Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning the Grooves of Tramway Rails.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1886.
Complete Left, 21st Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 22nd Mar., 1887.
Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning the Grooves of
Tramway Rails.
We, ANDREW WILLIAM BELFRAGE, 1 Erskine Place, Edinburgh in the County of
Midlothian, Civil Engineer, and ALEXANDER MUNRO, Broughton Market, Edinburgh,
aforesaid, Coachbuilder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the clearing or cleaning out of snow, ice, mud and other
obstructions from the grooves of tramway rails and it consists in employing for that
purpose a combination of apparatus composed of wheels each having flanges running
in the grooves of the rails and whose peripheries are serrated with teeth. These
wheels are carried on axles in a frame and as they rotate the points of the serrations or
teeth break up or loosen the snow, ice or other obstruction in the grooves the obstructing
matter being afterwards forced out and thrown clear of the rails by an apparatus con-
sisting of a disc having a toe projecting from its periphery into the groove. The disc
has a stud or spindle fixed in it centrally and it has two stops or raised projections
with a space between them formed at or secured to its upper face. On the stud or
spindle another disc is placed the latter having one stop or projection on its under side
which, in fitting the apparatus together, is situated between the two stops on the under
disc. To the upper disc one end of a plate spring is connected the other extremity
being secured to the frame and there is also connected to the upper disc a plate, the
point or forward end of which extends to the toe projecting from the under disc, the
plate being of such a shape as to throw the snow, ice or other matter, forced out of the
grooves by the toe, clear of the rails altogether. The spring of the cleaner is regulated
by a stay connected to the frame and having a forked lower end in which one extremity
of an adjusting rod or regulator is carried on a pin or stud the said end bearing against
the spring. The upper extremity of the adjacent rod enters a rack fixed on the frame,
the position of the cleaner being regulated according to the position of the rod in the
rack ; or, as an alternative arrangement, a chain or rope, connected to the cleaner and
wound on a barrel or drum, may be employed in conjunction with the spring to
regulate the position of the cleaner.

page_text: The mode of connecting the discs hereinbefore described enables the under disc with
its cleaning toe to swivel relatively with the other parts of the apparatus in going
round eurves and at points or junctions of rails and at other necessary times, the
cleaning toe being set so as to clear loose rail joints and the like.
To prevent the serrations or teeth on the flange of the carrying wheels from
becoming clogged or filled up a horizontal serrated wheel with its feeth gearing with
those of the carrying wheel is or may be employed. This horizontal wheel is carried
on a vertical spindle which at its lower end is supported on the axle or the axle bearing
of the carrying wheels. its upper end passing freely through an eye on a bracket
secured to the frame.
The apparatus hereinbefore described may be fitted to the frame of an ordinary
tram car in which case wheels with serrated or toothed flanges may or may not be
substituted for the usual wheels, or it may constitute with its frame a separate vehicle
to be run over the track, and clean the rails before the ordinary car traffic commences.
In the event of the improved apparatus being used for cleaning a tram road laid
with three grooved rails. additional serrated wheels would be fixed to the centre of the
axles of the car with the other appliances as before described.
Dabad this Ninotonth day of M 188H

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning the Grooves of
Tramway Rails.
We, ANDREW WILLIAM BELFRAGE, 1 Erskine Place, Edinburgh, in the County of
Midlothian, Civil Engineer, and ALEXANDER MUNRO, Broughton Market Edinburgh,
aforesaid, Coachbuilder, 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 :--
Our invention relates to the clearing or cleaning out of snow, ice, mud and other
obstructions from the grooves of tramway rails and as shown in side elevation at
figure 1, in plan at figure 2 (sheet 1) and in detail of various parts by the several
figures on slect 2 of the appended drawings it consists in employing for that purpose
a combination of apparatus composed of carrying wheels A, having flanges running
in the grooves of the rails B, and whose peripheries are serrated with teeth a. The
wheels A, are secured on axles C, which are carried in any suitable manner in a
frame D, and as they rotate the points of the serrations or teeth a, break up or loosen
the snow, ice or other obstruction in the grooves the obstructing matter being after-
wards forced out and thrown clear of the rails by an apparatus consisting of a disc b,
laid at an angle and having a toe e, projecting from its forward part into the groove.
The disc which is illustrated in detail at figure 1 sheet 2 has a stud or bolt d, passing
through it centrally and it has two stops or raised projections e, with a space between
them formed at its upper face. The toe to provide for wear is made in two paris,
namely the part e, formed on the disc and an under part e, secured to the part e, by
bolts and also by studs or projections e. By this arrangement when worn the
part el, can from time to time be renewed without requiring fo renew the whole toe
and in the event of the bolts 2 breaking the parts are still held together by the studs
or projections. On the stud or boli d, another disc is also placed the latter having
one stop or projection g, on its under side which, in fitting the apparatus together, is
situated between the two stops e, on the under disc . As shown by figures 1 and 2, the
apparatus is duplicated so that the cleaner may be moved in either direction and to
each upper dise one enil of a bow plate spring, is connected the central part of the
spring being secured to the frame D, or a separate spring may be used for each toe e,
in which case one end of the spring is secured to the disc, and the other end to the
frame D. Between the upper disc fand the spring a block of wood or metal is
preferably placed the said block having a square hole in it to receive and hold the
head of the bolt, which arrangement enables the bolt to be tightened up from the
under side. To the upper disc there is also connected by screw bolts or otherwise a
shovel or curved plate, which is seen in enlarged detail at figure 2, sheet 2, the said
plate being of such a shape as to throw the snow, ice, or other matter, forced out of
the grooves by the toe c, clear of the rails altogether. To clean the tops or flat
surfaces of the rails there may also be connected to the under sides of the discs b,
on each side of the rail groove strips of vulcanized india rubber or like material
which as the apparatus is drawn along sweep the snow, mud or the like from the
flat surfaces.
The cleaning apparatus is confined and prevented from moving laterally by the
regulator frame F, which is stayed to the frame D by the ties or rods E, and the

page_text: apparatus is hung or suspended from a cramp plate 1, seen in detail at figure 4, sheet 2,
by screws passed through which the spring, upper dise, and shovel plate j, are
clamped together. The said plate has an eye upon it to which the lower extremity of
a rod m is attached the upper end of the said rod carrying a pulley n under which a
chain o passes. One end of the chain is connected to the under side of the frame D,
and after passing under the pulley the said chain passes over a pulley and thence
towards the end of the frame D, where it is wound on a spindle barrel or drum by
operating which the position of the cleaner is regulated.
P
The mode of connecting the discs hereinbefore described enables the under disc b
with its cleaning toe c, to swivel relatively with the other parts of the apparatus in
going round curves and at points or junctions of rails and at other necessary times,
the cleaning toe being set so as to clear loose rail joints and the like and to obviate
any possibility of the cleaning toe leaving the groove of the rail at such times a
spring seen in detail at figure 5, sheet 2, is or may be employed one end of the
spring being secured to the cramp plate, whilst its other end enters between
projections s, figure 1, sheet 2, made on the point of the toe c.
To prevent the serrations or teeth a on the flange of the carrying wheels A, from
becoming clogged or filled up a horizontal serrated wheel G, seen in detail at figure 6,
sheet 2, with its teeth gearing with those of the carrying wheel is or may be employed.
This horizontal wheel is carried on a vertical spindle which at its lower end may
pass through a boss in a supporting strap For if the apparatus is attached to a
passenger car the lower end of the spindle may be supported on the axle or the axle
bearing of the carrying wheels its upper end in either case passing freely through an
eye on a bracket H secured to the frame I).
The horizontal wheel G, is provided with a clutch and lever J, by which it is thrown
into and out of gear with the wheel A, as desired. When the apparatus is fitted to
the frame of an ordinary tram car wheels with serrated or toothed flanges are.
substituted for the usual wheels, but it is preferred to constitute it a separate vehicle
to be run over the track and clean the rails before the ordinary car traffic commences.
In the event of the improved apparatus being used for cleaning a tram road laid
with three grooved rails additional serrated wheels would be fixed to the centre of the
axles of the car with the other appliances as before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :-
:-
1. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the improved
apparatus for cleaning the grooves of tramway rails substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the appended drawings.
2. In apparatus for cleaning the grooves of tramway rails the combination of the
serrated carrying wheels A, the disc b, toe c, disc f and shovel shaped plate j;
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. In apparatus of the class set forth the combination of the disc 6, toe c, disc f' and
shovel plate constructed and arranged as set forth with a holding down spring or
springs and raising mechanism substantially as described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
4. In apparatus of the class set forth the combination of the toothed or serrated
carrying wheel A, and cleaning wheel G, substantially as described with reference to
the appended drawings.
T :: 11.
11
1007
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62; Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agents.