US1846154A - Sand catching means for railways - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 23; 1932. I T. J. SKILLMAN 1,846,154

SAND CATCHING MEANS FOR RAILWAYS Filed March 21, 1931 WITNESSES INVENTOR:

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Patented Feb. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PAITEVNTOFFICE,

THOMAS J. SKILLMAN, OF ARDMOBE, PENNSYLVANIA, H

m1) GATGHING mums roe amwaYs a Application filed March 21, 1931. Serial No; 524,232.

This invention relates to means useful in connection with railways for catching sand or the like employed to increase traction incident to train starting.

The sand used for the stated purpose is ordinarily uncontrolled, i. e., permitted to drop onto the rail flanges, the ties and the tie plates, and ultimately finds its way between the contacting surfaces of these parts, thereby causing rapid abrasion and deterioration.

Excessive accumulation of the sand is objectionable since it renders the tracks unsightly, and particularly because it occurs at the railroad stations where the train stops are most 1 frequently made. Moreover, when wet, the sand often causes short circuiting ofthe rails with attendant interference in the electric operation of signal equipment along the railway. To extract the accumulated sand, it

has generally been the practice heretofore to periodically remove the ballast from between the ties for screening, and after screening, to replace it. Obviously, these operations are costly by reason of the labor involved, and

therefore constitute a considerable item in the expense of road maintenance.

Considered in its broadest aspect, my invention is directed toward overcoming the above recited drawbacks; and this desiderata I secure through the provision of relatively inexpensive means in association with the track rails whereby the sand is caught immediately as it drops from the heads of the rails after having performed the function for which it was intended.

A further aim of my invention is to provide for the support of sand catching means characterized as aforesaid, with capacity for ready removal when access must be had to the rails to enable tamping and lining of the tracks.

One way in which the foregoing and other objects and corresponding advantages may be readily realized in practice will be manifest from the description which follows in coordination with the attached drawings, wherein Fig. I shows a perspective view of a portion of a railway track equipped withmy to improved sand catching means; and wherein Fig. II shows a cross section of the organization. a With more detailed reference to these illustrations, the numeral 5 designates one of the track rails; the numeral 6, the ties; andthe co numeral 7, thetie plateswhereby the rails are secured in position on the ties,-the aforesaid parts being all standard both as regards design-"and arrangement 1 i i i a For the purpose of catchingthesand employed to increase traction in starting of trains, I provide means inthe' form of troughs 8 alon'gopposite sides of the track rail 5. These troughs are preferably fashioned from sheet metal; and,as shown, are so propor tioned cross-sectionally as to fit the side hollows of the rail between the 'railhead 9 and thebase flange 10. a

The functionof holding the troughs 8 to the rail 5 with capacity for ready removal when requiredto enable tamping and lining of the track, I vest in spring supporting brackets 11 which, like the troughs, are fabricated from sheet metal. The brackets 11, it will be observed, are formed with foot por 7 tions 12 which rest on theties 6 whereto they are secured byspikes or screw bolts 13; and with vertical arm portions 14 that reach up from the ties, the said arm portions terminating at their tops in clip-like ends 15 which so are adapted to engage rolled outer edge beads 16 of the troughs 8 as shownto the best advantage in Fig. II.

In practice the troughs are made to a length--say thirteen feet or one third of the standard rail lengthwhich will permit of their being readily handled incident to application to, and removal from the rails; and in order to clear the joint bars 17 (Fig. I) connecting the contiguous ends of the rail sections, the said troughs are cut away as shown at 18. I

Dislodgmeut of the troughs 8 is effected by withdrawing, i. e. springing back the brackets 11, with the aid of a crow bar or like tool, to detach their clip-like ends 15 from the trough beads 16; whereupon said troughs are simpl lifted away from the rails, the latter being thereby exposed for the performance upon them of any operations such as those hereinbefore mentioned.

The accumulatedsand may be recovered from time to time for re-use by shovelling the same out of the troughs; or it may be drawn out by employing a suitable suction means orapparatus for the purpose, as may be found expedient or desirable.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a track-rail, of

troughs along opposite sides of the .rail to catch sand or the like, thereby to prevent it from falling onto the track ties or. the road bed; and means for supporting the trough with capacity for ready removal.

2. The combination with a track rail, of troughs fitting into the hollows along oppositeisides of the rail and adapted to catch sand or the like, therebyto prevent it from falling onto the track ties or the road bed; and means for holding the troughs to the rails with capacity for ready removal. 3. The combination with a track rail, of troughs fitting intothe hollows along opposite sides of the rail andadapted 'tozcatch sand. or the like, thereby to prevent it from falling onto the ties or' the road bed, and spring supports to hold the troughsto the rail with capacity for ready removal. -7

4. The combination with a track rail,* of

sheet metal troughs fitting into the hollows along opposite sides of the rail and adapted to catch sand or the like, thereby to prevent it from falling onto'the track ties or the road bed; and spring clip brackets reachingup fromtherail tiesand engaging beads on the troughs to hold the latter to the rails with capacity for ready removaL,

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name atr Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this nineteenth day of March, 1931.

THOMAS J; SKILLMAN.

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