New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-18
COMPRESSED AIR FOR SAFETY
A NEW GATE, ALARM BELL AND SIGNAL
SYSTEM FOR RAILROADS
TUE LOCOMOTIVE ITSELF SUPPLIES THE POWER
TO PUMP THE ARA SYSTEM THAT ACTS

TtrE LOCOMOTIVE ITSELF SUPPLIES THE POWER
TO PUMP THE ARA SYSTEM THAT ACTS
AUTOMATICALLY.
rha tas ~ invention as related TO railroading, Is
now IN reduce still further the liability to danger
A recent application OF compressed air 20 raroaa-
ing consists OF a gate and alarm DELL % De s'tu'
ated at principal railroad crossings Ii Is system
Of block signals. which can be placed at any desired
distance apart and an electric alarm bell for minor
railroad crossings all Of which can be operated
by compressed air. which is>produced by the loco
motive itself it traverses the road
All these implements, along with a rather novel
SWITCH which leaves no break in the MAN TRACK
but preserves It's continuity intact for It's entire
length. do not exist alone in the Imagination but
are incorporated in a model OF iron and steel when
seems 10 demonstrate beyond a doubt their uti'V
and practicabty
The gate is ike most gates seen at railroad cross
in9s in large cities with the exception that the
ends Of its arms provided with a mover arrange
ment by which they can be turned upward ana OUT
ward from the road. thus permitting any team
which might be caught under or between them %
either back out or drive through. At distance
of a mile or three-quarters of mile from thiS
gate or at any other distance desired, at the sue
OF the outward track, two air pumps are placed
which are provided with rocker-rms, one emo OF
which engages with the wheels or the tram WINE
in motion, the other end being connected to the
numn which forces the air compressed by the
swiftly moving wheels OF the train through pipe
to the air chambers in the gate standards al the
crossings. The first pump causes bell 10 rihE
for about thirty seconds. and the second pump
gently lowers the gates. When the tram reaches
the crossing it engages with another pump OF the
same tyne as the first, which again raises the
gates.
II makes no difference how many tracks there
are at the crossing or how many trains there are
coming in opposite directions, for the gates cannot
he raised until the last train has passed. This ar
rangement does away. is seen, with the man at
the crossing who now operates the gates.
With these block signals at intervals OF -FOUR
miles along the road. the weary traveller may 20
to sleep assured that his dreams will not reach
their climax in rear-end collision caused Dy
another dreamer in the watch-tower OF the DocK
signal in use. The new block signal has all
the characteristics OF the old. except the tower us
human occupants the lines u telegraph wire and
the batteries There is nothing suggestive OF dan
ger about the tower, but when one THINKS Of II
as occupied by lover absorbed in dreams OF MS
beloved and OF the gales likely to blow down the
wires which the life-cords Of the system along
with the fact that the batteries often yield TO
the severity of winter there is rest TO the weary
traveller.
AN AUTOMATIC SET OF SIGNALS
The signals are practically the same as of yore
but they are operated differently. The same type
OF pump employed 10 operate the gate is USED
here. The train. after entering block. engages
the signal at danger. The signal remains at danger
until the next block is entered. when the sgnai
there is set at danger and the former set saIe
II the train should enter a block whose signal
showed danger by neglect OF engineer or any other
cause, there is lever made to engage with a
lever on the locomotive, connected 10 valve on
pipe which is extension of the ar-brake system
on the train. When this engagement takes place
the brakes set the train. and IT is brought 10
a stop. There Is also a "deralng switch, IN con-
nection with another block signal which when me
llslon
The electric bell is operated by the same pump
system. The train engages with the pump AZ any
desired distance from the crossing; and the ar
thus generated is forced through the Intervening
pipe. closing the electric current generated In dry
battery. thus ringing the bell When the tran
with another pump which breaks the circuit and
S SDs fns G r ars mat ree @ no
les along the road 10 freeze up IN winter no wires
to be operated by Dusty Rhodes in his annual
perambulations. ,-.,
and consequently out OF the way OF harm Th ne
pumps take their air through finely perforated
by cinders or dirt These nozzes can be placed
above the height OF the highest snovtrift In win
In none OF these appliances is air depended on as
holding power. Cor the Instruments automatically
lock themselves, and cannot be operated by any
power except that Impaired by the train.
THE WORKING OF THE SWITCH.
The switch IL different from any now In use, the
chief feature being that the main track is not
broken with frogs any other device. but IL con-
tnuous. II consists OF rails OF the desired curve
which high enough above .he main track 10
raise the fanges on the wheels clear OF the main
track. These rails made TO 1T the tracks
at the entrance OF the switch and the height above
the track is attained by gradual incline. After
the switch Is set. II Is held set until the last
wheel or the tram clears H. derahnS sWltcn
| IL cd IA = an
the siding and the switch Is thrown on, prevents
any part OF the train the siding from comins
back far enough 10 interfere with passing tram
the main track. thus avoiding what is sener'
ally known in railroad parance as a partial tele
scope" -
A complete working model OF all these new app'
ances, with a full-hedged locomotive 10 operate
them all on a scale OF three inches 10 a foot. car