Improvements in connection with Gravity Railways for Recreational Purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 13th Sept., 1900-Accepted, 8th Dec., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in connection with Gravity Railways for Recreational
Purposes.
I, ARCHIBALD LAIDLAW BAIRD, of 8, Upper Bedford l'lace, London, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in connection with the gravity
railway for which I have made Application for Letters Patent No. 1846, dated
January 26th 1899.
The improvements relate, firstly, to means of a simple and cheap nature for
enabling a trolley frame to be picked up by the endless moving chain when the
speed of the said trolley frame falls below that of the endless moving chain, as
described in the Complete Specification of my said application, and, secondly,
to means for enhancing the realistic effect and the sensation or excitement inci-
dental to a journey on my improved gravity railway.
According to the first part of my invention, I provide, as in the case of my
before-mentioned application, two pairs of polygonal chain drums or wheels to
engage with two chains which are connected at intervals by means of cross-bars.
In lieu of mounting the catches which effect the driving of the trolley frames on
the cross-bars I mount the catches loosely on rods carried by the trolley frames
and so dispose them that they are adapted to engage with the cross-bars carried
by the double chain when the speed of the endless moving chain exceeds that of
the trolley frame. In order to facilitate this action of the catches one side of
the upper ends of the catches is preferably rounded off at the end and the lower
ends of the catches are counterweighted to cause the catches to return to their
normal or vertical positions. I provide near to the counterweighted ends of
the catches leaf springs which are carried by transverse members of the trolley
frame and serve as a means for momentarily cushioning the action of a cross-bar
on a catch during their initial contact, thus easing the action of my improved
driving apparatus.
When the speed of a trolley frame has fallen below that of the endless moving
chain one of the cross-bars carried by the endless moving chain comes in contact
with the vertical face of a catch and the counterweighted end thereof comes
against the leaf spring. A further slight movement of the catch will bring its
face against the transverse member of the trolley frame.
According to the second part of my invention I make the passenger cars which
are suspended from the trolley frames pointed at one or both ends, so as to
resemble in general outline a torpedo or cigar, as this form of car whilst offering
a small resistance to the air is more or less suggestive of aerial flight. The cars
are made of angle-steel framework so as to be of a light but strong construction.
The under surface and sides of the car are covered with wire-network, steel bands,
perforated metal or the like, so as to afford a view of the scenery underneath and
thus add to the suggestion of aerial flight.
In order to increase the sensation or excitement incidental to a journey on
my improved recreational railway I arrange at one portion of the route traversed

page_text: by the cars a glass tunnel surrounded by water, through which tunnel the cars
pass in the course of their journey. The entrance and exit to the glass tunnel-
which is preferably disposed at the lowest portion of the car route, are arranged
above the level of the water, and the glass forming the tunnel is made of sufficient
thickness and strength and is so supported as to resist the pressure due to the
surrounding water.
C. F. ENNIS,
Registered Patent Agent.
For Applicant.
Improvements in connection with Gravity Railways for Recreational
Purposes.
I, ARCHIBALD LAIDLAW BAIRD, of 8, Upper Bedford Place, London, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:
This invention has for its object improvements in connection with the gravity
railway for which I have obtained Letters Patent No. 1846, dated January 26th
1899.
The improvements relate firstly to means of a simple and cheap nature for
enabling a trolley frame to be picked up by the endless moving chain when the
speed of the said trolley frame falls below that of the endless moving chain as
described in the Complete Specification of my said Letters Patent and secondly
to means for enhancing the realistic effect and the sensation or excitement inci-
dental to a journey on my improved gravity railway.
The accompanying sheets of drawings illustrate my invention.
In these drawings Fig. 1 is a view showing one of the driving drums or wheels
and part of the endless moving chain and illustrating the action of the catches.
Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the construction of the chain. Fig. 4 is a diagram
showing the arrangement thereof. Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate the improved con-
struction of car.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
According to the first part of my invention, I provide, as in the case of the
aforesaid invention two pairs A, A' of polygonal chain wheels or drums to engage
with two chains B, B which are connected at intervals by means of cross-bars C.
In lieu of mounting the catches which effect the driving of the trolley frames on
the cross-bars I mount the catches D loosely on rods E carried by the trolley
frame F and so dispose them that they are adapted to engage with the cross-
bars C when the speed of the endless moving chain B, B exceeds that of the trolley
frame F. In order to facilitate the action of the catches D the front side of the
upper end of each catch is nicely rounded off as shown at d, which enables the
upper ends of the catches to be gently displaced or pushed aside when the speed
of the trolley frame exceeds that of the endless chain, as explained in the
Specification of my aforesaid Letters Patent. The lower ends of the pivotted
catches are counterweighted to cause them to return to their normal position.
I may, if desired, use a light spring to assist the action of the weighted ends
of the catches. I provide near to the counterweighted ends of the catches D
leaf springs G which are carried by transverse members of the trolley frame F
and serve as a means for momentarily cushioning the action of a cross-bar Con
a catch D during their initial contact, thus easing the action of my improved

page_text: driving apparatus. I prefer to employ two pairs of catches on each trolley frame,
one at the front and the other at the rear end of the frame.
In Fig. 1 I have illustrated portions of a trolley frame with the catches in two
positions that on the left showing a catch being displaced or pushed aside by the
driving chain; which takes place when the speed of the trolley frame exceeds that
of the endless moving chain, whilst that on the right shows a trolley frame as
having just been picked up by the endless moving chain.
The action of my improved driving apparatus is as follows:
When the speed of a trolley frame has fallen below that of the endless moving
chain one of the cross-bars carried by the moving chain comes in contact with
the vertical face of a catch and the counterweighted end thereof comes against
the leaf spring, as shown on the right hand side of Fig. 1. A further slight
movement of the catch will bring the rear face of same against the transverse
member of the trolley frame.
According to the second part of my invention I make the passenger cars J
pointed at one or both ends, so as to resemble in general outline a torpedo or
cigar, as this form of car whilst offering a small resistance to the air is more or
less suggestive of aerial flight. The cars which are suspended from the trolley
frames by rods K, as described in the Complete Specification of my aforesaid
Letters Patent, are made of angle-steel framework so as to be of a light but strong
construction. The under surface and sides of the car are covered with wire-
network, perforated metal or steel bands m as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5,
so as to afford a view of the scenery underneath and thus add to the suggestion
of aerial flight. The car shown is adapted for the use of four passengers. O are
the seats and P the footboards.
In order to increase the sensation or excitement incidental to a journey on my
improved recreational railway I arrange at one portion of the route traversed by
the cars a glass tunnel surrounded by water-that is, at the top and sides--
through which tunnel the cars pass in the course of their journey. The entrance
and exit to the glass tunnel, which is preferably disposed at the lowest portion
of the car route--are arranged above the level of the water, and the glass form-
ing the tunnel is made of sufficient thickness and strength and is so supported
as to resist the pressure due to the surrounding water, whilst the iron supports
for the glass will be painted so as to resemble as near as possible the water.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
(1)--In gravity railways for recreational purposes the arrangement of endless
moving chain, pivotted catches carried by the trolley frame and rod-suspended
car, substantially as described herein.
(2)--In gravity railways for recreational purposes operating substantially in
the manner referred to herein the combination with a trolley frame of a rod-
suspended car pointed at one or both ends constructed of angle-steel framework
and having its under-surface and sides covered with wire-network, perforated
metai or steel bands, substantially as described.
(3) In gravity railways for recreational purposes operating substantially in
the manner referred to herein the provision of a glass tunnel surrounded by
water, substantially as described.
Vanam han
שנפ
CARTO
INLA
C. F. ENNIS,
Registered Patent Agent.
For Applicant.
31, Haselrigge Road, Clapham, S.W.