Improvements in Carriages for Gravity or Switchback Railways.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd July, 1896-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Carriages for Gravity or Switchback Railways.
I JOHN WILLIAM CAWDERY of 73 Archell Road, New North Road, West
Kensington, London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to the construction of carriages for use with gravity or
switchback railways, and consists of improvements in the arrangement shown in
Patent Number 2908 of February the 9th 1894 entitled "Improvements in gravity
or switchback railways" granted to me.
This invention relates especially to means by which the carriage, made in the
form of a horse according to the prior specification, may be rendered more effective
in its action, especially when passing round curves. I' propose to make the frame-
work of the carriage in two main parts, each of which carries a wheel or pair of
wheels, on which the vehicle runs. These two parts of the frame are connected
together by a central joint having a vertical pin which allows the two parts to turn
horizontally. I also provide, in connection with the wheels a lubricating device
which ensures the bearings of the carriage wheels being properly lubricated. This
device consists of a tube carrying lubricating material connected by a joint to the
spindle or axle of the wheel, this axle being stationary. A hole passes from the end
of this joint to the bearing surface, so that the lubricator can pass from the tube
through the joint to the bearing, the tube hanging vertically.
The tube is closed by a small screw cap at its lower end, which can be turned to
force the lubricating material through the passage to the bearing. To allow the body
of the carriage, which is made in the form of a horse, to bend without disfiguring
it, and without danger to the rider, a shield plate is placed at each side, which when
the horse bends, covers the opening at the outer side, and prevents any danger of
the rider getting pinched.
I propose also to employ an improved stirrup, which can be adjusted in position,
and which will prevent the rider placing his legs below the body of the horse, and
thus rendering them liable to get injured by striking the upper part of the
track.
The stirrups I propose to employ consist of a metal loop having a tubular sheath
at one side, which is placed over a rod pivoted at its upper end to a small hinged
plate. The rod can thus swing in both directions, the pivot and hinge being at
right angles, a stop being provided which prevents it swinging below the body of
the horse or carriage.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the general arrangement with the form of the horse
shown in outline, Fig. 2 is an end view, and Fig. 3 a plan of the same shewing only
the construction of the carriage,
Fig. 4 is a plan of the main part of the carriage shown to a larger scale,
Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a side and front elevation,
Fig. 7 is a detail view of the lubricating device, and
Figs. 8 and 9 show the protecting plate and stirrups.
The construction of the track is similar to that shown in my prior specification,

page_text: consisting of a number of metal standards A carrying at the top the rails a
and at the sides the additional rails a' which serve for guiding purposes.
The carriage I propose to employ is formed in two main parts B and B¹ the front
part B being made in the form of a rectangular frame in plan carrying a vertical
rectangular franie b at its rear end. This extension b serves to form the connection
between the two parts, the vertical pin C passing through it and being secured at
top, threading the looped end b' of the rear frame. This rear frame is preferably
somewhat longer than the front one, and consists of parallel bars curved towards the
front, and terminating in the loop b¹. When the parts are connected, the two frames
are brought together, so that the front of B' enters the vertical frame bresting
upon the bottom of this frame, the pin C then connecting the parts as shown.
At the top of the extension ba connecting plate or bar is fitted, secured at its
extremity by the pin C. This connection passes to the side bars D₁ which form the
legs of the horse, and extend to the lower rails a' carrying small rollers or bearing
wheels, which run on these rails. A similar bar D2 extends from the top of the
hinged pin to the side bars or legs D' at the rear of the horse, thus completing the
frame and strengthening it, at the same time allowing the two parts to freely turn
around the pivot pin. The body of the horse is also made in two parts, divided at
the turning point, the abutting edges being preferably curved in plan, so as to form
a gap at each side. This gap or opening is covered by the plate F, shown in Fig. 8,
the plate being screwed or otherwise secured to the fore part of the horse. This
protecting plate allows of a considerable opening or gap, so that the horse can turn
at a sharp angle without causing any inconvenience. Each of the frames B and B¹
carries a wheel G, this wheel being of considerable width, and provided with a
flange at each side running upon the two rails at the top of the track. The axle
on which they are carried is stationary, and is formed with a lubricating hole or
passage g extending from the end, and terminating at the side, a short arm at right
angles leading the lubricating material to the surface. The lubricator consists of a
tube H hanging vertically from a joint h, the end of which is secured in the extremity
of the axle y. To the lower end of the tube H a screw cap h' is fitted, closing the
end of the tube, and causing the lubricating material in the tube to be forced into the
passage when the cap is screwed up. This lubricator is placed in a convenient
position for use, hanging at the side of the frame, but concealed by the body of the
horse.
The stirrup J shown in Figs. 8 & 9 is provided with the tubular extension j,
the latter having a hole extending through it at one side, a pin 2, carried on the
end of a chain is connected to the stirrup, and serves to secure it in position on the
stirrup rod or support K. The latter is provided with a series of horizontal
grooves or notches & placed at equal distances apart and extending for about a
quarter of a circle. The pin is passed through the hole in the tubular sheath, and
enters one of these grooves or notches, the arrangement preventing the stirrup
dropping below the required position, but allowing it to turn a short distance around
the rod. The rod, the upper part of which is of semi-circular form, is pivoted to the
binged plate L carried by the plate M fixed to the body of the horse. The extension m
forms a stop which prevents the hinged plate of the stirrup rod being turned
underneath the body of the horse, but allows of free motion in any other
direction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1) In carriages for gravity or switchback railways, the combination with
separate front and rear frames, running wheels carried by each frame and
extensions bearing against the lower gaiding rails, of a vertical pivot connecting
the two frames together, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
(2) In carriages for gravity or switchback railways, the combination with a front
and rear frame, a vertical frame or extension on the former and a loop at the front

page_text: of the latter, of a vertical pivot pin carried by the vertical extension and passing
through the loop, top bars secured by the pin, and legs at each end to which the
bars are connected, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
(3) In carriages for gravity or switchback railways, having wheels or rollers at
each end the combination with fixed axles to the running wheels, having a central
hole or passage for lubricating purposes, of a lubricator consisting of a tube
carrying the lubricant, a joint connecting this tube to the axle, and an adjustable
screw cap at the lower end for supplying the lubricating material, substantially as
described and shown, and for the purposes specified.
(4) In a carriage for gravity or switchback railways made in the form of a horse
divided transversely, the combination with a front and rear frame within the body
of the horse connected together by a central pivot pin, of a protecting plate fixed
at each side to the body of the horse, and adapted to cover the gap formed on the
carriage moving round a curve, substantially as described and shown, and for the
purposes specified.
(5) In a carriage for gravity or switchback railways made in the form of a
horse stirrups carried by a stirrup rod, pivoted at its upper end to a hinged plate,
which is suspended from the fixed plate, the stirrup rod having a number of notches
or grooves by means of which the stirrup is connected, a pin passing through the
sheath or tube on the stirrup and engaging with one of the notches substantially as
described and shown, and for the purposes specified.
(6) The improved carriage for gravity or switchback railways, made in the form.
of a horse and adapted to turn around a curve, substantially as described and shown
in the accompanying drawings, and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 21st day of July 1896
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.