other Substance on to the Rails in Front of the Driving or other Wheels of a Locomotive or other Engine or Vehicle.
Year: 1885

page_text: other Substance on to the Rails in Front of the Driving or
other Wheels of a Locomotive or other Engine or Vehicle.
I FRANCIS HOLT, of Spondon, near Derby in the County of Derby, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of said Invention for AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND
MEANS FOR DELIVERING SAND OR OTHER SUBSTANCE ON TO THE RAILS IN FRONT
OF THE DRIVING OR OTHER WHEELS OF A LOCOMOTIVE OR OTHER ENGINE OR VEHICLE,
to be as follows:-
My invention consists in an improved method of and means for delivering sand
or other substance either in a dry or semi-liquid state on to the rails in front of the
driving or other wheels of a locomotive or other engine or vehicle, the chief object
of my Invention being to insure the accurate and certain delivery of the material
whenever required and under all circumstances irrespective of the state of the
weather.
In applying my Invention, to a locomotive using dry sand I place the box or
boxes containing the sand preferably inside the smoke box or on any other part of
the boiler in order to keep the sand dry. If however, the material employed is of
a semi-liquid character, the box or boxes may be placed in any convenient position.
The material whether it be in the form of dry sand or a semi-liquid substance
I deliver on to the rails by means of an injector which is worked in any convenient
manner from any convenient part of the foot plate. If the material employed be
dry sand I prefer to use compressed air superheated, by passing it through the
boiler or round the inside of the smoke box, which compressed air may be stored.
in a reservoir suitably placed on the engine, but if the material be in a semi-liquid
state, steam direct from the boiler suffices for working the injector and delivering
it onto the rails.
:

page_text: other Substance on to the Rails in Front of the Driving or
other Wheels of a Locomotive or other Engine or Vehicle.
I FRANCIS HOLT, of Spondon, near Derby, in the County of Derby, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of said Invention for AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND
MEANS FOR DELIVERING SAND OR OTHER SUBSTANCE ON TO THE RAILS IN FRONT OF
THE DRIVING OR OTHER WHEELS OF A LOCOMOTIVE OR OTHER ENGINE OR VEHICLE,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:— .
My invention consists in an improved method of and means for delivering Band
or other substance either in a dry or semi-liquid state on to the rails in front of
the driving or other wheels of a locomotive or other engine or vehicle, the chief
object of my Invention being to insure the accurate and certain delivery of the
material whenever required and under all circumstances irrespective of the state of
the weather.
In applying my Invention to a locomotive using dry sand I place the box or
boxes containing the sand preferably inside the smoke box or on any other part of
the boiler in order to keep the sand dry. If, however, the material employed is of
a semi-liquid character the box or boxes may be placed in any convenient position.
The material whether it be in the form of dry sand or a semi-liquid substance
I deliver on to the rails by means of an injector, or more correctly an ejector,
which is worked in any convenient manner from any convenient part of the foot-
plate. If the material employed be dry sand I prefer to use compressed air
superheated by passing it through the boiler or round the inside of the smoke-box
which compressed air may be stored in a reservoir suitably placed on the engine;
but steam direct from the boiler suffices for working the ejectors and will deliver
the material either in a dry or semi-liquid state efficiently on the rails.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will describe the accompanying five Sheets of Drawings,, reference
being had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
"
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a locomotive to which my Invention is applied.
Fig. 2 is a view (partly a section) of the front or smoke box end and Fig. 3 is a
view of the cab or fire-box end of the locomotive. Figs. 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10 are
elevations of alternative arrangements which I employ according to this Invention.
Figs. 5, 9 and 11 are plan views of the arrangements illustrated by Figs. 4, 8
and 10 respectively. Fig. 12 is a full sized side view. Fig. 13 an end view and
Fig. 14 a plan of one of the ejectors shown in preceding Figs. Fig. 15 is a view
of the screw coupling for connecting steam or air pipes as shown at kl, Fig. 1.
Fig. 16 is an end view and Fig. 17 a sectional elevation of one of the sand boxes
shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and Fig. 18 is a detailed view of part of the same.
Similar létters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
In Figs. 1 to 3.-a is the frame of the engine, 6 are the driving wheels, c the
smoke box in which I prefer to place the sand box or boxes. In this arrangement
two sand boxes d are shown, one on either side of the engine and the construction

page_text: of the sand boxes is plainly shown by the detailed views Figs. 16/17 and 18; these
boxes & have each a sleeve pipe e cast or otherwise formed in them near the bottom
with a slit or opening at el and holes e for allowing the sand. or other material to
be drawn through the sand pipe f which is connected at one end to the sand
box d; between the box d and the flange f¹ of the pipe fis placed, a plate, d
which is shown full size on Fig. 18 and is for the purpose of admitting air to the
sand as it is drawn from the box d. The pipe f is connected at the other end to
an ejector g, clearly shown in the detailed views, Figs. 12, 13 and. 14. The two
sand pipes f and ejectors are supported and secured, to the engine,framing a by
stays or brackets h in such manner that the nozzles g of the ejectors g are just
above the rails i and in front of the driving wheels b. The ejectors g are in this
arrangement worked by steam from the boiler supplied through the pipes k which
are controlled by an ordinary stop. valve l. The ejectors.g may, be worked by
compressed air in place of by steam, in that case, the pipes k would be connected
to a suitable reservoir containing the compressed air and placed in any convenient
position on the locomotive, tender, or other vehicle.
When the stop valve is opened steam (or air, if compressed air be used) is
supplied through the pipes k to the ejectors 9 which draw the sand or other
material from the boxes d and discharge it through the nozzles g¹ on to the rails i
immediately in front of the driving wheels b. By this arrangement I obtain
sufficient adhesion to the rails with one pair of wheels without putting extra
weight upon them to do the same work which has hitherto required two pairs of
wheels coupled together and I am thereby enabled to dispense with outside
coupling rods which are at all times a source of danger and expense both in first.
cost and subsequent maintenance.
If found necessary or desirable a second pair of ejectors 92 connected to the sand
boxes d may be arranged on the other side of the driving wheels b as indicated in
Fig. 1 in order to obtain sufficient adhesion when the engine is backing or running
tender first.
Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate an alternative arrangement for taking the sand or other.
material out of the box or boxes which boxes may be placed on any convenient
part of engine, tender, or other vehicle. In this arrangement (and also in the
subsequent arrangements hereinafter described) the sand boxes d are shown secured
between the inside and outside frames a in front of the wheels b. Each sand pipe f
which enters at one side of the box d and projects through the opposite side is
provided with an air hole or holes at få for the purpose of admitting air to the
sand which is drawn off from the boxes d through other holes or perforations at f³
in the pipes f
Fig. 6 is an elevation of another alternative arrangement in which the pipes f
enter at the bottom of the boxes d and are provided with air holes at f³. The end
of each pipe fis bent or turned at or about a right angle so as to prevent the sand
running out of the boxes & when the ejectors g are not at work.
Fig. 7 is an elevation of another arrangement in which the pipes fare bent or
curved as shown outside the boxes d in order to seal the sand therein. There is
an air hole or air holes provided at f2.
Fig. 8 is an elevation and Fig. 9 a plan of an arrangement in which telescopic
sand pipes are employed for the purpose of taking the sand or other material from
the surface instead of from the bottom. The fixed pipe f stands above the box d a
distance equal to the depth of the box and within it is fitted the sliding or telescope
pipe f having a funnel shaped mouth which rests on the surface of the sand or
other material.
Figs. 10 and 11 are an elevation and plan respectively of another arrangement
in which the sand pipes f are syphon shaped the bend in the pipes being above the
maximum sand level. In this arrangement air is conveyed to the end of the short
leg of the syphon pipes through the small pipes m.
Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 13 a sectional plan and Fig. 14 a transverse
section of one of the ejectors g or g³. I may here state that I do not tie myself

page_text: to this or any other construction of ejector but I consider the ejector shown to
be well adapted for my purpose.
Fig. 15 shows in section the coupling used at k¹, Fig. 1, and which is a convenient
form of coupling for connecting steam or air pipes together.
"
Fig. 16.is an end view and Fig. 17 a sectional elevation of the sand box d; shown
in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and sand pipe f showing the internal construction of the sand
box. The sleeve pipe e being cast with the box d and provided with the slit e¹
and holes or perforations e². The plate d¹ which is placed between the box d and
the flange f¹ of the sand pipe f is clearly shown in these views and also in the
detailed view Fig. 18 the plate d¹ being cut away so as to form an air passage f*
which permits air to enter and mix with the sand in the pipe f.
I would have it clearly understood that I do not bind myself to the exact
details herein described and shown as the same may be considerably varied or
modified without departing from the nature of my Invention which consists chiefly
in the improved method of delivering sand or other suitable substance either dry
or in a semi-liquid state on to the rails in front of the driving or other wheels of
a locomotive, tender, or other vehicle by means of steam, compressed air or water
under pressure.
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. Delivering sand or other suitable substance either dry or in a semi-liquid
state on to the rails in front of the driving or other wheels of a locomotive, tender,
or other vehicle by means of steam, compressed air or water under pressure for the
purpose specified.
2. The use and application of an ejector or other suitable appliance worked by
steam, compressed air, or water under pressure to draw sand or other suitable
substance and deliver it on to the rails in front of the driving or other wheels of a
locomotive, tender, or other vehicle.
3. The several combinations with the sand boxes and sand pipes, of the
ejectors substantially as herein shown and described for the purposes specified.
Dated this 17th day of April 1886.