An improved Circular Switch Railway.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1887
Complete Left, 14th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 13th Apr., 1888
An improved Circular Switch Railway.
We, WILLIAM PRICE Builder of 82 Fleetwood Street, and JOHN GERRARD
Tailor, and Wolen Draper of 22 Brackenbury Street both of Preston in the
County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention consists of Apparatus and appliances for conveying Carriages, or
Cars upon grooved, circular descending and ascending rails; the purpose of which
is to convey passengers round the circle for pleasure. To secure the rails firmly in
their circular, descending and ascending position, suitable Iron and wood materials
are arranged and used. Steam or Electricity is used as motive power to assist the
force of gravity in propelling the carriages round upon the inclined circular grooved
rails. Each carriage has two or more safety guards to prevent the wheels from leaving
the grooved rails in which they revolve, which guides are arranged and adjusted as
follows (or in any other convenient way). In the centre between the two wheel rails is
a groove with a cavity underneath extending on either sides of the groove. In this
groove, and cavity works a downward cross. On either arm of the cross is a
roller, the other end of the cross being firmly fixed to the underneath part of tho
carriages.
These Rollers on the cross arms and moving in the cavity do not touch anything
only when the carriage is inclined to rise, in which case the rollers would act upon
the top of the cavity and force the carriage to its proper position. The carriages,
or Cars will be made of any suitable design. But the inside wheels will
be smaller than the outside ones according to the size of the circle, and to keep the
Carriages level, the axle-tree will be inclined accordingly.
The entrance up to and down from the platform would be from the centre.
But the entrance to the carriages would be from one side of the platform, and
the entrance from the carriages would be on the other side of the platform
Dated this 19th dove of November 1007
CHARLES HARVEY,
28, Brackenbury Street, Preston,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: We WILLIAM PRICE Builder of 82 Fleetwood Street and JOHN GERRARD Tailor
and Woollen Draper of 22 Brackenbury Street both of Preston in the County of
Lancaster 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 apparatus and appliances for conveying Carriages or
Cars upon grooved circular descending and ascending rails, the purpose of which is
to convey passengers round the circle for pleasure.
To secure the rails firmly in the circular decending and ascending position, suitable
iron and wood materials are arranged and used. Steam, Electricity, or other forces,
are used as motive power to assist the force of gravity in propelling the Carriages
round upon the inclined grooved rails.
Each Carriage has two or more safety guards to prevent the wheels from leaving
the grooved rails in which they revolve which guards are arranged and adjusted as
follows, (or in any other convenient way that will prevent the wheels leaving the rails).
In the centre between the two wheel rails is a groove with a cavity underneath,
extending on either sides of the groove.
In this groove and cavity works a downward cross shaft, on either arms of the
cross are wheels, the top end of the cross shaft being firmly fixed to the underneath
part of the carriage by stays back and front, and on either sides, these wheels on
the cross arms and moving in the cavity do not touch anything only when the
Carriage is inclined to rise, in which case the wheels would act upon the top of
the cavity, and force the Carriage to its proper position, thus preventing the wheels
leaving the rails.
The Carriages or Cars are made of any suitable design, but the inside wheels are
smaller than the outside ones according to the size of the circle, and to keep the
carriage level, the axle-tree is inclined accordingly.
Such being the nature and object of our said invention the following is a complete
description of same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a
part of this Specification in which
Fig. 1. is a circular view of the Railway showing the wheel rails, centre groove
for safety guard, and means of access to and from Switch-railway. It shows
also position of Steam engine, Electrical Dynamo with Cables, and Electrical Steel
Rope.
Fig. 2. is a section of roadway showing back of Car, guard cavity, and position of
safety guard.
Fig. 3. is a half-section showing inclination of roadway.

page_text: Fig. 4. is a side section of Roadway and Car, showing guard cavity, safety guard,
Wheels, break, also box containg Electrical mortor, Steel brush, endless driving
chain and axle drum.
Fig. 5. and 6. shows back and side view of safety guard in detail.
Fig. 7. is a section of safety guard.
A. in Fig. 1. is the platform leading to the Railway. B. B. the wheel rails. C. the
centre grove for safety guard. P. shows the position of Steam-engine and Electrical
Dynamo under the entrance platform. L. M. N. O. shows Electrical cables leading
from Dynamo to Steel Electrical rope, which rope is raised on a wooden strip on
certain sections of the circle marked R. R. R. R. R. R.
In Fig. 2. D. is the guard cavity. E. E. the guard wheels. F. F. the break. G. shows
the Box containing the Electrical Mortor. Q, a section of the electrical rope. K. the
steel brush for communicating Electricity to steel electrical rope which brush acts
only when the carriage is ascending.
In Fig. 4. D. is the guard cavity. E. E. the guard wheels. F. the break. H. H.
shows the endless driving chain extending from electrical mortor to driving drum
on Carriage axle. J. is the said driving drum fixed to axle. G Box containing
mortor.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
1st. The circular position of the Switch Railway.
2nd. The small inside and large outside Car or Carriage wheels with break
attached.
3rd. The safety-guard to prevent the wheels from leaving the rails, and
4th. The application of Steam, Electricity, or other motive power to assist the force
of gravity.
The above we claim as herein described and illustrated by the Drawings annexed.
Dated this 11th day of February 1888
Dated this 11th day of February 1888
WILLIAM PRICE.
JOHN GERRARD.
By their Agent, Charles Harvey.