Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 20th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1897
I, CHARLES SHOWLER WOODROFFE of No. 89 Umfreville Road, Finsbury
Park in the County of Middlesex, Registered Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of railway street sprinkler cars, in which the
car body is provided with a water-tank or vessel, and with one or more perforated,
pivotally-mounted sprinkler-pipes arranged to sprinkle the roadway at one or both
sides of the track.
The objects of this invention are to arrange the sprinkler-pipes so that they may
be employed to water down or sprinkle the roadway at one or both sides
of the track when the car is moving in either direction; to provide improved
constructions for actuating the perforated sprinkler-pipes and for controlling the
flow of water therethrough; to mount the filler-pipe so that the tank may be
filled from a hydrant or source of water supply at either side of the track; and to
combine the filler-pipe with track-sprinkling devices for wetting down the roadway
between the tracks.
To these ends, the car-body and the water-tank or vessel mounted therein may
be of any of the ordinary or preferred constructions.
A plurality of pivoted sprinkler-pipes are employed, one sprinkler-pipe being
preferably mounted substantially at each corner of the car-body, so that
when the car is moving in either direction, two sprinkler pipes may be brought
into action at the front end of the car to sprinkle the roadways at both sides of the
track.
In the use of car-sprinklers for sprinkling highways, it is desirable to
provide means for accurately controlling the supply of water, so that, as the
car moves along, the water may be accurately shut off to leave the cross-
walks dry.
When the shut-off devices or valves are located some distance from the
sprinkler-pipes, the water which has already passed the valve will continue to
flow through the perforations in the sprinkler-pipe for some time after the valve is
closed.
To overcome this defect, the shut-off devices constructed according to this
invention are located as close to the sprinkler-pipes as possible.
In the preferred construction, a shut-off slide having perforations corresponding
with the perforations of the sprinkler-pipe is mounted inside of each sprinkler-pipe,
and connected by actuating mechanism or link-work so that it can be shifted or
controlled from the car-platform.
In some cases, instead of employing perforated shut-off slides, a valve may be
arranged substantially at the entrance of each sprinkler-pipe, and may be connected
in substantially the same manner as the shut-off slide.
The use of the shut-off slide is regarded as preferable, however, as it allows the

page_text: flow of water through the perforations in the sprinkler-pipe to be more accurately
controlled.
Each sprinkler-pipe is arranged so that it may be swung out from the car-body,
or may be folded back at the side thereof by means of an operating handle secured
upon a vertical shaft.
If desired, the operating-handle may be pivotally mounted on the vertical shaft,
and connected so that it may be swung or turned to bring its sprinkler-pipe to the
desired position, and may then be depressed to operate the shut-off devices or valves,
thus providing for operating a sprinkler-pipe and controlling the flow of water there-
through by means of a single handle.
The filler-pipe for sprinkler-cars constructed according to this invention is
preferably arranged horizontally, and is journalled or swivelled upon a vertical
pipe leading to the water-tank, so that said filler-pipe may be turned to allow
the tank to be filled from a hydrant or source of water supply at either side of the
track.
The filler-pipe is ordinarily provided at its end with a coupling or nozzle,
and located immediately adjacent thereto is a valve-casing containing a check-
valve.
By locating a check-valve in this position, substantially all the water which
enters the filler-pipe will be retained, and comparatively little will be wasted.
In order to employ as few connections opening into the water-tank as possible,
the track-sprinkling devices may be supported by and supplied directly from the
filler-pipe.
In the preferred construction, a perforated track-sprinkler-pipe is connected to and
located directly beneath the filler-pipe.
A shut-off slide is mounted upon the perforated track-sprinkler-pipe, and is
connected by actuating mechanism or link-work so that it may be shifted or
controlled from either end of the car.
A sprinkler-car, as thus constructed and equipped, has been especially designed to
run upon street-car railroad tracks, and may be propelled in any desired manner,
or employed in any situations where the same is found to be applicable.
Dated this 30th day of July 1896.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railway Street Sprinklers.
I, CHARLES SHOWLER WOODROFFE of No. 89 Umfreville Road, Finsbury.
Park, in the County of Middlesex, Registered Patent Agent,, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention (a communication to me from The American Sprinkler
Company, of No. 141 Central Street, Worcester, State of Massachusetts, United
States of America, a corporation organized under the laws of the States of
Massachusetts), and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to that class of railway street sprinkler cars in which the
car body is provided with a water tank or vessel, and with one or more pivotally
mounted sprinkler pipes arranged to project from one or both sides of the car
body.
די
The objects of this invention are to arrange the sprinkler pipes so that they can
preferably be employed to water down or sprinkle the roadway at both sides of the
track when the car is moving in either direction; to improve the construction for
actuating the perforated sprinkler pipes; to provide an improved mechanism for

page_text: controlling the flow of water therethrough; to mount the filler pipe so that the
tank may be filled from a hydrant or source of water supply at either side of the
track; and to combine the filler pipe with track sprinkling devices for wetting
down the roadway between the tracks.
In the accompanying five sheets of drawings,
Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive illustrate the construction and preferred arrangement of
devices employed in a preferred form of a double street sprinkler car in which the
sprinkler pipes are arranged to simultaneously sprinkle the roadway at both sides
of the track, and
Figs. 11 to 15 inclusive illustrate a construction which may be employed in a
single acting sprinkler car in which the sprinkler pipes are arranged to wet down
the roadway at one side of the track only.
In the drawings,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a car provided with sprinkling devices
constructed according to this invention,
Fig. 2 is a horizontal, sectional view of the same,
Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating the means preferably employed for swivelling
or journalling the filler pipe,
Fig. 4 is a sectional view illustrating one manner of journalling or mounting a
sprinkler pipe,
Fig. 5 is a detail view of a filler pipe,
Fig. 6 is a view of the shut-off valve for the track sprinkler,
Fig. 7 is a side view illustrating the sprinkler pipe and the connections
preferably employed for stopping the flow of water through the perforations
thereof,
Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the same,
Figs. 9 and 10 are transverse sectional views,
Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a tramway street sprinkler car
in which the sprinkler pipes are arranged to be used at one side of the car at a
time,
Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail view of a combined track sprinkler and filler
pipe,
Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail view illustrating a form of shut-off valve which may
be employed, and
Figs. 14 and 15 are detail views of one of the operating handles.
The double sprinkler car constructed according to this invention comprises
sprinkling devices for simultaneously wetting down the roadway on both sides of
the track on which the car is run.
In its preferred construction, it comprises a car body, a tank mounted in said car
body, and four perforated sprinkler pipes which are pivotally mounted so that they
may be extended at an angle to the car body, or may be folded back parallel
therewith, one of said sprinkler pipes being mounted substantially at each corner of
the car body.
When the car is being moved in one direction, the two front sprinkler pipes may
be thrown out and brought into action so as to simultaneously wet down the
roadway at both sides of the track.
Referring to the drawings and in detail, 10 designates the car body which may
be mounted on wheels, as indicated at 11.
Mounted in the car body 10, and located as high as practicable in order to get
a sufficient degree of pressure to drive the water forcibly through the sprinkler
pipe is a tank 12.
Leading from the tank 12 are four vertical supply pipes 13, 14, 15 and 16.
The vertical supply pipes are located substantially at each corner of the car.
The supply pipes 13 and 16 are connected by a horizontal pipe as 17, and the
supply pipes 14 and 15 are connected by a horizontal pipe 18, as indicated by
dotted lines in Fig. 2.
Casings 19 are secured on the end of each of the supply pipes.

page_text: Pivotally mounted in each of the casings 19 are parts 20 having guide wings, as
most clearly illustrated in Fig. 4.
Extending up from and connecting with each of the parts 20 are vertical shafts 22
having operating handles as 23.
Fastened on the lower end of the pieces 20 and turning therewith are sprinkler
pipes 21.
The sprinkler pipes 21 may be arranged at different levels so that they will
not interfere with each other when they are folded back parallel with the car.
body, or they may be offset so as to fold one over the other, as illustrated in
Fig. 1.
The sprinkler pipes 21 are provided with perforations along one side.
Fitting inside of the sprinkler pipes 21 are shut-off slides as 24 having suitable
bearing or packing faces 25.
The shut-off slides 24 are provided with perforations 26 which correspond with
and may be brought into alignment with the perforations in the sprinkler pipes.
At one end, each of the shut-off slides 24 is connected to a pair of toggle links
or levers 27 and 28.
The toggle links or levers 27 and 28 are connected by links 29 to handles 30,
which are pivotally mounted in the vertical shafts 22.
By manipulating the handles 30, the shut-off slides 24 can be shifted inside of
the sprinkler pipes, and the flow of water through the perforations can be turned
on or off, as desired.
The devices or valves heretofore used for turning on and off the water in
sprinkling devices have ordinarily been located at some distance from the perfora-
tions of the sprinkling device itself, and, on account of the water which has
already passed the controlling valve when the same is closed, the water will
continue to flow through the perforations in the sprinkling device for some little
time after the valve is shut.
By providing a shut-off slide which acts directly in connection with the perfora-
tions in a sprinkler pipe, sprinkler cars constructed according to this invention may
be provided with means for accurately controlling the sprinkling action.
Extending down from near the middle of the tank 12 at one end of the car is a
pipe 31 for supplying a sprinkling device for the roadway between the tracks upon
which the car runs.
Located in the pipe 31 is a shut-off valve 32.
Connected to suitable arms, so as to turn the shut-off valve 32, are links which
are provided with handles 33 and 34, said handles being located so that they can
be operated from opposite ends of the car respectively.
Extending down from the middle of the tank 12 near the other end of the car is
a vertical pipe 35.
Pivotally mounted on the lower end of the pipe 35 is a filler pipe 36.
As illustrated most clearly in Fig. 3, the vertical pipe 35 is provided at its lower
end with a collar 37.
Secured on the end of the filler pipe 36 is an elbow 38 having a bushing 39
threaded therein.
A packing ring as 40 is secured in place between the bushing 39 and the
shoulder 37.
By means of this construction, it will be seen that the filler pipe can be swung
or turned around the vertical pipe 35 so that it may extend to either side of the
car, as desired.
In a double track electric tramway, the hydrants employed for filling the tanks
of sprinkler cars are ordinarily located between the tracks."
By mounting the filler pipe so that the same can be swung or turned to either
side of the car-body, as desired, the filler pipe may be turned so as to come into
position to co-operate with the hydrant when the car is upon, either track, that is
to say, the filler pipe can swivel or turn so that it may be moved into position to
co-operate with a source of water supply at either side of the car.

page_text: At its end, the ner pipe is provided with a nozzie or couping 1 for receiving..
a hose or flexible connection.
Adjacent to the coupling 41 is a valve casing 42 containing a check-valve 43 for
preventing the water from escaping from the filler pipe.
By locating the check valve immediately adjacent to the coupling 41, substan-
tially all of the water which enters the filler pipe will be retained therein, and the '
contents of the filler pipe will not be allowed to run to waste, as in devices.
heretofore ordinarily employed.
The single acting sprinkler car illustrated in Figures 11 to 15 inclusive comprises.
a car body 10 mounted on wheels 11, and a tank 12 carried by said car body
substantially in the same manner as before described.
In this form of sprinkler car, the supply pipes 13 leading from the tanks 12 are
located at substantially diagonally opposite corners of the car body.
The supply pipes 13 are provided at their ends with casings 46."
Pivotally mounted in the casings 46 are hollow pieces 45.
Packing rings as 47 and 48 are employed for forming tight joints between the
pieces 45 and the casings 46.
Connected to the upper ends of the pieces 45 are vertical operating shafts as 49.,
Leading from the lower end of the hollow pieces 45 are the sprinkler pipes 44.
which are perforated along one side.
The lower ends of the hollow pieces 45 form valve casings 55.
Extending into the valve casings 55 through suitable stuffing boxes, are valve-
stems 54.
Mounted on the valve-stems 54 are shut-off valves 56,, which are arranged
substantially in line with the sprinkler pipes.
Suitable springs are coiled around the valve-stems 54 to normally keep the
shut-off valve closed.
At their outer ends, the valve-stems 54 are connected to bell crank levers 53.
Secured upon the vertical shafts 49 are brackets 50.
Pivotally mounted in the brackets 50 are operating handles 51, which are
conuected at their inner ends by links 52 to the bell-crank levers 53.
By means of this construction, it will be seen that the operating. handles 51
may be employed for turning the sprinkler pipes so that the same can extend at
the desired angle with respect to the car body, and so that by bearing down upon
the operating handles 51, the valves 56 may be opened, and water admitted to the
perforated sprinkler pipes.
Thus, by manipulating a single handle, an operator may turn a sprinkler pipe to
the desired position, and can turn on and off the supply of water, as desired.
Connected to the tank 12 near one end of the car body is a filler pipe 57.
At its end, the filler pipe 57 is provided with a coupling or nozzle 58, so that
the same can be readily and quickly coupled to a hydrant, or other suitable source
of water supply.
Located immediately adjacent to the coupling 58 is a valve casing 59.
.:
Mounted in the valve casing 59 is a check valve 60, these parts being of
substantially the same construction as described in connection with the form of car
previously described.
In order to save piping and to do away with a multiplicity of connections to
the tank, the filler pipe may be employed for supplying water to the track
sprinklers.
As illustrated, the filler pipe 57 is connected to and carries a pipe 61 which is
perforated, as at 62.
It is obvious, however, that instead of providing a separate sprinkler pipe,
which extends down from and is carried by the filler pipe, the filler pipe itself
may be perforated so as to act as a sprinkling device for the roadway between the
tracks.
A sleeve as 63 is mounted upon the pipe 61 in position to co-operate with or
cover the perforations 62.

page_text: A bell crank lever as 65 is connected to operate the sleeve 63 by means of a
link as 64.
Extending down from the bell-crank lever 65 is a link 66, which is connected to
a three-armed lever 67.
Connected to a second arm of the three-armed lever 67 is an operating
handle 68 located in position to be operated from one platform of the car.
Also connected to the three-armed lever is a link 69, which is provided with a
handle located in position to be operated from the other platform of a car.
By means of this construction, it will be seen that the supply of water for the
track sprinklers can be turned on or off, as desired.
The parts which are employed in sprinkler cars constructed according to this
invention may be modified and re-arranged by the car builder without materially
departing from the scope of this invention.
It is not desired, therefore, to limit this invention to the ferms herein shown and
described, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improved forms of sprinkler cars, substantially as hereiu described.
2. In a sprinkler car, the combination of a car body, a tank mounted therein,
and a perforated sprinkler pipe pivotally mounted substantially at each corner of
the car body, so that said sprinkler pipes may be set at an angle with the car
body to simultaneously sprinkle the roadway at each side of the track, substantially
as described.
. 3. In a sprinkler car, the combination of a car body, a perforated sprinkler
pipe pivotally connected with said car body, and a shut-off slide having perfora-
tions corresponding with the perforations in said sprinkler pipe, substantially as
described.
4. In a sprinkler car, the combination of a car body, a tank mounted therein,
and a pivoted filler pipe arranged to turn or swivel to co-operate with sources of
water supply at either side of the track on which the car runs, substantially as
described.
5. The combination of a filler pipe and a track sprinkling device, substantially
as described.
6. The combination of a pivotally mounted, perforated sprinkler pipe and an
operating handle, the parts being arranged so that the sprinkler pipe can be
turned to the desired position by means of said operating handle, and so that said
operating handle may be manipulated to control the flow of water through said
sprinkler pipe, substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of November 1896.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.