US759792A

US759792A - Elevated-railway system.

Info

Publication number: US759792A
Application number: US16992403A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank E Wilson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1903-08-18
Filing date: 1903-08-18
Publication date: 1904-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 1921-05-10

Description

No. 759,792. PATENTED MAY 10, 1904.

P. E. WILSON. ELEVATED RAILWAY SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, 1903. N0 MODEL.

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F. E. WILSON. ELEVATED RAILWAY SYSTEM.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG-18. 1903.

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"Dvi famous No.759,792.' PATENTED MAY 10, 1904. F. B. WILSON.

ELEVATED RAILWAY SYSTEM.

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UNITED STATES Patented May 10, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

ELEVATED-RAILWAY SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,792, dated May 10, 1904.

Application filed August 18, 1903. Serial No. 169,924. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK E. WrLsoN, a eitlzen of the United States, residing at L1th- 'opolis, in the county of Fairfield and State of embodying tracks suspended between stationtowers disposed at intervals for reception of Gravity is the motive power by which the cars progress over the different lines of the system, which in the conte1nplation of my invention diverge in all directions from the station-towers, the tracks over which they travel being inclined so as to give each car sufficient impetus to cause it to move the distance intermediate said stations, the speed of the rolling-stock depending of course upon the inclination of the track and the will of the operator thereof relative to application of the brake means utilized for regulation of such speed and stoppage of the cars.

The invention further involves the provision of special means for elevating the cars to varied heights in the station -towers from which the lines extend preparatory to the start therefrom, the cars entering the said station at a lowermost point, perhaps the lowermost elevation of the inclined track, being then raised to depart from the station by a track extending from a higher elevation thereon.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effectingthe result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective showing a plurality of station-towers and the relative disposal of the inclined tracks connecting the same.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through one of the towers, showing the elevate r arranged therein for raising the cars from the elevation at which they enter the station to the point of elevation from which they depart. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the elevator, showing the revolving carriers disposed thereon and a car in position upon the track suspended from the carriers. Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating more particularly the manner of supporting the elevated tracks. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing more clearly the positions of the tracks leading from the station-towers in their preferred disposal. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the suspended cable carrying the track-sections. Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a section of the inclined track, also showing adjacent supporting-arms. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the car-suspending framework and the brake means carried thereby.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The system comprises a plurality of stationtowers 1, which are disposed at intervals along the lines of the system, being connected by inclined tracks 2. The towers are preferably constructed of steel framework and are of such a height as to permit a sufficient inclination of the tracks 52 to give the cars 3. sus* pended from the tracks, suliicient impetus to carry them from one station-tower to another. The towers are provided at different points in their height with platforms 4 for tratfic, and suitable means of ingress and egress are also provided. Intermediate the towers 1 are disposed supporting structures for the suspended tracksfwhich consist of posts 5 of a height depending upon the height of the track, which posts are trussed by ordinary means, such as cross-braces or the like, to strengthen the same and afford a rigidity of structure necessary. Cross-bars 6 connect the upper ends of the supporting-posts 5, and from the crossbars 6 depend T-shaped supporting-arms 7, which are provided with vertical extensions 8, having the upper end portions thereof cmbracing the cables 9, which carry the tracks 10. The tracks 10 are made in sections secured to the cables and disposed intermediate the vertical arms 8 of the members 7. The

' members 7 may be provided with openings to receive and support a telegraph or like wire 11, so that communication may be had with the car as the same traverses the various lines of the system.

Each of the main station-towers 1- is provided with an elevator 12, which moves in the shaft 13 and which is adapted to raise the cars 3 from the lower elevation at which they enter the station to the elevation to which they depart, as before mentioned. The elevators 12 may be of any preferred construction adapted for the purposes of the system and support revolving carriers 14:, which are designed to immediately support the cars 3 while being elevated and at the same time rotating the said cars so that the same may depart from the station over a line extending in a different direction from that by which they enter. Certain cars will pass over certain lines of the system and are provided with suitable matter indicative of the direction of the lines over which they pass, substantially the same as that used by the common carservice system, and such matter will serve to inform passengers which car to take in order to reach a desired point.

The revolving carrier 1 1 upon the elevator 12 consists of a platform disposed beneath the elevator-platform and mounted relatively to the latter so as to admit of a rotary movement. The carrier 14 is preferably actuated by means of a lever 15 upon the elevator 12, which lever carries a toothed segment 16, in mesh with a gear 17 upon the carrier 1 1. Operation of the lever 15 by the conductor upon the elevator will cause actuation of the carrier, which supports the cars, so that the latter will be disposed inthe direction of the line over which it will depart in leaving the station. From the carrier 14 depend supporting-arms 7 of the same form as those provided upon the intermediate supporting structures located between the station-towers 1, and the arms 7 support a section of track 10 of a length suflieient to connect the lines of track which terminate adjacent the elevator-shaft of each of the said towers. Each of the cars 3 is likewise provided with a supporting-framework, consisting of uprights 18 and cross-bars 19. The uprights 18 are provided with wheels 20, which move over the track 10 as the car traverses the line. In order to regulate the speed of the car, brake means of suitable character is employed, and the same consists of the pivoted brake-shoes 21, which are operated by the conductor of the car, being connected to operating means carried within the car. The shoes 21 are adapted for application to the wheels 20 1n a manner readily noted. If desirable, supplementary brake means in the shape of a friction-shoe 22 may be provided upon the upper portion of the framework of the car for direct application to the track 10. The last-mentioned brake means would also be operable from the car in connection with the ordinary means for applying brakes of this kind.

The cars 3 are cigar-shaped, for reasons which will be obvious.

To support the tracks 10 rigidly intermediate the supporting structures 5 to prevent lateral separation of the said tracks, U-shaped spacingmembers 23 are used, the vertical arms of the latter being secured to the supportingcable 9 in the same manner as the arms 8 of the T-shaped members 7, which are connected thereto, and the sections of the track 10 are disposed intermediate these arms, as before described.

In the practical operation of the system the cars 3 depart from a certain tower-station 1 at a comparatively high elevation in the length of the inclined tracks 2, moving by gravity and gaining speed as they advance. The car after leaving one of the tower-stations traverses the distance between the said station and the next station upon the line over which it is moving. The distance between the stations will vary according to the character of the ground of the country over which the system is operated. The car enters the next station at a lower elevation, because of the incline of the track 2,

and is stopped upon entering the station so that it is supported by the section of tracks carried by the revolving carrier 14 of the elevator 12. The passengers desiring to leave at this station alight as soon as the car stops, and the said car is then raised to a higher elevation by the elevator 12, at the same time being revolved by the carrier 14, so that as it reaches the higher elevation it is ready to depart from the station in a new direction. It will be understood that certain cars will continue in the same direction, so that the carrier in such instances would not be operated. Substations are provided at intervals in the lines of the system, if necessary, the main station-towers being situated at points having the greatest traffic, which in cities will be found at the different business centers. The cars when in the station-towers are disposed adjacent the platforms 4: to permit passengers to alight or enter the same.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In an elevated-railway system, the combination with station-towers, tracks connecting the said towers, means for elevating cars within the towers, and independently-operable carriers supported by the elevating means aforesaid.

2. In an elevated-railway system, the combination with station-towers, inclined tracks disposed intermediate the said towers and connecting same at different points of elevation, means for elevating cars from one elevation to another in the towers, and means for rotating the aforesaid elevating means.

3. In an elevated-railway system, the combination with station-towers, inclined tracks connecting the said towers at different points of elevation and rotating elevators disposed within the station-towers for elevation and rotation of the cars to the different elevations at which the aforesaid tracks connect the stations.

4. In an elevated-railway system, the combination with station-towers, inclined lines of track connecting the said towers at different points of elevation, elevators arranged in the towers for transporting cars from one track to another within the station, and independent rotating carriers supported by the aforesaid elevators, and means for operation of the said carriers.

5. In an elevated-railway system, the combination with station-towers, inclined lines of track eonnecting the towers at different points of elevation, elevators arranged within the station-towers for transporting cars from one elevation to another within the towers, rotating carriers supported by the aforesaid elevators, and track-sections carried by the aforesaid carriers and adapted to connect the terininal of the inclined lines of track connecting the stations.

6. In an elevated railway, the combination with station-towers, inclined tracks connecting said towers at different points of elevation, elevators arranged within the towers for transporting cars from one elevation to an other, rotating carriers supported by the said elevators, sections of tracks disposed upon the carriers for connecting the terminals of the inclined tracks connecting the stations, and means for independently operating the carriers aforesaid.

7. In an elevated-railway system, the combination with station-towers, supporting structures intermediate the towers and comprising snpporting-posts, cross-bars connecting the upper ends of said posts, supporting members of approximately T form dependingfrom the cross-bars aforesaid and provided with vertical extensions to embrace a supporting spaced cable, spacing members connecting said cable at intervals in the length thereof and track-sections secured to the suspended cables aforesaid.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK E. WILSON. [L s.]

Witnesses:

DONALD KRAMER, ERNEST TAES.