IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND APPLICATION TO VEHICLES OF MOVEABLE OR TRAVELLING TRAMWAYS OR RAILWAYS, AND IN THE MODE OF WORKING THE SAME.
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Joseph Halcombe, of Balsham, in the County of
Cambridge, Clerk in Holy Orders, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE ARRANGEMENT AND APPLICATION TO VEHICLES OF MOVEABLE OR
TRAVELLING TRAMWAYS OR RAILWAYS, AND IN THE MODE OF WORKING THE
SAME.
»
Sealed the 3rd December 1878, and dated the 5th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Joseph Halcombe at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th July 1878.
.
JOHN JOSEPH HALCOMBE, of Balsham, in the County of Cambridge, Clerk in
Holy Orders. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND APPLICATION TO
VEHICLES OF MOVEABLE OR TRAVELLING TRAMWAYS OR RAILWAYS, AND IN THE
MODE OF WORKING THE SAME."
The apparatus (which may be applied to vehicles with two or more wheels)
consists of a series of plates of convenient width and length, jointed or linked at
their extremities so as to form an endless band or chain, such joints or links being
of such a nature that the plates may freely move in any direction. One of such
bands or chains is carried on both sides of the vehicle, and revolves round suitable
drums at the extremities of the vehicle, and in such a position that the lower part,
for the time being, shall always lie upon the ground, and being in the same vertical
line as the wheels of the vehicle, thus forms a continuous line or tramway upon
which the wheels may run.
The drums on each side of the vehicle revolve upon studs or axes of sufficient
length to admit of their being moved horizontally by suitable connections from the
axles or under carriages of the supporting wheels, thus ensuring the rails or
tramway being always laid in the track of the leading wheels of the vehicle when
moving in curves or turning corners.
Each pair of wheels (in the case of a four-wheeled vehicle) is fixed upon an
under carriage which turns upon an ordinary perch bolt, the under carriages being
suitably connected by cross levers, so that in turning corners, or moving in other
than straight lines, the wheels on either side of the vehicle shall run in the same
curve or part of a circle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Joseph Halcombe in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th
January 1879.
JOHN JOSEPH HALCOMBE, of Balsham, in the County of Cambridge, Clerk in
Holy Orders. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND APPLICATION TO
VEHICLES OF MOVEABLE OR TRAVELLING TRAMWAYS OR RAILWAYS, AND IN THE
MODE OF WORKING THE SAME"
The apparatus, which may be applied to vehicles with two or more wheels,
consists of a series of plates of convenient width and length, jointed or linked to
each other at their ends so as to form an endless band or chain, the joints or links
being of such a character that the plates may freely move in any direction. One
of such bands or chains is carried on each side of the vehicle and revolves round
suitable. drums at the extremities of the vehicle, and in such a position that the
lower part, for the time being, of such chain shall always lie upon the ground, and
being in the same vertical line as the wheels of the vehicle, thus forms a continuous
line or tramway upon which the wheels may run.
The drums on each side of the vehicle revolve upon studs or axes carried by
frames, capable of being moved horizontally by suitable connections from the axles
or under carriages of the supporting wheels, thus ensuring the rails or tramways
being always laid in the track of the leading wheels of the vehicle when moving
In curves or turning corners.
Each pair of wheels in the case of a four-wheeled vehicle is carried by an under
carriage which turns upon an ordinary perch bolt, the under, carriages being
suitably connected by cross rods or levers, so that in turning corners or moving in
other than straight lines the wheels on either side of the vehicle shall run in the
same curve or part of a circle.
And in order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings, more fully
to describe the same
vehicle with my Invention applied thereto.
Figure 3 is a plan, Figure 4 is an under side view, and Figure 5, is an end
view of one of the plates and its connections of which the endless chains are
formed.
In Figure 2 parts of the chains are removed, in order the clearer to show the
wheels and guide frames. .
a is the body of the vehicle; b, b*, are two under carriages, each of which is
capable of turning upon an ordinary perch bolt c. These under carriages b, b*, are
connected together by cross bars or levers d, so that as one under carriage is turned
around its perch bolt c, the other under carriage is also caused to turn in the same
manner around its perch bolt; e, e, are guide frames, which are mounted on centres
of motion e' at each side of the vehicle immediately over the centre of each sup-
porting wheel. These guide frames e are provided with studs or axes on which
are mounted guide drums or rollers g and h, which control and facilitate the motion
of the endless chains .
.. The guide frames e are operated by arms or levers j, fixed to the under carriages
to. ensure their being moved in the same path as the wheels, and thus lay the
chains in position to ensure the wheels running thereon. The endless chains i
run over the guide drums or rollers and rest on the upper parts of the supporting
wheels which give a forward motion to such chains i, thereby greatly facilitating
the action of the apparatus.

page_text: The endless chains ȧ are preferably formed, as shown at Figures 3, 4, and 5, of
cast plates or frames ', to which a steel plate or face for the wheels to run on is
fixed by screws or otherwise. These plates are formed with side flanges, and are
connected together by links which pass freely through holes formed in the plates,
and are capable of moving to and fro, and slightly sideways, in such holes to
enable the endless chains to accommodate themselves to the varying path of the
wheels. The flanges serve to prevent the wheels frunning off the endless chains,
and also to keep such chains in position when passing over the guide rollers . The
links are each formed with an eye at one end, whilst the other end is turned up
or enlarged to provent their coming out of the plates i¹.
In the case of a two-wheeled vehicle the guide frames e in front and at the back
of cach wheel arc, according to one arrangement, rigidly connected together, and
are mounted upon the same axis or centro of motion, and are operated by arms or
levers j in a similar manner to that herein-before described, or the guide frames e
may be rigidly connected to the under carriage so as to move therewith.
I have not thought it necessary to represent in the Drawings a two-wheeled
vehicle with moveable or travelling apparatus applied thereto, as above described,
as by the description herein given such will be readily understood.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not claim the
employment generally considered of endless chains or tramways carried by vehicles,
and caused by the forward motion of the vehicle to lie on the ground in position
for the supporting wheels to run thereon, when such are not combined with means
to facilitate the running of the vehicle in other than straight lines; but what I do
claim is the application to vehicles of endless chain tramways, arranged, supported,
and operated so as to facilitate the running of the vehicle in any desired path, in
manner substantially as herein shown, and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Joseph Halcombe, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
TAIN TASEDHATOOMPE