CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY WHEREBY CARRIAGES MAY BE IMPELLED ON RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS BY MEANS OF STATIONARY ENGINES OR OTHER POWER, INCLUDING CERTAIN APPARATUS CONNECTED WITH THE CARRIAGES TO RUN ON SAME
Year: 1844

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ISAAC
FARRELL, of Great Brunswick Street, Dublin, Architect, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at Westminster,
the Fourteenth day of November, in the eighth year of Her reign, did give
and grant unto me, the said Isaac Farrell, my exors, adiñors, and assigns,
Iler especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said
Isaac Farrell, my exors, admors, & assigns, and such others as I, the said
Isaac Farrell, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times hereafter, during the term of years therein mentioned, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales,
and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, of my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY WHEREBY CARRIAGES MAY BE IMPELLED ON RAILWAYS AND
TRAMWAYS BY MEANS OF STATIONARY ENGINES OR OTHER POWER, INCLUDING CERTAIN
APPARATUS CONNECTED WITH THE CARRIAGES TO RUN ON SAME;" in which said
Letters Patent there is contained a provisoe, that I shall cause a particular
description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner same is
to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be
enrolled in Iler said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as, by
reference thereto, will more fully appear.
NOW KNOW. YE, that in compliance with the said provisoe, I, the said
Isaac Farrell, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and

page_text: ascertained in and by the following statement, thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to. the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say-
My Invention consists in the use of a continuous screw on spiral laid down
upon any line of railway or tramway paralel with the lines of rails, and either
between them or alongside them, for the purpose of propulsion. The screw,
which may consist of one or more threads or spirals, is fixed in the direction
of its length, but is caused to revolve upon its axis by steam or other power
communicated to it at proper intervals along the line by any suitable means,
or such as hereafter described. A pair of wheels or rollers are so attached to
the lower part of the framework of the leading carriage of the train as to
bear upon the rim or spiral rail forming the thread of the screw, which I
shall call the screw propeller," one wheel being at either side of its axis of
rotation. The position and arrangement of these propelling wheels are best
shewn in the Drawings and subsequent description, and are such that while
the one wheel is propelled and carries the train forward along with it by being
borne against by the thread of the screw, the other wheel, which is at the
opposite side of the axis of the screw, which I call the check wheels, bears
against or follows the spiral, and thus prevents the leading carriage and
train from running forward or moving with an unequal motion by acquiring
acceleration from any cause. The screw propeller is capable of rotation both
ways, and on its motion being reversed these wheels change their respective
offices, that which was the check wheel before now becoming the driving or
propelling wheel, and that which was the propelling wheel becoming the check.
The advantages which I propose from my Invention are, the economy of power
for locomotion by the use of fixed engines or water power in place of loco-
motive engines; economy in the construction of railways by the use of light
iron rails or wooden rails, having got rid of the locomotive; and in smaller
bridges, cuttings, and embankments, and sharper gradients; lighter construc-
tion of carriages, hence less useless load; and safety to passengers by collision
being impossible.
Having thus described the general nature of my Invention I proceed to
describe more minutely the modes which I propose for carrying it into effect
in practice, referrence being had to the annexed Drawings, and the figures and
letters thereon; the same letters refer to the same parts in all the Drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1, 2, Sheet 1, are an elevation and horizontal section of a railway

page_text: power to the screw propeller gradually is
A, A, is the main shaft upon which the
Within
peller d, e, f, 22 inches diameter, and at a 10-feet pitch. Every revolution of
such propeller will impel the carriages forward ten feet; but the dimensions
and pitch may be varied according to the power employed and the speed it is
desired to obtain. The engine or source of power should be so [placed as at
O, so as to actuate à line of screw propeller, say a mile in length, in cach
direction along the line of railway.
The method of communicating the
shown in Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 2,
wheel B, whether mitre or spur, runs loose between collars. At the back of
the wheel a short cylinder or ring I is cast on and bored out true.
this ring are placed the two semicircular segments of cast iron D, D, connected
at their junctions by the wrought iron right and left handed screws F, G, which
have a small pinion E between them, all cut out of the solid. When both
screws at each end of the diamiter are screwed home, or nearly so, the
diamiter of the rings D is such as to be free of the inside of the cylinder cast
on the back of the wheel by about 1/8th of an inch all round. The ring is
turned on the circumference and edges; it has no connexion in this state
with the wheel whatever. C is a cast-iron centre boss and pair of cross arms
which is keyed on fast upon the shaft A. The extremities of the arms drop
into two recesses with wrought-iron steady pins at each side of the rings
before described, so that when the shaft revolves it carries round the boss
and cross arms along with it, and these carry round the ring within the cylin-
der. On the back of the wheel K is a gland sliding freely on the shaft A
in the direction of its length, and caused to revolve with it by
a groove and
feather: This is moved at pleasure along the shaft by the lever M. The
gland K carries, at the opposite ends of its diamiter, two small wrought-iron
racks II, H, which moves in slots or grooves within the boss C, and whose
teeth engage with those of the intermediate spur wheels L, L, which turn the
pinions E, E, before described. The wheels L, L, turn loose on their axles,
and move between jaws cast on to the boss C, and are therefore carried round
by the shaft along with the rest of the system. When either of the wheels B
is required to be thrown gradually into gear with the shaft on which it turns,
the lever M is caused gradually to move the racks H, H, towards the wheel
required to be engaged. The wheels L and the pinions E are thus turned,
and the right and left handed screws F, G, turning also, gradually force
asunder the two semicircular segment's D, D, and press them with a continually
increasing friction against the inside of the cylinder cast on the back of the
wheel B, and thus the wheel may be brought into motion at any desired
degree of velocity, or maintained for some time, revolving at any rate slower

page_text: than that of the shaft A, and the power of the engine may thus be gradually
transmitted from one wheel and line of shafting to the other. In the event
of a crossing a pinion similar to that at O, Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1, would
be fixed on the ends of the lines of shafting, and connected by an underlying
shaft and cog wheels. The screw propeller is supported in length, say from
12 to 15 feet, on cast iron or other pedestals or saddles secured to the cross
These saddles would be
sleepers of the railway by bolts or wood screws.
about one to one and an half inch thick at the point where the spiral passes,
and have a broad base to rest on the sleeper, and formed with suitable bear-
ings, brasses, caps, and retaining straps or bolts, and be supplied with oil
cups, &c.
The apparatus connected with the carriages shown at large in Figures 1
and 2, Sheet 3, consists of one or more pair of propelling and check wheels
P, P, attached to the leading carriage frame. These may be of any con-
venient size. I make them 2 feet diameter, each suspended between
parallel jaws, which carry their axle bearings. When the wheels P, P, are
lowered to their place these jaws form an angle of forty-five degrees or there-
abouts with the under carriage, and turn on centres at the top, which permit
them to be raised up when the propelling wheels are to be disengaged from
the screw. The method of raising them is by two connecting rods Q, Q,
attached by centres to the jaws of the propelling wheels P, P, and to the
ends of the crossbeam V, in such a manner that when the conductor turns
the vertical screw S the propelling wheels P, P, are both raised at the same
time. The vertical screw S turns in a travelling cylinder or nut T, having a
flange at top and bottom. The crossbeam V rests on the bottom flange, and
is attached to a short cylinder, the bore of which is equal to the outside
diameter of the travelling cylinder before mentioned, and thus permits it to
move up and down upon it. The spiral spring W presses on this beam, and
keeps it in its place, but permits it to rise in case of any sudden shock. From
the ends of this beam the lifting rods Q, Q, are suspended. A spring com-
.posed of a flat plate of steel Y, at the outer end of each axle of the propelling
wheels, allows them to have a lateral freedom, the use of which is to permit
them to yield in the line of their own axis to the spiral of the propeller when
revolving, in case of their being lowered at such a point that the spirál comes
into contact first with the side instead of the face of the wheels, when,
having allowed the spiral to pass, the wheels will instantly adjust themselves
upon it. When the conductor wants to stop the carriages he turns the vertical
screw S by means of the handle Z, and when the propelling wheels P, P, are
lifted up so as to clear the spiral, the travelling cylinder or nut T has reached

page_text: the crossbeam a, which it raises up; and thus, by means of the suspension
rods b, b, that are attached to the cranks on the axle c of the breaks, presses
the breaks against the periphery of the bearing wheels in the ordinary way.
By this contrivance the breaks can never be applied until the propelling
wheels have been disengaged from the screw propeller; and thus the same
action, namely, the turning of the vertical screw, acts as described in raising
or lowering the propelling wheels, and applying or relieving the breaks.
Figures 9 and 10, Sheet 3, show a section and elevation of the screw pro-
peller and bearing saddles on a large scale. The shaft d is shown hollow, four
inches diameter by one half inch thick. This I make strongest near the
engine, and gradually diminish to the extreme end; the lengths of twelve to
fifteen feet may be connected by solid bearing pieces of rolled or cast iron
turned and keyed in, as shown in Figures 3, 9, and 10, or otherwise properly
secured; or they may be enlarged at one end to form a socket joint, and the
other end left undiminished and made to fit the socket, so as to form a proper
coupling, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, and in which case the journals may
turn between friction rollers, the arms or levers e connecting the shaft with
the spiral of wrought iron of the form shown, sunk on not upon the shaft,
and keyed. The spiral f to be of rolled iron, as shown in section, Figures 4
and 9, rivetted on the extremities of the arms by hot rivets.
Figures 3, 4, and 5 show a coupling for the joints of the shafting on curves
which permits motion like that of the joint known as Hooke's universal joint,
within certain limits; the jaws of the lever g, which is fast on the driving
length of shaft, receive the lever es between them fast on the driven length
which slips on to the end of the bearing piece at m, turned nearly cylindrical,
but fuller at the centre than at the ends. Figures 9 and 10 show a coupling
for the straight parts made like the foregoing, but with the substitution of a
cross pin through the bearing piece m, in place of the jawed lever to transfer
the motion from one length of shafting to the next, and in such a manner as
to allow of some play in case of irregularity of the direction of the shafting
without deranging their motion. Figures 7 and 8 show a coupling for either
straight lines or curves, being what may be called a polygonal socket joint.
In the foregoing I have described what I. consider the best method of
making the propelling screw and apparatus for driving and connecting the
carriages therewith; but I do not limit myself to these particular arrange
ments or modes of construction, as they may be modified in a variety of ways.
Thus, the screw propeller, or the parts of the application, may be made wholly
of cast iron or any other metal, or of wood, or of a combination of wood and
metal, or of other materials; nor do I confine myself to any of these details so
long as the peculiar characteristic of my Invention is retained, that is to say :-

page_text: I claim the use and application of a screw fixed in the direction of its
length to the purpose of propulsion or locomotion upon railways or tramways,
however constructed and at whatever slope or angle the same may be laid
with respect to the horizon.
I also claim the application to the spiral of the propelling and check wheels,
whether placed vertically or horizontally, and the methods for raising and
lowering the same, together with the apparatus described and figured for
effecting this.
I further claim the application to my screw propeller of all methods and
contrivances whatsoever for bringing the same gradually into or out of revolv-
ing motion from the source of power.
I also claim the power to apply a tubular or solid stiffening or guide bar of
iron or other fit material above or along and parallel to the axis of the screw
propeller, so as to act as a guide to the carriages, as shown in Figures 6
and 8, Sheet 3, which should then be furnished with guide rollers attached to
the under carriage, and thus to dispense with flanges upon the carriage wheels;
and to use this, if a tubular bar, for the purposes of communication by signal,
telegraph, or otherwise between station and station.
In witness whereof, I, the said Isaac Farrell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-five.
Signed, sealed, and delivered, in pre-
sence of
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Eighth day of May, in the
year of our Lord. 1845, the aforesaid Isaac Farrell came before our said
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-five.