US2122154A - Heater for railway switches - Google Patents

Description

June 23, 1938. L. H.-V. moms I 2 54 HEATER FOR RAILWAY SWITCHES Filed Feb; 8, 1937 s Sheets-Sheet 1 June 28, 1938.- H. v. REYNOLDS 2,122,154

- HEATER FOR RAILWAY SWITCHES Filed Feb. 8, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 w '2 MM Q I I I I f f? nwamoR.

June 28, 1938. L. H. v. REYNOLbS 2,122,154

HEATER 1 0R RAILWAY SWITCHES Filed Feb. 8, 1937 s Sheets-Sheet s a r" r5 /5 i 1,

4 Z a INVENTOR.

v ATTORNEY.

Patented June 28, 1938 Ni'iED STATES PATET OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in heaters for railway switches.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an efiicient gas-fired heater construction designed for the purpose of melting snow and ice in and around railroad switches.

Another object of my invention is to provide a gas-fired heater for railway switches embodying a flame-confining combustion chamber, one wall of which is composed of a portion of the rail to be heated and which rail portion will form one of the confining walls of such confined combustion chamber against which a flame generated in said chamber will be caused to impinge so that a maximum degree of heat per unit of fuel burned may be transmitted to the rail and through the rail to the tie-plate by conduction.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in a heater for railway switches, a flame-confining combustion chamber having a flue opening or openings communicating with fiue passages or ducts open to the atmosphere at opposite ends.

Still another object of my invention is to provide, in a heater of the character described, an inspirator or mixing member for air and gas which will be confined in a separate compartment and preferably has indirect communication with the atmosphere through an inlet duct, passage or passages open at opposite ends.

Still other objects of my invention are to provide for a proper mixture of gas and air under conditions met along the roadway of a railway; to provide means whereby complete combustion of the mixed gas will be produced and a large percentage of confined heat from the products of combustion will be applied directly and transferred to the rail, and the temperature of] the released products of combustion will be very low.

Another object of my invention is to provide a switch heater unit which will be ruggedly constructed to withstand rough usage and to operate successfully in all kinds of weather and under the atmospheric turbulences, partial vacuums and pressures created by the passing of fast trains and under the usual high winds of the winter season encountered on railway properties, and to this end, I provide, in a heater of the character described, a double-chambered unit embodying a confined combustion chamber combined with a confined mixing chamber disposed adjacent thereto and independent ducts for each of said chambers, each separately open to the atmosphere to equalize air pressures in said combustion and mixing chambers, and each of said ducts being open at opposite ends to provide for confinement of said chambers and to neutralize the effect of air currents.

With these and. other objects in view, the inventioncomprises the combination of members and arrangement of parts so combined as to coact and co-operate with each other in the performance of the functions and the accomplishment of the results herein contemplated, and comprises in one of its adaptations the species or preferred form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a view in plan of a heater embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a. section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a modified form of my heater, Fig. 5 being a longitudinal vertical section on the line 55 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 6 being a 1ongitudinal horizontal section on the line 66 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figs. 7 to 10 illustrate another modified form of heater in which Fig. '7 is a horizontal section on the line 'l'| of Fig. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 99 of Fig. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 10 is a vertical cross-section on the line Ill-J0 of -Fig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 is an end-elevation of a heater adapted for application to the Web of a rail;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 11, looking toward open side thereof;

Fig. 13 is a vertical section on the line l3-I3 of Fig. 12, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 14 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line l4--l4 of Fig. 13, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 15 is a horizontal section on the line l5l5 of Fig. 12, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 16 is a vertical section on the line Iii-46 of Fig. 12, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 17 is a vertical section on the line ll-l'l of Fig. 12, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 of these drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, is a switch heater preferably comprising a double chambered unit embodying an inspirator or mixing chamber 2 and a combustion chamber 3. The unit I comprises, as shown, a casting polygonal in conformation having substantially rectangular chambers 2 and 3 completely separated from each other by a partition or wall 3. The unit I has mounted to extend longitudinally therein a gas tube 4 connected on the outside of said unit to a suitable supply of fuel, such as gas or gaseous vapor (not shown). A liquified petroleum gas product or bottled gas is preferably used. This gas is shipped in steel bottles of such size and weight as to be easily handled, usually one hundred (100) pounds of fuel per bottle. The liquid vaporizes readily at low temperatures in the container and flows to the burners under pressure controlled by a governor on the gas line, not shown.

As shown, the gas tube 4 passes through an opening 2 in the rear wall of the chamber 2, extends longitudinally through the same and has at its forward end a. nozzle t projecting through an opening 3 in the said separating wall 3' and into -ably sealed in any suitable manner to completely separate the two chambers and to exclude undesirable external air currents.

The combustion chamber 3, in these figures, is open at its upper end and provided with verticallyextending walls forming a confined chamber having at its upper end an open seat 3* adapted to be closed by and to abut against the bottom surface of the rail flange R. which in this embodiment, it is desired to heat. The bottom of such flange will form a cover or closure for the top of a confined combustion chamber within which the gas nozzle extends and within which the air-gas mixture may be ignited.

The heat of the gas flame in the confined combustion chamber will thus be applied directly to the rail which it is desired to heat and a maximum degree of heat per unit of fuel will be transferred to and absorbed by the said rail, and in the embodiment shown, because of the fact that the walls of the combustion chamber confine the flame and form a seat for the rail, the flame will impinge against the rail flange causing a direct transfer of heat from the flame to the rail in a confined space and also some of the heat of the flame absorbed by the walls of the combustion chamber will be transmitted to the rail R by conduction. A maximum degree of heat from the flame will thus be applied and transferred to the rail which, by conduction, will transmit heat to other parts, such as the tie-plate.

It will be seen that I have provided a confined combustion chamber and I also preferably pro-v vide a confined inspirator or mixing chamber 2 which, in addition to a bottom 2", four side walls 2 2 and 2 has an integral top or ceiling plate 2 and preferably has indirect inlet openings communicating, as hereinafter more particularly described, with an inlet duct or ducts open at opposite ends to the atmosphere.

In order to insure a constant flow of the air and gas mixture from the mixing or inspirator chamber to the burner in the combustion chamber, an equal pressure in both chambers is desirable and furthermore, because of the fact that heaters of this type are used in the open country, the effect of air currents, wind or other air conditions should be neutralized. With these ends in view, both the mixing chamber and the combustion chamber will be independently connected with the outer atmosphere in such manner that both chambers will be maintained at substantially atmospheric pressure, and means will be provided to avoid flicker or disturbance of the flame by air currents or wind.

In order to equalize pressures in the mixing and combustion chambers and also to neutralize the effectof air currents and wind both on the mixing elements in the mixing chamber and on the flame in the combustion chamber, the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is provided in the floor of the said mixing chamber with a pair of inlet openings 6 leading or communicating with a duct '8 open at opposite ends 1 and 7 (see Fig. 3) and the combustion chamber (see Fig. 4) is likewise provided with two pairs of outlet openings 8 and 9 leading or communicating with a duct I 0 also open at its opposite ends Ill and Ill respectively.

It will be seen that when the gas is ignited at Y the end of the nozzle 4, the flame will be applied directly against the bottom of the rail R and the products of combustion will travel in the directionof the arrows through the openings 8 and 9 and thence to the duct in which is open to the atmosphere and thus permits atmospheric pressure to prevail within the combustion chamber and also because of the fact that said duct I0 is open at its opposite ends, air or wind currents will be allowed to pass freely therethrough, and because of such free movement of the air or wind currents in opposite directions, the force thereof will be neutralized and the products of combustion will be enabled to escape at atmospheric pressure through either end [0' and Ill of the duct l0. Likewise, the duct 1 for the mixing chamber, being open at 7', 7 will neutralize the force of any air or wind currents passing therethrough and permit the entrance of quiet air through the inlet openings 6 into said mixing chamber. In this way, the mixing chamber and the combustion chamber will be independently maintained at atmospheric pressure and the force or effect of air currents or wind will be neutralized so that a proper supply of air will be admitted into the mixing chamber and the products of combustion from the combustion chamber will be permitted to escape freely therefrom. Also,

pressure from any source will be transmitted to both chambers simultaneously, the independent open-end ducts causing any such pressure to be immediately balanced in both chambers.

In the modified form of construction shown in Figs. Sand 6, I have shown a mixing chamber 2 struction of heating unit which embodies separate and independent combustion and inspiration chambers 2*, 3 having a gas tube 4* mounted therein in a manner very similar to the constructions hereinabove described. In this embodiment, however, I provide for the combustion chamber a pair of flue ducts IIJ having connection intermediate their ed-ges IO with the combustion chamber and open at their opposite ends as shown at ll] of Fig. 7. In this construction, I have provided a single duct I connected intermediate its ends with the inspiration chamber as shown at I and this duct is open at its opposite ends to the atmosphere as shown at I in Fig. 8. In this construction, I also preferably provide for supplying secondary air to the combustion chamber and with this end in view, -I have shown at the opposite corner of the housing, a duct II disposed parallel to the duct I As illustrated, the duct II is connected at II intermediate its ends with the combustion chamber at a position below the flame so as to supply secondary air to said combustion chamber and flame. This duct l I is similar to the duct I and is open to the atmosphere, at opposite ends Il In other respects, the construction is similar to those hereinabove disclosed except that the burner nozzle 4 is, instead of projecting the flame into the chamber by a nozale 4', as shown in Figs. 1 to 6, provided with a series of gas-burner holes 4 In Figs. 11 to 15 inclusive, I have shown another modified form of my invention in which a heater unit housing I2 is designed for contact with and connection to the web of the rail instead of to the bottom of the flange thereof, as hereinabove described. In this modified construction, the unit housing is provided with a combustion chamber I 3 and an independent inspiration chamber M. The combustion chamber I3 is bounded by a series of walls I3, I3 I3 and l3 adapted to form a flame confining chamber open to provide a seat at one side edge and adapted to be closed by con.- tact with a portion of the rail which forms one of the confining walls of said combustion chamber, and with the other walls hereinabove specified, provides a flame confining chamber or compartment. In this construction, the said combustion chamber communicates with a duct I5 intermediate the ends thereof, and as shown, communicates through an opening I5. The duct i5 is divided longitudinally at opposite ends for a portion of its length by partitions l5 which function as air-current straighteners, but is free of said partition at the intermediate portion as indicated at l5 of Fig. 11 and is connected through openings l5 with the combustion chamber I3. In this embodiment of my invention, the combustion chamber is preferably provided with a flame deflector [3 adapted to deflect the flame toward the seat I6 which contacts with and is closed by the web portion W of the rail R. The deflector l3 preferably has a portion I3 adapted to further deflect the flame in a downward direction so that said flame will be deflected both downwardly as well as sidewardly and into contact with the web portion W of the rail R. This downward deflection causes a longer travel of the products of combustion before they reach the flue openings l5 of the flue I5 and serves further to suitably confine the flame within said combustion chamher.

In this construction the inspiration chamber is in all respects similar to that hereinabove described, and the inspirator tube section passes through this inspirator compartment I l in substantially the same manner as hereinabove described. The inspiration chamber M is similarly separated and independent from the combustion chamber and is provided with air passages independently communicating with the atmosphere. As illustrated, the inspirator chamber is connected at M intermediate the ends of an air duct I! open at its opposite ends I'I' to the atmosphere and preferably provided at such opposite ends with longitudinal air-straightening partitions extending a short portion of the length of said duct H, the intermediate section of said duct being free of such partitions. In other respects the construction is similar to that hereinabove described.

What is claimed is:

l. A heater unit for railway switches embodying, in combination, a housing having a series of walls provided with edges terminating in a substantially common plane to form a seat, and a closure for said seat comprising a portion of a switch rail adapted to fit over said seat, said series of walls and said closure conjointly bounding a flame-confining combustion-compartment in said housing, a gas-burner disposed within said combustion-compartment in position to cause confinement of the flame therefrom between said series of walls and closure, another series of walls within said housing bounding a separate inspirator-oompartment, an inspirator section connected with said gas-burner and located within said inspirator-compartment, means for supplying gas to said inspirator-section, and independent air-passages between said combustion and inspirator-compartments and the atmosphere for equalizing air-pressures therein.

2. A heater unit for railway switches embodying, in combination, a housing having a series of walls provided with edges terminating in a substantially common plane to form a seat, and a closure for said seat comprising a portion of a switch rail adapted to fit over said seat, said series of walls and said closure conjointly bounding a flame-confining combustion-compartment in said housing, means for producing within said combustion-compartment a gas flame located and confined between said series of walls and seat-closure, and a flue duct connected intermediate its ends with combustion-compartment and having at opposite ends thereof openings to the atmosphere.

3. A heater unit for railway switches embodying, in combination, a housing having a series of walls provided with edges terminating in a substantially common plane to form a seat, and a closure for said seat comprising a portion of a switch rail adapted to fit over said seat, said series of walls and said closure conjointly bounding a flame-confining combustion-compartment in said housing, a gas-burner disposed within said combustion-compartment in position to cause confinement of the flame therefrom between said series of walls and closure, another series of walls within said housing bounding a separate inlspirator-compartment, an inspirator section connected with said gas-burner and located with said inspirator-compartment, means for supplying gas to said inspirator-section, and an airinlet duct connected intermediate its ends with said inspirator-compartment and having at opposite ends thereof, openings to the atmosphere.

4. A heater unit for railway switches embodying, in combination, a housing having a series of walls provided with edges terminating in a substantially common plane to form a seat, and a closure for said seat comprising a portion of a switch rail adapted to fit over said seat, said series of walls and said closure conjointly bounding a flame-confining combustion-compartment in said housing, a gas-burner disposed within said combustion-compartment in. position to cause confinement of the flame therefrom between said series of walls and closure, another series of walls Within said housing bounding a separate inspirator-compartment, an inspirator section connected with said gas-burner and located within said inspirator-compartment, means for supplying gas to said inspirator-section, and independent passages comprising ducts between each of said inspirator and combustion-compartments and the atmosphere, each of said ducts being independently connected intermediate its ends with one of'said compartments and having its opposite ends open to the atmosphere.

5. A heater unit for railway switches embodying, in combination, a housing having a flameconfining combustion chamber having at one wall an open seat completely surrounded by a series of imperforate wallsall of which are provided with edges terminating in a substantially common plane to form said seat, and a closure for said seat comprising a portion of a switch rail adapted to fit over said seat, a burner for producing within said combustion compartment a gas flame located and confined between said series of walls and seat-closure, said series of walls and said closure conjointly bounding said flame-confining combus tion-compartment, and a flue connected with said combustion chamber at a position spaced from said seat.

6. A heater unit for railway switches embodying, in combination, a housing having a flameconfining combustion chamber having at one wall an open seat completely surrounded by a series of Walls all of which are provided with edges; terminating in a substantially common plane to form a seat, and a closure for said seat comprising a portion of a switch rail adapted to fit over said seat, said series of walls and said closure conjointly bounding a flame-confining combustion-compartment in said housing, a gas-burner disposed within said combustion-compartment in position to cause confinement of the flame therefrom between said series of Walls and closure, another series of walls within said housing bounding a separate inspirator-compartment, an inspirator-section connected with said gas-burner and located within said inspirator-compartment, means for supplying gas to said inspirator-section, a fiue conduit having a connection with said combustion chamber at a position spaced from said seat and independent air-admission means for said inspirator-compartment.

LLOYD H. V. REYNOLDS.

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