IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING RAILWAY CARRIAGES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Westinghouse, junior, of the City of Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, one of the United States of America, at present of Number Four,
Clayton Square, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING RAILWAY CARRIAGES."
Partly a communication from abroad by Abraham H. Phillippi, of Reading,
Pennsylvania, United States of America.
Sealed the 20th March 1877, and dated the 7th November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Westinghouse at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th November 1876.
GEORGE WESTINGHouse, junior, of the City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, one of
the United States of America, at present of Number Four, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster. IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING
RAILWAY CARRIAGES."
"
This Invention relates to lighting railway carriages by the combustion, at
suitable burners, of the vapour of a hydrocarbon carried in mechanical suspension
in a current of air, or hydrocarbon vapour in admixture with air, and has for its
main objects to provide a light at comparatively low cost, of high illuminating power,
and that without incurring the danger attendant upon carrying hydrocarbon liquids
in bulk upon vehicles. By air is meant atmospheric air, bydrogen, or other gas
suited for lighting when charged with the vapour of a hydrocarbon.
Under the first part of the Invention sawdust, sponge, cotton, wool, woven
fabrics, asbestos, coke, or other absorbent material, by preference of a porous
character and presenting a large surface, is placed in a carburetting vessel, and so
packed or disposed that when the hydrocarbon liquid is poured thereinto the hydro-
carbon is held in suspension, and does not remain in the liquid condition, in such
manner that were the carburetting vessel broken or ruptured the liquid would
flow out.

page_text: Second. The carburetting vessel for containing the absorbent material specified
under the above first part may be of any external form. It is provided with three
openings, one for charging with the absorbent material and hydrocarbon, a second
for conveying the current of air thereto, and the third for conveying away the
mixed air and hydrocarbon vapour through pipes and other parts to the burners.
To ensure that the said carburetter shall not be overcharged with the hydrocarbon
a draw-off cock is placed at the bottom.
Third. To obtain the required current for the carburetters, and it is to be under-
stood that one such carburetter on each vehicle is preferred, compressed air is
employed. This may be obtained by independent compressing apparatus, or by
combining the lighting contrivances with the pipes and connections of compressed
air train brakes. When an air pipe is led along the length of the train, say, from
the locomotive, connection is made by branches to air reservoirs one on each vehicle,
thence to the carburetter, but when used in connection with my well known
automatic air brake, the brake pipes serve for conveying the air to reservoirs, such
reservoirs being in all cases provided each with a check valve, so that in the event
of a carriage being separated from a train there will be sufficient supply to continue
the lighting for the longest required period.
Fourth. To regulate the pressure or supply of air to the carburetter, or the
pressure after passing the carburetters of what may be called the lighting gas to the
burners, a novel governor has been devised. This consists of a valve held open by
a spring which permits the fluid to flow into a chamber, one side of which is closed
by a flexible diaphragm. The pressure on the said diaphragm causes it to move
outwards or inwards, and open or close a regulating valve, thus ensuring uniformity
of pressure. The spring above mentioned serves also to adjust the diaphragm and
valve.
Fifth. In cases where it is desired to reduce the lights on a train for economical
reasons a controlling valve is fitted on each carriage, and to a line of air supply
pipe. When the guard or attendant varies the pressure of air, say, in the van,
these valves automatically increase or diminish the supply of air or of the lighting
gas. The said controlling valve consists of a piston or diaphragm connected to a
tap or valve acted upon by a spring in one direction, and air or gas pressure in the
other, hence by reducing the pressure, say, in a van, the pressure is reduced to all
the burners.
Sixth. For the better combustion of the gas produced under the Invention, an
improved argand burner is employed. This has a central conducting tube surrounded
by the flame, and it serves to allow the gas to be heated before combustion takes
place.
It will be obvious that pipes, taps, and the connections usual when coal gas is
used for lighting are employed with my improvements, but these as well as ordinary
burners are well known to and understood by those skilled in the art of lighting.