US1061549A - Track-cleaning machine. - Google Patents

Description

W. W. LAMB.

TRACK CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 5, 1010 RENEWED SEPT, 23, 1912.

Patented Maw 13, 1913.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILBERT W. LAMB, OF ALHAMBRA. CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMB RAILWAY SERVICE COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TRACK-CLEANING MACHINE.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 13, 191 3.

Application filed January 5, 1910, Serial No. 536,468. Renewed September 23, 1912. Serial No. 721,924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVImsnR'r WV. LAM'B, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Alhambra, county of Los Angeles, and Stateof California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Track Cleaning Machines, of which the following is a specification. g I

My invention relates primarily, to a machine for melting the snow from railroad tracks or streets or roads, although its use is not restricted to that purpose, and the 1 object thereof is to produce a machine having great heat producing" capacity which can be operated by liquid hydro-carbon fuel in the coldest of weather.

' I have illustrated my device as applied to a railroad car, but it can be mounted upon other'forms of running gear to use upon burner cylinder. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 8. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of the generating tubes of the vaporizing coil.

In the drawings 10 may be an ordinary fiat railroad car upon the rear end of which is secured the liquid hydro-carbon fuel tank 11 which is supplied with compressed air at-the top thereof through a hose 12, which is connected up to the ordinary air pipes not shown, or to any other suitable compressed air supply.

lilis a liquid hydro-carbon i uel supply pipe which leads from near the bottom of the fuel tank and connects to the generating coil 14, which is located in the lower half of the burner cylinder, the size of this pipe depending upon the capacity of the machine.

In the drawings I have shown two burner cylinders as I consider that to be an appropriate number for a machine for use in melting snow upon a railway track.

When more than one burner cylinder is used pipe 13branchesnear the cylinders and a branch runsto each vaporizing coil of which there is one in each burner cylcan be had to the interimof the generating tube for the insertion and removal of the vaporizing web it) and for cleaning the same. This vaporizing web is preferably in the form of a cross, as best shown in Fig. 7, and practically divides the tube into four channcls 20. At suitable distances these channels are connected by kerts or grooves 21 cut in the outer edges of the web, as best shown in Fig. (3. The other side of the vaporizing coil is connected by suitable fittings to the .icedlc tllVt. 22 which controls the discharge of vapor into the burner cylinder 15. The rear end of the burner cylinder is partially closed leaving a central port 23 into which the vapor is discharged from the needle valve, thereby ent'aining a certain amount of air into the burner cylinder. When the vapor is lighted it burns with a strong flame which heats up the interior of the burner odinder, thereby vaporizing the liquid fuel passing through the vaporizing coil.

The burner cylinder is preferably provided on the lower side thereof with rows of pert'oratnms 24 through which airis drawn to aid the comlmstion of the vapor which is to become heated and to be forced out,

through the outer end of the burner cylinder against the snow and ice on the track, thereby melting the same. It. will be understood that siiitable provision will be made to heat the vaporizing coil before the machine starts to work, such as by a fire either in or under the burner cylinder. The burner cylinders are carried by the burner frame 25 which is pivotally connected at 26 to the derrick 27. The derrick is mounted on wheels 28, which wheels run upon a. track 29 formed of U- shaped iron secured upon the platform of the car, the tread of the wheels running in the channel 30 of the track. In the bottom of the derrick frame is mounted an air cylinder 31 which 'is rigidly secured to the derrick frame. Extending longitinlinally through the cylinder and projecting at each end thereof is a piston stem 32 which is secured to bearings 33 mounted upon the platform of the car. This piston stem carries a piston not shown, within the cylinder which has a working fit'therein. The opposite ends of the air cylinder are connected by pipe 34 in which is mounted a four way valve'35 by a piston not shown, which is provided with means of which either end of the piston can valve 35 to the front end of asecond air cylinder 38 which may be termed the height regulating air cylinder. .Pipe 37 is provided with a three way valve 39 by means of which the cylinder is thrown to pressure or exhaust'as desired. .This cylinder carries 'a piston stem 40, which is connected by a flexible cable .41 with rods 42 which are secured to the front end of the burner frame,

Cable 41 runs over a sheave 43 mounted on the derrick frame. The burner'frame also carries rods 44 having eyes 45 through which.

pass chains 46. One end of each chain 46 carries a book 47 by means of which the length of the chain can. be regulated. The

other end of the chain is secured to the derrick. By means of these last rods and chains the burner frame is secured atits adj usted height, the adjustment being obtained by means of cylinder and connected mechanism. By means of cylinder 38 the burner frame can be carried to the horizon tal position in which position it is adapted to be run rearwardly upon the car. Air can then be admitted into theinn'er end of cylin-- der 31 when the derrick carry ing theburner frame will be caused to travel rearwardly on the car, 'in which position it is ready for transportation from one point to another By admitting air into the upper end of cylinder 41, the derrick isrun to the position shown in the drawings thereby carrying the burner frame projecting beyond the car; Its height is then adjusted by means of cylinder 38 and it is then secured in the.

adjusted position by-means of the rods and chains, after which the coils are heated and the fire is lighted whereupon the machine is ready for use.

. It will be observed thatthe vaporizingcoilis protected by the burner cylinder from any drafts of wind or from any cold air, and that the fire burns within the burner cylinder near the outer end, thereby always keeping the vaporizing coil in'a heated condition. I

prefer to use a high air pressure, say about 150 pounds upon the fuel in the fuel tank,

thereby forcing the vapor into the burner cylinder with great power, which causes the air to be drawn into the burner cylinder and to be forced out of the same in a highly heated condition upon the snow and ice on the track just in front of the burner cylin-.

ders. By this construction I have provided a highly efficient machine which can be operated in all kinds of weatheras the generating coil is fully protected from the weather.

It will be understood that a portion of pipe 13 will be made flexibleso as to permit of themovementrof the derrick to and fro on theplatform of the car. lVithin the fuel tank, pipe '13 is provided with a self closing valve 48 and a strainer 49. The air supply pipe is also provided witha self closing valve. These self closing valves are adapted to be locked open-when the machine is in operation, and the locking'means are subject to the control of the operator so that in case of accidents, or when the machine is not in operation the valves may be closed. In my application 534,981,filed-De-v cember 27th, 1909 I have shown a machine,

which by a slight modification could be used as above set forth. Having described my claim is:

1. The combination of a car invention what I latform and a derrick mounted thereon, wlth means to move saidderrick longitudinally uponth e platform; a burner frame carrled by said derrick; a burner cylinder mounted upon,

said burner frame, said burnercylinder being partially closed at the rear end; a V3.4

por izing coil within said. burner cylinder, said vaporizing coil comprising a plurality of connected tubes extending longitudinally of the cylinder; vaporizing webs within said generating tubes; a needlevalve adapted to" discharge vapor into the rear end of saidburner cylinder; a connection from said needle valve to said vaporizing coil; and means to supply liquid hydro-carbon fuel to said coil under pressure.

2. Ina device of the character described herein, a running gear; a platform mounted. upon said running gear; a derrick mounted ed upon said burner frame; said burner cylinderhaving a port 1n its rear end; a vaporizing (3011 within said burner cylinder,

said vaporizing coil comprising a pluralityof connected tubes extending longitudinally of the cylinder; vaporizing webs within said generating tubes; aneedle valve adapted to discharge vapor into the port in the rear end of said burner cylinder; a connection from said needle Valve to said vaporizing c011; and means to supply liquid hydro-carbon fuel to said 'coil under pressure.

3. In a device of the character described herein, a running gear; a platform'mounted thereon; a derrick mounted on said platform; pneumatic means connected to said platform and to said derrick adapted to move the derrick frame longitudinally upon the platform; a burner frame pivotallysecured tosaid derrick; means to adjust the elevation of said burner frame; a burner cylinder mounted on said burner frame; said burner cylinder being partially closed at the rear end; a vaporizing coil within said burner cylinder; said vaporizing coil comprising a plurality of connected tubes extending longitudinally of the cylinder; vaporizing webs within said generating tubes; a needle valve ada ted todischar e vapor into the rear end of said burner c5- inder; a connection from said needle valve to said vaporizing coil; and means to sup ply liquid hydro-carbon fuel to said coil under pressure.

4. In a device of the'character described herein a burner cylinder, said cylinder being partially closed at the rear end,- open at the front end, and having lon itudinal' rows of perforations in the side wa ls thereof; a vaporizing coil within Said cylinder, saidvaporizing coil com rising a p urality of connected tubes exten ing longitudinally of the said cylinder; vaporizing webs within said generating tubes; a needle valve to dis charge vapor into the rear end of said burner cylinder said needle valve being exmeans to transport said burner cylinder and means to supply liquid hydro-carbon fuel to said coil under pressure.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th day of December,

1909. WILBERT W. LAMB.

Witnesses G. E. HARPHAM, S. B. AUSTIN.

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