IMPROVEMENTS IN PNEUMATIC RAILWAYS AND IN CARRIAGES TO BE USED THEREWITH
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur William Lovell Reddie of the Office for Patents
66 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PNEUMATIC RAILWAYS AND IN CARRIAGES TO BE USED
THEREWITH " Communicated to him from abroad by Elias Parkman Needham
of the City and State of New York United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur William Lovell
Reddie at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th December
1882.
ARTHUR WILLIAM LOVELL REDDIE of the Office for Patents 66 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent "IMPROVEMENTS IN PNEUMATIC
RAILWAYS AND IN CARRIAGES TO BE USED THEREWITH."- [Communicated to him
from abroad by Elias Parkman Needham of the City and State of New York
United States of America]
This invention relates to pneumatic railways in which the carriages or trains are
contained wholly within the air tube, and are propelled either by compressing the air
in the tube behind them, by exhausting the air from the tube in advance of them,
or by both so compressing and exhausting the air; the carriages being provided
with any suitable packing which approximately fits the interior of the air tube, and
so prevents leakage of air past them to any injurious extent.
The invention consists in the novel combination with a main pneumatic railway
tube provided with two gates or valves forming a station between them, a branch
air tube communicating with said main tube behind and in advance of said gates
or valves, and an air compression pump in said branch air tube; of a pipe for
conducting compressed air from the discharge outlet of said pump to the main tube
between said gates or valves and in rear of a carriage or train, whereby provision is
afforded for discharging the said compressed air between the rear end of a carriage
or train and the adjacent gate or valve to overcome the inertia of the carriage or
train in starting. The invention also consists in the combination with a pneumatic
railway tube provided with pairs of gates or valves forming stations between them,
and a pump for compressing air in said tube behind the carriages, of a pressure

page_text: equalizing chamber into which compressed air is forced by said pump, and from
which the compressed air is conducted to said tube outside the gates or valves.
This pressure equalizing chamber may be of any suitable size, and serves as a
reservoir of compressed air, and by its use a more uniform pressure may be
maintained in the pneumatic tube than would be possible without it.
The invention also consists in the combination with a pneumatic railway tube
provided with pairs of gates or valves forming stations between them and a pump
for exhausting air from the tube in front of the carriages, of a vacuum equalizing
chamber into which air is conducted from said tube outside the gates or valves, and
from which air is exhausted by said pump.
By the use of a vacuum chamber of suitable size a more uniform degree of
vacuum can be maintained in the tube than would be the case if the pump
exhausted the air directly from the tube.
Where the carriages are propelled both by compressing air behind them and
exhausting it in front of them, both the pressure and vacuum equalizing chambers
are used.
The invention also consists in the combination with two parallel pneumatic
railway tubes extending between terminal stations providing for traffic in opposite
directions and provided with pairs of gates or valves forming stations between
them, of a pump at each station for exhausting air from that tube which serves for
incoming traffic outside said pairs of gates or valves, and at the same time com-
pressing the air so exhausted and supplying it under pressure to that tube which
serves for outgoing traffic, outside said pairs of gates or valves.
The invention also consists in the combination with two pneumatic railway
tubes extending between two terminal stations, providing for traffic in opposite
directions and provided with pairs of gates or valves forming stations between
them, of pressure and vacuum equalizing chainbers at each station, the former
communicating with the tube for outgoing traffic outside said gates or valves, and
the latter communicating with the tube for incoming traffic outside said gates or
valves, and a pump at each station for exhausting air from the vacuum chamber
and compressing it in the pressure chamber.
The invention also consists in the combination with a pneumatic railway tube
containing a track and having guide rails upon its sides and upper portion, of
carriages adapted to run upon said track, and provided with guide rollers or
wheels for running upon said guide rails; whereby the carriages are guided on all
sides and can be moved with less friction.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Arthur William Lovell Reddie in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 4th June 1883.
ARTHUR WILLIAM LOVELL REDDIE of the Office for Patents 66 Chancery.
Lane in the County of Middlesex Patent Agent "IMPROVEMENTS IN PNEUMATIC
RAILWAYS AND IN CARRIAGES TO BE USED THEREWITH a Communication to
me from Abroad by Elias Parkham [sic] Needham of the City and State of New
York, United States of America .
The Invention relates to pneumatic railways in which the carriages or trains are
contained wholly within the air tube and are propelled either by compressing the
air in the tube behind them, by exhausting the air from the tube in advance of
them, or by both so compressing and exhausting the air; the carriages being provided
with any suitable packing which approximately fits the interior of the air tube and
so prevents leakage of air past them to any injurious extent
The invention consists in the novel combination with a main pneumatic railway
tube provided with two gates or valves forming a station between them, a branch
air, tube communicating with said main tube behind, and in advance of said gates
or valves, and an air compression pump in said branch air tube, of a pipe for con-
ducting compressed air from the discharge outlet of said pump to the main tube
between said gates or valves and in rear of a carriage or train whereby provision is
afforded for discharging the said compressed air between the rear end of a carriage
or train and the adjacent gate or valve to overcome the inertia of the carriage or
train in starting
The invention also consists in the combination with a pneumatic railway tube
provided with pairs of gates or valves forming stations between them, and a pump
for compressing air in said tube behind the carriages, of a pressure-equalizing
chamber into which compressed air is forced by said pump and from which the
compressed air is conducted to said tube outside the gates or valves
This pressure-equalizing chamber may be of any suitable size and serves as a
reservoir of compressed air and by its use a more uniform pressure may be
maintained in the pneumatic tube than would be possible without it
The invention also consists in the combination with a pneumatic railway tube
provided with pairs of gates or valves forming stations between them and a pump
for exhausting air from the tube in front of the carriages, of a vacuum equalizing
chamber into which air is conducted from said tube outside the gates or valves and
from which air is exhausted by said pump.
By the use of a vacuum chamber of suitable size a more uniform degree of
vacuum can be maintained in the tube than would be the case if the pump
exhausted the air directly from the tube
Where the carriages are propelled both by compressing air behind them and
exhausting it in front of them, both the pressure and vacuum equalizing chambers
are used.
The invention also consists in the combination with two parallel pneumatic
railway tubes extending between terminal stations providing for traffic in opposite
directions and provided with pairs of gates or valves forming stations between them,
of a pump at each station for exhausting air from that tube which serves for
incoming traffic outside said pairs of gates or valves, and at the same time com-
pressing the air so exhausted and supplying it under pressure to that tube which
serves for outgoing traffic outside said pairs of gates or valves
The invention also consists in the combination with two pneumatic railway
tubes extending between two terminal stations providing for traffic in opposite
directions and provided with pairs of gates or valves forming stations between
them of pressure and vacuum equalizing chambers at each station; the former com
municating with the tube for outgoing traffic outside said gates or valves and the
E
F

page_text: latter communicating with the tube for incoming traffic outside said gates or valves,
and a pump at each station for exhausting air from the vacuum chamber and
compressing it in the pressure chamber
The invention also consists in the combination with a pneumatic railway tube
containing a track and having guide rails upon its sides and upper portion, of
6.carriages adapted to run upon said track and provided with guide rollers or wheels
from running upon said guide" rails whereby the carriages are guided on all sides
and can be moved with less friction.
In the accompanying drawing figure 1. represents a plan partly in section of a
pneumatic railway tube embodying the Invention-Figure 2 represents a longitudi-
nal vertical section through a portion of said tube at one of the stations, showing a
carriage therein and upon a larger scale. Fig: 3 represents a perspective view upon
a larger scale of a tube for such railway, Fig: 4 represents a perspective view of
one of the carriages upon the same scale as fig: 3. Fig 5 represents a partly
sectional plan of a railway similar to that shewn in fig 1 with the addition of
pressure and vacuum equalizing chambers, and fig: 6 represents a sectional plan of
a railway also embodying the Invention and comprising two tubes extending.
between terminal stations and providing for traffic in opposite directions.
Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures
Referring first to figures 1 to 4 inclusive, A designates a tube of any suitable
material which may or may not be underground and which as represented
consists of two parallel lines which are adapted for traffic in opposite directions
upon one or two streets and which are united at one or both ends by a curve A¹
which is as broad or large as possible if the two portions of the tube are placed
upon opposite sides of a single street. The two parallel portions are intended to
be united at both ends in all cases where cars pass from one to the other
At certain intervals in the tube A where it is desired to have stopping places or
stations are arranged two gates or valves B B¹ at a distance apart more than
sufficient to receive a train or carriage between them, and the spaces C between
the gates or valves are termed stations.
At each station is a branch pipe or tube D which communicates with the main
tube A behind and outside the gate or valve B, and in advance of and outside the
gate or valve B¹, and in any or all of the branch pipes along the line are arranged
air compression pumps E which are here shown as rotary pumps, though air pumps
of any construction might be employed.
Each pump E exhausts air froin the tube A behind the gate or valve B of the
station at which it is placed, and forces air into the said tube in advance of the
gate B¹ and it will be clearly understood that the several pumps. produce a
continuous current of air through the tube A.
When it is desired to stop a carriage or train at any station the gate or valve B¹
of that station is shut, and as the carriage or train approaches said gate it is
cushioned by the air ahead of it and finally stopped without jar or shock. Of
course brakes might be used for stopping the carriages or trains.-The gate or
valve B is afterwards closed thus isolating the station from the tube A and
permitting the tube to be opened at that point to enable the carriages to be loaded
or unloaded. When the carriages or train is to be started the gate or valve B¹ is
opened, and in order to first start the carriage or train there is employed a tube or
pipe F extending from the discharge side of a pump E to the station C between.
the two gates B B' and in rear of the carriage or train G which is shewn at one
of the stations; and by delivering air between the closed gate or valve B and the
rear of the carriage or train the latter is impelled forward. When the air is to be
used for starting the carriage or train a valve or gate S in the branch tube D is
closed to direct air through the starting pipe or tube F.
In order to aid in starting the carriages or trains, the track a between the
gates B and B' is preferably inclined or has a descending portion a' as shewn in
fig: 2, and the carriages or trains are stopped upon said incline.
As here shown the bottom of said incline a¹ is on a level with the main portion

page_text: of the tube and a second incline a² extending downwardly in the reverse direction
is formed in the track-The Carriages will then have to ascend one incline which
will assist in stopping them and will stop upon the other incline upon which they
may be readily started-The two inclines in the track are here formed by inclining
the tube A, but they might be formed by using a straight tube and inclining the
track within the tube.
As clearly shown in fig: 3 the tube A is round or cylindrical; but it may be
square or rectangular in transverse section or of other desired form
The carriage G is provided with wheels b which run upon the track rails a, and
in order to properly guide the car the two sides and upper surface of the tube are
fitted with guide rails c and the carriage is fitted with guide rollers or wheels d
for running upon said guide rails
In the sides of the tube A may be provided openings which are fitted with
tightly sealed windows e of glass or other transparent or translucent material to
admit light to the tube:
In order to adapt the carriage for turning curves of comparatively small radius
it is constructed in separate sections each section being composed of a platform
section and an upright portion g to which the guide rollers or. wheels d are
pivotted: The several carriage sections are hinged or pivotted together at h and
are each adapted to turn on its pivot as may be necessary in rounding a curve
Referring now to fig: 5 A designates the tube in which the tracks a are laid
and the two parallel sections of which are united by curves A'. The tube A is
provided with valves or gates B B' which form stations or depôts between them.
E designates an air pump which is employed to exhaust the air in advance of the
carriages, G and to create a pressure behind them. This pump.communicates on
one side with a vacuum equalizing chamber E' which communicates through a
pipe D with the tube A behind and outside the gate B, and from which the air is
exhausted by the pump and the said pump compresses air in a pressure-equalizing
chamber E3 which communicates through a pipe D with the tube A in advance of
and outside the gate B¹.
The chambers E' E' serve to maintain a uniform degree of vacuum and pressure,
and enable the carriages to be operated smoothly and at a uniformi speed
notwithstanding any small variations in the speed of the pump: The two
chambers EE with the pipes D D may be considered as forming a pipe or
passage around the station similar to one of the pipes D shewn in fig: 1.
Referring now to fig 6, A A designate two tubes which extend between two
terminal stations C₁, and provide for traffic in opposite directions These tubes are
broken away to reduce the length of the drawing and between the two terminal
stations each tube may have any number of intermediate or way stations, which
are formed by gates or valves B B₁ and turn-out or branch tubes D; and one or
more of these branch tubes may have in them air pumps as previously described.
At each terminal station C¹ is a pressure-equalizing chamber E2 which com-
municates with the tube for outgoing traffic outside of the gates by a pipe H, and a
similar vacuum equalizing chamber E' which communicates with the tube for
incoming traffic outside the gates by a pipe H¹.
At each terminal station C¹ is an air pump E which constantly operates to
exhaust air from the vacuum chamber E' and compress air in the pressure
chamber E². At each terminal station C¹ are gates or valves B B' the former of
which are always closed when a carriage is at the station.
As here represented in fig: 1 the railway is only adapted for running cars in
one direction and if it is desired to run cars in either direction, two starting pipes F
should extend one from each side of the pump to the opposite end of each station,
and two valves & be provided, one on each side of the pump.
Having thus described the Invention as communicated to me by my Foreign
Correspondent and explained in what manner the same may be carried into
practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim
First The combination with a main pneumatic railway tube provided with two

page_text: gates or valves forming a station between them, a branch air tube communicating
with the said main tube behind and in advance of the said gates or valves, and an
air compression pump in the said branch air tube, of a pipe for conducting
compressed air from the discharge outlet of the said pump to the main tube between
the said gates or valves and in rear of a carriage or train, substantially as and for
the purpose herein described.
Secondly-The combination with a pneumatic railway tube provided with pairs
of gates or valves forming stations between them, and a pump for compressing air
in the said tube behind the carriages, of a pressure-equalizing chamber into which
compressed air is forced by the said pump, and from which the compressed air is
conducted to the said tube outside the gates or valves, substantially as and for the
purpose herein described
Thirdly The combination with a pneumatic railway tube provided with pairs of
gates or valves forming stations between them, and a pump for exhausting air
from the tube in front of the carriages of a vacuum equalizing chamber into which
air is conducted from the said tube outside the gates or valves, and from which air
is exhausted by the said pump substantially as and for the purpose herein
described.
Fourthly The combination with a pneumatic railway tube provided with pairs
of gates or valves forming stations between them of pressure and vacuum
equalizing chambers, both of which are in communication with the said tube outside
the said gates or valves, and a pump for exhausting air from the said vacuum
chamber and compressing air in the said pressure chamber, substantially as and for
the purpose herein described.
Fifthly The combination with two parallel pneumatic_ railway tubes extending
between two terminal stations providing for traffic in opposite directions and
provided with pairs of gates or valves forming stations between them, of a pump
at each terminal station for exhausting air from the tube for incoming traffic outside
the said pairs of gates" or valves, and at the same time compressing the air so
exhausted and supplying it under pressure to the tube for outgoing traffic outside
the said pairs of gates or valves, substantially as and for the purpose herein
described.
Sixthly. The combination with two pneumatic railway tubes extending between
two terminal stations providing for traffic in opposite directions, and provided with
pairs of gates or valves forming stations between them, of pressure and vacuum
equalizing chambers at each terminal station, the former communicating with the
tube for outgoing traffic outside the said gates or valves, and the latter com-
mmunicating with the tube for incoming traffic outside the said gates or valves, and
à pump at each station for exhausting air from the vacuum chamber and com-
pressing it in the pressure chamber, substantially as and for the purpose herein
described..
Seventhly The combination with a pneumatic railway tube containing a car
track, and having guide rails upon its sides and upper portion, of carriages adapted
to run upon the said track and provided with guide rollers or wheels for running
upon the said guide rails, substantially as:and for the purpose herein described
!
(. In witness whereof I the said Arthur Willian Lovell Reddie have hereunto
set my hand and seal the fourth day of June in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty, three.: