Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1887
Complete Left, 5th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 11th May, 1888
We, WALTER HART of 116 Halliwell Road, Waste Dealer, and JAMES RIPLEY
of 98 Mount Street, Engineer, both of Bolton in the County of Lancaster, do hereby
declare the nature of our said invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in gravity switch back railways having one
or more tracks and intended to be used as a means or source of amusement and
pleasure at seaside resorts, fair grounds, and other places and consists of certain novel
features in the arrangement and construction of the same for the purpose of carrying
passengers from a certain starting point over a series of descending and ascending
longitudinal planes by the gravity momentum of the car in its passage over the planes
to the opposite end of the track. Each track is provided with one centre rail on which
the car runs, the latter being fitted underneath with two or more grooved or other
pulleys or wheels to run on the said centre rail. The car is supported laterally with
side arms carrying metallic or other bowls or rollers which bear or slide against
suitable supports extending the length of the track. In the case of a double track
the centre division or support is constructed to serve for supporting both cars.
Each car is provided with suitable mechanical or other means forming a break to
operate when the terminus of each track is attained, and may consist of a ratchet
mounted on the wheels of the car, in which operates a catch or "pawl" put into gear
automatically or otherwise by suitable levers or their equivalents when the car stops.
This break apparatus is constructed to operate alternately to allow of the car
running in either direction.

page_text: We, WALTER HART of 116 Halliwell Road, Waste Dealer, and JAMES RIPLEY
of 98 Mount Street, Engineer, both of Bolton in the County of Lancaster, do hereby
declare the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
Our invention relates to improvements in gravity switch back railways having one
or more tracks and intended to be used as a means or source of amusement and
pleasure at seaside resorts, fair grounds, and other places and consists of certain novel
features in the arrangement and construction of the same for the purpose of carrying
passengers from a certain starting point over a series of descending and ascending
longitudinal planes by the gravity momentum of the car in its passage over the planes
to the opposite end of the track. Each track is provided with one centre rail on
which the car runs, the latter being fitted underneath with two or more grooved or
other pulleys or wheels to run on the said centre rail. The car is supported laterally
with side arms carrying metallic or other bowls or rollers which bear or slide against
suitable supports extending the length of the track. In the case of a double track the
centre division or support is constructed to serve for supporting both cars.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation of our improved gravity switch back railway-
Fig. 2 is a plan of same showing a double track for two cars-Fig. 3 is a sectional
elevation through line A' B' in Fig. 1-Fig. 4 is an elevation of a car on our
improved principle-Fig. 5 is a plan of same, and Fig. 6 is a part sectional elevation
of a single track of our improved gravity switch back railway with the car in position
for travelling.
The gravity switch back railway is composed of the standards A braced together as
shown or in any other suitable manner, having one track as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6,
or two tracks as in Figs. 2 and 3. We would have it understood that we do not
limit ourselves to one or two tracks as shown on the plans but can make any number
side by side as desired.
Each track is provided with the centre rail B extending the full length or there-
abouts and on which the car C travels. The rail B can be of the section shown or
any other suitable section, such as, 1 or L iron or channel iron, the car wheels D
being made to suit. The car C is fitted underneath, with the centre wheels or grooved
pulleys D mounted in the bearings G. The car C is fitted with the side arms H
carrying the metallic or other bowls or wheels I which bear or slide against the
supports K extending the length of the track to maintain the vertical position of the
car C when travelling over the track or otherwise. The supports K correspond in
form vertically with the centre rail B to allow of the bowls or wheels I maintaining
their position when the car is travelling from one end of the track to the other over
the series of ascending and descending planes. The supports K are secured to the
standards A as in Figs. 5 and 6.

page_text: In the case of a double track as in Figs. 2 and 3 the centre standards A' are con-
structed to carry the supports K on both sides for supporting the cars laterally on
both tracks.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged side elevation of the bowls or wheels I for supporting the
car C laterally against the supports K. The bowl or wheel I is fitted with the centre L
mounted in the side arm H, the latter being provided with the slot M as in Fig. 8 to
allow the bowl or wheel I to adjust itself. The side arm H is mounted on the
centre N secured to the bar O fixed under the car seat P; the same being braced or
tied to the car by the rods S. The side arms H are secured on the centre N by the
screw T, and are provided with the slot M as in Fig. 9 to allow the bowls or wheels I
to swivel on the centres N according to the movements of the car in its passage over
the ascending and descending planes of the track. The bowls or wheels I can be
constructed as in Figs. 7 and 8 and provided with the tyre W of india-rubber, leather,
or other suitable substance.
An important feature of this invention is that each track is provided with only one
car, the same travelling in both directions on one line, thereby entirely removing the
possibility or fear of accidents from collision with other cars as in existing switch
back railways where the double journey is made on different tracks.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a gravity switch back railway the use of the centre rail B for the purpose
herein set forth.
2. In combination with a car employed on a gravity switch back railway the use of
the centre wheels or pulleys D and the side bowls or wheels I for the purpose herein
set forth.
3. In a gravity switch back railway the use of the supports K to maintain the
vertical position of the car when travelling over the track or otherwise.
Dated the 27th March 1888
EDMUND CHADWICK, C.E., .Fel. Inst. P.A.,
92, St. George's Road, Bolton,
Agent for Applicants.