Improvements in Overhead Railways with Suspended Vehicles or Receptacles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 20th Apr., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Overhead Railways with Suspended Vehicles or
Receptacles.
I, EUGEN LANGEN, of Werthstrasse 14 Cologne, Germany, Manufacturer, 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 an improved construction of overhead railways from
trolleys running on which are suspended vehicles or receptacles containing the
objects to be transported, and more particularly to such railways of a light con-
struction in which the line consists of a single rail supported at intervals by
standards or trestles.
According to my present improvements, 1 construct the supports of two inclined
legs pivotted together at the upper end so that their lower ends can be adjusted at
a greater or less distance apart to suit the ground over which the railway is laid.
From the said pivot of these supports I suspend a strong curved bar or rod, to
the lower end of which the rail of the railway is rigidly fixed, the bar or rod being
curved outwards to one side at the intermediate part thereof to such an extent as
to give room for a truck or trolley running on the upper side of the rail, from
which truck the vehicle or receptacle is suspended by a link or links that are
curved outward so as to pass round the side of the rail opposite that to which the
suspension bar of the rail is fixed, and thus bring the point of suspension in the
vertical plane passing through the rail and trolley.
Figs. 1 and 2 on the accompanying drawing shew by way of example a cross
section and a part side view of a light elevated railway constructed according to
my above described invention. Fig. 3 shews an enlarged section of the suspension
joint. are the legs or supports pivotted together at a, and capable of being
placed at any angle apart to suit the level of the ground. The pivot piu a also
constitutes the point of suspension of the curved link & the lower end of which is
fixed rigidly to the side of the rail c, on the upper edge of which run the trucks d
carrying the load e, by means of the suspension link f
The above described construction affords the following advantages. Firstly, the
Eupporting legs or trestles can be adjusted to any position to suit the surface of
the ground traversed without affecting the vertical position of the rail and its
suspension. Secondly, the supporting legs are not subjected to any transverse
strain, and can consequently be made very light.
When the suspended vehicle or receptacle is subjected to the action of lateral
forces, such as wind causing it to assume an inclined position, the rail can assume
a correspondingly inclined position in so far as its elasticity permits of this, and
consequently it is enabled to withstand such lateral strain much more effectually.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
In an elevated railway, the combination of two legs or supports 11 pivotted
together at the upper ends at a and resting with their lower ends upon the ground
at any desired angle apart, a link 6 having the running rail e fixed thereto being
suspended from the pivot a so that the link and rail can swing upon the said nivot.
C

page_text: and thus either maintain a vertical position or assume an inclined position
independently of the position of the supports 11, substantially as described.
Dated this 12th day of March 1895.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.