GB190905569A - Improvements in or relating to Sliding Railways. - Google Patents

Abstract

5569. ThÚryc, C. April 18, 1908, [Convention date]. Sliding vehicles. - Re-. lates to sliding railways of the Girard-Barre type, the vehicles being propelled by electric or any other power. The usual slide a, shown in sectional elevation in Fig. 1, is now surrounded by a second or counter slide b to reduce the consumption of water or air. The fluid under pressure is supplied to the inner slide through the pipes c, d, e so as to enter the slide from below and compress the air imprisoned in the slide. Fluid escaping from the inner slide passes into the space 1, and the amount passing back to the tank through the pipes e<1>, d<1>, h is so regulated by the adjustment of the valve j and the number of grooves f, g on the slides as to leave under the light counter-slide only the pressure sufficient to raise it. The inner slide may be made without grooves, and a corresponding additional number of grooves added to the counter - slide. To avoid waste in passing over points and crossings, the pipes c are automatically cut off from the supply and connected to the exhaust just before reaching them, by means of track contacts. The compressed air in the inner slide then drives the water under the slides through the pipes e to the exhaust tank, the outer slide being emptied in a similar manner through the pipes e<1>, d<1>. As soon as the points &c. have been passed, the fluid under pressure is again automatically admitted. The double slides may also be applied under the tractors or locomotives in order to reduce the weight on the usual supporting- springs to the amount required for obtaining sufficient adhesion of the wheels for propulsion. The counter-slide may in turn be surrounded by one or more similar slides, and this slide may be kept raised by springs, balance weights, or rollers travelling on the sliding platform, instead of by the pressure of the fluid. The circumference of the counter-slide may be provided with a solid or hollow rubber tube or band, or with a thin metal blade or brush of any flexible material.