Car-heating Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1893
Car-heating Apparatus.
I, JAMES FINNEY MCELROY, of 936 Broadway in the City and County of
Albany, State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in apparatus particularly adapted for use
in heating railway cars; and the objects of my invention are to produce a reservoir
containing a substance to which heat is applied by means of live steam and which
will retain said heat for some time, giving it off after the steam has been shut off
from contact therewith, means for regulating the distribution of heat in the car,
and system for supplying storage heaters with steam.
I accomplish these objects by means of the mechanism illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a car to which my heating apparatus is applied.
Fig. 2 is a plan.
Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the manner of connecting the radiating pipes.
Fig. 4 is a cross section of the drip pocket.
Fig. 5 is a section along the lines bb on Fig. 4, and
Fig. 6 is a detail view of the regulating device.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
The train pipe A conducts the steam from the locomotive and is secured in a
suitable manner to the car B, usually passing beneath the car and in compartment
cars is provided with a riser A' at each end of the car. A valve C is placed near
the point of coupling with the pipe D on the adjacent car.
Beneath the car B and about midway between its ends, I arrange a connecting
pipe E provided with a shut-off valve Funiting the train pipe A with the supply
pipe G, which supply pipe G is also placed beneath the car B and is provided with
a series of risers H, which pass into the car and communicate with the storage
heaters therein. Each storage heater is composed of two pipes J and K, the
pipe K being smaller than and enveloped by the pipe J and separated therefrom on
all sides.
For the purpose of retaining the pipes J and K in their relative positions to each
other, I arrange a coupling head L see Fig. 3, provided with a flange k threaded to
mesh with threads on the exterior of the end of the pipe K and so adjusted that
that the end of the pipe K may be screwed into the coupling head L and held
securely in position therein. The coupling head L is also provided with a flange J
threaded to mesh with threads on one end of the pipe J, so adjusted that the end of
the pipe J may be secured therein, the pipe K being surrounded by the pipe J.
The other end of the pipe K is provided with an individual cap M, which has a
flange m provided with screw threads which mesh with threads on the end of the
pipe K. The cap M being also provided with a projecting pin N, which is movable
within the socket O in the cap P, which cap P fits on the end of the pipe J having
a flange p provided with screw threads for making connection with the end of the
pipe J. The cap P is so adjusted with reference to the cap M that the inequal
expansion and contraction of the pipes K and J is provided for, the pin N having
room to play within the socket O.
The riser H communicates with the enveloping pipe J at h on the coupling
head L.
The cap P is provided with a pipe r, which connects with the pipes com-
municating with the exhaust pipe R, which exhaust pipe passes along the bottom of
[Prins Qd77

page_text: the car.
The exhaust pipe R is arranged a little out of the horizontal having at its
lowest point a drip pocket S. The drip pocket S is secured to the exhaust pipe R,
and on one side thereof, I arrange opening t, within which I adjust the valve T.
I also at the bottom of the drip pocket S, provide a valve U.
The supply pipe G and the exhaust pipe R are arranged in hot metallic contact
by the construction of the casing Z connecting the two pipes so arranged that the
hot steam in the supply pipe G will heat the casing preventing the exhaust pipe R
from freezing, steam passing from the pipe G to the pipe R. The connecting
pipe E between the train pipe A and the supply pipe G forms a hot metallic contact
between those pipes in the same manner as the casing Z does. By the valve
connecting the train pipe with the supply pipe, the steam may be admitted to the
car, or shut off as desired and be operated by the station man when the car is
locked up.
As thus arranged, I can operate the valves in the drip pocket from the side of
the train. I provide for the expulsion of mud, iron rust or other accumulation,
which naturally is deposited therein, through valve U.
I usually place my storage heater. beneath one of the seats of the car, and in
order to provide a means for regulating the radiation of heat therefrom, I provide
a hood V, see Fig. 6, hinged to the support in the rear of the heater. I arrange
the openings W W through the wooden riser beneath the seat, one near the floor
of the car and one near the top of the heater, allowing the air from the car to pass
beneath the seat near the floor and come in contact with the heater and pass out
through the openings near the top of the heater, as indicated by the arrows in
Fig. 6. The hood V, which is usually composed of a metallic casing covered with
a chemical cloth, asbestos, or other suitable material, is arranged in such a manner
that it may be placed in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6, in which the
upper opening W in the riser of the seat is closed preventing the hot air escaping
into the apartment. When the car becomes cool, the hood V may be raised and
brought in contact with the projecting strip to allowing the free circulation of the
air about the heater, causing the car to be warmed.
Within the pipe K, I place a heat retaining substance, preferably acetate of
soda, in a sufficient quantity not quite equal to the capacity of the pipe. I charge
the pipe K by removing the plug K' in the end of the coupling head L. This is
convenient both in the manufacture of the heater, also in the operation of it, for
example, if a leakage should occur in the storage heater as usually constructed, the
only way it could be ascertained, would be to disconnect the heater, remove it from
the car, uncrew the cap at the end of the drum, remove the storage chamber from
the inside and remove the liquid or replenish it in case it had leaked out, and then
reverse the whole operation. By means of the plug K', we have instant com-
munication with the inside of the storage chamber by simply unscrewing the plug.
The position of the opening made such that the storage chamber is properly
filled when the liquid in it comes up to the height of the plug.
Into one end of the pipe J from riser H, I admit live steam, which coming in
contact with the pipe K transmits its heat to that pipe and its contents, which
retains the heat, giving it off by degrees after the live steam has been cut off. The
steam space permits steam when admitted to the outer pipe to envelop the inner
pipe, which will thus present its entire surface for condensation of the steam and
absorption of the heat, and this heat will be rapidly taken up by the inner pipe and
its contents and will very quickly be raised to nearly the temperature of the steam,
thus absorbing a large quantity of heat, which after the flow of steam has been cut
off, will be retained for a long time and gradually radiate through the walls of both
the pipes into the apartment in which the heater is placed.
As thus arranged, steam may be admitted at intervals into the heater and the
car may be run a long distance, the heat stored up in the reservoir being given out
regularly.
Steam may be admitted to the train pipe from a storage station, rather than
from, the locomotive, if so desired.

page_text: Instead of feeding the heaters indirectly by means of the supply pipe G, I may
connect them directly with the train pipe and cause the water to drip back either
into the train pipe or into the return pipe R.
What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is
1st. In a railway car-heater, the combination of two pipes differing in diameter,
the larger enveloping the smaller, a steam space surrounding the smaller pipe,
the smaller pipe charged with a heat absorbing substance, one end of said smaller
pipe secured in and supported by a suitable coupling, the larger pipe adapted
to receive steam or other heating fluid, substantially as described and for the
purpose set forth.
2nd. In a railway storage heater, two pipes differing in diameter, one placed
within the other, a coupling head to which said pipes are secured, the end of the
smaller pipe farthest from the coupling head provided with a cap, a steam space
surrounding said smaller pipe, said smaller pipe charged with a heat absorbing
substance, said larger pipe adapted to receive steam or other heating fluid,
substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
3rd. In a storage heater, the combination of two pipes differing in diameter, the
one placed within the other, the smaller pipe containing a heat absorbing substance,
a coupling head to which each of said pipes are secured at one end, the end of the
smaller pipe farthest from the coupling head provided with a cap, a pin on said cap
engaging with a socket on the cap of the larger pipe farthest from the coupling
head, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
4th. A system for heating railway cars, consisting of a train pipe carrying steam,
a supply pipe connected with said train pipe, a series of storage heaters placed
within the car, said storage heaters connected with said supply pipe, an exhaust
pipe also connected with said storage heaters, substantially as described and for the
purpose set forth.
5th. A system for heating railway cars, consisting of a car containing a storage
heater composed of two pipes differing in diameter, the one enveloping the other, a
heat retaining substance placed in the smaller of the two pipes, a steam space
surrounding the smaller pipe, a means for allowing for the inequal expansion of the
two pipes, said larger pipe connected with a steam supply pipe and also with an
exhaust pipe, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
6th. A system for heating railway cars, consisting of a car containing a storage
heater composed of two pipes differing in diameter, the one enveloping the other, a
heat retaining substance placed in the smaller of the two pipes, a steam space
surrounding the smaller pipe, a means for allowing for the inequal expansion of the
two pipes, said larger pipe connected with a steam supply pipe and also with an
exhaust pipe, a drip pocket placed at the lowest point of the exhaust pipe beneath
the car, valves on one side of the drip pocket and at the bottom thereof, substantially
as described and for the purpose set forth.
7th. In a railway storage heater, two pipes differing in diameter, one placed
within the other, a hood hinged near one end thereof partly enveloping said storage
heater capable of a limited movement about said storage heater, an opening for the
escape of air warmed by said storage heater, said hood adapted to open and close
said opening, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
8th. In a system for heating railway cars, a storage heater composed of two pipes
differing in diameter, one enveloping the other, a means for supplying the larger of
said pipes with steam, the smaller of said pipes supplied with a heat retaining
substance, a car within which said heater is located, a means for regulating the
radiation of heat by said storage heater to the interior of the car, substantially as
described and for the purpose set forth.
9th. In a railway car-heating apparatus, a storage heater composed of two pipes
differing in diameter, the one enveloping the other, said heater placed beneath the
seat of a car, means for supplying said heater with steam, a means for carrying
away the drip from said heater, the smaller of said pipes charged with a heat

page_text: retaining substance, with a hood partly enveloping said heater adapted to be raised
or lowered for the purpose of opening or closing the passage for the escape of air
into the car, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
10th. A system for heating railway cars, by means of which hot metallic contact
is provided between the train pipe and the steam distributing pipes, also between
the steam distributing pipes and the return to the drip, substantially as described
and for the purpose set forth.
11th. A system for heating railway cars, consisting of a train pipe carrying
steam, a supply pipe connected with said train pipe, a series of storage heaters
placed within the car, said storage heaters connected with said supply pipe, an
exhaust pipe also connected with said storage heaters, a drip pocket provided with
a dirt chamber in which the iron rust is washed with the drain to the bottom
thereof, and a drip is placed in the side of the chamber, substantially as described
and for the purpose set forth.
12th. In a railway car-heating system, a steam supply pipe, a heater com-
municating therewith-an exhaust pipe, a drip pocket with a dirt chamber in the
bottom thereof, a valve communicating with said dirt chamber, said drip pocket
provided with a drip valve about half way up its side, substantially as described
and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 18th day of August 1893.
JAMES FINNEY MCELROY.
Bottomley & Liddle,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.