IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING AND SNOW CLEARING DIRT OR SIMILAR
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Alexander Newton of 6 Lord St Liverpool
in the county of Lancaster Engineer. for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN
APPARATUS FOR
REMOVING AND
SNOW
CLEARING DIRT
OR SIMILAR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Alexander Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th September 1883.
GEORGE ALEXANDER NEWTON, of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool in the County of
" IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
Lancaster, Engineer.
CLEARING DIRT, SNOW, OR SIMILAR
RAILS."
OBSTRUCTION
REMOVING AND
FROM TRAMWAY OR OTHER
The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus to remove dirt, dust,
snow, or other material from lines of rails over which carriages or wagons travel,
and is more particularly designed for use in street tramways and with rails grooved
to receive the flange of the wheel; to be carried or attached to the ordinary car,
preferably in front of the wheels, and so arranged that it will, with an action
similar to that of a plough-share, remove the dirt from the rail and leave it on one
side, and at the same time by being held in position by a spring be able to surmount
any obstruction with which it might come in contact that would otherwise be likely
to cause fracture.
It consists of a scraper of contour corresponding to the rail attached by suitable
bracket to the body of the car, and held in position against the rail by a strong
spiral or other spring. The scraper is shaped so as to clear both the groove and the
top surface of the rail, and is formed in appearance somewhat like a double plough
share, the bottom surface lying on the rail and the points readily undermining any
dirt with which they may come in contact. Should they come in contact with
any fixed obstruction the spring allows the scraper to rise on the spindle on which
it slides, and when passed returns it to its position. The object of having the
scraper with double ends or points is to enable it to perform its work irrespective
of the direction in which the car is travelling.

page_text: These scrapers may be mounted in a series round a central hub and instead of
a vertical motion to surmount an obstruction the wheel so formed will move on
from one scraper to the next, thus preventing liability to fracture. The scrapers
are held in position by a spring pressing against a square or flat on the hub, one
of such corresponding to each arm of the wheel. A bracket similar to that used
for a simple scraper may be used to carry the spindle on which the scraper wheel
revolves, and the spring bearing on the flats of hub attached to the bracket. The
spring may rest on the hub at one or both sides of the wheel, and two springs
may be arranged at same side one on top and the other below. The cross section
of the arms carrying the scrapers are preferably of star shape, and the under
surface of the scraper bevelled so that the points only come in contact with the
rails. This arrangement of scraper like the other is preferably placed before the
wheels but can be used with the vehicle going in either direction. These scrapers
are fixed to the car so that one works in connection with each rail and in the
case of those revolving may either work together or independently of each other.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by,
the said George Alexander Newton in the Patent Office on the 19th March
1884.
GEORGE ALEXANDER NEWTON of 6 Lord Street Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING AND
CLEARING DIRT SNOW OR SIMILAR OBSTRUCTION FROM TRAMWAY OR OTHER'
RAILS
"
The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus to remove dirt, dust,
snow or other material from lines of rails over which carriages or wagons travel,
and is more particularly designed for use in street tramways and with rails grooved
to receive the flange of the wheel; to be carried or attached to the ordinary car:
preferably in front of or between the wheels and so arranged that it will with an
action similar to that of a plough share remove the dirt from the rail and leave it.
on one side, and at the same time by being held in position by a spring or weight
be able to surmount any obstruction with which it might come in contact that
would otherwise be likely to cause fracture.
It consists of a scraper of contour corresponding to the rail attached by suitable
bracket or frame to the axle or other part of the car and held in position against
the rail by a strong spiral or other spring or weight. The scraper is shaped so as
to clear both the groove and the top surface of the rail, and is formed in appearance
somewhat like a double plough share pointing both ways, the bottom surface lying,
on the rail and the front pointed readily undermining any dirt with which it may
come in contact.. Should it come in contact with any fixed obstruction the spring
or weight allows the scraper to rise and when passed return to its position. The
object of having the scraper with double ends or points is to enable it to perform
its work irrespective of the direction in which the car is travelling.
These scrapers may be mounted in a series round a central hub and instead of a
vertical motion to surmount an obstruction the wheel so formed will move on from,
one scraper to the next, thus preventing liability to fracture. The scrapers are
held in position by a spring pressing against a square or flat on the hub, one of
such squares or flats corresponding to each arm of the wheel. A bracket or.
framework similar to that used for a simple scraper may be used to carry the,
spindle on which the scraper wheel revolves and the spring bearing on the flats of
hub attached to the bracket. The spring may rest on the hub at one or both sides of
the wheel, and two springs may be arranged at same side, one on top and the other
below. The cross section of the arms carrying the scrapers are preferably of star
shape and the under surface of the scraper bevelled so that the points only come
in contact with the rails. This arrangement of scraper like the other is preferably
placed before the wheels but can be used with the vehicle going in either direction.
These scrapers are fixed to the car so that one works in connection with each rail
and in the case of those revolving may either work together or independently of
each other.
After a long series of experiments I have found that while the revolving form
does very well the stationary plough is better and that for use with this a heavy
suspended weight is better than its mechanical equivalent a spring. The drawings
represent my latest design for this purpose and that which (as the result of my
experiments) I have found best in practice. Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation.
Fig. 2 plan of my apparatus attached to a car.
In these A is a strong angle iron beam firmly supported on bearings on the axles
of the car (it therefore is always at a uniform height above the rail). B B are the

page_text: wheels. C platform. D heavy shoe suspended by two pairs of diagonal chains
E and F and also supplied with a pair of safety chains G, should either of these
diagonal chains break. Each of these chains is suspended from a wing of a winged
nut H working in screw I which is stationary in its bearings. The wings of nut H
are kept from rotating by means of the slotted cylindrical cover M through which
they pass. By turning the screw I by means of its winged head J any pair of chains
can be hitched up or let down further as required and thus the position of block D
regulated. The block or shoe D can if desired be made hollow in part and that
hollow weighed with extra weight or lightened according as the mud is frozen, is
hard and tenacious, or is soft and friable. K. K are two steel blades or coulters
forming the noses of the plough. They could be cast solid with the shoe and
chilled but as they wear more quickly than any other part I prefer to make them
separate and adjustable by means of screw L M M are cast cylindrical covers
enclosing the screws I forming a steady support for the said screws and preventing
dust from getting into the threads.. It will be seen that they and the plough are
immediately over the hollow of the rail, and the beam A is bent to admit of this
as consequently the strain is not direct and there is a small twisting force. I may
firmly brace the two angle irons by a transverse beam or bracket from side to side
of the car, but hitherto have not found this to be necessary provided the bearings
of the angle irons are broad on the axle as depicted.
Having now described my invention and fully depicted the best mode known to
me at the present time of carrying it into effect I wish it to be understood that I
make no claim for scrapers on tramway rails broadly as I am aware that both
stationary bars and revolving brushes have been experimented upon for this purpose
before the date of my patent, but that what I claim as new and as the invention to.
be protected by the letters patent is:―
1st. The manufacture and use of apparatus for removing and cleaning dirt, snow
or similar obstruction from tramway or other rails consisting of a plough-nosed
scraper kept to its work by a spring or weight but capable of being pressed
backward and upwards against the pressure of that spring or weight, so as to rise
sufficiently to surmount an immovable obstacle and yet immediately on surmounting
that object have one of its plough noses again in position, substantially as
described.
2nd. The double nosed plough piece with elastic or flexible suspension capable
of clearing the track equally well in whichever direction the car may run for the
purposes described.
3rd. The manufacture and use of the apparatus for cleaning tramway lines
constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and delineated in the
drawings.
In witness whereof I the said George Alexander Newton have hereunto set my
hand and seal this seventeenth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.