US1628827A

US1628827A - Aerial cable transportation means

Info

Publication number: US1628827A
Application number: US757285A
Authority: US
Inventors: Custer Levitt Luzern
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1924-12-20
Filing date: 1924-12-20
Publication date: 1927-05-17
Anticipated expiration: 1944-05-17

Description

May 17, 1927.

.|.. L.'CUSTER AERIAL CABLE TRANSPORTATION MEANS F iled Dec. 20, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 1, 2 May 17,1927. L CUSTER 6 8,827

AERIAL CABLE TRANSPORTATION MEANS Filed Dec. 20, l924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V IN VENTOR/ {M M 45 A TTORNE y 'Patented May 17, 1927.

tin-[TED STA res PATENT orifice.

LEVIT'I LUZERN GUSTER, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

AERIAL CABLE TRANSPORTATION MEANS.

It is one of the objects ofmy invention to provide for overhead transportation, a carriage which through pulleyshas a firm traction with suspended cables over which it is propelled by'a self contained motor.

These pulleys are adequate in number to the street below, it is practically noiseless in.

operation, and occup es but small space above the street. V

My cable track may be economically installed, since surface obstacles such as hills and valleys may be surmounted with ease; and for conducting sightseers over and around the 'niountains and lakes in parks such as the Yellowstone. it is admirably adapted. The invention is also wellsuited for long non-stop trips, since there are no crossings as on surface railways, thusmaking it possible to'm ainta'in a high, uniform speed between far distant points. p

i In amusement parks my aerial transportation means are particularly adapted to afford a thrill to patrons by carrying them through the air around andover lakes, trees and buildings within the grounds. When employed for this use, a bowl=shaped or like body may be suspended. by a universal connection from the carriage to make possible a slight swinging movement of the body to impart an additional thrill to the persons who ride within it. f In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 isa plan view of my-aerial carriage, showing' the arrangement of the traction pulleys. Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the carriage, showing the suspended passenger carryin body. Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the same. Figure-4 is'a "sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of "Figure 8, through one of the traction pulleys. Figure 'is an'en'd view of the carriage frame, showing the traction pulleys, motor, and

cable supports, with the cables in" section.

Figure'6 is a side elevational' view of one intermediate gear be rotated at the same rate Application filed December 26, 1924. Serial No. 757,285.

of the cable supports. Figure 7 is a cross sect onal View taken through the same on the line 7'T of Figure 6. And Figure 8 1s a perspective view of the current collecting means.

' Referring to the accompanying *drawings for a detailed description of'my. invention,

the numerals 1 and 2' designate two longitudinal sid e members of an aerial carriage frame. Secured to the inner surface ofthe members, 1 and 2,: near the ends thereof, are bearings 3., Passing through each pair of oppositely disposed bearings 3', 3, and holes in the side members which carry them, 1s a pulley shaft (See. Figures 1 and Connected to the middle portions of the side members 1 and 2 are the upper ends of two U shaped cradle members'f), 5 which support a motor 6, preferably of the electric type and arranged at right angles to the side members. The motor 6 is formed with feet 7 which are connected by bolts 8 to the U-shaped

members

5, 5 for the purpose of firmly securing the'motor between the side membersland 2, the side member 2 being offset at its middle portion 9 to clear one end ofthe motor. (See Figure l.)

"Themotor 6 has a drive shaft 10 which projectsthrough a hole in the side member l,to receive on its outer end a pinion 11.

On one side the pinion llmeshes with. an'

12 mounted on a spmdle intermediate gear 13 secured to theside member 1, and on'its otherside'with a similar intermediate gear 14 which is mounted on aspindle 15 secured to the side member l. (See Figure 1.) Mounted directly outside the side member '1 on each pulley shaft 4, isa gear'16. The

gear 16 on 'one pulley shaft 4 meshes with the intermediate gear 12, and the gear '16 on the other pulley shaft 4 mesheswith the I 14, whereby both pulley shafts 4, 4 may I V of speed by the motor 6. (See Figures 1 and 5.) WVhile I have shown the above gear arrangement between the motor shaft 10 and the pulley shafts '4, ,4, any other suitable power'transmis'sion means for driving the latter from'the motor 6 maybe provided if desired. I

Each pulley shaft 4 projects a sufficient distance beyond the side member-s1 and 2, to receive on each end two traction pulleys 17, 17 (See Figuresl and 5.) .While I have shown four pulleys 17 fixedly secured each shaft 4, any greateror less-number.

of them may be employed as conditions warrant. Each pulley 17 is preferably lined around its peripheral groove with a strip of rubber 18 or other suitable material which possesses both insulating and non-slipping.

properties when the pulley travels over electric cable. In the present instance each pulley runs over an electric cable 19, there being tour of said cables. two on one side and two on the other side of the path. of the carriage frame, and supported as follows to permit a tree movement of the latter between them.

Referring to Figure 5, the numeral 20 designates a C-shaped supporting member which, in a horizontal position, is secured to a cable 21 or other suitable support stretched between poles, trees or other objects (not shown), or in any other desired manner. hen the C-shaped member is supported by the cable 21, cable clamps such as straps 22 and anchor bolts 23 are prefer" ably employed to firmly secure said member to the cable.

On each tree horizontal end of the C- shaped member 20 two individual cable supports 24, 24 are mounted. Referring to Figures and 6, each cable support 24 preterably comprises'a malleable iron casting formed to provide a vertical web portion 25, a flanged base 26 and an elongated channel portion 27 that is preferably arched for some uses, although it may be made straight if desired. The flanged base 26 of each support is toTmed at each corner with a hole which is adapted to be brought above a similar hole formed in the C-shaped member 20. Between the base 26 ot the support- 24 and the lower horizontal ,part of the C-shaped member 20, is a strip 28 or" bakelite or other suitable insulating material, and containing holes that are adapted to be brought intoregistry with those just re ferred to in said C-shaped member and the base 26 of said support. Adapted to be passed through each set of holes in the sup port base 26, the bakelite strip 28 and the C-shaped member, is a tube 29 preferably constructed of bakelite. (See Figure 6.)

Surrounding the tube 29 directly above the cable support base 26, are washers 30 which are preferably constructed of bakei lite, and immediately above them are smaller washers 31 that are desirably constructed of steel. These washers 31 are engaged by the heads of bolts 32 which pass clownwardly through the tubes 29 to receive on their lower threaded ends nuts 33. Disposed between the latter and the C-shaped member 20 are washers 34 desirably constructed of steel, and larger washers 35 preferably made of balzelite. By means otthe bolts 32 and nuts 33, the cable supports 24 are firmly secured upon the lower horizontal portions of the. C-shaped member 20. This member, which is preferably constructed of structural steel, is properly insulated from the cable supports 24, which are within an electric circuit, by the bakelite strip 28, tubes 29 and washers 30 and just described. (See Figures 1 and 6.)

For the purpose of conducting electric current from the cables 19 to the electric motor 6, the following means are preferably employed. These cables, which are preterably charged with an alternating current from a source not shown, are on one side of the motor 6 each engaged by a traveling brush 36. (See Figure 1.) Each brush 36 is secured at its inner end to, and insulated from, a horizontal member 37 that is at tached to the upper end of a vertical support 38 which is connected at its lower end to the side member 1. Each brush 36 consists of a strip of spring metal whose free end is curved to provide a firm spring contact with the electrically charged cable 19 over which it is adapted to be drawn. Leading from each of the

brushes

36, 36 to the electric motor 6, for the purpose of conducting electric current thereto, is a flexible electrical conductor 39. A similar electrical conductor 39 runs from the electric motor 6 to a brush 40, similar to each one of the Although any suitable type of passenger,

mail or express carrying body may be suspended from the carriage tramejust described, I have shown a bowl-shaped body 43 connected to it by the universal joint means soon to be described. Such a body may be used in amusement parks, to give to the passengers the thrill which its swinging movement will impart as it is carried through the air.

Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 5, there is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the lower face of each U-shaped cradle member 5, a right-angled supporting piece 44. The vertical ends of these supporting

pieces

44, 44 face each other, and are provided with oppositely disposed holes to receive a swivel stud 45 upon which a swivel block 46 is mounted. Pivotally attached to the swivel block 46 by means of cap screws 47 47 is a 'U-shaped member 48 to the bottom of which supporting rods 49 for the bowlshaped body 43 are connected. The pivotal meansjust described provide'a universal joint connection between the carriage frame and the b0wl-shapedbody to allow the latter a trans- .verse and longitudinal movement to impart In front of a seat 50 within the body 43,

a variable speed switch 51 and a reversing switch 52 may he securedto one side of said body. An electriccable 53 runs from these switches to the motor 6 to control the latter, and through it, the lozwvard and backward movement of the car. (See Figures 3 and 5.) a

By employing a multiplicity of traction pulleys 17,in this instance eight, I obtain effective traction with the cables 19 when the motor 6 is started. lining the peripheral groove of each pulley with a friction material such as rubber, I increase the effective traction contact between the pulley and the cable. The rubber lining not only acts as a non-slipping agent, but it also serves'to insulate the pul- Furthermore, by

leys from the cables when the later are electrically charged; My cable carriage is economical, compact and efficient for the various uses to which it may be put. I y

Having described my invention, I claim:

A device of the type described, comprising aerial supports, cables secured to said supports, and being electrically charged, a groupof spaced pulleys on said cables, a lining of friction and insulating material upon the grooved periphery of each pulley, a carriage to which said pulleys are secured, an electric motor within the carriage between the I pulleys, and electric brushes on said carriage in circuit with the motor, to collect current from said cables.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of December, 1924.

L, LUZERN (DUSTER.