Improved Means and Apparatus for Heating Railway Carriages, also applicable to other like Heating Purposes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Dec., 1891-Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Apparatus for Heating Railway Carriages, also
applicable to other like Heating Purposes.
1, MARIE FERDINAND LANGRENON of Paris in the Republic of France, Chief
Engineer of the "Chemins de fer de l'Est," do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The improved system of heating by steam forming the object of the present
invention is more particularly designed for heating railway trains boats and the
like but is also applicable to heating hospitals, schools, offices, factories or any
other structure or locality where artificial heat is required.
This system of heating is distinguished by the combined employment of steam
and compressed air and has for its object the production of a uniform or regular
pressure in the heating pipes and at the same time facilitating the regulating of the
said pressure at the points where the heat is employed. The heat is also enabled
to be conveyed to great distances from the generator with pipes of relatively small
sectional area and relatively low initial pressure. The steam is supplied by any
suitable generator and the compressed air is furnished by an air pump or compressor
of any suitable construction. A mixture of these two fluids is forced into the
heating pipes.
The principal parts of an apparatus for heating a railway train for example by
means of the mixture of compressed air and steam consist of a main pipe extending
from one end of the train to the other and provided with a suitable union to each
car and a number or series of heating pipes communicating with the main pipe and
passing in a zigzag or sinuous direction from one compartment to another.
The main pipe is connected to a suitable reservoir or chamber arranged on the
locomotive and in which a mixture of compressed air and steam is produced in
suitable proportions by means of cocks or valves. The further extremity of this
main pipe is closed by a cock and the said pipe is further provided with a cock and
union at both ends of cach car so as to enable the corresponding length or section
of pipe to be closed in order to isolate each carriage during the operation of
coupling.
The heating pipes are provided at the part where they are connected with the
main pipe with a valve which can be worked from either side of the car by means
of a horizontal or transverse rod or shaft. The other extremity of the heating pipe
is open to the atmosphere. Over these pipes and in direct contact therewith is a
metal plate forming a heating or radiating surface. These heating plates may be
arranged longitudinally in cach compartment and occupy a portion of the space
between the seats for example.
When the valves are open the mixture of compressed air and steam contained
in the main pipe enters these heating pipes where the steam becomes condensed and
communicates its heat to the pipes the air contained in the mixture being allowed
to escape freely into the atmosphere.
The aperture of the valve placed at the extremity of the main pipe is so adjusted
as to allow of a small escape of steam at the extremity of this pipe and thus
enable it to be heated to nearly 100 degrees Centigrade for example throughout
its length.
The temperature of the heating plate can be regulated by bringing a larger or
smaller number of the heating pipes into action by suitably manipulating the valves.
The water of condensation formed in the heating pipes is carried away by the
current of steam and escanes into the atmosphere at the open ends of the nines.

page_text: The water resulting from condensation in the main pipe is carried by the current of
air and steam to a receptacle at the farther end of the train whence it is discharged
through a valve.
As a modification of the arrangement hereinbefore described merely as an example
of a way in which my invention may be carried out in practice, I may employ in
place of the aforesaid series of zigzag heating pipes one or more special pipes in
each compartment the said pipes being arranged under the seats for example. In
this case the regulating cocks may be located either at the end nearest to the
main pipe described or they may be located at the farther end of the said pipes
which then communicate freely with the main pipe.
When this latter arrangement is adopted the pipes remain charged with air
when the cocks are closed and under these conditions are cold or nearly cold but
when the cocks are opened this air is driven out and is replaced by the heated
mixture of air and steam from the main.
The water condensed in the heating pipes flows into the main pipe and is driven
towards the end or rear of the train where it is discharged as in the arrangement
hereinbefore described.
The heating pipes may be provided with valves at both ends the valves at onc
end being under the control of the conductor and the valves at the other end being
under the control of the passengers. An automatic blow off valve working by
expansion may be provided at the extremities of the pipes communicating with the
atmosphere. This valve automatically closes the orifice when the steam escapes in
excessive quantity for this orifice and thus prevents needless waste of steam.
The compressed air delivered into the main pipe is preferably drawn from the
reservoir of compressed air provided for working the brakes. The air pump and
this reservoir must of course be of sufficient capacity to supply the brakes as well
as the heating apparatus.
The steam may be supplied by the exhaust from the air pump or pumps
supplemented if necessary by a supply derived directly from the boiler.
When applied to other heating purposes on board ship for example or in public
or private establishments arrangements of a similar nature to that herein before
described are employed. A steam generator and an air pump may be specially
provided in order to supply the needful steam and compressed air.
Dated this 2nd day of March 1891
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Apparatus for Heating Railway Carriages, also
applicable to other like Heating Purposes.
I MARIE FERDINAND LANCRENON of Paris in the Republic of France Chief
Engineer of the "Chemins de fer de l'Est" 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:-
The improved system of heating by steam forming the object of the present
invention is more particularly designed for heating railway trains boats and the
like but it may be employed for heating hospitals, schools, offices, factories and any
other fixed or movable structures or places where artificial heat is required.
This system of heating is distinguished by the combined employment of steam
and compressed air and has for its object the production of a more uniform or.
regular pressure in the heating pipes and at the same time facilitating the regulating
of the said pressure at the places where the heat is employed.
The heat is also enabled to be conveyed to great distances from the generator
with pipes of relatively small sectional area and relatively low initial
pressure.
The steam employed for the purposes of this invention may be supplied by any

page_text: suitable generator and the compressed air being obtained by means of an air pump
or compressor of any suitable construction a mixture of these two fluids is forced
into the heating pipes and conveyed to the places which are to be heated as
hereinafter explained.
And in order that my said invention may be more fully understood I shall now
proceed to more particularly describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed sheets of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
The annexed drawings illustrate an example of an arrangement of apparatus for
heating a railway train by means of a mixture of compressed air and steam according
to this invention.
Figures 1 and 2 illustrate in longitudinal and end elevation respectively a
locomotive provided with connections for the supply of the compressed air and
steam.
Figures 3, 4 and 5 illustrate in longitudinal section, in horizontal section and in
transverse section respectively a portion of a railway carriage heated according
to my invention.
The principal parts of this apparatus consist of a main pipe A. (Figs. 3 and 4)
extending from one end of the train to the other with suitable unions (a) between
the carriages and a number of heating pipes (4) communicating with the main
pipe being arranged in a zigzag form at the bottom of the carriage body and
passing from one compartment to another in each carriage.
The main pipe A is connected to a suitable reservoir or chamber B (Figs. 1
and 2) arranged on the locomotive and in which the engine driver controls the
proportions of the mixture of compressed air and steam by means of cocks or
valves and c' in accordance with the number of coaches to be heated and the
diameters of the pipes. The farther extremity of this main pipe is closed by a
cock and the said pipe is further provided with a cock at both ends of each coach
so as to enable the length or section of pipe attached to each coach to be closed in
order to prevent escape of steam and air when the coaches are disconnected.
?'
The heating pipes are provided at the part where they are connected with the
main pipe with a valve d which can be worked from either side of the train by
means of a horizontal shaft or sliding rod D Figs. 3 and 5. The other extremities
of the heating pipes are open to the atmosphere.
b
Over these pipes and in contact therewith is a metal plate C forming a heating
or radiating surface. These plates are arranged longitudinally in each compartment
and occupy a portion of the floor space between the seats.
When the valves d are closed the heating medium is excluded from the pipes b
but when these valves are open the mixture of compressed air and steam contained
in the main pipe A enters these heating pipes where the steam becomes condensed
and communicates its heat to the pipes the air contained in the mixture being
allowed to escape freely into the atmosphere at the open ends of the pipes.
The amount of opening of the valve d placed at the entrance of each pipe b is so
adjusted as to cause a small cloud of steam to escape at the open extremity of the
pipe which enables it to be heated to nearly 100 degrees Centigrade throughout its
whole length.
The temperature of the heating plate can be regulated by bringing a larger or
smaller number of the pipes & into action and this regulating can be effected by the
attendants or conductor who may be furnished with suitable directions for mani-
pulating the valves or preferably with a table shewing how many heating pipes b
must be connected or brought into operation in order to compensate for any given
degree of cold in the external atmosphere.
The water of condensation formed in the heating pipes is carried away by the
current of steam entering from the main B and escapes into the atmosphere at the
open ends of the pipes b.
The water resulting from condensation in the main pipe A is carried by the
current of air and steam to a receptacle at the farther end of the train whence it is

page_text: discharged through a valve opened periodically or otherwise under the control of
the conductor.
b
As a modification of the arrangement hereinbefore described merely as an
example of a way in which my invention may be carried out in practice I may
employ in place of the zigzag heating pipes passing through several compartments
in succession one or more special or independent pipes in each compartment the
said pipes being arranged under the seats for example.
In this case the regulating cocks may be located either at the beginning or
entrance to the heating pipes at the end nearest to the main pipe as in the arrange-
ment hereinbefore described or they may be located at the farther end of the said
pipes which then communicate freely with the main pipe.
When this latter arrangement is adopted the pipes remain charged with air when
the cocks are closed and are cold or nearly cold but when the cocks are opened this
cold air is driven out and is replaced by the heated mixture of air and steam from
the main. The quantity of heat supplied depends upon the volume of steam
entering the pipe and consequently on the quantity of air discharged through the
valve. The temperature can consequently be regulated with precision by adjusting
the degree of opening of the valve. The water condensed in the heating pipes
may be allowed to flow back into the main pipe and is driven towards the end or
rear of the train where it is discharged as in the arrangement hereinbefore
described.
In any of these arrangements the regulating valves may be made accessible by
the passengers so that they may regulate or raise or lower the temperature as
required by opening or closing the valves.
The heating pipes may be provided with valves at both ends the valves at one
end being under the control of the conductor in order that he
may prevent
excessive heating and waste of steam and the valves at the other end being under
the control of the passengers who are thereby enabled to regulate the heat or cut it
off altogether if necessary. In any case an automatic blow off valve working by
expansion for example may be provided if required at the extremities of the heating
pipes where they communicate with the atmosphere being arranged to automatically
close the orifice when the steam escapes in excessive quantity from the end of the
pipe and thus prevent waste of heat.
The compressed air delivered into the main pipe proceeds from the main reservoir
of compressed air for working the brakes. The air pump and this reservoir must
of course be of sufficient capacity to supply the brakes as well as the heating
apparatus. When not sufficient for this they must be enlarged or duplicated if
necessary. The steam is preferably supplied by the exhaust from the air pump or
pumps supplemented if necessary by a supply derived directly from the boiler.
When applied to other heating purposes or on board ship for example or in
public or private houses or establishments, arrangements of a similar nature to that
hereinbefore described are employed.
A steam generator and an air pump may be specially provided if required in order
to supply the necessary amount of steam and compressed air.
The number of heating pipes connected with the main pipe and the capacity of
either of these pipes must evidently be regulated according to the conditions under
which the apparatus has to work. The materials employed in the construction of the
apparatus the mode of securing connecting or attaching the same the nature and
arrangement of the several, cocks or valves and the joints or connections between
the main pipe and the sources of steam and compressed air may be modified or
regulated in like manner.
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. Heating railway carriages and other places by means of a mixture of com-

page_text: to a distance and at the same time providing for a uniform pressure in the heating
pipes and for regulating or controlling the temperature at the places where the
heat is required substantially as herein before described.
2. An apparatus for heating railway carriages or the like by means of a mixture
of compressed air and steam under pressure constructed with a main pipe (A) to
which the said mixture is supplied and which communicates with branch heating
pipes (6) each of the latter being provided with a regulating cock or valve (d)
placed at the junction of these pipes with the main or at the opposite extremity
thereof all arranged and operating in the manner and for the purpose substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated by way of example in the annexed
drawings.
3. An apparatus for heating railway trains consisting of a main pipe A and
heating pipes 6 having regulating valves d in combination or in connection with the
compressed air reservoir of the air brakes or with a special air pump and with the
steam exhaust of the said pump or with the boiler or both for the purpose of
producing a mixture of air and steam which is distributed by the said main pipe A
(provided with a union a for each coach) to a series of heating pipes b substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of December 1891
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.