Patent GB-190810546-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Life Guards, Snow Shifters, and the like for Tram Cars, Locomotives, Motor Cars, and other Vehicles.
Inventor: BAXTER SAMUEL
Filed: 1908-05-15
Granted: 1909-05-13
Abstract: 10,546. Baxter, S. May 15. Wheel guards and obstruction-removers; railcleaners.-Relates to an obstruction - remover for tramcars, locomotives, motor - cars, &c. of the type which is arranged to run on wheels so as to take curves in the track, is connected to the vehicle in such a manner that the vertical movements of the car do not effect the guard, and can be stowed away under the vehicle. A rail-cleaner and snow plough may be fitted to the guard. A bar B pivoted to the car at a', Fig. 1, has at its front end a curved portion b which slides against a similar curved guide C fixed to the underside of the car, runners, secured to the guide b, running along the guide C. At the inner end of the stay B are one or more runners e, which enter a groove in a stay E supported by a runner f, on a bracket F. The stay E is prevented from moving forwards by a stop e<2>, and a catch g, operated by a foot-lever, prevents any backward movement. At the front end of the stay E is a bracket h carrying a shaft H on which are mounted the runners J which support the guard. The guard may be stowed under the car by drawing back the stay E through chaingearing, the catch g being raised by a trigger when the slackness in the chain is taken up. An intermediate runner or an inclined plane K is provided to support the stay E. The guard is centralized by springs L. The shaft H is connected by links U to the slide b, and on the shaft are mounted two or more levers M, Fig. 7, connected together at their front ends by cross-bars m, on which a number of shoes N are loosely carried so as to be normally held off the track. When the levers M are depressed, the runners 0 first touch the ground, and when the springs o<1> are overcome the shoes contact with the track. The height of the shoes from the ground is regulated by an adjustable spring P, Fig. 9, acting through a lever p fixed to a cranked cross-bar Q, which the pull of the spring P tends to rotate. The movable portion of the shaft Q carries slotted uprights r, through the slots of which pass a shaft R connecting the inner ends of the levers M. When the shaft Q is raised through a pull on a link p<2> connected with a foot-lever on the platform, the shoes N are depressed and the spring is compressed. On the release of the foot-lever, the spring rotates the shaft Q and the shoes are then raised. The connexions and joints of the apparatus are made with play to allow of freedom of the parts. The levers M are covered with netting &c., and have a sheetiron cover over their ends. The guard may be folded up on the shaft H. A guard may be arranged at each end of the vehicle, so that when one is pushed in the other is either drawn in or thrust out. Rail-cleaners S, Fig. 10, may be attached to the stays U ; they comprise a scraper s' and a pad s to remove grease &c. A snow plough T, Fig. 12, may also be fitted and is preferably adapted to throw about two-thirds of the snow to one side and one-third to the other. The plough runs on a roller t<1> and is braced by brackets v, V and stays v<1>, v<2>.