IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR CLEARING AND REMOVING SNOW, SLUSH, AND OTHER DEBRIS FROM TRAMWAY TRACKS AND GROOVES, AND FROM ROADWAYS IN GENERAL, ALSO IN APPLIANCES FOR FACILITATING THE SANDING OF SUCH TRACKS AND ROADWAYS." PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Taylor Yull, of Neutra, Dominion of
Hungary, and Empire of Austria, also of 166, Fleet Street, in the
City of London, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR CLEARING AND REMOVING SNOW,
SLUSH, AND OTHER DEBRIS FROM TRAMWAY TRACKS AND GROOVES, AND FROM
ROADWAYS IN GENERAL, ALSO IN APPLIANCES FOR FACILITATING THE SANDING
OF SUCH TRACKS AND ROADWAYS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Taylor Yull
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 10th February 1873.
I, GEORGE TAYLOR YULL, of Neutra, Dominion of Hungary, and
Empire of Austria, also of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR CLEARING AND REMOVING
SNOW, SLUSH, AND OTHER DEBRIS FROM TRAMWAY TRACKS AND GROOVES, AND FROM

page_text: BUCH TRACKS AND ROADWAYS," to be as follows :—
This Invention relates,―
Firstly. To the emyloyment of apparatus such as blades and plates in
combination with vulcanized or other prepared rubber, sheets or strips,
for removing the debris from the track.
Secondly. To the employment of prongs or blades which are shaped
to work within the walls of the grooves for loosening the debris which
may have adhered to them by the pressure of the car wheels.
Thirdly. To the employment of knife edged or angle faced wheels, for
cutting and loosening the debris at the bottom of the grooves, also for
retaining the prongs and similar appliances within the grooves.
Fourthly. To the employment of steel wire bristles for removing the
loosened debris from the grooves when combination with the prongs and
wheels before referred to.
Fifthly. To the employment of endless chains of brushes in combi-
nation with boxes or receivers into which the debris is carried.
Sixthly. To the employment of blades or stirrers within boxes with
openings arranged over the horse tracks for the deposit of sand or grit
thereon.
The Invention will be understood by the following description :-I
mount a trolly or vehicle upon, say four wheels, and between or in
advance of the pair on each side I fit a frame which is free to rise and
fall to follow the undulations of the ground by the forward end being
pinned while the rear end is loose to ride up and down within straps. The
fore part of the frame carries a double or two single blades with india-
rubber sheets or strips arranged upon the bottoms; these bear upon the
ground and are set at an angle to the line of draught to scrape the debris
from the centre of the track towards the sides. Behind the first blade
or set of blades others similarly fitted are arranged to scrape or remove
the debris nearer the sides, and in some cases a third blade or set
of blades are fitted to scrape or remove the debris beyond the wheel
track and to leave it in continuous swaths at the sides, that is to
say, where a double line of rails are laid one swath would be upon

page_text: the outside near the path, and the other in the " way " between the
two lines. By arranging the blades however in the proper manner
the whole of the debris can be scraped to the outside or to the inside
between the pair of rails, as desired.
Behind, upon the same or upon a separate framing, I arrange, say
three or four bent steel blades, "set" to work within the side walls of
the rail groove to loosen the debris and to throw out stones from within
the groove, the "set" being determined by a knife edged wheel in the
same frame running in the groove, the edge serving to cut the bottom
crust of dirt for a bunch of steel wires which follow behind the wheel
to remove and to spread it outwards beyond the tread of the car wheels.
The bunch of steel wires are held in a tube or two half tubes clamped,
and after they are in place I drive a cone wedge into the centre from
below and this spreads the wire ends outwards, and in such a manner
that although there is a springiness in them they prevent the passage of
slush or fine dust through between them.
The apparatus thus described, with the exception of having the central
blades fitted, can be fitted upon a car and occupy a position between
the running wheels, so that this car if provided with an extra horse
of lighter build would keep the grooves and wheel track clear throughout
the day, an advantage of importance during fine or moderately wet
weather, but in snowy or muddy weather the central blades would be
essential and should with the appliances be fitted on or to a trolly as first
explained.
The trolly may be fitted or be in combination with a receiver, or a
separate trolly may be employed for the purpose of lifting and removing
the snow, mud, and dust from the track, the trolly being provided with
one or more endless chains of brushes which pass over and under rollers
and up inclined plates to lift and carry the debris into the receiver. I.
arrange one or more central rollers in the frame to compel the brushes
to bear upon the ground and then to ascend the inclined plate. The
trolly or vehicle so fitted can be pushed along by two or more horses
who can also draw the sand distributing vehicle behind them, the main
axle or one driven from it, or from one of the wheels working the blades.
or apparatus by which the sand or grit is spread in or upon the horse
tracks. By this means the track can be scraped, the grooves cleaned,
the debris lifted, and the track sanded by a single vehicle before the

page_text: first car starts upon its first journey in the morning; the tram can also
be cleaned during the day with little or no delay to the constant traffic
or passage of cars.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said George Taylor Yull in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 9th August 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
TAYLOR YULL, of Neutra, Dominion of Hungary, and Empire of
Austria, also of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors
give and grant unto me, the said George Taylor Yull, Her special
licence that I, the said George Taylor Yull, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George Taylor Yull,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR CLEARING AND REMOVING SNOW,
SLUSH, AND OTHER DEBRIS, FROM TRAMWAY TRACKS AND GROOVES AND FROM
ROADWAYS IN GENERAL, ALSO IN APPLIANCES FOR FACILITATING THE SANDING OF
BUCH TRACKS AND ROADWAYS” upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said George Taylor Yull, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Taylor Yull, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same.

page_text: is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say :-
This Invention relates,-
Firstly. To the employment of apparatus such as blades and plates
in combination with vulcanized or other prepared rubber sheets or strips
for removing the debris from the track.
Secondly. To the employment of prongs or blades, which are shaped
to work within the walls of the grooves, for loosening the debris which
may have adhered to them by the pressure of the car wheels.
Thirdly. To the employment of knife-edged or angle-faced wheels for
cutting and loosening the debris at the bottom of the grooves, also for
retaining the prongs and similar appliances within the groves.
Fourthly. To the employment of steel wire bristles for removing the
loosened debris from the grooves when in combination with the prongs
and wheels before referred to.
Fifthly. To the employment of endless chains of brushes in com-
bination with boxes or receivers, into which the debris is carried.
Sixthly. To the employment of blades or stirrers within boxes, with
openings arranged over the horse tracks, for the deposit of sand or grit
thereon.
The Invention will be understood by the following description :-
I mount a trolly or vehicle upon, say, four wheels, and between or in
advance of the pair on each side I fit a frame which is free to rise and
fall to follow the indulations of the ground by the forward end being
pinned while the rear end is loose to ride up and down within straps.
The fore part of the frame carries a double or two single blades with
india-rubber sheets or strips arranged upon the bottoms; these bear upon
the ground and these are set themselves at an angle to the line of draught,
whichever way the car may be travelling to scrape the debris from
the metal portions of the track towards the sides. In some cases I fit
behind the first blade or set of blades; others similarly fitted are
arranged to scrape or remove the debris nearer the sides, and, in some
cases, a third blade or set of blades are fitted to scrape or remove the
debris beyond the wheel track and to leave it in continuous swaths

page_text: at the sides, that is to say, where a double line of rails are laid, one
swath would be upon the outside near the path and the other in the
way" between the two lines. By arranging the blades, however, in
the proper manner the whole of the debris can be scraped to the outside
or to the inside between the pair of rails as desired.
Behind upon the same or upon a separate framing I arrange say three
or four bent steel blades "set" to work within the side walls of the rail
groove to loosen the debris and to throw out stones from within the groove,
the "set" being determined by a knife-edged wheel in the same frame
running in the groove, the edge serving to cut the bottom crust of dirt for
a bunch of steel wires which follow behind the wheel to remove and to
spread it outwards beyond the line of travel of the car wheels. The bunch
of steel wires are held in a tube or two half tubes clamped together, and
after they are in place I drive a cone wedge into the centre from below,
and this spreads the wire ends outwards and in such a manner that
although there is a springiness in them they prevent the passage of slush
or fine dust through between them.
The apparatus thus described with the exception of having the central
blades fixed can be fitted upon a car and occupy a position between the
running wheels, so that this car, if provided with an extra horse or be of
lighter build, would keep the grooves and wheel track clear throughout
the day, an advantage of importance during fine or moderately wet
weather, but in snowy or muddy weather the central blades would be
esential and should with the appliances be fitted on or to a trolly as
first explained.
The trolly may be fitted or be in combination with a receiver, or
a separate trolly may be employed for the purpose of lifting and removing
the snow, mud, and dust from the track, the trolly being provided with
one or more endless chains of brushes, which pass over and under rollers
and up inclined plates to lift and carry the debris into the receiver,
which may be a separate vehicle. I arrange one or more central rollers
in the frame to compel the brushes to bear upon the ground and then to
ascend the inclined plate. The trolly or vehicle so fitted can be pushed
along by two or more horses, who can also draw the sand distributing
vehicle behind them, the main axle or one driven from it or from one of
the wheels working the blades or apparatus by which the sand or grit is
spread in or upon the horse tracks. By this means, the track can be
scraped, the grooves cleaned, the debris lifted, and the track sanded by a

page_text: single vehicle before the first car starts upon its first journey in the
morning; the tram can also be cleaned during the day with little or no
delay to the constant traffic or passage of cars.
The following detailed description of the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings will fully explain how I carry my Invention into effect.
Figures 1 and 2 shew in elevation and plan view my apparatus for
clearing the grooves of tram car tracks of debris, and spread the debris to
a distance of say six inches (more or less) on each side of the metal
rails.
A, A, are two sides plates forming a frame in or to which the clearers
and wheel before-mentioned are fitted.
The apparatus here represented is supposed to be fitted between the
running wheels of a car or trolly, one of which wheels only is shown,
and the car or trolly travelling in the direction shown by the arrow.
The frame A is pinned loosely to a vertical strap B firmly bolted by a
staple and nuts to the stay or tie bar C, connecting the two axle boxes D
of the vehicle, so that the apparatus is not affected by the changes of
load or number of passengers carried. The strap is provided with a
series of holes for the pin to be shifted into for regulating the height or
"set" upon or in the metals. The frame plates are curved here and
there to receive first a short piece of tubing E, in the lower end of which
are arranged three steel straps F, G, H, shaped one to bear slightly on
the outside wall of the tram groove, one to bear slightly against the
inside wall of the groove, and one straight or slightly twisted to
move along the centre of the groove, the three acting in concert to cut
up and disintegrate the hard crust of dirt which the previous travel of
cars had solidified by their weight. Directly behind the blades is
another short piece of tubing I whose lower end is fitted with bent
wires J, which are held in place by a conical plug K of wood, as in
detached view, Figure 3. The wires are by this means not only held in
place but are spread out fan-shaped to fill up the width of the groove into
which they dip. These wires are of a springy character, temporarily
opened out for the insertion of "butt" leather, vulcanized rubber, or
some simelarly acting body which serves to push all the loosened
particles of dust, stones, or other body before it as the vehicle travels
forward, so that as the debris accumulates it becomes spread, or it oozes
on to both sides of the metals, where it is caught by the flyers L and is

page_text: by them scraped or spread to a distance, say six inches, clear of the
grove. The flyers L, L, are composed of a strip of wood M, two side
plates N, N, two stout pieces of leather O, O, and a piece of stout sheet
rubber P, the whole being firmly bound or clipped by bolts and nuts to
form a flyer, spreader, or squeegee. This construction of flyer I have
found to be the best in practice, and I hinge each of them, where two
are employed, to a kind of clip or socket Q which can be arranged at
any height upon the tube I to suit the degree of touch upon the surface
of the ground, to effectively spread or scrape the debris to the sides.
The flyers are hinged and are free to swing so as to suit themselves to any
angle, according to the resistance offered by the looseness or the tenacity
of the debris ejected from the groove. Immediately behind the flyers
tube the frame opens out and forms two strap-like bars for retaining an
angle-edged wheel R in position, which wheel bears upon the bottom of
the grove and runs freely thereon, and is not only a support to the whole
apparatus but its edge serves to cut up any bottom crust of debris which
the blades F, G, H, and the wires and rubber of the tube I had passed
over. This angle-edged wheel is an important adjunct to the other
portions of the apparatus, as the success in the action and working of
the other portions of the same are more or less dependent upon it when
the vehicle is travelling over curved portions of the tram track, and also
over or past the points or connections of the track. Behind this angle
or knife-edged wheel, the frame plates are closed together again and
then curved for the reception of a tube S, whose lower end is provided
with spread-out steel wires, as in Figure 4, which are preferably set
somewhat lower or nearer the bottom of the groove than the rubber or
the wires in front of the wheel R, to completely scrape the bottom
of the groove and push all the debris before it that remained after the
passage of the scraper blades, the rubber, and the wheel. This tube and
wires are, however, only needed when the groove is charged with very
light dust and when comparatively clear water is in the groove, such as
accumulates on a dusty day or after or during a slight fall of rain, in
fact, in such weather the scraper blades would not be required. The
socket portion of the frame plates can then be fitted with a tube and
wires similar to that marked S, or, to keep the apparatus intact and to
use it for such times, an attendant need only remove the pin from the
strap B and then he can reverse the apparatus so that the tube S and its
wires would be towards the head or front of the vehicle, the rubber and
the flyers serving to finally remove and to spread the debris to the sides.

page_text: The rear end of the apparatus in the Drawings is shown as embraced
by a guide strap T fitted to the tie or stay like the other marked B, and
the end U is free to rise and fall therein to allow for the slight jumping.
of the apparatus over the heads of the bolts or claw nails by which the
rails V are fastened to the sleepers or foundation. timbers W should any
of them become loose through the vibrations and oscillation of the
travelling cars and other traffic.
If the apparatus is fitted at both ends with tubes and wires like S, or
with tubes and scraper blades like F, G, H, which it can be if desired,
the apparatus will not require being fitted in any other position than
that shown in the Drawings for both the forward travel and the backward.
travel of the car or of the trolley, as the case may be, to which it may
be arranged, it having been found in practice that the perfect cleaning
of the grooves and the spreading of the debris by the flyers have suc-
ceeded in both directions without increasing the draught upon the horses
or the wires or wheel S being injured by the points, through which they
pass freely.
When employing the apparatus upon a car which carries passengers
it is not essential that it should always run in the groove, and to enable
the driver to keep it out of action I attach a chain X to the frame A, 50
that the driver can lower the apparatus at any time to clear the groove
of a stone or other obstacle that may have been maliciously placed in
the groove or upon the track. The chain I propose should be double,
as shewn, and each portion carried upon rollers to either end of the car,
so that the driver can pull the apparatus, or lower it from either end, by
simply moving a lever or other appliance within reach. This raising or
lowering may conveniently be done by the driver pressing his foot upon
a plate on the footboard arranged there for the purpose.
The car or trolly to which the flyers are fitted may have the flyer-like
scrapers or squeegees to act upon and scrape or push the refuse or debris
into a continuous swathe at any part of the horse track, or outside of it
if found necessary for the easy lifting and removal of the same.
I do not in any way limit myself to the exact construction and
arrangements of the parts of my apparatus before explained, nor to the
fitting of it between the ordinary wheels of a car or a trolly; neither
do I confine myself to fitting one apparatus only on one side or on both
sides of a vehicle, as that would be determined by the nature of the
debris, and the locality in which the tramway traffic is working.

page_text: What I claim in this part of my Invention is,
Firstly. The combination of the several appliances forming an
apparatus, as herein-before described and as shewn, for scraping,
pushing, or collecting and spreading debris from the grooves and sur-
faces of the metal rails of tramway tracks.
Secondly. I claim the employment of angle or knife-edged wheels for
supporting track clearers of tramways, and for assisting to disintegrate
the debris from the bottom of the track, as described and substantially
as shewn.
Thirdly. I claim the employment of flyers or spreaders, which are
hinged and free to adjust themselves to the angle, and also to the
direction of travel of the vehicles, when used for spreading the debris
from the sides of tramway rails, substantially as set forth and shown.
Fourthly. I claim the employment of spread out bent steel wires when
fitted in tubular sockets, as and for the purposes set forth.
Fifthly. I claim the fitting of curved-ended steel scrapers in tubular
sockets for acting upon the sides and central portions of tramway grooves,
as and for the purposes set forth.
The next part of my Invention is shown at Figure 5, and consists of a
series of brushes upon endless chains for sweeping and lifting the debris :
from the horse tracks of tramways. The endless chain of brushes
is arranged upon rollers the upper of which can be thrown over to
either end of the vehicle in which they are fitted to suit the direction of
travel; the lower shaft, on which the lower set of rollers is mounted,
serves as a centre pivot upon which the stay or tie bars move.
This 2
vehicle may be provided with a receptacle at each end, but I prefer to
employ a separate vehicle, such as a tumble cart, as shown, for the purpose
of receiving the debris lifted by the brushes, so that when the cart is
filled it can be drawn bodily away from the sweeping vehicle, and
another cart backed to it to be filled. By this means carts can be 3
attached and detached as found convenient, and permits of say the
usual parish contractor receiving the road refuse or scavengering in
an easier manner than is possible if the sweeping vehicle is fitted with
receivers which have to be emptied from the side so as to deposit the
refuse upon the road, as may be done.
The last part of my Invention consists of a kind of trolly with angle
or inclined ends, down which sand or gravel can be caused to slide
3

page_text: towards the central part when the vehicle is fitted with the blades or
stirrers for loosing and discharging grit upon the horse tracks of tram-
ways. This is shown at Figure 6, where the blades or stirrers are
actuated from one of the travelling wheels of the vehicle, an endless
chain passing over and connecting the drum with the wheel being
employed.
The two last portions of my Invention can be employed in combination
with the first portion, so that the grooves of a tramway line can be
cleaned, the surface of the metals as well as the ground scraped for
a small distance on the inner side of each of the metals, the debris swept
up,
and whole of the horse track sanded by one and the same vehicle,
but each portion can be used separately, or any two of them in com-
bination, as described.
I therefore claim as the second part of my Invention the apparatus as
shewn, by which the refuse of tramway tracks can be swept up and lifted
without reference to the direction of travel of the vehicle, as described.
I claim as the third part of my Invention the apparatus by which
the sanding of a tramway horse track can be effected as described and
shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Taylor Yull, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of August One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-three.