and Vehicles and Locomotives therefor.
Year: 1888

page_text: and Vehicles and Locomotives therefor.
I RICHARD RICHARDSON HUTCHINSON of 114 Edith Grove, Brompton, London S. W.
Electrical and Mechanical Engineer 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 that kind of suspended railway tracks generally known as
"telpher lines" and has for its object the provision of a flexible track which may be
suspended from or otherwise supported by posts, or other means and which admits
of a greater tractive force being exerted by a light locomotive than is the case when
a continuous wire or cable is employed, by reason of the structure of said flexible
track affording a mechanical adhesion to the driving wheel or wheels of said locomotive,
other than that resulting from the action of gravity.
I also provide means for conveniently suspending or supporting said flexible track
so as to form a single or double rail line, and employ electrical locomotives specially
adapted for traversing said line from end to end and passing the points of suspension
thereof the whole being applicable to the transport of passengers or goods.
In order that my Invention may be the better understood, I have appended the
accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a transverse section of
a double rail line according to my Invention and an end view of an electric locomotive
adapted thereto and Figure 2 is an elevation of the same-Figure 3 is an elevation
of an electric locomotive suitable for traffic upon a single line and Figure 4 is a
transverse section of said single line, shewing an end view of the electric locomotive
before referred to and Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 show the various details relating to
the construction of said telpher line, or flexible track according to my Invention.
In carrying out my Invention I provide a combination of metal and wood forming
a chain, arranged in the manner shewn by the elevation, Figure 5, and plan view
Figure 6-A metal link, Figure 9, is provided with sockets o o¹ formed upon the
outer face thereof, which is shewn more particularly by Figure 8-Two bosses p pl
Figure 9, project from the inner face of said link provided with holes 7 q' so that two
such links may be placed side by side as shewn by P P1 Figure 5, and attached
together by suitable screws bolts and nuts, or other equivalent method through the

page_text: holes qq said bosses P. P' acting as distance pieces; and abutting when the double
link is thus joined or connected-I provide plugs of hard wood or other suitable
material of the shape represented by Figure 7, arranged to fit tightly within the
sockets o o' and therein secured by pins, or any suitable device for attaining the same
purpose The outer projecting face of said plugs of wood or other material is cut or
shaped so as to present an angular surface, and cause the cross section of the double
link when complete to be triangular-The inner surfaces of said plugs are bored
to receive the projecting pins of the single coupling links represented by Figure 10,
and I am thus enabled to construct a flexible chain of great structural strength, and
providing an angular surface adapted to the grooved wheels of the vehicles designed
to travel upon it, and increase the adhesion of said wheels and so minimise the slip
thereof.
25
In the application of the chain, or flexible line according to my Invention as above
described, I may support two such chains B, B', Figure 1, upon posts D, D', placed
at suitable distances apart along the line, by means of brackets C, C¹ in such a
manner that a pair of grooved wheels A, A', may freely travel thereupon.
I prefer to place the electric motor F between one pair of wheels, and attach the
armature to the axle E thereof, either driving said wheels directly from said motor,
as will be the case when the wheels are of small diameter, or employing intermediate
gearing for transmitting motion thereto from said motor. In the case of the employ-
ment of a double chain, as represented by Figures 1 and 2 I may cause all the wheels
running upon one of said chains to be electrically insulated from those running upon
the opposite chain, and transmit the electric current from a central station or stations
along said chains, completing the circuit through the motor or motors in the usual
way, the chains acting as the + and conductors respectively, or I may in certain
cases employ a separate conductor or conductors, with suitable collectors affixed to
and travelling with, the locomotives or vehicles-In the example illustrated by
Figures 1 and 2 I make use of four wheels, the axles of which are connected by a suitable
frame J to which may be suspended by a coupling bar, or hook H, a skep, bucket or
the like G for goods, or a suitable conveyance for passengers-In other cases 1 may
employ a single chain, suspended by rods d Figure 4 to brackets e which may be
supported by posts D placed at suitable intervals along the line-In this case the
wheels of the locomotives and vehicles are formed of two distinct parts or discs A A¹
with sufficient clearance between them to admit of freely passing the rod d. Each of
the said discs is driven by a separate motor F. F' with pendulous field magnets b
joined by a yoke e carrying a hook c at the extremity thereof. Each disc A A¹ is
therefore independently driven and supported by a separate spindle, in bearings
attached to the field magnet poles of the motors F F the yoke e serving to preserve
the distance between said discs, and allow of a proper grip or adhesion upon the chain
or flexible line B, hereinafter described.
In order to transmit a current of electricity to said locomotive or locomotives from
a central station or stations, I may suspend to the rods da conductor or conductors f f
suitably insulated upon which may travel the collectors g g' and I may or may no
make use of the chain B as a conductor-The hook c may carry a skep, basket
bucket or a suitable conveyance for passengers as may be desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
claim is
First. In a telpher line, or suspended flexible railway track, the employment of
linked chain, with plugs of wood, or other substance of a like nature, shaped so as t
present an angular surface, substantially as and for the purposes herein described an
set forth.
Second. In a telpher line, as referred to in the preceding claim, the method
suspending a double line and adapting locomotives or vehicles thereto substantiall
as herein described and shewn by Figures 1 and 2 in the accompanying sheet
drawings

page_text: Third. In a telpher line, the method of suspending a single line, and transmitting
an electric current from a given point to the locomotives thereon, substantially as
herein described and shewn by Figure 4 in the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Fourth. In a telpher line consisting of a single chain, as referred to in the
preceding claim, the employment of a motor vehicle or locomotive with pendulous
field magnets and double electric motor substantially as herein described and shewn.
Fifth. In a telphor line, as referred to in the preceding claim, the use of a wheel
upon the locomotives or vehicles therefor consisting of two separate discs, with
independent axles and motion, substantially as and for the purposes herein described
and set forth.
Sixth. In a telpher line or elevated suspended railway the combination of wood
and metal to form a flexible track, either single or double with electrically propelled
locomotives and vehicles therefor, substantially as herein described and shewn on the
accompanying sheet of drawings.
FREDK. WALKER & HYDE,
4, Little Moorfields, London, E.C.,
Agents for Applicant.