Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Oct., 1887
Complete Left, 5th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 6th Jan., 1888
I, WILLIAM WEST, of 53, Evlin Street, Chapel Town Road, Leeds, in the County of
York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
The construction of an Achimedian Railway, intended for purposes of Pleasure, the
description of which is as follows. I arrange a number of uprights or Pillars,
enclosing between them an annular space, the upper portion of these Pillars being
firmly tied together, and surmounted with a Roof.
The Pillars are arranged in sets of two, that is to say a line drawn from an
exterior Pillar to'the centre of the annular space, will intersect the interior Pillar,
nearest to it. Rafters unite the corresponding Pillars, and on these Rafters, I secure
Rails, bent for portions of their length into spiral circular curves, other portions
being level and circular. On these Rails, I mount a Carriage or Carriages for the
conveyance of Passengers, or I may mount the Figures of animals, or ships on
Trucks Between the Rails, and attached to the Rafters, are secured guiding
Pulleys, for the purpose of guiding the Rope attached to either end of the
Carriages.
A motor conveniantly situated is provided with a Clip Pulley, or Hauling
Drum, controlled by suitable Brakes." The Carriage, with its freight, being by
Engine power, hauled to the top of the Archimedian Railway, the Clip Pulley or
Hauling Drum is disconnected from the motor, and the Carriages allowed to run
their course, untill the ground level is reached, where the Rails are laid in a
gradually increasing and spiral track, on the outside or inside of the annular
erection. The Carriages having now lost their impetus, come to a stand, and are
ready for their next ascent. The Carriages being attached to the Hauling Rope,
are at all times under the control of the Brake, and in case of negligence, contact
stops are provided, which if not withdrawn by the person in charge, before they are
reached by the Carriage, will by their action automatically apply the Brake, and
stop the Carriages.
Or I may adopt an arrangement of two Hauling Drums, running loose on their
shaft, and driven by Friction Cones, or Clutches. In this case, the Carriages are

page_text: under the command of the Engine both in ascending and descending, one Drum
running loose and uncoiling the Rope which in the previous journey it had acquired.
An annular Promenade or Station, is attached to, and carried by the Pillars at
their upper end.
The Promenade being roofed, and fitted with seats, windows, will afford to the
Passengers, an opportunity of viewing the surroundings from an elevated and
advantageous position.
Any conveniant number of convolutions of the Carriages, before the top is
reached, can be arranged.
The Carriages after completeing the ascent, may continue their journey around the
Promenade on Rails laid for the purpose. It will be seen, that the Archimedian
Railway, resembles in appearance, a spiral staircase, connected to other spiral
staircases by lengths of level circular track.

page_text: A Gravity Railway for Purposes of Pleasure.
I, WILLIAM WEST, of 53, Evlin Street, Chapel Town Road, Leeds, in the County
of York, Engineer, 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 :-
The construction of .a Gravity Archimedian Railway intended for purposes of
Pleasure. The description of which is as follows.-I arrange a number of uprights
or Pillars, enclosing between them an annular space, the upper portion of these Pillars
being firmly tied together, and surmounted with a Roof. The Pillars are arranged in
sets of two, that is to say, a line drawn from an exterior Pillar to the centre of the
annular space, will intersect the interior Pillar nearest to it. Rafters unite the
corresponding Pillars, and on these Rafters I secure Rails, bent for portions of their
length into spiral circular curves, other portions being level and circular. On these
Rails I mount a Carriage or Carriages, for the conveyance of Passengers.
Between the Rails, and attached to the Rafters are secured guiding Pulleys, for
the purpose of guiding the Rope, attached to either end of the Carriages, a Motor
conveniantly situated, is provided with a Clip Pulley or Hauling Drum, controlled by
suitable Brake.
The carriage with its freight, being by Engine power hauled to the top of the
Railway, the Clip Pulley or Hauling Drum is disconnected from the Motor, and
the Carriages allowed to run their course, untill the Ground level is reached, where the
Rails are laid in an increasing spiral track on the out side or inner side of the
annular erection.
The Carriages having now lost their impetus, come to a stand and are ready for
their next ascent.
The Carriages being attached to the Hauling Rope, are at all times under the
control of the Brake, and in case of negligence, contact stops are provided, which if
not withdrawn by the person in charge, before they are reached by the Carriage, will
by their action automatically apply the Brake and stop the Carriages.
An annular Promenade or station is attached to, and carried by the Pillars, at their
upper end.
In the accompanying Drawings, it will be seen that Fig. 1 is a Plan view.
a sectional Elevation.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3. an Elevation, Figs. 4. and 5, are Plans, whilst Figs. 6. and 7. show the
arrangement of Guiding Pulleys, and contact stops.
Refering to Fig. 1, A. A. are the principal uprights supporting the cross
Ties B. B. to which the Rails C. C. are attached, D. D. are the Rope guiding
pulleys. E. E. is the Promenade, F. is a Tent, a portion of which can be used as
a Refreshment Room, the remaining space being occupied by the Engine, used for
operating the Car G.

page_text: Fig. 2. shows a sectional Elevation, where E. E. is the annular Promenade,' and
H. H. a protecting Railing.
Fig. 1. shows the arrangement of Rails for deploying the Carriages, on their
reaching ground level, from the inner, to the outer side of the Erection, where the
carriages are free to run, till their impetus is exhausted.
Figs. 4. and 5. are ground Plans, showing two, out of the many forms, in which
the Railway may be constructed.
Figs. 6 and 7. explain the arrangement of Guiding Pulleys, and contact stops. The
contact stops are provided for the purpose of stopping the Car in case of
accident, and if not withdrawn by the Driver, before they are reached by the
carriage, will by reason of the double inclined Plane H coming in contact with the
Bell cranked Lever I and its connections, apply the Brake to the driving
arrangement.
Having now particulary described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
1st. The means employed in imparting to the Carriage, the motion substantially
as herein described.
2nd. The arrangement and construction of the various parts substantially as
herein described.
WILLIAM WEST.