Self-adjusting Sand Pipe Nozzle for Locomotive Engines to Prevent Slipping on Railways.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 20th May 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Self-adjusting Sand Pipe Nozzle for Locomotive Engines to Prevent
Slipping on Railways.
I, ARTHUR THOMAS GRAFTON of 5 Battery Terrace, Oban, in the County of
Argyle, North Britain, Locomotive Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My said invention has for its object the placing of sand on to the rails and under
the wheels of locomotive engines, upon railways, in an improved and effective
manner, more especially when running on curves, and on gradients which have
curves that are canted, whereby a supply of sand can be directed at all times' and
under all circumstances in front of the tread of the wheels.
By my improved arrangements which are effective and controllable, the brake
power of the engines is increased, slipping prevented, and the sand is not carried off*
the rails by wind.
In carrying out my invention, my apparatus may be placed before any of the
wheels of the engine and tender, where sand pipes and sand boxes are provided.
My said invention is self-adjusting and is composed of a radial joint having a
lateral motion.
The top half of my said apparatus has a port of suitable size, also two stops, one
on each side by which the amount of travel may be regulated.
The lower half of my said apparatus, working on the other has cover or
lap over
the port and always providing a free passage for sand in all positions and preventing
sand from getting between the faces. It has a pipe, of special shape at the mouth,
screwed into it, and carried well below the wheels with necessary clearance from the
rails, weighted near the end, with a guide fixed on it, which works up to and against
the wheels of the engine, when on the inside rail of curve, and keeps the pipe at or
near the centre of the rail; and by the inside stop on my said apparatus on outside
rail of curve, and keeps the pipe at or near the centre of the rail.
In carrying out my invention, the present pipes for air or steam are connected to
the sand pipes above my said apparatus.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of June 1892.
ARTHUR THOMAS GRAFTON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Self-adjusting Sand Pipe Nozzle for Locomotive Engines to Prevent
Slipping on Railways.
1, ARTHUR THOMAS GRAFTON, of Battery Terrace, Oban, Argyleshire, North
Britain, Locomotive Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
iu what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say :--
My said invention has for its object the placing of sand on the rails, and under
the wheels of locomotive engines, on railways in an improved and effective manner.
My apparatus is self-adjusting in such a way as at all times and under all circum-
stances to cause the sand to be directed upon the rails immediately in front of the
tread of the wheels, and even when the locomotive is running on a curve or on a
gradient having a curve and canted rails.
By my improved arrangements which are effective and controllable the brake
power of the engine is increased, slipping prevented, and the sand is not liable to be
t

page_text: carried off the rails by wind. In carrying out any invention my apparatus may be
placed before any of the wheels of the engine, and tender, for which sand boxes
and sand pipes are provided. The delivering nozzle of my apparatus is arranged.
to have a limited angular movement restricted by stops, and controlled by a stud or
pin or equivalent which touches the inner face of the wheel.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood I hereunto append two sheets of explanatory drawings to be
hereinafter referred to and representing an example of my improved apparatus as
applied in connection with a locomotive driving wheel.
Figure, 1, on Sheet, 1, of the drawings is a side elevation of my improved sand-
pipe nozzle and parts by means of which it is attached to the sand supply pipe, the
nozzle and parts being shown in position, and a part of the wheel being indicated
by broken lines.
Figures, 2, 3, and 4, on Sheet, 2, are a longitudinal section, end elevation, and
inverted plan, of the length of pipe constituting the nozzle.
Figures, 5, to 8, are respectively an inner-side elevation of a piece to which the
nozzle pipe is fixed, a section of the said piece as combined with a piece which is
fixed on the sand-supply pipe, an inner-side elevation of the latter piece, and a plan
corresponding to Figure, 6.
Figures, 9, to 12, represent a guide bracket fixed on the nozzle pipe and armed
with a stud to bear against the inner face of the wheel, Figure, 9, being an inner
end elevation, Figure 10, a side elevation, Figure, 11, an outer end elevation, and
Figure, 12, an inverted plan.
In these drawings the same reference letters are used to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
On-the sand-supply pipe, A, (Figure, 1) I fix, by means of pinching screws (or
in any other convenient way) a stationary piece, B, which has formed through it a
passage for the sand from the pipe, A; and to this stationary piece, B, I connect
by adjustable eye studs, C, and links, D, a movable piece, E, which has fixed to it
by screwing the nozzle pipe, F. The stationary piece, B, is of a convex semi-
circular form in plan at the part upon which the movable piece, E, fits, the fitting
part of the latter being concavely semicircular, and working between projecting
ribs or flanges on the piece, B. The links, D, have their joints concentric with the
semicircular surfaces, and these links hold the movable piece, E, closely in contact
with the stationary piece, B, the contact surfaces being made as true as possible
by grinding or otherwise to prevent sand getting between them. The ports or
inner end apertures of the passages through the stationary and movable
picces, B, E, are enlarged in order that there may be no throttling when the
movable piece, E, shifts to either side of its middle position. The amount of
the angular movement of the piece, E, is limited by lugs, G, formed on it and on
the stationary piece, B.
The nozzle pipe, F, is of a curved form, and is somewhat flattened and flared
laterally at its delivery end, as fully shown in Figures, 1 to 4, the outlet, H, being
formed mainly as by an inclined cut across the lower part of the pipe end.
On the nozzle pipe, F, there is fixed by a pinching screw, a ring, J, which has
bolted to it a bracket, K, shaped to extend to the inner side of the wheel, L,
(Figure 1) and having bolted to its upper end a stud, M, provided to bear against
the inner face of the wheel to effect the self-adjustment of the sand-pipe nozzle, F,
when the locomotive is on a curve.
This stud, M, acts by bearing against the wheel when on the inner rail of a
curve, the outer stop studs, (, acting in the case of a wheel on the outer rail, the
delivery mouth, H, of the nozzle pipe, F, being in both cases kept directly over
the centre of the rail or very nearly so. Where spaces admit of it there may be
fitted to the bracket, K, an antifriction roller arranged to bear against the
wheel.
The friction of the joint between the stationary and movable pieces, B, E, is
overcome by the weight of the nozzle pipe, F, and by its guide bracket, together

page_text: with the motion and position of the engine when running on the curve.
When on
the straight there is no undue swinging of the nozzle pipe, F, which maintains a
middle position.
With the improved apparatus no wet sand is likely to remain in the mouth, H,.
of the nozzle pipe, F, but if necessary the pipe can be turned aside to allow of the
mouth being easily cleaned out. The apparatus may be encased in a shield or
covering of canvas or other suitable material to protect it from dirt or dust and to
prevent it from becoming choked or clogged at the joints.
Screw pins may be tapped through one or other of each pair of stops, G, to allow
of adjusting the extent of lateral movement, or such movement may be controlled
by any other suitable arrangement.
My improved apparatus may be advantageously used along with Westinghouse
or with vacuum brake apparatus, an air or steam pipe being connected to the sand-
supply pipe, A, a pressure of steam or preferably air being thus used to force out
the sand, and arrangements being made to put the braking and sanding apparatus
in action simultaneously.
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
The improved construction and combination of parts constituting my self-
adjusting sand pipe nozzle for locomotive engines to prevent slipping on railways
substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings,
the essential features of the said apparatus being the making of the nozzle pipe
capable of angular or lateral movement the said movemen: being limited by stops
and controlled by a bracket adapted to bear against the wheel.
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of March 1893.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent..