US1205918A

US1205918A - Track-sanding apparatus for locomotives.

Info

Publication number: US1205918A
Application number: US11867716A
Authority: US
Inventors: Mark R Miller; George L Dibble
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1916-09-06
Filing date: 1916-09-06
Publication date: 1916-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 1933-11-21

Description

M. R. MULLER L G. L. mB'LE. vTRACK SAN-DING APPARATUS FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

APPLCATON FILED SEPT.6.19I6.

PatenfeaNov. '21, 1916.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARK R. MILLER, OF CHARLESTON, AND GEORGE L. DIBBLE, OF FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA.

TRACK-SANDING APPARATUS FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

Application filed September 6, 1916. Serial No. 118,677.

T 0 all ywhom 'it may concern Be it known that we, MARKR. MILLER and (lrEouoE L. DiEELE, Citizens rof the United States, Maui; R. MILLER residing at Charleston, in the county ot' Charleston, South Carolina, and (EoncE L. DnsLE residing at Florence, in the county of Florence and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track-Sanding Apparatus for Locomotives, of Awhich the following is a specifi "ation,

This invention relates to improvements in track sanding apparatus for locomotives.

The object ot' the inventionis to provide a track sanding apparatus which will etlectually blow the sand from the sand dome to` a distributing chamber to disintegrate the sand so that same may pass freely 1n a granulated state through the outlet pipes to the' track.4

A further object of the invention is to pro-l vide means for blowing the sand from the dome to a distributing chamber in a straight line to prevent-the sand in its passage wearing` out the metal and destroying the utility of the device..

It is also one of the objects of the invention to so construct the distributing chamber as to cause the dissipated sand to travel 1n spiral paths to the exit ducts to lend additional t'orce to the delivery of the sand to the track pipes.

A further object ot' the invention is to provide specially constructed v means for mounting the parts in the dome.

The invention also comprehends improvements in the details of construction and arrangelnent ot' parts which will be hereinafter described and particularly polnted out in the claims. l

In the drawings z--Figure 1 is a perspective. view of our invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section ot' the same. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line .0r-af of Fig. 2.

The numeral 1 indicates a sand dome usually employed on a locomotive.` Centrally disposed 'in the dome 1, is a frame 2, comprisng a tubular member 3, formed with a central opening 'l, which constitutes a nozzle, and extending from the base are arms 5, and depending centrally therefrom, and terminatingover the opening l, is a member G. 'lhemember (i is formed with a tapered bore 7, and at its upper end it is formed with a larged mouth ot' said member. The air Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Nov, 21; 1916,`

end ot' the member (i, are recesses 9, to form a convenient passage for the sand passing to the mouth ot' the member. Mounted in the seat S, is a vertical pipe. 10, held in fixed position by a set screw 11. The upper end of this pipe tits in a socket formed in a central extension on a distributing chamber 12, and is held in place by a set screw 12x. The distributing chamber is toi-med with a central hollow projection 13, which communicates with the pipe 1U, the lower walls 13X of the hollow extension `gradually7 tapering downwardly and outwardly. as clearly shown iii Fig. 2, for a purpose to be described. The upper part ot' the distributing chamber is semi-spherical, and is spaced from the upper end of the hollow extension 13and in the tension, is a screw plug ll. Below the semispherical portion ot' the chamber the walls converge. as at 15, from whence on opposite sides ot' the chamber, said walls gradually curve downwardly and outwardly as at 161 and form with the walls 13 oppositely disposed outwardly extended ducts 1'?. Connected with the ducts are pipes 18, held in place by set screws 1S, the pipes leading to the track in the usual way.

Surrounding the frame tapered toward the top and fitting snugly the pipe 10, the sieve preventing foreign substances. or lumps ot sand choking the mouth of the member 6.

In operation, sand is introduced in. the dome, and thetubula'r member is supplied with compressed air through a pipe 20, connected at theopcn end 21. The air is top, in direct alincment with the hollow exisa sieve '20,

forced through the nozzle l, and through n the vacuum effect produced at the bottom of the element the sand drawn through the space 22,v and the recesses 9,v into the enacting directly on the sand in the member (i and pipe 1'0, blows the sand particles through theI tubular extension 13. up against the plug l-l, and is there dissipated and thrown in shower-like form against the wall of the semi-spherical portion of the chamber 12.

The sand is thus spread in all directions,

hence it is impossible for'the friction of the sand wearing out the metal. The sand is blown against the plug l-l, and in time this particular element will be worn out, but another can be quickly substituted. By spacing the tubular extension from the top of the chamber, and providing said chamber with semi-spherical walls, and arranging the parts so as to cause the air to blow the sand in a direct vertical line, the sand will not cut the metal to any appreciable degree, a factor which is of considerable practical importance in devices of this character.

iVhen the sand is blown through the tubular extension, if perchance there should be lumps or the like, which may have passed through the screen, said lumps when striking against the plug and subsequently against the semi-spherical walls, will be dissipated, and the full effect of the granulated sand will be obtained on the track. The fine showerof sand caused by the semi-spherical walls is kept in a state of agitation, and is driven by the air, and guided by the walls 15 and 13, to the ducts 17, and thence forced through the pipes to the track. l

The arrows in Fig. 2 of the drawing indicate conventionally the movement of the sand passing from the chamber' to the ducts. This spiral or whirling action augments the force of the air on the sand, with the consequent result that the sand is given added driving force through the ducts.

Because of the arrangement of the frame and screen, the sand is sifted before reaching the mouth of the element -6, conse uently the mouth can be larger than usual, wlth the result that a large supply of sand may be supplied to the action of the air coming from the opening 4, with little or no unnecessary friction on the parts. l

The invention is extremely simple in construction, and is effective in opera-tion. The arrangement of the structural details is such that while the sand is vini-:a solid stream, it always travels in a straight line, which is a decided economical advanta e. It is only when the stream of sand is dissipated that it is subjected to an irregular path, and then the part-sare of such form and proportion that it does not wear away the metal, nor is its force toward the ducts reduced.

It has been found that atmospheric conditions affect the sand in the ytraps of track Sanders, causing the hsand to clog and prevent its passage to the tracks. Because of the screen only line partibles can vreach the .mouth of the pipe and because of the construction, etc., of the distributing chamber,

said chamber and the ducts and pipes leading therefrom are always open and clean when the air is turned ofi'.

lVhat we claim is 1. In a track sander, the combination of a base having a vertical tubular element open at the bottom, a nozzle located centrally under the open end of thetubular element, a vertical pipe communicating with the tubular element, a distributing chamber havat its lower end, a blast nozzle centrally located at the enlarged mouth at the end of the vertical pipe, a distributing chamber at the upper end of the ipe, the upper rtion of the said'chamber Eelng of semi-sp erical forn the chamber having a.' ntrally dis-k pose tubular extension, thel lower end of whichcommunicat with the vertical pipe, the upper end of said tubular extension terminating and in s aced relation wit-h the semi-spherical wal of the chamber, the lower portion of the said chamber below the upper end of the tubular extension' having two outwardly extendin ducts.

3. In a track sander, e combination pf a vertical pipe having an enlarged mouth at its lower end, a blast nozzle centrally located at the enlar mouth at the end of the vertical pi e, a lstributing chamber at the upper end o the pipe, the upper chamber being of semlericalfform, a detachable plug centrally il'i'thertop of the sand chamber, the chamber Having a centrally disposed tubular extension, the lower end of which communicates withthe vertical pipe, the u per end of said tubular extension of the said mg in a inement with and terminating in spaced relation with the plug, the lower'portlon of the'said chamber below the u per end of thetubular extension having ucts for the passage of sand.

4. In a track sander, the combination of a base frame com rising a horizontal tubular member formedp with a centrally disposed opening, arms extendin upwardly from the horizontal tubular mem r, and a vertically disposed tubular member having a tapered bore and supported centrally on the arms, the lower end of the vertical tubular member being centrally disposed over the open- A ing and having recesses cut in opposite walls to form sand passages furthe entrance of `sand when air is blown through the o iening, aiscreeu surrounding the lmouth of tile vertical tubular member, a vertical pipe communicating with the vertical tubular member, a chamber having a central tubular extension. communicating with the vertical pipe, the upper portion of the. chamber bc momie ducts in its lower portion below Athe plane of 4the upper end of the tubular extension.

yspherical at .its uppei` portion and converge,

111g below said semi-spherical portion and 'terminating 'in two outwardly extending sand ducts, the chamber having'a, central vertical tubularI extension terminating in spaced relation with the semi-spherical walls of said chamben the outer walls of the vertical tubular extensiontapeiing outwardly fromthe top and merging into the walls or" .the ducts, and means for forcing sand under pressure through the central vertical extension'.

6i 1n a. track sander, the combination of o sand distributing chamber, semi-spherical at the upper portion, a detachable plug centrally disposed in the top of: the distributing chamber, said chamber having a central vertical tubular extension, the upper end ol' which is in alinement with and space from the detachable plug, and a sand ductformed in the chamber below the top of the vertical tubular extension.

7. vIn a track sander, the combination of a vertically disposed pipe having an enlarged mouth at its lower end, means at the mouth of the pipe for forcing air and sand through said pipe, a sand dStribUtercliamber lia-ving a sand outlet duct and having a centrally disposed tubular extension, the upper end of which is spaced from. the top of the chamber, its lower end being in com munication with the vertical pipe, the walls of said chamber being curved to cause the sand. blown from the tubular extension to follow spiral paths in passing to and out the duct.

In testimony whereof'we aliiX our signatures. v

MARK R. MXLLER. GEQRGE L. DBBLE.