Improvements Connected with "Automatic" Vacuum Brakes Used on Railways.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 30th Mar., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements Connected with "Automatic" Vacuum Brakes Used on
Railways.
We EDWARD HORNBY BIRLEY of 80 Deansgate, Manchester in the county of
Lancaster Engineer and THOMAS HENRY WHITE of 3 Ordsall Terrace, Crowther Street,
Regent Road Salford in the county of Lancaster Engineer do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
32
automatic vacuum
This invention relates to apparatus used in connection with "
brakes used on railways and consists in arrangements by means of which we lessen the
apparatus required and also actuate such brakes with a less expenditure of steam than
has heretofore been requisite.
32
In working "automatic vacuum brakes two air ejectors supplied with steam from
the boiler of the "locomotive" engine have hitherto been employed, a larger one
employed when a vacuum is required to be quickly produced and a smaller one kept
constantly at work to maintain the vacuum required to be ordinarily maintained.
In carrying this invention into effect we dispense with the small air ejector and
maintain the vacuum necessary by means of the injector or injectors used for supplying
the boiler of the locomotive engine with water.
We connect the "train pipe" by means of a pipe or pipes to the ordinary overflow
opening or openings of each of the injectors employed for supplying water to the boiler
of the locomotive engine. We provide the said pipe or pipes with valves one or more
of which permits or permit the "overflow" from the injector or injectors to take place
when either or both of the injectors is or are being "started" and to prevent the
entrance of the external air when such injector or injectors is or are at work while
another or others of the said valve prevents or prevent the external air from passing
into the "train pipe" when the injector or injectors is or are not working but allow
air to pass from the "train pipe to the overflow opening or openings of either or
both of the injectors when either or both of such injectors is or are at work.
33
We have above referred to both of the injectors used for supplying water to the
boiler of the locomotive engine as being employed for the purpose of maintaining the

page_text: 33
vacuum necessary to be maintained in the "train pipe but in some cases we only
employ one of such injectors for the purpose of maintaining the vacuum necessary to
be maintained.
This invention is also applicable in cases in which the locomotive engine is
provided with only one “live steam" injector for supplying water to the boiler of the
focomotive engine.
By employing the injector or injectors used for supplying water to the boiler of the
locomotive engine for also maintaining a vacuum in the train pipe" we avoid the
great and continual expenditure of steam for operating the "small ejector
employed for maintaining the necessary vacuum in the "train pipe."
29
now
large
In case the injector or both of the injectors employed be not working the "
ejector" may be employed to maintain the necessary vacuum in the "train pipe."
Dated this Nineteenth day of May 1888.
W. T. CHEETHAM,
Manchester,
Agent to the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements Connected with "Automatic" Vacuum Brakes Used on
Railways.
We EDWARD HORNBY BIRLEY of 80 Deansgate Manchester in the County of
Lancaster Engineer and THOMAS HENRY WHITE of 3 Ordsall Terrace, Crowther Street,
Regent Road, Salford in the County of Lancaster, Engineer 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 :—
vacuum
This invention relates to apparatus used in connection with "
brakes used on railways and consists in arrangements by means of which we are enabled
"automatic "
to lessen the apparatus required and also actuate such brakes with a less expenditure of
steam than has hitherto been requisite.
"
In working automatic vacuum" brakes two air ejectors supplied with steam from
the boiler of the "locomotive" engine have hitherto been employed, a larger one
employed when a vacuum is required to be quickly produced and a smaller one kept
constantly at work to maintain the vacuum required to be ordinarily maintained.
In carrying this invention into effect we dispense with the use of the small air ejector
and maintain the vacuum necessary by means of the injector or injectors used for
supplying the boiler of the locomotive engine with water.
We connect the "train pipe" by means of a pipe or pipes to the ordinary overflow
or other suitable opening or openings of each of the injectors employed for supplying

page_text: water to the boiler of the locomotive engine-We provide the said pipe or pipes with
valves one or more of which permits or permit the "overflow" from the injector or
injectors to take place when either or both of the injectors is or are being started, and
also prevents or prevent the entrance of the external air when such injector or injectors
is or are at work while another or others of the said valves prevents or prevent the
external air from passing into the "train pipe" when the injector or injectors is or ara
not working but allows or allow air to pass from the "train pipo" to the overflow
opening or openings, of either or both of the injectors when either or both of such
injectors is or are at work.-We have above referred to both of the injectors used for
supplying water to the boiler of the "locomotive engine" as being employed for the
purpose of maintaining the vacuum necessary to be maintained in the "train pipe'
but in some cases we only employ one of such injectors for the purpose of maintaining
the vacuum necessary to be maintained.
"
This invention is also applicable in casos in which the locomotive engine is
provided with only one injector for supplying water to the boiler of the locomotive
engine.
By employing the injector or injectors used for supplying water to the boiler of the
locomotive engine for also maintaining a vacuum in the "train pipe" we avoid the
great and continual expenditure of steam for operating the "small ejector
employed for maintaining the necessary vacuum in the "train pipe."
now
In the accompanying drawings in all the figures of which the same letters of refer-
ence are applied to corresponding parts Figs. 1. 2 and 3 show a method of carrying
our invention into effect-Fig. 1 is an elevation of so much of a "locomotive engine
as is requisite to illustrate our invention and the manner in which it is applied. Fig. 2
is an elevation in section of a portion of that which is shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is
a horizontal section taken on the line B. B of Fig. 2.
"
A is the injector supplied with steam from the boiler a of the "locomotive engine'
by means of the pipe provided with a valve c by means of which the flow of steam
to the injector A may be controlled or "shut off." The water forced by the injector A
is conducted to the boiler a by means of the pipe d provided with the usual "back
pressure valve" or clack e which is provided with a hand-wheel e¹ by which the com-
munication between the injector A and the boiler a may be "shut off." The overflow
opening or overflow openings f of the injector A are shown more clearly in Fig. 2.
The overflow opening or overflow openings communicates or communicate with a
chamber g provided with a passage h which is at times closed by a valve j which acts
in conjunction with a seating The passage h communicates with a chamber k which
communicates by means of a passage with the overflow pipe -The chamber is
provided with a valve m which at times closes an opening n which communicates with
thetrain pipe" o by means of a pipe o-Passing through the casing C of the valvej
is a spindle provided with screw-threads which take into or engage with corresponding
screw-threads formed in the casing C-The spindle is provided with a hand wheel
by means of which the spindle may be rotated and caused to act upon the valve j
so as to press it upon the seating and close the passage h.
g
So long as water is being delivered to the boiler a by the injector A a vacuum will
be produced in the chamber g, the valve m will be raised and air will be drawn through
the opening n from the "train pipe" o so that in the "train-pipe" o will be produced
a vacuum by means of which the brakes of the train may be operated-When from
any cause water escapes from the overflow opening or overflow openings fa vacuum
will cease to be formed in the chamber g and the valve m will close the opening n and
prevent air, water or steam from escaping from the chamber g into the "train-
pipe" o- Water air or steam escaping from the overflow opening or overflow
openings of the injector A will raise the valve j and pass through the passage into
the chamber through the passage and into the overflow-pipe -When the
injector A again commences to deliver water to the boiler a, a vacuum will again be
formed in the chamber g the valve will close the passage h, the valve m will be raised
from the opening n and air will again be drawn by the injector A from the "train-pipe "o.
When it is desired to warm the water in the "tender" or "tank" the valve is held

page_text: 66
33
clack
e is
ог
upon the seating' by the spindle and the "back pressure valve" or
closed so that upon the valve c being "opened" steam from the boiler a will pass
through the injector A and through the water feed pipe p into the "tender"
"tank.
By a hose-pipe being "coupled" upon the branch pipe 9 and the "back pressure
valve ог "clack "e being closed and by steam being supplied to the injector A water
may be forced through the said hose-pipe.
"
In Figs. 1. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings our invention is shown as used
in conjunction with one injector but when two "injectors" are employed for supplying
water to the boiler of a "locomotive engine" our invention may be applied to each
of them in a manner similar to that in which it is shown as being applied in Figs. 1. 2.
and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
In some cases in case the injector or both of the injectors employed be not working
the "large ejector" may be employed to maintain the necessary vacuum in the "train-
pipe" and in such cases no small ejector is required.
Although the ordinary overflow opening or openings, forms or form a convenient
place at which to connect the "train pipe" to the injector the "train pipe" may if
desired bo connected to any other opening or openings formed between the ordinary
overflow opening or openings of the injector and the boiler; in the injector or in
the pipe or pipes by which the water delivered by the injector is conducted to the
boiler.
When a locomotive is provided with two or more than two injectors we may
employ one or more or all of such injectors for maintaining a
"train pipe."
29
vacuum in the
or fire-
"
c. c are the
If it be desired that without special attention on the part of the "driver"
man of the locomotive engine "an air ejector similar to the "small air ojector
ordinarily employed in conjunction with "automatic vacuum brakes" shall be put into
operation for maintaining a vacuum in the "train-pipe" when the injector or injectors
for feeding" the boiler is or are out of operation we propose to employ the arrange-
ment of apparatus shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings-Fig. 4
being a front view and Fig. 5 a plan of such arrangement of apparatus.
valves by which steam may be allowed to pass to the two injectors employed to supply
water to the boiler of the "locomotive engine "-Extending between the valve
spindles c¹, c is a bar or lever 7 on the ends of which are formed jaws The
bar or lever is jointed by a pin to the spindle s' of a valve s which ordinarily rests
upon a seating and thereby prevents steam from passing from the chamber t
which is supplied by means of the pipe t' with steam from the boiler of the
locomotive engine-The pipe t is provided with a stop-valve t² by which the
supply of steam to the chamber t may be shut off when required. The pressure
of the steam within the chamber t tends to keep the valve s in contact with the
seatings. When the parts are in the positions in which they are shown in
Figs. 4 and 5 the spindle c¹ of the valve c controlling the supply of steam to one
of the injectors is in the position which it occupies when the steam supply is shut
off from the injector in conjunction with which such valve is used-Should the
spindle c¹ of the other valve c be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow D
to "shut off" steam from the injector in conjunction with which the said valve
used, the boss c² of the hand wheel c³ acting upon the jaw will cause the jaw
to movo in the direction indicated by the arrow D so that the jaw of the bar
or lever acting as a fulcrum the valves will be moved from the seating so that
steam will be allowed to pass from the chamber t into the pipe u by which it is con-
ducted to the "small air ejector" which may be employed for maintaining a vacuum 5
in the train pipe" at such times as both of the injectors employed for supplying
water to the boiler of the locomotive engine are not working-When one or both of
the valves c. c is or are opened the valves will be at liberty to be and will be, closed
by the pressure of the steam in the chamber t-In those cases in which only one
"injector" is used for supplying water to the steam-boiler of the "locomotive engine" 5
we cause one end of the bar or lever to abut against or be jointed to a suitable
fixed part.
21
is 4

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the naturo of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The hereinbefore described arrangements for maintaining the vacuum necessary
for actuating "automatic vacuum brakes" which arrangements consist in the employ-
ment substantially in the manner hereinbefore described of the injector or injectors
employed for supplying the boiler of the "locomotive engine" with water.
2. The arrangement of apparatus consisting in the valves and m employed,
arranged and operating substantially in the manner hereinbefore described in reference
to and indicated in and by Figs. 1. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings and for the
purposes of allowing water to at times issue, of allowing air to be drawn from the
train-pipe o, of preventing the external air from being drawn in, and of preventing
water or steam or the external air from passing into the train-pipe o.
That this Thuanter first day of Wab 1880
W. T. CHEETHAM,
Manchester,
Agent to the Applicants.