Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Mar., 1888
Specification Accepted, 25th May, 1888
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, 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 invention relates to apparatus adapted to be used for pleasure or business,
either for the carriage of passengers or goods, as a Cable Coaster upon picnic
grounds, or at pleasure resorts, as a Ferrier or rope-way bridges across ravines or
streams, and as a Carrier in any place where it is desired to transport goods or
merchandise for short distances; and the object of this invention is to create such an
apparatus of simple construction and operation.
The invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings, in which :
Figure 1 is a side elevation thereof.
Figure 2 a sectional elevation of the inner end of the platforms, etcetera, at the
starting point.
Figure 3 an elevation of the upright supporting the outer end of the cable.
Figures 4 and 5 details of the traveler to which the inner end of the cable is
connected, to raise or lower it.
Figures 6 and 7 details of the windlass mechanism upon the standard, and
Figures 8 and 9 details of the carriage and car upon the cable.

page_text: The invention consists in the several novel features of construction and operation,
which are hereinafter described, and which are specifically set forth in the several
clauses of claim hereto annexed.
It is constructed as follows: A is an upper platform. B is another platform
below A, and both of these are supported in any usual manner, and 1 and 2 are
stairways. C is an upright standard passing up through the platforms, and its top
may be stayed by guys, if desired. In or between the bars of this standard, the
pulley 3 is mounted, and adjacent to the bottom, the geared windlass 4 is mounted.
D is a traveler consisting of a frame upon the cross bars of which the flat or grooved
wheels and 6 are placed, the wheels 6 bearing against one vertical edge of the
standard, and the wheels 5 against the opposite edge; and rails or guides may be
placed upon the standard vertically to keep the wheels in place.
As shown in Figures 4 and 5 this traveler is provided with the draft bar 7, mounted
upon the cross bars of the frame, and provided with eyes 8 and 9, as shown by the
dotted lines.
Into the eyes 8, the ends of the rope 10 are tied, which passes up over the pulley 3,
thence down around the drum of the windlass with several turns, and thence upward
to the draft bar, so that when the windlass is operated, the endless rope raises or
lowers the traveler upon the standard.
In the eye 9, one end of the cable 11 is secured, which is carried thence over the
pulley 12, in the upright 13, and down to the tightener 14.
Upon this cable, the carriage or truck 15 is placed, consisting of a frame, with
journal boxes thereon, and grooved wheels mounted upon axles set in the boxes, the
wheels fitting upon the cable.
E, is the car dependent from the truck.
A brake 16 is provided, operating upon the top of a wheel or wheels, when the rod
or cord 17, is pulled down.
The platform A, and standard C are not connected, in order that the traveler can
ascend and descend freely between them; and the platform is also slotted to permit
the cable to pass up or down through it with the traveler.
In the inward ends of both platforms, the slot ways are widened out wide enough
to receive the car end wise, and between the platforms and projecting over the edges
of the car-slots, the guide and friction rollers 18 are erected, between which the car
enters or leaves a platform, and which steady the car and rotate easily with the
friction of the car against them as it moves in or out.
The carriage is also provided with one or more parts 19, which bear upward
against the cable, and operate to retain the wheels upon the cable.
It is operated as follows:
The car is loaded from the platform A, the traveler and cable being then in the
position shown by the dotted lines, and when released the car starts downward along
the then downward grade of the cable, until it reaches a point adjacent to the upright,
when either by the operation of the brake, or by the reversal of the grade by lowering
the traveler and that end of the cable, the car stops, and then returns along the cable
to the lower platform.
Then by raising the traveler, cable and car, up again, the car is ready to re-load and
start once more.
When used as a Carrier or Ferrier a suitable platform should be erected adjacent to
the upright, upon which to unload the car.
It will be observed that for whatever purpose used, the car is always under the
control of the operator at one end of the cable.
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 :—
1. The combination with the standard A, of the traveler D, constructed with a
frame composed of sides, and front and rear cross bars, the front cross bar carrying
pulleys bearing against the front of the standard, the rear cross bars carrying pulleys

page_text: bearing against the rear of the standard, and a draft bar mounted upon a front and
a rear cross bar of the frame, and provided with an eye in the front end to receive the
end of the cable, and intermediate eyes 8, to receive the ends of adjusting rope,
substantially as described.
2. A traveler consisting of a frame, composed of sides and front and rear cross-
bars, pulleys mounted upon said cross bars, and a draft bar mounted upon the cross
bars, and provided with eyes 8 and 9, substantially as described.
3. The combination with the car of the guide rolls erected between the platforms,
and impinging against the sides of the car, substantially as described.
4. The combination with the cable, and car dependent from a carriage mounted
thereon, of a platform slotted longitudinally to permit the vertical adjustment of the
car and cable through the slot, substantially as described.
5. The combination with the cable, and car dependent from a carriage mounted
thereon, of two platforms vertically above each other, and both slotted longitudinally
to receive the car, substantially as above described.
D
1 1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.