IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR TRANSPORTING HEAVY OBJECTS FROM ONE LOCALITY TO ANOTHER
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Burton Brown, Royal Artillery, of
Woolwich, in the County of Kent, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR TRANSPORTING HEAVY OBJECTS
FROM ONE LOCALITY TO ANOTHER.”
"
Sealed the 9th August 1870, and dated the 11th February 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Burton
"
Brown at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 11th February 1870.
I, ALEXANDER BURTON BROWN, Royal Artillery, of Woolwich, in the
County of Kent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR TRANSPORTING HEAVY OBJECTS
FROM ONE LOCALITY TO ANOTHER," to be as follows:-
My Invention has for its object to facilitate the transport and turning
of heavy objects, such as masses of metal, ordnance, &c., from one
locality and position to another. It consists in the employment of a
strong framing, sleigh, or slide upon which the load is supported, and

page_text: which is provided on its under side with two or more grooved longi-
tudinal bearers resting upon metal spheres or shot, cither solid or hollow,
situated in gutters or grooved tramways let into skidding, or otherwiso
placed upon the ground in positions corresponding with such longi-
tudinal bearers, so that in moving the sleigh along upon the spheres or
shot these roll freely in the gutters or grooved tramways between these
and the grooved bearers. The grooves in the bearers and tramways are
preferred to be of a semi-elliptic or circular or other curved transverse
section, and of such a width and depth as to allow of some play of
the shot in them; they are preferably of hard metal or of wood lined
wholly or partially with metal (having in the latter case, by preference,
longitudinal metal bars supported at intervals by transverse bars) and
the spheres or shot, which may be either solid or hollow, are also by
preference made of hard metal, such as iron or steel. In cases where
the guns or other objects have to be transported over ice the metal or
wooden gutters may be dispensed with and gutters be cut in the ice
itself.
For turning round corners or otherwise changing the direction of the
sleigh various arrangements are to be employed. Thus in one arrange-
ment a curved gutter may be made to connect the two outer gutters of
two straight lines situated at an angle to each other, while the two-inner
gutters of such lines meet at an angle, and, the sleigh is caused to turn
round such curved portion by pivotting with its one side bearer upon a
shot situated at the apex of the inner angle constituting the centre of
rotation, and by resting with its other bearer upon two or more other
shot situated in the outer curved gutter, an intermediate auxilliary
gutter and corresponding bearer being if necessary applied with one or
moro, other shot between them for relieving the pivotting shot more
or less from the pressure of the sleigh, and in this case such pivotting
shot may even be dispensed with altogether.
In another arrangement the two straight lines may be connected by
two curved gutters of larger radius, so that owing to the amount of
play allowed in the gutters the sleigh can move round on shot rolling in
both curved gutters, or the sleigh may be provided at each end with
short swivelling "bogie" bearers resting upon the shot and adjusting
themselves to the curvature of the gutters.
In another arrangement a metal sphere is fixed centrally under the
sleigh at a point directly under or nearly directly under the centre of

page_text: gravity of the sleigh and load combined, and resting in a metal cup let
into planking on the ground, upon which sphere the sleigh is made to
pivot with or without the assistance of circular gutters and corresponding
grooved bearers between which shot are placed.
In another arrangement the sleigh is provided with two sets of parallel
grooved bearers intersecting each other at right angles or any other
angle, so that when the sleigh after running upon its longitudinal
bearers is required to receive a lateral motion this is effected by causing
it to run with its transverse bearers upon shot placed in gutters situated
at the required angle to the other line of gutters. Or any other con-
vonient method for changing the direction of motion may be employed
if desired in connection with the contrivances above described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Burton Brown in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 10th August 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
BURTON BROWN, Royal Artillery, of Woolwich, in the County of Kent,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the
thirty-third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Burton Brown, Her
special licence that I, the said Alexander Burton Brown, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander
Burton Brown, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR TRANSPORTING HEAVY OBJECTS
FROM ONE LOCALITY TO ANOTHER," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Alexander Burton Brown, my executors or administrators,
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

page_text: said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
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 Alexander Burton Brown, 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 thereof, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked thercon,
that is to say :-
-
My Invention has for its object to facilitate the transport and turning
of heavy objects, such as masses of metal, ordnance, &c., from onc
Iocality and position to another. It consists in the employment of a
strong framing, sleigh, or slide upon which the load is supported, and
which is provided on its under side with two or more grooved longi-
.tudinal bearers resting upon metal spheres or shot, either solid or hollow,
situated in gutters or grooved tramways termed "ferbruns".let into
skidding, or otherwise placed upon the ground in positions corresponding
with such longitudinal bearers, so that in moving the sleigh along upon
the spheres or shot these roll freely in the gutters or grooved tramways
or "ferbruns" between these and the grooved bearers. The grooves in
the bearers and "ferbruns" are preferred to be of a semi-elliptic or
circular or other curved- transverse section, and of such a width and
depth as to allow of some play of the shot in them; they are preferably
of hard-metal- or of wood--lined wholly or partially with metal (having
in the latter case by preference longitudinal metal bars supported at
intervals by transverse bars), and the spheres or shot, which may be
either solid or hollow, are also by preference made of hard metal, such
´as iron or steel. In cases where the guns or other objects have to be
transported over ice the metal or wooden "ferbruns" may be dispensed
with and gutters be cut in the ice itself.
For turning round corners or otherwise changing the direction of the
sleigh various arrangements are to be employed. Thus in one arrange-
ment a curved ferbrun may be made to connect the two outer ferbruns
of two straight lines situated at any angle to each other, while the two
îuner ferbruns of such lines micet at any angle, and the sleigh is caused
to turn round such curved portion by pivotting with its one side bearer
upon a shot situated at the apex of the inner angle constituting the

page_text: centre of rotation, and by resting with its other bearer upon two or
more other shot situated in the outer curved ferbrun and intermediate
auxilliary ferbrun, and corresponding bearer being if necessary applied
with one or more other shot between them for relieving the pivotting
shot more or less from the pressure of the sleigh, and in this case such
pivotting shot may even be dispensed with altogether, or in lieu of a
curved ferbrun a flat metal plate or hard flat surface may be employed
as before.
In another arrangement the two straight lines may be connected by
two curved ferbruns of larger radius, so that owing to the amount of
play allowed in the ferbrun the sleigh can move round on shot rolling
in both curved ferbruns, or the sleigh may be provided at each end
with swivelling "bogie" bearers resting upon the shot and adjusting
themselves to the curvature of the gutters.
In another arrangement a metal cup is fixed centrally under the
sleigh at a point directly under or nearly directly under the centre of
gravity of the sleigh and load combined, and resting on a metal sphero
let into planking on the ground, upon which sphere the sleigh is
made to pivot with or without the assistance of circular ferbruns and
corresponding grooved bearers between which shot are placed.
In another arrangement the sleigh is provided with two sets of parallel
ferbruns intersecting each other at right angles or any other angle, so
that when the sleigh after running upon its longitudinal ferbrun is
required to receive a lateral motion this is effected by causing it to run
with its transverse bearers upon shot placed in gutters situated at the
required angle to the other line of gutters. Or any other convenient
method for changing the direction of motion may be employed if desired
in connection with the contrivances above described.
Having thus set forth the nature of my said Invention I will now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with of performing
the same.
Figure 1 on Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings shows a side
elevation of the grooved tramway or ferbrun and sleigh or carriage with
the gun thereon ready to be moved along the ferbrun. (In this Figure
the side of the tramway and sleigh is partly broken away to show the
position of the sphere in the metal groove.) Figure 2 shews an end view
thereof; and Figure 3 shows a general plan of the same with the gun
removed. A is one length of the grooved ferbruns braced together by

page_text: screwed metal tie rods a, a, and having on each side a small wheel a³,
which can be raised or lowered by means of the lever a² for the purpose
of raising the tramway from the ground to facilitate its removal when
required. The ends of each length of the ferbruns are held in position
by means of dowells a³ fitting into corresponding holes a. B is the b
sleigh or carriage with its transverse pieces b, b, for supporting the ends
of the gun C. This sleigh or framing is braced together by means of
tie rods and keys b², so as to be capable of being taken to pieces if
required for transport. D, D, are eye bolts for attaching the power for
moving the load along the ferbrun. As the sleigh is moved along the 1
spheres E, E, are taken away from behind it and placed in the tramway
groove in front of it, to facilitate the entrance of the spheres underneath
the sleigh, particularly if the ferbruns happen to be laid in a hollow of
the ground. The ends of the sleigh are curved as shown.
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 on Sheet I. show some of the various methods 1
which may be employed in forming the ferbruns. Figure 4 shews the
construction employed in the arrangement above described, having
packing pieces a³ for supporting the curved metal trough aª. Figure 5,
in licu of a continuous metal trough, has longitudinal metal bars a
imbedded in a grooved beam for forming the rolling surface, such 20
longitudinal bars being if necessary supported at intervals by curved
transverse bars, as indicated. In Figure 6 the spheres E, E', are sup-
ported between angle irons a³ secured to the beam, the smaller sphere E
having three points of support, as shewn, while the larger one rests only
on the edges of the angle irons. In Figure 7 the forbrun is formed with 2
a V groove having longitudinal bars of metal a' fixed in such a position
upon the inclined sides thereof as to form the bearing surface for the
spheres. The ferbrun shewn at Figure 8 has an ordinary double-headed
rail a", one side of which is imbedded into the beam, while the other or
upper side forms a gutter for the spheres to move along. Or in place of 3
the rail aordinary trough-shaped iron may be used. By preference,
however, I employ the curved form of ferbrun shown at Figures 4
and 5.
Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 on Sheet II. shew various
arrangements for turning the sleigh or carriage round corners, or for 3
changing the direction of its motion. Figure 9 shows an arrangement
in which the two outer ferbruns A, A, running at an angle to cacli
other are connected by a curved ferbrun A', while the two inner fer-

page_text: bruns A, A, meet at an angle. The blue lines shew one position of the
sleigh or carriage with its load as it moves round the curve, pivotting
at the inner side upon the sphere E', while the outer side is supported
by the spheres E, E³, which are introduced in front as the sleigh moves
round. The red lines shew another position of the sleigh or carriage as
it proceeds round the curve, the inner side still pivotting upon the
sphere.E, while the outer side, is, resting upon the spheres. E and E³,
and so on, the inner side of the sleigh continuing to pivot upon the
sphere E', and to roll upon two outer spheres, shewn in various positions
in dotted black lines, until the outer side has moved completely
round the curve. The sleigh then proceeds along the straight ferbrun
in the manner previously mentioned. Figure 10 shews two straight
ferbruns A, A, connected by two curved ferbruns A¹, A', of large radius,
so that by allowing sufficient room in both grooves for the spheres to
play in the sleigh can be easily moved round. upon them.
--
Figure 11 shows a plan, and Figure 12 à transverse section of an
arrangement of a central pivot and circular grooves, for turning .the
sleigh; it consists of a metal sphere F fixed centrally under the load,
and resting in a metal cup G let into the planking H laid upon the
ground. Upon this sphere the central portion I of the sleigh pivots by
means of a metal socket i, and is supported at the sides by means of the
spheres E rolling in the circular gutter J surrounding the central sphere.
Figure 18 shews a modification of the preceding arrangement where the
central sphere is dispensed with, the circular gutter J being of a diameter
equal to the gauge of the ferbruns, and having short projecting ends J
for fitting against the straight lengths of the ferbruns. The spheres E,
shewn in full lines, indicate their positions on running the sleigh on to
the circular gutter, while those shewn in dotted lines indicate the
position in which they are placed after the sleigh has been turned ready
to move off the circular gutter.
Figure 14 shews another arrangement where the outer circular gutter J
is made much larger in proportion to the gauge of the straight ferbrun
than in those just described, in order to afford greater steadiness in the
load while turning round. A central spherical pivot E is provided in
this case.
Figure 15 shews an arrangement of the sleigh or carriage frame for
enabling it to be moved in different directions. It is composed of two
sets of parallel-grooved-bearers-B, B, B', B', intersecting-each-other-at-

page_text: right angles or any other angle, so that when the sleigh or carriage after
running upon its longitudinal bearers B, B, is required to receive a
lateral motion it is effected by causing it to run with its transverse
bearers B¹, B', upon spheres placed in a line of ferbruns placed at the
required angle to the other line. The ferbruns would by preference bet
constructed with intersecting lengths similar to those on the sleigh.
Figure 16 shews a general perspective view of the ferbruns A, spheres E,
and sleigh or carriage B.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I ]
do not confine myself to the use of any particular shaped groove or
gutter for the spheres to roll in, as other forms than those shown may
be used; nor do I limit myself to the precise arrangements herein-before
described, as these may be variously modified without departing from
the nature of my Invention; nor do I claim the various details of 1
construction when taken separate and apart from the purposes of my
Invention; but what I claim is,-
:
First. The moving of heavy objects, such as masses of metal, ordnance,
and the like, by means of a sleigh, carriage, or slide upon which the load
is supported, and which is provided with grooved bearers resting upon 2
hollow or solid spheres of metal or other suitable material rolling
freely in straight or curved gutters or grooved tramways or ferbruns,
substantially as described.
Second. I claim the various before-described constructions of ferbruns
and carriage or sleigh and arrangements for changing the direction of 2
motion when employed for the purposes of my Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Burton Brown, have
hereunto set my hand and scal, this Eighth day of August, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
מממדה ז
ALEX. B. BROWN. (L.S.)
Licut. R.A., F.R.A.S., F.G.S.
3