US2324602A - Locomotive hose connection - Google Patents

Description

July 20, 1943.

G. D. SPRANKLE LOCOMOT IVE HO SE CONNECTION Filed March 27, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: Gea1yeD Zara/115k,

ATTORNEYS.

July 20, 1943. G. 0. SPRANKLE LOCOMOTIVE HOSE CONNECTION 2 Sheets+Sheet 2 Filed March 27, 1942 INVENTOR- G'eazge ll .S 'oz'a/zkie,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 20, 1943 V UNITED: STATES PATENT camel; n e I 7 2 3 n I I; l 1 t LocoMorIvE HOSE CONNEQTION George D. Sprankle, Lower Me -ion Township, Montgomery County, Pa., assignor'toj The Pennsylvania Railroad Company, Philadelphia, Pa

a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 27, 1942,,Serial No; 5136 4319 sclaimsj (Cl. 105-47) 1/ a This invention hasgeneral reference to ilexlble conduits intermediate relatively; movable nnitsand more particularly relates to hose connections between a locomotive and the tender for delivery of water from the supply tank on said tender to the locomotive boiler feed injector. Under general practice such connection has con-r sistedof a single length of water hose, but in cidentto more recent development of longer type locomotives, and the resultant greater rel ative lateral motion between the rearend of said locomotive and the tender, it has been found disadvantageous to employ a single length of hose inasmuch as the latter too closely approaches, if not actually drags on, the road-bed when rounding sharp curves or when the locomotive passes over tangent track.

The primary aim of this invention is to overcome the noted disadvantage by employing plural hose lengths, arranged in tandem, and so mounting the intervening connector-means as to freely accommodate the increased lateral motion of the locomotive rear end and the tender, while positively ensuring that the trailer length of such connected hose shall always be at an elevation clear of the track.

A further object of this invention is to connect together two lengths of hose, of the species above referred to, by an improved coupler-device,

and to mount said device with respect to the locomotive and tender so that both the leading and trailing lengths of the coupled hose are subjected to minimum torsional strain, whereby the life thereof is substantially increased and the possibility of disruption practically eliminated.

Another aim of the invention is to enable the economic usage of spare lengths of water hose and thereby effect an appreciable saving of material.

With the stated objects, and ancillary advantages, in view, this invention essentially consists in the novel construction and the combination of parts as set forth, more particularly, in the concluding claims herewith; while a preferred embodiment of said invention is explained with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification, and wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the views.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation-of the rear left-hand portion of a locomotive (with portions of the structure in section) and tender having the improved water hose connection of this invention installed therebetween.

Fig. 2 is an end vieix looking from the right of the preceding figure towards the left-hand thereof. Q 1 V Fig. 3 is a top plan view with portions of the structure in section; and, c Q

Fig. 4 isa perspective viewof a detail, hereinafter fully explained. r r t In describing the embodiment or the ifiVBIi-c tion, exemplified by the aboyecaptioned figures; specific terms will be employed for the sakefof clarity, but it is to be understoodthe scope of said invention is notthereby limited; (each such term being intended to embrace all equivalents which perform the same function for an analogous purpose.

As illustrated in the drawings, the rear end of a locomotive is comprehensively designated by the reference symbol 5; a fragmentary portion of the tender being indicated at 6; while I is a portion of the stoker connection; 8 the trailer-truck frame; 9 the wheels thereof; Ill the locomotive frame rear cross-tie; and H a conventional non-lifting injector for supplying water from the tender tank valve I2 to said injector for feed into the boiler l3, all in accordance with prevailing practice, while said parts are merely referred'to for the purpose of better explaining the instant improvements.

It is to be remarked that the injector II is, preferably, sustained by an angle-bracket l4 afforded longitudinal guidance by a clamp device I5 on the top of the cross-tie ID with fulcrum connection at Hi to the boiler rear end-supporting and longitudinally-shiftable pad I1, in accordance with the disclosure of a companion application for patent filed the 27th day of March, 1942, in the name of Harry A. Hoke, under Serial No. 436,428, said application subsequently maturing as U. S. Patent No. 2,304,919; dated December 15, 1942, although the present invention not necessarily restricted thereby, providing the injector II is mounted in fixed relation to the back end of the boiler 13.

As illustrated in the drawings, and in accord- I 23 and its end closure 24 with securement by conventional means 25, in an obvious manner; while the lower or inner end edge of said section 22 is suitably shaped or arched at 26 to clear the piston rod or center boss 21. In addition, the bracket 2| also embodies an intermediate section 28, obtusely-angled with respect to the plane of the section 22; and an extension 29, similarly angled relative to the plane of the section 28, having its terminal portion appropriately notched-out at 30, to snugly receive the elbow-coupler 20, and to which said bracket 2| is rigidly secured by welding 3! around both side edges of the notch 30. Obviously the bracket 2| may be otherwise shaped and aifixed to the trailer-truck frame 8 without in any way departing from the scopeof this invention.

The front hose length [8 has its rear end preferably attached, by conventional securing means 32, to the upper end of the elbow coupler 20 with the forward end similarly connected by means .i

33 to the injector H. On the other hand, the rear hose length l9 has its front end attached by means 34 to the lower end of the elbow'coupler 2|], with the rear end correspondingly connected at '35 to the outlet of the tender tank valve l2.

-From the foregoing itwill be readily understood that by this invention a simple and effective means is provided whereby hose lengths, in tandem, can be installed betweena'locomotive and tender, irrespective of the degree of relative lateral motion therebetween, without any possibility of trackway-drag developing. Still" further, while a. specific application of this invention has been herein disclosed, the same is not to be considered as limitative, as the invention is obviously susceptible of other application and detail changes to meet different service conditions, without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim: 1. In a locomotive including a trailer truck the combination with the boiler injector and the tender feed water tank valve of two lengths of hose in tandem therebetween, an elbow coupling the adjoining ends of said hose lengths with the forward and rear ends respectively attached to the injector and the tank valve, and a bracket projection from the elbow for attachment to a rigid part of the locomotive trailer truck.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the trailer truck carries a booster device, and the elbow-bracket is of irregular planar formation, said bracket embodying asection for inset application with respect to the booster device, arid said section has an arched lower edge" forthe purpose specified.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the elbow-bracket consists of plate metal shaped to include a main attaching portion, an intermediate section'obtusely-angled relativeto the plane of said attaching-portion, and a bifurcated similarly-angled extension for permanent connection to the elbow coupling.

GEORGE D. SPRANKLE.

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