Improvements in Apparatus for Lighting and Heating Railway Cars, Street Cars, Steam Boats, and the like.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1886.
Specification Accepted, 25th Mar., 1887.
Improvements in Apparatus for Lighting and Heating Railway
Cars, Street Cars, Steam Boats, and the like.
I, REUBEN HOPKINS PLASS of New York, United States of America, Mechanical
and gas engineer, do herchy 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 :-
This invention has relation to apparatus for lighting and heating railway cars street
cars steam-boats and the like designed to generate on the car or vessel the gas for
lighting and heating the same and to so regulate the apparatus that should a car be
derailed or overturned by accident the gas will be automatically cut off at the generator
and the danger of a conflagration will be thus avoided; it has for its objects to provide
apparatus of the class referred to that shall possess superior advantages in point of
simplicity, cheapness safety convenience durability and general efficiency; and the
invention consists in the construction and novel arrangement of parts as will be
hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a railway car provided with
the improved gas lighting and heating apparatus.
Figure 2 is a partial plan view of a car and the apparatus.
Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the mechanism composing the
apparatus grouped together for convenience of illustration.
Figure is a detail plan view of the density regulating cock and gauge.
Figure 5 is a detail view of one of the generators arranged for being charged with
the gasoline.
Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view of one of the generators with the horizontal
partition partly broken away to show the arrangement of the flues and;
Figure 7 is a detail view of the regulator for maintaining a uniform pressure of air.
Figure 8 is a vertical section of density regulator and mixing chamber and
Figure 9 is a detail view of the register.
The object of this invention is to produce an apparatus that will obviate the
possibility of the burning of the train in case of such accidents as a collision or the

page_text: upsetting of the ears from any cause; and I will now proceed to describe
the apparatus by which I effect this result.
Referring by letter to the accompanying drawing A designates a passenger car in
which I have disposed the apparatus in a manner to economise as much space as
possible, and at the same time to locate the generator and the heater in such positions
that neither the gas or heat producing apparatus can cause any damago to property or
danger to the lives of the passengers in case of an accident.
B designates the compartment in one corner of the car in which I locate the spring
motor which consists of a nest six more or less in number of coiled springs, each
encased in a separate sleeve D but all connected to the same vertical shaft E having a
bevel gear wheel F secured to its upper end. This gear wheel F meshes with a small-
bevel gear wheel G on a horizontal shaft H having bearings II near the upper ends
of the uprights I of the motor frame. Near the end of the shaft H opposite the
bevel-gear GI provide a small pinion J which engages a spur-gear wheel K on a
longer horizontal shaft I. having bearings L' in the upper ends of the uprights I of
the motor-frame. On one face the spur-gear wheel K is provided with a half-clutch M
with which a sliding half clutch N on the shaft L engages, to hold the springs at the
points to which they have been wound. The half clutch N is held to place by a
spiral spring N which bears against it and against a collar N on the shaft L. One
end of the shaft L is provided with a crank O by which the coiled springs in the
sleeves Dare wound. The other end of the shaft L is provided with a bevel-gear
wheel which engages a bevel gear wheel O2 on the upper end of the vertical crank
shaft within the air pump or blower Q. This air pump has three or more
diaphragms Q. I have shewn but three but it is obvious that five may be used.
The three diaphragms Q are connected to a collar on the crank Q2 of the crank
shaft Phy three arms Q3 and when the crank shaft is rotated operate as a bellows to
draw the air into the pump and to force it out through the air-pipe R. Above the
bellows in the pump is a partition It' provided with valve seats R' which are controlled
by valves R3 secured to the ends of arms R connected to an eccentric R³ on a
reduced portion of the crank-shaft P and when the latter is rotated it opens and
closes the valves at the proper times.
The
The air as it passes through the pump is measured by registering mechanism
located in the inlet chamber Q4 of the air pump Q'. The meter S consists of a
horizontally arranged frame within the chamber Q provided with eight wheels each
having the units 0 to 9 arranged in a circle on its face or upon its periphery and
geared together in their common frame so that but one figure of each series of units
will be displayed at the same time through the view-plate in the pump case.
units dise of the series of wheels makes ten revolutions and turns the tens disc one
pointer from 0 to 1; ten more revolutions turns the tens disc one more revolution
or to 2.
When the tens disc has been turned ten revolutions, the hundreds disc will
be moved one point or from 0 to 1 and thus on until the tens-of-millions disc has been
reached and this may be turned ten times thereby registering ten million cubic feet of
air by the eight discs. The units disc is operated by a ten toothed wheel S2 which is
moved one tooth forward at each revolution of the shaft L by a cam S³ on said shaft L
which strikes a weighted lever S₁ fulcrumed above said shaft L in the chamber Q and
provided with a pivoted pawl $5 which engages a ratchet wheel on the ten-toothed
wheel S2 and turns it one tooth every time the weighted end of the lever drops after
having been raised. In this manner the air is measured before it has been carburetted
and the meter is kept clean and will operate more accurately than if gas were
measured. I provide the air pipe R with a pressure regulator or air governor T
which is preferably located near the air pump in order to economize space and is
constructed after the manner of the gas governor described and illustrated in United
States Letters Patent No. 177745 granted to Reuben H. Plass May 23rd 1876 with
the exception of the valve T which is made conical and with a longer taper than the
valve in the Patent referred to in order that it may have a slower action. The
pressure regulator is herein illustrated in vertical section Figure 7. As the pressure
of the air in the diaphragm of the regulator increases the valve T is raised and the

page_text: opening through which the air must pass, is contracted so that the air is condensed
and the volume permitted to pass through the regulator is reduced, insuring a uniform
supply to the generator, however the pressure may vary. When the power of the
motor becomes weakened by the uncoiling of the springs, the valve will descend and
the opening in the regulator becomes enlarged and the same volume of air is
permitted to pass through the regulator under a smaller pressure. It is obvious that
the pressure-regulator may be arranged in connection with the gas pipe of the
apparatus to regulate the supply of gas to the burners as in said Letters Patent,
referred to and I may use it in that connection herein if desired.
From the pressure regulator as herein arranged the air passes down through the
air pipe U and into the lower section of the generator U₁ through which it passes
tortuously to its opposite end through the saturated absorbent material with which the
flues U formed by the vertical partitions is packed or provided thence up through an
opening U³ in the horizontal partition U in said generator U at the opposite end
from that at which it entered, and thence tortuously through the upper section of said
generator U through saturated absorbent material in the flues of said upper section
and out into the gas pipe V. I use two generators or what I term a train generator.
These generators are made of copper preferably and are of like construction. I locate
the preferably under the body of a railway car as shown but it is obvious that the
location of the generators as well as the other parts of the apparatus may be varied to
suit the structure either movable or stationary in which it is to be used to suit the
exigencies of the case without departing from the character of the invention and I do
vary the location of the parts of the apparatus to suit the character of the structure in
which I employ the apparatus.
The generators U¹ and W are made preferably rectangular in form and are provided
with central horizontal partitions and vertical partitions as shown to form flues or
tortuous passages in which sponge or other suitable absorbent material is placed and is
saturated with gasoline in a manner hereinafter explained.
Each generator is provided in its bottom with an opening V₁ through which the
generator is to be filled and after the generators have been filled and the absorbent
material has been properly saturated and the surplus gasoline run off said openings
are closed by screw plugs V2. At the time of filling the generators with the gasoline
a glass tube V3 which is used as an indicator to denote when the generator is full is
inserted in an opening V in the top of each generator. The generators are filled
through the openings in their bottoms by means of a siphon V5 having a plug V in
its lower end. When the glass tube indicates that the generator is full the flow of
gasoline through the siphon is stopped and as soon as the absorbent material has
become charged or thoroughly saturated the plug V in the lower end of the siphon is
withdrawn and the gasoline is permitted to run off. When the gasoline has run out,
the siphon is removed and the opening it occupied is closed with the screw plug V.
The indicator tube is also withdrawn and the opening in the top of the indicator is also
closed by a screw plug. In the illustration I have built a case e beneath the floor of
the car having a door at each side into which case the two charged generators are
slid after the manner of drawers. In the bottom of the case I provide a coil of
pipe for the passage of hot water or steam said pipe being placed in connection
with the heating apparatus described further on. The walls and doors of the case w¹
are made double and the space in said double walls and doors is packed with felt or
other suitable non-conductor of heat and cold. The object of the coiled pipe and the
non conducting packing is to prevent the charge in the generators from being affected
by extremely cold or freezing weather and to maintain a temperature within the
generators corresponding to the temperature within the car. The generators are not
used simultaneously but they are connected together by pipes provided with stop-cocks
so that after one of the generators has been exhausted the other one may be instantly
brought into use and used while the exhausted one is being filled at a station and
replaced or the exhausted one may be removed and left at the station to be recharged
and another already charged may be put in its place in the case and connected to the
other one and to the pipes. The generators are provided with the male sections of

page_text: the couplings by which they are placed in connection with the air-pipe and gas-pipe
and these latter pipes carry the sleeves by which the coupling is effected. The two
generators are connected in the following manner. The air pipe U extends down
through the bottom of the car and extends through the case w¹ over both generators U
and W and projects out of the casing at both ends as shown. This air pipe U is
jointed at the bends and enters the lower section of the generator U₁ at one end
thereof. A branch pipe X leads from the main pipe U and enters the lower section
of the generator Wat the opposite end of the case to where the pipe U enters. The
air pipe U is provided with a stop cock which when closed prevents the air from
entering the generator U. The branch pipe a is provided with a stop cock which
when open permits the air to enter the generator w.
By closing the stop cock 2 when the generator W has become exhausted and
opening the stop cock the air will enter the generator U¹ and that generator will
carburet the air. The gas pipe V leaves the generator U from its upper section
above the air pipe U and a branch gas pipe Y leaves the generator W from its upper
section and connects with the main gas pipe V. The gas pipe V is provided with a
stop cock Y by which to cut off the gas from the generator U₁. The branch pipe V
is provided with a stop cock Y' by which to cut off the gas from the generator W
so that by the arrangement of pipes and stop cocks I am enabled to use the generators
separately. The main gas pipe V is further provided with a weighted stop cock Z
which always remains open while the car maintains its position on the track but will
be closed automatically by the weight Z which swings in either direction to close it
when the car is overturned thereby cutting off the gas and avoiding any damage to the
car or property or danger to the lives of persons from fire. The air after passing
through either of the generators becomes carburetted or charged with the vapors of
the gasoline that has been drawn up or held by the capillary attraction of the sponge
or other absorbent material to its greatest capacity and is converted into a hydro-
carbon gas of 25 to 30 candle power. The gas in this state is too rich to burn
economically at all seasons of the year and is returned to the air pump compartment 13
at the end of the car where it is passed through a density regulator where it is
impoverished and its quality reduced to 15 or 20 candle power by an admixture of air
from the air pipe and thence passed through the commingling or mixing chamber to
the burners.
The density regulator A¹ consists of a sleeve joint A connected to the gas pipe and to
the air pipe and provided with a conical or tapering valve A³. To the lower end of the
sleeve A is secured a quadrant plate A which is provided with a scale B. The valve
or cock A³ is provided on its lower end which is reduced to form a journal and projects
through an opening in the quadrant plate with a lever B3 which is curved upward as
shown and provided with an indicator finger B4 which rests on the scale of the quadrant
plate and indicates the size of the passage in the density regulator. By moving the
lever to the desired point on the indicator (and with or without closing a stop cock
at C2 in the air pipe U to prevent the air from passing to the generator) the gas and air
may be let into the density regulator in the proportions necessary to produce the
desired candle power i.e. half gas and half air or three fourths gas to one-fourth air or
in any other desired proportions.
From the density regulator the gas and air pass into the commingling or mixing
chamber C3 which is filled with excelsior or other suitable material that will cause the
gas and air to thoroughly commingle and it passes thence to the burners D' in the
gas pipe D3 running beneath the roof or monitor section of the car. The gas pipes D³
of each car have flexible tubing at each end provided with hose couplings to enable two
or more cars to be connected together so that one car may be supplied with
gas from
another car.
The gas pipes D³ are provided with stop cocks D* near each end to cut
off the supply of gas from an adjacent car when desired.
At the opposite end of the car from the compartment B and preferably on the same
side of the car I locate that portion of the apparatus which is employed in heating the
It consists of an upright boiler E which is connected with the hot water or
steam pipes E3 in the ordinary manner. This boiler is provided with the usual steam
car.

page_text: and water ganges and has a hot air and smoke flue or flues passing up vertically through
the centre of the boiler and extending through the roof of the car and provided on its top
with a hood. In the combustion chamber E' below the boiler I provide a burner F
which operates on the principle of the Bunsen burner in which the gas is consumed
without giving out any light by admitting air to the gas through an opening F3 in the
gas pipe immediately below the horizontal burner pipe G³. The gas pipe F is
connected with the gas pipe D3 by a vertical gas pipe G provided near its lower end
with an automatic gauge cock G. This gauge cock G³ is operated by a rod H' which
is controlled by a steam governor H' on the top of the boiler E2 (said steam governor
being shown in vertical section in Figure 3). The steam governor His provided with
a diaphragm H which has a rod H extending therefrom up through the top of the
governor and the upper end of said rod He is pivoted to a weighted lever I² fulcrummed
at one end to an arm 1³ on said steam governor and at the other end said lever I' is
pivoted to the upper end of the vertical rod H³ so that the pressure of the steam in the
steam governor H will automatically open and partially close the gauge cock Go to
regulate the supply of the gas to the burner G³ and thus the heat will be maintained at
a uniform temperature. The gas may be cut off entirely from the burner G³ by closing
the stop cock I in the gas pipe D³.
For convenience and to economize space I prefer to locate the spring motor air
pump pressure regulator, density regulator, and mixing or commingling chamber in the
compartment B. It is obvious however that on horse cars vessels or other movable
structures and in houses the location and arrangements of the parts of the apparatus
will need to be varied. These variations may be made without departing from the
character of the invention.
The cost of the gas is as follows:-
Three and a half gallons of gasoline at from 15 to 20 cents per gallon will carburet
1000 cubic feet of air giving it from 25 to 30 candle power; and this is then
impoverished to from 15 to 20 candle power so that the cost per thousand cubic feet
of gas renders it an economical gas. From the foregoing description taken in
connection with the accompanying drawing the construction and operation of this
improved gas lighting and gas heating apparatus will be readily understood by
those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains. The coil pipe in the
case is connected in the circuit of the hot water or steain pipes in any well known
manner.
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. The means herein described for lighting and heating comprising a carbureter
with suitable pipes leading thereto and therefrom an air or gas forcing or exhausting
apparatus connected with said carbureter the heating apparatus and burners for
lighting and also for supplying a gas fuel or fuel gas to the heating apparatus
connected with pipes leading from the carbureter to supply said burners and valves in
said pipes all substantially as and operated as set forth.
2. The means herein described for lighting and heating comprising the spring
motor the diaphragm air pump, provided with a meter in its inlet opening the pressure
regulator and the generator connected to each other and to the air and gas pipes
substantially as specified.
3. The combination with the nest spring motor consisting of springs coiled in
separate sleeves and connected to common shafts to operate independently and in unison
of a spring actuated clutch to retain power on the motor in winding up the springs the
diaphragm air pump provided with a registering index or meter in its inlet chamber,
the pressure regulator and the generators connected to each other and to the air and
gas pipes substantially as described.
4. The means herein described for lighting and heating comprising a spring
actuated motor the diaphragm air pump and the generators provided with air and gas
pipes having cocks whereby one or both may be used substantially as described.
5. The combination of the spring motor the diaphragm air pump the
pressure

page_text: regulator, the generators connected to the air and gas pipes and the commingling
chamber substantially as described.
6. The combination with the nest spring motor of the diaphragm air pump having a
motor in its inlet chamber the pressure regulator generators connected to the gas and
air pipe the density regulator and the commingling chamber substantially as described.
7. The combination with a car body of the casing provided with non conducting
packing of the generators provided with air and gas pipes and the heating pipes arranged
within the casing and connected with the heating apparatus substantially as described.
8. The combination with the car body of the casing provided with non conducting
packing a coil of pipe in said casing connected with the heating pipes of the car and
the generators or carbureters located in the casing and having the air and gas pipes
and the coupling pipes substantially as described.
9. The combination in an apparatus for heating and lighting railway cars of the
spring motor the diaphragm air pump the interchangeable generators, air pipes leading
to the generators the heating apparatus and pipe and gas pipes leading from the
generators to the heating apparatus substantially as described.
10. The combination in an apparatus for heating and lighting railway cars of the
spring motor the diaphragm air pump the generator situated in a casing provided with
non conducting packing the heating apparatus gas pipe leading from the generator to
the heating apparatus and a pipe leading from the heating appartus and coiled within
the casing of the generator substantially as described.
11. The combination in an apparatus for heating and lighting railway cars of tho
spring motor tho diaphragm air pump the generator or air pipes connecting the air
pump and generator the heating apparatus and gas pipes for conducting the gas to the
car and heating apparatus and provided with a safety cock whereby the supply of gas
is automatically cut off when the car is overturned.
T
501 1
1100