Cleaners, Life-guards, and Snow Ploughs of Tramways.
Year: 1887

page_text: * Date of Application, 3rd Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 3rd Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 4th Nov., 1887
Cleaners, Life-guards, and Snow Ploughs of Tramways.
We JOHN RECORD of 23 Kenninghall Road, Clapton, Middlesex, Gentleman and
HENRY JOBLIN JORDAN of 68 Lucy Road, Bermondsey, Surrey, Smith, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved method of arranging and carrying "drag"
groove cleaners of tram rails of the kind patented by Messieurs Rayner and Edwards
on the 24th March 1885 No. 3807 and by Messieurs Edwards and Record on the
22nd October 1885 No. 12641.
In the first above mentioned Patent, the drag or plough tram rail groove cleaner
was arranged or carried by the body frame of the car and certain objections have
been raised thereto from the oscillatory motion the car is subjected to under the
varying loads and the different angles which the drag necessarily takes particularly
in rounding sharp curves and when crossing points or crossovers.
In the second above mentioned Patent the drag or plough for cleaning the grooves
of tram rails was attached to a separate frame carried by the axles and objections
have been raised to the additional weight, namely that of the frame, and also to the
difficulties attending the lubrication of the bearings.
Now the object of our invention is to obviate these objections or inconveniences by
arranging and fitting the drag or plough groove cleaner or it may be the life-guard
and, or, a snow plough to the axle box, by an extension piece secured to it, the fore
end of the extension piece carries the drag or plough suspended from it and
regulated as to the depth which it enters the groove by an adjustable link or
chain. The drags or ploughs as groove cleaners are in pairs at each end of the
car and are permitted to drag loosely as described in Messrs. Rayners and Edwards
Specification or coupled by a transverse bar and springs as in Messrs. Edwards and
Record's specification.

page_text: Each pair of drag or plough groove cleaners is fitted for being lifted up when the
car is running in the reverse direction by chain or cord or it may be by a crank
appliance from a hand or foot lever under control of the driver.
The opposite pair similarly fitted can be lowered by the driver on starting the
journey, said drag shoes being in action in advance of the leading wheels in the
direction of travel.
The extensions are capable of carrying the life-guard and, or, the snow plough as
circumstances may require; we prefer the groove cleaner and the life-guard to be
fitted together but the snow plough can be substituted for the groove cleaner.
TL 1 1
T
1007
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said J. Record
and H. J. Jordan.

page_text: An Improved Method of Arranging and Carrying “Drag” Groove
Cleaners, Life-guards, and Snow Ploughs of Tramways.
We, JOHN RECORD of 23 Kenninghall Road, Clapton, Middlesex, Gentleman and
HENRY JOBLIN JORDAN, of 68, Lucy Road, Bermondsey, Surrey, Smith do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an improved method of arranging and carrying "drag"
groove cleaners of tram rails of the kind patented by Messieurs Rayner and Edwards
on the 24th March 1885 No. 3807 and by Messieurs Edwards and Record on the
22nd October 1885 No. 12641.
In the first above mentioned Patent the drag or plough tram rail groove cleaner
was arranged or carried by the body frame of the car and certain objections have
been raised thereto from the oscillatory motion the car is subjected to under the
varying loads and the different angles which the drag necessarily takes particularly
in rounding sharp curves and when crossing points or crossovers.
In the second above mentioned Patent, the drag or plough for cleaning the grooves
of tram rails was attached to a separate frame carried by the axles and objections
have been raised to the additional weight, viz., that of the frame and also to the
difficulties attending the lubrication of the bearings.
Now the object of our invention, is to obviate these objections or inconveniences by
arranging and fitting the drag or plough groove cleaner or it may the life guard and,
or, a snow plough to the axle box by an extension piece secured to it, the fore end of
the extension piece carries the drag or plough suspended from it and regulated as to
the depth which it enters the groove by an adjustable link or chain.
The drags or ploughs as groove cleaners are in pairs at each end of the car and
are permitted to drag loosely but are coupled by a transverse bar and encircled by
helical springs as in Messrs. Edwards and Record's Specification.
Each pair of drag or plough groove cleaners is fitted for being lifted up when the
car is running in the reverse direction by chain or cord or it may be by a crank
appliance from a hand or foot lever under control of the driver. The opposite pair
similarly fitted can be lowered by the driver on starting the journey, said drag shoes
being in action in advance of the leading wheels in the direction of travel.
The extensions are capable of carrying the life guard, and, or the snow plough as
circumstances may require, we prefer the groove cleaner and the life guard to be
fitted together but either of them may alone be fitted the snow plough can be
substituted for the groove cleaner.
Our invention is clearly shown in the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a partial side
elevation of one end of the lower frame A of a tram car B is the axle box to which a
bar C or an extension therefrom projects for carrying the drag shoe D and its
suspension rod E, the scraping tool F which is adjustable for wear being held in the
shoe by a screw bolt G. The suspension rods E or shoe carrier is held at the required

page_text: distance to the rail by the chain H, this being attached to a bell crank I for operation
to lift the shoe D and scraper tool F clear of the rail by the driver when he pulls
upon the cord or rod J.
The shoe D etc., has a drag action in advance of the leading wheel K of the car
but by carrying the bar C to the rear of the leading wheel K, the shoe D and its
tool F may remove the dirt from the rail groove after the leading wheel has travelled
over said rail, the flange of the wheel serving to cut into the dirt and slightly
loosening it as well as to crush stones which may get into the rail groove, so that
the tool and shoe can then the more easily remove the particles.
The arrows indicate the direction of travel in both the above Figures, the shoe D
and tools F corresponding on the opposite side of the car and capable of being lifted
by one cord or rod J connecting them preferably through the transverse bar by which
the lateral adjustable action is obtained as described in Edwards and Record's
Specification said transverse bar being encircled by helical springs on either side of
each shoc-carrier.
The shoes and tools in our present arrangement have an independent rising motion
over obstacles from either side of the car.
The toggle or pin L by which the shoe bar E is connected to the extension bar C
is fitted loosely in the bar so that it has a free swing round action from this point to
enable the shoe and tool to accomodate themselves to rail curves.
Figure 3 shows the axle extension bar C carrying the life guard M which may
have a wheel N to run on the horse track or it may have wheels to run on the
rails in advance of the leading wheels K. This life guard may be replaced by a
snow plough P as at Figure 4 supported in a similar manner to the outer end of the
extension bar C by the link Qor as the life guard, or is carried from the under
frame A of the car.
The snow plough P we prefer to connect to the axle box B by the link R the
jumping motion while travelling being taken up by the spring S encircling the
bolt T which is free to ride up and down in the socket or pipe U.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. Affixing the drag-shoe or groove cleaner to, or suspended from, a bar attached
to the axle box of a tram car, said drag-shoes or groove cleaners being in pairs, and
loosely connected for lateral play as described.
2. Affixing a life guard, or a snow plough, to a bar attached to the axle box of a
tram car, or a combination of drag-shoe or groove cleaner, with a life guard in the
manner described and substantially as shown in the annexed drawings.
atabon 1987
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said J. Record
and H. J. Jordan.