GB327832A - Improvements in and relating to sanding apparatus for railway and the like vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

327,832. Muller, M. March 6, 1929. Sand, distributing on wheel tracks.-In a sanding apparatus for railway &c, vehicles a magnet, which may also act as a rail brake magnet, is adapted to conduct sand to a rail, being guided over the rail by the rail itself. In one form, the outlet end of a pipe 7, Fig. 1, conducts sand from a sand-box 10 to a rail 2 through a recess 6 in a magnet 3 which, when energized, is attracted towards the rail 2 opening a valve 11 by means of an angle-lever 9, so that sand is supplied to the surface of the rail, springs 12 and 12<1> moving all the parts back to their original positions when the magnet is de-energized. In a modification the magnet is displaced by its contact with the rail so that the sand-pipe is brought over the recess of the magnet, the pipe being arranged to draw the energized magnet along with the vehicle. In Fig. 3A the magnet, suspended from the vehicle by connecting-rods 24, 25, is provided with a fixed pole 4 and a movable pole 4 so that only the movable pole 4 fixed to the sand-pipe 7 is attracted towards the rail, against the action of the compression spring 23. For high speeds the magnet 3, Figs. 5A and 5<B>, forms a relatively long channel over the rail, the poles 4, 4<1> of the magnet being arranged side by side, instead of one behind the other, and having the channel 5 between them. The magnet 3 carries a funnel 31, in communication through a pipe 32 with the channel 5 which is closed at its forward end. The movement of the magnet may be used to open the sand outlet. The energization of the magnet may only effect the engagement of the latter with the rail, while the release of sand may be effected either by hand, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, or by means of a separate magnet. The rail-magnets may be energized by the traction current or by the braking current should electrical brakes be provided, or a separate current source may be used. A circuit is illustrated in which the braking current is utilized to operate an automatic switch, the sandmagnet and the rail-magnets working independently of one another, if necessary, by means of a hand-switch. The distance of the magnets from the rail may be altered as desired as by a system of levers.