Improvements in Pleasure Railways.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Pleasure Railways.
We, HENRY FUNK and KURT TSCHIPKE, residing respectively at 114, Pearl
Street, and 421, East 117th Street, New York City, County and State of New
York, United States of America, Engineers 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 relates to an improved pleasure railway, in which an overhead
rail is suspended from a cable that constitutes a yielding support for the rail and
ensures great safety, with a minimum amount of framing or supporting timbers.
In the accompanying drawing:
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of our improved pleasure railway on line 1, 1,
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 a sectional plan on line 2, 2, Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 an enlarged cross section of part of the railway on line 3, 3, Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a detail, and
Figs. 5 and 6 show two forms of the hangers and track.
The railway, briefly stated, is composed of an inclined track, suspended from
cables and engaged by the overhead pulley of the horse or carriage which is moved
along the track by gravity.
a, and b, represent the end frames that support the ropes or cables c, and of
which the frame a, is made in the form of an elevator shaft, being provided
with hoist d. The cables e, are anchored in suitable manner and are crossed near
their ends by transverse cables e. From the cables e, e, are suspended by
hangers f, having turn buckles g, a pair of rails h, placed side by side, and
so arranged that the starting point his in a higher vertical plane than the
stopping point h², the lower looped terminus, of the rail being supported by
an additional frame i, placed outside of frame a.
The horse, is suspended from the rails, by the yoke k, that forms the bearing
for the axles of a pair of rollers 7, engaging such rails, while a pair of additional
rollers m, below the track prevent derailment. The yoke k, may either embrace
the rails (Fig. 5) or extend centrally between the same (Fig. 6).
Hurdles or obstacles », are suspended at suitable points from cross timbers o,
and above them the rails h, are curved, so that the hurdles may be taken.
The horse runs down the inclined track, is reversed by loop 3, and drawn up
by hoist d, to recommence its travel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is:-
1. A pleasure railway composed of cables, an inclined rail suspended therefrom,
and a horse suspended from the rail, substantially as specified.
2. A pleasure railway composed of cables, an inclined rail having a reverse
ourve suspended therefrom, a horse suspended from the cables by hangers, and
[Price 8d.]

page_text: an elevator to raise the horse from the lower to the upper terminus of the
rail, substantially as specified.
3. A pleasure railway composed of cables, an inclined double rail having a
reverse curve suspended therefrom, a horse suspended from the cables by hangers,
an elevator, and hurdles below curved sections of the rail, substantially as
specified.
4. A pleasure railway, substantially as herein shown and described.
1000
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicants.