Improvements in the Rolling-stock and Permanent-way of Single-rail Railways.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 14th Mar., 1900-Accepted, 28th Apr., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Rolling-stock and Permanent-way of Single-rail
Railways.
I, HENRI JULES CAILLET, of 39, Rue Lafayette, Paris, France, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows.
This invention consists of improvements in the rolling-stock and permanent-
way of single-rail railways whose vehicles are supported, by wheels, above the
rails.
According thereto the body of a single rail vehicle is supported at its ends by
centrally arranged carrying wheels each of which is mounted to turn about a
horizontal axis in a frame or housing capable of turning about a vertical axis
so that the vehicle can be run around curves of small radius and from one rail
to another at a right angle or other angle thereto, the body of the vehicle being
provided with one or more laterally projecting supporting bars by which the car
can be supported in an upright position on the single carrying rail and by which
it can be propelled.
The frame or housing may be provided with a central vertical pin adapted to
turn freely in lower and upper bearings formed respectively in the framework of
the vehicle and in a suitably mounted guide piece. The wheel may advantageously
be loose on its axle in the housing and the latter may also be loose on the said
pin; or the housing and its pin may be fixed together and the latter be provided
with a handle whereby the wheel can be turned to any desired angle. A spring
may in some cases be arranged between the wheel housing and the guide piece
so as to support the body of the vehicle in a yielding or elastic manner.
By mounting the wheels as described, many important practical advantages
can be obtained. Thus, the vehicle can pass round sharp curves or bends of a
very small radius so as to turn through an obtuse angle or a right angle, or
through an acute angle: the vehicle can be shunted by moving it laterally and
parallel to the main line along two rails which are at right angles thereto, the
wheels being turned through a right angle whilst bearing upon a flat switching
plate hereinafter more particularly referred to the vehicle can be changed to a
track at right angles to the main track by means of a simple rotation through
a right angle of each of the wheels when each wheel has been moved successively
upon one and the same flat switching plate; the friction when passing over curves
is reduced; the vehicles can be considerably lengthened without having to con-
sider the radius of the curves: the speed of the vehicle when travelling down
inclines can be controlled by acting upon the aforesaid handle of each wheel so as
partly to turn the wheels and produce friction between the flanges thereof and
the rail; and the vehicle can be suspended by means of the vertical springs
arranged above the wheels.
For balancing a vehicle on the rail and moving it thereon by hand, it has
hitherto been usual to provide it with a horizontal bar carried by suitable supports
and projecting to a suitable extent from one side of the vehicle, or with two such
bars projecting from the same or from opposite sides of the vehicle. Now accord-

page_text: ing to this invention such bars are each fitted in sockets carried by angle iron
supports which are rigidly connected together by a metal plate and the outer of
which is formed by an outwardly projecting and upwardly bent extension of one
of the transverse members of the body of the vehicle.
In the case of a vehicle designed to be drawn by a draught animal, it has been
usual to provide the vehicle at or near its ends with two horizontal transverse bars
connected by two removable longitudinal bars or shafts between which the animal
has been harnessed or yoked. According to this invention each of such trans-
verse bars is provided at or near one side of the vehicle with a short horizontal
bar of suitable strength, say of iron, suitably secured and projecting outwards
at right angles to the transverse bar and the outer end of this short bar is con-
nected by tie rods of suitable material, as iron, on the one hand to the outer end
of the corresponding transverse bar or to a point thereof near the outer end and
on the other hand to the other side of the vehicle. Trussed beams or girders
are thus formed, which are capable of alone withstanding the pull of the draught
animal, which can be attached directly to the shafts or to the transverse bars.
The rails are, according to this invention, each retained in place upon a plate
or sleeper formed of a plate of sheet metal provided with long pressed-out lugs
which hold the foot of the rail. These sleepers are placed in position by slipping
them on one end of the rail and causing them to slide along the foot of the rail
until they reach their proper place; such sleepers may also be employed to join
the ends of the rails together, one half of the sleeper being mounted over one
of the rails and the other half over the next rail.
A track-changing apparatus according to this invention, adapted, e.g., to allow
vehicles travelling in opposite directions on the same line to pass one another, by
transferring one of the vehicles from the main line to a shunt line at one side
thereof, is composed of a large cross-plate or sleeper at which the two tracks or
lines terminate at an angle to each other.
The adjacent movable rail or switch of the main line, e.g. at the connexion with
the shunt line, is provided at one end under the rail foot with a pin which is
adapted to be inserted at will into one of two holes in the plate or sleeper, whereby
this movable rail can be locked in line with the continuation of the main line
or with the shunt line, as required. Further, the movable rail is supported in
its two positions by lugs fixed to the plate or sleeper.
A line branching off from or meeting another line or other lines or two portions
of a line at right angles or at other angles to one another, may be provided,
according to this invention, with a crossing-plate having a plane upper surface,
so that when a wheel of a vehicle is brought over the middle of such a crossing-
plate it can be freely turned by its handle in any direction to suit the line on
which it is to proceed. Two such plates arranged at such a distance apart that the
two wheels of a vehicle can be situated thereon simultaneously, and provided with
two branch-lines or rails at right angles, say, to the main-line, may be employed
for diverting a vehicle to a siding or a loading place at the side of the main
line; a similar arrangement can be employed for changing a vehicle from one line
to another parallel to it. In the case of sharp curves or bends the crossing plates
may, however, be dispensed with, as the pivoted wheels will automatically turn
to adapt themselves to the curves over which they are passing.
According to this invention, again, pipes are sometimes employed instead of
rails of ordinary form in single-rail railways. Such pipes may be connected
together and supported at their connexions in any suitable manner, as by short
pipes each having right and left hand screw threads at its ends adapted to fit
corresponding screw threads formed in the ends of the pipes that are to be
connected together, each pipe having a right hand internal screw thread at one
end and a left hand internal screw thread at the other. A suitable chair or support for
the joint between two rail pipes comprises a sole plate having a central upwardly
extending arched portion having a wall of the same thickness as the walls of
the pipes, the two end parts of this central extension being cut away from the

page_text: middle portion, and also may be cut longitudinally in the centre, and bent down
wards to form seats for the two rail pipes. The connexion of the two pipes might
be effected either by a doubly screwed internal short pipe as previously mentioned,
which might fit tightly against the upper part of the extension and be secured,
during screwing-up. by a peg engaging both it and the internal tube, or by a
simple unscrewed internal pipe fitting fairly tightly in the ends of the two pipes
and secured therein by pins each engaging both in its wall and in that of one
of the pipes or by a pin passing through the middle part of the extension and
through the internal pipe and suitably secured therein, as by a split end of the
pin engaging in a washer abutting against the undersides of the downwardly bent
portions of the extension of the chair. It is obvious that suitably formed chairs
for supporting and forming joints such as described may be made in various
ways other than that indicated.
Improvements in the Rolling-stock and Permanent-way of Single-rail
Railways.
I, HENRI JULES CAILLET, of 39, Rue Lafayette, Paris, France, 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: —
This invention consists of improvements in the rolling-stock and permanent-
way of single-rail railways whose vehicles are supported, by wheels, above the
rails.
In order that the nature and manner of performing the invention may be well
understood reference will be had in the following description to the accompanying
drawings in which Figs. 1 and 2 represent diagrammatically in side and end
elevation respectively an example of a single-rail vehicle according to this inven-
tion, and Figs. 3 and 4 represent modifications thereof. The remaining figures
are hereinafter described.
According to this invention the body 1 of a single-rail vehicle is supported at
its ends by centrally arranged carrying wheels 2 each of which is mounted
to turn about a horizontal axis in a frame or housing 2 capable of turning about
a vertical axis so that the vehicle can be run around curves of small radius and
from one rail to another at a right angle or other angle thereto, the body of the
vehicle being provided with one or more laterally projecting supporting bars 3
by which the vehicle can be supported in an upright position on the single
carrying rail A and by which it can be propelled.
The frame or housing 2ª may be provided with a central vertical pin 2b adapted
to turn freely in lower and upper bearings 2 formed respectively in the frame-
work 1 of the vehicle and a guide piece 2d mounted thereon. The wheel 2 may
advantageously be loose on its axle 2* in the housing 2* and the
housing 2
also
may
or
the pin 2;
the housing 2*
and its pin 2b may be fixed together and the pin 2b be provided
with a handle 2 whereby the wheel can be turned to any desired
angle. A spring 25 may in some cases be arranged between the housing 2ª
be loose on

page_text: and the guide piece 2 (which may be made single as shown in Fig. 3, or double
as shown in Fig. 4) so as to support the body of the vehicle in a yielding or
elastic manner.
By mounting the wheels 2 as described, many important practical advantages
can be obtained. Thus, the vehicle B can pass round sharp curves or bends of a
very small radius, as shown in diagrammatic plan in Fig. 5, so as to turn through
an obtuse angle or a right angle, or through an acute angle; the vehicle can, as
similarly shown in Fig. 6, be shunted by moving it laterally and whilst parallel
to the main line C along two rails D which are at right angles thereto, the
wheels 2 being turned through a right angle whilst bearing upon a flat switching
plate 10 hereinafter more particularly referred to; the vehicle can, as indicated
in Fig. 7, be changed to a fine E at right angles to the main line C by means of a
simple rotation through a right angle of each of the wheels 2 when it has been
moved upon one and the same flat switching plate 10; the friction when passing
over curves is reduced; the vehicles can be considerably lengthened without
having to consider the radius of the curves; the speed of the vehicle when
travelling down inclines can be controlled by acting upon the handle 2f of each
wheel so as partly to turn the wheels and produce friction between the flanges
thereof and the rail; and the vehicle can be suspended by means of the vertical
springs 2 arranged above the wheels.
For balancing a vehicle on the rail and moving it thereon by hand, it has
hitherto been usual to provide it with a horizontal bar 3 carried by suitable
supports and projecting to a suitable extent from one side of the vehicle, or
with two such bars 3 projecting from the same or from opposite sides of the
vehicle. Now according to this invention such bars 3 are, as shown in elevation
in Fig. 8, each fitted in sockets 3 carried by angle iron supports 3* which are
rigidly connected together by a metal plate and the outer of which is formed
by an outwardly projecting and upwardly bent extension of one of the transverse
members 1b of the body of the vehicle.
In the case of a vehicle designed to be drawn by a draught animal, it has been
usual to provide the vehicle at or near its ends, as illustrated in plan in Fig. 9,
with two horizontal transverse bars 3, connected by two removable longitudinal
bars or shafts 4 between which the animal has been harnessed or yoked. Accord-
ing to this invention each of such transverse bars 3 is provided at or near one
side of the body of the vehicle with a short horizontal bar or strut 3 of suitable
strength, say of iron, suitably secured and projecting outwards at right angles to
the transverse bar and the outer end of this short bar is connected by tie rods 3d
of suitable material, as iron, on the one hand to the outer end of the correspond-
ing transverse bar or to a point thereof near the outer end and on the other hand
to the other side of the vehicle. Trussed beams or girders are thus formed, which
are capable of alone withstanding the pull of the draught animal, which can
be attached directly to the shafts 4 or to one or other of the transverse bars 3.
The rails may be each retained in place, as shown in end view in Fig. 10
and in plan in Fig. 11, upon a plate or sleeper 5 formed of a plate of sheet metal
provided with long pressed-out lugs which hold the foot of the rail. These
sleepers are placed in position by slipping them on one end of the rail and causing
them to slide along the foot of the rail until they reach their proper places; such
sleepers may also be employed to join the ends of the rails together, as shown in
plan in Fig. 12, one half of the sleeper being mounted over one of the rails and
the other half over the next rail.
A track-changing apparatus adapted to allow two vehicles travelling in opposite
directions on the same line to pass each other, by transferring one of the vehicles
from the main line, to a sliding, comprises, as shown in plan in Fig. 13, a large
cross-plate or sleeper 6 at which the two lines--riz., the continuation"
of the main
line and the siding S-terminate at an angle to each other. The adjacent movable
rail or switch 9 of the main line at the connexion with the siding 8, is provided
at one end under the rail foot with a pin 9ª, as shown in elevation in Fig. 14,

page_text: which is adapted to be inserted at will into one of two holes 9 in the plate or
sleeper 6, whereby this movable rail can be locked in line with the continuation
of the main line or with the siding 8. as required. Further, the movable rail 9
is supported in its two positions by lugs 6 fixed to the plate or sleeper 6.
A line branching off from or meeting another line or other lines or two
portions of a line at a right or other angle to each other, may, as shown in
plan in Fig. 7, be provided with a crossing-plate 10 having a plane upper
surface, so that when a wheel 2 of a vehicle is brought over the middle of such a
crossing-plate it can be freely turned by its handle 2 in any direction to suit
the line on which it is to proceed. Two such plates 10 arranged, as shown in
plan in Fig. 6, at such a distance apart that the two wheels 2 of a vehicle can be
situated thereon simultaneously, and provided with two branch-lines or rails 1)
at right angles, say, to the main line, may be employed for diverting a vehicle B
to a siding or a loading place at the side of the main line; a similar arrange-
ment can be employed for shifting a vehicle from one line to another parallel
to it. In the case of sharp curves or hends the crossing-plates may, however, be
dispensed with, as the pivoted wheels will automatically turn, as indicated in
Fig. 5, to adapt themselves to the curves over which they are passing.
According to this invention, again, pipes are sometimes employed, instead of
rails of ordinary forms, in single-rail railways. Such pipes may be connected
together and supported at their connexions in any suitable manner, as by short
pipes each having right and left hand screw threads at its ends adapted to fit
corresponding screw threads formed in the ends of the rail pipes that are to be
connected together, each corresponding rail pipe having a right hand internal
serew thread at one end and a left hand internal screw thread at the other. A
suitable chair or support for the joint between two rail pipes comprises, as in the
example shown in perspective in Fig. 15, in cross section in Fig. 16, and in side
elevation in Fig. 17, a sole plate 13 having a central upwardly extending arched
portion 14 having a wall of the same thickness as the walls of the pipes 11 to be
connected together, the two end parts 15 of the central extension 14 being cut
away from the middle portion, and also may be eut longitudinally in the centre.
and bent downwards to form seats for the two rail pipes [1. The connexion of the
two pipes 1 might be effected either by a doubly screwed internal short pipe 12,
as previously mentioned, which might fit tightly against the upper part of the
extension 14 and be secured, during screwing-up, by a peg 16 engaging both it
and the internal pipe 12, or by a simple unserewed internal pipe 12 fitting fairly
tightly in the ends of the two pipes I and secured therein either by pins 17
each engaging both in its wall and in that of one of the pipes 11 or by a pin 18
passing through the middle part of the extension 14 and through the internal
pipe 12 and suitably secured therein, as by splitting the lower end of the pin 18,
passing it through a washer 18 that abuts against the undersides of the down-
wardly bent portions 15 of the extension of the chair, and separating the two
portions into which the end of the pin 18 has been split. It is obvious that
suitably formed chairs for supporting and forming joints such as described may
be made in various ways other than that indicated. In all cases variations in the
length of the rail-pipes due to changes in temperature must, of course, be allowed
for: for instance, when the screwed jointing pipes hereinbefore described are
employed, simple unscrewed internal pipes fixed to their chains by pins 18 may be
employed at intervals, the screwed joint pipes being allowed movement in their
chairs, or only one end of each rail pipe may be screw threaded, the rail pipes
having alternately right-hand and left hand threads and their unscrewed ends
fitting fairly tightly on correspondingly unscrewed ends of the joint pipes, whilst
when the pins 17 are used they may engage in slots in the pipes 12.1
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A vehicle for a single-rail railway comprising a vehicle body nervided at

page_text: its ends with centrally arranged carrying wheels each mounted to turn about a
vertical axis substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
2. A vehicle for a single-tail railway comprising a vehicle body, two centrally
arranged carrying wheels located at the ends of the vehicle and each adapted to
turn about a vertical axis, and springs for yieldingly supporting the body of the
vehicle upon the said wheels, substantially as described.
3. Vehicles for single-rail railways constructed with carrying wheels mounted.
arranged and operating, with or without springs between the vehicle framing and
the wheel housings, as hereinbefore described with reference to and shown respec-
tively in Figs. 1 and 2, in Fig. 3, and in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.
4. A vehicle for a single-rail railway, having a supporting bar carried by angle
iron supports which are rigidly connected together by a metal plate and the outer
of which is formed by an outwardly projecting and upwardly bent extension of
one of the transverse members of the body of the vehicle substantially as set
forth.
5. A vehicle for a single-rail railway having shafts connected to transverse
bars each of which is provided with a strut connected at its outer end on the
one hand to the outer end of the corresponding transverse bar or to a point thereof
near the outer end and on the other hand to the other side of the vehicle, sub-
stantially as set forth.
6. A single-rail railway in which the rails are formed by pipes connected
together as hereinbefore described.
7. In single-rail railways, rails formed by pipes connected together by short
pipes and supported at their connexions by chairs provided with central arched
extensions which have walls of the same thickness as the rail pipes, substantially
as herein before described with reference to and shown in Figs. 15, 16, and 17
of the accompanying drawings.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.,
Chartered Patent Agent.