US556449A - Pneumatic signal-operating device - Google Patents

Pneumatic signal-operating device Download PDF

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US556449A
US556449A US556449DA US556449A US 556449 A US556449 A US 556449A US 556449D A US556449D A US 556449DA US 556449 A US556449 A US 556449A
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piston
line
chamber
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    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60TVEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL; ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES
    • B60T17/00Component parts, details, or accessories of power brake systems not covered by groups B60T8/00, B60T13/00 or B60T15/00, or presenting other characteristic features
    • B60T17/18Safety devices; Monitoring
    • B60T17/22Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
    • B60T17/228Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices for railway vehicles

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  • This invention relates to new and useful improvements in mechanisms for operating alarms and signals at one or more places at the same time, as may be selected; and it consists in the combinations of devices and elements hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.
  • My invention has for its object, among others, to provide simple and efficient means readily applied and automatically causing compressed air to operate sound alarming-instruments and signaling-instruments displaying colors, words, or characters, and for makin g and breaking electrical circuits, or effect at the same time two or more of these operations and results, as may be found to be advantageous, for indicating that the thing or place with which this invention has connection is not in its normal or intended condition, or occupancy or non-occupancy.
  • Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of an apparatus for use in the practice of my invention and illustrating means which may be employed for operating alarming and signaling instruments and breaking and making electrical circuits communicating with distant instruments for signaling or alarming purposes.
  • Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a part of a railway-train employing my invention for display of signals and sounding alarms when the brakes of the train, operated by air, are out of order or working condition and when the safe in a car of the train is being tampered with.
  • Fig. 3 is a side view of an alarm-line hose preferably employed on a railway-train in connection with the usual train-line air-hose employed in connection with adjuncts for operating air-brakes.
  • Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of an apparatus for use in the practice of my invention and illustrating means which may be employed for operating alarming and signaling instruments and breaking and making electrical circuits communicating with distant instruments for signaling or alarming purposes.
  • Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a part of
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a valve of preferred form for use in connection with said alarm-line hose and train-line hose employed in the train and illustrating the plug of the valve turned to a position for preventing the apparatus from operating the alarming and signaling devices.
  • Fig. 5 is a sectional view of said valve when its plug is in position for allowing the apparatus to operate.
  • Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the valve with lever-handle removed.
  • Fig. '7 is a side.
  • Fig. 8 is an end view of the same, taken at line 2 2 in Fig. 7.
  • FIG. 1 A, Figs. 1 and 2 is an apparatus which forms one part of my invention and'is employed in combination with devices and mechanisms, as will be hereinafter described.
  • This apparatus A comprises the cylinder B containing the piston-chamber b and cylinder 13 containing the compressedair chamber b which chambers communicate with each other so that air may have passage from the former to the latter when the apparatus is being charged and the reverse When being operated for sounding alarms or displaying signals.
  • These cylinders may be of any suitable form and comparative size, as may be preferred or be found to be advantageous, and may consist of separate pieces or be made integral, as shown.
  • the means for communication of the chambers with each other maybe of any preferred form, yet I preferably employ the intermediate chamber, bflconcentric with chambers b and 19 having its diameter greater than that of the piston-chamber b and smaller than that of the compressed-air chamber 13 and communicating all around with both said chambers.
  • the outer end heads of the two cylinders B and B are each perforated at points which coincide with the axial line of the said two chambers and especially with the axial line of the piston-chamber Z), and with these end perforations are provided stuffing boxes, marked respectively 01 and d for making close slip-joints with a piston-rod working within the two chambers.
  • a port 12 is provided in the walls of the piston-cylinder B, which port is preferably formed through the end head of said cylinder and serves both as an open- ICO ing through which air may be introduced into the piston-chamber b when the apparatus is being charged and as an escape-port through which compressed air may escape for venting the said chamber under conditions hereinafter explained, for allowing this apparatus to operate alarming or signaling mechanisms.
  • a pipe e communicates with the said pistonchamber b through the port b from any preferred suitable source of supply of compressed air, consisting of a compressed-air pipe or aircompressor or a compressed-air cylinder, from either of which this apparatus may be charged
  • the air-compressors employed may be portable or removable in character orbe station ary, yet preference is given to the use of a compressed-air cylinder, as K, Figs. 1 and 2, for charging this apparatus.
  • a suitable valve At any selected point between the port I) and the source of compressed air is provided a suitable valve,by means of which the compressed air charging the apparatus may be securely held under compression within the two chambers of the apparatus until an accidental or intentional venting of the piston-chamber b is effected.
  • This valve may be of any preferred form of construction which is calculated to hold the compressed air locked within the chambers Y) and b of the apparatus; yet in most cases a check-valve, as P, Fig. 1, will be found to be as advantageous as any other form of valve for this purpose.
  • 0 is a piston comprising the head 0, corresponding with the diameter of the pistonchamber Z) and nicely fitting the walls of the same and capable of working within said chamber from the head of the piston-cylinder to the enlargement b of the same and the reverse, and the piston-rod c, which latter is shown to be extended in each direction from said piston-head and supported from the end walls or heads of the chambers b and b and passing through the respective stuffingboxes d d to a distance sufficient for projection at all times beyond the outer ends of said stuffing-boxes, whether the piston-head be near the compressed-air chamber, as shown by full lines in Fig.
  • this piston-rod may be provided with mechanisms or devices which will be calculated to operate alarming or signaling devices only when the piston is moving in direction away from the compressed-air chamber 11
  • This piston-rod is shown as carrying by its upper end portion devices for operatinga gong, a color signal and also a switch for making an electrical connection of two conductors or wires for operating distant signals or alarms.
  • This rod is also shown to be hollow and has its bore (1 extended from its lower end, to which whistle D is secured, to the escape-port d located at a point outside the stuffing-box (I when the piston-head is about at the bottom of the compressed-air chamber 0 as shown by full lines in Fig. 1.
  • Vhen two or more apparatuses A are to be charged with compressed air simultaneously and from the same source, as from a compressed-air cylinder, as K, the respective pipes 6, serving both as a charging and a venting pipe to each apparatus, may connect the piston-chamber of each apparatus with a common alarm-line air-pipe J communicating with said cylinder K, in which case a single valve, as P, may be employed in said pipe J at near such compressed-air cylinder, when said pipe in its whole length will in its connection with the two or more pipes e c serve as a ventingpipe to all the apparatuses connected with it.
  • FIG. 1 show combined with the piston-rod c of the apparatus A, Fig. 1, devices which I at present consider preferable for antomatically causing instruments for soun din g alarms and displaying signals to operate at one or more places, as may be selected or be found to be advantageous, for attracting at tention or indicating the place of accident,
  • gongs may have their operating mechanism set into motion by any suitable devices or factors selected as intermediate factors between the said apparatus or apparatuses and the instruments calculated to sound the alarms, yet my preferred means consists of a cord 6 connected with the pistonrod 0 and running from the same to the gong or alarming-instrument E, and connecting with a suitable piece of the mechanism employed for operating the hammer of the same.
  • I further provide sight-signals of any suitable known character, and which may be in the nature of arbitrarily-selected colored lights, disks, panels, words or characters, singly or combined, as may be preferred or may be found to be advantageous for use under different circumstances and conditions of place or time in which the apparatus is liable to be operated.
  • FIG. 1 show by dotted and broken lines (marked F) a sight-signal behind a suitable obscuring-panel G, and so arranged as to be capable of being moved from behind said panel to position of dotted lines F in said Fig. 1; yet, if preferred, the sight-signal may be stationary and the obscuring-panel G may be movable, and in either case the movement required for effecting a display of the signal may be made by any suitable means actuated by the movement of the piston-rod c in a proper direction.
  • the drawing, Fig. 1 show by dotted and broken lines (marked F) a sight-signal behind a suitable obscuring-panel G, and so arranged as to be capable of being moved from behind said panel to position of dotted lines F in said Fig. 1; yet, if preferred, the sight-signal may be stationary and the obscuring-panel G may be movable, and in either case the movement required for effecting a display of the signal may be made by any suitable means actuated by the movement of
  • sounding of the alarms and display of the signals may be simultaneously effected, if preferred, when one or more apparatus are employed and are to sound an alarming-instrument or a signaling-instrument, or both, at a place distant from the apparatus or apparatuses of the train or other place or places.
  • I would designate such instrument or instruments by some character or mark corresponding with that designating the apparatus by which such instruments are to be operated.
  • the means through which the apparatus automatically causes the said alarming and signaling instruments to operate are shown to be connected with adjuncts secured to the upper end portion of the piston-rod 0, yet these adjuncts may be secured to the lower end of said rod, so as to cause the factors between the said instruments and the apparatus to be operated by the lower end portion of said rod.
  • any suitable device carried by or moved by the piston-rod 0 may be employed; yet I at present consider a simple projecting piece 71 Fig. 1, secured to the said piston-rod to be as simple and effective as is desirable for automatically causing the switch H to make the necessary connection between wires h h for operating electric alarming and signaling instruments at distant places or for moving an index-finger over a dial to indicate a number or place to which attention may be called.
  • the apparatuses A employed in the train are to be located at difierent suitable places in the car or cars or beneath the floors of the same and be so connected with an alarm air-line pipe that should the brakes become inoperative because of loss of air from the train air-line pipe or a loss of air in the alarm air-line pipe be caused by an opening of a door operating a valve to allow such loss, or the movement of the safe from its place or an entrance in the same effect such loss of air from the alarm air-line pipe will effect a venting of each one of the several apparatuses connected with the said alarm air-line pipe as well as the apparatus A nearest to the place of accident or place of intrusion, because of the escape of air from the same through their respective vent-ports b so that the compressed air above the pistonheads will be allowed to operate the pistonrod 0' of each apparatus for automatically eifecting the alarms and signals intended to be
  • this invention may be employed with equal advantage in all railway-trains, whether the brakes are operated by air, steam, or hand; also, that in all trains I would employ not less than two apparatuses A, so that should any person i11- tentionally perforate either the top or a side wall of the compressed-air chamber of one of the apparatuses for rendering it inoperative for alarming or signaling purposes, by reason of a tapping of the compressed-air chamber of such apparatus from above the piston-head, the escape of air from such compressed-air chamber would vent the piston-chamber of the same apparatus by the way of the perforation made in the wall of the compressed-air chamber, instead of by the way of the port 1) while at the same time each of the other apparatuses A in the train would at once become vented through the comm on pipe J and their respective pipes e and ports b when these uninjured apparatuses will immediately operate their devices for sounding alarms and display of signals.
  • the alarm air-line J preferably composed of metal pipes j and hose j, adjacent and parallel with the pipes 11 and hose i of the train air-line I.
  • These metal pipes i and j and hose i and j are shown to be connected by valves M for opening and closing communication between the respective metal pipes i and hose t" and pipes j and hose j of the said two air-lines.
  • the metal pipe and hose in the train air-line I may be independent and distinct from the pipe and hose in the alarm air-line J, yet in some cases they may be identical, if preferred.
  • the two air-lines I and J are separate and distinct, I prefer to provide a valve M for service as a connection with the pipes and hose employed in both said lines, so that a single movement of the hand-lever of the valve may operate a plug for each line.
  • This valve M is shown in Figs.
  • This plug M has also in it the cross passage-way N, which does not under any circumstances have communication with the said usual straight passageway on in the plug or the passageways m in the body of the valve.
  • This cross passageway N consists of passage-ways n and a crossing each other, as shown in Figs. 4: and 5, either of which passage-ways will serve as a way through said plug for communication with the passage-ways it formed in the body of the valve, while one of said passage-ways, as 01, will, when the plug is turned for carrying said ways 71 and n to positions shown in Fig. 5, communicate with the outer atmosphere through the valve vent-port m provided in a side of the body of the valve, while, when the plug is in position shown in Fig. 4, communication with the outside atmosphere through said vent-port m will be closed, and in all cases the valve will be open for free passage of air into and through all the sections of the pipes and hose in the alarm airline J.
  • Each apparatus A in the train is connected by its pipe 6 wit-h this air-line J, and said line connects with the compressed-air reservoir K, Figs. 1 and 2, into which by means of the usual pump the engineer forces air until the necessary pressure has been attained.
  • the valve M in this alarm air-line is turned open with the cross passage-way N of the plug M out of line with the vent-port m as shown in Fig. 4:, the compressed air passes from the said reservoir through said alarm air-line J and its branch pipes c a into the several apparatuses A, and charge the same with compressed air, when they will be ready for operation the moment when from any cause the apparatus is vented below its piston.
  • FIG. 2 show the two air-lines I and J connecting each with the air-reservoir K and running parallel with each other toward the rear end of the train, with the metal pipe-section 2' and 7' and hose i and j of each air-line suitably and simultaneously connected by means of valves M, before described.
  • the manner of charging these two air-lines I and J and their adjuncts is as follows: The plug M of each valve M is turned open, as indicated by the dotted-line passageways, in both the body of the valve and plug ICC in Figs. 6 and 7, when the wrench end of thereadily pass through the entire length of each line and into the adjuncts of each line intended to receive air, including the apparatuses A A.
  • the two air-lines I and J in the railway-train are preferably filled with air from the same reservoir K until the pressure in the train air-line for operating the brake mechanisms is at about seventy pounds per square inch, when a valve P adjacent to said reservoir and in the line will be turned, closing the same. Then a further compression of air will be had in the reservoir until the pressure is brought to a preferred pressure of from seventy-five to ninety pounds per square inch, when a check-valve P, Fig. 1, in the alarm air-line will operate to hold the air in that line at the preferred pressure. Then the valve in the train-line previously closed at the reservoir may be turned open.
  • this invention is to be employed in factories, stores, banks, jails, prisons or other places,-the alarm air-line J, above described as being employed in railway-trains, may be omitted, and the pipe 6 of each apparatus A may be provided with any known suitable airvalve, which will admit the passage of air from any suitable portable air-compressing pump-such, say, as are employed for infiating pneumatic tires of bicycles-to within the apparatus A through the chamber of the piston-cylinder, and hold the compressed air within without liability-of escaping until a door, window or some device or thing in the building or place and connected with a valve in said pipe 6 is so moved as to open and thereby effect a venting of the apparatus and cause the compressed air in the same to automatically operate the piston rod and through it cause the devices between the ap- IIO paratus and the alarming and signaling instruments or electric instruments described to be operated.
  • any suitable portable air-compressing pump such, say, as are employed for infiating pneumatic tires of bicycles-to within the apparatus A
  • a suitable spring interposed between the head end wall of. the compressed'air chamber b and the piston may be employed to exert a slight pressure on the piston for supplementing the pressure of the air, tending to move the piston-head toward the bottom of the piston-chamber at the moment a venting of the latter begins.
  • a whistle for sounding an alarm in some cases it may not be of any advantage to operate a whistle for sounding an alarm, as might be the case of its use with an apparatus A at near a cell of a prison or a door or gate of a corridor from which a prisoner might attempt an escape, while a gong or a sight-signal, bearing the designation of the cell or corridor, or both, brought into operation only in the wardens or guards room, would be more advantageous, and in such and similar cases I would use a solid rod with the piston and dispense with the whistle.
  • a solid form of piston-rod only may be employed when it is preferred to prevent loss of air from the apparatus between its piston and the outer head en d of the compressed-air chamber 71 so that a recharging of the apparatus may be eitected in a less time than it could be done were it required at each recharging of the apparatus to introduce the quantity of air required to fill both the chambers of the apparatus for bringing it to the condition required for use.
  • the brakes may be operated through the air-brake appliances of the train repeatedly without necessitating a recharging of the apparatuses and alarm air-line pipe J ,as valve I makes, when closed, that line-pipe independent of the main air-line pipe belonging to the brake-operating apparatuses.
  • the alarm air-line pipe is independent of the main airline pipe and that the plug N of valve M at no time operates to close the passage-ways n of said valve, that at all times the passage of air throughout the entire length of the alarm air-line pipe is unobstructed, while, when said plug N is turned to close the train air-line pipe at said valve M, the passage-way n, is made to vent the alarm air-line pipe throughout its entire length.
  • the combination with the apparatus A comprising a piston-chamber, a compressedair chamber a reciprocating piston provided with a hollowpiston-rod having an air-port d and an opening for discharging air to the outside, a port b in the piston-chamber, of apipe supplying air under pressure to the chambers of said apparatus, an air-retaining valve between said apparatus and source of supply of compressed air and a whistle receiving air from the discharge-opening of the hollow piston-rod, substantially as an d for the purposes set forth.

Description

(No Model.) '2 Sheets-Sheet 1.
T. M. WARNER-L PNEUMATIGSIGNAL OPERATING DEVICE.
No. 556,449. Patented Mar. 17,
i/izzzesses. Theodore MWowvzer wad/f Izzvezzzfar.
{NDREW RGRAHAM. PlIUTP-LUMQWASNINGTON. D C,
2 Sheets-Sheet 2.
(No Model.)
'T. M. WARNER. PNEUMATIC SIGNAL OPERATING DEVICE.
' Patented Ma 17, 1896.
J'nz emfar UNITED STATES PATENT -EETCE.
THEODORE M. \VARNER, OF ALBANY, NEiV YORK.
PNEUMATIC SIGNAL-OPERATING DEVICE.
SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,449, dated March 17, 1896.
Application filed May 25,1895. Serial No. 550,620. (No model.)
To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that I. THEODORE M. WARNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Albany, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Operating Alarms and Signals, of which the following is a specification.
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in mechanisms for operating alarms and signals at one or more places at the same time, as may be selected; and it consists in the combinations of devices and elements hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.
My invention has for its object, among others, to provide simple and efficient means readily applied and automatically causing compressed air to operate sound alarming-instruments and signaling-instruments displaying colors, words, or characters, and for makin g and breaking electrical circuits, or effect at the same time two or more of these operations and results, as may be found to be advantageous, for indicating that the thing or place with which this invention has connection is not in its normal or intended condition, or occupancy or non-occupancy.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings forminga part of this specification, Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of an apparatus for use in the practice of my invention and illustrating means which may be employed for operating alarming and signaling instruments and breaking and making electrical circuits communicating with distant instruments for signaling or alarming purposes. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a part of a railway-train employing my invention for display of signals and sounding alarms when the brakes of the train, operated by air, are out of order or working condition and when the safe in a car of the train is being tampered with. Fig. 3 is a side view of an alarm-line hose preferably employed on a railway-train in connection with the usual train-line air-hose employed in connection with adjuncts for operating air-brakes. Fig. 4 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a valve of preferred form for use in connection with said alarm-line hose and train-line hose employed in the train and illustrating the plug of the valve turned to a position for preventing the apparatus from operating the alarming and signaling devices. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of said valve when its plug is in position for allowing the apparatus to operate. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the valve with lever-handle removed. Fig. '7 is a side.
elevation of the same;- and Fig. 8 is an end view of the same, taken at line 2 2 in Fig. 7.
The same letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.
In the drawings, A, Figs. 1 and 2, is an apparatus which forms one part of my invention and'is employed in combination with devices and mechanisms, as will be hereinafter described. This apparatus A comprises the cylinder B containing the piston-chamber b and cylinder 13 containing the compressedair chamber b which chambers communicate with each other so that air may have passage from the former to the latter when the apparatus is being charged and the reverse When being operated for sounding alarms or displaying signals. These cylinders may be of any suitable form and comparative size, as may be preferred or be found to be advantageous, and may consist of separate pieces or be made integral, as shown. Although the means for communication of the chambers with each other maybe of any preferred form, yet I preferably employ the intermediate chamber, bflconcentric with chambers b and 19 having its diameter greater than that of the piston-chamber b and smaller than that of the compressed-air chamber 13 and communicating all around with both said chambers.
The outer end heads of the two cylinders B and B are each perforated at points which coincide with the axial line of the said two chambers and especially with the axial line of the piston-chamber Z), and with these end perforations are provided stuffing boxes, marked respectively 01 and d for making close slip-joints with a piston-rod working within the two chambers. A port 12 is provided in the walls of the piston-cylinder B, which port is preferably formed through the end head of said cylinder and serves both as an open- ICO ing through which air may be introduced into the piston-chamber b when the apparatus is being charged and as an escape-port through which compressed air may escape for venting the said chamber under conditions hereinafter explained, for allowing this apparatus to operate alarming or signaling mechanisms. A pipe e communicates with the said pistonchamber b through the port b from any preferred suitable source of supply of compressed air, consisting of a compressed-air pipe or aircompressor or a compressed-air cylinder, from either of which this apparatus may be charged.
The air-compressors employed may be portable or removable in character orbe station ary, yet preference is given to the use of a compressed-air cylinder, as K, Figs. 1 and 2, for charging this apparatus. At any selected point between the port I) and the source of compressed air is provided a suitable valve,by means of which the compressed air charging the apparatus may be securely held under compression within the two chambers of the apparatus until an accidental or intentional venting of the piston-chamber b is effected. This valve may be of any preferred form of construction which is calculated to hold the compressed air locked within the chambers Y) and b of the apparatus; yet in most cases a check-valve, as P, Fig. 1, will be found to be as advantageous as any other form of valve for this purpose.
0 is a piston comprising the head 0, corresponding with the diameter of the pistonchamber Z) and nicely fitting the walls of the same and capable of working within said chamber from the head of the piston-cylinder to the enlargement b of the same and the reverse, and the piston-rod c, which latter is shown to be extended in each direction from said piston-head and supported from the end walls or heads of the chambers b and b and passing through the respective stuffingboxes d d to a distance sufficient for projection at all times beyond the outer ends of said stuffing-boxes, whether the piston-head be near the compressed-air chamber, as shown by full lines in Fig. 1, or at the head end of the piston-chamber, as indicated by dotted lines in the same figure, so that the outer end portions of this piston-rod may be provided with mechanisms or devices which will be calculated to operate alarming or signaling devices only when the piston is moving in direction away from the compressed-air chamber 11 This piston-rod is shown as carrying by its upper end portion devices for operatinga gong, a color signal and also a switch for making an electrical connection of two conductors or wires for operating distant signals or alarms. This rod is also shown to be hollow and has its bore (1 extended from its lower end, to which whistle D is secured, to the escape-port d located at a point outside the stuffing-box (I when the piston-head is about at the bottom of the compressed-air chamber 0 as shown by full lines in Fig. 1.
Vhen two or more apparatuses A are to be charged with compressed air simultaneously and from the same source, as from a compressed-air cylinder, as K, the respective pipes 6, serving both as a charging and a venting pipe to each apparatus, may connect the piston-chamber of each apparatus with a common alarm-line air-pipe J communicating with said cylinder K, in which case a single valve, as P, may be employed in said pipe J at near such compressed-air cylinder, when said pipe in its whole length will in its connection with the two or more pipes e c serve as a ventingpipe to all the apparatuses connected with it.
When the apparatus A is to be charged for service the piston-head 0 will be near to the bottom of the piston-chamber b, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, with air at atmospheric pressure within the two chambers 12' and b above said piston-head. Then air under pressure of twenty-five or more pounds per square inch from any convenient source,
as described, will be introduced into the piston-chamber I) from below said piston-head through pipe 0 (or pipes J and e) and gradually move the piston upwardly until its head 0 has been carried into the enlargement of the piston-chamber to a sufficient distance for allowing the air under pressure to pass through opening I), which will then be formed between the periphery of the piston-head and the wall of the enlargement and enter into and fill the chamber under a compression which will correspond with that under which the apparatus is intended to be operated and also be equal to that within the piston-chamber, pipe 6, and also in each one of the several other apparatuses A which may be connected with the alarm-line air-pipe J. In this raised situation of the piston its rod 0 will be carried longitudinally upwardly from that indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 to that shown by full lines in the same figure, and the devices shown to be carried by the said pistonrod and calculated for operating a gong or a color signal or an electrical switch, or any two or more of them, will be in situation to be inoperative (as also will be the escapeport 61 when a hollow piston-r0d is used) so long as the apparatus or any one of the several similar apparatuses connected with a common alarm-line air-pipe J remains unvented.
The drawings show combined with the piston-rod c of the apparatus A, Fig. 1, devices which I at present consider preferable for antomatically causing instruments for soun din g alarms and displaying signals to operate at one or more places, as may be selected or be found to be advantageous, for attracting at tention or indicating the place of accident,
intrusion, or change of condition or other circumstances to which attention or aid should be called.
I at present prefer to provide in connection with the whistle D before described a second sound alarming-instrument, or two or more of the same, each located at a different place for sounding alarms, for attracting the attention of the trainmen of the train, as, say, in each car of the train, or in such selected cars and in such places in the cars as maybe advantageous. These second alarming-instruments (marked E) I prefer to be of the character of gongs, having their hammers operated by any suitable known mechanism or power, one of which may be located at or near the apparatus for continuing the alarm after the whistle D has ceased its alarm and for confirming the alarm given by said whistle by producing a prolonged series of loud sounds for attracting attention of trainmen or other persons more distant and interested in having an immediate knowledge of the primary cause of the alarm. These gongs may have their operating mechanism set into motion by any suitable devices or factors selected as intermediate factors between the said apparatus or apparatuses and the instruments calculated to sound the alarms, yet my preferred means consists of a cord 6 connected with the pistonrod 0 and running from the same to the gong or alarming-instrument E, and connecting with a suitable piece of the mechanism employed for operating the hammer of the same.
I further provide sight-signals of any suitable known character, and which may be in the nature of arbitrarily-selected colored lights, disks, panels, words or characters, singly or combined, as may be preferred or may be found to be advantageous for use under different circumstances and conditions of place or time in which the apparatus is liable to be operated.
The drawings, Fig. 1, show by dotted and broken lines (marked F) a sight-signal behind a suitable obscuring-panel G, and so arranged as to be capable of being moved from behind said panel to position of dotted lines F in said Fig. 1; yet, if preferred, the sight-signal may be stationary and the obscuring-panel G may be movable, and in either case the movement required for effecting a display of the signal may be made by any suitable means actuated by the movement of the piston-rod c in a proper direction. The drawing, Fig. 1, shows a cord (2 connected by one of its ends to the said rod e and its opposite end c011- nected with a lever or arm f provided for operating said signal or giving to it a condition for display to the View of persons whose attention may have been attracted by the alarms previously sounded or being sounded. The
sounding of the alarms and display of the signals may be simultaneously effected, if preferred, when one or more apparatus are employed and are to sound an alarming-instrument or a signaling-instrument, or both, at a place distant from the apparatus or apparatuses of the train or other place or places. I would designate such instrument or instruments by some character or mark corresponding with that designating the apparatus by which such instruments are to be operated. Although the means through which the apparatus automatically causes the said alarming and signaling instruments to operate are shown to be connected with adjuncts secured to the upper end portion of the piston-rod 0, yet these adjuncts may be secured to the lower end of said rod, so as to cause the factors between the said instruments and the apparatus to be operated by the lower end portion of said rod.
When alarms or signals are to be given to a distant place-as, say, to a police or other station, or to the office of the warden of a prison or other place for call of assistance or for immediate attendanceI employ in connection with the apparatus A a suitable circuit of electrical wires, as h h, and a switch H in situation adjacent to the piston-rod c of said apparatus and calculated for use for making and breaking the circuit, as occasion may require, for operating by electricity alarming and signaling instruments, whenever the said apparatus is set into operation by the escape of air therefrom, and forcing the piston to move from its normal situation shown by full lines to that of dotted lines in Fig. 1. For automatically causing the apparatus A to move switch H in direction to make connection of the circuit-wires h h any suitable device carried by or moved by the piston-rod 0 may be employed; yet I at present consider a simple projecting piece 71 Fig. 1, secured to the said piston-rod to be as simple and effective as is desirable for automatically causing the switch H to make the necessary connection between wires h h for operating electric alarming and signaling instruments at distant places or for moving an index-finger over a dial to indicate a number or place to which attention may be called. As such alarms or signals or enunciators are well known, particular descriptions of the same are therefore unnecessary, and although the drawings show the means which I at present prefer to use between the apparatus and the alarming and signaling instruments, because of their simplicity and efficiency, yet these means may be varied, or other known substitutes may be employed for attaining the same objects.
In carrying out my invention in railwaytrains where the air or steam brakes in a train may be rendered inoperative by accident or design, or a train having only ordinary hand brakes may become at any point parted by the breaking of a coupling between two adjoining cars of a train, or. when the expresscar or messenger-room has been entered by an unauthorized person, or a safe in a car is being broken open or removed from its place, the apparatuses A employed in the train are to be located at difierent suitable places in the car or cars or beneath the floors of the same and be so connected with an alarm air-line pipe that should the brakes become inoperative because of loss of air from the train air-line pipe or a loss of air in the alarm air-line pipe be caused by an opening of a door operating a valve to allow such loss, or the movement of the safe from its place or an entrance in the same effect such loss of air from the alarm air-line pipe will effect a venting of each one of the several apparatuses connected with the said alarm air-line pipe as well as the apparatus A nearest to the place of accident or place of intrusion, because of the escape of air from the same through their respective vent-ports b so that the compressed air above the pistonheads will be allowed to operate the pistonrod 0' of each apparatus for automatically eifecting the alarms and signals intended to be given.
It should be understood that this invention may be employed with equal advantage in all railway-trains, whether the brakes are operated by air, steam, or hand; also, that in all trains I would employ not less than two apparatuses A, so that should any person i11- tentionally perforate either the top or a side wall of the compressed-air chamber of one of the apparatuses for rendering it inoperative for alarming or signaling purposes, by reason of a tapping of the compressed-air chamber of such apparatus from above the piston-head, the escape of air from such compressed-air chamber would vent the piston-chamber of the same apparatus by the way of the perforation made in the wall of the compressed-air chamber, instead of by the way of the port 1) while at the same time each of the other apparatuses A in the train would at once become vented through the comm on pipe J and their respective pipes e and ports b when these uninjured apparatuses will immediately operate their devices for sounding alarms and display of signals.
In railway-trains where air-brakes are employed I provide, in addition to the usual train air-line pipe or hose I heretofore employed as factors for operating the air-brakes oi the cars, the alarm air-line J, preferably composed of metal pipes j and hose j, adjacent and parallel with the pipes 11 and hose i of the train air-line I. These metal pipes i and j and hose i and j are shown to be connected by valves M for opening and closing communication between the respective metal pipes i and hose t" and pipes j and hose j of the said two air-lines. Although the metal pipe and hose in the train air-line I may be independent and distinct from the pipe and hose in the alarm air-line J, yet in some cases they may be identical, if preferred. Then the two air-lines I and J are separate and distinct, I prefer to provide a valve M for service as a connection with the pipes and hose employed in both said lines, so that a single movement of the hand-lever of the valve may operate a plug for each line. This valve M is shown in Figs. 3, 6, 7 and 8 to consist of the body M, having in it the usual passageways on for communication of the pipe i with the hose i of the train air-line I, and the passageway 71 for communication of the pipe j with the hosej of the alarm air-line J, which passage ways on and n are indicated by dotted lines, and the plug M having in it a straight passage-way m (indicated by dotted lines in Figs. and 7) for opening passageway m in the body of the valve that air may have free passage from the hose to the pipe or reverse in the train air-line I employed for operation of the brakes. This plug M has also in it the cross passage-way N, which does not under any circumstances have communication with the said usual straight passageway on in the plug or the passageways m in the body of the valve. This cross passageway N consists of passage-ways n and a crossing each other, as shown in Figs. 4: and 5, either of which passage-ways will serve as a way through said plug for communication with the passage-ways it formed in the body of the valve, while one of said passage-ways, as 01, will, when the plug is turned for carrying said ways 71 and n to positions shown in Fig. 5, communicate with the outer atmosphere through the valve vent-port m provided in a side of the body of the valve, while, when the plug is in position shown in Fig. 4, communication with the outside atmosphere through said vent-port m will be closed, and in all cases the valve will be open for free passage of air into and through all the sections of the pipes and hose in the alarm airline J.
Each apparatus A in the train is connected by its pipe 6 wit-h this air-line J, and said line connects with the compressed-air reservoir K, Figs. 1 and 2, into which by means of the usual pump the engineer forces air until the necessary pressure has been attained. \Vhen the valve M in this alarm air-line is turned open with the cross passage-way N of the plug M out of line with the vent-port m as shown in Fig. 4:, the compressed air passes from the said reservoir through said alarm air-line J and its branch pipes c a into the several apparatuses A, and charge the same with compressed air, when they will be ready for operation the moment when from any cause the apparatus is vented below its piston.
The drawings, Fig. 2, show the two air-lines I and J connecting each with the air-reservoir K and running parallel with each other toward the rear end of the train, with the metal pipe-section 2' and 7' and hose i and j of each air-line suitably and simultaneously connected by means of valves M, before described. The manner of charging these two air-lines I and J and their adjuncts is as follows: The plug M of each valve M is turned open, as indicated by the dotted-line passageways, in both the body of the valve and plug ICC in Figs. 6 and 7, when the wrench end of thereadily pass through the entire length of each line and into the adjuncts of each line intended to receive air, including the apparatuses A A. The two air-lines I and J in the railway-train are preferably filled with air from the same reservoir K until the pressure in the train air-line for operating the brake mechanisms is at about seventy pounds per square inch, when a valve P adjacent to said reservoir and in the line will be turned, closing the same. Then a further compression of air will be had in the reservoir until the pressure is brought to a preferred pressure of from seventy-five to ninety pounds per square inch, when a check-valve P, Fig. 1, in the alarm air-line will operate to hold the air in that line at the preferred pressure. Then the valve in the train-line previously closed at the reservoir may be turned open. The said two air-lines being charged with air, as above described, and their several air-receptacles and apparatuses being also charged, the ap paratuses for braking the train and those for operating the alarming and signaling instruments are now in condition for operation as occasion may require. As the operations of the train-line and its adjuncts for braking the train are well known and form no part of my invention, a description of the same and its operation are not necessary. Y The operations of this invention will be readily understood and are as follows: The alarm air-line J. and apparatuses A A in the train connected with said line being charged and filled with compressed air, by its flow under pressure, as described, into the respective chambers of each apparatus, raises each piston and causes the piston-rod c of each to be carried to its normal position with the mechanisms described for operating the alarming and signaling instruments and the switching device in condition ready for being automatically operated when the said rod is reversely moved. Should anyone of the several apparatuses A from any cause whatever become vented in its piston-cylinder B, the escape of the air from that cylinder will allow the piston O to move downward to position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, while the pressure of the compressed air in the cylinder 13 on the piston-head automatically causes the piston to quickly descend to the bottom of the piston-cylinder and carry the piston-rod c downwardly when the compressed air within said cylinder 13 will have passage by the outlet-port (Z into the bore (Z of the piston-rod and be discharged into the whistle D and sound a whistle-alarm which is intended to attract the attention of persons in the vicinity of the apparatus. At the time the piston is automatically moved to the bottom of its cylinder its rod 0 will be automatically made to operate the devices or mechanisms described between said rod and the several alarming and signaling instruments which the vented apparatus is intended to operate. There the apparatuses A A in the train are connected by their respective pipes e with the alarm air-line J, an escape of air from any portion of said alarm air-line or from any one of said pipes 6 will immediately cause all the said apparatuses A in the train, including the apparatus A in the engineers cab, to operate the alarming and signaling instruments, and thereby notify the engineer as well as the several trainmen distributed through the train that some accident has occured or some unauthorized or other act has been done by some one, and that there has arisen a necessity for an immediate investigation or understanding of the cause of the alarms and signals. Should the coupling-hose 2' of the train air-line I become parted, or should any person turn any one of the several valves M from its normal open condition to a closed one, a venting of the alarm airline J will occur through the venting-port m of the valve M so closed, orshould the safe in, say, the express-car, provided with an apparatus which is calculated to become vented by breaking of its connection with said safe, be forcibly removed from its place, or a cardoor calculated to vent an adjacent apparatus A by its being opened, or any leakage of air from the train-line be effected by any cause whatever, in any of such cases the apparatuses A in the train will be automatically operated, by reason of said venting, by the compressed air, and in all cases the engineers alarming and signaling instruments, together with those designed to alarm and signal the trainmen, will be operated.
hen this invention is to be employed in factories, stores, banks, jails, prisons or other places,-the alarm air-line J, above described as being employed in railway-trains, may be omitted, and the pipe 6 of each apparatus A may be provided with any known suitable airvalve, which will admit the passage of air from any suitable portable air-compressing pump-such, say, as are employed for infiating pneumatic tires of bicycles-to within the apparatus A through the chamber of the piston-cylinder, and hold the compressed air within without liability-of escaping until a door, window or some device or thing in the building or place and connected with a valve in said pipe 6 is so moved as to open and thereby effect a venting of the apparatus and cause the compressed air in the same to automatically operate the piston rod and through it cause the devices between the ap- IIO paratus and the alarming and signaling instruments or electric instruments described to be operated.
In some cases-say as when the apparatus A is arranged in a horizontal position instead of a vertical one, as shown-a suitable spring interposed between the head end wall of. the compressed'air chamber b and the piston may be employed to exert a slight pressure on the piston for supplementing the pressure of the air, tending to move the piston-head toward the bottom of the piston-chamber at the moment a venting of the latter begins.
In some cases it may not be of any advantage to operate a whistle for sounding an alarm, as might be the case of its use with an apparatus A at near a cell of a prison or a door or gate of a corridor from which a prisoner might attempt an escape, while a gong or a sight-signal, bearing the designation of the cell or corridor, or both, brought into operation only in the wardens or guards room, would be more advantageous, and in such and similar cases I would use a solid rod with the piston and dispense with the whistle.
A solid form of piston-rod only may be employed when it is preferred to prevent loss of air from the apparatus between its piston and the outer head en d of the compressed-air chamber 71 so that a recharging of the apparatus may be eitected in a less time than it could be done were it required at each recharging of the apparatus to introduce the quantity of air required to fill both the chambers of the apparatus for bringing it to the condition required for use. W hen employed on trains and the apparatuses are once charged, the pump under control of the engineer may be permitted to remain idle until the apparatuses become vented and require to be recharged. \Vhen used in connection with air-brakes and their adjuncts and once charged, the brakes may be operated through the air-brake appliances of the train repeatedly without necessitating a recharging of the apparatuses and alarm air-line pipe J ,as valve I makes, when closed, that line-pipe independent of the main air-line pipe belonging to the brake-operating apparatuses.
It should also be understood that the alarm air-line pipe is independent of the main airline pipe and that the plug N of valve M at no time operates to close the passage-ways n of said valve, that at all times the passage of air throughout the entire length of the alarm air-line pipe is unobstructed, while, when said plug N is turned to close the train air-line pipe at said valve M, the passage-way n, is made to vent the alarm air-line pipe throughout its entire length.
Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-
1. The combination with a piston-chamber, a compressed-air chamber calculated to re ceive compressed air from the former, a pipe lated to be carried to within the latter cha1n-.
her when the piston-chamber becomes vented, and a whistle at the discharge-openin g of said hollow piston-rod, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. The combination with a hollow piston-rod having an air-port communicating with the bore of said rod and a whistle at the discharge end of said bore, of a compressed-air cylinder provided with an airtight stulling b0X through which a portion of the piston-rod having said air-port is free to work, and a pistonhead calculated to be moved in one direction, by the force of air from said compressed-air cylinder, for moving said rod so as to carry its said air-port to within the chamber of said cylinder substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. The combination with the apparatus A, comprising a piston-chamber, a compressedair chamber a reciprocating piston provided with a hollowpiston-rod having an air-port d and an opening for discharging air to the outside, a port b in the piston-chamber, of apipe supplying air under pressure to the chambers of said apparatus, an air-retaining valve between said apparatus and source of supply of compressed air and a whistle receiving air from the discharge-opening of the hollow piston-rod, substantially as an d for the purposes set forth.
4. The combination with a piston-chamber Z), compressed-air chamber 1), intermediate chamber Z) concentric with said two chambers 11 and b and communicating all around with the same and having its diameter greater than that of chamber b and smaller than that of D and the pipe 6 operating as a charging-pipe and communicating with the piston-chamber from its head end and serving also as a pipe for venting said chamber when from any cause said pipe is opened, of a piston comprising a piston-rod, supported at all times from the end walls of said chambers b and b and a piston-head fixed on said piston-rod and relatively between the pipe 0 and the intermediate chamber b and calculated to travel the whole length of the piston-chamber to within the said intermediate chamber and return, accordingly as said piston-chamber is being charged with compressed air, or is being vented, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
THEODORE M. \VARNER. \Vitnesses:
ALEX. SELKIRK, A. SELKIRK, J r.
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