The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-11-17
Devices.

Devices.
J, II, Richardson, of 1921 Van Storch
avenue. who is known among MS
friends as "the patcntee,' has per-
fected an air brake appliance for con-
trolling the head end of railroad
train in case of u break i'll the tram
line, which is an almost daily occur
renee and his genius Will undoubt-
edly be recognized and rewarded, IL
sale of the patent is consummated ~
expected.
The appliance has been tested on
the Delaware and Hudson. ana Dela-
ware, Lackawanna and Western rail-
road and has proven eminentlN satts-
factory. and those who are familiar
with the present Westinghouse air
brake system assert that the system
IS not complete without the Richardson
appliance.
A patent was granted on the appli-
ance on November g. for the United
states and other patents are now pend
ing in foreign countries. a New YORK
syndicate has an option on the patent
for $50 O0O the Westinghouse company
is also interested in it and have asked
for demonstration Of its usefulness.
Mr.. Richardson has already received
over twenty letters from superintend-
ents of motive power on western rail-
roads, all of whom approve OF the ap-
pliance, and IL at the expiration OF
the present option, it is not sold, the
patent will be disposed of to another
company Interested. John r. Thomas
baggagemaster at the LackaWanna
avenue station of the Delaware ana
Hudson company, is the only person
interested in the patent with Mr..
Richardson.
EMPLOYED IN MINE.
The patentce was formerly in the
employ of the Delaware and Hudson
company as fire boss and mine fore
man. In 1898 he began experimenting
and perfected slate picker or coal
separator. which was patented in 1885
G6, and afterwards purchased by the
Emery Slatepicker company. of Green
Ridge and is now in general use all
through the coal regions.
At present he is engaged in perfect
ing an appliance for separating the
dirt from fine coal or culm as 1t Is
commonly called. and thus do away
with the washing process now in use,
and retaining both the coal and the
culm. If this is successfully accom-
plished< it will prove a wonderful in
vention. He also has an improve
ment on the Emery slatepicker, sim
plifying the original for which patent
was granted on August Z, 1900.
The Westinghouse airbrake system
works from the engine through the
train line, and when a stop is neces-
sary the "engineer's valve" is opened,
creating n reduction in the pressure
which operates the brakes. If the
train line is broken, permitting the
air to escape. the brakes on the entire
train and engine are applied. The en-
CINE and train are brought to a sudden
stop and q gap Is left between the
two sections.
When the train is thus separated and
the air pressure cut off. rear end COL
lision is unavoidable. III order to re-
connect the train it is necessary for
the train men to go to the back END
of the front section of the train and
close the angle cock. The engineer
pumps up ninety pounds of air to re-
lease the brakes before the train can
be moved.
RICHARDSON'S APPLIANCE.
lIle tSlCudIuSoi dPpiiohSS t'NSS ''S
engineer the power to control his train
and avoid collision. The object of
the invention is to provide means
whereby should train part the brakes
of the rear section of the train will be
automatically applied by the escape of
air through the, disconnected or broken
air tubes while the brakes on the front
section Of the train will not be ma
terially affected.
The forward brakes are thus left un-
der the control of the engineer so as
to avoid q rear-end collision, which
would invariably occur should the
brakes be applied to the front section,
and the said section comes to a stop
before the rear section. This novel ap-
place also provides a construction OF
parts whereby the engineer will re-
ceive a signal that his train is broken
in two.
The appliance provides a connection
between the air cock of the air pipe of
one car and the adjacent car. so that
If the train parts the air cock at the
rear end of the last car of the forward
section of the train will be turned off a
short interval after the breaking of
the air tubes. thus preventing the en-
tire application of the brakes on the
cars of the forward section.
The air in the train line of the rear
section Of the parted train will escape
al the forward cock, and affect the ap-
pication Of the brakes to that section,
thus bringing the rear section to
stop, while the brakes Of the forward
section are LEFT under the complete
control Of the engineer.
ai,,.'l.oD OF SIGNALLING.
To effect u, , signalling to the engi-
neer that the tra.' is parted, Mr.. Rich
ardson makes the :, junction between
the front cnh of one ~ and the cock
TT rhe rear end Of the lioining ear of
~ greater length than tn distance be-
tween the said parts, so as tn normal
ly hang slack. whereby when the cars
part the air brake coupling viii he
disconnected ana alloN of II small cs-
cape of air from a partial reduction OF
pressure In rhe train pipe OF the for
ward section of the train, before the
said connection tightens and closes the
valve al The rear end of the last car
Of the front section and cuts Off the
escape of air.
The engineer Is thus notified that his
train Is parted. in order that he may
look to the safety OF the forward sec-
tlon thereof. In carrying his inven-
tlon into practice, Mr.. Richardson pro-
yides each cock with an arm, extend
ing at right angles tn and preferably
formed integrally with the handles
now in use, so as to project laterally
nj at iGrh a oil hn hA