A Track Clearer for Tramways.
Year: 1894

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Track Clearer for Tramways.
1, GUSTAV BEIT, of Jungfernstieg 12, Hamburg, Germany, Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to make the clearer independent of the different
loads and consequently of the height of the car body from the top of the rail.
The clearer is formed of a wedge-shaped shoe or plough which runs on the rail
by the aid of a ball-shaped roller which revolves freely on a pin mounted in the
shoe. The ball roller is of such diameter that it cannot fall into the rail groove
but only rests on the upper edge of the groove by which it is sufficiently guided to
retain it in position. When the car is switched to a branch track the ball offers
no resistance so that the clearer automatically lifts itself out. The clearer shoe
is attached to a downwardly and forwardly inclined lever bar which may be
composed of two members pivoted in a suitable bracket carried by the car
trame, the two members passing at either side of the upper part of the car wheel.
Such a clearer is placed in advance of each of the leading wheels and they are
braced together to prevent lateral deviation. In this manner the clearer, with its
long lever arm pivoted beneath the car, will hardly be perceptibly influenced by
the up and down movements of the car. It is for the foregoing reason that the
underside of the clearer shoe is held quite close to the upper side of the rail.
The clearer is made sufficiently strong to push aside heavy obstructions, even a
person. Suitable network may be stretched between the two levers to catch persons
falling between the rails and so prevent injury.
The clearer shoe may be provided with a lug adapted to engage in the groove of
the rail so that the track clearer will also act at the same time as a rail cleaner.
An obvious modification would be to pivot the clearer lever on the wheel axle.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1801
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
1, GUSTAV BEIT, of Jungfernstieg 12. Hamburg, Germany, Merchant, 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 track clearer for tramways, and has for its
object to make the clearer independent of the load and consequently of the varying
height of the car body from the top of the rail.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
Specification, in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation, Figure 2 a plan in
which the body of the car is shewn by dotted lines, and Figure 3 a front elevation
of the track clearer.

page_text: The clearer is formed of a wedge-shaped shoe or plough a which is supported by
a ball-shaped roller b running on the rail and revolving freely on a pin c mounted
in the shoe. The ball roller is of such diameter that it cannot fall into the rail
groove but only rests on the edges of the tread at either side of the groove by which
it is sufficiently guided to retain it in position. When the car is switched to a
branch track, the ball offers no resistance so that the clearer automatically lifts itself
ont. The clearer shoe is attached to a downwardly and forwardly inclined lever d
which may be composed of two members braced together and pivoted to a suitable
bracket carried by the car frame, the two members passing at either side of the
upper part of the car wheel, as shown.
Two such clearers are provided, one for each rail of the track, placed in advance
of each of the leading wheels and they are braced together to prevent lateral
deviation by cross-bars, as shewn. In this manner the clearers with their long
lever arms pivoted beneath the car, will hardly be perceptibly influenced by the
up and down movements of the car due to the play of the carrying springs and
therefore the under face of the clearer shoe may be quite close to the tread of the
rail.
The clearer is made sufficiently strong to push aside heavy obstructions or even a
person. Suitable network may be stretched between the two levers to catch
persons falling between the rails and so prevent injury. The clearer shoe may
be provided with a downwardly projecting lug adapted to slide in the groove
of the rail so that the track clearer will also act at the same time as a rail
cleaner.
An obvious modification would be to pivot the clearer levers on the wheel axle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The herein described track clearer for tramways, wherein the clearer shoe is
carried by a lever pivoted to the car body or axle and is supported by a ball roller
pivoted beneath the shoe and running on the edges of the rail groove, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 3rd day of September 1895.
A. M. & WM. CLARA,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.