An Improved Rail Cleaner for Use on Tramways.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1896
Complate Specification Left, 26th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
An Improved Rail Cleaner for Use on Tramways.
I DANIEL EDWARD HIPWELL of 14 Upper Bedford Place Russell Square London
Middlesex Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Thero is a way of watering tram rails at present in use which consists in allowing
a considerable jet of water to fall on to each rail.
By the means which I here set out I effect a large saving of water, avoid making
the roadway dirty and sloppy and at the same time far more effectually cleanse the
rails.
My method is to arrange two or more small jets of water, or of water and air, so
as to impinge under pressure in the groove of a tram rail at such an angle or angles
that by their mutual collision and rebound they not only wash the rubbish and mud
from the rail but lift then out and fling them up out of the groove. Ladd a screen
of such shape that it shall fling back the resultant spray on to the rail, completing
its cleansing, and at the same time shall prevent splashing.
The apparatus may be attached to a vehicle with a reservoir of water and may
be arranged in a suitable framework with proper appliances for directing it along
the groove when at work, lifting it whon not required, settling the angles of impact,
and allowing for the other obvious necessary conditions of the case.
The pressure may be enhanced by a force pump (with fast and loose attachment)
which may be driven from an axle by a chain; or by any other means that may
be found convenient.
Duted this 27th day of April 1896.
An Improved Rail Cleaner for Use on Tramways.
I, DANIEL EDWARD HIPWELL of 14 Upper Bedford Place, Russell Square London
in the County of Middlesex, Merchant do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what mauner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is the efficient and economical cleansing of tram rails.
I am aware that a jet of water has previously been employed, but in such a manner
that the quantity necessary for cleansing has been considerable, causing a nuisance
by the aniount of water spread over the road.
My invention consists in the employment of two or more jets of water under
pressure, so arranged as to impinge in the groove of the rail at such angles to each
other, and the rail, that by their mutual collision, and rebound they not only loosen
the dirt in the rail but lift it up and fling it out. I add suitable guard plates and
dash covers.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a double jet cleaner.
Fig. 2 is a cross section of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a part plan of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modified arrangement.
Fig. 5 is an end section on the line X Z of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the attachment of the jet nozzle.
Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of another modification of a double jet cleaner.
In all figures, like letters and figures of reference are used to distinguish like
parts.
In Fig. 1A. A are the cross stay bars usually employed in the underframe of a
tramcar, and B is a bridge bar clamped thereto in such manner that the apparatas
can be readily adjusted to bring the jets correctly over the groove of the tram
rails. is a pipe convoying the water from the supply cistern or pump, a flexible
tube being preferably employed, although articulated pipe can be used. To the base
of the pipe C is attached a horizontal pipe D by means of the swivel joint E, in
which, by loosening the nut F, the pipo 1 can be rocked to any angle. Tightening
the nut fixos the pipe in the desired position, the loather or rubber washers G, G
making the joints water-tight. Each end of the pipe D is supplied with a similar
swivel joint for the adjustment of the pipes H, H, which also can be set at any
desired angle.
The pipes H, H' are fitted with sliding tubes 1, 1', that can be
slided up and down, and clamped in position by the nuts K K. The pipes II"
carry the nozzles L, L'. It will be seen that by means of the set screw M the
whole pipe arrangement can be lifted or lowered as desired, and the swivel joints
and sliding pipes permit wide variation in adjustment of the nozzles to each other,
and the rails, to accomodate the angle of the jet impact to suit the speed at which
the car may be travelling, and the condition of the rails. N is a casing, preferably
of cast metal which protects the pipes, and the bearings O. O' carry the small
guide wheels or runners P. P' made preferably of steel or chilled iron. These
runners also cut into and disturb the dirt in the rail grooves. By referring to
Fig. 2 it will be seen that the casing is shaped to form a deflector whereby the
dirt that has been ejected is thrown back upon the roadway clear of the rails.
In order to avoid breaking or damage through the spring of the tramcar or.
obstruction in the rails, this guard casing is attached to the bridge B by means
of the studs Q. Q, with springs R. R interposed in a suitable mannor between
shoulders or collars on the studs and the guard casing.
In Fig. 4 the guard frame N is provided with two uprights T. T carrying at
their upper ends the rollers U. U which rest upon the supports V V'. These
supports are formed with a horizontal base of suitable length, the ends being at an
angle, preferably of 45°. It will be seen that if the tramcar is moving in the
direction indicated by the arrow the roller U will lodge in the corner, and the
apparatus be drawn along, but should any obstruction occur the roller will move
up the inclined plane W, and the apparatus be lifted over the obstruction. Clearing
runners P. Pare employed, as in Figs. 1 and 2.
The guard frame N consists of two metal plates which are provided with slots 11
and the nozzles 22 are held in rings 3 3. Their protrusion can be adjusted and
secured by the thumb screws 44. The rings are held in the slots 11 by the studs
or set screws 5 5; which permits the angles and relative distance of the nozzlos to
each other and the rails, to be readily adjusted. The nozzle pipes can be connected
with the water supply by flexible tubes.
The deflectors are formed by two curved plates S. S¹. In Fig. 7 is shewn a
cistern 6 containing the supply of water, and a pipe 7, in which can be interposed
any suitable pressure pump, supplies the water through the articulated joints 8, 9, 10,
to the nozzles. The horizontal pipe 11, freely hinged at 8, rests upon the stop
support. 12 carried in any suitable manner from the axle boxes of the trumcar.

page_text: The fall pipe 13 is free to swing on the swivel joint 9, and the bent pipe 14 which
terminutes in the nozzles L L' is braced to the axle boxes by the springs 15. 15.
The guard plates and deflector are preferably clamped to the bent pipe, & the
bent pipe 14 can be firmly secured at the joint 10 by the nut 16. It will be seen
that the arrangement shewn in Fig. 7 permits adjustment and also the necessary
flexibility to comply with the movement of the car, and in case of obstruction.
It is obvious that in lieu of water under pressure a mixture of water and air may
be employed, or in certain cases air only at high pressure may be used.
I do not limit myself to the precise arrangements shewn, nor to the employment
of two jets only. A combination of jets may be advantageous, for instance, whilst
in the figures two jets are shewn at angles with the longitudinal line of the rail,
each of these jets may consist of two or more jets making impact at angles more or
less transverse with the rail groove.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what.
I claim is :-
(1) In tram rail cleaners, the employment of two jets of water, air, or water and.
air, under pressure impinging in the rail grooves at such angles to each other and
the rails that the rebound of the water and air shall lift out the dirt loosened by
the collision and impact of the water and air.
or
or
(2) In tram rail cleaners the employment of two or more jets acting as described
in Claim 1 in conjunction with a shield or device limiting the splash of the water
and mud, substantially as, and for the purpose described.
(3) In tram rail cleaners the employment of guard plates to protect the jets
substantially as, and for the purpose described.
(4) In tram rail cleaners the combination of jets, guard plates, diffusers and
guide wheels substantially as and for the purpose described.
(5) In tram rail cleaners the combination of flexible tubes, joints, elbows or the
like with jets substantially as illustrated and for the purpose described.
Dated this Twenty-sixth day of January 1897.
DANIEL EDWARD HIPWELL