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Art. LXIII. — On a Self-acting Clamp Mountain Wire Tramway. 



By F. W. Wright, L. M.B.Toronto. 



(abstract.) 



[Read before the Auckland Institute, Auguat 8, 1870.] 



This is a proposed modification of the wire tramway in use on the Thames 



gold field, for which a patent is being sought by the inventors — the author of 



the paper and Mr. Herrich, of Parnell. 



The principal points in this new arrangement of mountain tramway, 

 which particularly distinguish it from all methods heretofore brought into 

 operation, are the following : — The load is suspended underneath a travelling 

 endless wire by a self-acting clamp of the patentee's invention, which grasps 

 the wire the more tightly the weight is increased, and, as the suspending 

 rod is provided with a universal joint, the load finds its proper centre of 

 gi'avity without straining the wire, and these clamps embracing the travelling 

 wire, are so adapted to the grooved rollers over which they run, as to 

 enable them to pass with facility. With regard to the arrangement for 

 encircling sharp curves, there is a provision which enables the load to 

 leave the wire, and a properly grooved pulley, underneath the hook, runs 

 with the load on to a rail or supplementary guide rod, placed so as to cut ofif 

 the awkward angles. Immediately the pulley or roller takes the weight on 

 the branch line, the self acting clamps relax their hold of the main line or 

 wire, and as soon as it runs off the subsidiary line they again seize the chief 

 wire, and the box or carriage runs on as before. A similar provision is made 

 at the starting and discharging points, and by the simple device of raising one 

 part of the wire slightly, so as to catch the pulley at a certain part of the 

 incline, the load must necessarily leave the main line and run on the grooved 

 pulley, until a corresponding decline again enables the clamps to catch hold of 

 the traversing wire. Of course, the junction of trucks from branch lines can 

 be managed in the same manner. 



Again, when it is requisite to traverse any coimtry of a peculiarly 

 irregular character, power of any description can be applied to a driving wheel, 

 and the surplus of this power, as well as that which is gained by the descent 

 of the full boxes, can be utilized in moving pumping or ventilating apparatus, 

 winding gear, separation of tailings by an endless screen, or the general work 

 of a crushing machine, and a break can be attached so as to stop the wire at 

 any moment. 



It will be seen, also, that by the addition of a suspension rod, the cross 

 beams which support the wire can be made of much lighter material than 

 usual. 



Passenger cars can also be attached to the line, and the inventor has 

 designed one of a safe and convenient description. 



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