An Improved Tramcar Attachment for Clearing the Tram Rails while the Car is Running.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 31st Aug., 1900-Accepted, 27th Oct., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Tramcar Attachment for Clearing the Tram Rails while
the Car is Running.
I, PERCIVAL BLYTHE RICHARDSON, of 84, Queen Street, Sheffield, in the County
of York, Solicitor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-
My invention relates to improvements for tramcars or other vehicles travelling
upon grooved or other rails it's object the prevention of the wheels of such
vehicles passing over or being obstructed by obstacles on such lines or accumu-
lations of dirt in the grooves of such lines by removing the same and the conse-
quent reduction of friction and saving of motive or electric power. According
to my invention a scraper or other instrument is attached to a radiating or
other lever preferably fastened to the brake bar of the car by a bracket or to
such other position and by the driver operated in advance of the wheels such
lever carrying an adjustable weight of metal or a spring as may be necessary
for placing or keeping the scrapers in working position.
Dated this 30th day of November 1899.
An Improved Tramcar Attachment for Clearing the Tram Rails while
the Car is Running.
I, PERCIVAL BLYTHE RICHARDSON, of 84, Queen Street, Sheffield, in the County
of York, Solicitor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same has to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in appliances for tramcars or other
vehicles which travel upon grooved rails or like rails, having for its object the
clearing of the rails from any accumulation of dirt, stones, or debris of any
kind which would interfere with or retard the passage of the vehicle, or put
extra strain upon the motive power.
My invention is illustrated in the annexed sheet of drawings, in which:
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of the attachment, with the scraper in working
position.
Fig. 2, front elevation of same.
Fig. 3, side elevation of operating mechanism.
Fig. 4, plan of scraper lever or arm.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in any of the several figures.

page_text: The appliance is put into working position or brought into contact with the
rails R, and also raised therefrom by the attendant, at will.
It consists of a scraper A, suitably formed for the required purpose, or its
equivalent, such for example as a wire brush, adjustably carried at the end of
an arm (B, to which it is pivotally connected by a pin C.
The arm, B, is also pinjointed at D, to a short lever E, secured upon a cross-
shaft F, and thus it has a limited amount of lateral movement, required when
the car is passing round curves; it is controlled by means of the side springs G,
which also return it to its central and normal position.
To put the required amount of working pressure upon the scraper, I may
use an adjustable weight but I prefer to use the yielding power of a spring such
as S, shown in Fig. 1, secured at one end to the top of a second lever H, fixed
upon the shaft F, and at the other end to a lever I, upon a
rocking shaft M.
The long connecting rod N, is attached at the opposite end to a similar lever J.
The action of the spring S, is to press the scraper upon the rail R, while per-
mitting it to rise if it is caught by any obstruction.
To the lever H, I pinjoint a rod K, its opposite end being provided with a
slot K², which engages with a pin L, projecting from the lower end of the lever I.
The connecting rod N, is continued to the underside of the platform as shown
in Fig. 3, where it is connected by means of a crank P, to the nut Q, of the
operating screw T, which is under the control of the attendant.
When the scraper A, is to be put into action the screw T, is turned so as to
lower the nut Q, and move the pin L, from the closed end of the slot K², causing
the spring to act upon the lever H, and to turn the arm B, down until the scraper
hears upon the rail as shown.
When the attendant reverses the screw, the pin L is caused to bear against the
closed end of the slot as shown by the dotted lines Fig. 1, and to force back the
rod K and lever H, and thus raise the arm B, with the scraper out of working
position and clear of the rail.
'
It will be understood that the arm B, and scraper, are duplicated at the
opposite end of the cross shaft F.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:―
1 The attachment to a car for the purpose of clearing tramrails from dirt and
the like, substantially as herein before described and illustrated.
2 The rail clearing mechanism for tramcars hereinbefore particularly described,
consisting essentially of an arm B, provided with a scraper A, or its equivalent
which can be raised and lowered radially by means of suitable connections such
as those shown, the said arm being also capable of moving laterally in either
direction, and of returning to its normal position automatically, as described and
set forth.
3-In an arrangement of mechanism for clearing tramrails, and affixed to the
cars, an arm B, capable of being raised and lowered by the attendant radially
from its axis at one end, the other end provided with a scraper or other cleaning
tool; the said arm being also capable of lateral movement under side pressure
upon the scraper, and of being returned to its normal position when the pressure
is removed, as herein before described and shown.
D
J
1000
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield.