An Improved Means of or Apparatus for Removing Snow, Ice, or other Obstruction from Tramways.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Oct., 1891-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Means of or Apparatus for Removing Snow, Ice, or
other Obstruction from Tramways.
I, RANDOLPH WILKINSON of 45, Abel Street, Burnley, in the County of
Lancaster, Brush Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention is designed for the removal of snow, and other obstruction from
tramways.
For this purpose, I support in suitable bearings in front of the engine a shaft
which may be driven by a belt or by gearing from any convenient moving part of
the tram car or engine, so as to revolve in a contrary direction to the engine
wheels. To each end of this shaft is fixed a circular brush in contact with the
rails.
Or, a rotating wheel having on its periphery a series of cutting blades may be
placed upon each end of the shaft, in substitution of the circular brushes described
in the foregoing arrangement.
Or, a lever may be attached at each side of the engine, having its lower end
sharpened, and shaped in conformity with the surface of the rail, so as to be
capable of removing obstructions either to one side or the other of the rails.
Dated this 2nd day of January 1891.
THOS. RICHMOND,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Means of or Apparatus for Removing Snow, Ice, or
other Obstruction from Tramways.
I, RANDOLPH WILKINSON of 45, Abel Street, Burnley, in the County of
Lancaster, Brush Maker, 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 is designed for the removal of snow, and other obstruction from
tramways. For this purpose, I support in suitable bearings in front of the engine
a shaft, which may be driven by a belt or by gearing from any convenient
moving part of the tram car or engine, so as to revolve in a contrary direction to
the engine wheels. To each end of this shaft is fixed a circular brush in contact
with the rails; or, a rotating wheel having on its periphery a series of cutting
blades may be placed upon each end of the shaft in substitution of the circular
brushes described in the foregoing arrangement. Or, a lever may be attached at
each side of the engine having its lower end sharpened and shaped in conformity
with the surface of the rail, so as to be capable of removing obstructions either to
one side or the other of the rails.
And in order that my invention may be properly understood and readily
carried into practical effect, I have hereunto attached the accompanying sheet of
drawings, reference being had to the figures and letters thereon.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 a plan of my improved arrangement, as
applied to a car, for removing snow, ice and other obstruction from tramways, in
which views is shewn the cutting wheel A placed in front of the car and having on
its periphery a series of cutting blades B, and caused to revolve in the groove C
of the tram line in a contrary direction to the car wheels E by the endless band or

page_text: belt D, driven from the 'grooved or other pulley F fixed to the axle of the car
wheel. On the cutting wheel A. is also a bearing rim A¹ (Fig. 5) as a support
along the line.
In juxta-position to the said cutter is circular brush H rotating in the same
direction by means of endless band or belt D, whereby snow or ice, after being
cut out of the groove of the tram line, may be finally swept away and so thoroughly
clear the line for the passage of the engine and car. The said circular brush is
formed of two concentric rings of bristles but of different diameters on a circular
wooden block, so as to render it more durable and effective.
Springs I form an elastic cushion or yielding medium in order to enable the
cutting wheel and brush to yield in case of too severe resistance or obstruction.
Fig. 3 shews the driving arrangement.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the cutting wheel A having on its periphery
cutting blades B of peculiar shape. The shape of the said cutting blades is
better shewn in plan view Fig. 5 of the cutting wheel. The projections J of the
cutting blades or teeth B enter the grooves C of the tramway. The portions K
also assist in clearing the surface of the line whilst the rim A' forms a bearing
surface for the cutting wheel.
A lever or other suitable mechanism may be employed for raising the said
cutting wheel and brush out of contact with the rails, when they are not required.
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 wheel A, having on its periphery cutting blades or teeth B rotating by
driving band or belt D in an opposite direction to the engine or car-wheels and
with spring or other yielding medium I, substantially as described and illustrated.
2. The circular brush H with spring or other yielding medium I, and rotating
in the manner described, substantially as described and set forth.
3. The cutting wheel A with its auxillaries in combination with the circular
brush H, substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 2nd day of October 1891.
THOS. RICHMOND,
Agent.