Improvements in Street Tramcars.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug., 1896-Accepted, 17th Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Street Tramcars.
I LOUIS LEGE of 9 Braunstrasse Hanover, Germany Inventor 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 improvements in streot tramoars whereby the
vehiclo can be steered in the right track from the drivers stand or platform while
at the same time the dirt accumulated in the rails can be continuously removed by
meaus of a suitable rail cleaning device.
In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the subject matter of this
invention
Figure 1. is a longitudinal section of the improvements,
Figures 2 to 4 show the various positions of the point controlling devices and
Figure 5. is a plan of the rail cleaning apparatus.
A sleeve or cylindrical tube b is secured to the bottom of the vehicle in such a
manner as to turn freely thereon, over the same is passed the sleeve c which is
controlled by the spring d arranged between the bottom of the vehicle and a
projection or ledge of the alcove. To the sleeve c is fixed a roller e resembling
the castors of articles of furniture. Moreover a second roller is so secured below
the sleeve o ns to turn horizontally in the rail channel when the vehicle is being
propelled. This sleeve c is further provided with a tongue g having the shape of
a knife. This tongue operates the points in suitable positions, as the device can be
turned to one side or to the other from the steering or driver's platform.
Figures 2 and 4 show the different positions of the device. The two levers
are jointed by the rod i which can be actuated either by hand (Figure 2) or with
the foot (Figures 4 and 3) when it is actuated by hand a hand lever (Figure 1)
is used being similar to the brake lever and actuating the rod i. When however
the device is operated with the foot a lever n is arranged to be turned with the
foot into the desired position, the device or quadrant m holding the same in its
temporary position.
The sleeve o is free to move on the sleeve band is always pressed down by the
apring d. This has for its object to prevent, in case the vehicle was subjected to
severe tropidations or shocks, the destruction or shattering of the points setting
device. The pin o' which enters a longitudinal slot formed in the tube b limits
the motion of displacement of the sleeve a and prevents the tube & turning without
the sleeve c.
From the steoring platform the rail cleaning device can likewise be operated
being arranged to turn about the point q on the vehicle by means of the hanging
support p. This cleaning device consists of a tongue o¹ bearing in the channel of
the rail and pushing the dirt contained therein onto the box like receptacle until it
is thrown sidewise out of the rail through the passages or branches o'. This rail
cleaning device is actuated by the treadler (Figure 1) the rod s and the levers (,,
when not in operation the device assumes the position shown in dotted lines in
(Figure 1). When the tramcar is propelled forward and backward, both devices
must be duplicated and arranged in opposite directions.
Owing to these improvements the great advantages are obtained that the points
can be operated from the driver's platform and the rails are always kept in a
horoughly clean state, without it boing necessary to employ special attendants for
this purpose.

page_text: 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 :-
1st. Improvements in street tramcars characterized by a device which can be
turned by a set of levers (k, l, i, h, or m, n, i, h,) actuated from the drivers platform
and is provided with the tongue 9 and the rollers e, f, and by a rail cleaning
device which can also be operated, from the drivers seat by a set of
levers (r, s, t, t) and turns about a point q. for the purpose of constantly
placing the points in the desired position from the drivers platforın or seat and of.
continuously freeing the rails from dirt.
2nd. In the improvements in street tramcars claimed above, the arrangement of
a spring d between the sleeves b and c eliding one against the other in order to
prevent the communication of the trepidations of the tramcar onto the points setting
device.
3rd. In the improvements in street tramcars set forth in Claim 1 the construction
of the rail cleaning device characterized by the side channels or branches o' destined
to throw the dirt out of the rail track.
Delhi 1000
GEORGE BARKER,
77 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.