US705757A - Pneumatic track-sander. - Google Patents

Description

No. 705,757. Patented July 29, 1 902.-

E. ,M. HEDLEY. PNEUMATIC TRACK SANDER.

(Application filed Mar. 19, 1902.

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-UNITED STATES" PATENT EDWARD tLnEnL ijroF DEPEW, NEW-YORK PN EU MATlC TB A CK-SAND ER. Q 7

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 705,757, dated July 29,1992.

Applioation filed March 19, 1902 Serial 98,884; (No model-l;

To will whom if? may concern: it

Be it known that'I, E WARD M. HEDLEY, a citizen of the United States and a resident of Depew, in the county. of Erie, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Track-Sanders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention has relation to that class of pneumatic sanding devices used upon locomotives, trolley-cars, and likevehicles fordelivering astream of sand in front of the drive- Wheels of the vehicle in order toprevent the slipping or skidding of the wheels.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, durable, and efiective construction of sander whereby the danger of the clogging of pipes from condensation or other causes will be prevented, and whereby a more effective delivery of the sand to the rails will be secured, and whereby also the cleaning or repair of the apparatus may be more readily accomplished.

The invention consists in the various features of improvement hereinafter described,

illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and more particularly pointed out in the several claims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view ofi a 1900- invention is shown as applied to a locomotive engine, but it will be understood, however, that it may be employed upon trolley-cars, or, in fact, in any situation where a pneumatic track-sander is adapted for use.

A designates the body or casing of ,the sander. From this casing A a sand-delivery pipe B will extend to the sand-reservoir, which inthe case of locomotive-engines is usually located-abovethe boiler. From the casing A air-delivery pipes O and C will lead to suitable valve mechanism within the engineers cab. As such valve mechanism, however, forms no part of the present invention it need not be particularly described.

The sander-casing Awill be connected to the sand-delivery pi e 15 by a suitable coupling D, 'revolu bly connected to the lower end of the pipe B and iuteriorly threaded-to engage theexteriorly-threaded upper and of the neck a of thecasing A. 1 By this means thesander casing A will be readily connected to and disconnected from the ,sand delivery.

pipeB. M; The neck a of the sander-casing'lA- is provided with a cut-0E valve E, this valvebeing adapted tohe swung across the saiid admi'ssion orifice a in the neck of the casing; A, and

thus prevent admission of-sand to the casing when the latter is to' be cleaned-orjrepaired.

This feature of a cut-off valve at the top of the casing is to be cleaned ,withoutn ecessi I tating the disconnection of. the sandercasing and without the wastage of-sand from the reservoir. casing A is formed with an offset-chamber E, adapted to receive the cut-Oftvalve -E,

As shown, the upper part. of. the.

which when the sander is in operation will i occupy the position shown moreparti'cularly in Fig. 20f the drawings. The ofiset-"rcham'- ber E is preferably formed as anintegral part of the casing A, vthe chamberl l being cored in theprocessof casting. Y

In order to permit the cut-off valvel Etobe inserted into the chamber E, a -slot' ewillbe cut through the wall of. the casing, as" more particularly indicated in Fig. 2 of theidrawings, this slot being preferably, of the .q'u a rant or triangular shape there shown, The

cut-01f valve E-Will be inserted throughflthe r 9 1ng e will be closed by a strip 6, that will be slot thus formed, and the edgeofi theopenheld in position by suitable pinsorscrewse L that will pass'through the horizontal walls'ofi the chamber, as indicated moreparticularly in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The'checkf-va'lve E is formed with a polygonal opening adapt ed to receive the valve-stem E thatfwillbe inserted through the horizontal wallfiof'ihe chamber E, as clearly shown in Fig. 3;of the drawings. The outer portion of the cheekloo E, the valve-stem E being formed with an annular recess a at such point. One side of that part of the valve-stem E exposed to the bearing of the spring E will be flattened, and this flattened portion will be so situated that when the cut-ofi valve E is in its normal open position the free end of the spring E will bear against the flattened portion of the valve-stem, and thus serve to hold the checkvalve E in open position and eifectively guard against accidental closure of the valve. The spring E will be fastened, as by screws (2, (shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2,) to that part of the valve-casing E immediately beneaththe chamber or extension E. It will thus be seen that the valve E will be completely closed in, so that all danger of access of water to the interior of the casing at such point will be effectively prevented, while at the same time the valve may be shifted by means of the handle E whenever it is desired to shut. off the supply of sand to the sander-casingas for example, when the sander is to be cleaned or repaired.

The body of the sander-casing A is divided by a vertical diaphragm A that extends to a point immediately beneath the sand-admission opening a, in the neck of the casing, and as this diaphragm is arranged centrally beneath the opening a the supply of sand will be delivered to the chambers A and A at each side of the diaphragm. Each of the chambers A 'and A is formed with a curved bottom a and beneath the chambers A and A extend the air-delivery channels a and 0,

As shown, these channels a and a are of segmental shape, and as they are the same in construction one only is illustrated in the drawings. In fact, it will be readily perceived that the two portions ofthe sandercasing A lying upon opposite sides of the diaphragm A are substantially duplicates one of the other, the purpose of this arrangement being to enable the chamber and adj unctive devices at one side of the diaphragm A to be used for delivering sand to the track when the locomotive or car is moving in forward direction, while the chamber and adjunctive devices at the opposite side of the diaphragm A will be brought into operation for delivering sand to the rail when the 1000- motive or car is moving in backward direction. I wish it understood also that while in the preferredembodiment of the invention the sander is provided with duplicate chambers manifestly features of the invention may be employed where a single chamber only is used. 1

The channels a and a beneath the chambers A and A are provided, preferably, at their bottoms with ports, to which will be fitted the ends of the air-delivery pipes O and C, respectively, and at the end of each of the channels a and 0, willbe placed an air-jet nozzle G, adapted to direct a jet of air downward in diagonal direction into the corresponding chamber A or A The opposite end of the channels a and a will be provided each with an air-jet nozzle H, arranged opposite the outlet a from the corresponding chamber A or A To the outlet a of the chamber A connects a sand-discharge pipe K, that will-lead to a point adjacent the rail or track in front of the forward wheel of the locomotive or car, and to the corresponding outlet at of the chamber A will be connected a similar sand-delivery pipe K, that will lead toa point adjacent the track or rail at a point behind the traction-wheel of the locomotive or car, as shown more particularly in Fig. 1 of the drawings. In the upper part of each of the chambers A and A is arranged a deflecting arch plate a that is preferably curved downward toward the center of the chamber, as clearly shown in Fig. 4: of the drawings, the purpose of this plate a being to effect a whirling movement of the sand in front of the discharge-opening a before it is forced down the discharge-pipe leading from the sander-casin g. For convenience in cleaning and as well also to permit the insertion of the steam-jet nozzles suitable screw-threaded openings closed by the plugs M and N are formed in the walls of the casing A.

From the foregoing description the operation of my improved sander will be seen to be as follows: If it is desired to sand the track in front of the locomotive-wheels, the operator will, by the manipulation of suitable valve mechanism in the cab, cause air to pass through the air-delivery pipe 0 into thechannel a beneath the chamber A of the casing. Air thus delivered to the channel a will pass through the contracted openings of the airjet nozzles G and H. The air escaping through the nozzle G will cause the whirling motion of the sand within the chamber A thereby driving the stream of sand into the path of the jet of air passing from the nozzle H and causing the air to discharge into the pipe K that leads from the chamber A to-the track. In like manner if it is desired to deliver sand to the track at the rear of the traction-wheels of the locomotive the engineer will cause air to pass through the air-delivery pipe 0 into the channel a beneath the chamber A and from this channel a the air will be discharged through the corresponding airjet nozzles G and H and sand will be discharged from the chamber A through the sand-discharge pipe K, that leads to the pipe at the rear of the traction-wheels. The employment of supplemental air-jets G for each of the chambers A and A if two chambers be used, together with the shape of these chambers, has the efiect of producing such a whirling or agitation of the sand within the chambers as to cause the sand to pass with even distribution into the outlet a where it will be caughtby thejet of air passing through the nozzle H, and all danger of the clogging of the sand-discharge pipes is thereby eifect ively avoided.

When it is desired to clean the interior of the sander-casing, the engineer will close the valve E, so as to cut off the supply of sand through the sand-delivery pipe B. The plugs M and N may then be removed and the interior of the casing cleaned without danger of wasting sand or without the necessity of emptying the sand-reservoir.

A further marked advantage incident to my invention is that the sander-casing being formed as a single casting it can be conveniently set in place or removed without danger of parts being lost or misplaced.

While I have set forth what I regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it distinctly understood that the details of construction may be modified Within wide limits without departing from the spirit of the invention and that features of the invention may be employed without its adoption as an entirety.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A pneumatic track-sander comprising a casin g having'an opening for connection with the sand reservoir, an opening for connection with the sand-discharge pipe and an opening for connect-ion with the air-delivery pipe, of a valve movable transversely of said opening that leads to the sand reservoir and a casing at one side of said last-mentioned opening to receive said valve when moved to open position, and a stem leading outside said valvecasing whereby said valve may be shifted.

2. A pneumatic track-sander comprising a casing having an opening forconnection with the sand-reservoir, an opening for connection with the sand-discharge pipe and an opening for connection to the air-delivery pipe, of a valve for closing the opening that connects with the sand-reservoir, a chamber wherein said valve is inclosed, said chamber being formed with a slot to admit the valve, and a strip for closing said slot or opening of the chamber.

3. A pneumatic track-sander comprising a casing having an opening for connection with the sand-reservoir, an opening for connection with the sand-discharge pipe and an opening for connection with the air-delivery pipe, of a valve located in. said casing and adapted to close the opening for the admission of sand, a handle connected with said valve and arranged upon the outside of said casing and a spring for holding said valve in open position.

4. A pneumatic track-sander comprising a casing having an opening for connection with the sand-reservoir, an opening for connection with the sand-discharge pipe and an opening for connection with the air-delivery pipe, of an air-jet nozzle or port for agitating the sand within the casing and an air-jet nozzle or port for causing the passage of sand through the sand-discharge pipe.

5. A pneumatic track-sander comprising a casing having an opening for connection with the sand reservoir, an opening for connection with the sand-discharge pipe'and an opening for connection with the air-delivery pipe, of an air-delivery channel extending partially around the sand-receiving chamber of said casing, an air-jet nozzle or port adjacent one end of said air-delivery channel andadapted to deliver a jet of air to agitate the sand, and a second air-jet nozzle or port atthe opposite end of said channel and adjacent theopening of the casing that leads into the sand-discharge pipe, whereby the sand will be forced through said pipe.

6. A pneumatic track-sander comprising a casing having a sand-receiving chamber, an opening above said chamber, for connection with the sand-"reservoir, an opening leading from said chamber at one side of said casing for connection with the sand-discharge pipe, an airvdelivery channel beneath and extend ing partially around said chamber, an air-jet nozzle or port at the upper end of said channel and arranged to deliver air obliquely downward into said chamber, asecond air-jet nozzle or port arranged at the end of said air-delivery channel opposite said sand-discharge opening and an air-delivery pipe connected to said channel.

7 A pneumatic track-sander comprising a casing havingasand-receiving chamber therein, an opening above said chamber for connection with the sandereservoir, an opening at one side of said chamber for connection with the sand-discharge pipe, a deflector arch arranged between said sand-admission opening and said sand-discharge opening, an airjet nozzle or port arranged on the opposite side of the chamber from said deflectonarch and a pipe for delivering air to said air-jet nozzle or port, wherebya whirling movement of the sand within the chamber will be effected.

8. A pneumatic track-sander comprisinga casing having an opening for connection with the sand-reservoir, an opening for connection with the sand-discharge pipe and an opening for connection with the air delivery pipe, of a deflector-arch arranged within said casing, an air-jet nozzle or port for agitating the sand within the casing, said port being arranged at a point opposite said deflector-arch and a second air-jet nozzle or port arranged opposite the sand-discharge opening of said casin g.

9. A pneumatic track-sander comprising a casing having an opening at its top for connection with the sand-reservoir, a verticallydisposed diaphragm arranged beneath said opening and dividing the easing into two chambers for receiving sand, at sand-discharge port leading from each of said chambers and individual air-delivery pipes and air jet nozzles or ports for said chambers.

10. A pneumatic track-sander comprising a casing having atits top anopening for connection with the sand-reservoir, a diaphragm beneath said opening and dividing the easing into two sand-receiving chambers, each of which chambers is provided with a sand-discharge port, a deflector-arch within each of said chambers, an air-jet nozzle arranged adjacent the discharge-port of each of said chambers and serving to eject the sand therefrom, and an air-jet nozzle or port arranged Within each of said chambers opposite said discharge-port for agitating the sand before it is discharged from the casing.

11. Apneumatiotrack-sander comprisinga casing. having an opening at its top for connection with the sand-reservoir, a verticallydisposed diaphragm beneath said opening and dividing said easing into two sand-receiving chambers, each of which chambers is provided with a sand-discharge port, a deflector-arch arranged within each of said chambers above said discharge-port, air-delivery channels extending beneath and partially around said chambers, each of said channels being provided at its upper end with an airjet nozzle or port for delivering air to agitate the sand within the chamber and at its opposite end with an air-jet nozzle or port for delivering a jet of air to eject the sand from the casing, and air-delivery pipes connected with said channels.

12. A pneumatic track-sander comprising a casing having an opening for connection with the sand-reservoir, an opening for connection with the sand-discharge pipe and an opening for connection with the air-delivery pipe, of an air-jet nozzle for agitating the sand within the casing and an air-jet nozzle for causing the passage of sand through the sand-discharge pipe, said air-jet nozzles being removably held in position within said casing.

EDWD. M. HEDLEY.

Witnesses:

G. KUOH, CHARLES E. PETERS.

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