IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR BLOWING OFF OR DISCHARGING WATER FROM LOCOMOTIVE CYLINDERS AND VALVE CHESTS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR BLOWING OFF OR
DISCHARGING WATER FROM LOCOMOTIVE CYLINDERS AND VALVE CHESTS."
A communication from abroad by Gustav Olfenius, of Castel, Germany.
Sealed. the 6th January 1880, and dated the 8th July 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th July 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPA-
RATUS FOR BLOWING OFF OR DISCHARGING WATER FROM LOCOMOTIVE CYLINDERS
AND VALVE CHESTS." [A communication from abroad by Gustav Olfenius, of
Castel, Germany.]
This Invention relates to means for discharging the waste water from the
cylinders and valve-chests of locomotives in such a manner, that the dangers arising
from the noise now resulting from the escape through the blow-off cocks, may be
avoided, and other advantages secured.
In carrying the said Invention into practice, I place between the cylinders a
small tubular vessel of metal, at one side of which the waste water is introduced
through three pipes. This vessel communicates by means of a tube of sufficient
width with the ordinary locomotive chimney. The waste water and the steam
which is taken along with it are separated in the aforesaid metal vessel. The
steam passes through the above mentioned tube to the chimney.
At one extremity of the said vessel a cock is provided level with the bottom;
this cock is connected with rods which are also connected with the blow-off cocks
in such a manner, that by employing levers of unequal length, the opening and
shutting of the usual blow-off cocks, and of the cock on the said vessel, takes place
successively by means of the same rod arrangement.
By the use of the said levers of unequal length, the following advantages are
obtained, namely:-
First. All the blow-off cocks, as well as the said cock on the vessel may be
closed.

page_text: Secondly. The blow-off cocks may be opened, and the cock on the vessel may be
closed. In this-case-the-waste-water escapes into the said vessel and accumulates
therein; and-the-steam escapes through the tube into the chimney.
Thirdly The blow-off cocks-may-be_closed, and the cock on the vessel may be
opened. In the latter case the engine driver is enabled to blow out the accumulated
waste water from the vessel at-any-suitable-place-upon the line.
The use of this Invention will prevent many accidents which now occur by reason
of the running away of horses and other-animals-through-fright_at_the_noise
occasioned by the blowing off of steam and water from locomotive engines.
A further advantage resulting from the use of this Invention is, that the engine
may be started from a station with full water, and the cylinders and valve-chests
may be kept free from water. The driver may, at any place wherever he thinks
proper, open the said cock on the vessel, and thereby blow out the waste water
from the said vessel.
The so called priming when running with full water is thereby avoided, as the
engine driver is no longer prevented from opening the blow-off cocks at stations
and other places where it would be dangerous to do so in an engine not provided
with this apparatus.

page_text: .
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th January 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPA-
RATUS FOR BLOWING OFF OR DISCHARGING WATER FROM LOCOMOTIVE CYLINDERS
AND VALVE CHESTS." A communication from abroad by Gustav Olfenius, of
Castel, Germany.
This Invention relates to means for discharging the waste water from the
cylinders and valve-chests of locomotives in such a manner, that the dangers arising
from the noise now resulting from the escape through the blow-off cocks may be
avoided, and other advantages secured.
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a front sectional elevation of part of a locomotive provided with this
Invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the front end of the same.
Figure 3 is a top view illustrating the arrangement of the said Invention.
The remaining Figures are hereinafter described.
Between the cylinders there is placed a small tubular metal vessel A, at one end
of which the waste water is introduced by the pipes a, a, a. This vessel commu-
nicates by means of a tube B with the ordinary locomotive chimney. The waste
water and the steam which is taken with it are separated in the metal vessel A.
The steam passes through the above mentioned tube B to the said chimney, and
escapes from the same in the usual manner.
At one extremity of the said vessel, and level with the bottom of the same, a
cock C is placed. This cock is connected by the rods D, E, F, with the blow-off
cocks H', H, H³, Hª, H³, Hº, Figure 3, in such a manner, that by employing levers d
and c of unequal length, the opening and closing of the usual blow-off cocks, and of
the cock C on the vessel A may be conveniently effected by the same arrangement
of rods.
By the use of the said levers of unequal length, the following advantages are
obtained, namely:-
First. The blow-off cocks may be opened, and the cock C may be closed. In this
case the waste water escapes into the vessel A and accumulates therein, and the
steam escapes through the tube B into the aforesaid chimney. Secondly, all of the
blow-off cocks as well as the new cock C may be closed. Thirdly, the blow-off
cocks may be closed, and the cock. C may be opened. In the latter case the engine-
driver is enabled to blow out the accumulated waste water from the vessel A at any
suitable place upon the line.
Figures 4, 5, and 6, shew the positions of the levers and cocks in the aforesaid
three movements, that is to say,-
Figure 4 shows the blow-off cocks open, and the new cock C closed.
Figure 5 shows the blow-off cocks closed, and the new cock C closed.
Figure 6 shews the blow-off cocks closed, and the new cock C opened.
The arrangement of this apparatus will be varied according to the particular
form of locomotive to which my Invention is applied.
The use of this Invention will prevent many accidents which now occur by
reason of the running away of horses and other animals through fright at the noise
occasioned by the blowing off of steam and water from locomotive engines.
A further advantage resulting from the use of this Invention is, that the engine
may start from a station with a full supply of water, while the cylinders and valve-
chests may be kept free from water. The driver may at any place, wherever he
thinks proper, open the cock, and thereby blow out the waste water from the
vessel A.

page_text: The "priming" that frequently occurs when running with full water is thereby
avoided, as the engine-driver is no longer prevented from opening the blow-off-
cocks at stations and other places where it would be-dangerous-in-an-engine-not
provided with the above described-improved apparatus.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign.correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim, -
First-Providing-a locomotive with a vessel into which the waste water from the
blow-off cock or cocks is conducted, and from which the steam is conducted by a
tube into the chimney, which vessel is provided with means for emptying it without
noise, as above set forth.
Second. The combination with the said vessel, of the cocks and levers as shewn
in the Drawing, by means of which the said cocks may be operated in relation to
each other as follows, that is to say, to open the blow-off cocks and close the vessel
cock; to close the blow-off cocks and the vessel-cock; to close the blow-off cocks
and open the vessel cock, as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.