The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-09-05
AN INGENIOUS DEVICE.
Idea Of An Indiana Man to Pre-
vent Railroad Wrecks.

4 y ~ # : . .
r. = Stcigelmcyer, n member of the
city fire department, IS the inventor OF
system which, 1t Is claimed by prominent
machInlsts, will successfully prevent
wreclis on railroads and In many other
ways make travelling safer both Tor the
public, tho employees and the railroad
companies 3
The new invention Is an addition to the
"block', system. Tho system has been
perfected by Mr.. steigelmcyer after
several years OF hard work, and he mas
applied for patents. AS soon as they
IRE issued he will arrange for q practlcal
4 test OF his scheme, and will then organize
company for the manufacture, and sale
+ OF his patent.
The now system is one which acts d-'
rect1y upon the throttle Of the locomo-
tive, regardless OF tho attention or mat
tention Of tho engineer, The patent Is
SO arranged that each time signal Is
ignored the engine Is automatically
ST opped, and at the same time. q record
or the stop is made In the slgnalAlans
tower, recording the exact time "a oc-
ours At the end OF his run the engineer
must explain the reasons for the stop.
Thus, 1t Is claimed, will the watrhful
ness OF the engineer be Increased instead
OF diminished. MS 1t has been by the
former block system.
The "Automatic; Locomotive Control" Is
the name Of the new device. The con-
TROLLING powerSby which the engine Is
stopped Is electricity. while the operating
power Is compressed air taken from the
train limo pipe. a battery ut the bottom
Of the signal post connected with COP
per plate at tho top Of the post, winch
in turn. Is connected with n roller arm
on the arm of the signal post, ana q
short rail In the middle Of the railroad
track, completes the mechanism OF the
| system as far as the track Is conccrneHa.
On the engine Is small wheel "'n,cn
comes in contact with the snort "heci J., =
| in the center Of the track. Here nlso y
what Is known as a pony truck wheel
| and n coppcr disc with an electric brtieh.
| which ia connected with athrottle-closinG
ovlnd-r The airsfrom the train line pipe
is taken up through the cylinder. which
| is controlled by an electric magnet on top
! or the cylinder y, y
With the signals and the e sil.s
onuinnedE thus yanyFengne attempting 70
| noas q signal set fate"block" Will auto
! nniicn1lv he brought to n stnndstlll.
The trolley wheel coming IN contact
with the short rail IN the center OF inc
track, and the pony truck wheel coming ~
in contact with the main rail-, completes
| tho circuit which charges the na6net
| and In this way AUTOMATICALLY closeS S ~. ~,
/ throttle and sets the brakes. On the
/ other hand, when the signal % set
/ s"clearancc" there Is no circuit COM
A pletcd and the train passes the sgnal
l post untouched
some advantages Of the system are
1 that In case the engineer is dead or
aslccp and the signal is set against nm
(. the train Is brought to n stop withon'
loss to the company or Injury TO the
train. The system Is such that should
a train break in two or an5air hose break
. 1.-THE engine Is shut down, as the throttle
J works In harmony with the brakes. and
as the brakes arc set the throttle VIII
close. Tho system also throws sale-
guard around tho travelling public IN the
e case Of a dcrail for II the signal IS SCI
mt "bock' the engine VIII DC stopped
before the derail Is reached.
Railroad men who have examined MT
steigelmeyer's patent are astoundod q
!, the simplicity Of the mechanism ana 90
lieve the system great success WIZ
, this system in use. they say. the dan
ger OF railroad travelling will be reducef
so per cent. They also say that II i
, entirely ractical.--Indanapoli star.