US599855A - Track and track-support for elevated cycle-railways - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-.Sheet 1.

.l VV.E[.1\M&R'II1\I.4 TRACK AND TRACK SUPPORT FOR BLEVATBD CYCL'BRAILWAYS.

No. 599,855. Patented Mar. l, 1898K.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. H. MARTN. A TRACK AND TRACK SUPPORT TCR BLEVATED CYCLE RAILWAYS. No. 599,855. l'ateluted Mar. l, 1898.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE..

wILLIAM H. MARTIN, yor MOBILE, ALABAMA.

TRACK AND TRACKSUPPO`R" I FOR ELEVATED CYCLE-RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 599,855, dated March 1, 1898. Application le. November 5, 1897. Serial No. 657,546. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mobile, in the county of Mobile and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tracks and Track-Supports for Elevated Cycle-Railways, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tracks and ltracksupports for elevated cyclerailways, and has for its object to 'provide an improved securely-stiffened overhead track for cycles from which a carriage is suspended beneath and at one side of the elevated track.

The invention consists in features of construction and novel combinations of parts in an elevated railway. for cycle and suspended carriages, as hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure l is an isometric perspective of my improved elevated cycle-railway, showing a carriage thereon. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same with one track-rail broken away.l Fig. 3 is an enlarged part sectional detail side elevationof one of the rail-supporting brackets and pole cross-arm. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the same with the rail in part horizontal section. Fig. 5 is a part sectional side elevation of rail-supporting bracket for spreaders or track-ties. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of the same. Fig. 7 is an enlarged viewr of the upper part of one of the track-supporting posts. Fig. Sis a horizontal section of a post on the line 8 8 ofV Fig. 7,

showing in plan view the ring or collar for attachment of stays. Fig. 9 is an enlarged end view of a track-rail.

By reference toI Fig. 1 it will be seen that the elevated railway is primarily supportedl by means of a series of posts or upright poles 1, irmly planted in the ground at suitable intervals-say thirty feet apart, more or less. These posts may be rectangular in cross-section or of any other convenient form. To an upper portion of each post or upright l, at a suitable distance from the ground, there is firmly secured a cross-arm 2,which willhave a length approximately the required distance between two track-rails to be supported at opposite ends of the several cross-arms.

At their opposite ends each cross-arm 2 has secured thereto a rail-supporting bracket 3, which is constructed to closely embrace the sides of the cross-arm and proj ect horizontally and laterally beyond the same in the longitudinal direction of said cross-arm. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, each bracket 3 comprises two parallel side-arms 4, between which the end of the cross-arm 2 is received. The outer ends of these parallel bracket-arms 4 project beyond the end of the cross-arm 2 and are formed integral with a bracket cross-bar 5, preferably of such length that its ends will project beyond the said parallel bracket-arms 4 and at right angles therewith, as shown. The bracket-arms 4 are secured to the cross-arm 2 by means of transversely-arranged bolts 6, with nuts 7 thereon, as in Figs..3 and 4. The cross-bars 5 of the brackets 3 afford supporting attachment for the track-rails 8, which are secured to said brackets by means of bolts 9 and nuts 10, Figs. 3 and 4, in a convenient and durable manner. By extending the bracket-armsv beyond the ends of the post cross-arms 2, as shown, sufficient space is afforded for inserting and removing the railattaching bolts and nuts without disturbing the brackets.

In attaching the track-rails S to the crossarm brackets 3 it is preferable to have said rails break joints at about thecenter of each bracket cross-bar 5, and the joint should be braced by a fish-plate 1l on the outer side of the rails.V It is preferable to employ doubleheaded track-rails 8 of the character illustrated in Figs. 3, 5, and 9, the said rails being flanged both at their top and bottom edges. This construction of rail provides facilities for more secure connection with the bracketbars 5 and fish-plates 11 in smoothly uniting the rail-joints and securing the track to its elevated supports. By reference to Figs. 3, 5, and\9 it will be seen that the web and flanges of a rail 8 form with each other the right-angled shoulders l2, Fig. 9, that firmly brace the fish-bars and bracket cross-bars, which are each of the same width as the vrail-webs, and consequently tit closely between the rail flanges or heads.

For the purpose of giving great stiffness to IOO the track and bracing the rails 8 against lateral strain atpoints equidistant between any two uprights 1 and their attached cross-arms 2 there are provided spreaders or tracleties 13, Fig. 1, having rail-attaching brackets 1i, Figs. 5 and G, secured to their opposite ends. These tie-brackets 1i are similar to the crossarm brackets 3 hereinbefore described. Each bracket 1i has an integral cross-bar 15, to which a central portion of a track-rail Sis bolted.

The top of each upright 1 is preferably made cylindrical, as shown in Figs. 7 and S, the better to have itted thereon a metallic band or collar 1G of annular forni. A number of Vertical grooves 17 are formed in the upper cylindricai part of each post or upright l immediately within the collar 1G and extending above and below the same. These grooves 17 afford passage for the upper ends of galvanized metallic stay-wires IS and 1f), Figs.

"1, 2, and 7, that are thus passed around and secured to the band or collar 16 on each post. The lower ends of the wire stays 18 are secured to eyebolts 20, Fig. 5, fastened in the end portions et the spreaders or cross-ties 13, while the stay-wires 19 have their lower portions secured to the ends of the post crossarms 2 and may be provided with extensions 21, Fig. 1, leading downward and secured to each post below its cross-arm. In each of these stay-wires there is provided a turnbuckle 22 for straining the wires, and it will be observed that the several turnbuckles are iocated in such proximity to the track as to rpermit of ready access from a repair-car, so

that there will be no diilcnlty in iining up the track. The top of each upright 1 is pro* vided with a conical metallic cap 23 to protect the post or upright and its grooves and stay attachments from the weather.

This elevated railway aiords two securelybraced track-rails S for passage by each other in opposite directions of suspended cycle-carriages having the general construction embraced in myPatents Nos. 559,298 and 575,611 and in my allowed application, Serial No. (3i-2,826.

The cycle-carriage comprises a yoke-frame 2i, Figs. 1 and 2, suspended from the axles of traction-wheels 25, that are adapted and arranged to run one after the other on a single track-rail. The cycle-frame carries guidewheels 2G, Fig. 1, engaging the under head or iiange of the double-headed track-rail 8 to assist in holding the cycle on the track, and there is also provided a track-brake 27 for controlling the speed of the cycle and to assist in stopping when desired. This brake may be operated by means of a cord 2S, suspended in reach of an operator seated in the carriage, which is supported in the lower part of the cycle-frame and beneath the overhead track. A latticed guard 29 may surround the seats for safety of the passengers. Although I have shown the cycle as arranged to be propelled by means of pedals 30, geared with the axle of a traction-wheel, it will be obvious that some other suitable motive power may be conveniently and economically provided. The suspended cycle-carriage may be furnished with one or more seats 31 and with an awning support or frame 32, if desired, or it may be arranged for carrying freight.

The structure of elevated cycie-railway is simple, durable, and entirely safe and convenient, and it is adapted to a variety of purposes whether for trafiic or amusement.

What I claim as my invention is-n 1. In an elevated cycle-raiiway, the combination of a series ot uprights or posts each provided with a crossarm, a bracket bolted to each end of each cross-arm and extended beyond the same in. the longitudinal direction of the cross-arm, double-headed track-raiis having their ends jointed at and bolted to said brackets, lish-plates for said joints, and wire stays secured to an upper portion of each upright and to the ends of the cross-arms and provided with tnrnbuckles located in prox imity to the track, substantially as described.

2. In an elevated cyclesrailway, the combination of a series of uprights or posts each provided with a cross-arm, a bracket bolted to each end of each cross-arm and extended beyond the same in thelongitudinal direction of the cross-arm, donbleheaded track- 'ails having their ends jointed at and boited to said brackets, fish plates for said joints, spreaders or track-ties equidistant between the uprights and having their ends provided with brackets to which the central portions of the track-rails are bolted, wire stays secured to upper portions of the uprights and to the ends of said cross arms or brackets and trackties, and turnbuckles located in said stays adjacent to the track-rails, substantially as described.

3. In an elevated cycle-railway, the combination of a series of uprights or posts each having its upper end provided with vertical grooves, a band or collar secured to each post over said grooves, the post cross-arms having brackets secured to their opposite ends, the double headed trackrails jointed at and bolted to said brackets, the track-ties equidistant between said posts and having their ends provided with brackets to which the central portions of the track-rails are bolted, wire stays having their upper ends secured to the band or collar of a post at the vertical grooves in said post and having their lower ends secured to the ends of the cross arms or brackets and track-ties, respectively, and turnbuckles located in said stays adjacent to the track-rails, substantially as described.

4. In an elevated cycle-railway, the combination of a series of uprights or posts each having its upper end provided with vertical grooves, a band or collar secured to each post over said grooves, a-metallic cap for the top of each post, the post cross-arms having brackets secured to theirl opposite ends, the doublc- IOO IIO

headed track-rails jointed at and bolted to In testimony whereof I have hereunto set said brackets; the track-ties, and Wire stays my hand in presence of two subscribing Witconnecting the ends of the post cross arms or nesses.

brackets and the ends of the track-ties With WILLIAM II. MARTIN. 5 the collars on said posts, each stay being pro- Witnesses:

vided with a turnbuckle located adjacent to WM. L. BAKER, J 1*.,

the track, substantially as described. n 1 v WM. P. BURGETT.

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