Year: 1888

page_text: 1, JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which invention has been
cominunicated to me from abroad by Leonardo Torres of Paris in the Republic of
France Engineer and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this Invention is to provide means whereby the weight of the object
transported may be sustained by several wires or cables consisting of two sets, the
tension of which, independent of the weight of the object transported can be regulated
at will and whereby the breaking of one cable will not materially increase the tensions
of the other cables.
According to this Invention, two sets of cables are employed, one of which may be
of lighter construction than the other. The heavier or stronger set is secured at one
ond at the distant Station (which may be of greater elevation than the near Station).
This set of Cables passes under and over a series of pullies and has hooked to its
end at the near Station a weight which may be regulated so as to impart to the
Cables the necessary tension. On this set of Cables the load to bo transported is
caused to travel and is propelled there-along by the other cables which are connected
by one end to the frame of the carriage or poster. This propelling set of Cables
passes round a series of pullies at the distant Station, thence back to the near Station,
whence it passes over and under several series of pullies mounted in a suitable frame,
and is finally attached to the opposite end of the Carriage or porter. The series of
pullies under which the cables pass are provided with adjustable weights for the
purpose of imparting to the said Cables the necessary tension. Motion is imparted to
these series of pulleys by a closing strap from auy suitable prime mover.
The carriage or porter to which the load is attached may consist of a light frame
carrying an axle upon which is mounted light wheels or pullies running on the strong
cables. The frame of the carriage is connected together by suitable tie-rods.
Do this 16th day of March 1888

page_text: I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention, which has been communicated
to me from abroad by Leonardo Torres of Paris in the Republic of France, Engineer
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:
The object of this invention is to provide means whereby the weight of the object.
transported may be sustained by several wires or cables the tension of which being
independent of the weight of the object transported can be regulated at will and
whereby the breaking of one cable will not materially increase the strain on the other
cables. The system of transport is applicable to the transport of loads in general and
is sufficiently safe to carry passengers being thus capable of being employed with
advantage in mountainous Countries frequented by tourists.
The theoretical principles on which the system is based are explained by my foreign
Correspondent as follows:-
Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing let A represent a fixed point
to which is attached one extremity of an inelastic flexible wire or cable which we
will suppose to have no weight in itself passing over a pulley b and supporting at its
other extremity a tension regulator or weight P. Now let a pulley e supporting a
weight or load p be placed at any point on this cable being guided according to
hypothesis in such a manner as to move invariably in the vertical line M N.
So long as the weight P is suspended without touching either the ground or the
pulley the strain or tension of the cable is evidently constant irrespective of the
weight of p. This weight may vary within certain limits; according as it increases or
diminishes it will descend or ascend, the angles be M and Ae M are modified
accordingly and the vertical resultant of the two forces e a and ea (both equal to the
tension of the cable) changes at the same time as the weight p which it invariably
balances.
If, when the equilibrium being once established the weight be increased by the
addition of a supplementary weight small relatively to the tension will necessarily
increase for a moment in overcoming the inertia of the tension weight P and will pull
this weight up to the necessary height to reestablish the equilibrium. This increase
of tension however will be very slight and a mere nothing compared to what it
would be if the cable were rigidly attached at the point B. It may be left out
of account altogether in these overhead railways when constructed as hereinafter
described.
In the case of a heavy cable the variation in the tension will be very slight. At
any given point on the cable the tension is equal to the tension weight P plus the
weight of a length of cable equal to the height of the point above the point where
the tension weight is attached. The increase of tension due to a supplementary
or additional weight will tend to be reduced by the spring or deflection of the sagging
cable.
I will now proceed to consider the case of a cable arranged as illustrated in

page_text: Figure 2. The two extremities of the cable are attached at g to the weight p to be
transported this weight being carried as before by the pulley e. a b and c are
pulleys loose on their axes.. d is a pulley capable of being rotated by the
application of power. ƒƒ¹ are pulleys from which two tension weights P' and P¹
are suspended.
By rotating the pulley d the weight p is caused to travel approximately on the dotted
line h. The two portions of cable between the point of connection and the motor
pulley & that is to say gcfd and ga ebf d being considered separately it will be
seen that the first is tighter or more strained when the weight p is on the left of the
lowest point in the trajectory represented by the dotted line chha and less strained
when the reverse is the case.
It is evident nevertheless that provided that the tension weights remain below the
highest limit of their travel the strain on neither of the two portions can exceed the
desired tension neither being regulated exclusively by one tension weight. Thus there
is usually one tension weight suspended whilst the other rests on the ground. When
the weight p passes the lowest point in the trajectory the tension weight lowest for the
time being rises and the other weight descends but the tension remains the same, these
changes taking place very gradually.
If the trajectory had no horizontal tangent one of the tension weights would be
always resting on the ground and would consequently become unnecessary. The
resistance due to the friction of the pulleys produces practically no effect on the tension
of the cable.
In the case of the cable under consideration the form of the trajectory and the
length of the travel of the tension weights are functions of the amount of the
said weights, the weight per yard of the cable, the weight of the load transported
and of the horizontal and vertical distances between the two stations or
ends A B.
•
.
These preliminary explanations are given in order to enable the principle of the
action of the system bereinafter described to be readily understood with the aid of the
accompanying drawings.
Figure 3 represents a line for transport according to this invention connecting two
stations A and B by several parallel wires or cables. The horizontal distance
between A and B may be 2032 yards for example and the difference in level 283 yards..
The station to be established at B consists as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of a tower
or iron framework of suitable elevation and construction according to the strains to
which it is to be exposed being supported by stays NQ to resist the pulling action.
At the upper part of the frame there are grooved pulleys bd c'which carry the
wires or cables and the tension weights P P P are suspended inside the framework.
At the back there is a motor MI of about 3 horse power for example which transmits
motion to the propelling wires or cables. At the front side there is a platform which'
is used for loading or unloading the tub p. The upper part of the frame illustrated
in clevation and plan respectively in Figures 5 and 6 is constructed as follows. Two
beams A B, A BI Figure 6 connected by transverse bars mn p support two beams CD
Figures 5 and 6 by means of legs S T, S₁ T Figure 5 the beams CD being connected
by transverse bars q indicated by dotted lines in Figure 5. The transverse bars n p
support 13 bearers ue each provided with a plummer block has illustrated in the
transverse section in Figure 7. A shaft E carrying 12 loose pulleys e passes through
all these plummer blocks.
On the beams A B, A' B. are bolted plummer blocks F Figure 5 (also shown in
the transverse section Figure 8) which support a shaft E' carrying six grooved
pulleys marked d and two belt pulleys marked b¹Figure 8 all being fixed on the
said shaft. The transverse beams support seven bearers, PQ each provided with
a plummer block g shown in transverse section Figure 9 supporting a shaft E carrying
6 loose pulloys b. The grooved pulleys cbd are placed on their respectivo:
shafts EEE at a distance apart equal to the distance between the cables.
The tension weights are of two kinds P and P P the weights P being sus-
pended by hooks and the weights P¹ P² by pulleys ƒƒ¹ Figure 4.

page_text: A tension weight with a pulley is composed of two vertical plates o a b c d
Figures 10 and 11. connected together at the lower edges and at a d and provided
at o with a shaft on which is placed a loose pulley for f. The weights are
The
loaded with removeable weights in the form of bars A of the shape indicated by
-dotted lines in Figures 10 and so arranged that their centre of gravity invariably
coincides with a vertical line passing through the axis o and that they can be
readily loaded or unloaded by taking hold of their edges or extremities n.
width of these bars is equal to the distance between the two plates at the sides.
The tension weights P are arranged in the same way but a hook is provided in the
place of the pulley and the appearance in elevation is somewhat elongated.
The station at A (Figures 1, 2 and 3) is arranged as illustrated in Figures 12, 13
and 14. Two legs MN Figure 13 are connected by transverse bars m np and crossed
tie bars o o¹. On the bars m and p there are bolted 11 plummer blocks c Figure 14
carrying a shaft O on which work 12 loose pulleys a fig. 14. The frame M N is
firmly fixed to the ground (to a rock) by the aid of a second frame M P constructed
to resist the strain of the cables.
The carrier which travels upon the cables is illustrated in plan, in transverse
section and in side elevation respectively in Figures 15, 16 and 17.
This carrier
is constructed with a shaft or axle O on which are mounted 12 loose pulleys e and
13 discs fig. 16 also loose on the shaft. From the shaft O there is suspended a
frame formed of two crossed pieces of wood B and D E and 6 tension rods e d.
The piece B and all the tension rods are attached to the discs b. A tub or other load
may be suspended from the frame by hooks e¹. The rigid frame serves to maintain
the shaft Ohorizontal and distributes the weight equally over the shaft thereby enabling
it to be made as thin as possible. The pulleys are constructed on the same principle
as what are known as spider wheels employed in the construction of bicycles in
order to be as light as possible. There are two rigid rectangular frames O A
Figure 17 and A, B, C, D, Figuro 15 which are attached to the fourth or tenth
dises the parts A B being connected by six tie rods 772 n provided at each
extremity with hooks s s¹. The cable works in a deep groove in the periphery of
cach pulley e.
Any ordinary or suitable form of rope or cable may be employed. They are
preferably composed of about four steel wires about 16 of an inch in diameter. The wires
are capable of resisting a strain of about 200 kilos per square millimetre and they
are galvanised. With regard to the general arrangement of the line it is preferable
to employ about six thin ropes attached to the hooks ss Figure 15 at the centre
with six thick ropes there being 3 thick ropes outside the thin ropes. All the
ropes in each section being similarly arranged it will suffice to explain the arrange-
ment of one of cach kind. The thick ropes are attached at Q Figure 12 to a
support fixed to the ground and pass under the pulleys a and under the pulleys e
on the carrier. These ropes also pass over the pulleys e and are attached to the
hooks of the tension weights P. Each thin rope on the contrary is attached at one
extremity to a hook s at one end of the carrier. Figure 4 passes around a pulley
Figure 12 returning under the pulleys e Figure 4 round pulleys c fd fand b being
attached at the other extremity to a hook s at the other end of the carrier.
The action of the line is as follows:-The engine M Figure 4 drives the belt pulley 611
Figures 4, 6 and 8 by means of a belt c. The pulley "drives the shaft E' on which are
fixed all the rope pulleys & which actuate the thin ropes which propel the carrier.
The tension of the thin ropes attached to the hooks ss Figure 17 prevents the carrier
from swinging round on a vertical axis.
The amount of deflection or sagging of the cable under a load of about one
hundred kilogrammes per square millimetre is indicated approximately in Figure 1
the trajectory or path of the carrier being indicated by the line A C B lig. 3. When
the carrier commences to move the tension weights gradually rise until the carrier is
about half way across after which they gradually descend and return to the lowest
position when the carrier reaches the end of its journey. One tension weight on each
thin rope will be always resting on the ground at the moment of starting. It is

page_text: evident that the length of the travel or amount of the rise and fall of the tension
weights must be taken as a guide in constructing the frame work or tower described
with reference to Figure 4. "This however is a detail of construction which does not
affect the principle of the invention.
It is evident that the apparatus may be constructed with any suitable means for
guiding the tension weights and facilitating the approach of the tub or carrier by
lowering it on to a rising and falling platform h Figuro 4 operated by means of a
windlass T and any suitable precautions may be taken to guard against accidents by
providing brakes and employing telephonic or telegraphic communication between the
stations. These and other accessory details need not be further specified as they
must evidently be modified according to circumstances and in no way affect the
principles of the invention, the distinguishing feature of which is that the weight is
supported by a number of wires or cables whose tension can be regulated at will
independently of the weight to be transported the said wires or cables being so
arranged that the breaking of one does not materially increase the tension or strain
on the others.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A system of overhead transport in which the load is supported by a number of
steel wires or cables whose tension being independent of the weight of the load can
be regulated as required an essential feature of the invention being the multiple wires
or cables acted on by tension weights P P P² and working over pulloys such as bd c
and their supports (Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9) at one end of the line in combination
with suitable pulleys and connections at the upper end (Figures 12, 13 and 14) the
extremities of the wires or cables being attached to a travoller or carrier
Figures 15, 16 and 17 all substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
2. The arrangements and combinations of supporting and propelling wires or
cables constituting an improved system of overhead transport the said wires or cables
being suspended connected and operating substantially as hereinbefore described with
referenco to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 17th day of December 1888.