US170067A

US170067A - Improvement in detonating railway-signals

Info

Publication number: US170067A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1875-11-16
Anticipated expiration: 1892-11-16

Description

s; DETWILLER. DETONATING RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

mime-a Nov. 16, 1875.

HENRY J. DETWILL-ER, 0F BETHLEHEM, nssrenon TO HERMAN A. Dos'rER ANDVOHARLES ROEPPER, OF SAME PLACE, AND WILLIAM J. TAYLOR,

0F oH 's'rEE, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN'DETONATENG RAlLwAv s'lGALs Specification forming part of Letters Patent No; 749,667, dated November 16, 1875; application filed- August 25, 1875.

' act description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains. to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. I

V The device is for use upon railway-rails for signaling trains under way by detonating explosion in. cases of obstruction upon the track in advance; and also for giving notice to the engineer on heavy freight-trains, when stopping upon long curves, that the train is intact when moving ofi', a torpedo being placed in such case to be passed over only by the rear car-wheels. Various devices for this purpose have been used and held in position upon the rail by arms, so that the wheels of the engine or rear car will pass over it and effect, by concussion, the explosion of the detonating-torpedo. The detonating element has been hermetically sealed in a glass vessel, and pro tected by a metallic casing, making in efl'ect two'cases. I

My object is to not only reduce the expense of the device to a minimum, but to increase its effectiveness. p

-In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a view in perspective of my improved railroad-torpedo; Fig. 2, a vertical cross-section of the same; and Fig. 3, a similar view of the cap, showing the cavity thereof, sealed by a thin bottom film.

A base and a cap-plate, wb, of sheet-iron are used, and the former has arms 0, by which to secure the device in place by clasping over the top and within the side curves of the plates c b are placed together, and secured When' this cavity' is filled the flat sides of the two by bending the side edges e of the cap over and beneath the two opposite edges only of the base, thus making a simple fastening for the plates, and avoiding the use of rivets,

.paper, or other suitable material laid over the bottom of the cap I), so as to completely seal the contents of the cavity. In this position the sealing-film f is flush with the joining surfaces of the cap and its base, the cavity being raised from one side only of the cap, and thereby becomes a lining or partition to separate the cavity from the base, and thereby obtain the simplest form or device for hermetically sealing the explosive compound. This sealing-film f is secured by cementing its edges upon the surface of the cap, and when so cemented it keeps the compound dry and free from contact with the base, so that in clasping the cap in place there is no friction upon the compound, as the film f froms a bearing bottom for the filled cavity.

This sealing-film constitutes an important and'advantageous element in the torpedo, as by it the two metallic plates are separated by a thin glazed surface, and thereby prevents the grains of the compound when dry from working out between the plates, and in this respect insures greater safety in handling the torpedo.

Its expense as a sealing device is comparatively nothing. It is itself protected and sealed by its position between the cap and the base, and, by such position is made secure.

Any suitable detonating compound may be employed. I claim- 1. In a detonating-signal or torpedo the combination, with the cavity d for the deto- In testimony that claim the foregoing I noting compound, of a, sealing-bottom film, f, have aflixed my signature in presence of two therefor, substantially as herein set forth. witnesses.

. 2. The combination with the base and cap 1 plates a b of a railroad-torpedo, of a lining or HENRY DETWILLER' sealing partition, f, interposed between them, Witnesses: and protected in the manner and for the pur- A. E. H. JOHNSON, 1 pose herein set forth. J. W. HAMILTON JomrsoN.