An Improved Form of Suspended Railway for the Conveyance of Goods or Parcels, Carrier or Trolly therefor, and Apparatus Connected therewith
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 6th Feb, 1859
Complete Specification Accepted, 23rd Mar, 1889
RESERVE COP
An Improved Form of Suspended Railway for the Conveyance of
Goods or Parcels, Carrier or Trolly therefor, and Apparatus
Connected therewith
PATRICK MOLLOY 5 St Johns Square and Ellen Street City of Limerick Ireland
Carpenter, Joiner and Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows
-
The object of my invention is to enable goods and parcels to be rapidly conveyed
from place to place, in warehouses, shops, or open spaces and I put the same into
effect by means of the apparatus now described
Two Z, shaped rails are suspended at suitable intervals by means of cradles and
rods, to the roof, brackets, or other supports, the cradles being so formed as to keep
the two rails in position and permit of the passage of the carrier
The carrier consists of a three wheeled trolly, the hinder wheels having flanges
revolve upon the top of the Z shaped rails, and the central wheel is so formed as to
run upon part of both rails, a cone or equivalent device upon its surface sinking into
the gip or groove between the rails mounted as described At any convenient point
upon the trolly or carrier a hooked rod is mounted, this passes through the gap
between the rails, and to it the load is suspended In mounting or suspending
the rails constructed as described, I prefer to give an amount of fall sufficient to
enable the loaded trolly to run by its own momentum round the course and back to
the starting point at a lower level, there are cases however in which owing
to insufficient height this cannot be done, several sacks or bags can however be
hung to one trolly and any convenient means of propulsion employed
In order to raise the trolly from the lower to the higher level for a fresh journey I
employ the following arrangement
A crane post of suitable construction is provided and is stayed in any suitable
manner to the floor, and ceiling, beam, or equivalent, the- upper part of this crane
post is fitted with a moveable jib furnished with a sheave or block, and near its base
is fastened a winch furnished with a ratchet and pawl Round the column or crane
post is wound, rivetted, or otherwise fastened a spiral band, preferably of wrought

page_text: iron, and upon the column is mounted a gantry or jib the lower and upper end of
which engage with the spiral band, so that when the winch is operated and this jib
lifted by means of the chain attached thereto running through the sheave before
mentioned, twisting action is imparted to it The end of this jib or gantry has a
cradle attached to it sufficiently large to embrace an inner cradle holding a loose
section of rail, upon which the tolly to be raised rests Upon turning the winch
handle the gantry, outer cradle, loose rail section and trolly thereon are rused from
the lower to the upper position, the spiral upon the column being so regulated as to
cause the gantry with its load to swing round sufficiently to drop the loose section of
rail and trolly into the open space provided for it in the upper line, when by removing
suitable pins or their equivalent, the trolly can be started on a fresh journey
pawl and ratchet on the winch enables the gantry to be held in the upper position
when required
The
I provide suitable switches or " turnouts " constructed as follows A suitable
length of rail of similar section to that employed for the line is suspended by a cradle
and hanging rod, chain or equivalent, this length is so formed as to be hinged or
pivoted to one side or the bottom of the permanent rail, and the whole length when
switched in is securely fastened by a spring bolt, by this arrangement the trolly may
be conducted in any desired direction
When employed in open spaces the lines may be suspended from arms
levers, attached to any suitable supports
Dated T 1000
'
or cant

page_text: In fitting my invention to a warehouse, factory or open space, see figs 4 and 10,
1 prefer to so arrange the fall or gradient of the rails when suspended or supported
as described, or in any equivalent manner demanded by circumstances, as that the
loaded carrier f, shall run by its own momentum when once started round the course
and back to its starting point at a lower level This will be readily understood by
reference to the figs mentioned, wherein, a² is the higher rul level and a" the lower
To raise the carrier f, from the lower level a" to the higher a', I employ the form of
crane and winch now described This consists of a crane post l, having a suitable
foundation plate for bolting to the floor, or it may be stayed in any other convenient
manner Near its base I mount a crab or winch m, having ratchet or pawl n, or
equivalent device having the same effect Upon a convenient part of the crane post
18 mounted a jib O, having a block Q Round the column or crane post is wound
and secured by rivetting, or it may be cast and so form, or not part of the crane
post, the iron or other metal spiral p, a gantry or Jib r, 15 clamped or otherwise
arranged so as to engage with the spiral p The chain or equivalent t, passing over
the sheave of block Q, is fastened to gantry r, as shewn
When the chain t, is wound upon the barrel of winch m the gantry, will turn
in rising from the lower rail level a", to the higher level a¹, through any segment
of a circle previously decided upon when setting out the pitch of spiral p, upon
column The gantry, has suitably fastened to its extremity a cradle s, see
figs 67 which contains a loose segment of rail and inner cradle b, holding the
same, this inner cradle is mounted upon pivots u, and stops s', s', are provided for the
purpose of retaining the trolly in position The operation of this part of my
invention is as follows -The jib or gantry r, with cradle s, and pivoted inner
cradle b, is lowered to the lower level a", in readiness to receive the trolly or carrier f
The trolly loaded or not will, upon arriving at the end of the line, run upon the
rail mounted as described, and be prevented from running off by stops s¹ s
The
winch handle a, is now turned and the trolly with, or without its loud as the case
may be raised to the level a The rul segment is preferably tapered as at V",
fig 6, & 7 so that in the act of rising into its seat it shall tilt the inner cradle and
rail sufficiently to cause the trolly f, to mount the stops s' s³, and descend the incline
until stopped in its transit round the course The gantry r, being meantime lowered
to receive it, or for a fresh load If desired the pivoted rail segment can be tilted
by the attendant To enable goods or parcels to be transferred to any part of the
building, shop or warehouse or open space, I provide a form of switch similar to that
shewn in figs 8, 8* This consists of a piece of rail of similar shape to that employed,
and of strught, curved, or any suitable form to meet the diverging line
This rail
is kept in place by a cradle 61, supported by hanging rod, chain or equivalent,
and is hinged or pivoted at V, to the rail upon which it is required to run the goods
from the main track When a transfer is made a piece of the main trick provided
for the purpose is turned out of its place and the switch as described moved in
spring lock w, is provided for securing the switch in position until another change or
transfer is required It will be seen that the goods inay be sent in any direction by
the device described and by means of the hinged piece of the main track (which is
swung into position when the switch is unlocked and turned in the required position
for transfer) the mun line is kept intact, and open for traffic
J
a
I would wish it understood that I do not bind myself to the exact mechanical
details described, since it is obvious that a variation not in any way departing from
the spirit of my invention may be required to meet special circumstances
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is
-
1st The particular combination of parts forming the suspended railway and
apparatus for operating the same in the manner and for the purpose described
2nd The combination in or with a suspended rulway for the conveyance of
goods, parcels and the like of the Crane C, having jib O, carrying sheave Q, the

page_text: chain t, attached to gantry r, for raising and lowering rail section, trolly and load
from the lower level a", to the higher level a¹, in the manner and for the purposes
set forth
3rd The particular form of rails, held in position and supported by the cradles
and suspending rods or equivalent, and the trolly therefor, all as described and
operating for the purposes set forth
4th The particular device described under fig 6 7 for raising and replacing the
rail segment, trolly and load by means of the crab and winch
5th The particular form of hinged switch, and hinged rail segment described
under Figs 8 and 8*, supported locked, and released in the manner described
FRANCIS M ROGERS,
Agent for Applicant