Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning the Rails of Tramways or the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application Left, 19th Feb., 1889-Accepted, 20th July, 1889
COMI L
Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning the Rails of Tramways or
the like.
A communication from abroad by FERDINAND OTTO SCHMIDT and ADOLF WÜNSCH,
. both of Berlin, in the Empire of Germany.
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 apparatus and arrangements hitherto used for cleaning the rails of tramways
or the like are imperfect and insufficient for the purpose.
The present invention has for its object to furnish something useful and practical.
The apparatus hereafter described when connected with a car or a cart will work
even when driving rapidly round curves. Small stones and other obstacles lying in
the rails will be lifted.
The lever and lifter hereinafter described, work under adjustable and yielding
pressure for avoiding strongly fixed obstacles and for setting the apparatus out of
working. The apparatus is hinged before and behind the two fore-wheels; one may
employ also the lever or the lifter separately.
In the accompanying drawing :-
:-
Figure 1 is a side view of the apparatus as applied to a car and adapted to clear
one of the rails.
Figure 2 an end elevation and
Figure 3 a plan of same.
Figures 4 & 5 are a side view partly in section, and a plan respectively of a
modification of the apparatus.
Referring first more especially to Figures 1, 2, & 3.
In these A is the fender or feeler. B B are fixed hangers or frames fixed on the
platform or framing of the carriage. C is the lever or lifter pivoted in a swinging
framework C. This swinging framework Ca is suspended by the pivoted bearers b
and c and is joined by connecting rods d with the arm g behind the wheel. A
depending spring e which is rigidly attached to the frame B normally maintains
the lever C in its straight position by reason of the lower end thereof engaging a
slot e¹ in the lever, but it allows a certain amount of side movement of the said
lever. It may be seen from the drawing that the lever is pivotted at C² to a cross
piece C of the frame Ca, which construction allows of side motion.
The bolt which connects the two bearers c passes through a longitudinal slot in
the rear end of lever C so that the lever is jointed to the frame-work Ca in the
fore-part and from behind in such a manner that each side movement is possible.
The lifter D is hinged behind the wheel and consists of a frame-work with a
pointed scoop D' adapted to enter into the groove of the rail. On the frame is fixed
a plough-share like metal plate D to give the lifted dust or mud a sideward direction.
This plate D is a prolongation and enlargement of the scoop D'.
The lifter D is also hinged or pivotally suspended on the movable arms g g and h.
The arm which is prolonged over its fulcrum is jointed by links ii to the
crank or knee lever E. This lever bears a weight F which can be removed and fixed
by an adjusting screw. Supposing the apparatus to be working during a journey of
the car, the fender A pushes larger obstacles to the side, the lever Centering into
the gutter of the rail lifts the movable obstacles; as soon as it strikes against fixed
hindrances, the lever recoils and is raised. The same movements are transferred to
the lifter D by means of the connecting rod d.

page_text: The equal adjustable pressure of movable weight F holds the apparatus in order.
The weight may instead be placed on the rod or lever k, if there is no place
for the lever E.
F
If the weight F is attached to the shorter arm of the lever E, the apparatus is put
out of gear.
Referring now to Figures 4 & 5, which show a modification of or addition to part
of the apparatus.
For lifting the dust from the rails an apparatus is employed which receives its
motion from the axle of one of the car wheels, around which a frame H is placed
attached by a rod to a bracket on the car frame. An arm m which is pivotally
supported on the frame H bears on its lower end a scoop O which carries a scraper 01.
The upper end of the lever m is pressed down by a spring p which thus serves to
keep the scoop O constantly in the rail groove. An eccentric n fixed on the axle of
the wheel and turning in the frame work H gives the required motion to the apparatus,
as explained below.
To avoid confusion the lifter D & plate D2 are not shown in fig. 4.
The scoop O being pushed along by the motion of the car lifts the dust, etcetera,
which becomes deposited on the metal plate D³ (fixed on the lifter D,) immediately
behind the scraper O'. The scoop 0 and scraper O¹ receive a reciprocating motion
by means of the eccentric n and this causes the scraper O' to push the successive
increments of dust along the plate D2 till they reach the opening in its side whence
they fall to the ground.
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 correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
h
1. An apparatus for cleaning the rails consisting essentially of the lever C with its
ramework Ca hinged on the movable arms b and c joined by connecting rods d d to
the lifter D which works behind the wheel, and is hinged on the movable arms g g
in communication with a weight F attached to the lever E or to the rod k
substantially as herein described and represented on the accompanying drawing.
2. In a rail cleaning machine, the application of an apparatus for lifting the dust
etc. composed of the frame-work H with the arm and the lever m with the scoop O,
the said lever receiving its movement by means of the eccentric n, substantially. as
hereindescribed and represented on the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 18th day of February 1889.
WM. P. THOMPSON & CO.,
Agents for the Applicant.