US601229A - Track-cleaner - Google Patents

Description

' UNITED STATES" PATENT EEicE.

y FRANK M. BIOKELBERGER, OFy HYDE PARK, OHIO, AssIcNoR OF ONE-HALE TowILLIAM BAUER, OE OAKLEY, OHIO;

TRACK-C LEAN ER.

'SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,229, dated March 29, 1898.

l Application iiled December20, 189,7. Serial No. 662,599. (No model.)

To all whom t may concer-72,:

Be it known that I, FRANK M. BIOKELBER- GER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hyde Fark, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Track-Cleaner; and I do hereby declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description of the invention, such' as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, attention being called to the accompanying drawings,with the reference-numerals marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to means for cleaning tracks, particularly such having grooved rails. A type of such a rail now frequently used in the construction of street-railway systems is the so-called Johnson rail, being a rail having a flat face with a narrow groove in the same. To prevent iilling up of these grooves, frequent cleaning must be resorted to, which is accomplished in various ways, frequently by devices used manually. My invention provides a construction whereby such a device is attached to a car and operates in-such a manner that it requires no further attention when once put in operative position. Means are furnished for adjusting the device to the position mentioned and also to one in which it is inoperative, and it is supported in a manner to be capable of an independent lateral movement of the car-body to be capable of following the track at curves.

In the following specification, and particularly pointed out in the claims, is found a full description of the invention, its operation, parts, and lconst-ruction, which latter is also illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is part of a vertical section of the lower part of a car, showing parts of the same near the front platform. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the lower front part of a car. Fig. 3 is an under side view of the part of a car above mentioned. Fig. 4 isan enlarged detail view showing top view of a fragment of rail with a part of my device applied. Fig. 5 is a detail View of a modified construction of the scraper-points.

7 is the car-Hoor, 8 one of the supportingwheels, and 9 the lgrooved rails. The direct means for cleaning the rails are two scraperpoints 11 11 of dimensions to fit the grooves and.carried on bars 12 12. They may form integral parts thereof or may be removably connected, as shown in Fig. 5, to provide for renewal. These parts are shaped as shown,

.the scraper-points being directed upwardly and inclined rearwardly, and thence with an abrupt turn run forwardly in line with bars 12, the ends of which are secured to a rockshaft 13. This rock-shaft is carried in a bearing 14 and has secured to it, extending forwardly, a yoke-shaped lever 15, elevation of which lowers the scraper-points into operative position and depression of which renders the latter inoperative. lever 15 an operating-lever 16 is provided, pivoted at 17 and provided at its lower end, below the front platform,with lateral enlargements, in which a cam-slot 18 is formed. Connection between this slot and lever 15 is made For so moving this by a pin 19, extending from this latter into i the former. A nut 21 is provided at the extreme end of this pin to maintain connection between the parts. When the scraper-points are not in operative position-that is, downthis lever occupies a notch 22 within a guard 23, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. For operation it is simply released from this notch, whereupon a spring 24, held thus far expanded by its contractive force, raises lever 15 and lowers the scraper-points into the grooves of the rails, where they are held by the continued action of said spring.

To enable the scraper-points to follow the rails around curves, they are given a lateral adjustment independent of the car-body. For-such purpose bearing 14, which supports rock-shaft 13, is carried on a base 25, which is pivotally secured below the car-floor. In detail this connection is by bolts 26, passing through two curved -slots 27 in base 25 and seated in a plate 28, bolted to the under side of the car-floor. To steady the rock-shaft in these swinging movements, additional supports 29 are provided near its end, having supporting-shoes 31 above, which are iitted into and move in ways 32, concentric with the swinging' center of the shaft and also secured to the car-floor.

IOO

Springs 34 are pronormal position. The matter lifted up out of the rail-grooves is thrown aside by blades 33, projecting sidewise from the scraperpoints, somewhat above their lowest extremity, and moving above the face on top of the rails. The rails may be conveniently cleaned in this manner by a car while making its regular trip without requiring any extra time or labor.

It is not contemplated that everycar should carry one of these devices, and the equipment with it of one car to a division may in most cases be suicient.

Having described my invention, I claim as new- 1. In combination with a car-body, a rockshaft 13 pivotally supported below the same, bars 12 connected thereto carrying scraperpoints at their ends, a lever 15 for rocking shaft 13, a spring 24 with a normal tendency to elevate lever 15 and correspondingly depressing the scraper-points, an operating-lever for actuating lever 15, a guard within which the latter moves and a notch 22 therein which normally receives lever 15, thereby holding the scraper-points elevated against the action of the spring.

2. In combination with a car-body, a rockshaft 13, pivotally supported below the same, bars 12 connected thereto carrying scraperpoints at their ends, ayoke-shaped lever 15 for rocking shaft 13, an operating-lever 16 having lateral extensions below provided with a cam-slot 1S and a pin 19 on the yoke-shaped lever occupying this slot for the purpose described.

3. In combination with a car-body, a rockshaft 13, a bearing 14 in which it is pivotally supported, bars 12 with scraper-points supported thereon, means for raising and lowering the same and a pivotal connection whereby bearing 14 is secured below the car-floor in a manner to permit the rock-shaft to swing in a horizontal plane.

4. In combination with a car-body, a rockshaft 13, acentral bearing 14 and lateral bearings 29 in which it is pivotally supported, scraper-points carried by shaft 13, means for rocking it to raise orlower the scraper-points, a pivotal connection whereby the central bearing is secured below the car-iioor and ways 32 which adjustably support the outer bearings.

5. In combination with a car-body, a rockshaft 13, a bearing 14 in which it is pivotally supported, said bearing being in turn pivotally secured below the car-iioor to permit the rock-shaft to swing also in ahorizontal plane, scraper-points carried in the latter and a lever 15 for rocking it land an operating-lever 16 for actuating lever 15.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK M. BICKELBERGER.

Vitnesses:

C. SPENGEL, ARTHUR KLINE.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 601,229.

It is hereby Certified that in Letters Patent No. 601,229, granted March 29, 1898, upon the application of Frank M. Biekelberger, of Hyde Park, Ohio, for an improvement in Track-Cleaners, an errorappears in the printed specification requiring correction,

as follows: In line 32, page 1, the Word of should read on; and that the said Letters A Patent should loe read with this correction therein that the saine may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Oiee.

Signed, eountersigned, and sealed this 12th day of April, A. D., 1898.

[SEAL] WEBSTER DAVIS,

Assistant Secretary of the Interion Countersigned:

C. H. DUELL,

Commissioner of Patents.

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