US954592A - Combined street-car pneumatic door device and brake-release mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Apr. 12,1910.

e bs? o L i H. RWNTREE dz G. M. SPENCER. ooMBINED STREET UAE PNEUMATIU Doon DEVICE AND BRAKE RELEASE MEGEANISM.

` PPLITIN FILED JAH. 18, 1909. 954,592.

ILLINOIS, AND GEORGE M. SPENCER, OF ST. LOUIS,

HAROLD ROWNTREE, F CHICAGO,

MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS TO BURDETT-ROWNTREE CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A

COMBINED STREET-CAR PNEUMATIC DOOR DEVICE AND BRAKE-RELEASE MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 172,` 1910.

Application ledilanuary 18, 1909. Serial No. 472,951.

To all whom it may concern: y

Be it known that we, HAROLD ROWNTREE, of Chicago, count f of Cook, State of Illinois, and GEORGE SPENCER, of St. Louis, State of Missouri, both citizens of the United States, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Combined StreetCar Pneumatic Door Device and Brake-Belege Mechanism, of which the following isa. specification. y

This invention relates to combined street car pneumatic door operating and brake release devices.

The object of the invention is to provide means for collecting and saving the waste or exhaust pressure, or a portion thereof, from pneumatic brake mechanism, such as is employed on street or other railway cars, and utilizing such waste or exhaust pressure to operate, or to control the operation of auxill s ,iary devices such as doors, steps or the like.

f The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and 1e lative arrangement of parts,- all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown V.in the accompanying drawing, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the dravvinY Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view in pan of a portion of a car 'showing the application of 'our invention for utilizing the waste or exhaust pressure from the brake mechanism for the operation of auxiliary devices such as doors, stepsor the like. F ig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing a form of auxiliary device operating mechanism adapted for use in connection with our invention. Fig. 3 is a broken detail sectional view of an automatic regulating device employed in connection With our invention. Fi a form of controlling valve for use in connection with our invention.

The same part is designated by the saine reference sign wherever it occurs throughout4 the several views.

In Patent No. 877,959, granted Feb. 4, 1908, to George M. Spencer, is shown described and claimed a construction and arrangement of apparatus for collectin and pressure from pneumatically operated brake mechamsm on cars,

. 4 is a View illustrating savlng a portion of the Waste or ex sust for reuse in the pump employed to secure the desired compression of the pressure medium, thereby enabling the pump to be maintained under a desirable load in starting up. The present invention relates to the same general character of apparatus but, more particularly, to means for utilizing the conserved Waste or exhaust pressure medium for the purpose of operating auxiliary devices employed on the car, such, for instance, as doors, steps or the like.

In the drawing reference .sign 5, designates the air` compressor or pump; 6, the higher pressure tank into which the compressor or pump delivers; 7, an auxiliary or low pressure tank; 8 the brake cylinder; and 9, a controller for controlling the cornmunications between the tanks 6 and 7, and the brake cylinder 8.

The parts so far described may be of the usual construction and arrangement, or, as shown and described in the Spencer patent NbS-TZ-Qtl above referred to, and the Operation there/ot2 will be readily understood. The pump 5 delivers the operatingpressure medium into the high pressure tank (3. By suitably manipulating the controller 9, the pressure medium is supplied from the high ressure tank 6; to the brake cylinder 8, to effect the desired application of the brakes. By another or a further manipulation of the controller 9, the pressure medium is exhausted from the brake cylinder in order to release the brake mechanism. Instead of exhausting from the brake cylinder directly into the atmosphere, where y the pressure of the exhaust is lost and wasted, We arrange for such exhaust to be e'ected into the auxiliary or low pressure tank 7, until the brake cylinder and auxiliary tank pressures are cqualized, and, thereafter, if necessary or required, the further exhaust from the brake cylinder to eect a complete release, may be made directly` into the atmosphere or otherwise, as may be desired. A. check valve 10, may serve to prevent the pressure in the anxiliary or low ressure tank from escaping back towards he controller 9, or the brake cylinder.

- The arrangement of the controller 9, is indicated in Fig. 4, and isxsuch that when the placed in l the j position.

,handle thereof is shown the high ressure tank is placed in communication t rough pipe 21, with the brake cylinder to effect the application of the brakes, as above indicated. If the controller handle is moved slightly from this position in the direction indicated by the arrow, the brake cylinder will be shut olf from the high pressure tank, leaving the brakes applied. This is known as the lap position of the controller. A. further movement of the controller handle will serve to open the brake cylinder to the low ressure tank through pipe 12, and the contro ler will then be in what is known as the partial exhaust position, that is, the brakes will be partially relieved. Further movement of the controller will open the brake cylinder to the atmosphere through the pipe 22 or otherwise.

In the o eration of brake mechanism it is always esirable to release the pressure medium more or less gradually as the car slows down, for, if the brakes are left fully applied until the car is nally stopped there would be an objectionable jerky stop of the car, and if the brakes are relieved too soon there would be a failure to stop at the right point. In order to obtain the preliminary or partial exhaust it is customary to employ a comparatively small partial exhaust opening, or if only a single exhaust opening is used it is o ened only slightly in partial eX- haust position, so that the air from the brake cylinder will not esca e to the atmosphere too ra idly, but when tlie controller is moved to ful exhaust position a free exhaust is obtained. In accordance with our invention we separate the preliminary or partial exhaust from the full or free exhaust and pipe the connection from the partial exhaust to the low pressure tank. Therefore, each time the handle of the controller 9, is placed in partial exhaust the air brake cylin er equalizes or tends to equalize into the low pressure tank 7, with the result that any desired pressure may be maintained in the low pressure tank, the check valve l0, preventing the pressure from escaping from the low pressure tank when the controller is moved to full exhaust position.

It is important that the pressure in the low pressure tank be prevented from falling below a predetermined point through use of the ressure therefrom for the operation of auxi ia devices, such as doors, steps or the like. IIt is equally important that the pressure in the low pressure tank be prevented rom exceeding a predetermined maximum. For, if through failure to use the pressure in the low pressure tank for the operation of auxiliary devices, o r for other purposes, and the brake mechanism is meanwhile applied and released several tim, the pressure in the low4 pressure tank osition the pressure in i wouldbuild up and increase until there is a failure to secure the desired preliminary or partial release of the brake mechanism when the controller handle is moved to partial release position, silice the low pressure tank, and the brake cylinder pressures will have been brought to equality by the accumulation of the pressure in said tank. On the other hand, if the pressure in the low pressure tank is permitted to fall below a de sii-able point there may not be suiiicient pressure therein to effect the operation of the auxiliary devices. In order to avoid these and other dilliculties we propose, in accordance with the principles of our invention, to employ a pressure regulator having such relation and arrangement as to maintain substantially anuniform pressure in the low pressure tank. This pressure regulator is inter osed between the pipes 11, 12, respective y delivering from the hi h pressure tank 6 to the controller 9, an from the controller to the low pressure tank 7, and consists of a cylinder 13, having a piston 14, therein, exposed on one side to the pressure medium and on the other side to the atmosphere and to the tension of a comprsion s nng 15. A valve 1G, connected to the ro 17 of the piston, controls two orts, one delivering by pipe 18, or otherwise to the atmosphere, and the other communicating by pipe 19, or otherwise, with the high pressure tank 6. A pipe 20, communicates etween the cylinder 13, on the pressure side of piston 14, and the low pressure tank. The tension of spring 15 is regulated to the required point to enable substantially uniform pressure to be maintained in the low pressure tank. In the ositioii shown in Fig. 3, both ports control ed by valve 16, are closed while there is a free communication between the regulator cylinder and the low ressure tank. If now, the ressure in the ow preure tank should all below the point as predetermined b the tension of spring 15, said spring wil actuatethe piston 14 aiid through it the valve 16, in a direction to open the connection 19to the regulator cylinder thereby admitting pressure from the high ressure tank to the low pressure tank until the pressure in the latter rises sufficiently to overcome the tension of spring 15, and again cause valve 16, to shut oil' the connection 19, from the high pressure tank. On the other hand, if the pressure in the low pressure tank builds up to a degree above the predetermined maximum the tension of sprin 15, will be overcome and the piston 14, w1 l move in a direction to cause valve 1G, to open the exhaust connection 18, thereby causing the ressure in the low pressure tank to again fnl Thus it will be seen that We secure automatically a most eflicient regulation and control of the pressure in the low pressure tank.

lll

From the low pressure tank 5, in which Waste or exhaust ressure from the brake cylinder is collected) and stored, the pressure medium is drawn for use in operating the auxiliary devices. In the particular embodiment of our invention which We have selected for the purposes of illustration, We have shown an arrangement for effecting the operation of the car door, but of course it is to be understood that our invention, as d efined in the claims, is not to be confined or limited with respect to the particular form of auxiliary devices to be operated, as it is obvious that other devices besides doors, such for instance, as steps, bells, whistles, sanding mechanism and the like may be operated or controlled with equal facility by the stored up or conserved waste or exhaust pressure from the brake cylinder.

In the form shown a pipe 23, delivers from the low pressure tank 7, to a valve casing 24, in which a suitable valve controls the supply and exhaust of the pressure medium to and from the power cylinder 25, for operating suitable mechanism, indicated at 26, havin connection withV the door 27, for contro ling the movements of the latter. The suppl and exhaust of the medium to and from t 1e power cylinder 25, may be controlled from any convenient point and through any convenient valve operation conneetions. XVe have shown a valve control. handle 28, and intermediate connections 29, for this purpose.

In ending applications for patents ot' Harol Rowntree, Serial No. 393,911, tiled Sept. 21, 1907, and of Paris R. Forman .Serial No. 393,908, filed Sept. 21, 1907, and in Patent No. 870,051, granted Nov. 5, 190.7, to Rowntree, are shown various forms and constructions of auxiliary devices such as door and ste operating means which can be employed in connection with our piesent invention, and therefore specilic and detailed description of such devices herein is unnecessary.

From the foregoing description it will be seen thatl we rovide means which are simple and'e'ieient or operating the doors, or other auxiliary devices from the exhaust or Waste from the brake mechanism, and hence without requiring any special compressor mechanism for the pressure medium, and Without imposing any extra duty on the com presser er pump employed in connection with the brake mechanism. While the amount of compressed air required for operating the doors, steps or the like, of cars is not great, and While when the equipment is new the compressor for the brake mechanism is usually amply able to supply the required pressure for operating the brakes, as Well as auxiliary devices, yet, owing to the natural Wear and tear incident to continued service use of the apparatus, the capacity l said means exhausts,

of the `compressor in relation to the brake pressure required, is lessened until a point is reached Where the pressure supplied therefrom is not more than `that required to properly operate the brakes, and even the slight additional duty imposed thereon when pressure medium is drawn directly therefrom for operatin the doors or other auxiliary devices is suicicnt to overtax the compressor with the result that neither the brakes nor the auxiliary devices are properly or etticiently operated. It will be observed that in our invention we overcome this diiiiculty by utilizing the waste or exhaust from the brake cylinder. VIt will also be seen that our invention may be readily applied to cars already in use and equipped With air brake mechanism, thereby enabling such cars to be readily supplied with pneumatic door or step operating mechanism without imposing any extra duty on the air brake compressor.

Having now set forth the object and nature of our invention, and a construction and arrangement embodying the principles thereof, and having described such construction its purposes, tunction and mode ot' operation, What we claim as new and useful, and of our own invention, and desire to seby Letters Patent is l. In a car, the combination with pressure operated brake mechanism, of a door or other auxiliary device, actuating means connected thereto, and means for utilizing the exhaust from the brake mechanism for operating the actuating means of said door or other auxiliary device.

In a car, the combination with pressure operated brake mechanism, of auxiliary n'iovable devices, actuating means therefor, means for storing a portion of the exhaustv from the brake mechanism, and means for utilizing the stored exhaust pressure to operate said actuating means.

3. In a car, the combination with pressure operated brake mechanism, and means for etl'ecting a partial exhaust of the pressure medium to gradually release the brake mechanism, of means for storing up the partial exhaust from the brake mechanism, auxiliary movable pressure operated de vices, and means for utilizing the stored 'up partial exhaust from the brake mechanism for moving said auxiliary devices.

4. In a car, the combination with an air brake mechanism means for partially exhausting the operating vmedium therefrom in advance of the full exhaust, and means for storing up the partial exhaust, of a door, and means for utilizing the stored up partial exhaust for operating the door.

5. In a car, the combination of a high pressure tank, a compressor delivering thereto, means operated by the pressure from said tank, a low pressure tank into which and auxiliary movable devices operated by pressure from said low pressure tank.

6. In a car, the combination of a highl pressure tank and a low pressure tank, means operated by pressure from the high pressure tank and exhausting into the low pressure tank, a check valve for preventing the return of such exhaust pressure from the low pressure tank, and auxiliary movable means having actuating devices operated by pressure from the low pressure tank.

7. In a car, the combination of a high pressure tank, a low pressure tank, means operated by pressure from the high pressure tank and exhausting into the low pressure tank, auxiliary devices operated by pressure from the low pressure tank, apressurf` regulator communicating respectively with said tanks and the atmosphere and including an automatically operated valve for controlling said communications.

8. In a car, a pump, a tank to Which the pump delivers, a brake mechanism operated from said tank, a low pressure tank into which the brake mechanism exhausts, a power cylinder supplied with operating medium from said low pressure tank, a door, and mechanism operated by said power mechanism for moving said door.

S). In a,V car, a high pressure tank, a low pressure tank and a brake cylinder, a controller for controlling the connections between said tanks and cylinder and operating to supply pressure medium from the high pressure tank to the brake cylinder, and to supply the exhaust from said cylinder to the low pressure tank, auxiliary movable devices, pressure actuated means for operating said devices, and means for supplying pressure from said low pressure tank to said pressure actuated means.

10. In a car, the combination with pressure operated brake mechanism, of ressure operated auxiliary detices, means or storing a portion of the exhaust from the brake mechanism, and means for maintaining said stored exhaust to operate the auxiliary device.

11. In a car, `the combination with pressure operated brake mechanism, and means for eli'ccting a partial exhaust of the pres sure medium in advance of the full exhaust to gradually release the brake mechanism, of means for storing up the partial exhaust from the brake mechanism, means for preventing said stored up partial exhaust pressure from exceeding a predetermined maximum, auxiliary pressure operated devices, and means for utilizing the stored up partial exhaust pressure for operating said auxiliary devices.

12. In a car, the combination with an air brake mechanism, means for partially exhausting the operatin medium therefrom in advance of the ful exhaust, means for storing up the partial exhaust pressure, and means for preventing the stored up partial exhaust pressure from falling below a predetermined minimum pressure, of a door, and means for utilizing the stored up partial cxhaust pressure for operating' the door.

13. In a car, the combination ot a high pressure tank,'a compressor delivering their to, means operated by the pressure from said tank, a low pressure tank into which said means exhausts, means for maintaining substantially uniform pressure in the low pressure tank, and auxiliary devices operated by pressure from said loW pressure tank.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands in the presence of the subscribing Witnesses, this 11th day of Jannary A. D., 1909.

HAROLD ROWNTREE.

GEORGE M. SPENCER Witnesses:

LEMUEL M. SHIELDS, ADELINE F. BISHOP.

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