IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING DIRT, SNOW OR OTHER IMPEDIMENTS FROM THE RAILS OF TRAMWAYS OR RAILWAYS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Dawson Jones of Liverpool in the county of
Lancaster for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING
DIRT, SNOW OR OTHER IMPEDIMENTS FROM THE RAILS OF TRAMWAYS OR
RAILWAYS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Dawson Jones at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th September 1883.
RICHARD DAWSON JONES of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster IMPROVE-
"
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING DIRT, SNOW, OR OTHER IMPEDIMENTS FROM
THE RAILS OF TRAMWAYS OR RAILWAYS,"
This invention relates to an improved apparatus designed chiefly for removing
dirt, dust, etcetera, from the rails of tramways running through the streets of
towns, though it is also applicable for use for clearing other lines of rails, more
particularly those that are provided with grooves into which the flange of the
wheel fits. My object is to provide an apparatus that may be attached to a carriage
or engine running over such rails and obviate the necessity of the rails being
brushed or scraped by hand labor as at present generally the case.
It consists of a scraper or shovel shaped at its under side to correspond with the
contour of the rail upon which it is intended to be used. To this shovel an arm or
lever is attached, preferably by bolts or rivets so as to be easily removed, said arm
or lever being pivoted at its other end to a bracket fixed to the body of the car.
To the pivot of the shovel arm is attached a lever with counter-balance weight to
keep the scraper against the rail and at the same time allow it to rise and surround
any permanent obstruction and to compensate for any ranging depth or inequalities
of wear in the rail. I prefer to fix the bracket carrying the shovel in front of the
wheels and so curved as to bring the shovel blade close to the wheel though it may
be straight or of any other contour. The weighted lever from the pivot can pass
over the axle tree and be so placed as not to interfere with the brake or other
apparatus under the vehicle. Such a scraper should be provided for each line of

page_text: rails and may act independently, or the two may act in conjunction, being pivoted
on the samo pin and balanced by one lever and weight.
Where the vehicle is intended to run only in one direction, the above described
apparatus only is necessary and it is preferable to have the shovel arm so pivotted
as to form a crank with the blade, and thus allow for a good deal of wear and tenr.
For vehicles which are constantly reversed, the shovel or scraper must be pivoted
so that it can be used in either direction, and for this purpose I use a second or
double weighted lever that will act in either direction by moving the weight.
This may be done by having two weights one at either end of the lever which can
be raised or lowered at pleasure. By raising one weight and lowering the other,
the scraper may be set to work in either direction, required. These weights may
be connected together by a chain or they may act independently and be raised or
lowered by a handle working in connection with a bell crank lever or other similar
mechanical device. Or a slide may be provided the whole length of the double
lever and the weight moved from one end to the other thereof by suitable
connection with levers and handle or any mechanical equivalent of theso may
be used.
Instead of a double apparatus two single apparatus may be used, one placed at
each end of the vehicle, and only that put into operation which is for the time being
in the front.
To raise the shovel or scraper out of operation a handle connected thereto by
screw and lever may be placed under the control of the driver or guard.
A weighted lever is only herein described, but any equivalent thereof such as a
metallic or india-rubber spring may be used without departing from the principle
of my invention.
Although this apparatus is intended to be attached to a passenger carrying
vehicle, still if thought proper a separate vehicle or truck could be fitted therewith
and solely used for the purpose of keeping the lines freed from obstruction.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
"
the said Richard Dawson Jones in the Patent Office on the 5th March 1884..
RICHARD DAWSON JONES, of Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING DIRT SNOW OR OTHER IMPEDIMENTS FROM
THE RAILS OF TRAMWAYS OR RAILWAYS".
This invention relates to an improved apparatus designed chiefly for removing
dirt, dust, etcetera, from the rails of tramways running through the streets of
towns, though it is also applicable for use for clearing other lines of rails, more
particularly those that are provided with grooves into which the flange of the
wheel fits. My object is to provide an apparatus that may be attached to a carriage-
or engine running over such rails and obviate the necessity of the rails being
brushed or scraped by hand labour, as at present generally the case.
The invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings, in which..
Fig. 1 is an elevation of fore part of a tram car shewing it in position attached
thereto. Fig. 2 a plan view of same, and Fig 3 a plan view of spindle with the.
scrapers and weight levers attached thereto.
A is a scraper or shovel, shaped at its under side to correspond with the contour
of the rail upon which it is intended to be used.
This shovel A is by suitable bolts or otherwise attached to one arm a of a double
armed bracket B which moves freely on a spindle C carried by another bracket D
attached firmly to the body of the car E. To the second arm 6 of the double armed
connecting bracket B is attached a lever F with counter-balance weight g to keep
the scraper A. against the rail R, and at the same time allow it to rise and surround
any permanent obstruction and to compensate for any varying depth or inequalities
of wear in the rail. I prefer to fix the bracket D carrying the shovel.in front of.
the wheels. The weighted lever F can pass over the axle tree and be so placed as
not to interfere with the brake or other apparatus under the vehicle, and it is so
arranged that should any unusual depression occur in the rails the lever F will rest
on the axle and prevent the tongue of the scraper falling below the level of tlie
flange of the wheel and thus from entering any hole or rut.
The spindle C is carried in the brackets D one at each side of the car, and the
cleaners for each rail are mounted on this spindle. The brackets B are each free to
rise and fall independently of the other so that any obstruction in one rail will not
effect the other. At each end of the shaft C are collars c between which the
bracket B works and prevents it sliding laterally; this keeps the distance between
the scrapers uniform and prevents one or both of the scrapers being thrown out of
the rail, as both would seldom be raised from the rail by an obstruction at the same
time. To allow however for the turning of curves and the displacement of the
body of the car by other causes and at the same time prevent the scrapers leaving
the rails, the spindle C has a lateral play of a few inches in the brackets D, so that
there is no strain between the shovels and the body of the car by which they are
carried. The scraper is raised from the rail by means of a handle H in 'communi-
cation with the weighted lever by means of a wire rope h. A series of levers
might be employed for the same purpose. The form of shovel A which I prefer
is that shewn in the drawing which throws the dirt to either side, though it could
be made bevelled to one side only or even straight.
Where the vehicle is intended to run only in one direction, the above described
apparatus only is necessary, and it is preferable to have the shovel arm so pivoted
as to form a crank with the blade, and thus allow for a good deal of wear and tear.
For vehicles which are constantly reversed the shovel or scraper must be pivoted
so that it can be used in either direction and for this purpose I use a second or

page_text: double weighted lever that will act in either direction by moving the weight. This
may be done by having two weights one at either end of the lever which can be
raised or lowered at pleasure. By raising ono weight and lowering the other, the
scraper may he set to work in either direction required. These weights may be
connected together by a chain or they may act independently and be raised or
lowered by a handle working in connection with a bell crank lever or other similar
mechanical device. Or a slide may be provided the whole length of the double
lever, and the weight moved from one end to the other thereof by suitablo
connection with levers and handle, or any mechanical equivalent of thoso may
be used.
Instead of a double apparatus two single apparatus may be used, one placed at
each end of the vehicle, and only that put into operation which is for the time
being in the front.
A weighted lever is only herein described, but any equivalent thereof such as a
metallic or india-rubber spring may be used without departing from the principlo
of my invention.
Although this apparatus is intended to be attached to a passenger carrying
vehicle, still if thought proper a separate vehicle or truck could be fitted therewith
and solely used for the purpose of keeping the lines freed from obstruction.
Having now described ny invention and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that. I do not claim broadly a scraper
attached to a veliicle for clearing dirt from rails, but that what I believe to be new
and desire to protect by Letters Patent is :-
1st. The apparatus for removing dirt, snow or other impediments from tramways
or railways carried by a car or vehicle, consisting of a scraper pivoted preferably
in front of the wheels and kept in position by a counterbalance weight or its
equivalent, substantially as described and shown.
2nd. The apparatus for removing dirt, snow or other impediments from tram or
other rails, in which a scraper working in one rail is controlled and free to rise and
fall independently of that in the other rail, and at the same time both scrapers aro
maintained at a given distance apart, substantially as described and shown.
In witness whereof I the said Richard Dawson Jones have hereunto set.my
hand and seal this first day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.
RICH D JONES
01