US392491A - bouck - Google Patents

Description

J. M. BOUOK.

LROAD' sNow PLOW.

No. 392,491. P88811888 Nov. 6, 1888.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. M BOUOK.

RAILROAD snow PLOW.

(N0 Model.)

No. 392,491. Patented Nov. 6, 1888.

5140014 606 =7ofin 11.3mm; 437.

$513 tho I Gwen 1e13 in fcwi Evy m .L m 7 I I41 mu u 2| (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. M. BOUGK.

RAILROAD SNOW-PLOW.

No. 392,491., Patented Nov. 6, 1888.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J, M. BOUCK.

RAILROAD SNOW PLOW.

No. 392,491. Patented Nov. 6, 1888.

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JOHN M. BOUCK, OF GOUVER-NEUR, NEN YORK.

RAILROAD SNOW-=PLOVV.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,491, dated November 6, 1888.

Application filed February 9, 1888. Serial No. 263,442.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. BOUUK, a citizen of the United States. residing at Gouverneur, in the county of St. Lawrence, State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Railroad Snow-Blows, of which the following is so full, clear, and eX- act a description as will enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improvement in railroad snow-plows; and it consists of a wrought-iron framework supported on a pair of trucks in front under the snow-plow and another pair of trucks at the rear, also under said snow-plow, to be driven in advance of the locomotive on the track, said front trucks having mounted thereon a housing containing a pair of large sprocket-wheels near its open mouth at the front end, a pair of smaller sprocket-wheels near its open throat at the rear end, endless chains running over and around said wheels and carrying shovels adapt ed to convey the snow through the housing and deliver it at the mouth, a fan mounted on a longitudinal axis in the rear of said throat for scattering the snow to either side of the plow, andconnectionsfor operatingsaidsprocket-wheels and fan, all as will be described in the following specification and particularly pointed outin the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevation of my improved snow-plow. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a front view. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of Fig. 1. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a front and a rear perspective view of a detached shovel, enlarged. Fig. 7 is an enlarged section of the adjusting device for the rear shaft.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in the several figures.

A designates a wrought iron frame-work mounted on car-wheel trucks aone pair of trucks at rear of frame and the other pair at front end of frame by which it is supported and carried on the rails of a railroad, and a a coupling at the rear end of the truck A, by which it may be coupled to a locomotive and (No model.)

by which it is driven. Built upon the truck A is a suitable housing, B, preferably of sheetiron, which housing comprises a tapering body decreasing in size from its open mouth 11 at the front end to its open throat 12 near its center, and a lateral fan-opening or snow-box, b, in the immediate rear of said throat, behind which and below which are inclosures b 12*, for a purpose hereinafter to be stated. The housing B is braced where necessary by vertical, lateral, and longitudinal bars, and the whole is firmly and rigidly bolted and screwed together in a manner well known to any good mechanic. The floor B of the housing inclines upwardly toward the rear from a point at its month where it is only atrifle above the upper face of the rails, and its roof is approximately horizontal, or may incline slightly downward, if desired, the throat 5 thus being considerably elevated.

Above the throat is a guard, B having a curved inner face to permit the passage of the shovels (hereinafter described) and a sharp lower edge, for a purpose to be set forth.

Near their vertical centers the front upright braces, if, of the housing are provided with bearings O and rearwardly-extending straps c, which latter are carried back along the sides of the housing and bolted to it and to one or more of the other uprights, said bearings and straps being preferably integral with said brace b for affording additional strength. Arms (1 arebolted to the interior of each side of the housing at some distance from its mouth, and extend forward to a point in a lateral line with said bearings C, where they are provided with bearings D. Mounted in the four bearings O D D O is a transverse shaft, E, carrying on each end, outside the outer bearings, G, a crank-wheel, c, and between each pair of bearings Oand D, on either side, knives K, (here inafter described,) and just inside each inner bearing, D, a large sprocket-wheel, S, which is suitably keyed thereon.

Mounted in bearings near the base of the through its crank I by a horizontal cylinder, II, located beneath the snow-box opening within the inclosure Z), or by any other suit- ,able means.

At each outer side of the housing, near the throat thereof, is a brace, 1)", preferably inclined, so as to be parallel with the floor B, and this brace is provided with two slots, b Mounted upon the brace b" is a bearing, .5, and bolts 8" pass through said bearing and through the slots 1) in said brace. A set-screw, s", is provided, having its bearing in one of the braces of the housing and impinging against the forward end of the bearing 8. Journalcd in said bearings is a shaft, 8', upon which are keyed two small sprocket-wl1cels, s, in longitudinal alignment with the larger sprocketwheels, S, and approximately opposite the throat-opening. The sprocket-wheels S s carry two endless chains, J, and by means of the adjustable bearing 8 on the rear shaft any looseness or slack in these chains may be taken up by loosening the bolts .9 and turning the screw 8, as will be readily understood.

At suitable intervals along the length of the chains J shovels V are attached in the following manner, the attachment of each shovel to each chain being identical: In its inner edge at each side a slot is out which straddles the body of the sprocket-wheels and the chain, and a link, V, is pivotally connected at one end to the chain and at the other to a lug, v, on the rear face of the shovel, near its rear edge,above said slot. Near its outer edge, but still on its rear face, and in vertical line with the lug 1), another lug, '0", is provided, and a bracingarm,V extends obliquely rearward and downward from this lug to a link of the chain somewhat in the rear of the shovel, said bracingarm being pivoted at both ends. The length of this bracing-arm is such that the shovel is caused to stand at approximately right angles to the chain at all times,save when itis passing around the smaller sprocket-wheel, s, where, as the pivoted edge of the shovel follows the sharp bend of the chain around the small sprocket-wheel before the pivoted end of the bracing-arm has left the straight line of the chain approaching said wheel, the shovel is caused to incline rcarwardly, offering an advantage hereinafter set out.

The shovels V are further provided at each inner corner with a roller, NV, and above it a guide, W, and suitable tracks, T, on the interior of the housing straddle said roller and bear against said guide, whereby the shovels the crust or ice upon the surface of the snow, and the face of each shovel is centrally provided with a knife, 7. for assisting this oper ation.

Mounted in bearings q, above and in rear of the threat, is a longitudinal shaft, Q, upon which is keyed a fan, F, having a heavy short arm, F, preferably weighted with lead, and a lighter longer arm, F the latter adapted to fit closely but loosely within the snow-box 12*. This snow-box is located just in the rear of the throat and above the inclosure b which contains cylinder II, above mentioned, and is open at its top and sides, its bottom being struck on a circle within which the longer arm, F, of the fan fits closely but loosely as it is rapidly rotated. The shaft Q is cranked at Q, and power is communicated-thereto to rotate the fan F swiftly by means of a vertical cylinder, H, located in the inclosure I). Steam is conveyed from the boiler of the locomotive to drive the cylinders II and II through a tube, h; or, if desired, the cylinders II and H may be driven by steam generated in an independent boiler (not shown) carried by the truck A. The front edge of the fan F, which revolves closely to the throat I), has lateral knife-edges f for facilitating its effectiveness.

The operation ofmy improved snow-plow is as follows: The connections being properly made between the locomotive and the plow, (both through coupling a and steam-pipe 7a,) and the whole being set in motion, the knives K and the large sprocket-wheels S are rapidly rotated in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, whereby the crust, if there be any, is broken and the snow is carried up the inclined floor B both by the forward motion of the plow and the faster motion of the shovels traveling rearwardly over the floor. NVhat snow passes into the mouth above the shovels and between the large sprocketwhcels S falls upon the floor B and is carried along with the rest. Upon reaching the threat 7) the shovels V incline rcarwardly, whereby the snow is more readily delivered by them, and the sharp lower edge of the guard B assists in effecting such de livery of the snow into the snow-box, where the fan F,rotating rapidly,will throw it laterally on each side of the track.

Modifications may be made to a considerable extent without departing from the invention, as illustrated in the drawings. As I have said, the cylinders II II may be replaced by independent engines, or the cranks I Qmight be connected by pitman-rods with a crank in the axles of one of the wheels a, though Iconsider the arrangement described likely to give the best results and greatest satisfaction.

I may make the fan F with two blades, F, and dispense with the weighted edge F, if desired, allowing one blade to balance the other. Though I have shown four knives,K, mounted on the shaft E, it is obvious at greater or less number could be employed.

I may also make the floor 13 horizontal, if

preferred, and lower the throat b and fan F to correspond. Other modifications, especially those in mechanical construction, will suggest themselves to the builder and may be made at pleasure without impairing the validity or reducing the scope of my invention.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States,

1. In a snow-plow, the truck, the housing mounted thereon, said housing having an upwardly-inclined floor, and the revolving fan mounted on a longitudinal axis in rear of said iloor, said fan having a thin edge on one side of its axis and a heavy weighted edge on the other, substantially as described.

2. In a snow-plow, the truck, the housing mounted thereon, said housing having an upwardly-inclined floor, and the revolving fan mounted on a longitudinal axis in rear of said floor, the front edge of said fan being provided with lateral knives, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

3. In a snow-plow, the truck A, the lions ing 13, mounted thereon, the upright braces If at the front edge thereof, said braces having bearings 0 near their vertical centers, the straps e, bolted to the sides of the housing, the shaft E, sprocket-wheel mounted thereon, a second shaft and sprocket-wheels, an endless chain, and shovels running over said sprocketwheels on said chain, substantially as described.

41;. In a snow-plow, the truck A, housing I mounted thereon, bearings 0, supported by 5'. In a snow-plow, the truck A, housing B,

V mounted thereon, bearings 0, supported by said housing, a shaft,E, mounted in said bearings, radial knives K on said shaft E near each end thereof, sproeketwhecls mounted thereon, a second shaft and sprocket-wheels, an endless chain, and shovels running over said sprocketwheels on said chain, substantially as described.

6. In a snow-plow, the truck A, housing B, mounted thereon, bearings 0, supported by said housing, a shaft, E, mounted in said bearings, radial knives Ii on said shaftE near each end thereof, between the bearings O and D, sprocket-wheels thereon inside the inner bearings, I), a second shaft and sprocket-wheels, an endless chain,and shovels running over said sprocket-wheels on said chain, substantially as described.

7. In a snow-plow, the truck, a housing mounted thereon, shafts journaled in said housing, sproeket-wheels on said shafts, an endless chain running over said sprocketwheels, a shovel, V, having lugs-v o on its rear face over said chain, a link, V, pivotally connecting said chain with the lug 1) near the inner edge of said shovel, and a bracing-arm, V connecting said chain with the lug 0 near the outer edge of said shovel, substantially as described.

S. In a snowplow, the truck, a housing mounted thereon, said housing having a floor, B, rearwardly inclined to the throat b,.the guard B above said throat, the shafts E and s", j ournaled in said housing,the large sprocketwheels S on the forward shaft, E, the small sprocket-wheels s on the rear shaft, 8, said small sprocketwheels being opposite said throat, a shovel, V, having lugs '22 v on its rear face over said chain, a link, V, pivotally connecting said chain with the lug 1) near the inner edge of said shovel, and a bracing arm, V connecting said chain with the lug a near the outer edge of said shovel, substantially as described.

9. In a snow-plow, the truck, a housing mounted thereon, shaftsjournalediu said housing, sprocket-wheels on said shafts, an endless chain running over said sprocket-wheels, rollers W at its inner corners, and guides IVabove said rollers, in combination with tracks T on the inner face of said housing, between which tracks said rollers are guided, substantially as described.

10. In a snow plow, the truck, the housing mounted thereon, shafts journaled in said housing, sprocket wheels mounted on said shafts, an endless chain passing around said sprocket-wheels, and shovels V, mounted 011 said chain, said shovels being provided with central knives, Z9, on their operative faces,substantia-lly as described.

11. In a snow-plow, the truck, the housing mounted thereon, shafts journaled in said housing, the knives K, mounted on the forward one of said shafts near each end thereof, sprocket-Wheels mounted on said shafts, an endless chain passing around said sprocketwheels, and shovels V,mounted on said chain, said shovels being provided with central knives, 7t, on their operative faces, substantially as described.

12. In a snow'plow, the truck, the housing mounted thereon, a pair of sprocket-wheels carried thereby, an endless chain running over said sprocket-wheels, and shovels on said chain, in combination with a lateral cranked shaft, P, carried by said truck, crank-Wheels b on said shaft, pitmarrrods connecting said crankwhcels with a crank on the axis of one of said sprocket-wheels, and cylinder H, whose piston-rod is connected to the crank of said shaft P, and a steam-pipe connecting said cylinder with a source of supply, substantially as described.

13. In a snow-plow, the truck, a housing mounted thereon, a pair of sproeketwheels carried thereby, an endless chain running over said sprocket-wheels,and shovels on said chain,

ITO

andafan, F, mounted on alongitudinal cranked crank of said fan-shaft, and a steam'pipe con [0 axis, Q Q, in rear of said chain, in combinanecting said cylinder with a source of supply,

tion with a lateral cranked shaft, P, carried substantially as described.

by said truck, crank-wheels b on said shaft, In testimony whereof I affix my signature in pitman-rods connecting said crank-Wheels with the presence of two Witnesses.

a crank on the axis of one of said sprocket- JOHN M. BOUOK. wheels, a cylinder, H, whose piston-rod is con- \Vitnesses:

nected to the crank of said shaft 1?, a cylinder, EARL BANCROFT,

H, Whose piston-rod is connected with the NV. NEARY.

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