Improvements in Helical Railways and Appliances connected. therewith.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 30'h June, 1891-Accepted, 15th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Helical Railways and Appliances connected.
therewith.
I, JOHN FOSTER MIDGLEY of Belve View Terrace, Luddenden Foot in the
County of York, Slater and Plasterer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention consists of improved construction of helical or spiral railway and
apparatus connected therewith.
According to this my invention spirally around a cone are laid rails for the
carriages, there being a side or guide rails against which spring pulleys bear, the
rails and pulleys serve to steady the carriages and to keep them on the track during
the downward descent, at the terminating end of the line the guide rails are slightly
narrower so that the pressure upon the spring guide pullies become greater and
thus retards and gradually arrests the motion of the carriages, or this lower end of
the rail may be curved upwards so that the ascent may arrest the motion of the
carriage.
The central portion of the cone is hollow and forms a shaft through which and
over guide pullies endless chains work these are provided with attachments for
lifting the carriages to the upper portion or apex of the cone. There being the
necessary shafts and pullies employed for lifting the carriages in succession as they
arrive at the lower portion of the cone or a series of steps leading to the upper
portion may be used.
Dated the 27th day of September 1890.
WALTER BRIERLEY,
Central Chambers, Halifax.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Helical Railways and Appliances connected
therewith.
I, JOHN FOSTER MIDGLEY, of Belve View Terrace, Luddenden Foot, in the
County of York, Slater and Plasterer, 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 consists of improved construction of helical or spiral railway and
apparatus connected therewith.
According to this my invention, spirally around a cone are laid rails for the
carriages, there being a side or guide rails against which spring pulleys bear, the
rails and pulleys serve to steady the carriages and to keep them on the track during
the downward descent, at the terminating end of the line the guide rails are slightly
narrower, so that the pressure upon the spring guide pullies become greater, and
thus retards and gradually arrests the motion of the carriages or this lower end of
the rail may be curved upwards, so that the ascent may arrest the motion of the
carriages.
The central portion of the cone is hollow and forms a shaft through which and
over guide pulleys endless chains work, these are provided with attachments for
lifting the carriages to the upper portion or apex of the cone. There being the
necessary shafts and pulleys employed for lifting the carriages in succession as they
arrive at the lower portion of the cone, or a series of steps leading to the upper
portion may be used.

page_text: Q
Such being the nature and object of my said invention, the following is a
complete description of same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,
in which
Fig. 1 is an elevation of my improved helical or spiral railway.
Fig. 2 shows a portion of endless chain with carriage attached.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the carriage.
At 1 is the helical or spiral railway built in the form of a cone; 2 are the rails,
these are fenced in by sides or boundary rails 3: the pitch of the spiral of the cone
may be varied, but in no case is it to be such as would give high velocity, as such
is not desirable; the carriages 4 are each provided with four wheels 5. 5., each pair
of wheels is mounted loosely on their axis, and the axis mounted on a pin about
midway the length of the axis, or otherwise mounted like bogie wheels, so that the
wheels are free to follow the curves of the lines.
Each carriage is provided at its sides with guide pulleys 6 which bear against
the side frame of the carriage 7. 7. so that the carriage cannot leave the rails, these
guide pulleys have a spiral or other spring, against which they bear as the carriage
enters into a somewhat narrow or contracted portion of the side framing, and they
thus act as a brake to arrest the momentum of the carriages as the latter nears the
bottom or base of the helical railway. Or a portion of the length of the rails
nearest the base are raised, and the carriage having to ascend the gradient, its
momentum is arrested by the time it reaches the terminus of the line. At 8 is a
central shaft or passage way through the cone, up which the carriages and passengers
are wound by means of the endless chains 9 which pass over the pulleys 10. 10.
there being an attachment on the carriages for linking the carriages to the
chains 9. 9 or the passengers may ascend by a spiral staircase. At 11 is a shaft
driven by pulley 12 or gear for hoisting the carriages.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and i
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
Istly. He lor spiral railway such as illustrated by drawings, the sides or
boundary rails of which are slightly narrower at the base or finishing end, or slightly
raised at the base or finishing end for the purpose of destroying the momentum of
the carriages, as herein described.
2ndly. A helical or spiral railway such as described, combined with which are
carriages having side guide and compressible pulleys for purpose described and
illustrated by drawings.
3rdly. A helical or spiral railway having a central shaft for purpose of ascent
of passenger or carriages or both, as described and illustrated by accompanying
drawings.
Dated i
20th day of In 100..
JOHN FOSTER MIDGLEY.
By his Agent, Walter Brierley,
Central Chambers, Halifax.