Improved Means and Apparatus for Removing Debris from Tram Rails.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1887
Complete Left, 18th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 18th May, 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Apparatus for Removing Debris from
Tram Rails.
I, WILLIAM JOSEPH COCK of 225 St. Johns Street, Clerkenwell, Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to remove dirt from tram rails by the onward
motion of a trolley or vehicle carrying an endless chain of blades which travel up
an incline or spout, the lower part of which is provided with a spike or scoop
point to run in the groove of the tram rail and lift the dirt by said onward move-
ment, the dirt pushing itself into the lower part of the incline from which the
blades take it into a slide or other shoot for falling into the trolley.
The chain of blades is driven by any suitable gear from the travelling wheels
and the incline is so pivotted or suspended that the driver by means of a foot
plate and levers can raise or lower the bottom end of the scoop to suit the depth
of groove or to raise the appliance clear of the rails when not required for work.
The upper part of the scoop has a hanging plate the edge of which rides successively
on the chain blades to remove any dirt that may adhere to them.
1007
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said William Joseph Cock.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Apparatus for Removing Debris from
Tram Rails.
I WILLIAM JOSEPH COCK of 225 St. Johns Street, Clerkenwell, Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to remove dirt from tram rails by the onward
motion of a trolley or vehicle carrying an endless chain of blades which travel up an
incline or spout the corner part of which is provided with a spike or scoop point to
run in the groove of the tram rail and lift the dirt by said onward movement, the dirt
pushing itself into the lower part of the incline from which the blades take it into a
side or other shoot for falling into the trolly.
The chain of blades is driven by any suitable gear from the travelling wheels and
the incline is pivotted or suspended that the driver by means of a foot plate and levers
can raise or lower the bottom end of the scoop to suit the depth of groove or to
raise the appliance clear of the rails when not required for work.
Th upper part of the scoop has a hanging plate the edge of which rides succes-
sivly on the chain blades to remove any dirt that may adhere to them.
My invention will be understood by reference to the annexed drawings in which at
Figures 1 and 2 I show elevation and plan of a trolly with the parts in position for
cleaning the grooves of tram rails by the onward motion of the trolly.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same trolly with the cleaning apparatus lifted out
of gear such as when travelling on rails without the cleaner being at work.
Figure 4 is a detached view of one of the detachable scoops by which the dirt is
first lifted.
Figure 5 is a detached view of the appliance for removing any dirt that may
adhere to the lifter blades to ensure the dirt falling from the scoop into the
vehicle.
Figure is an elevation of the body part of the trolly turned at right angles
to the direction of travel so that when the doors are opened the contents can be
shovelled out to the side of the line.
The portion of the body at Figure 2 shows, when the doors are opened that the
rubbish may be shovelled out on to the track or into a vehicle backed against the
trolly to receive the dirt, the body of the trolly having an all round motion when a
bolt is released for the dirt to be discharged at any point.
A is the body of the trolly of rectangular shape, mounted upon a lower frame B by
means of a centre pin or perch C as seen more clearly at Figure 2. This centre pin
is socketted in the lower frame and the two ends of said frame are provided with a
slot D for the reception of bolt E to lock the trolly body in the required position to
suit the travel for lifting the dirt.
The body A and lower frame B are mounted upon travelling wheels F, F, two of
which, at opposite corners, are provided with toothed gear for engaging into a first
motioned wheel G which through the intermediate gear wheels H. and I drive the
pinions J which are mounted upon a transverse shaft K so that the two sets of chains L, M

page_text: are operated at the same time, the chains being on either side of the trolly for
cleaning the grooves of the two rails simultaneously.
The chains L, M, are carried by sprocket wheels which give motion to them from
the gear
wheels.
The transverse shaft K is supported in bearings forming part of the two shoots
or inclines N, N, these being pivotted at P so that they, with the chains can have
a tilting or rising motion from the bottom by means of the hand lever Q and short
arm R both of which are pivotted to the bracket S.
The intermediate wheel H is mounted on a centre or pivot pin which carries a
strap T on one side of the trolly, said trap T carrying the first motioned wheel G
and the intermediate wheel I so that when the wheels have to be put out of gear
such as when the scoops are not required to work it is only necessary to lift the
handle U Figure 1 or depress the foot plate U Figure 3 to do so. In which
Figure the chains and scoops are lifted above the rails by the throw over of the
lever Qin which position it can be locked by any appliance.
If the lever U is arranged as at Figure 3 only the wheel G is removed from
gear but if arranged as at Fig. 1 the wheels G and I are simultaneously thrown
out.
The lower part of each shoot or incline is shaped to receive a bottom scoop V with
a nose piece W shown separately at Figure 4 this having a tang X to be forced into
a slot between the incline N and the bracket or lower strap Y.
This scoop may bear upon the surface of the rail for lifting any dirt that may be
thereon.
Z, Z, are doors at one end of the trolley, see Figure 6, which can after
removing the latch fastener a be thrown open to enable the contents of the trolly to
be shovelled out.
As the dirt lifted by the nose piece and scoop accumulates in the pocket of the
scoop it is lifted up the incline by the blades b. of the chain and as each
blade in succession approaches the top of the incline a clearing blade c, shown
separately in Figure 5, rides against the inner end of the blade, next the chain and as
the chain continues its motion the scraping blade c which is suspended from the pivot d
rides outwards on the chain blade and so scrapes the dirt off so that it falls into a
side box e and from thence into the body of the trolly.
As soon as the chain blade has passed the edge of the scraping blade c the scraping
blade by its weight f resumes its normal position to act upon the next succeeding
chain blade and so on each blade of the chain being operated on in a similar manner.
The object of making the scoop separately from the incline is to facilitate easy
renewal when worn.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The apparatus constituting a trolly with dirt lifting appliances for clearing
tram rails and their grooves of dirt the construction being substantially as shown in
the annexed drawings Figures 1. 2. 3 and 6.
2. The detachable and affixable scoop V constructed as set forth and substantially as
shown at Figure 4 of the annexed drawings.
3. The scraping blade c, see Figure 5, having a free motion for scraping the chain
blades as and for the purpose described.
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said W. J. Cock.