Improvements in Sand-boxes for Cars.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date claimed for Patent under Sect. 103 of Act,
being date of first Foreign Application (in 5th May, 1891
United States of America),
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 4th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 4th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 10th Oct., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sand-boxes for Cars.
I, HENRY FITCH PARKER of No. 35 Wall Street New York, County and State
of New York, United States of America, Consulting Mechanical Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention is applicable to street or other cars, and is designed for promoting
traction in motor-driven cars or for rendering the brakes effectual in horse-cars, and
it especially relates to devices to break up and pulverize the sand, if wholly or
partially caked, owing to its absorption of moisture and subsequent drying or
freezing, and to deliver it positively in measured quantities.
My invention consists in providing the sand-box with a cutting-wheel supporting
a body of sand, but not controlling the delivery, and in conjunction therewith a
chain or flexible conveyer passing through tangential openings in the box and
around the said wheel, acting thereby both as a propelling and a delivering medium.
My invention, moreover, embodies certain exterior means of propelling the chain
by rotation of the car-axle, and also certain other features of construction, as herein-
after fully described.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views,
Figure 1 is a vertical section taken on the line az, Fig. 2, showing the elementary
form of my invention; and
Fig. 2, a horizontal section taken on the line y y, Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line z z in Figs. 4 and 5, illustrating an
additional feature of construction ;
Fig. 4 a plan view of Fig. 3, and
Fig. 5 a horizontal section taken on the line ¹¹ of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5ª illustrates a specific construction of chain adaptable for propelling the
cutting-wheel and delivering the sand.
Fig. 6 is a plan view of the bed-frame of a car, illustrating the application of the
sand-box as constructed in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, operated by hand; and
Fig. 7, a cross-sectional view of Fig. 6, taken on the line y' y¹.
Fig. 8 is a plan view of the bed-frame, showing the application thereto of the
aforesaid sand-box in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, driven automatically;
Fig. 9 a vertical section of Fig. 8, taken on the line 2' 2'; and
Fig. 10, a cross-section taken on the line 'x', Fig. 8.
Fig. 11 is a detail view showing in vertical section, taken in a plane longitudinal
to the car, a direct-chain connection of the automatic sand-box to the axle of
the car; and
Fig. 12, a plan view of Fig. 11, shown partly in section.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, Á represents the sand receptacle or box, com-
11
L
D L
alium schaal nating

page_text: the sand, rotative in a plane at right angles to the descent thereof; C, a chute
or outlet exterior to the box, and DD the tubular openings tangential to the
box, communicating with the chute. H represents a link-chain or other flexible
conveyer having irregular surfaces or projections, and F is a propelling or
driving sheave, from whence the chain H is driven in its orbit through the
openings D and around the cutting-wheel B, which also forms a sheave for the
chain. The grooves in the sheave F or other sheaves and in the wheel B may
be suitably provided with ridges or pockets or sprocket-teeth, such as will cause
the chain to adhere with the necessary friction to overcome the frictional
resistance of the sand.
The
Figs. 3, 4, and 5 illustrate an indirect arrangement of chains H¹ H³, sub-
stantially the equivalent of the direct chain H. The transmitting-sheave F¹ is
located within the hopper C, and a second transmitting-sheave, preferably
of greater diameter, increasing the power accordingly, is placed immediately
above and connected with the said sheave F. By means of the indirect con-
struction I acquire the advantage of employing a conveyer-chain H¹, having
disks larger than its links, which effectively fill and shut off the tubes D D
while at rest without the inconvenience of extending the disk chain to the
driving source. A chain H', of cheaper construction or similar size, may then
be used for propelling. As will be seen in Fig. 4, the cover of the hopper C,
inclosing the sheaves F' F', is provided with openings G, which may be located
at any suitable portions of the periphery to permit the outer section of chain H³
to pass at the desired angle, as variously indicated in Figs. 6 and 8.
construction of chain shown in Fig. 54, having disks v', of a diameter equal to
the breadth of the links, is applicable to the arrangement shown in Figs. 1, 2,
11, and 12, offering no obstruction to its passage around the sheave F or car-
axle or other driving source. The cutting-wheel C is constructed in the form
of a cone having radiating ridges or corrugations c or other roughened surfaces,
so that the body of sand, resting upon the same with substantially its entire
weight, will be agitated or ground off and fed downward toward the periphery
of the wheel at the bottom of the box. The interior walls of the box A,
opposite and above the wheel C, are provided with corresponding vertical
ridges or corrugations a, which serve to prevent the sand being rotated bodily
upon the wheel if caked in a solid mass. Agitating-surfaces are thus formed,
converging toward the outlet, the one moving with reference to the other at
right angles to the feed and corrugated with ridges a parallel therewith.
The wheel C, which rotates on the stud in the box, is of a diameter at
its base less than that of the box, permitting the conveying-chain H or H¹
also to impinge upon the sand, supplementing the different diameters of said
wheel and box. The chain thus accumulates and conveys the material to and
through the one or the other of the outlets D into the chute, according to
the direction of rotation. It will be noted that the space d, opposite the
portion of the wheel C not bearing the chain, is filled by an inwardly-projecting
part of the box to prevent the sand wedging between the wheel and conveyer
where the latter enters the box.
Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, the cylindric boxes A. A are located beneath
the seats of the car, projecting through the floor at a convenient position to be
replenished when necessary, and the chutes C, owing to their offset position,
are vertically coincident with the track-rails R. The driving chains H them-
selves are directly connected with a small double-grooved sprocket-wheel F upon
a vertical crankshaft K, situated in a convenient position upon the dash-board
of the car, similar to usual brake-levers. Thus the sand-boxes are operated by
hand, and the chains may be rotated in either direction with equal effect..
Referring now to Figs. 8, 9, and 10, the boxes A are similarly situated as
in Fig. 6, excepting that the chutes C are turned in a different direction for
convenience of connecting the driving-chain H' to the car-axle. The chain H
is passed twice around the car-axle to increase its frictional contact thereon, and

page_text: a rove h of the chain is carried upon a movable tension-sheave L, being drawn
taut or relaxed to throw the device into and out of gear. The sheave L
occupies the oblique position indicated in Fig. 10, accommodating the necessary
orbit of the chain. The box A is trunnioned or swiveled to the frame of the
car at d and passes through an opening in the floor of the car slightly larger
than the box to permit a moderate amount of oscillation, and by the rods O
and N the tightening mechanism or treadle R' and its shaft P are connected
to the box and the box connected to the tension-sheave L in the manner
indicated. Thus the pressure of the foot upon the treadle R is transmitted to
both boxes A. A and thence to the chains, effecting frictional contact upon the
axle N when it is desired to deliver the sand. Moreover, should the chute C
become temporarily choked with the granulated sand, especially when slightly
damp, it may be shaken out by striking the treadle R. Again, the swiveled
box-fastenings are preferable to rigid ones, leaving no parts to work loose from
strains or shakings incident to rough usage. Dispensing with the advantages so
derived from the movable box, the rod O may be connected directly with the
sheave L by its passage through or around the box or in any suitable manner,
the latter being secured rigidly to the floor of the car. A variety of tension
devices well known to the art may be substituted for that shown, and I do not,
therefore, confine myself to any species of tightener. It is to be observed that
power may be applied through a sheave on the axis of the wheel B' beneath the
box A in lieu of the sheave F, Fig. 3.
The same description applies to Figs. 11 and 12 as that with reference to
Figs. 8, 9, and 10, excepting that the tightening-sheave L is dispensed with and
the frictional contact of the chain upon the axle effected solely by the movement
of the box A, and the said Figs. 11 and 12 also show the application of the
direct chain H, corresponding to that in Figs. 1 and 2, to the axle.
I do not claim in my invention a sand-box provided with a movable chain
having at intervals in its length a series of projections and occupying an orbit
partially included in the body of sand.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In combination, a sand-box, a cutting-wheel supporting the sand, openings in
the box tangential to the wheel, and a chain or equivalent for delivering the sand,
passing through the said openings and upon the periphery of the wheel.
2. In combination, a cylindric sand-box, a cone-shaped cutting-wheel having
corrugated or roughened surfaces supporting the sand, openings in the box
tangential to the wheel, and a chain or equivalent delivering the sand, passing
through said openings and upon the periphery of the wheel.
3. In combination, a cylindric sand-box, a cone-shaped cutting-wheel having
lesser diameter at its base than the base of the box, openings in the box tangential
to the wheel, and a chain or equivalent passing through said openings and upon the
periphery of the wheel, supplementing the said diameters.
4. In combination, a cylindric sand-box, a cutting-wheel, openings in the box
tangential to the wheel, a sheave exterior to the box, and a chain or equivalent
filling the openings, supported on the sheave and the periphery of the cutting-
wheel.
5 In combination, a cylindric sand-box, a cutting-wheel, tangential openings
opposite the periphery of the wheel, and a depending chute opposite said openings,
occupying an offset position with reference to the box, and an endless chain or
equivalent having its orbit or a portion thereof included in the said box, openings,
and chute.
6. In a sand-box, the combination of the cylindric receptacle, the cutting-wheel,
openings in the receptacle tangential to the wheel, a depending hopper at the
extremities of the openings, a sheave in the hopper, and a chain or equivalent

page_text: supported on the said sheave and cutting-wheel, inclosed within the said receptacle
and hopper.
7. In a sand-box, the combination of a cylindric receptacle, a cutting-wheel
therein, openings in the receptacle tangential to the wheel, a depending hopper at
the extremities of the openings, transmitting-sheaves in the hopper, and chains
thereon extending to the cutting-wheel and to the source of driving-power,
respectively, in the manner described.
8. In combination with a car, a chain-operated sand-box, substantially as described,
an endless chain thereof passing in its orbit about the car-axle, and means for
tightening the chain at will to effect its frictional contact with the axle, for the
purposes set forth.
9. In combination with a car, a chain-operated sand-box, substantially as described,
an endless chain thereof passing in its orbit about the car-axle twice, forming a
rove, and a movable sheave supporting the rove and controlling the tension of the
chain.
10. In combination with a car, a chain-operated sand-box, substantially as
described, swiveled to permit its oscillatory motion, an endless chain thereof passing
in its orbit about the car-axle, a tension-sheave for tightening the chain, a treadle
on the platform of the car, and mechanism connecting the treadle with the box and
the box with the sheaves, the whole co-operating in the manner set forth.
11. A. sand-box provided with agitating-surfaces converging toward the outlet,
the one movable with reference to the other at right angles to the direction of feed,
and corrugated ridges upon said surfaces unparallel with the direction of said
relative movement.
12. The combination with a cylindric sand-box, of a bladed wheel beneath the
body of sand, and means essentially as described for rotating said wheel in a plane
substantially at right angles to the line of force exerted by gravity.
13. The combination of a cylindric sand-box, a discharge opening at or near the
bottom thereof, and a radially-bladed wheel occupying a plane of rotation sub-
stantially at right angles to the line of force exerted by the pressure of the sand.
Dated this 4th day of September 1891.