IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Julius Roberts, of Seaford, in the County of
Sussex, a Captain in Her Majesty's Royal Marine Artillery, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS,
23
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Julius Roberts at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 7th March 1872, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JULIUS
ROBERTS, of Seaford, in the County of Sussex, a Captain in Her
Majesty's Royal Marine Artillery, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION
THEREWITH," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for

page_text: the same, and have made solemn Declaration that I am the true and
first Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Julius Roberts, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal,
fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is
to say :-
My said Invention consists in certain improvements in the con-
struction of tramways and of apparatus to be used in connection
therewith, whereby the necessity for horse labour for the purposes of
traction on such tramways, whether the same are used for the
conveyance of goods or passengers, is dispensed with, whilst the working
thereof is rendered much more economical and effective than by the
arrangements hitherto adopted. In the centre of the line between the
respective tram plates or rails is placed a trough formed of cast iron or
other suitable material, the same being sunk in the roadway beneath the
level of the tram plates or rails. The said trough is in communication
with a water tank at either end thereof, and supplied with a sufficient
quantity of water to fill the trough. Within the trough is placed a
series of floats formed of wood or other buoyant material, such floats
being respectively coupled together and free to move along the trough
on or suspended in the water contained therein. The couplings allow
the floats to sweep round any curves which may exist on the line,
vertical friction rollers being placed in recesses placed or formed in the
sides of the trough at such parts of the line as may be required, and
which facilitate the free passage of the floats. At the bottom of each
of the floats is attached a transverse keel which serves to accelerate the
motion of the water in the trough, and to carry along any suspended or
ponderable substances which may fall into the same, and which will
sink by their own gravity into tanks placed at any desired intervals
along the route or into the terminal tanks.
in
Another purpose effected by the keel is by promoting the onward
motion of the water to assist in raising the same from one level to
another in cases in which gradients exist on the line of tramway,
which cases a sufficient head of water should be provided at the termini
or one of them in accordance with principles which are well known and
understood.

page_text: Upon the upper surfaces of the floats is laid a rope or chain formed of
wire or other suitable material or materials, the floats being so arranged
as to possess sufficient buoyancy to carry the rope or chain.
In the case of a double line of tram plates or rails an endless rope or
chain is employed, the same passing round a horizontal drum or pulley
placed at each end of the line; and in the case of a single line a single
rope or chain is used in connection with a vertical drum or pulley at
each end, and by which the rope or chain is wound and unwound.
The drums or pulleys are worked by steam or other suitable motive
power, and may be grooved so as to adapt them to ropes or chains for
any diverging lines, and are so arranged as to rotate in the terminal
water tanks, which latter need be only a little deeper than the troughs.
In order to provide against the exigencies of frosty weather, the tanks
may be supplied with heated water which flows into the trough, in
which freezing is rendered impossible by reason of the water being kept
in constant motion by the action of the floats and keels, but when the
cars are not in use the water should be entirely drawn off so as to
prevent any possible inconvenience.
The top of the trough is covered with plates of iron or other suitable
material, which are firmly secured to the flanges of the sides of the
trough, such plates being separated along the middle of the trough by
an opening of such a width as will not allow the wheels of ordinary
vehicles to get into the same, but at the same time permit of the
passage of the clips by which the tramway cars are connected with the
rope or chain. The clip consists of a bent hook, in the hollow of which
the rope or chain lies, and a vertical screw capable of being depressed
or raised by means of a lever or of any of the well-known contrivances
adapted for the purpose, and which is under the control of and actuated
by the conductor or other person in charge of the car. The screw is
firmly held in any desired position by means of a pawl and ratchet
arrangement, or by by a worm pinion gearing into the thread of the screw,
as will be well understood. When the screw is depressed the lower end
thereof presses upon the upper surface of the rope or chain, and holds
the same tightly in the hollow of the hook, thus allowing the car to
move forward with the rope.
1 11

page_text: runs freely through the hollow of the hook without actuating the car.
This clip is attached to the fore part of the car, and is arranged to
advance in guides, being restrained by a strong link of india-rubber or
other elastic material or spiral or other springs so as to overcome the
inertia, and prevent any shock or sudden jerk to the car. In advance
of the clip and attached to the car is placed an iron guard or scraper,
which is so arranged as to run within the opening between the
coverings of the trough for the purpose of clearing away any accidental
obstruction, and thus prevent the probability of fracture of the clip by
reason of a sudden jar.
Instead of the rope or chain resting on the top of the cylindrical
floats, I sometimes form the latter in two parts, each having a recess
therein for the reception of the rope, the two parts being then securely
bolted together. In this case the floats themselves pass round the
terminal drums, and the clips instead of holding the rope or chain
as before mentioned act upon the floats in a similar manner.
When it is necessary to remove the car from the tramway or from
one line to another, any one of the covering plates may be lifted up,
and the clip and guard or scraper, which are jointed so as to turn
upwards, are kept clear of the ground.
In the case of double lines, when the cars arrive at the terminus,
and it is necessary to transfer them from one line to another, such
operation is readily effected by means of cross lines of tram plates or
rails, and the employment of horse or manual power.
It will be observed that one great and essential feature of utility
embraced by my said Invention is the comparative absence of friction,
in consequence of the employment of water in the manner herein-
before mentioned, and which serves the purpose of a constant
lubricator.
I will now proceed to refer to the annexed Drawings, from which the
nature of my said Invention will be more clearly understood.
Figure 1 is a plan view of a double tramway with my said Invention
applied thereto, and shewing the horizontal drum or pulley rotating in
a terminal water tank; Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section. A are
the floats; a, the transverse keels; E is the water, the surface level
thereof being shewn by a thick blue line; D is one of the tanks before

page_text: referred to as being placed at intervals along the line for the deposition
of extraneous substances; Figure 3 is a longitudinal horizontal section
at a curved portion of a line shewing the floats at A and the vertical
friction rollers at B; Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section, A being
the float F the trough and & the covering plates for the some
referred to as being placed at intervals along the line for the deposition
of extraneous substances; Figure 3 is a longitudinal horizontal section
at a curved portion of a line shewing the floats at A and the vertical
friction rollers at B; Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section, A being
the float, F the trough, and h the covering plates for the same.
↑
Figure 5 is the bent hook with the rope or chain resting in the
hollow thereof.
Figure 6 is the clip shewing the rope and the screw holding the
latter, and also the lever by which it is actuated.
Figure 7 shews the modification herein-before mentioned, in which
the
rope is enclosed in the floats; H are the floats, and L the rope.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner it is to be performed, I would observe
in conclusion, that what I consider novel and original, and therefore
claim, is the construction of tramways and apparatus to be used in
connection therewith, substantially as herein-before described and set
forth, or any mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Julius Roberts, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
JULIUS ROBERTS. (L.s.)