AN IMPROVED TRAIN, ELEVATOR
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 17th Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 17th Mar., 1888
I CHARLES GUILFOYLE DORAN, of Dunworth House Queenstown County of Cork
Ireland Architect, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED
TRAIN, ELEVATOR to be as follows:-
A wedge shaped framework of timber, steel, or iron, either singly or combined, to
be constructed of sufficient dimentions and strength to suit the requirements of the
purpose for which it is to be used.
The elevation of this framework to be a right angled triangle of which the long side
is to be the top, and is to be horizontal, the short side is to be the end and is to be
vertical, and the hypotheneuse is to be the bottom and is to be inclined.
The length of the horizontal surface is to be determined by the maximum length of
the Train, Carriages or Waggons proposed to be elevated or lowered upon it, and
is to be of sufficient width to accommodate the width of such Train, Carriages or
Waggons.
The height of the vertical end is to be any desirable proportion of the height
from the top of the rail of the higher railway above that of the lower one consistent
with maintaining the horizontal position of the top surface.
This framework is to be mounted on a sufficient number of axles and flanged wheels
of sufficient strength to carry it, and the the Train, Carriages, or Waggons which are
to be elevated or lowered-which axles are to play in proper bearings attached to the
hypotheneuse or under side of the framework.
On the top surface of this moveable framework-throughout its entire length, two
rails of the same character and guage as those of the railways with which it is to be
used are to be laid and secured.
A sufficient excavation is to be made below the top level of the lower railway to
accommodate this moveable framework so as to allow the surface of the rails on both
railway and framework to coincide in level and direction, and their ends to meet
making them so far continuous.
From the deepest end of this excavation-that is the one next the lowest railway-
to the top surface of the highest railway an inclined plane is to be formed of such
materials and in such manner as may be found suitable to the place-the inclined

page_text: surface of which is to be a counter-part of the incline formed by the hypotheneuse or
underside of the moveable framework.
Upon this inclined surface so formed and throughout its length rails are to be laid
upon suitable bearers all of which are to be properly secured.
These rails are to be spaced to suit the guage of the flanged wheels attached
to the moveable framework which guage is to be broader than that of the railway
by some centage proportioned to the height of the framework at the deepest end.
The moveable framework is to travel up and down on the rails fixed on the
incline by a pair of chains playing around sheaves fixed on one of the axles which
carries it.
One end of each of these chains is to be securely anchored in the highest part of the
incline, and the other ends are to be secured to a large drum placed at the top of the
highest railway in a chamber provided for it.
This drum to be rotated by steam, hydraulic, gas, or other machinery.
The machinery being set in motion the moveable framework is lowered into the
excavated chamber until the rails on its surface are in continuity with the rails of
the lower railway when the machinery is stopped.
The Train, Carriages, or Waggons arriving move directly in upon it and aro
blocked in position.
The machinery is again set in motion and the moveable framework with its load
ascends at any rate of speed desirable until the top of its rails coincide with the top of
those of the higher railway-when the machinery is stopped-the blocking removed
and the Train Carriages or Waggons move on to their destination.
An Improved, Train, Elevator, will also enable railway companies to store their
Engines, Carriages, and Waggons on elevated platforms and thereby to save the
extension of ground surface that would otherwise be required to give the necessary
accommodation.
A power equivalent to about 30 per cent. of the united weights of An Improved,
Train, Elevator, and the maximum weight of the train is all that will be required to
work An Improved Train Elevator.
Doted thin 15th d
1007
CHARLES GUILFOYLE DORAN,
Dunworth House, Queenstown,
County Cork, Ireland,
Architect.

page_text: I CHARLES GUILFOYLE DORAN of Dunworth House, Queenstown, in the County of
Cork, Ireland, Architect, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN
IMPROVED TRAIN ELEVATOR, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
A wedge-shaped framework A. B. C. Fig. 1. of Timber, Steel, Iron, or Metal, or
any combination of such materials, to be constructed of sufficient dimentions and
strength to suit the requirements of the purpose for which it is to be used.
The Elevation of this framework to be a right angled Triangle, of which the long
side B. C. is to be the Top, and is to bo Horizontal, the short side A. B. is to be the
end, and is to be Vertical, and the hypothenuse A. C. is to be the bottom and is to be
inclined.
The length of the Horizontal Surface B. C. Fig. 2 is to be determined by the
maximum length of the Train, Carriages, or Waggons, proposed to be Elevated or
lowered upon it, and is to be of sufficient width to accommodate the width of
such Train, Carriages or Waggons, and where necessary to admit of a footway on
each side.
The height of the Vertical end A. B. is to be any desirable proportion of the height
from the top of the rails, of the higher Railway D Fig. 3 above those of the lower
one E. Fig. 1. consistent with the Horizontal position of the Top surface.
This framework is to be mounted on a sufficient number of axles, and flanged
wheels F. F. F. &c. of sufficient strength to carry it and the Train, Carriages, or
Waggons Freights and Passengers that are to be Elevated or lowered, which axles
are to play in proper bearings secured in the hypothenuse or bottom of the
framework.
On the top surface B. C. Fig. 2. of this moveable framework, throughout its length,
two rails G. G. of the same character and guage as those of the Railways with which
it is to be used are to be laid and properly secured.
A sufficient excavation or provision A. B. C. Fig. 1. is to be made below the level of
the lower Railway E to accommodate this moveable framework so as to allow the surfaces
of the rails on both Railway and framework to coincide in level and direction, and
their ends to meet, making them so far continuous.
From the deepest end A. Fig. 1 of this excavation
next the lowest Railway-an Inclined Plane is to be
in such manner as may be found suitable to the place
is to be a counter-part of the Incline formed by the hypothenuse A. C. or bottom of
the moveable framework.
or provision-that is the end
formed of such materials and
the Inclined Surface of which

page_text: Upon the inclined surface so formed, and throughout its length A. C', rails H. H.
Fig. 4. are to be laid upon suitable bearers, all of which are to be properly
secured.
These rails are to be spaced to suit the guage of the flanged wheels attached to the
bottom of the moveable framework which guage is to be broader than that of
the Railway by some centage proportioned to the height of the framework at
the deepest end.
The moveable framework is to travel up and down, on the rails H. H. fixed on the
incline, A. C by a pair of chains I. I. of sufficient strength, playing around sheaves
mounted on one or more of the axles of the wheels that carry it, or in pulleys attached
to the inner side of the Hypothenuse which chains are to be supported by rollers fixed
at suitable intervals along the surface of the Incline.
One end J Fig. 3. of each of these chains is to be securely anchored into the highest
part of the Incline, and the other ends are to be secured to a large Drum K, Fig. 3.
mounted on a horizontal shaft, of sufficient strength, and supported in proper bearings
at the top of the highest Railway in a chamber provided for it.
This Drum to be rotated by Steam, Hydraulic, Gas, or other Machinery.
The Machinery being set in motion the moveable framework is lowered into the
excavated chamber or provision made for it, until the rails on its surface B. C.
are in continuity with the rails of the lower Railway E when the machinery is
stopped.
The Train, Carriages, or Waggons with Freight, and Passengers, move directly in
upon it, and are blocked in position.
The machinery is again set in motion and the moveable framework A. B. C. with its
load ascends at any speed desirable until it reaches the position A¹, B, C, Fig. 3, and
the top of its rails coincide with the top of those of the higher Railway D, when tho
machinery is stopped, the blocking removed, and the Train, Carriages, or Waggons
with Freight and Passengers move on to their destination.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the samo is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. That its triangular form compensates for the raking surface of the Inclined
Plane upon which it travels-its top surface being horizontal-whilst it preserves the
mechanical power and lifting advantages of the Inclined Plane, and is thereby enabled
to elevate or lower the heaviest Train, in a truly horizontal position, and without
rendering necessary any disturbance to Freight or Passengers.
2. That it will stop in its course, when required, on any portion of the Incline
by the application of any ordinary system of Brakes to the wheels upon which it
travels.
3. That its rigid construction-and being worked upon an Inclined Plane, of
Embankment, Wood framework, Piers of Brick, or Masonry, Pillars of Metal, Steel,
or Iron, or any combination of such materials that ensures rigidity and stability-
built up directly from the ground, and being wholly free from, and independent of,
any Vertical stilting or suspending or telescoping mechanism, for its Elevating or
lowering power it being always supported by substantial foundation-it is absolutely
safo in its operation-falling being impossible.
4. That it will enable Trains to run over Railways through the most uneven
Country without the necessity of Tunnels or extensive Embankments, and will
enable any Train to travel over lines of different levels as if they were one continuous
line.
5. That it is adaptable to steep Inclines upon which Trains could not travel and is
therefore of paramount importance in the construction of Tunnels, under rivers or
other obstacles, for Railway's, by dispensing with all extension of such Tunnel beyond
the width of the river or obstacle and the lengths of the Inclines upon it will
travel.
6. That its construction admits of its being erected on any line of Railway without

page_text: obstructing the traffic on such line, and will thereby enable Railway companies to
store their Engines, Carriages, and Waggons, on Elevated platforms, and save the
extension of ground surface that would otherwise be required to give the necessary
accommodation.
7. That owing to the peculiar combination of the powers of the Inclined Plane and
the Pulley in its construction, a power equivalent to about Thirty per cent. of the
aggregate weights of the moveable framework, and the maximum weight of the Train,
Carriages, or Waggons, Freight and Passengers, will work "An Improved Train
Elevator.'
Dated this 15th day of November 1997
CHARLES GUILFOYLE DORAN.