-ties b'.
The truck (shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3) consists of a suitable frame work of
requisite strength, provided with boxes k, k, in which the axle k', of the wheels 1, 1
are journalled, which, wheels are adapted to travel on the upper parallel rails a, a, and
guide and steady the truck in its movements, said truck being supported alinost
wholly by wheels m, m having suitable journal supports in the boxes n n arranged
intermediate of the boxes k, k, and at a lower horizontal plane than the latter, so that
said wheels m, m may travel on the lower intermediate rail e, as clearly represented
in Figure 3. The construction and arrangement of the parts just described is such
as that but a small portion of the weight of the truck will be borne by the wheels 1, 1
which are designed to serve merely, or but little more than guide wheels to the truck
and car,
the weight of which, as has been remarked, will be borne by the main
wheel m, m.
o, o represent springs of common usage for the journal supports of the wheels
and brakes for the wheels m m.
P: P
A car or coach to be carried or supported by the truck may be attached by each
end to one such truck by means of a kingbolt q by which device, and suitable
contrivances connected with the bottom of the car and top of the truck means are
provided which permit of the car or coach turning with freedom on the truck, and
makes provision whereby very short curves may be turned with the utmost facility.

page_text: In Figures 7 and 8 I have shown a switch, which may be employed in a road
constructed in accordance with my invention. At the point where the rails a, a,
diverge, I construct a swinging gate or platform p, suitably supported and adapted to
turn on a pivot or centre q. Said gate or platform is constructed in the nature of a
common railway frog that is, as a rail having two diverging branches, r, r, so
constructed as that when the converging point s, is moved into contact with one of
the rails a of the main track A, one of the diverging arms will form a continuation
of said rail with a like rail of a branch track B, as shown in full lines in Figure 7,
and when the convergent point s is moved into contact with the opposite rail a of the
main track the other arm will form a continuation of the latter rail with a like rail
of a branch track C, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 7.
t represents a platform lever pivotted at u to the road-bed, and pivottally connected
at its forward or inner end to a section, s¹, of rail e pivotted at v so as to connect with
the end of the intermediate rail of the main track, and having its opposite end
adapted to be sung around so as to connect with the like rail on either branch
track B or C.
At its rear or outer end platform lever is pivottally connected as at w, with
swinging gate or platform p forward of its pivotal point q, so that as said swinging
gate is moved to full line position Figure 7, so as to connect the rails a of the main
track with the like rails of the branch B, section s¹ of rail e will be so moved as to
connected said rail of the main line with the like rail of branch B, and when gate or
platform p is moved to dotted line position (see the last mentioned figure) section s³
of rail e will be moved to its dotted line position connecting rail e of the main line A
with the like rail of branch C.
represents a locking lever, extending from gate or platform p down to and
engaging with notches y or other suitable provisions, on a curved bar or sleeper =
connected with the road-bed, so as to hold the gate locked in position when moved so
as to connect the main line with either branch.
Any of the known systems of levers may be used in connection with my
invention, there being such a variety that I deem it unnecessary to show any in the
drawings.
It will be seen that by my structure any suitable device for deadening sound or
insulating the rails from their supports may readily be interposed between said rails
and said supports, as indicated at R Figure 6 which represents a wooden rail
or sleeper, so as to minimise noise that would be produced by jars and
concussions of a moving train, and so as to permit electricity to be employed as a
motor.
It is obvious that parts and features of my invention may be varied within
the limits of mechanical skill without departing from the nature or spirit of the
improvements.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is i
First. An elevated railroad consisting of a track of three rails two arranged
parallel to each other, and on the same horizontal plane, and a third arranged at a
lower horizontal plane, intermediate of the two first mentioned, supports for the rails,
and braces connecting the several supports, substantially as set forth.
Second. The combination with a track of three rails, two arranged parallel to each
other, and on the same horizontal plane, and a third arranged at a lower horizontal
plane intermediate of the two first mentioned, of a truck containing two main
supporting wheels arranged to travel on the intermediate rail, and two wheels, one on
each side of the truck, adapted to travel on the two side rails, for guiding and
steadying the truck, as set forth.
Third. A railway car truck, provided with wheels on its opposite sides, adapted to
travel on tracks and guide and steady the truck, and a wheel or wheels arranged at a
lower horizontal plane intermediate of the two first mentioned, adapted to support the
truck, as set forth.

page_text: Fourth. The combination with the single and diverging tracks, each composed of
two side rails and a lower centre rail, of the pivotted switch-rail adapted to make the
side rails of the single track continuous with those of either of the diverging tracks,
and a pivotted switch-rail adapted to make the centre rails of the main track
continuous with the centre rail of either of the diverging tracks, as set forth.
Fifth. The combination, with the single and diverging tracks, each composed of
two side rails and a lower center rail, of the pivotted switch-rail adapted to make the
side rails of the single track continuous with those of either of the diverging tracks,
the pivotted switch - rail adapted to make the centre rail of the single track
continuous with either of the centre rails of the diverging tracks, and connections,
substantially as described, whereby the two switch rails are moved simultaneously as
set forth.