US1560403A - Track-sanding device - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 3, 1925;

W. C. BROWN TRACK SANDING DEVICE Filed June 24. 1925 INVENTOR. FVal ter 6. Bron/n I W Q ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES sN'r orrics.

WALTER 0. BROWN, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

TRACK-SANDING- DEVICE.

Application filed June 24, 1925.

To (IZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, TALTER C. Brown, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track-Sanding Devices, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to locomotive track sanding devices and has for its primary ob ject the provision, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, of an improved type of sanding device designed to overcome the frequently occurring annoyance of having the sand clogging at the mouth of the discharge pipe due to moisture in the sand or due to the freezing of the sand and moisture in cold weather.

It is well known that during the weather when the temperature is far below the freezing point and particularlyin mountainous districts Where the temperature is extremely low, locomotive engineers experience a great deal of trouble through the clogging of the sand pipe due to the freezing of the moisture in the sand at the mouth of the discharge pipe. for overcoming this difliculty by the use of steam, to force the sand out of the discharge pipe onto the rail in front of the locomotive wheel but it has been found that even steam in exceedingly -low temperatures has con deused and frozen in the lower part of the sand pipe and thereby stopped the operation of the sanding device.

The present invention contemplates the provision of an apparatus for the furnishing of hot dry compressed air through the sand pipe a substantial distance above the discharge nozzle thereof, which air acts to dry out the moisture from the sand and to discharge the sand from the nozzle ofthe sand pipe in a heated and dry condition. After being heated and dried but before reaching the discharge nozzle of the sanding device, it is impossible for the sand to clog through freezing or other causes.

A further object of the invention is to act as a fuel conserver preventing inconvenience of operators having to leave the cab to open sand ipes by hammering and knocking them, which causes them to be thrown out of line with rail, flattens and cracks pipes, which is the cause of having them renewed very often.

Various methods have been devised Serial No. 39,293.

A further and final object of this invention is the provision, in amanner as hereinafter set forth, of a sanding device for use upon locomotives which may be easily in stalled and with little expense, and further positive and eflicient in action.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, with the understanding that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows conventionally, a locomotive having the sanding apparatus embodying this invention installed therein,

Figure 2 is a section taken upon the line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the manner in which the compressed air heating coils are arranged in the smoke box of the locomo tive,and,

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse section through one side of the locomotive smoke box showing an enlarged detailin edge elevation, one compressed air heating coil.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals of references indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is indicated conventionally by the numeral 1 a steam locomotive having the usual cab 2, drive wheels 3 and sand dome t located in the top central portion of the locomotive boiler.

The forward portion of the locomotive body is broken away as shown to disclose the interior of the smoke box 5 through which the smoke from the fire box passes before leaving the smoke stack 6. I

In the device embodying this invention there leads from the sand dome 4 from each side thereof two pair of sand lead-off pipes 7, each pair entering a Y coupling 8 from which there leads delivery pipes 9 and 10 respectively. The delivery pipe 10 extends right to the underside of one of the rear drive wheels 3 as shown while the delivery pipe 9 enters one side of a Y, coupling 11 located in front of one of the front drive wheels 3 as shown. The discharge nozzle 12 extends from the outlet side of the Y coupling 11 todeliver sand beneath the drive wheel and on to the rail.

Although one side only of the locomotive has been shown in the drawings, the above described structure is duplicated 'upon the opposite side thereof.

Located within the smoke box of the locomotive near the lower :part thereof, is a pair of coils l3 and 1 1 respectively. These coils as shown clearly in Figure 2'are arranged opposite one another and have reducing couplings 14: upon their terminalends. Connected to one of the reducing couplings 1.4, is a compressed air pipe line 15 which is laid beneath the engine acket and extends back from the coil in the smoke box to the engine cab 2 where it is connected with'the compr'esed 'air main reservoir pipe (not shown) and in this pipe line 15 in the cab, is arranged a control valve 16 for controlling the flow of compresed air therethrough.

From theother end of the coil 13 there is connected to the reduced coupling 14 a sub stantially circular pipe 17 which extends up and around-the interior of the smoke box 5 to the opposite side thereof where it connects into a similar reducing couplingconnected to one end of the other coil 14. From the lower portion of this other coil there e1:- tends the elbow 18 from which a lead-ofi pipe 19 extends and connects into an inverted T-coupling 20 which is arranged beneath the central portion of the locomotive. From each arm of this T-coupling 20 there extends the pipe lines 21 which connect into the other arm of a- Y coupling 11 to deliver hot compressed air through this coupling to the discharge nozzle 12.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that upon opening the valve 16 the air from the compressed air chambers will be delivered through the pipe 15 and into the coils 1?) and 14 in the smoke box of the locomotive. These coils being constantly at a very high temperature will immediately dry the compressed air and raise the same through corresponding high temperature and the air will be delivered from the coil 14; through the pipes 19 and 21 to the discharge nozzle 12 to the free open end of which itwill draw, as it passes out, sand from the sand dome 4. At the same time it will thorougl'lly dry the sand during its passage through the nozzle 12 and deliver the sand beneath the drive wheels 3 in a hot dry condition.

Having thus described the invention what "I claim is nozzle to dry out the sand therein and force the same from the nozzle.

,2. In a track sanding device, thecombination with a steam locomotive, including a smoke box and sand dome, of a sand discharge nozzle, means for conveying sand from said dome to said nozzle, aheating coil in-said smoke box, means for delivering compressed air-to said coil to be heated therein, and means for conveying the said air from said coil to and delivering the same into said nozzle to dry the sand therein and cause the same to be discharged therefrom.

In testimony whereof, Iatfixmy signature hereto.

WALTER C. BROWN-.-

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