IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING OR CARRYING OFF SMOKE DELETERIOUS GASES AND STEAM FROM RAILWAY TUNNELS AND COVERED STATIONS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Culver Green of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings
and State of New York, United States of America, and temporarily of Queen
Victoria Street in the City of London for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING OR CARRYING OFF SMOKE
DELETERIOUS GASES AND STEAM FROM RAILWAY TUNNELS AND COVERED
STATIONS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Culver Green at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd December 1882.
DAVID CULVER GREEN of Brooklyn in the County of Kings and State of New
York, United States of America, and temporarily of Queen Victoria Street in the
City of London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
REMOVING OR CARRYING OFF SMOKE, DELETERIOUS GASES AND STEAM FROM
RAILWAY TUNNELS AND COVERED STATIONS
"
FOR
In
My Invention has for its object to carry off the smoke, gaseous products of
combustion and steam discharged by locomotives in underground railways, tunnels,
and covered stations and preventing the vitiation of the atmosphere thereby.
order to accomplish this effectually, it is necessary to provide a means of receiving
and conveying away the smoke, gases, and steam immediately on their escape from
the engine without permitting them to mix with the general atmosphere of the
tunnel or place, and to this end I provide a continuous hood in the form of an
inverted trough immediately above the line of travel of the locomotive smoke
stack, the top of which is sufficiently embraced by the mouth of the hood to
ensure the smoke and gases issuing therefrom being wholly received in the hood.
This hood may be of any suitable form in cross section preferably with a mouth
rather less in width than the total width of the hood. The hood is suspended or
otherwise fixed to the roof of the tunnel or station and is carried along and con-
nected at any convenient point or points to an outlet above ground into which the
hood discharges. The products of combustion and steam received by the hood are
77

page_text: carried along therein to the point or points of outlet by means of a current or
currents of air produced and maintained in the hood by means of a suitable
blowing apparatus or steam jet, but preferably by means of the automatic multi-
plying air nozzles for which Letters Patent were granted to Alexander Melville
Clark (as a communication from myself) dated November 6th 1879, N° 4536.
These or other jet nozzles are arranged at proper distances apart in the length of
the hood, and so directed as to produce an onward flow of air therein. These
nozzles may be used alone in the hood, but I prefer to use them in combination
with a carrying tube of diameter sufficiently less than the width of the hood to
allow of the smoke, gases, and steam rising between the sides of the hood and the
tube. This tube extends continuously or in interrupted lengths along the whole
course of the hood and the nozzles are placed axially therein, the tube having
forwardly directed openings at frequent intervals or coned mouths to allow the
smoke gases and steam to be drawn from the hood into the tube by the induction
of the air current travelling along within the latter. The nozzles may also be
located within short contracted or coned tubes placed within the carrying tube in
order to increase the inductive action of the air jets.
Beneath the carrying tube and just above the mouth of the hood, I may arrange
V shaped deflector extending along the whole length of the hood and rising up
to a sufficient height within the hood, and in sufficiently close proximity to its
sides to allow a free passage up into the hood for the smoke, &c (which strikes
against the deflector on issuing from the smoke stack of the engine) and yet
prevent the carriages following the engine from producing by induction a downward
suction or current which would draw the smoke, &c, out of the hood before it had
been received into the carrying tube. This deflector may be used whether there
is a carrying tube in the hood or not.
In certain cases I may use the hood alone, without the above described arrange-
ments, by providing it instead with a continuous tube along each side of its mouth,
the tubes being supplied with compressed air and perforated with holes from which
upwardly and forwardly directed jets of air issue and cross one another in or
above the mouth of the hood, these jets thus lifting and propelling forward the
smoke and gases in the upper part of the hood and also preventing them being
drawn down again by the suction produced by the carriages passing beneath the
mouth of the hood.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said David Culver Green in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd June 1883.
DAVID CULVER GREEN of Brooklyn in the County of Kings and State of New
York, United States of America, and temporarily of Queen Victoria Street in the
City of London "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR
REMOVING OR CARRYING OFF SMOKE, DELETERIOUS
RAILWAY TUNNELS AND COVERED STATIONS."
GASES AND STEAM FROM
My Invention has for its object to carry off the smoke, gaseous products of
combustion and steam discharged by locomotives in underground railways, tunnels
and covered stations and preventing the vitiation of the atmosphere thereby.
This
In order to accomplish this effectually it is necessary to provide a means of
receiving and conveying away the smoke, gases and steam immediately on their
escape from the engine, without permitting them to mix with the general atmosphere
of the tunnel or place and to this end I provide a continuous hood in the form of
an inverted trough immediately above the line of travel of the locomotive smoke
stack the top of which is sufficiently embraced by the mouth of the hood to ensure
the smoke and gases issuing therefrom being wholly received in the hood.
hood may be of any suitable form in cross section preferably with a mouth rather
less in width than the total width of the hood. The hood in the case of tunnels
already constructed would be suspended or otherwise fixed to the roof of the tunnel
or station but in the case of tunnels to be constructed it might be built into the
arch of the tunnel. In either case it is carried along and connected at any con-
venient point or points to an outlet above ground into which the hood discharges.
The products of combustion and steam received by the hood are carried along
therein to the point or points of outlet by means of a current or currents of air
produced and maintained in the hood by means of a suitable blowing apparatus or
steam jet but preferably by means of the automatic multiplying air nozzles for
which Letters Patent were granted to Alexander Melville Clark (as a communi-
cation from myself) dated November 6th 1879 N° 4536.
These or other jet nozzles are arranged at proper distances apart in the length of
the hood and so directed as to produce an onward flow of air therein. These
nozzles may be used aloue in the hood but I prefer to use them in combination
with a carrying tube of diameter sufficiently less than the width of the hood to
allow of the smoke gases and steam rising between the sides of the hood and the
tube. This tube extends continuously or in interrupted lengths along the whole
course of the hood and the nozzles are placed axially therein, the tube having
forwardly directed openings at frequent intervals or coned mouths to allow the
smoke gases and steam to be drawn from the hood into the tube by the induction
of the air current travelling along within the latter.
Beneath the carrying tube and just above the mouth of the hood, I may arrange
a V shaped deflector extending along the whole length of the hood and rising up
to a sufficient height within the hood and in sufficiently close proximity to its
sides to allow a free passage up into the hood for the smoke & (which strikes
against the deflector on issuing from the smoke stack of the engine) and yet
prevent the carriages following the engine from producing by induction a down-
ward suction or current which would draw the smoke & out of the hood before it
had been received into the carrying tube. This detector may be used whether
there is a carrying tube in the hood or not.
In certain cases I may use the hood alone, without the above described arrange-
ments by providing it instead with a continuous tube along each side of its mouth
;

page_text: the tubes being supplied with compressed air and perforated with holes from which
upwardly and forwardly directed jets of air issue and cross one another in or above
the mouth of the hood, these jets thus lifting and propelling forward the smoke
and gases in the upper part of the hood and also preventing them being drawn
down again by the suction produced by the carriages passing beneath the mouth
of the hood.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation in perspective (partly broken away to shew
the interior) representing the way in which my Invention may be applied in an
existing tunnel Figures 2. 3. 4. 5 show details. Figure 6 is a cross sectional
perspective view representing the manner in which the invention may be embodied
in the construction of a new tunnel.
Referring to Figure 1. A is the hood constructed of sheet metal wood or other
material and extending continuously the whole length of the tunnel there being
one such hood for each pair of rails placed immediately over the centre line
thereof. This hood is of the form shown in cross section in Figure 3 and has a
contracted mouth on the underside flanked by downwardly extending flanges a,
which may be slightly divergent or flaring and of such dimensions and placed at
such a height as to receive between them and conduct into the mouth of the hood
the smoke & discharged from the locomotive chimney. This houd is shown as
suspended froin the crown of the tunnel by rods but it may be constructed and
supported otherwise than as here represented. B is the V shaped deflector placed
within the hood just above and extending the whole length of its mouth, this
deflector being preferably constructed and supported in position in such manner
that it may be easily cleaned when necessary. For this purpose I prefer to make
it of pairs of plates attached at their higher and outer edges b to rods pivotted in
the brackets or frames which support the carrying tube, or the plates may be
hinged to the sides of the hood. In either case they meet at their lower edges
which are connected together as at 6 or by any other means which will allow of
their being readily detached and dropped down as indicated by the dotted arcs in
Figure 3 for the purpose of removing the s ot deposited on them.
C. C. C. are the successive sections of the carrying tube which is hung within
the hood by being supported at suitable intervals upon cast iron cradles or
brackets X (figure 3) to which the suspension rods and the hood are bolted in the
manner shown, but it may be otherwise supported. This tube is constructed in
lengths of say 15 or 20 feet more or less according to requirements and the nature
of the traffic, the forward end c. of each length being coned down slightly and
entering within the enlarged or flaring rear end c. of the preceding length and
supported therein by studs or distance pieces as shown in the part longitudinal
section Figure 2, there being just sufficient space between the inner cone c. and the
Instead of
outer cone c¹. for the inflow of smoke & as indicated by the arrows.
making the carrying tube in sections with coned ends as described, it may be made
continuous and have forwardly directed inlets at suitable intervals as shown in
Figure 4. D are mult plying air nozzles constructed as described and shown in the
previous patent before referred to, the said construction being again illustrated for
the sake of clearness in Figure 5. These jet nozzles are placed centrally within
the tube preferably one immediately in rear of the coned front end of each section
or they may be otherwise located, their nozzles being directed forwards so that the
jets of air or steam discharged therefrom shall induce an inflow of air through
These nozzles are
the inlets of the tube and an onward current in the tube.
supplied with air or steam from a pipe onto which they are severally branched, the
supply being controlled by suitable means so as to enable the working of the jets
to be regulated according to the requirements of the traffic.
The carrying tube C leads into a discharge outlet E and in some cases when
desirable to condense and purify the steam and products of combustion as far as

page_text: possible, a washing chamber F is interposed between the tube C and outlet E, this
chamber being fitted with perforated pipes at top supplied with water which is
discharged therefromn in showers or spray which must be traversed by the
gases & on their way to the outlet. Fx is the supply pipe and G the drain
pipe for carrying off the water which collects in the channel at the bottom of the
chamber
Referring to Figure 0 it will be seen that the hood is in this case constructed
partly of a small arch A* turned in the crown of the tunnel immediately over an
opening into which are built cast iron frames K forming distance pieces to complete
the main arch and allow the gases &c. to rise into the upper part A³.
A³ are
curtains pendent along either side of this opening and receiving the mouth of the
locomotive chimney between them as before. B is the deflector. C the carrying
tube, D the jet nozzles I is the main and the branch pipes by which said nozzles
are supplied with air or steam.
Figure 7 is a cross section and Figure 8 a part sectional side elevation of
another arrangement in which the houd is used without the other parts before
described the purpose of the jets and of the deflector being fulfilled by upwardly
and forwardly directed jets of air issuing from lines of minute holes in tubes Z
extending along each side of the mouth of the hood.
Having described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same I declare that what I claim as my Invention to be protected by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is:-
1st. The employment of a continuous inverted trough like hood or its
equivalent in combination with a deflector or its equivalent and with air or steam
jet nozzles applied and operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose
herein specified
2. The employment of a continuous hood or its equivalent in combination
with a longitudinal carrying tube within the hood provided with forwardly
directed inlets, and in combination with air or steam jet nozzles located within
the carrying tube and arranged to operate substantially in the manner and for the
purpose herein specified
3. The construction combination and arrangement of apparatus for carrying off
steam and products of combustion from the smoke stacks of locomotive engines
substantially as shown and described.
4th The employment of a continuous inverted trough like hood or its
equivalent in combination with streams of air so directed in the mouth of the
hood as to retain and propel the gases along therein substantially as herein
specified.
In witness whereof I the said David Culver Green have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty second day of June in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty three
D, C, GREEN (L.S.)