IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING DIRT OR OTHER MATTER FROM THE RAILS OF TRAMWAY OR RAILWAY LINES
Year: 1884

page_text: We, GEORGE HERBERT STAITE, Gentleman, and WILLIAM HOPE, Contractor,
both of Earle Street Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster do hereby declare the
nature of our said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING
DIRT OR OTHER MATTER FROM THE RAILS OF TRAMWAY OR RAILWAY LINES," to
be as follows:-
This invention is designed to form a simple apparatus for removing dust, dirt,
snow or other obstructions from tram rails, though it may be applied to other rails
if found desirable.
To the carriage of the car or vehicle which passes over the line, is fixed a
supporting rod or bar, which acts as a slide on which moves a knee or elbow piece,
one arin of which lies approximately parallel with the supporting rod, and the
other projects out therefrom at an angle thereto, preferably a right angle, in the
line of the travel of the vehicle. The supporting rod is preferably fixed to
the carriage by bolts or screws, or may be fixed in such a way as to be put on and
taken off at pleasure and steadied by a stay rod attached at one end to the carriage,
and at the other to the supporting rod at or near its lower end. To the projecting
arm of the sliding knee or elbow piece is pivotted at about its centre a lever,
which at one end carries a projecting rod to which a scraper is attached, and at
the other end abuts against a spring, or springs, which holds it in normal position.
The lever may be pivotted either to the side of the projecting arm of the elbow
piece, or in a slot cut longitudinally in it; the latter is the method which is
preferred. A scraper is attached to the downward projecting arm of the pivotted
lever; it is in form preferably V shape, the angle taking the foremost position
passing the dirt to right and left; a tongue or projection fits into the groove of
the rail, and the under contour of the scraper is made to correspond with the
rails upon which it is used, and rubber may be inserted behind if found desirable.
A spring connection and lever attached to the upper end of the sliding arm of the
elbow piece tends to retain the scraper in its position in the rail, or to return it
there should it get displaced; over the top edge of the scraper is placed a projecting
flange which prevents the dirt rising over the top and falling again directly onto
.

page_text: the rail. The scraper is kept against the rail by the pressure of a spring or springs
acting on top of the lever which carries it, or it may be allowed to hang and drag
along of its own weight. To surmount any obstruction, this spring allows the
lever to turn on the centre on which it is pivotted, and the scraper to rise. To
compensate for the varying height of the vehicle, the elbow piece slides up on the
supporting rod. Springs may be placed top and bottom to regulate or assist it.
Instead of sliding on this rod the elbow piece may be pivotted thereto, and move
round a pivot to allow the end carrying the scraper to rise; the springs could be
applied in a slightly different manner to keep it in position.

page_text: Figure 4 plan of tongue J.
A is a supporting rod or bar attached to the carriage of the car, or vehicle, which
passes over the rail at its upper end, it is fixed to the bracket or shoe B by means
of a pin or pivot b. This shoe B is shown preferably fixed to the carriage by
bolts or screws, the pin b enabling the rod A to be removed at pleasure, and it is
steadied by a stay rod C attached at one end to the carriage and at the other to
the rod A at or near its lower end and held in position by two nuts c as shown,
swivelling around and sliding longitudinally on the supporting rod A is a bracket E
of L or bell crank lever shape, one arm of which lies approximately parallel with
the supporting rod A and the other projects out therefrom at an angle thereto
(preferably at right angles) in the line of the travel of the vehicle. It is connected
to the rod A by means of the lugs a, one part of which is hinged or bolted to the
other so that without unfastening the rod A the bracket E may be removed. The
lugs a clip the rod, but lightly so that there is sufficient play to allow of the bracket
being easily moved on the rod. The projecting arm F of the bracket E is made
with a longitudinal slot or slit f in which is pivoted a lever G. The lever G
passes through the slot and projects above and below it, being pivoted at or near
its centre on pin g. Instead of pivoting the lever G in a slot cut in the arm F it
may be pivoted to the side of it, but the arrangement shown is preferred as being
the better mechanical arrangement of the two. The upper part of the lever G is
bent or turned over to engage with the spring H, though it will be obvious that
the lever might be made straight and the spring bent or curved to press against it.
To the downward projecting arm of the lever G is riveted, welded, or otherwise
firmly attached a scraper I in form preferably of V shape the angle taking the
foremost position in the direction in which the vehicle moves. J is a tongue or
projection fixed to the front of the scraper which fits down into the groove in the
rail for the purpose of removing any dirt that may have collected therein. The
upper part of the tongue J is made of V shape to correspond with the contour of

page_text: the scraper to which it is attached. The tongue J is secured to the scraper I by
means of a bracket or clip K affixed by screws or rivets i, so that the distance
which it projects beyond the bottom of I may be adjusted to suit the depth of the
groove in the rail and compensate for wear. The clip K is screwed or riveted to I
and the upper part j of the tongue passed under it, a slot k is cut in the scraper at
each side through which a bolt ¹ is passed, and through a hole in the upper part j
of the tongue. The scraper T is cut away at the back to receive a piece or pad of
india rubber L which acts against the rail to remove any dirt adhering after the
forepart of the scraper has passed over it: The india rubber L is preferably
somewhat trough shaped and riveted to the scraper as shown, M is a part of the
wheel of the vehicle.
When the cleaning apparatus is in operation the vehicle travels in the direction
indicated by the arrow, the tongue J fits down into the groove in the rail removing
any dirt collected therein, and the scraper I removes any dirt which may have
accumulated on the top of the rail, its contour causing such dirt to pass off to
either side. Should the seraper come in contact with a fixed obstruction which it
cannot remove, the spring H allows it to rise and pass over it. The alteration of
the distance between the body of the vehicle and the rails caused by the alteration
of the number and weight of the passengers does not affect the working of the
scraper, when the springs are compressed and the body of the vehicle brought lower
thereby the bracket E rises in the rod A, of the scraper I, being practically kept
in contact with the rail by its own weight. When desired it can be raised entirely
from the rail by means of the lever D actuated by a foot, or hand lever under
control of the guard or driver. The scrapers at each side of the car are connected
together by a tie or rail N which keeps them at a regulated distance apart, and
the swivelling motion of the bracket E around the arm A prevents them binding
or sticking in the rails when passing round corners.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that we
wish it to be understood that we do not make specific claims for the separate parts
of the apparatus, and we are aware that V-shaped scrapers with projecting tongues
have already been used for cleaning the dirt from tram and other rails, but what
we claim is
1. The apparatus for removing dirt or other matter from-the rails of tramway
or railway lines, consisting of a scraper with a projecting tongue pivoted to a
movable bracket and held in normal position by a spring, said bracket being
capable of vertical movement upon and around the axis of a supporting rod fixed
to the body of the vehicle, substantially as described and shown.
2. The combination with a V-shaped scraper such as described of a pad of india
rubber riveted or bolted thereto for the purpose of more effectually cleaning the
rails.