Improved Apparatus for Removing Snow on Railways.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 28th June, 1895-Accepted, 3rd Aug., 1895
'PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Removing Snow on Railways.
I, THOMAS HEARN, of Kilmeaden, County Waterford, Ireland, Clergyman, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to new or improved apparatus for the purpose of
removing snow from railways, and is especially designed to be propelled and
operated in connection with locomotives.
In carrying out my invention 1 propose to arrange in a suitably constructed
"lorry," or carriage frame, the following mechanism
Midway on one of the axles of the "lorry," I mount two bevel or orown
wheels, which gear with a pair of bevel or spur wheels mounted on the ends of two
longitudinal shafts carried in suitable bearings formed in horizontal bars traversing
the "lorry."
"
These shafts run parallel to each other and are prolonged beyond the front of
the lorry, and carry on their free ends suitably constructed fans composed of four
or more blades according to requirements. The aggregate width across the
diameters of the two fans should be about six feet so as to effectually remove the
snow from the permanent way in advance of the locomotive, and one fan should
project beyond the other in order that the blades may overlap so as to sweep the
centre of the roadway
It 18 understood that those fans rotate in opposite directions, i.e. each fan rotates
in an outward direction in order to sweep the snow towards each side.
The "lorry" thus equipped is designed to be coupled up with and propelled by
the locomotive, as cairiages are often driven before the engine, and the fan
mechanism may be driven from the locomotive by any suitable arrangement of link
and crank gear.
Motion may also be imparted to the said fan mechanism from the wheels or
axles on which the lorry is mounted.
The action of my invention is obvious:-
As the lorry is being driven in front of the locomotive the fans are caused to
rotate rapidly at right angles to the direction of motion, and the snow is thereby
Bwept or removed from the permanent way and thrown to the sides of the rails
The road is thus cleared for the free passage of the train.
It is obvious that the fan mechanism herein described may be arranged and
applied so as to form part of the locomotive, and thus the use of a separate lorry
dispensed with.
The advantage however of the independent and separate construction of my
invention is the readiness and facility with which it can be brought into requisition
when required.
Dated the 27th day of December 1894.
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
9 Westland Row, Dublin, Agents for Applicant.

page_text: 1, THOMAS HEARN, of Kilmeaden, County Waterford, Ireland, Clergyman,
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 has reference to new or improved apparatus for the purpose of
removing snow from railways, and is especially designed to be propelled and
operated in connection with locomotives.
In carrying out my invention I propose to arrange in a suitably constructed
"lorry" or carriage-frame the following mechanism.
Midway on one of the axles of the lorry, or on an independent transverse crank
shaft I mount two bevil or crown wheels which gear with a pair of bevil or spur
wheels mounted on the ends of two longitudinal shafts carried in suitable bearings
formed horizontal bais traversing the lorry. These longitudinal shafts run
parallel to each other and are prolonged beyond the front of the lorry, and carry
on their projecting ends suitably constructed fans composed of four or more blades
according to requirements.
And in order that my said invention may be more readily understood and carried
into practice I will proceed to describe the same with the assistance of the
accompanying drawings
66
Fig. 1, represents a side elevation of a lorry," or carriage-frame provided
with my improved fan mechanism, Fig. 2, is a plan of same; and Fig 3, a front
view.
A, indicates the loty or carriage frame, B, B, the two bevil wheels mounted
on the axle . Each of these wheels gears with a bevil wheel D D, mounted on
longitudinal shafts E, E, which are carried in the transverse bearings E' E'.
At the free ends of these shafts are carried the fans F F.
It is obvious the fans rotate at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the "lorry,"
and consequently at night angles to the direction of travel
The aggregate width across the diameters of the two fans should be sufficient to
eflectually remove the snow from the permanent way m advance of the locomotive,
and one fan should project beyond the other as shewn in the drawings, in order
that the blades may overlap so as to sweep the centre of the roadway.
It is understood that these fans rotate in opposite directions, we each fan rotates
in an outward direction in order to sweep the snow towards each side
The lorry thus equipped is designed to be coupled up with and propelled by the
locomotive as carriages are often driven in advance
The action of my invention is obvious :—
As the lorry is being driven in front of the locomotive the fans are caused
to rotate rapidly at night angles to the direction of motion, and the snow 18
thereby swept or removed from the permanent way and thrown to the sides of the
rails.
The road is thus cleared for the fice passage of the train.
For the purpose of preventing the snow being tossed or curled around by the
blades of the fans when rotating rapidly, a hood, as shewn by the dotted lines in
Figs. 1 and 3 may be erected over the fans upon which any snow whirled up would
be received and immediately thrown off' to the sides.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it understood
that what I claim is
-
First. In apparatus for removing snow ou always, the combination with a

page_text: "lorry" or carriage-frame, of mechanism for operating fans in the manner
substantially as set forth.
Second. In apparatus for removing snow on railways, the combination of bevil
or crown and spur gear, and the rotating fans arranged and operating in the mauner
substantially as specified.
Third. In apparatus for removing snow from railways, the combination of parts,
constructed, arranged and operating in the manner substantially as herein set forth
and illustrated.
.
1005
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
9 Westland Row, Dublin, Agents for Applicant.