IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STREET TRAMWAYS, AND IN THE METHOD OF REGULATING THE ACTION OF COMPRESSED AIR WHEN USED FOR DRIVING CARRIAGES ON SUCH WAYS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gustave Lindemann, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
STREET TRAMWAYS, AND IN THE METHOD OF REGULATING THE ACTION OF
COMPRESSED AIR WHEN USED FOR DRIVING CARRIAGES ON SUCH WAYS."
Sealed the 6th February 1877, and dated the 8th August 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gustave Lindemann at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th August 1876.
GUSTAVE LINDEMANN, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STREET TRAMWAYS, AND IN THE METHOD
OF REGULATING THE ACTION OF COMPRESSED AIR WHEN USED FOR DRIVING
CARRIAGES ON SUCH WAYS."
My Invention consists,―
Firstly. In a method of fixing the tramways to metal longitudinal girders. For
this purpose I form the rails so that they will fit over angular parts formed on
the top of the said girders, such rails being formed with spaces which extend
along their length at intervals. When the rails so formed are adapted I press
inward the parts which extend between the said spaces, by which means the rails
become severely clipped on to the girders.
Secondly. In the construction of a continuous girder rail, for which purpose I use
a girder formed of rolled plates, which are kept apart by a projection or projections
at the upper and lower parts thereof, but drawn together by means of bolts. The
upper part of the girder so formed constitutes the rail on which the wheels run, and
the lower part a foot which may be supported on stone or timber. I propose to
make the aforesaid projecting part of one plate extend into a recess formed in the
other. The two girders of the tramway may be tied together by rods.
Another part of my Invention relates to a method of driving carriages on tram-
ways when such carriages are supplied with pneumatic motive power, and has for
its object a reduction in the bulk of the apparatus, with which view I make the
said pneumatic power an aid to horse power, and use the latter to govern the action
of the former. Thus I apply one horse to a carriage which is provided with
pneumatic power, the said horse drawing through the medium of a spring or other
such apparatus; under these circumstances the animal power is sufficient to draw
Price 6d1

page_text: the carriage upon a level or in other cases in which thero is not any undue exertion
required, but when an incline or other extra work arises the horse by pulling
beyond a determined strength overcomes the spring and thereby supplies compressed
air to afford additional power. This improvement is also applicable to other elastic
fluids, such as portable steam.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Gustave Lindemann in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th February
1877.
_GUSTAVE LINDEMANN, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STREET TRAMWAYS, AND IN TILE METHOD
OF REGULATING COMPRESSED AIR WHEN USED FOR DRIVING CARRIAGES ON
SUCH WAYS."
My Invention consists, -
Firstly. In a method of fixing the tramway to longitudinal girders.
Secondly. To the construction of a continuous girder rail.
And, Thirdly. To a method of driving carriages on tramways when such carriages
are supplied with stored-up motive force.
The first part of my Invention is shewn at Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, certain differences
in the said Figs. relating to the next part of my Invention, and a present
reference to Fig. 1 will therefore be sufficient. At 1, 2, are two plates of metal,
held to each other by bolts 3, and formed with angular parts 4, 5, at their upper
ends, and upon which is placed the rail 6, rolled in the first instance into the section
shewn at Fig. 6; when this rail has been adapted to the said angular parts of the
girder the flanges 7, 8, are bent inward, as shewn at Fig. 1, whereby the rail becomes
securely clipped upon the plates 1, 2. This bending inward is to be effected, by
preference, while the metal is hot, and the flanges 7, 8, may be continuous or broken
by spaces between which are solid parts to be bent over, as above described.
Fig. 3 shows on a smaller scale this improvement; Fig. 4, a side view; and
Fig. 5, a plan view, 9 representing the junctions of the plates 1, 2, and 10 the
junctions of the rail 6, so that the whole is lapped or fished together.
Fig. 7 represents the second part of my Invention. At 1, 2, are the two rolled
plates provided with a part 11 which constitutes the rail on which the wheels run,
and at their lower ends with feet 12 which may be bedded on stone, timber, or
other suitable material, the said plates being kept together by means of bolts 13
adapted at suitable intervals; one of these plates is formed with a recess, and the
other with a projecting part 14 which fits into it.
Fig. 8 shews the tramway complete; Fig. 9, a face view; and Fig. 10, a plan
view; and at 15 is a tie rod adapted at intervals for bracing the whole together.
Figs. 7 and 2 represent two methods of joining the plates, in one caso the pro-
jecting part being at the top, and in the other at the bottom.
The first part of my Invention, viz., the clipped rail, may of course be adapted to
Figs. 7 and 8.
The third part of my Invention is shewn in general view at Fig. 11, which
represents in side view a tram car or omnibus with the Invention applied; and
Figs. 12, 13, views upon an enlarged scale of the working parts detached, and I
shall by means of the latter describe in the main the operation. At 1 is the body
of the carriage, in which there is stored up by any known means a quantity of
compressed air, or the equivalent pressure in steam, in a manner already known
for propelling carriages; the vessel or vessels for such purpose being at 2; and at 3
is one of the traces by which the horse pulls; to the trace 3 is attached one end of
a bell-crank lever 4, its other end being provided with a jointed rod 5 carrying a
piston 6 within a cylinder 7, to which oil or other fluid is supplied, and between

page_text: pro-
the said piston and bottom of the cylinder is a spring 8. The piston 6 is
vided with a small orifice through which the fluid may be driven, the parts thus
constituting a "dash box." The upper end of the piston rod is connected to a bell-
crank lever 10, the other end of which carries a pin situate in a notch formed in a
rod 11 which carries a valve 12 situate in a box 13, which box has a cominunica-
tion with the ordinary slide valve of an engine 14, the piston rod 15 of which com-
municates motion to the carriage wheels by any ordinary arrangement; in the
Drawing this is shewn by a crank 16 and pullies and chain 17. As the horse pulls
the carriage he does so through the medium of the spring 8 which is of course in
duplicate, but the said spring is strong enough not to give way under the force
exerted for level roads or other absence of unusual obstructions, but supposing an
extra exertion of the horse to be required, as in up hill or other obstructed work,
then the spring gives way, and the bell-crank lever 4 being turned shifts the
valve 12 by means of the rod 11 and admits the motive fluid to the engine, and the
horse is thereby assisted in his work.
The object of the dash box 7 is to prevent the jirkings of the horse from starting
the engine when not required, such jerkings simply causing the fluid to pass
through the orifice in the piston. This constitutes the essential feature of my
Invention, but the details may be varied, as will be well understood.
It is desirable that when the driver puts on the brake the stored up motive
power should be effectually shut off; for this purpose the following arrangement
may be adopted-At 18 is the driver's seat, and at 19 the brake treadle acting
through the rods and levers 21; when the brake is put on a pin 20 on the rod 21
raises the forked bar 11 from the lever and disconnects the horse's trace 3 from the
stored up motive force, a spring 22 being adapted to keep the valve 12 in its proper
position.
Fig. 14 shews an arrangement in which the slide valve 23 of the engine is im-
mediately acted on. The trace and parts connected therewith are the same as
before, but in this instance motion is given to the valve by an excentric acting on a
slotted lever 24 carrying a pin which is attached to a link 25, which works the
valve 23, the rod 11 being connected to the said link which is drawn forward by a
spring 26; when the rod 11 is raised the link is drawn forward by the spring 26
until the pin 27 coincides with the centre of motion 28, and then the slide valve 23
will cease to move.
Fig. 15 shews in plan view an arrangement which may be used when the driver
stands and applies the brake by hand. At 29 is the platform of the carriage, and
at 30 the lever by which the brake is applied through the chain 31 and rod 32,
upon which rod is a bell-crank lever 33 for shifting the rod 11, as before described.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood that I
claim as secured to me under the above in part recited Letters Patent, and for the
purposes above set forth,―
Firstly. The method of adapting rails by clipping on to girders or other such
supports.
Secondly. The method, substantially as described, of forming a continuous
girder.
Thirdly. The application of stored up motive force to be subsidiary to and
regulated in its action by animal power.
In witness whereof, I, the said Gustave Lindemann, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of February, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-seven.
CUISTAVE LINDEMANN (0)
GUSTAVE LINDEMANN
(I.C.)