AN IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEARING SNOW FROM RAILWAYS AND ROADS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Barnes of Ulverstone in the County of
Lancaster for an Invention of AN IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS
FOR CLEARING SNOW FROM RAILWAYS AND ROADS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Barnes at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th December 1882.
"AN IMPROVED
EDMUND BARNES of Ulverstone in the County of Lancaster
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEARING SNOW FROM RAILWAYS AND ROADS'
"3
My invention relates to a method of clearing snow from railways and roads by
means of apparatus which is of the following kind. For clearing snow from a
railway, I provide branch pipes leading from the exhaust pipe of the locomotive
downwards and forwards and opening one just above each rail in front of the
forward wheels. I provide also in these branch pipes and in the ordinary blast
pipe of the exhaust suitable valves or cocks, so that by closing the ordinary blast
pipe and opening either or both the branches I can direct the exhaust steain through
or upon snow in front of the locomotive, the effect being partly to force the snow
away and partly to melt it by the heat of the steam. In some cases I provide also
in front of the locomotive a snow plough, or a pair of ploughs one on each side and
I lead the branch exhaust pipes to open at the side of or to blow steam through
these ploughs.
For clearing snow from streets or roads I provide a steam boiler mounted on a
truck which can be drawn by horses, or which may be arranged as a traction
engine, and by means of flexible or jointed hose pipes I direct jets of steam from
the boiler or the exhaust steam, when a traction engine is employed upon and
through the snow so as to force aside and melt it.

page_text: i
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edmund Barnes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th June
1883.
EDMUND BARNES of Ulverstone in the county of Lancaster.
"AN IMPROVED
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEARING SNOW FROM RAILWAYS AND ROADS
"
My invention relates to a method of clearing snow from railways and roads by
means of apparatus which is of the following kind. For clearing snow from a
railway, I provide branch pipes leading from the exhaust pipe of the locomotive
downwards and forwards and opening one just above each rail in front of the
forward wheels. I provide also in these branch pipes and in the ordinary blast
pipe of the exhaust, suitable valves or cocks, so that by closing the ordinary blast
pipe and opening either or both the branches, I can direct the exhaust steam
through or upon snow in front of the locomotive, the effect being partly to force
the snow away and partly to melt it by the heat of the steam. In some cases, I
provide also in front of the locomotive a snow plough, or a pair of ploughs, one on
each side, and I lead the branch exhaust pipes to open at the side of or to blow
steam through these ploughs.
The accompanying drawing is an end view of a locomotive arranged with pipes
for applying the exhaust steam, according to my invention, to displace and clear
away snow. A A are the cylinders and B the slide case or valve chest from which
the exhaust usually passes to the blast pipe C. In this blast pipe I provide a stop
cock or shut off valve D, and under this I connect to the blast pipe two branch.
pipes E E each provided with a stop cock or shut off valve F and with branches G
which may be opened to blow exhaust directly on to the snow, or from which pipes
may be led forward to the front plates of a snow-plough. The branch pipes E,
instead of being connected to the blast pipe, may be connected directly to the under
side of the slide case, as shewn by the dotted lines. A similar arrangement may
obviously be used for a traction engine. For clearing snow from streets or roads,
I provide a steam boiler mounted on a truck which can be drawn by horses, or
which may be arranged as a traction engine, and by means of flexible or jointed
hose pipes I direct jets of steam from the boiler, or the exhaust steam when a
traction engine is employed, upon and through the snow, so as to force aside and
'melt.it
Having thus described the nature of my invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I claim-
First The herein described method of clearing snow from railways and roads by
means of jets of steam or exhaust steam.
Second-In combination with the exhaust passages of a locomotive or traction
engine, pipes with suitable cocks or valves and branches for directing jets of exhaust
steam on snow, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof I the said Edmund Barnes have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Fifteenth day of June in the year of our Lord, one thousand,
eight hundred and eighty-three.
'
TAV FTYL73
SUR 1706
(s)