Improvements in Gravity Railways for Purposes of Amusement.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Sept., 1887
Complete Left, 2nd Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 6th Jan., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gravity Railways for Purposes of Amusement.
I, BENJAMIN TAYLOR HEMBRY 35 North John Street, Liverpool Floor Cloth and
Linoleum Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention refers more especially to Gravity Railways built or constructed
either upon an undulating or inclined plane, or in a circle, ellipse, or other form.
Upon this so constructed gravitating course, hereinafter called the race course I
arrange several Hobby horses, horsed chariots or analogous objects, each running
upon its own set of rails. And so that there shall be greater excitement in the race
for the riders & onlookers 1 cause all the horses to start together, side by side, by
means of a lever or other mechanical starting arrangement.
In the case of a straight race course I arrange that the horses shall run round, or
be forced round a sharp looped form of rail or track in order that for the return
journey they may all again face the direction of running.
For the further and certain safety of the riders as also to increase the speed I
furnish each horse or horsed chariot with a weight after the form of a pendulum,
which for better and more realistic effect is below the track and hidden from view.
As a further safeguard (especially in circular courses) I arrange a wheeled cross bar
which in the event of oscillation would bear or run upon the underpart of the race
course, so that it is impossible to overturn the horse in going round ever so sharp a
turning.
In order that the horse or horses shall not run back on the race course should the
momentuin for any reason be insufficient to carry them to the winning point I provide
each one with a common Scotch or tail drag.
1007

page_text: I BENJAMIN TAYLOR HEMBRY of 35 North John Street Liverpool Floorcloth and
Linoleum Merchant do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN GRAVITY RAILWAYS FOR PURPOSES OF AMUSEMENT and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention refers more especially to Gravity Railways built or constructed either
upon an undulating or inclined plane, or in a circle, elipse or other form.
Upon this so constructed gravitating course, hereinafter called the race course or
track I arrange several Hobby horses, horsed chariots or analogous objects, each
running upon its own set of rails. And so that there shall be greater excitement
in the race for the riders and onlookers I cause all the horses to start together side
by side, by means of a lever or other mechanical starting arrangement.
In the case of a straight race course I arrange that the horses shall run round or
be forced round a sharp looped form of rail or track, or I sometimes arrange in lieu
of this looped form of rail a track that the horses or chariots shall be mounted upon
a frame or platform which can be made to revolve upon reaching the end of the
rail or track, in order that for the return journey they may all again face the direction
of running. For the further and certain safety of the riders as also to increase the
speed I furnish each horse or horsed chariot &c. with a weight after the form of a
pendulum which for better and more realistic effect is below the track and hidden
from view, this pendulum is also provided with such weights as can be at any time
added to or taken from, thereby giving greater or less momentum to the horse or
chariot. As a further safeguard (especially in circular courses) I arrange a wheeled
cross bar which in the event of oscilation would bear or run against the underpart of the
race-course so that it is impossible to overturn the horse or vehicle in going round
ever so sharp a turning, or down a steep incline. In order that the horses or chariots &c.
shall not run back on the said race course should the momentum for any reason.
be insufficient to carry them to the winning point I provide each one with a common
scotch or tail drag.
Such being the nature and object of my invention for the better understanding of
the same I refer to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification in
which Fig. 1 is a sido elevation of an ordinary form of Gravity Railway raised by
means of uprights at various distances from the ground. Fig. 2 is a plan of the
same, showing a double track, with looped ends. Fig. 3 is the model of a horse mounted
upon a platform running upon four wheels to which platform is hung a hinged
pendulum. Fig. 4 a back view of same showing the position of pendulum, and the
wheels below the rail, to prevent the horse from overturning.
Fig. 5 is a side view of car supplied with a common scotch or tail drag, this car
being attached to a horse in front.
Fig. 6 a side elevation of the starting apparatus or travelling Boom. Fig. 7 a
ground plan of same.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A. A is the race course or roadway on which is fixed two or more sets of rails upon
which run the horses or carriages mounted upon wheels, this trackway can be built
in a straight but undulating line or in a circular or eliptical form in which latter
cases the horses would stop running at or near the place from which they started.
B. B are uprights of wood or iron supporting the track at varying heights from the
ground forming what is generally known as a gravitating railway.

page_text: In Fig. 2 is shown a race course or track of two pairs of rails C. C (which may be
to any extent multiplied in number) ending in a looped form D. D so that the horses &c.
can be run round this loop in order to again face the direction of running for a
return journey.
This loop form of terminating each pair of rails is not however required when
the horses &c. are mounted upon a revolving platform or turntable, or when the race
course is built in the circular or eliptical form above refered to. E. E. E are the
wheels upon which the horses or carriages are mounted (whether with or without
the revolving platforms) and E¹ E¹ E' are short bars provided with the safety wheels,
fixed below the rail as specially shown in Fig. 4. F. F. is the tail piece or common
scotch fixed in order that the horse or carriage is unable to run back should the
momentum be insufficient to carry it up to the top of the last or other gradient.
G. G. is a pendulum of any required length hinged at H. and hung from the horse
or car, this pendulum I provide with weights I. I. I. which can be taken off or added
to as may be required to increase or decrease the velocity of the race.
travelling Boom or roller running upon or above the railway and against which the
horses or chariots on the rails C. C. are made to stand before starting; this travelling
Boom is then moved forward by the endless chains L. L. by turning the large wheel M
which actuates the small wheels N. N. by the chains L. L., drawing up the Boom K to
a position close to N. starting at one and the same time any cars or horses that be
against the Boom, down the inclined rails C. C. on the undulating track A. A.
K. K. is the
may
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1st. An improvement in Gravity Railways built or constructed upon uprights either
in a straight line or in the form of a circle or elipse, with looped ends in the former
case substantially as described.
2nd. A combination of horses or chariots caused to start at one and the same time
by their being pushed off together by the travelling Boom as shown in Figs. 6 & 7
substantially as described.
3rd. The Chariots or horses being provided with a pendulum with removable weights
giving each Chariot or horse a greater velocity than without such could possibly be
obtained, substantially as described.
4th. The weights on the pendulum being alterable afford a means by which the
horses or chariots can always be made to go at varying speeds on each journey.
5th. The hinging of the weighted pendulum gives increased momentum and better
climbing powers to the horses or chariots when ascending an incline, adding at the
same time absolute safety to the riders from overturning.
6th. The mounting of the chariots or horses upon a revolving platform or turn-
table.
7th. The combination of a safety set of wheels below the rail (as shown in
Fig. 4) further obviating any fear of accident from overturning, substantially as
described.
8th. A novel and interesting, race on Gravity railways in which the winner of one
race cannot be certain of winning a second, the weights of the pendulum being
altered without the riders knowledge, I also claim in every race a true and regular
start by reason of the travelling Boom forcing off all starters at one and the same
time.
In witness whereof, I the said Benjamin Taylor Hembry have hereunto set
my hand.