Aerial Tramways.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8621, 27 March 1897, Page 2

Aerial Tramways.

A NEW PATENT

We have been shown a number of plan drawings of the "Skeleton Drum for Aerial Tramways," invented by Messrs G. B. Beore, C.E., and patented by Mr Beere and D. G. MacDonnell, of Auckltnd. The patentees claim that their invention will enable aerial tramways to be carried round angles of any degree of deflection. The specification sets forth as follows :—

Beere's Skeleton Drum, for Aerial Tramways systems for giving greater facility of transit of any material between given terminal points on a tortuous as well as a straight course, and as well over broken and precipitous or level country as inside tunnels and drives. Ci cription: The Skeleton Drum is heL! in position by top and foot bearings attached to trestle work, or such other supports as may be found most convenient, and it can be made, any size from eight inches in diameter to any larger diameter required for the character of the country over which the wire tramway passes, and for inside tunnel work it may be reduced to a diameter of six inches. It can be fixed vertically to carry the cable round any angle required, or horizontally, Tor ilie purpose of guiding the cable up and dowa any incline. It revolves with the cable, and its skeleton, nature and construction admit of the suspension rods attached to the buckets and their clips on the cable passing it on all sides easily and with but little friction, and it enables the buckets so attached to the cable to be carried round any sharp, ijr othw turn, and up aad down any incline."' A vertical has two runners placed near it, one on each side, held in position by such supports as may be found most convenient and suitable at such distances as may be found most convenient to prevent the cable being pulled off the drum by the weight of the load "carried in tbe bucket. A horizontal/drum does not require a runner, but may have them placed under the drum jto keep the cable in position while passing.

The invention has been patented in New Zealand fur about a month, and patent rights are being applied for in America and Great Britain.

Included in the invention is are new automatic loading stage and a new brake mechanism suitable to any tramway. By a simple system of levers the loading stage—or " tray"— becomes attached to the bucket as it commences to revolve round the drum, and leaves it when its contents have been automatically discharged into the bucket. At the discharging station the bucket closes by means of a spring offering a certain degree of resistance, and is secured by a hook.

To adequately describe the machinery and woi'king of the whole would require more space than we can spare. In the words of the specification, " the terminal drums are supplied with breaks, and the buckets discharge their contents into the hopper or other receptacle at the discharging end by an automatic action, righting themselves when empty; or they can be righted at the supplying end before being filled. Angle drums can be placed where required."

The inventor is convinced that he will shortly be able to bring his invention into practical working, and that it. will mark an era in the tramway system, and in the methods of transit employed on the goldfields.