Improvements in Rotary Snow Ploughs.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Feb., 1890-Accepted, 3rd May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Snow Ploughs..
A communication from abroad by EDWARD PARSONS CALDWELL, of Minneapolis, in
the County of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, United States of America,
Manufacturer.
I WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street Manchester both in
the County of Lancaster and 323. High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a machine for clearing the snow from..
railroad tracks, and it is sought to provide a machine by means of which the track
may be cleared from any depth of snow.
The invention consists generally in a plough consisting essentially of a conical
cutter formed of a series of spiral knives arranged with open spaces between them,
between which, as the cutter revolves, the snow enters and passes out at the rear:
thereof, from which point it is thrown outside of the track by a suitable fan or other:
device.
A suitable car or truck upon which the apparatus is mounted is provided. A fan:
casing is arranged at the forward end of the car. This casing is open in front, and is...
provided with a suitable discharge. opening or openings in its peripheral wall... A
shaft is mounted in suitable bearings on the car and extends through the fan casing,
and projects beyond the front end thereof.
Secured to the forward end of the shaft is a conical cutter formed of a series of
spirally arranged knives which taper towards the end of the shaft which forms the
apex of the cutter. The base of the conical cutter is of substantially the diameter of
the fan casing and preferably extends into the open front of said casing. The spaces...
between the knives and between their rear ends are open and lead into the front of
the fan-casing.
"
A fan is arranged in the fan casing in the rear of the conical cutter. This fan is
mounted upon an independent hollow shaft that surrounds the shaft and is mounted
in suitable bearings.
The cutter shaft is preferably provided with cranks and it is preferred to arrange
a double cylinder engine upon a standard directly over said shaft and having its
piston rods connected with said cranks for the purpose of driving the shaft. It
is preferable to drive the fan shaft by independent means, preferably arranged as
follows:-
A gear wheel is secured upon the fan shaft. Shafts are arranged upon opposite
sides of the fan shaft and they are each provided with double cranks. Engines are
arranged upon standards over said shafts and are connected to the said cranks...
Gear wheels are secured upon the shafts and engage with the gear wheel upon the
fan shaft.
The fan shaft may be driven in either direction, while the cutter shaft is preferably
driven constantly in one direction. The inner sides of the cutter blades are preferably...
secured throughout their entire length to the shaft, and the cutter may also be pro-
'vided with braces for the purpose of firmly securing the knives to the shaft.
The hollow shaft is preferably provided upon its outer surface with a groove which
extends around the shaft. A projecting flange is formed upon the shaft at one side
of the groove. A flanged ring is arranged upon the shaft and covers the groove. One
edge of this ring fits under and is held by the flange. A threaded ring is screwed

page_text: upon the shaft at the other side of the ring and engages the other flange of said ring.
The flange and the ring form steam tight joints with the ring. A steam pipe
extending from a suitable steam supply communicated through the ring with the
groove.
The rear end of the hollow shaft is supported in a bearing block which is provided
with a suitable oil receptacle, and the said hollow shaft is provided with an opening
through which the oil passes from the oil receptacle into the space between the hollow
shaft and the cutter shaft. A ring is arranged near the rear end of the hollow shaft
in the space between it and the cutter shaft and closes this space back of the oil
opening.
At the forward end of the hollow shaft is a bushing or sleeve arranged upon the
cutter shaft in the space between this shaft and the interior of the hollow shaft. A
series of connecting grooves extend around the interior of the hollow shaft over the
bushing. A steam pipe is connected with the groove aforesaid passing through the
flange upon the hollow shaft and also connects with the groove passing through
the wall of said shaft. Oil is supplied through the opening, and the space
between the shafts from the ring to the bushing is kept substantially filled
therewith.
In order to prevent this oil from becoming stiff with cold and to prevent the ice
and snow from working into, or ice from forming in, the space between these shafts,
a supply of steam is fed into the grooves. This steam passes through a pipe (the
ring being stationary) into the groove. From this groove it passes through a pipe
into said other grooves.
A drip port is provided in the hollow shaft opposite the
latter steam pipe.
Arranged in front of the fan is a bearing which supports the forward portion of the
cutter shaft. This bearing is supported by means of suitable braces from the top of
the fan casing, and a steam pipe is arranged to enter this bearing and conduct steam
into the space between the shaft and the interior of the bearing. The steam supplied
to this space keeps the bearing warm, warms the lubricating material therein,
and keeps the ice and snow out of the bearing, so that the shaft may turn freely
therein.
With this device the fan can always be kept at a uniform rate of speed, no matter
at what speed the plough may be running, or whether it is running at all. Any snow
that reaches the fan will be thrown out of the casing and the fan may be run at
sufficient speed to throw the snow entirely clear of the track. The rapidly rotating
fan will also tend to draw the snow into the fan casing and thus aid in keeping the
plough clear.
It sometimes occurs that the snow cannot always be discharged at the same side of
the track. It is preferable therefore to construct the machine so that the snow can
be discharged at will at either side of the track. For this purpose a double discharge
spout may be provided, one part extending toward the right, and the other toward the
left of the machine. A pivoted valve or cut off is arranged in this spout and is
adapted to close either part of the spout. With this arrangement the fan may be
rotated in either direction and the snow discharged from either side of the machine.
This is of especial advantage in the use of a rotary snow plough and one which could
not be secured except by the use of an independent fan, as while the plough itself is
always preferably rotated in the same direction, the fan may be reversed and driven
in either direction.
Instead of being of conical form the cutter may be hemi-spherical in form or of a
form approximating thereto.
Dated this 23rd day of Mor 1880

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Snow Ploughs.
A communication from abroad by EDWARD PARSONS CALDWELL, of Minneapolis, in
the County of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, United States of America,
Manufacturer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide a machine for clearing the snow from
railroad tracks, and it is sought to provide a machine by means of which the track may
be cleared from any depth of snow.
The invention consists generally in a plough consisting essentially of a conical
cutter formed of a series of spiral knives arranged with open spaces between them,
between which, as the cutter revolves, the snow enters and passes out at the rear
thereof from which point it is thrown outside of the track by a suitable fan or other
device.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification:-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a snow plough constructed in accordance
with this invention.
is
Figure 2 is a front end elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a rear elevation, partly in section.
In the drawings, 2 represents a suitable car or truck upon which the apparatus is
mounted. A fan casing 3 is arranged at the forward end of the car 2. This casing
open in front and is provided with a suitable discharge opening or openings 4 in its
peripheral wall. A shaft 5 is mounted in suitable bearings on the car and extends
through the fan casing, and projects beyond the front end thereof. Secured to the
forward end of the shaft 5 is a conical cutter formed of a series of spirally arranged
knives 7 which taper towards the end of the shaft which forms the apex of the cutter.
The base of the conical cutter is of substantially the diameter of the fan casing and
preferably extends into the open front of said casing. The spaces between the
knives and between their rear ends are open and lead into the front of the fan
casing.
A fan 9 is arranged in the fan casing in the rear of the conical cutter. This fan is
mounted upon an independent hollow shaft 11 that surrounds the shaft 5 and is
mounted in suitable bearings.
The cutter shaft 5 is preferably provided with cranks 13, and it is preferred to
arrange a double cylinder engine 15 upon a standard 14 directly over said shaft
and having its piston rous connected with said cranks for the purpose of driving
the shaft 5. It is preferable to drive the fan shaft by independent means preferably
arranged as follows
―
A gear wheel 17 is secured upon the fan shaft. Shafts 19 are arranged upon
opposite sides of the fan shaft and they are each provided with double cranks 21.
Engines 23 are arranged upon standards 24 over said shafts 19 and are connected to
the cranks 21. Gear wheels 25 are secured upon the shafts 19 and engage with the
gear wheel 17 upon the fan shaft.
The fan shaft may be driven in either direction while the cutter shaft 5 is preferably
driven constantly in one direction. The inner sides of the cutter blades are preferably
secured throughout their entire length to the shaft 5 and the cutter may also be
provided with braces 27 and 28 for the purpose of firmly securing the knives to the
shaft.
The hollow shaft 11 is preferably provided upon its outer surface with a groove 8
which extends around the shaft. A projecting flange 10 is formed upon the shaft at one

page_text: :
side of the groove 8.
A flanged ring 12 is arranged upon the shaft and covers the
groove 8. One edge of this ring fits under and is held by the flange 10. A threaded
ring 36 is screwed upon the shaft at the other side of the ring 12, and engages the
other flange of said ring. The flange 10 and the ring 36 form steam tight joints with
the ring 12. A steam pipe 16 extending from a suitable steam supply communicates
through the ring 12 with the groove 8.
The rear end of the hollow shaft 11 is supported in a bearing block 18 which is
provided with a suitable oil receptacle, and the hollow shaft 11 is provided with an
opening 20 through which the oil passes from the oil receptacle into the space between
the hollow shaft 11 and the cutter shaft 5. A ring 22 is arranged near the rear end
of the shaft 11 in the space between said shaft 11 and the cutter shaft 5, and closes
this space back of the oil opening 20.
At the forward end of the shaft 11 is a bushing or sleeve 38 arranged upon the
cutter shaft 5, in the space between this shaft and the interior of the hollow shaft 11.
A series of connecting grooves 26 extends around the interior of the shaft 11 over the
bushing 38. A steam pipe 40 is connected with the groove 8 passing through the
flange 10 upon the hollow shaft 11, and also connects with the groove 26 passing
through the wall of said shaft. Oil is supplied through the opening 20, and the space
between the shafts 5 and 11 from the ring 22 to the bushing 38 is kept substantially
filled therewith.
In order to prevent this oil from becoming stiff with cold and to prevent the ice
and snow from working into, or ice from forming in the space between these shafts,
a supply of steam is fed into the grooves 26. This steam passes through the pipe 16
(the ring 12 being stationary) into the groove 8. From this groove it passes through
the pipe 40 into said grooves 26. A drip port 30 is provided in the hollow shaft 11
opposite the steam pipe 40.
Arranged in front of the fan is a bearing 32, which supports the forward portion
of the cutter shaft 5. This bearing is supported by means of suitable braces from the
top of the fan casing and a steam pipe 34 is arranged to enter this bearing and conduct
steam into the space between the shaft and the interior of the bearing. The
steam supplied to this space keeps the bearing warm, warms the lubricating material
therein, and keeps the ice and snow out of the bearing so that the shaft may turn
freely therein.
With this device the fan can always be kept at a uniform rate of speed no matter
at what speed the plough may be running or whether it be running at all. Any
snow that reaches the fan will be thrown out of the casing and the fan may be run
at sufficient speed to throw the snow entirely clear of the track. The rapidly rotating
fan will also tend to draw the snow into the fan casing and thus aid in keeping the
plough clear.
It sometimes occurs that the snow cannot always be discharged at the same side
of the track. It is preferable, therefore, to construct the machine so that the snow
can be discharged at will at either side of the track. For this purpose, a double
discharge spout 50 may be provided, one part extending toward the right and the
other toward the left of the machine. A pivoted valve or cut off 52 is arranged in
the spout 50, and is adapted to close either part of the spout. With this arrange-
ment, the fan may be rotated in either direction and the snow discharged from either
side of the machine. This is of especial advantage in the use of a rotary snow
plough, and one which could not be secured except by the use of an independent fan,
as, while the plough itself is always preferably rotated in the same direction, the fan
may be reversed and driven in either direction.
Instead of being of conical form the cutter may be hemi-spherical in form or of a
form approximating thereto.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The combination, with a casing having an open front, of a shaft extending

page_text: through said casing, a conical cutter secured upon said shaft and having an open rear
end in front of said casing and a rotating fan located in said casing in the rear of
said cutter, substantially as described.
2. The combination, in a rotary snow plough with a casing having an open front,
of a conical cutter formed of a series of spirally arranged knives located in front of
said casing, and a revolving fan located in said casing in the rear of said cutter,.
substantially as described.
3. The combination in a rotary snow plough with a casing having an open front,.
of a revolving conical cutter formed of a series of spirally arranged knives located
in front of said casing, and an independently revolving fan located in said casing in
the rear of said cutter.
4. A snow plough comprising, in combination, a conical cutter consisting of
spirally arranged knives tapering from the base of the cutter to its apex, and with
open spaces between the rear ends of the knives at the base of the cutter, a fan casing
located in the rear of said cutter and having an open front and a revolving fan located
in said casing, substantially as described.
5. A snow plough cutter consisting of a revolving shaft having secured thereto a
series of spirally arranged knives, tapering from the base of the cutter to its apex,.
with open spaces between the rear ends of the knives at the base of the cutter,.
substantially as described.
6. The combination with the rotating cutter, of the independently rotating fan
adapted to be driven in either direction, the double discharge spout extending in
opposite directions, and the pivoted cut-off arranged in said spout, substantially as.
described.
7. The combination with a rotating shaft provided with a suitable cutter, of a.
hollow shaft arranged upon said cutter shaft, a fan upon said hollow shaft, and a steam
pipe connecting with the space between said cutter shaft and said hollow shaft,.
substantially as described.
8. The combination with the cutter shaft of the hollow fan shaft mounted upon said
cutter shaft, and the bearing arranged in front of said fan shaft and supporting
said cutter shaft, and provided with a steam pipe connecting with the space between
said bearing and said cutter shaft, substantially as described.
9. The combination with the revolving shaft provided with a cutter at its forward
end, of the hollow shaft arranged upon said cutter shaft and provided with a fan, a.
gear-wheel upon said hollow shaft, independent shafts located upon opposite sides of
Said hollow shafts, gear-wheels upon said shafts meshing with the gear-wheel upon
said hollow shaft and independent means for driving said cutter shaft and said.
independent shafts, substantially as described.
Dated this 21st day of February 1890
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.