US2084895A - Safety device - Google Patents

Description

June 22, 1937. H. A. DEMPSEY 2,084,895

SAFETY DEVICE Filed Nov. 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l s /6 3 nventor j} 5 HA Em A. pEfi/PEE) x4 r/rf Gttomegs June 22, 1937. H. A. DEMPSEY r 2,084,895

SAFETY DEV I CE Filed NOV. 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet? Z'mvcntor HA RE) ALDEN/ 55) Patented June 22, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY DEVICE Harry A. Dempsey, Lakewood, Ohio Application November 16, 1935, Serial No. 50,228

10 Claims. (01. 291-33) This invention relates to improvements in Figure 4 is a detailed showing of a sand imsafety devices for preventing skidding of motor peller wheel; vehicles on slippery surfaces and more particu- Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 larly to an accessory designed to place gritty maof Figure 2;

5 terial such as finely crushed stone, sand, cinders Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 5 or the like on the road-way adjacent the wheels of Figure 2; of a motor vehicle to improve the traction of Figure 7 illustrates my invention as applied to same. For convenience all such materials will a tractor-trailer type of motor vehicle; be referred to generally as sand and similarly the Figure 8 is an elevation taken along line 8-8 device may conveniently be referred to as a sandof Figure 7 10 ing device. Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a It is among the objects of this invention to promodified form of my invention; vide a sanding device for motor vehicles which Figures 10 and 10a are sectional views illuswill definitely maintain a quantity of sand immetrating modified forms of impeller wheel blades;

diately adjacent to the vehicle wheels and which Figure 11 is a detailed showing of a modified 15 will quickly and positively discharge sand upon form of spiral conveyor which may be employed demand of the vehicle operator. A further obin conjunction with the species illustrated in Figject of the invention is to provide a sanding deures 1 to 8; vice having means to positively move a quantity Figure 12 is a bottom view of the device shown of sand from a storage supply to a discharge port in Figures 2 and 3; 20

and automatically seal the storage supply with Figure 13 is a detailed showing of a sanding derespect to the discharge port subsequent to movevice having an auxiliary discharge pipe which ment of said means. A further object of the inmay be employed in conjunction therewith whenvention is to provide a sanding device which will ever desired.

upon actuation by the operator successively move Referring to the drawings the sanding device 25 quantities of sand from a storage supply to a disidentified generally at 2 in Figure 1 preferably charge port immediately adjacent the vehicle comprises a rectangular container 3 formed of wheels and which will close the storage supply sheet metalor the like and proportioned to fit with respect to the discharge port in absence of beneath the running board of a conventional operator actuation. A further object of the inmotor vehicle. The container is provided with a 30 vention is to provide a sanding device in which a partition as at 4 adjacent one end to form a houspair of moving elements successively move sand ing thereat for a motor 1 and is partitioned as at 0 t e like o a Storage pp y to a c arge 5 at the other end to form a gear housing for a port and one of said devices is arranged to autosand impeller mechanism. Said last named parmatically seal the discharge port with respect to tition is preferably inclined somewhat with re- 35 the other device and the storage supply. A furspect to the bottom wall of the container and the ther object of the invention is to provide a sandbottom wall is preferably formed with co-operating device in which a storage supply container is ing inclined surfaces to facilitate the movement formed with a laterally oifset outlet and discharge of the sand downwardly and longitudinally of the 40 openings and in which a member successively container during operation of the sanding device. moves quantities of sand or the like from said The container may be provided with one or more outlet to said discharge opening. A further obfilling spouts such as 6 which project upwardly ject-of the invention is to provide a sanding dethrough the running board of the vehicle in a vice according to the foregoing objects that is position conveniently accessible for filling. The

simple in construction, reliable in operation, inlower wall or bottom of the container 3 is pro- 45 expensive to manufacture'and that may be readvided with an outlet l2 arranged centrally and iiy applied to various types of motor vehicles. rearwardly of the container and exposing a por- Further objects and advantages will appear from tion of the impeller l0. Passing over said outlet the following description and the accompanying and extending longitudinally of the bottom of the 5 drawings wherein: container 8 is a screw or spiral conveyor shaft 8.

Figure 1 illustrates a sanding device as applied The forward end of the shaft projects through to a conventional passenger automobile; the partition 4 and is preferably provided thereat Figure 2 is a median longitudinal vertical secwith reduction gearing l3--I4 connected to the tion of a preferred form of sanding device; driving motor I. The other end of said shaft 5g Figure 3 is a horizontal section of the same; projects through the inclined partition 5 and is fitted thereat with a spur gear I operatively connected to the impeller III of the discharge mechanism. When the container 3 is provided with a supply of sand, crushed rock or the like and the 5 motor I operated, the spiral ribs or blade portions 9 of the shaft 8 function to move the sand disposed about the shaft 8 toward the rear end of the container andtoward and above the aperture I2 To insure that the supply of sandiwill be conserved when the sandingdevice is inoperative and cured to the lower surface of the container by spot-welding or other suitable means and is provided centrally with a pin or shaft II which serves as a pivot pin for the sand impeller wheel II). The impeller wheel Iii, see Fig. 4, preferably comprises a hub portion I8 and an outer rim portion I9 joined to each other by radially extending blades 20. The hub portion I8 is mounted for free rotation upon the'pin II and the blades 20 are arranged between and preferably substantially normal to the flat bottom surface of the pan II and the fiat overlying bottom surface of the container 3, see Fig. 5. The outer rim I9 of the impeller wheel II) is provided with notches or gear teeth 2i proportioned to cooperate with the gear I5 on the rear end of the shaft 8.

The sand impeller wheel I0 is preferably arranged as shown in Figure 2 wherein the center of the wheel is ofi-set rearwardly with respect to the outlet I2 of the container 3 whereby the sand conveyed longitudinally of the container 3 will drop into the pan II between the spokes or blades 20 of the impeller wheel I0. Rotation of the impeller wheel carries the sand so positioned around and discharges same through the discharge port IS in the lower rearward wall of the pan II. The opening I2 is preferably proportioned to have a semi-circular outline at its forward edge in which the radius is somewhat less than the radius of the impeller wheel and with its rear edge spaced away from the hub ends of the impeller blades and with its side edges spaced about 120 apart. This proportion provides that the compartments between the blades 20 are each greater in area than the intercepted area of the outlet I2. This arrangement provides a little extra space in each compartment to accommodate coarse particles which might otherwise tend to retard or interfere with the free rotation of the impeller. Preferably the diameter of the casing II exceeds the diameter of the ring.

I9 of the impeller I0 to enclose the toothed flange 2I and thereby provides an enclosed annular space S around the impeller wheel. I prefer to provide at least a small communication between this space and the discharge spout It as at S to permit the discharge of any solid material that might inadvertently enter the space S. I also contemplate as shown in Fig. 9 that hot exhaust gases may be led into the space S at the forward side thereof and discharged through the opening wheels of the vehicle and be independently controlled by the switch or switches 25, or may be applied to any one wheel or any pair of wheels or the rear wheels .only as illustrated in Figure 1. Where trailers are drawn by a motor tractor, one or more sanding devices may be carried by the trailers and electrically controlled by the driver of the tractor.

To insure that the discharge port or spout I6 and the sand impeller device arranged thereabove will notbe rendered inoperative by cold or by freezing of material thrown or splashed thereupon, I prefer to conduct hot exhaust gases from the engine exhaust through'conduit -26 arranged under the container 3 and about the side of the casing II in which the sand loaded impeller compartments are disposed, and around K the discharge port I6. The conduit 26 being arranged beneath the main body of the container 3 also heats said containerand maintains the storage supply therein in a dry usable condition at all times. A

A modified form of my invention is illustrated in Figure 9 in which the lower wall or bottom of the container 3a is inclined rearwardly to insure movement of sand rearwardly therealong toward an outlet IZa, similar to the outlet I2, the jarring movement of the vehicle in motion facilitating the movement of the sand. The motor I in this embodiment is preferably geared directly to the" impeller wheel Ill. The motor is separated from the storage part of the container by a partition 28 and the sanding device operates in other respects as in the preferred embodiment of Figures 2 and 3 heretofore described. -In this embodi-v-l ment I have shown an exhaust gas conduit 21 leading through the container 3a. adjacent its lower wall and into the annular space between the impeller wheel I0 and the side walls of the casing I'Ia, thence to the discharge spout Ilia: through the opening IIb.

A sanding device constructed according to my invention may be economically adapted to tractor-trailer combinations as shown in Figures 7 and 8 wherein a relatively large sand storage con-f tainer 30 is arranged immediately behind the cab of the tractor part ofthe unit and an impeller device 32 of the type such as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 9 is mounted at each side of said container 30. The intermediate portion of the lower wall of the container 30 is preferably formed with oppositely inclined portions 3| which facilitate the movement of the sand toward the sand impellers 32 and cooperate to form a housing for a motor 33 which may be provided with oppositely extending shafts 34 arranged to move the sand toward the impellers and drive the sand impellers in a manner heretofore described. In some instances it may be found desirable to provide the discharge ports 35 of the tractor sanding device -with a tail Pipe 36 such as shown in Figure 13. Such a tail pipe should preferably extend substantially vertical and offer substantially no resistance or delay in delivery of sand from the impeller to the road surface. I prefer to use the While I prefer that the impeller blades 20 he straight, thick enough to be substantially rigid, and be normal to and have a scraping contact with the surfaces above and below between which they are confined in their movement, I contemplate that the handling of a wide range of shapes and sizes of material may be facilitated with blades of other designs and constructions. An alternative form of impeller blade is illustrated in Figure wherein the metallic portion of the 10 blade a is fitted with a more or less resilient face 20b made of felt, rubber or similar material. The latter type of impeller blade may be suited to certain types of sand or crushed rock used in the sander. In this connection I have found that 15 sand or crushed stone having particles about in size are well suited for trucks and material about the size of buck-shot operates efliciently in connection with lighter vehicles, such as passenger automobiles.

2 In Figure 10a '1 have illustrated an alternative form of impeller blade construction wherein the upper edge of the blade 41! is provided with a resilient or flexible member 43 which may flex with respect to the blade and the edge of the outlet formed in the lower wall 44 of the container 3. The .direction'of the movement of the impeller wheel and blade 4! with respect to the outlet in the wall 44 is indicated by the arrow 45 and the member 43 is preferably secured to the trailing or rear face of the blade 4|, the forward face being for the purpose of description on the side of the arrow 45. The flexing of the member 43 will permit the metallic part of the blade to move with respect to sand particles which happen to be positioned at the upper edge of the blade as the blade passes-beneath the edge of the outlet in the container wall 44 and such particles will merely be forced over the edge of the member 43 into the next compartment between the blades. when discharging movement of the wheel ceases or during movement of the blades from the container outlet to the discharge port the member 33 will be positioned against the underside of the wall 44 and effectively seal the 45 sand therein at least against movement toward the discharge port. The spacing of the upper edge of the metallic blade M from the wall 44 or the vertical extent of the flexible member 48 may be governed by the size of the material be- 50 ing handled and would probably not greatly exceed the maximum diameter of the stone or sand particles being moved.

Auxiliary storage tanks may be arranged in the ,r luggage compartment as at at or under the vehlcle seat. as at M or elsewhere, said auxiliary tanks connected by means of a. flexible tubing 42 or the like with the container 3. I prefer that the container 3 in its relation to any reserve or auxiliary storage tank be large enough to supply the impeller I0 with sufllcient material for any emergency without any delay incident to movement of the material from the storage tanks to the main container 3. Among the advantages flowing from the construction shown wherein the 5 mechanism which positively moves the sand is arranged immediately adjacent the wheels, is that the assembly is operative to immediately respond to the operator's actuation to place a quantity of sand between the wheels and roadway regardless of the time which may be required for sand to move from large supply tanks which of necessity are remote from the wheels.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a sanding device which is positive in 7 its sanding action and is constructed to conserve the sand supply when the device is not in operation. While I have described in considerable detail preferred embodiments of my invention, it is obvious that others skilled in the art to which this appertains may make various changes without departing from the spirit and scope or the inventionas'definedby the claims.

I claim:

, 1. In a sanding device for motor vehicles, a

storagecontainer having an outlet in its lower wall, means within said container to move sand toward said outlet,a discharge port oflset with respect to said outlet, means comprising a wheel having impeller blades rotatively mounted with respect to said outlet and port to successivelyv move quantities of sand from said outlet to said port, said last named means being actuated by said first named means. I

2. In a sanding device-for motor vehicles, a storage container having an outlet in its lower wall, means within said'container to move sand toward said outlet, a discharge port offset with respect to said outlet, means comprising a wheel having impeller blades rotatively mounted with respect to said outlet and port to successively move quantities of sand from said outlet to said port, said last named means being actuated by said first named means. and driving means for said first named means arranged to be controlled by the vehicle operator.

3. In a sanding device for motor vehicles, a longitudinal storage compartment having an outlet adjacent one end, a screw conveyor arranged adjacent the bottom wall of said container in'a position to move sand to said outlet upon actuation, a discharge port oflset with respect to said outlet and an impeller'wheel interposed between said outlet and said discharge port, said impeller wheel comprising spaced blades defining compartments which are successively aligned with said outlet and said discharge port by wheel rotation, an operative connection between said screw conveyor and impeller wheel, and driving means controlled by the vehicle operator operatively connected to said screw conveyor.

4. In a. sanding device for motor vehicles. a container having an outlet in its lower wall, a conveyor arranged longitudinally within said container to move sand contained therein toward said outlet, means to conduct sand from said outlet comprising a. casing secured beneath said outlet provided with a discharge port offset with respect to said outlet, a wheel arranged within said last named compartment having blades arranged normal to the bottom wall of said casing and said compartment and bearing againstsaid last named surfaces, a hub portion connecting the inner ends of said blades adjacent the center of the wheel and a rim portion connecting the outer ends of said blades thereby forming a series of pockets which have their upper sides open to said outlet and their lower sides open to said discharge port whereby upon wheel rotation said pockets move quantities of sand from said outlet to said discharge port, said wheel rim portion operatively connected to said conveyor means to transmit conveyor motion to said wheel, a driving mechanism operatively connected to said conveyor and a control for said driving means arranged within the motor vehicle in a position conveniently accessible to the operator.

5. In a sanding device for motor vehicles, a storage container having an outlet in its lower wall, a housing member arranged beneath said container having a discharge port oifset with re- 75 spect to said outlet, means rotatably mounted 'with'respect to said outlet and said port to suc- -blades of said series forming sand receiving pockets, at least one edge of each of said blades being spaced'with respect to said lower wall, resilient means extending upwardly from said spaced edge,

and closing the space between the rigid portion' of the blade and said lower wall whereby said sand receiving pockets are sealed with respect to each other and with respect to said container outlet.

6. A sanding device for motor vehicles comprising a storage container having a lower wall provided with an outlet, a member connected to said container having a wall parallel to said lower wall, a discharge port formed in said member wall offset with respect to said outlet, means arranged intermediate said walls adjacent said outlet to positively move quantitiesof sand from said outlet to said discharge port comprising an impeller wheel mounted for pivotal movement on said container, said wheel having radially extending blades arranged substantially normal to said walls to define sand receiving compartments therebetween, the edges of the blades adjacent said outlet being spacedwith respect to said outlet and provided with a flexible sealing member having portions extending at an angle with respect to each other, one of said portions disposed substantially parallel with respect to said lower wall and the other portion extending subsantially parallel to the blade supporting same whereby said sealing member may flex with respect to said lower wall to accommodate particles of sand positioned between the blade edge and the edge of said outlet as the blade moves with respect thereto.

7. In a sanding device for motor vehicles, a

' container having an outlet. in its lower wall, a

conveyor arranged longitudinally within said container to move sand contained therein toward .said outlet, means to conduct sand from said outlet comprising a casing secured beneath said outlet provided with a discharge port ofiset with respect to said outlet, a wheel arranged within said ;last named compartment provided with blades having resilient edge portions arranged normal to the bottom wall of said casing and said compartment, a hub portion connecting the .lnner ends of said blades adjacent the center of the wheel and a rim portion connecting the outer ends of said blades thereby forming a series of pockets which have their upper sides open to said outlet and their lower sides open to said discharge port whereby upon wheel rotation said pockets move quantities of sand from said outlet to said discharge port, said wheel rim portion operatively connected to said conveyor means to transmit conveyor motion to said wheel, a driving mechanism operatively connected to said conveyor and a control for said driving means arranged within the motor vehicle in a position conveniently accessible to the operator.

8. In a sanding device for motor vehicles, a

storage container having an outlet in, a lower portion thereof, a housing member carried by said containerprovided. with upper and lower walls,

.said lower wall having a discharge port therein oflset with respect to said outlet, means rotatably mounted with respect to said outlet and said port to successively move quantities of sand from said outlet to'said port comprising a hub portion having a series of radially extending blades arranged subsantially normal tosaid walls, adjacent blades of saidseries forming sand receiving pockets, the edges of each of said blades being spaced slightly with respect to said walls, flexible means extending from at least the lower edges and closing the space between the spaced edge portion oi. the

blade and the adjacent wall whereby said sand receiving pockets are sealed with respect to each other. a r

9. A sanding device for motor vehicles comprising a storage container having a lower wall provided with an outlet, a member connected to said container having a wall parallel to said lower wall, a discharge port formed-in said member wall ofiset with respect to said outlet, means arranged intermediate said walls adjacent said outlet to positively move quantities of sand from said outlet to said discharge port comprising an impeller wheel mounted for pivotal movement with respect to said container, said wheel having radially extending blades arranged substantially normal to said walls to define sand receivingpo'ckets therebetween, the edges of the blades being spaced I I with respect to said walls and provided with flexi- "within said last named casing provided with blades having resilient edge portions arranged normal to the bottom wall of the casing and bearing thereagainst, a hub portion connecting the inner ends of said blades adjacent the center of the wheel and a rim portion connecting the outer ends of the blades, said blades thereby forming a series of pockets open upwardly to said;outlet and open downwardly to said discharge port,"

whereby upon wheel rotation said pockets move quantities of sand from said outlet to said discharge port, said wheel rim portion arranged to be engaged by driving mechanism, a driving motor provided with reduction gearing operatively connected to said wheel rimand a control for said driving motor arranged within the motor vehicle in a position conveniently accessible to the operator.

HARRY A. DEMPSEY.

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