Improvements in and relating to Spiral Railways.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 31st Mar., 1892-Accepted, 21st May, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Spiral Railways.
I, LORENZO Dow BUTTERS SHAW, of Coney Island in the County of Kings,
and State of New York, United States of America do hereby declare the nature of
my said invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to certain improvements in what are known as sliding hills
or chutes, and in carriages to be used therewith, the object being to provide a per-
fectly safe means for raising the carriages and also to provide an out-look at the top
of the structure.
The invention consists of an inner spiral track and a vertical rotating shaft
provided with arms that come into contact with a roller on the side of the carriage
and force the same up the said spiral track, and also in certain details of construction
as hereinafter described.
I arrange standards in circular form, these standards are preferably of metal tubes
connected together by collars or other suitable means, and to these standards are
secured cross pieces or beams that project inwardly and outwardly. To the cross
pieces that project inwardly are secured planks upon which are fastened rails that
form an inner spiral track up which the carriages are to be forced up, and to the
cross pieces that project outwardly are secured planks upon which are fastened rails
that form an outer spiral track down which the carriages run.
The two tracks are connected at their lower and upper ends by rails, thus making a
continuous double spiral, up one of which the carriages are first raised and then run
down the other.
A short distance outside the rail, standards are secured to the planks and on the
top of the standards are bolted angle iron guard rails.
To the upper ends of the standards are secured cross beams, in the centre of
which is fitted a bearing in which the upper end of a vertical shaft is journaled, its
lower end running in a step, a rotary action is imparted to this shaft by any suitable
means. To the shaft are secured four sets of arms, two sets of which extend out so
as to nearly touch the inner rail, and upon the ends of these arms are secured bars
that extend the whole height of the track, and which force the carriages up the
track, and to the other arms are also secured bars, but these arms are not quite so
long as they are only intended to counterbalance the other arms and bars.
At the lowest point where the two tracks join each other the rails are level
for a short distance to form a station where the passengers enter or leave the
cars, and at the upper part of the track there is also a level portion that forms a
station. At this part is provided a platform where the passengers may alight, and
from this platform a flight of steps lead to a platform that extends over the entire
top of the spirals and forms an observatory, and over this platform is a roof sup-
ported from the platform by suitable standards. A railing is placed around the
platform to prevent persons falling off.
The axle of the carriage is square in the part that is under the carriage, and is
secured thereto by a bolt passing through it and through the bottom of the carriage,
and also by two clamps secured to the bottom of the carriage. The axle is formed
with two collars, between which the bottom of the carriage fits, and the portions
outside of the collars are turned down to form journals for the running wheels and
for safety wheels, and the extreme ends of the journals are turned down to . caller
diameter, and screw threaded to receive a nut that secures both the running and
safety wheels in place. The flange of the running wheels keep thein in place, but
should the carriage from any cause jump, then the small or safety wheels will come
into contact with the angle-iron guard rails and prevent the running wheels from

page_text: raising sufficient to pass over the flange of the rail. To the inner side of the rear
of the car is secured a bearing, the outer face of which is at or about an angle of
45 degrees to the side of the car, and is provided with bearings in which are mounted
the journals of a roller. Bearings of this roller I prefer to secure to a shaft
mounted in bearings secured to the side of the car, and between the bearings is
interposed a spiral spring, so that when the raising bar comes into contact with the
roller all sudden jar will be prevented, as the spring will yield, and on the end of
the rod carrying the roller bearings is secured a handle which is under the control
of the brakeman, so that should it be desired, for any reason, to throw the roller out
of contact with the bar, it can be readily accomplished by the movement of the
handle.
It will be seen that by this construction of track and means of raising the
carriages, perfect safety is ensured and at the same time the passengers have a view
of the surroundings as they are being raised, and they have also the advantage of a
temporary stay upon the elevated platform, thus affording a fine opportunity of
viewing the surrounding scenery.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Spiral Railways.
I, LORENZO DOW BUTTERS SHAW, of Coney Island, in the County of Kings,
and State of New York, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of my 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 certain improvements in what are known as sliding hills
or chutes, and in carriages to be used therewith, the object being to provide a
perfectly safe means for raising the carriages, and also to provide an outlook at the
top of the structure.
The invention consists of an inner spiral track, and a vertical rotating shaft
provided with arms that come into contact with a roller on the side of the carriage
and force the same up the spiral track, and also in certain details of construction as
hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 represents a side view of a sliding hill embodying my invention.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line A, A, of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the lower portion of the sliding hill, taken through
the centre of the same.
Fig. 4 represents a vertical transverse section through one of the tracks, and a
carriage embodying my invention.
Figs. 5 and 6 are each a plan or top view of one of the carriages.
A, A, represent standards arranged in a circular form as shown. These
standards I prefer to make of metal tubes connected together by collars or other
suitable means.
To these standards are secured cross pieces or beams C, D,
the cross pieces C, projecting inwards towards the centre, and the cross pieces D,
projecting outwards. To the cross pieces C, are secured planks upon which are
fastened rails E, E, that form an inner spiral track up which the carriages are to be
forced, and to the cross pieces D, are secured planks upon which are fastened
rails E', E', that form an outer spiral track down which the carriages run.
The two tracks are connected at their lower ends by rails E³, E, and at their
upper ends by rails E³, E, thus making a continuous double spiral, up one of
which the carriages are first raised and then run down the other, the carriages
travelling in the direction of the arrows.

page_text: A short distance outside the rails, standards V, are secured to the planks e, and
on the top of the standards are bolted angle-iron guard rails W.
To the upper ends of the standards A, are secured cross-beams F, in the centre of
which is fitted a bearing f, in which the upper end of a vertical shaft G, is journaled,
its lower end running in a step g, a rotary motion is imparted to this shaft by any
suitable means. In the drawing I have shown a pulley H, secured upon the shaft
which may be driven by a rope or chain. To the shaft are secured four sets of
arms I, I'. The arms I, extend out so as to nearly touch the inner rail E; upon
the ends of these arms are secured bars J, that extend the whole height of the
track, and to the arms I', are secured bars J¹, these arms are not quite so long, as
they are only intended to counterbalance the other arms I, and bars J.
At the lowest point where the two tracks join each other, the rails are level for
a short distance to form a station where the passengers enter or leave the cars, and
at the upper part of the track there is also a level portion that forms a station. At this
part is provided a platform K, where the passengers may alight, and from this
platform a flight of steps L, lead to a platform M, that extends over the entire top
of the spirals and forms an observatory, and over this platform is a roof N, sup-
ported from the platform M, by standards P, a railing Q, is placed around the
platform to prevent persons falling off.
S, represents a carriage, the axle S', of which is square in the part that is under
the carriage, and is secured thereto by a bolt v, passing through it, and through the
bottom of the carriage, and also by two clamps X, secured to the bottom of the
carriage as shown, the axle is formed with two collars h, h, between which
the bottom of the carriage fits, and the portions outside of the collars are turned
down to form journals,h', for the running wheels Y, and safety wheels Z, and
the extreme ends of the journals are turned down to a smaller diameter and screw
threaded to receive a nut z, that secures both the running and safety wheels in
place.
The wheels Y, run up the rails E, the flange of which keep them in place, but
should the carriage from any cause jump, then the small or safety wheels Z will
come into contact with the angle irons W, and prevent the wheels Y, from raising
sufficient to pass over the flange of the rail E. To the inner side of the rear of the
car is secured a bearing T, the outer face of which is at about an angle of 45 degrees
to the side of the car, and is provided with bearings in which are mounted the
journals of a roller U, but instead of a rigid hearing I prefer to mount the roller as
shown in Fig. 6, in which the bearing T, carrying the roller U, is secured to a
shaft t, mounted in bearings s, s¹, secured to the side of the car, and between the
bearings T, and the bearing s¹, is interposed a spiral spring u, so that when
the bar J, comes into contact with the roller U, all sudden jar will be prevented,
as the spring will yield, and on the end of the rod t, is secured a handle t¹, which is
under the control of the brakeman, so that should it be desired for any reason to
throw the roller U, out of contact with the bar J, it can be readily accomplished by
the movement of the handle t¹.
The body of the car may be of any desired form or design.
The operation is as follows:
Suppos ng the shaft G, to be rotated and a car is at the lowest point, the
passengers enter the same, and it is pushed forward by an attendant until one of
the bars J, come in contact with the roller U, upon the side of the car, and forces
it forward, it is thus caused to travel up the inner spiral, and when it arrives at the
highest point, the car runs forward a short distance (as the track is there slightly
inclined) and leaves the bar J. The car is now upon the level portion of the top
of the track where the passengers can alight upon the platform K, and by the
steps L, ascend to the platform M, where they can obtain an extended view of the
surrounding scenery, and when they wish to return they pass down the steps L, to
the platform K, and enter a car which is then by an attendant pushed forward off
the level portion of the track, and the car by its own gravity descends the outer
spiral until it reaches the lowest point where the passengers leave the car.

page_text: It will be seen that by this construction of track and means of raising the
carriages herein described, perfect safety is ensured, and at the same time
the passengers have a view of the surroundings as they are being raised, and
they have also the advantage of a temporary stay upon the elevated platform, thus
affording a fine opportunity of viewing the surrounding scenery.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a sliding hill two spiral tracks arranged one within the other and connected
together at the top and bottom, standards arranged between the two tracks, and
cross pieces or beams secured to said standards for supporting the tracks, one on
each side of the standards substantially as set forth.
2. In combination with a spiral track, a reel consisting of a central shaft, and
radial arms carrying bars arranged parallel with the shaft, said reel being supported
upon its end, means for rotating said reel, and a roller secured to the side of the car
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In combination with a sliding hill having an inner or ascending spiral track,
and an outer or descending spiral track, said tracks being connected together at
the top and bottom, a platform supported above said tracks and a flight of steps
leading from a platform at the highest part of said tracks to the platform above,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. A carriage having a roller secured to one side on a suitable angle in com-
bination with a spiral track, and means for engaging said roller, and forcing the
carriage up the said track substantially as set forth.
5. A spiral track in combination with a vertical shaft, having arms carrying bars,
said shaft having a rotary motion imparted thereto whereby carriages are forced up
the said spiral track as set forth.
6. In combination with a sliding hill, a spiral track upon which the carriages are
raised, and a central shaft having arms and bars for engaging with a roller secured
to the side of the carriage, substantially as set forth.
7. In a sliding hill the combination of an outer track an inner spiral track, the
two tracks being connected together at the top and bottom, a central shaft having
arms carrying bars that engage with a roller on the side of the carriage for forcing
it up the inner spiral track, substantially as set forth.
8. In combination with a carriage for a sliding hill, a roller U, mounted in
bearings secured to a rod t, mounted in bearings s, secured to the side of the car, a
spiral spring u, and handle ¹, all arranged and operating substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
9. In a sliding hill, tracks or ways consisting of planks D, angle-iron rails E,
secured thereto by bolts, the standards V, and angle-iron guard rails W, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
10. In a carriage for sliding hills, an axle S¹, formed square under the carriage
body, and secured thereto, and having collars h, h, and journals h', ', the running
wheel Y, and safety wheels Z, secured to the axle by nuts z, substantially as shown
and described.
11. A carriage having axles S¹, formed square under the carriage body, and
having collars h, h, and journals h¹, h³, running wheels Y, and safety wheels Z, in
combination with a track having angle-iron rails E, standards V, and angle-iron
safety rails W, all arranged substantially as set forth.
Dated this 31st day of March 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.