The Mechanical Handling and Storing of Material

CHAPTER XXVII MONO-RAILS AND TELPHERS Narrow gauge railways in industrial establishments are being rapidly superseded by the more convenient mono-rail, whilst the telpher is making a slow but sure inroad into works of greater magnitude. MONO-RAILS Two-rail surface tracks on which the vehicles are propelled, either manually or by horses or locomotives, are very much in the way of other traffic, especially in congested passages and factory rooms. The overhead mono-rail from which the vehicles are suspended occupies space which is of lesser value, and in many cases conditions obtain which involve the absolute necessity of transport at a considerable height from the ground, and there is a good deal to be said in favour of suspended overhead traffic. Some of the introductory remarks in the chapter on Ropeways also apply here. Among the obvious advantages of this system are the following : mono-rails being out of the way of other traffic, remain clean and unobstructed, and therefore offer less resistance to the movement of the vehicles, and the latter, having generally only two wheels, run more easily than four-wheeled receptacles, as the friction is reduced. The condition of the ground, whether even or otherwise, does not influence the construction of a mono-rail system, and the floor is unobstructed by rails, turntables, etc., whilst the vehicles can either be suspended sufficiently low for a man to push them whilst walking on the ground, or so high up that they do not interfere with other traffic, or with obstructions, such as plant or machinery, on the ground. The track may be supported from the ceiling or other part of the building, or from constructional iron or wood work. It may negotiate sharp curves and gradients, adjusting itself to most requirements. In small installations the track may be a light rail of selected section, or may consist in its simplest form of a flat iron bar, the vehicle being suspended from a two-wheeled trolley upon these rails. If the point of suspension is too high above the ground for manual propulsion, cable or electrical haulage may be resorted to, or the line may be so laid as to work by gravity if it is only required to transport goods in one direction. For large installations the rails are of more substantial section and the supporting girders are correspondingly heavier, a suspended locomotive being frequently used to pull the train of vehicular receptacles. TELPHERS The ideal form of mono-rail traction is the telpher; the name signifies the application of electricity as motive power to vehicles on a mono-rail. (Telphers are, however, driven by oil or petrol motors, where electric energy is not available.) TLhe credit of the invention of the telpher is due to Professor Fleeming Jenkin, M.Inst.C.E., who died in 1885. The name was chosen by him, and is derived from the Greek tele—far, and pherein—to bear, to carry. A telpher consists of a suitable bogie or trolley, running 22 337