A NEW SYSTEM OF TOWING AND TRACTION
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Claude Arnoux, of Paris, France, Gentleman,
and of 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, for the Invention of
"A NEW SYSTEM OF TOWING AND TRACTION."
Scaled the 5th December 1853, and dated the 9th June 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Claude Arnoux
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 9th June 1853.
I, CLAUDE ARNOUX, of Paris, France, Gentleman, and of 4, South
Street, Finsbury, London, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "A NEW SYSTEM OF TOWING AND TRACTION" to be as
follows:-
My Invention consists in a mode of disposing a rope or chain and
channelled pulleys for effecting the traction of boats on canals and
rivers, and locomotives up risings, for working ploughs, and other
similar purposes.

page_text: The extremities of the rope or chain, which extends the whole
length of the road to be run over, are fixed to supports set either on
the towing path or in the bed of the river. Channelled pullies are
set in the boat to be towed, which are put in motion by any suitable
means.
They are moved in a reverse direction to that of the boat, so as to
pull in the rope which is passed over them, and thus effect the onward
motion of the vessel.
The channels of the pullies are made either with a compressible
surface, or of the form of chain links or torsions of a rope, to prevent
slipping.
Several couples of bullies may be employed
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Claude Arnoux in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 9th December 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
CLAUDE ARNOUX, of Paris, France, Gentleman, and of 4, South Street,
Finsbury, London, send greeting.
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WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of June, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-three, in the sixteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
the said Claude Arnoux, Her special licence that I, the said
Claude Arnoux, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Claude Arnoux, 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 "A NEW SYSTEM OF TOWING
AND TRACTION," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said

page_text: Claude Arnoux, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said In-
vention, 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 Claude Arnoux, 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, that is to say:
The Invention consists in the mode of employing ropes or chains
and pullies for towing boats, the traction of locomotives or railway
carriages on railways, for working ploughs, and other similar purposes.
When applied to driving boats on canals or rivers the cord or chain
is set down the whole length of the distance to be travelled over, and
is suitably fastened at its extremities in the bed of the river, or on one
side of the navigable way at the bow.
The pullies are placed on a vessel preceding those to be towed,
and on this vessel a steam engine is set up, which serves to give motion
to the said pullies, and the pullies moving in an opposite direction to
that the boat is intended to follow will cause it to go forward.
The grooves of the pullies are of the same form as the links of the
chain or the torsions of a rope, and will hold the rope or chain tightly,
so as to prevent its slipping.
The same contrivance may be applied to railroads for enabling the
locomotive and carriages to surmount risings. It may also be applied
for working ploughs when steam power is employed, and procures the
advantages of a fixed point, which renders the action of the plough
more perfect.
And 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 precise details herein described, so
long as the peculiar character of the Invention be retained. But what I
claim is, the mode of employing cords or chains and pullies for towing

page_text: boats, barges, and other like vessels on canals and rivers, for drawing
locomotives and carriages up risings on railroads, for working ploughs,
and other similar purposes.
In witness whereof, I, the said Claude Arnoux, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of December, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-three.
Witness,
HY GILBEE.
C. ARNOUX. (L.S.)