Year: 1888

page_text: 00
Way
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 object of this invention is to make it possible to utilize for railway service
tunnels of shallower dimensions than have heretofore been found practicable for such
purpose. A shallow tunnel involves only a superficial excavation, thus reducing
greatly the cost of excavation; it will not endanger house foundations where a deeper
tunnel would, and it can be used where from the presence of tide water, or lake or
river level an ordinary tunnel could not be economically constructed.
This object is accomplished by the construction of an independent car truck or
preferably a motor truck adapted to be placed between the adjacent ends of iwo
railway cars and to be connected thereto; also by the construction of a railway car or
carriage adapted to be used in connection with the said truck, as hereinafter fully
described.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 represents an independent motor truck and one end of a car, both
constructed in accordance with my invention.
Figure 2 represents an independent railway car truck and the adjacent ends of two
cars connected thereto.
Figure 3 is an end view taken on line x x of figure 2.
Figure 4 is a view similar to figure 1 showing the car before connection with the
truck, and, in dotted lines, its position when connected.
Figure 5 is a cross-section, taken on line y y of figure 4.
Referring to the drawing (1) represents an independent railway car truck which,
in supporting the car while in motion, performs the usual function of a railway car
truck, and performs also an entirely novel function in supporting two such cars while
in motion, or otherwise. The said truck may be of any well known construction
adapted to the purpose and is provided with rest blocks (2) on which the car
extensions (3) rest and are supported. The truck is coupled to the car by a coupling
pin (4) in a well known manner.

page_text: In Figures 1 and 4 I have shown an independent motor truck (10) which performs
the same functions as the independent truck hereinbefore described, and, of course,
the additional functions of a locomotive engine, namely the making up of a train and
drawing it when made. This independent motor truck performs several functions
which now are performed only by several different appliances and some of which are
not now performed at all. It performs the principal function of a railway carriage
truck in supporting a car while in motion and an entirely novel function in supporting
two such cars while in motion, or otherwise.
I preferably construct the carriage (5) in the manner described in Letters Patent of
the United States filed July 26 1884 serial No. 138, 833.
It is so formed by extensions (3) at the respective ends, or at either end or so cut
away or framed, that it can be combined with an independent motor truck (Figure 1).
or with an independent supporting truck (Figure 2) so that the interior perpendicular
dimension of the car when in motion from the top thereof to the road bed may be only
slightly in excess of such interior dimension, permitting thereby the use of shallow
tunnels involving only superficial excavations, thus reducing the cost of excavations
and enabling railway tunnels to be constructed where, from the presence of tide-water
or lake or river level, ordinary tunnels could not be economically constructed.
I provide the carriages with supplementary or safety wheels (6) calculated for use
in making up the trains, which wheels, are removed from contact with the rails when
the train is made up and in motion. In making up trains either the truck is moved
under the extension of the car, or the latter is moved over the truck the height of
truck and extension relative to each other being such that the one can readily pass
over or under the other, when in position. The supplementary wheels (see figure 1)
are elevated by any suitable and effective means so as to clear the track and cause the
car to rest on the rest blocks of the truck, as clearly shown in the drawings. The
supplemental adjustable wheels also perform the function of reserve or safety wheels
which become effective by falling upon the track and sustaining the car in the event
of a break of truck or wheel in the independent motor truck or independent car truck.
In Figure 4 I have not shown the wheels as adjustable relative to the car but I
have provided means (7) for a vertical adjustment of the rest blocks of the motor
truck, so that by raising said blocks the carriage and its wheels can be lifted from the
track. The means shown for this purpose are so simple that their construction and
operation can be understood without a detailed description thereof.
The electric motor (8) of the motor truck (and any suitable electric motor may be
used) is connected to a wheel or wheels of the truck in any approved manner.
The construction of electric motors, their connection with driving wheels, and the
means by which they are connected with the source of power being all well understood
there is no necessity for a detailed description thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
First. A railway car or carriage formed at its ends with extensions and having its
floor placed below the level of its supporting truck and near to the road bed sub-
stantially as described.
Second. A railway car or carriage provided with supplementary wheels so located
as to permit the floor of the car to approach as near the road bed as is consistent with
safety, and formed at its ends with extensions located at such a height as to permit
the same to rest on, and be supported by a truck, substantially as described.
Third. In combination with two adjacent cars the floors of which are arranged near
to the road bed as described, of an independent railway car truck supporting the
adjacent ends of the said cars substantially as described.
Fourth. In combination with two adjacent cars the floors of which are arranged
near to the road bed as described of an independent railway car truck provided with a
motor, and supporting the adjacent ends of said cars, substantially as described.
Fifth. In combination with a car or carriage provided with an extension as

page_text: described and having its floor arranged near to the road bed as described of an
independent railway car truck constructed to pass under said extension and support
the car, substantially as described.
Sixth. In combination with a car or carriage provided with an extension as
described and having its floor arranged near to the road bed as described of an
independent railway car truck provided with a motor and constructed to pass under
said extension and support the car, substantially as described.
Seventh. The combination of a car body having its floor arranged near to the road
bed as described and trucks supporting the same located beyond the ends of said car
body proper and means for suspending the car body from the trucks substantially as
described.
Dated this 2nd dow of Santamber 18se
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.