AN IMPROVED SYSTEM AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR TOWING CANAL BOATS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes
and Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED SYSTEM AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR TOWING
CANAL BOATS."-A communication from abroad by Floris Van Loo-
Wauters, of Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Gentleman.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 6th January 1873.
I, EDWARD THomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent
Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED SYSTEM AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR TOWING
CANAL BOATS," a communication to me from abroad by Floris Van Loo-
Wauters, of Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Gentleman, to be as
follows:-
This Invention is intended as an improvement on the ordinary and
defective plans of drawing or dragging the canal boats or craft, either by
horse power or tug steamers. For this purpose I employ a locomotive
steam engine travelling at a slow or accelerated speed on a railway laid

page_text: down for the purpose on one of the canal banks or embankments, and
when required I also lay another line of rail on which both or either
express or mixed trains can be run; this second line being totally inde-
pendent of the tug or towing line, as it is only laid down to suit
particular localities through which the canal passes. In this novel
system the working of the tug or towing train differs in no particular
from that used on common railroads except in the position of the towing
rope, which must be at the side of the motor instead of at the centre,
and by reason of the lateral traction from the canal the rail nearest the
canal must be slightly elevated above the rail so that the locomotive
whilst travelling along may find a footing or buttress.
When a single line is used the usual shuntings must of course be used
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 5th July 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents, 123,
Chancery Lane, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, Her special licence
that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
SYSTEM AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR TOWING CANAL BOATS," a communication to
me from abroad by Floris Van Loo-Wauters, of Brussels, in the Kingdom
of Belgium, Gentleman, upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors or administrators,

page_text: by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Sheet of illustrative Drawings (that is to say):-
This Invention is intended as an improvement on the ordinary and
defective plans of drawing or dragging the canal boats or craft either by
horse power or tug steamers. For this purpose I employ a locomotive
steam engine travelling at a slow or accelerated speed on a railway laid
down for the purpose on one of the canal banks or embankments, and
when required I also lay another line of rails, on which both or either
express or mixed trains can be run"; this second line being totally inde-
pendent of the tug or towing line, as it is only laid down to suit
particular localities through which the canal passes; but when only one
line of rails is used the locomotive steam tug engine can also take with
it a slow train for passengers or goods, thus affording additional facility
for traffic for the country people and workmen near the canal; and as
the dykes, shores, or embankments of the canal are the property of the
canal company or proprietors, no additional cost will be incurred for the
charter for the construction thereof. In this novel system the working
of the tug or towing train differs in no particular from that used on
common railroads except in the position of the towing rope, which must
be at the side of the motor instead of at the centre, and by reason of
the lateral traction from the canal the rail nearest the canal must be
slightly clevated above the other rail so that the locomotive whilst
travelling along may find a footing or buttress.
When a single line of rails is used the usual shuntings must of course
be provided at suitable points of the line.
This system of towing presents the advantage over the ordinary mode
of tugging by steam that the punctuality of both departure and arrival
are ensured by the regular and constant working of the tug engine,

page_text: whereas tug steamers have frequent stoppages, sometimes on account of
the snapping of the cable, at others owing to the propelling screw getting
entangled, not to mention the irregularity in the progress of the tug
boat when several barges are in tow, depriving it of that liberty of
action which is requisite for its proper action. By this system, on the
contrary, no uncertainty is experienced as to the hours of starting and
arrival of the tug trains, and the dyke or embankment is not damaged
in any way as would be the case with horses, or by the wheels of a road
locomotive. The tug engine may also be used for dragging along the
ice breakers in frosty weather. The railroad is most easily laid down,
being on a level, and as before stated affords a ready means of com-
munication between the localities through or near which the canal
passes.
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation, and Fig. 2 is a
plan illustrating the arrangements of this new towing system. The
length of the traction cable is variable according to the width of the
tow path or quay and the width of the canal. I would however observe
that it is best to make it as long as possible so as to give the barge at
the head of the convoy every steering facility so as always to keep in
the longitudinal axis of the canal. The cables connecting the craft or
barges ought for the same purpose to be placed in a centre line; and
when the convoy is very long, or the travelling speed is rather high, it
is advisable to fix to each barge two lines or cables, one to starboard and
the other to larboard.
Having thus described the nature and particulars of the said Invention
as communicated to me from abroad, I claim the novel system of rail
and steam engine, towing and tugging, substantially as herein described
and illustrated in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of July, in the
T
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E. T. HUGHES. (L.S.)