Improvements in and relating to Guards for Tramway Vehicles and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1898-Accepted, 30th July, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Guards for Tramway Vehicles and
the like.
I, ANTON EIIREGOTT KAPPLER, of 17, Konigstrasse, Leipzig, in the German
Empire, Architect, 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:―
66
"
This invention relates to guards or cowcatchers for use with or upon tram-
way vehicles and the like, and its object is to render such guards more efficient
and reliable when in use.
Such guards as at present generally constructed are firmly secured to the body
of the vehicle, so that they do not always extend directly over the rails, especially
upon curves, as they project some distance from the front of the car and are neces-
sarily a considerable distance in front of the wheels. They are also arranged at
some distance above the rails so that there has been a risk of some person being
caught between the guard and the rails instead of being removed out of the way.
The improved guard is so constructed and arranged that it always follows the
rails at a short distance above them.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings illustrate respectively in side
elevation, front elevation and plan one form of the improved guard attached to
the front of a tram car.
i
Figure 3 shews a detail illustrating how the guard may be attached to the car,
Figures 4, 5, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are representations of modifications of the guard.
The main part of the guard consists of a plate or frame a which may be con-
structed of wrought iron or the like and is preferably shaped in plan to resemble
the prow of a ship. This frame is supported on wheels which run along the
rails and are advantageously provided with cover plates or are protected by the
frame itself. From the back of the frame projects an extension or pole c which
is suitably movably connected at the point & to a pin, pivot or the like secured to
the vehicle frame. It is preferably so mounted as to be capable of vertical motion
as well as horizontal angular motion. In order that the guard
be easily removable from the vehicle, it may, if desired be
secured to the device represented in Figure 3ª. s is a bracket, bridge
or the like secured to the car and provided with a bearing and a vertically pro-
jecting pin t, upon which the end d of the pole c may be placed and secured in
any suitable manner. With this arrangement the guard can be readily removed
and attached to the other end of the vehicle when it has to travel in the opposite
direction.
may
The front part of the guard frame a may be covered with some suitable elastio
material e such as indiarubber so as to reduce the shock when the guard comes
into collision with any object, and this elastic material may extend below the edge
of the frame so as to fill up the space between the guard and the rails so as to
remove even small obstacles from the rails.
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 the guard frame is connected to the front of
the vehicle by a net f or its equivalent the lower edge of which is secured to the
frame whilst the upper end is attached to rings g adapted to slide along the rail ⁄

page_text: secured to the bottom of the carriage. This rail is curved to part of
struck from the centre d.
a circle
'By this arrangement it is evident that the guard wheels 6 follow the rails and
consequently carry the guard with them, this movement being permitted by the
pole e pivotted at d and the net which is slung along the rail h.
The net is so proportioned and shaped that it does not project beyond the step
or footboard even when the vehicle is passing round curves. In order to prevent
a heavy body which has fallen upon the net causing it to sag too much, the lattice i
may advantageously be placed below the net, and lattice work may also advan-
tageously be employed to fill up any space or spaces between the guard and the
body of the car.
In the case of a
following manner.
person standing upon the track the guard would act in the
The frame a comes into contact with his feet and causes him
to fall towards the car and upon the net f which carries him until the car is
stopped.
1
An obstacle such as a stone or the like will pass up over the oblique frame a
and be caught in the net, or it will be thrust off the track.
In the modifications shewn by Figures 4, 5 and 6 the net is replaced by a
horizontal lattice f¹. The space between the lattice and the car is filled or occu-
pied by a sheet or apron of leather k which is secured to the car and is shaped to
a curve struck from the centre d around which the guard is capable of horizontal
movement. This apron or sheet is in close proximity to an upwardly projecting
and similarly curved plate or the like secured to the guard. The movement of
the guard is permitted when rounding curves or the like.
In the guard shewn in Figures 5ª, 7 and 8, the net and the lattice are both dis-
pensed with and are replaced by a plate m secured to the front of the car and
curved from the centre d. The guard a which is similarly curved and mounted
as before described is free to move in front of the plate m.
daving 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. A guard for a tramway vehicle or the like, consisting of a suitable wheeled
indiarubber or similarly covered frame which is connected to the front of the
car by a net or its equivalent and is movably secured to the body of the car by a
rearwardly extending pole or the like, all constructed and arranged substantially
as and for the purpose herein before described and as illustrated by the accompany-
ing drawings.
2. A guard for tramway vehicles or the like, constructed and arranged sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein before described and as illustrated by the
different figures of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 26th day of May A.D. 1898.