An Improved Rail Cleaner for Railway and Tramway Rails.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 31st Mar., 1892-Accepted, 28th May, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Rail Cleaner for Railway and Tramway Rails.
I, HENRY CONRADI, Engineer, of 53 Crowndale Road, Camden Town, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The rail cleaner is composed of scrapers, shovels, brushes; or india rubber pieces,
fixed to a cross bar. This bar is with the cleaning arrangement fixed to a spring,
which spring is fixed to a vertical moveable bar or tube. This tube is suspended by
pins or connecting pieces similar to a ball joint or by the use of a ball joint inside
another vertical tube.
Inside of both tubes is seated a vertical spiral spring. The scraper arrange-
ment can be lifted or lowered by means of a horizontal tube or bar fixed to it,
which revolves and to which the necessary straight or bent levers are fixed. Rods
or chains go from these levers to the drivers seat to operate the same.
To guide the scraper arrangement or also the cars or engines guide rollers are
used and fixed to a bar passing through the lifting gear tube, and which can be
lowered or lifted. Water tubes and sand boxes are fixed to the scraper arrange-
ment used for engines. India-rubber bearing springs are used instead of the
vertical outer tube and with or without its inside spiral spring to carry and operate
the scraper arrangement. The apparatus is manufactured of any suitable material.
It is usualy to be used in pairs.
Further observations and experiments caused me to make some more improve-
ments in the rail cleaner. Two scraper to each cleaner according to traffic
requirements and the state of the permanent way, may be used; but to reduce the
frictional resistance I prefer to use one scraper and replace the second scraper by
a brush used for street cleaning or by one made of iron or steel wire or by an india
rubber piece similar to those used for cleaning the pavements or any other clastic
or non elastic material suitable for the same purpose.
The rail cleaner which can be used either for cars or engines, is composed of an
outer tube or box of cylindrical or of any other suitable form and is placed in a
vertical or similar position. It is provided with one or several slots facing each
other. A vertical spiral spring is placed inside. A smaller tube or box or bar is
suspended inside the outer one by means of one or several pins, which are either
fixed to one side only of the inner box or which go across the inner tube bearing
on the surface of one or of the two slots facing each other. The ends of the slots in
which the pins move may be widened out to a curved shape. The spiral spring is
with its bottom end seated firmly in the top part of the inner box; while its top
end is seated in the cup screwed or otherwise fixed to the top of the outer box. To
prevent or reduce the effects of shocks or jerks I also insert above the top part of the
spiral spring and in the top of the cup a piece of india rubber or an india rubber ring
serving as cushion or buffer, if found necessary. The inner tube moves freely in
all directions inside the outer box, sufficient clearance being given between the two
tubes. It is suspended either by means of the above mentioned pins or by means
of a cylindrical or conical piece connected with it; made on the principle of a ball
joint or by the direct use of a ball joint. The bottom end of the inner tube carries
a plate, to which the top end of a leaf spring of convenient form is fixed and
behind which a brush or any similar contrivance, if any is used, is also fixed.
Instead of using this plate the bottom end of the inner tube can also be drawn
together and the spring directly fixed to it. This spring is either in S or coil form
or is made in the shape of carriage springs, consisting of two halfs with a moveable
joint or of any other suitable form and material. The apparatus can be used

page_text: singly and separately for each wheel, but I prefer to use it in pairs acting together
for each pair of wheels. A horizontal cross bar or tie rod of flat, round or tubular
form goes right across the permanent way. To this cross bar which is also shaped
to the inclination of the road, is fixed the bottom end of the above mentioned Hat
springs. At the end of this tie rod are fixed the scrapers and shovels or brushes.
The scraper is shaped to the form of the groove with its edges rounded up. The
ends are either bent somewhat forward, excercising, when at work a pushing action
or are bent somewhat backward, of a curved shape or hollowed out and thus having
a trailing motion and a scraping action. They project into the groove out of which
they remove the mud, dirt or snow while the flat parts at rail level serve as shovel
and remove the mud from the surface of the rail. The parts forming shovel are set
to an angle and outwards, to push the mud better aside.
Scraper and shovel are either made of one or several pieces. The scraper is also
provided with one or several slots, through which the bolts pass to fixe it to the tie
rod and to regulate its position to the groove and rail level according to its being
used up.
If one side is used up, it can be turned round and the other side be used.
The part of the scraper forming shovel can also be replaced by a suitable brush or
by any flat band or piece of india rubber or of any other suitable elastic material
doing the same service. To keep the scraper shovel or brush arrangement properly
in the groove and over the surface of the rail, I also use guide rollers either instead,
or with the above described mode of suspension of the inner tube. The rollers can
be used either for the guidance of the scraper alone or at the same time to keep engine
or car on the rail. In this latter case these guide rollers form the substitute of the
wheelflanges, of which two or perhaps all four may be taken off, thus reducing
considerably the tractional resistance. Besides it would greatly facilitate to run
engine or car off the line, if the permanent way is blocked. This operation is at
present carried out with an enormeous strain to the horses, cars and the machinery
of the engines; furthermore the cars could be used on ordinary roads. The whole
apparatus is fixed by brackets to the bottom of car or engine or to the axle boxes
or any other convenient place near the wheels.
The brackets are fixed with the other end to the outer boxes by resting on a
shoulder or a nut of the box and over which a cup is screwed or otherwise fixed.
To this brackets are also fixed the hangers or brackets, which carry the lifting and
lowering gear. This gear consists of a bar rod or tube going across from one outer
box of the apparatus to the other. It is supported by the brackets just mentioned,
which can also be fixed to any other suitable place of the apparatus. To this cross tube
are fixed two bars or hooks or tubes which pass directly under the suspension pins
of the inner boxes and on which these pins take their seat.
To this lifting gear
tube is also fixed a handle bent lever or hook to which a vertical rod, chain or rope
is fastened, going to the drivers seat. By moving this rod up or down the cross
tube or lifting gear tube is caused to revolve and according to the direction in
which it is made to move lifts or lowers the scraper arrangement out or into the
groove. I also use, with this lifting and lowering arrangement, instead of the
pins fixed to the inner tube, straight or bent levers or jointed connecting rods,
which are suspended with one end to the bars projecting out of the lifting gear tube
and are with the other jointed end fixed to the tie rod. As soon as the lifting gear
tube revolves, these connecting rods are raised or lowered. Two hooks or hangers
are fixed to the lifting gear tube end hang down passing underneath the tie rod, into
which the same drops and remains suspended in case any of its connections should
brake.
To lift or lower the guide rollers if such are used a bolt rod or tube is passed
through the lifting gear tube, out of which it projects and to which the guide rollers
are fixed. The lifting and lowering of the same is carried out by a similar arrange-
ment as for the scraper. By using the scraper on engines I provide the rail cleaner
with water and sand pipes. The exhaust steam of the condensing tank should
preferably be used for watering. For this purpose I pass and fixe a pipe hose or
tube through the outer boxes inside the vertical spiral spring and join the necessary

page_text: piping to its projecting ends; to direct the water on to the rail scraper or brushes.
If india rubber bearing springs are used, instead of the outer box and with or
without the internal spiral spring I pass the pipe through the opening of the
bearing spring. To prevent the slipping of the wheels I provide the rail cleaner
also with sand pipes, which are fixed to the sides of the outer boxes or to the india
rubber bearing springs, replacing them, or to any other convenient place of the
apparatus. By using the rail cleaner for railway rails, I give to the scraper the
form corresponding to the rail section. I also use in this case either a single or
the form of a double scraper; the second tool behind the first scraper being a metallic
or any other suitable brush or one formed of india rubber or of any other elastic con-
venient material used for the same purpose. The apparatus is manufactured in iron or
steel or any other suitable material. Instead of using the outer tube I also replace it,
by using a barrel-shaped india rubber spring. I fixe these springs by means of the
required form of brackets to the bottom of the car or engine and pass a bolt or
tube through the opening of these springs, which as before, carries the tie rod with
the scraper arrangement. On account of the very sharp curves and often too
sharp curves occurring in the permanent way and the great overhang of the body
of the car or engine caused either by construction or by the sharp curves or by a
Hexible wheel base &c.; the rail cleaner can also be placed in the centre of the
body of car or engine, where the overhang and the deviation from the curves are
least; the body of the car or engine moving in the tangents. The first outgoing
car not having the permanent way cleared for the front wheels, at its first start, if
the apparatus is placed in the centre, may be outweighed, by the easier conditions
of the service when placing it there between the wheels. The apparatus can
however as well be placed in front or in any other convenient place for the
wheels.
لبنت
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1001
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Rail Cleaner for Railway and Tramway Rails.
I HENRY CONRADI, Engineer, of 53 Crowndale Road, Harrington Square,
London, 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 for an improved rail cleaner for railway and tramway rails relates
to cleaners that are attached to engines or cars or other vehicles running on the
rails and that can be lowered on to the rails or raised from them by the driver at
pleasure and has for its object to connect the cleaner to its operating mechanism
fixed on the vehicle in such a manner that it shall not be liable to be broken on
passing points, curves or any obstructions or irregularities on the line but shall
perfectly clean the rail from mud and dirt and consists essentially in interposing
suitable springs between the cleaner and the operating mechanism so that the cleaner
shall not be subjected to sudden blows or strains and be enabled easily to pass curves,
points crossing joints and the like.
:
In the accompanying sheets of illustrative drawings
Fig. i is a plan of the rail cleaner mechanism constructed according to this
invention.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section.
Fig. 3 is an end elevation also partly in section of the same.
Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the arrangement of the cleaner proper.
Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, are views shewing modified arrangements of certain portions
of the apparatus.
Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are plan, side elevation and end elevation respectively of a
modification of the invention.

page_text: Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the cleaners or scrapers m are attached to the
horizontal shaft & mounted in bearings b so as to be capable of being rotated to a
limited extent to raise the cleauers off the rail. The shaft k is operated from the
hand levert connected by the adjustable links to an arm fixed on the shaft k.
As shown, the cleaner m is on the rail; by moving the levert to the right (Fig. 2)
the cleaner m will revolve about the axis of the shaft and be raised off the rail.
The arm is also connected to the rod 12 which slides freely in the cylinder a
secured to the brackets b. Within the cylinder a is a spiral spring g bearing against
a seat in the cylinder & against an adjustable collar on the rod. The spring
tends to force the cleaners m on to the rail: they can be kept off by fixing the
levert by a catch.
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In the modified construction shown in Figs. 10, 11, and 12, the shaft is moved
vertically by the hand levert links bell crank lever ŕ and chain land is forced down to
put the scraper m on the rail by spiral springs one at or near each end. The
lever is fixed on a shaft o supported in the bearings b. The shaft is rivetted at
or near each end to a rod e sliding in the fixed cylinder a and formed with a guide
rod 4 surrounded by a spiral spring / bearing against the tube e and against the top
of the cylinder a. The tension of the spring is adjusted by the washers h.
The cleaners m Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, are adjustably fixed to coiled, or other suitable
springsbolted to the shaft at a convenient distance apart, corresponding to the
gauge of the line to be cleaned. The cleaner for ordinary grooved tram lines
is formed in two parts, one consisting of two side wings m bent at a suitable angle
so as to throw the dirt off the rail and the other of a straight central piece n
which projects beyond the wings and enters and clears the grooves in the rail. The
central piece and the wings are double ended and formed with long slots p through
which the bolt 7 passes so that they can readily be adjusted to the depth of the
groove and to the rail. If desired the cleaners may be made in one piece, the wings
being formed at either end with a central projecting tongue.
The springs are secured to the shaft k in such a manner that they are free to
swivel as shown in Figs. 8, and 9, or to move longitudinally of the bar against the
resistance of springs as shown in Fig. 3, to allow for irregularities or deviations
in the rails, and for curves. In Figs. 8 and 9 each spring is bolted by a single
bolt to the shaft & so that it can pivot about the bolt. In Fig. 3 each spring is
attached to a sleeve 16 free to slide on the shaft & and spiral springs 14 surround
the shaft on either side of the sleeve and bear against the sleeve and against fixed
collars 18 on the shaft. The springs 14 bring the springs back to their normal
position when the irregularity is passed.
l
In the modified arrangement shown in Fig. 5, the springs are rigidly fixed to
the shaft and the shaft itself is free to slide longitudinally in its bearings 15 against
the resistance of the springs 14 which surround the shaft and bear against the fixed
brackets 15 and against collars 18 on the shaft. In a further modification shown
in Figs. 6 and 7 the end of each spring to which a cleaner m is attached is formed
with or secured to the slotted head 17 in which slides a square part of the bolt 7
securing the cleaner to the spring so that the cleaner is free to move sideways.
A triangular shaped brush is adjustably attached by the nuts 19 to an arm j so
as to bear on the rail directly behind the cleaner m and be lifted off the rail with
the cleaner. The brushes brush the dirt off the rails towards either side on
account of their shape; an apex of the triangle being toward the front.
.
All parts may be protected from mud and dirt by sheet iron or other suitable
coverings.
:-
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a rail cleaner a spring interposed between the cleaner and the operating
mechanism, substantially as described.
2. In a rail cleaner a spring I connecting the cleaner to the shaft & by which it
is operated substantially as described.

page_text: 3. In a rail cleaner a spring carrying the cleaner and pivotted to the shaft by
which the cleaner is operated substantially as described for the purpose specified.
4. In a rail cleaner a sleeve supporting the rail cleaner and capable of sliding
on a shaft and springs for retaining the sleeve in its normal position substantially
as described.
5. In a rail cleaner a shaft supporting the rail cleaners and capable of sliding
longitudinally in its bearings and springs for retaining the shaft in its normal position
substantially as described.
6. A rail cleaner consisting of the separately adjustable parts to allow for the
difference in wear of the parts or the liability to breakage of the one part, substan-
tially as described.
7. A rail cleaner substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, & 4,
or to Figs. 10, 11, and 12, of the drawings.
Dated this 31st day of March 1892.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, Agents.