The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-12-11
MAKE FIRST TEST
Of PATENT soon.
Montrose Mans Device to Prevent
Collision viii be
Tried Out
Shortly.
APPARATUS ALL HERE
Plan is Very Simple and Uses Elec-
|. trIcity to Set the Air
| Brakes Automatl-
calIy.
APPARATUS ALL HERE

| 8
ture trains, to try out what is believ-
ed to be device for the absolute |
prevention of collisions on railroads
is being installed In the old Hubin-
ger building today. If the test proves
a success, permanent station will
be maintained by the company back
of the appliance.
The device is the patent of Mont
rose man, Joel Ames, and is exceed
ingly simple. Storage batteries, gen
Grating continuous current with
third rail attachment, which sets air
brakes when the contact is broken,
is the idea in nutshell. The inven-
tor and the company back of him be-
lieve the appliance will be a saccess.
Here is the way 1t works. In the
engine set of storage batteries are
installed. These connect through the
axle and wheel to rail, making a
continuous third rail connection
When for any reason this circuit is
broken, the inner circuit sets air
brakes and the train is brought to a
standstill
n The current Is generated continu-
: ously, 1t is explained by T. s. Robin.
son, one Of the members OF the com
pany. A broken rail is encountered,
the current Is thus broken and the
electricity releases the air, setting the
f brakes.
When two trains get on the same
block, short circuit, practically, is
the result. First one train releases
its brakes, and then the other trair
releases its and the approaching
trains are stopped.
Rear end collisions are prevented
in the same manner. AS soon as thu
trains are on the same block, the cir
cult is brok en-, and the brakes are sci
Little Needed In Engines.
The only things needed for the er
CINE are the storage batteries an
the third rail conn actions. These ar
simple, and the third rail is not aliv
except for the train passing over i
It is not expected to install thir
= rail, one of the regular rails Is mad
to serve the purpose with the axl
and wheel OF the engine to furnish tn
contracts.
The company back of the demon
IA stration which will be put on in
u few days is composed of Joel Anne
the inventor, of Montrose, Ia; e.
ward Leach of Montrose, t. S. Rob
OF son, L. C. Miller and DR.. Gibso
Browne of Keokuk, and j. G. Schee I
Burlington.
Henry Weigold, mechanic of Fol
Madison has constructed the tel
l." trains. These consist of moo
t., engine, tender and one car I'll
- engine is equipped with an autom
of bile engine for demonstration pu
in poses. The air tank is carried
nd the tender. Otherwise the train
Try exactly the same as real tra'
:, would be.
,,ot Tracks are being installed on tt
rst third floor of the old Hubinger bull
EN- ing, and tests will be made of IL
full appliance as soon as possible.
nat
'!e Problem is Solved.
= IF the brakes work as We expe
them to-" said Mr.. Robson this NOR
= ing. Il think we have found what ra
II roads and federal boards have be'
= after. We expect that the applian
4 will be a success. If it is, we W
"A establish ourselves here, and W
n bring railroad officials here to lo'
= the plans over, and to see what '
= are doing. 1t Is very simple, but '
believe 1t will do the work"
81 The apparatus for the tets Is blu
at a cost of $1,000. The tests W
= be made as soon as the track can
Il set UP.
1t is also claimed that telephoni
on trains will be possible by mea
of this connection from the engine.