Improvements in Snow Ploughs.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application 21st Jan., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Mar., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Snow Ploughs.
I, MAX SZARBINOWSKI, Manufacturer, of Stettin in the Kingdom of Prussia and
German Empire 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 :-
Snow-ploughs as constructed hitherto suffer from the defect that they, especially in
operating on snow drifts, do not compensate the lateral pressure, that is they do not
avoid the tilting-over-moments (moments calculated to overthrow) and the trains to
which they are fitted are in consequence exposed to derailment. They prove therefore
of no benefit to the working of the railway; on the contrary they are directly
dangerous, and are therefore useless.
The apparatus constituting the present invention is designed to give a secure run
both to the plough and to the train and it obviates the defect referred to. It consists
mainly of a cutter made in the form of a steering rudder which is adjustable at any
time during the run by means of a steering wheel in the interior of the upper part of
the snow plough, and continuously equal lateral pressure is obtained owing to the fact
that only forward and vertical pressure is exercised.
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The invention is represented in detail in the accompanying drawings in which,
figure 1, shows a side view of the snow plough; figure 2, a horizontal section above
the main floor of the snow space; figure 3, a front view of the same; figure 4, a cross
section at A, B, in figure 2. The figures la, 2a, 3a, indicate the pressure
proportions of the cutter in connection with various snow beds or drifts.
The snow scraper is constructed after the fashion of the large Norwegian snow-
ploughs. It consist of a two-axle carriage with a distance between the wheels of
approximately 4.00 m. This is coupled loosely to the locomotive and is pushed
forward by it. With snow beds up to 2 m. high one passenger train locomotive with
a speed of 4 m. per second is sufficient, with small snow drifts a speed of 6 m. per
second may be applied. With heavy snow up to 3 m. high two locomotives are
necessary.
The upper frame of the snow scraper is fixed but may be arranged to turn round, so
that it may be available also for stations at which there is no turn table.
The snow plough consists of three parts; 1, the horizontal cutter a; 2, the side
cutters ; with the inclined plane c; 3 the arrangement for throwing out side-ways
the snow which has been lifted, with the rudder d, in front turning on the pivot g,
and actuated by the wheel h, through the chains h', and lever h², and the stand for
the conductor X. All the parts of the upper frame are made of galvanized iron and
are suitably strengthened.
The lowest point on the fixed frame or lifting plane c remains still 100 mm.
and with the strongest bend of the springs still 40 mm. above the upper edge of the
rails.
The front edge of the cutter cuts easily into the snow to be lifted 75-55 mm. high
above the upper edge of the rails, without moving it. Simultaneously both the
vertical walls cut into the snow lying in front of the snow scraper, also without
moving it and without exercising pressure, the connection between the snow to be
lifted and that left lying at the sides being severed. The snow thus cut loose is then
raised vertically by the inclined plane inside the side walls b, without exercising
pressure on the snow masses at the sides.
After completion of the vertical movement, the snow being deposited in sloping
manner, as is usual in forming tunnel and land cuttings, the horizontal movement is
introduced by means of the rudder d, which is regulated by setting to such an angle
to the longitudinal centre line of the plough that equal quantities of snow are thrown

page_text: out on each side of the wedge-shaped divider working above the level of the snow
drift, and so the tilting moment or tendency to tilt the snow scraper is avoided.
The maintainence of the proper adjustment is controlled by the train conductor from
the inside of the upper frame.
In the case of very loose snow which may readily fall in over the cutting effected,
or in the case of high drifts, folding wings at the sides can be turned outwards
and the snow lying on the slopes of the cutting by means of these beaten down
by using pressure, but the adaptation of this depends always on the strength of the
machine.
In working the snow scraper only the conductor and one workman are necessary,
and these also suffice in conjunction with the complement necessary for the locomotive,
to turn the snow scraper round.
In the case of transport for a long distance to the point endangered it is suitable to
let the snow scraper run backwards to the last station.
The rule of action in accordance with which the conductor should set the plane of
the rudder d, is indicated in figures 1a, 2a, 3a, and the governing idea here is to
divide the snow in such manner that the moments calculated to overthrow are reduced
to zero.
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The snow ploughs known hitherto have the fixed point in the middle so that
D M DN (figure la). If then the snow lies higher on the surface D M, than
on D N, the surface D C, receives a pressure R, which is greater than the counter-
pressure R', on D B. The difference R-R multiplied by the mean height, above
the upper edge of the rails, is the moment calculated to overthrow h (R-R¹).
This moment becomes at once zero when the snow mass viewed in cross section, lies
horizontal, which with wind never occurs.
=
If it is desired to avoid interruption to traffic during a snow fall, cases will occur.
where the snow plough meets places where the conditions are as indicated in figure 2a;
then one side of the snow plough receives considerable over pressure. Now by means
of the steering cutter the masses of snow are so divided that the difference R,―R',
during the run is always brought to zero, MH being made equal to D NH as
indicated at figure 3a and both equal lateral pressures cancel each other.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
A snow plough constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the annexed drawings.
Dated this Twentieth day of January 1890.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.