US123312A - Improvement in air-brakes for railroad cars - Google Patents

Description

Patented 1an. so, 1872. 'l

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rHoMAs o. WARD, or

PAV PAW, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN AIR-BRAKES FOR RAILROAD CARS. I

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 123,312, dated January 30, 1872.

To rwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS O. WARD, of Paw Paw, in the county of Van Buren and State ot' Michigamhave invented a new and useful Impro vement in Gompressed-Aii-Brakes for Railway (lar-s; and I do decla-re that the following is a true and accurate description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon and being a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a sect-ional plan view of my device. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sect-ional view of the valve. Fig. 3 is a perspective view ofthe valve-cylinder. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section ot' hose and coupling. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the valve-cylinder head. Fig. 6 is aplan view of the spider in the coupling.

In the accompanying drawing, like letters designate like parts.

The nature ot' this invention relates to an improvement in devices for actuating carbrakes by compressed air, so arranged that the engineer is enabled to apply or detach the brakes instantaneously from his position on the engine; and also to devices for automatically operating the brakes whenever a car is accidentally detached from the train or thrown from the track. This invention consists, first, in the automatically-closing valves, in connection with the various devices for compressing the air and conveying it to the cylinder where it is to be used; second, in the automatic-closin g valve-coupling, in connection with the different lengths oi' hose conveying the compressed air from the reservoir to the cylinder; third, in the construction, combination, and operation of the various parts, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

A In the accompanying drawing, A represents the air-pump, which is attached to the locomotive in any convenient place and manner, so that the piston-rod B may be connected with and reciprocated by the engine by means ot' an eccentric or any other suitable device. 'Ihe air is admitted to the cylinder of the pump through the automatically-closing valve D, which is made so that the ball E (made prei'- erabl y of rubber or any other semi-elastic material) shall fall into the valve-seat F to close the valve. When the valve is open' the ball rises in the chamber F' ot' the valve until the channels G in the side of the chamber are opened for the passage oi' the air. The air is forced bythe pump through the valve H, which is of the saine construction as the valve l), into the reseryoir I, pro vided with a pressuregauge,

J'. When the air in the reservoir I has been compressed to the requisite pressure, the air from the air-pump A passes through the valve J, which is operated by the engineer. The condensed air, when needed, is allowed to pass from the reservoir through thepipe Y, in which is placed the valve L, which is also operated by the engineer. The pipe Z connects the reservoir with the pipe Y below the valves L and C', and has placed in it the valve S', which is operated by a line passing through the train, and so secured to each car that, should the train be accidentally broken up, or any car therein become detached or leave the track, the tension on said line will at once open the valve S' and allow the compressed air to act upon the piston and rod, to the outer end of which rod the levers which control the brakes are attached in any convenient way. To the pipe Y is connected the hose M, which is connected to the hose N, which, inl turn, is connected or secured to each car in the train by the automatic-closing valve-coupling, which is made ofthe cylinder Q, containing a valve of the like construction with the valve D. The cylinder Q slides into the cylinder R, which is attached to the length of hose N. The cylinder R has a follower, S', attached to the center of the spider V next the hose, so that when the cylinder Q slides into the cylinder R the follower passes through the valve-seat F" and presses the ball E' against the valve-step l), where it is retained as long as the hose are coupled together; and when they are uncoupled the ball is forced or will roll down to the valve-seat F" and closes the opening. The cylinder R is retained over the cylinder Q by the spring t, which engages with the catch r fon the cylinder Q. The condensed air passes throughthehose N into the cylinderU through the opening x in the cylinder-head X, and forces back thepiston A', which carries with it the piston-rod B', which passes through the cylinder-head X, and is connected in any suitable manner with the brakes. The condensed air can escape from the cylinder U either through the valve C', which is placed in the pipe Y and operated directly by the engineer, or through the valve C" in the escape-pipe T, which is operated by means ot' a cord Connected with the engine. The pressure of the oompressed air on the piston A is instantly taken off if the valve C" is opened. Y/Vhen the pressure of the condensed air is taken olf of the piston A', the said piston is forced back against the cylinder-head X by the coiled spring D', which is attached to the cylinder-head E". The Cylinder U has a small opening, d, near the eylinderhead E" to allow the air in rear of the vpiston A' to escape from the cylinder as the piston is forced toward the head E". The cylinder U is attached to the car by any suitable means and in any convenient position. p

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The valve D with the Chamber F', ehaunels G, head P, sea-t F, and ball E, arranged to operate, substantially as described, in connection with the air-pump A, for the purposes set forth.

2. In combination with the lengths of hose M N, the valve-coupling, substantially as described, and the follower S, for the purpose specified, and the springs t and hooks or studs r, for the purpose of holding' the coupling together, substantially as set fort-h.

3. The arrangement ofthe air-pump A, cylinder U, pipes Z Y T d, valves D, L, U', S', C", and H, piston-rods B B', hose M N, when each part is constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

f THOMAS O. WARD.

Witnesses MYRoN H. CHURCH, GHAs. J. HUNT.

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