US989460A

US989460A - Air-brake signal.

Info

Publication number: US989460A
Application number: US56414310A
Authority: US
Inventors: George J Westphal
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1910-05-31
Filing date: 1910-05-31
Publication date: 1911-04-11
Anticipated expiration: 1928-04-11

Description

G. J. WESTPHAL.

AIR BRAKE SIGNAL. APPLIUATION FILED 11111131. 1910.

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GEORGE J". WESTPHAL, OF OKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA.

AIR-BRAKE SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 11, 1911.

by an engine driven from the locomotive,

usually by means of steam supplied to such engine from the locomotive boiler. It frequently happens that the air pump ceases; to work from one cause. or another and as a result the pressure withln the a1r reservolri falls below a given point which may result in failure of the brakes to work at a critical time.

The present invention provides means for a rising the en ineer of failure of the pump to work so that they difficulty may be promptly overcome, thereby preventing accident through failure of the brakes to work by reason of diminished air pressure within the reservoir.

The invention contemplates a signal adapted to be operated by the air pressure, a valve for cutting off the supply of air to the signal, and valve operating means actuated by the exhaust from the air pump operating engine, said valve operating meansbeing. of

novel and peculiar form as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which shows the invention 1n operative relatlon in connection with an a1r reservoir, a1r pump and air pump operating engine such as generally employed in an air brake system for railway trains.

The air pump 1 and engine 2 for driving the same may be of any construction or type such as commonly employed in air brake systems. The air reservoir 3 for containing the air under pressure is connected with the air pump 1 by means of a pipe 1. The air pump operating engine 2 is adapted to be driven by means of steam supplied thereto from the boiler of the locomotive engine by means of a'pipe 5. The spent or exhaust steamis carried off from the engine 2 by means of a pipe 6. Apipe 7 connects the air reservoir 3 with the engineers valve. A signal 8 is conveniently positioned and adapted to be operated by means of compressed air from the reservoir 3. A pipe 9 connects the signal with the air reservoir and is provided in its length with a valve, which is controlled by means of the exhaust from the air pump operating engine 2. The signal 8 may be of any type so long as it serves to give warning and apprise the engineer of failure of the pump 2 to operate. The signal illustrated is of the audible variety and when operated emits a sound suflicient to attract attention and give warning that the air pump is not working, so that the cause may be inquired into and remedied so that the predetermined or working pressure of the air within the reservoir 3 'may be maintained and thereby prevent a casualty which may otherwise occur as a result of the brake system failing to operate at a critical moment.

The valve for controlling the signal operating means comprises a casing 10, a valve 11, a cylinder 12, a piston 13 arranged to operate in the cylinder 12 and connected with the valve 11 by means of a stem 14, and a check valve 15. The casing 10 is provided with an inlet 16 and an outlet 17 and is formed with a chamber 18 in which the valve 11 operates. A plug l9closes the open end of the chamber 18 and is formed at its inner.

end with an opening which communicates at one end with the inlet 16 and at its opposite end with a seat against which the valve 11 closes. The stem 11 operates through a stuffing box provided at the inner or lower end of the casing 10. The casing 10 constitutes a closure for the upper end of the cylinder 12 and is provided with a vent 20 for the ingress and egress of air, thereby admitting'of positive and quick action of the piston 13. The unseating of the valve 11 is limited by the downward movement of the piston 13, which is controlled by means of stops 21 projecting into the space of the cylinder 12. By reason of the peculiar construction and arrangement of the parts associated with the casing 10 the assemblage of the working elements may be easily effected and the valve and its seat made readily accessible for any purpose that may arise. The weight of the piston 13 and the attached parts, such as the valve 11 and stem 14, is such as to insure an unseating of the valve 11, thereby overcoming the necessity for the provision of a spring to assist in the unseating of the valve. A fitting 22 closes the lower end of the cylinder 12 and is chambered, parts of the exhaust pipe being connected thereto and communicating with the chamber 23 thereof. The check valve 15 closes the opening by means of which communication is established between the chamber 28 and the cylinder 12, said check valve closing downward and being retained in place and directed in its movements by means of a guide 241:.

The parts being assembled and arranged substantially as herein disclosed and the air pump and its operating engine being in working order the valve 11 is held seated by the action of the exhaust steam confined in the cylinder 12 below the piston 13. When the valve 11 is seated the air is out off from the signal 8, which remains inactive. In the event of the pressure within the cylinder 12 becoming reduced by reason of the engine'2 failing to work the valve 11 becomes unseated and the air passing from the reservoir 3 to the signal operates the latter and gives warning of the failure of the air pump to work so that the cause may be removed and the parts restored to working condition, thereby reducing the chances of accident to the smallest amount possible. When the engine 2 is in operation the exhaust steam passes regularly therefrom through the exhaust pipe 6 to the predetermined point of discharge, said exhaust in its passage entering the chamber 23 and a portion thereof passing into the cylinder 12 by the check valve'15, thereby maintaining a pressure within the cylinder 12 to press the piston 13 upward and hold the valve 11 seated. Any water of condensation collecting in the lower portion of the cylinder 12 passes off when the check valve 15 is unseated, thereby preventing any accumulation of water of condensation. Should the pump fail to operate for an appreciable length of time by reason of the stopping of its operating engine 2 the cylinder 12 will not receive a fresh supply of exhaust steam and as a consequence the pressure within the cylinder 12 will become reduced by reason of the condensation of the steam therein resulting from a cooling of the cylinder and this diminished pressure will operate to create a partial vacuum and draw the piston 13 downward and unseat the valve 11, thereby permitting compressed air to pass from the reservoir 3 to the signal 8 to operate the latter and give warning of abnormal conditions so that the defect may be remedied. When the cause is removed and the pump again starts to work the exhaust steam from the engine 2 passes off through the pipe 6, a portion of such steam enters the cylinder 12 and exerts a pressure upon the piston 13 to move the same upward and again seat the valve 11, thereby shutting off the supply of compressed air to the signal 8, which latter becomes inactive. It is to be understood that under normal conditions the air pump is in continuous operation or the periods of inaction are of such short duration as to prevent any material reduction of pressure within the cylinder 12, thereby preventing intermediate operation of the signal, but in the event of an unusual period of rest of the pump from abnormal cause the pressure within the cylinder 12 reduces by reason of the condensation of the steam therein, thereby resulting in an unseating of the valve 11 and operation of the signal.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily ap parent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may bemade when desired as are within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is

1. In an air brake system, the combination of an air reservoir, an air pump for charging said reservoir, an engine'for operating the air pump, a signal, connecting means between the signal and air reservoir for supplying compressed air to the signal for operating the same, a valve for shutting off the supply of air to the signal, and valve controlling means actuated by the exhaust from the said pump operating engine for holding said valve closed under normal con ditions and admitting of the opening of said valve under abnormal conditions to admit of operation of the signal.

2. In an air brake system, the combination of a reservoir for receiving compressed air, an air pump for charging said reservoir, an engine for operating the air pump, a

signal, connecting means between the signal and air reservoir, a valve for shutting ofi the supply of air to the signal, a cylinder, a piston arranged to operate in the cylinder and connected with the before mentioned valve, and means for charging said cylinder with the exhaust from the air pump operating engine to hold the valve closed under normal conditions and to admit of the opening of said valve when the pressure within the cylinder falls below a given point.

3. In an air brake system, the combination of a reservoir for receiving compressed air, an air pump for charging said reservoir, an engine for operating the air pump, a signal, connecting means between the signal and air reservoir, a valve for shutting off the supply of air to the signal, a cylinder, a piston arranged to operate in the cylinder and connected. with the beforementioned valve, a chambered element connected with said cylinder and having communication therewith, a check valve normally closing the opening establishing communication between the cylinder and chambered element, and means for passing the exhaust from the air pump operating engine through said chambered element to admit of a portion of said exhaust passing by the check valve into the cylinder to maintain a pressure therein to hold the firstmentioned valve closed through the instrumentality of the piston connected therewith.

4. In an air brake system, the combination of a reservoir for receiving compressedair, an air pump for charging said reservoir, an engine for operating the air pump, a signal, connecting means between the signal and air reservoir, a valve for shutting off the supply of air to the signal, a cylinder, a piston arranged to operate in the cylinder and connected with the beforementioned valve, a chambered element located at the lowest point of the cylinder and having communication therewith, an upwardly opening check valve normally closing the opening by means of which communication is established between the cylinder and chambered element, and means for passing the exhaust steam from the air pump operating engine through said chambered element to admit of a portion of such steam unseating the check valve and entering the cylinder and at the same time relieving the cylinder of any water of condensation.

5. In combination an air pump, an engine for operating the air pump, a signal adapted to be operated by means of the air compressed by said air pump, a chambered casing having an inlet and an outlet and having a valve seat between the said inlet and outlet, a valve normally closed on said seat, and valve controlling means actuated by the exhaust from the air pump operating engine to hold said valve seated under normal conditions.

6. In combination 'an air pump, an engine for operating the air pump, a chambered casing having an inlet and an outlet, connecting means' between the inlet of said casing and the air pump, a signal, connecting means between said signal and the outlet of said casing, a plug for closing the open end of the chambered casing and having an opening in communication at one end with the inlet and with a valve seat at its opposite end, a valve normally closed upon said seat to shut off communication between the inlet and the outlet of the chambered casing, and valve controlling means actuated by the exhaust from the air pump operating engine to normally hold said valve seated and to admit of the opening of the valve under abnormal conditions, whereby the signal is operated by means of the air compressed by the beforementioned air pump.

7 In combination an air pump, a steam engine for operating the air pump, a signal, connecting means between the signal and air pump to admit of operating the signal by means of the air compressed by said pump, a valve for shutting ofli the supply of air to the signal under normal conditions, a cylinder, a piston arranged to op crate in the cylinder and having said valve connected therewith, a chambered element at the lower end of the cylinder having communication with the cylinder, an upwardly opening check valve for closing the opening by means of which communication is established between the chambered element and cylinder, and means for directing the exhaust steam from the air pump operating engine through said chambered element to admit of a portion of the exhaust steam passing by the check valve into the cylinder to normally hold the air controlling valve closed and to admit of said air controlling valve automatically opening when the pressure within the cylinder falls below a given point.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE J. WESTPHAL.

Witnesses:

V. B. HILLYARD, BENNETT S. JONES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.