Improvements in Snow Ploughs for Railways and Tramways.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Sept., 1993-Accepted, 11th Nov., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Snow Ploughs for Railways and Tramways.
1, CHARLES MARIE POULAIN, of Rue des Fossés, Vitre, in the Republic of
France, Manufacturer, 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 and accompanying drawing, that is
to say :-
My invention has for its object a novel method of constructing snow ploughs for
clearing away snow from railways, tramways, or roads.
Supposing that the improved apparatus is to be applied to a locomotive engine, it
is firmly fixed in front of the engine, to the transverse stay or buffer beam, the life
guards which clear the rails, and to the frame or footplate, without interfering with
the working of the engine which is protected by it not only from the snow on the
line; but from the resistance of the air which it divides gradually as the engine
moves forward.
The apparatus has in plan the shape of an acute angle, the vertical sides of
which advance through the snow, and are covered on their outside faces with
galvanized sheet iron, which is fixed upon a sufficiently strong framing of
iron bars.
In the accompanying drawing, which is in illustration of my invention,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a locomotive engine the front of which is fitted
with my improved snow plough.
Figure 2 is a plan of the apparatus adapted to a single line of railway, shewing
the arrangement of the different parts forming the framing.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on the line X X, Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a plan of the apparatus adapted to a double line of railway.
The apparatus illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 as applicable to a single line of
railway, consists of two principal parts, the first A including the front having an
angle of about 25° with the centre line and fixed by two hinges a, u, to the
transverse stay or buffer-beam of the engine, so that it is capable of being raised
by means of an iron bar or rod fixed to the lower part at c (Figures 2 and 3).
This bar & keeps the part A in any proper desired position, and allows the engine
in case of need to run on sidings or when shunting.
The second part B which is attached to the lifeguards and footplate of the engine
fits closely upon the front part A.
The sides of the part A are held at the bottom by the cross bar d and by ties
fixed at, and at the upper part by the cross bar g, h, upon which are fastened the
fixed parts of the hinges a, a.
The rod b, fixed below at c, and at i to the footplate of the engine, serves to
hold the apparatus steady when at work as well as to raise it when required.
Upon cross-stays m, n, are fixed the supports o, p, which are also bolted to the
lifeguards at m and n', (Figure 3).
The parts 7,,,, are curved back to facilitate the forcing away and discharge
of the snow.
The ends of the parts,, are provided with brackets &, s', by
which the back of the apparatus is fastened to the footplate.
Upon the framing constructed as described is fixed by any suitable means the
sheet metal which forms the outer sides of the apparatus. At the upper part e
this sheet metal is curved somewhat out so as to throw down the snow, and by this
arrangement the snow which is collected against the sides of the apparatus is
thrown outward, and cannot under any circumstances fall back between the rails.
The sheet metal shewn extended and curved back at 7, r, u, and y', ', u', is for

page_text: the purpose of allowing the engine to move backward without interruption from
the thrown-off snow.
The apparatus illustrated in Figure 4 is for use with double lines of rails, and
differs from that already described in having its front, that is to say the edge v
prolonged as far as the right hand rail, instead of being situated at the centre
between the rails, so that the principal part of the snow is thrown off' to the left,
whilst in the way between the lines of rails it is also thrown back for a sufficient
distance.
For use on tramways, only the first part A of the apparatus is used, the cross
bar 9, h, having the shape of the car to which it is to be fixed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The metal framing covered with sheet metal and formed in two parts, one
moveable and the other fixed, connected together by hinges and a rigid bar,
substantially as described and illustrated.
2. The metal framing covered with sheet metal, the moveable front part having
a sharp angular edge and vertical sides, substantially as described and illustrated.
3. The metal framing covered with sheet metal, the fixed back part, being fixed
to the footplate of the engine and forming the sides of the apparatus, substantially
as described and illustrated.
4. The metal framing covered with sheet metal and having its upper parts
curved somewhat outward, substantially as and for the purpose described and
illustrated.
5. The metal framing covered with sheet metal and curved inward at the back,
substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated.
6. The metal framing covered with sheet metal, and having its front edge
prolonged to the right hand rail, for use on double lines of rails, substantially as
described and illustrated.
Dated this 19th day of Santambar 1802
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.