Improvements in Apparatus for Applying Sand or other Substances to Prevent the Slipping of the Driving Wheels of Locomotives.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Apr., 188
Complete Left, 16th Dec., 1887 .
Complete Accepted, 10th Feb., 1888
Improvements in Apparatus for Applying Sand or other Substances
to Prevent the Slipping of the Driving Wheels of Locomotives.
I JAMES GRESHAM, of the firm of Gresham and Craven, of Craven Iron Works,
Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, and Machinists, do hereby declare the
nature of the said invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements upon the apparatus described in the complete
specification of Letters Patent No. 9861 A.D. 1885, granted to myself, and the object
of my invention is to simplify the construction and arrangement of the apparatus to
make it more easily applied and so that obstructions to its working can be more
readily removed and also, so that parts worn out may be easily replaced at little cost.
One part of my improvements relate to the sand trap or apparatus which is combined
with the box or receptacle for sand or other similar substance, which trap allows the
sand to pass from the box or receptacle as it is taken by the passing air drawn through
the apparatus by the Ejector when working, but keeps back the sand and prevents its
escape when the Ejector is not in operation.
The principle of action of this sand "trap" is the same as that described in my
aforesaid complete specification No. 9861 A.D. 1885, but its arrangement and con-
struction is different.
In one modification of my invention there is a casting forming a vertical tube
which has a flange at its upper end by which it is secured to the underside of the
receptacle for sand which passes from the latter down the said tube.
In the lower end of the tubular part of the casing there is a hole closed by a screw
plug by removing which small stones or other matters obstructing the passage can be
readily taken away.
On one side of the lower end of the tubular casting there is a branch at an oblique
angle or otherwise which is provided with a flange or junction for the upper end of
the pipe which is to convey the sand and air to the Ejector.
In the interior of this oblique angle branch there is a midfeather the upper edge of
which is below the upper side of the cavity in the oblique angle branch (leaving an
opening or passage) and above the lower edge of the opening from the vertical tubular
part of the casting, to the cavity in the oblique angle branch.

page_text: In a hole in the upper face of the oblique angle branch a hollow screw plug is
inserted and in one side of the screw plug a hole is formed for air to enter and pass
through the hollow in the plug and over the surface of the sand in the oblique angle
branch (taking away sand in its passage) then over its midfeather and down the sand
pipe to the Ejector.
Another modification of sand trap is formed by a casting having a flange to he
secured to the side of the sand receptacle, and this casting has a horizontal and vertical
passage in it for the sand and sand and air with a midfeather and also a hollow screw
plug having a cap with passages to admit air but exclude rain.
Another modification of sand trap is one combined with an improved construction
of Ejector and consists of a casting having an oblique branch or junction for a pipe
communicating with the receptacle for sand, in which branch there is a cavity having
a midfeather, the upper part of the casting having a hole for a screw plug and cap
similar to that herein last mentioned.
The casting has also a horizontal branch screwed to receive a nozzle delivering a
central jet of steam or air, the nozzle being prepared at one end so as to be coupled
with the pipe supplying steam or air under pressure.
In the casting there is a hole or space for air to enter or for sand to fall away from
the nozzle when the Ejector is not working.
The casting in front of the nozzle is screwed to receive the end of the discharge
pipe, and when this pipe wears away by the action of combined steam and sand it can
be readily replaced at little cost.
The same arrangement of Ejector as that above described is used when said traps
are employed near the sand box, except that in such case the casting for the Ejector.
is made without the sand trap arrangement above referred to.
Another improvement relates to the steam cock or valve for supplying steam from
the boiler to the Ejectors and consists in an improved combination and arrangement of
nechanism applicable for supplying steam to sanding ejectors placed on both sides of
the driving wheels or on one side only.
It consists of a casting having a flange by which it is secured to the front of the
boiler by preference. This casting is prepared for a cone plug cock which has a
passage in its longitudinal axis constantly in communication with the steam in the
boiler and a lateral passage which can be turned by partly rotating the cono plug to
either of two openings and passages in the casting, each of which is coupled with a
pipe, one pipe leading to a sanding ejector at one side, (say the leading side) and the
other on the other side (the trailing side) of the driving wheels, or the lateral passage
in the cone plug is brought mid-way between the two openings (where there is no
passage or outlet) when steam is not required by either ejector.
There is a passage in the casting which is connected with a pipe (called the drip
pipe) passing in front of the boiler where it can be kept hot (to prevent any moisture
being frozen in cold weather) so that in the case of any leakage of steam it may
escape down this pipe to the atmosphere.
The cock when moved in either direction first blows any condensed water there
may be down the said drip pipe before it supplies steam to either ejector.
The handle for the cock is screwed on to the stem of the cone plug and is arranged
so that when moved to a certain extent in either direction it will come against a stop,
when the cock will be then open to one ejector or the other, and when the handle is
in the middle position between the two stops the steam is shut off to both sand ejectors,
a sliding pin in the hollow of the handle acted upon by a spring being then pressed
into a notch to hold the handle from moving.
Dated this Twenty fifth day of Anril 1887
PETER J. LIVSEY,
Agent.

page_text: :
Improvements in Apparatus for Applying Sand or other Substances
to Prevent the Slipping of the Driving Wheels of Locomotives.
I JAMES GRESHAM of the firm of Gresham and Craven, of Craven Iron Works
Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers and Machinists, do hereby declare the
nature of this 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 relates to improvements upon the apparatus described in the complete
specification of Letters Patent No. 9861-A.D. 1885, granted to myself, and the
object of my invention is to simplify the construction and arrangement of the
apparatus to make it more easily applied and so that obstructions to its working can
be more readily removed and also so that parts worn out may be easily replaced
at little cost.
25
One part of my improvements relate to the "sand trap" or apparatus, which is
combined with the box or receptacle for sand or other similar substance, which
trap allows the sand to pass from the box or receptacle as it is taken by the
passing air, drawn through the apparatus by the Ejector when working, but keeps
back the sand and prevents its escape when the Ejector is not in operation.
2
The principle of action of this "sand trap is the same as that described in my
aforesaid complete specification No. 9861-A.D. 1885, but its arrangement and
construction is different.
In one modification of my invention there is a casting, forming a vertical tube,
which has a flange at its upper end by which it is secured to the underside of the
receptacle for sand which passes from the latter down the said tube.
In the lower end of the tubular part of the casing there is a hole closed by a screw
plug by removing which small stones or other matters obstructing the passage can be
readily taken away.
On one side of the lower end of the tubular casting there is a branch at an
oblique angle, or otherwise, which is provided with a flange or junction for the
upper en of the pipe which is to convey the sand and air to the Ejector.
In the interior of this oblique angle branch there is a midfeather the upper edge
of which is below the upper side of the cavity in the oblique angle branch (leaving
an opening or passage) and above the lower edge of the opening from the vertical
tubular part of the casting to the cavity in the oblique angle branch.
In a hole in the upper face of the oblique angle branch, a hollow screw plug is
in-erted and in oue ride of the screw plug a hole is formed for air to enter and
pas through the hollow in the plug and over the surface of the sand in the
oblique angle branch (taking away sand in its passage) then over its midfeather
and down the sand pipe to the Ejector.
Another modification of "sand trap" is formed by a casting having a flange
to be secured to the side of the sand receptacle, and this casting has a horizontal

page_text: and vertical passage in it for the sand and sand and air with a midfeather and.
also a hollow screw plug having a cap with passages to admit air but exclude rain.
Another nodification of sand trap is one combined with an improved construction
of Ejector and consists of a casting having an oblique branch or junction for a pipe
communicating with the receptacle for sand, in which branch there is a cavity having
a midfeather, the upper part of the casting having a hole for a screw plug and cap
similar to that herein last mentioned.
The casting has also a horizontal branch screwed to receive a nozzle delivering a
central jet of steam or air, the nozzle being prepared at one end so as to be coupled
with the pipe, supplying steam or air under pressure..
In the casting there is a hole or space for air to enfer or for sand to fall away
the nozzle when the Ejector is not working.
from
The casting in front of the nozzle is screwed to receive the end of the discharge
pipe, ani when this pipe wears away, by the action of combined steam and sand, it
can be readily replaced at little cost.
The same arrangement of Ejector as that above described, is used when sand traps
are employed near the sand box except that in such case the casting for the Ejector is
made without the sand trap arrangement above referred to.
Another improvement relates to the steam cock or valve for supplying steam from
the boiler to the Ejectors and consists in an improved combination and arrangement
of mechanism applicable for supplying steam to samling Ejectors placed in front of,
-or-in front of and behind the driving wheels in such way as to deliver sand to either
side of the wheels at will.
It consists of a casting having a flange by which it is secured to the front of the
boiler by preference. This casting is prepared for a cone plug cock which has a
passage in its longitudinal axis constantly in communication with the steam in the
and a lateral passage which can be turned by partly rotating the cone plug to
either of two openings and passages in the casting, each of which is coupled with a
pipe, one pipe leading to a sanding ejector at one side (say the leading side) and the
other on the other side (the trailing side) of the driving wheels, or the lateral passage
in the cone plug is brought mid-way between the two openings (where there is no
passage or outlet) when steam is not required by either ejector.
There is a passage in the casting which is connected with with a pipe (called the "drip
pipe) passing in front of the boiler where it can be kept hot (to prevent any
moisture being frozen in cold weather) so that in the case of any leakage of steam
it may escape down this pipe to the atmosphere.
'The cock when moved in either direction first blows any condensed water there
may be down the said "drip pipe before it supplies steam to either ejector.
The handle for the cock is screwed onto the stem of the cone plug and is arranged
so that when moved to a certain extent in either direction it will come against a stop,
when the cock will be then open to one ejector or the other, and when the handle is in the
middle position between the two stops the steam is shut off to both sand ejectors, and
sliding pin in the hollow of the handle acted upon by a spring being then pressed
into a notch to hold the handle from moving.
Fig. 1, is an outline of a Locomotive having my improved sanding apparatus shown
applied to the forward side of the driving wheels of the Locomotive.
a represents the steam cock or valve placed by preference in the front of the fire box.
This cock or valve is or may be supplied by steam from the interior of the steam
dome by a pipe a' shown in dotted line, and the steam after passing through the
cock a is or may be conveyed along a pipo a² within the boiler to one side of it where
it leaves the interior of the boiler and passes by a pipe a³ to the ejector b, or the
pipe a² may be wholly outside the boiler.
The pipe a shown in doited line is for any "drip" or condensed leakage from
the cock a.
c is the sand receptacle, & the "sand trap; " 6 the ejector, and the pipe directing
the sand against the driving wheel on one side of it.
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation showing the sand trap, the pipe connecting it with

page_text: the sand receptacle and the ejector apparatus. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken in
the line of the axis of the steam cock; fig. 4 is a cross section in the line A-B
fig. 3 fig. 5 is an end view of a ring detached, and fig. 6 is an outside view of the
cone plug of the cock.
In fig. 2, d is the pipe having a flange at its upper end by which it is or may be
.connected with the underside or side of the receptacle c for sand, partly shown.
which
The pipe d' may be elongated as required to pass to the sand receptacle
may be in any convenient position so that the pipe between it and the sand trap will
allow the sand to pass by gravity and "flow"freely to the trap, and from the trap to
the ejector; the sand trap being placed in any convenient position between the sand
receptacle and the ejector apparatus.
The lower end of the pipe is made with a screw plug ² for removing stones or
other obstructions.
From the pipe d the sand passes into a chamber flowing under a partition d³
and then must go over a midfeather or partition before it can pass down the pipe d³
to the ejector. The sand will pass from the pipe d' under the partition and its
surface will stand at about the angle shown by the dotted line d and no amount of
pressure in the supply pipe d will cause the sand to escape or assume any other angle;
but the vibrations of the Locomotive will cause its surface to assume an horizontal
position represented by the dotted line level with the underside of the partition d³ but
it will not by the vibration of the Locomotive and pressure in the pipe d¹ rise above
the horizontal level to flow or get over the top of the partition d.
The upper side of the chamber of the trap is closed by a hollow screw plug d
which has holes as shown, through which air can pass in the direction shown by the
dotted arrows in fig. 2, and it is the action of the steam jet that causes a current of
air to pass as explained, and the air in passing strikes upon the surface of the sand
and takes a part of it along over the partition and down the pipe to the ejector.
As fast as the sand is removed a fresh supply flows into the Chamber of the trap
from the pipe d'.
The sand carried along by the air current descends the pipe ds and comes in front
of the steam jet nozzle and passes along with the steam and air through the
discharge pipe to the wheels or between the wheel and rails against which it
is directed.
It will be seen that the ejector is formed by a casting b, having three junctions,
one for the sand pipe d³, one for the steam nozzle 62 and one for the discharge or
directing pipe for sand, air, and steam, which can be readily replaced when worn
out, by the action upon it of the combined sand, steam and air.
The steam jet pipe 2, is coupled up, as shown, to the steam supply pipe a³.
When the ejector is working the current of air, has velocity enough, to carry the
sand past the steam jet nozzle and through the discharge pipe 6, but when the steam
is shut off the current ceases, and the sand that happens at the moment to be passing down
the pipe is not expelled through the pipe and this would accumulate in front of the
steam nozzle b² and by getting moist, might block the passage. The hole 63 in the
casting is to allow the sand left in the pipe d, when the steam is shut off, to escape
and thus prevent the passage from being blocked.
The steam cock which I prefer to use is illustrated by figs. 3, 45 and 6.
a, is a casting having a flange by which it may be secured by preference to the
front of the fire box of the boiler.
It is formed to receive a cone plug a', having a passage for steam in its axis, and a
lateral passage from the axial passage which by turning the cone plug can be brought
opposite either of two outlets in the casting having junctions for pipes a² conveying
steam to the ejectors.
The cone plug a (see figs. 3, 4 and 6) has a channel or groove formed half round
it at each end, one groove is on one, and the other on the other side of the
cone plug a', and these grooves are connected by channels or grooves along the two
opposite sides and parallel to the axis of the plug.
One of these grooves partly round the cone plug and another connecting the

page_text: longitudinal grooves come opposite two holes in the cone casing which enter a
passage a², in the casting, which passage has a branch or junction for coupling the
drip pipe a*.
Any steam leaking from the lateral passage in the cone plug, or passing between
the cone plug and its casing is intercepted by and enters the channels and grooves
on the exterior of the cone plug and is conveyed away to the drip pipe a as
waste or condensed steam, and the pipe a being placed where it is kept warm, the
moisture falls away without a chance of being frozen, the leakage being thus
prevented from passing to the pipe or pipes a leading to the ejectors.
The cone plug a' is kept in position by a screw ax and it is held so as to be steam
tight by another screw a which screws into the first, and its inner end comes
against a ring a, a front view of which is shown by fig. 5, which has two projections
that enter slots in the interior of the first named screw a*, this washer or ring aⓇ
thus preventing the oscillating action given to the cone plug a¹ from unscrewing the
screw a³.
The screw plug a¹ is oscillated by a handle a' secured on a square formed on the
end of the stem from the cone plug.
The lever part of the handle is bent as shown; and the handle a' is made tubular
to allow a pin a to slide lengthways in it, the inner end of which pin is acted upon
by a helical spring a the other end of which comes against a plug a scrowed into
the end of the handle a as shown.
The projecting end of the pin a" is forced outwards by the spring against a
cylindrical segment formed on the casting a, as shown, in which a notch is formed
for the end of the pin a to enter, when the cock is shut, and the passage
for steam through the cone plug a' is closed to both sets of ejectors, as shown in
figs. 3 and 4.
The cock is or may be used for supplying steam to ejectors to apply sand either
in the front or in the rear of the driving wheels, and by moving the handle a
one way, the ejectors on one side of the driving wheels are actuated, and by moving
the handle to the opposite side of the middle position the ejectors on the other sido
of the driving wheels are actuated.
The steam is or may be supplied to the ejectors by one pipe for both sides of
the Locomotive, and for one side of the driving wheels, so that sand is simultaneously
applied to the forward side of the driving wheels, on both sides of the Locomotive by
turning the handle of the steam cock one way, and the same is effected on both
sides of the Locomotive by reversing the position of the handle a', for the rear side
of the driving wheels.
The current of air and quantity of sand discharged against the wheels is greatest
when the steam is turned fully on, and is less when the steam cock is opened to a less
extent, and thus the quantity of sand discharged can be regulated, as required
according to the state of the rails.
Fig. 7 is a vertical section of a sand trap arranged with a flange on one side by
which it is secured to the side of the sand receptacle.
d, is a casting having a flange d* by which it is secured to the side of the sand
receptacle (indicated by dotted lines c), d is a midfeather passing across the
casting d, which midfeather has a notch in it at each side to give space for the
cylindrical part of the hollow screw d' to enter, which hollow screw is screwed into
the casting d, as shown.
There is a midfeather partly across the hollow scrow having a passage which is in
its correct position when the hollow screw is in the position shown in fig. 7.
There is a central opening in the hollow screw d', covered by a cap d³, above it,
and connected to the lower part of the hollow screw d by ribs d*.
The lower part of the casting d is connected by a pipe with the ejector, as herein-
before explained.
When the ejector is working a current of air enters the passages of the hollow
screw d in the direction shown by the arrows and gathers sand and takes it over the
midfeather d' and to the ejector as hereinbefore described.

page_text: Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of an ejector and sand trap combined.
The ejector is similar to that heroinbefore described and illustrated by fig. 2, and
the sand trap is the same or is similar to that hereinbefore described and illustrated by
fig. 7, the casting for the ejector being modified as shown, to receive the hollow
screw d', d being the vertical midfeather and d' the pipe from the sand receptacle for
bringing sand to the sand trap.
:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
1 claim is.
1. The improved combination and arrangement of steam cock for supplying steam
to sand ejectors for Locomotives, as hereinbefore described, and illustrated by the
drawings.
2. The improved combination and arrangement of "sand traps" for supplying sand
to passing currents of air as herein before described and illustrated by figs. 2 and 7
inclusive of the drawings.
3. The improved combination and arrangement of apparatus for supplying sand
to the driving wheels or between the driving wheels of Locomotive Engines and the
rails, as hereinbefore described and illustrated by figs. 1 to 6 inclusive of the drawings,
and also when modified by substituting the arrangement shown by fig. 7, or that
shown by fig. 8 of the drawings.
4. The combined Ejector and sand trap as hereinbefore described and illustrated by
fig. 8 of the drawings.