Improvements in and relating to Steam Heating Apparatus, chiefly designed for Railway-carriages and other Vehicles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 3rd July, 1896-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Steam Heating Apparatus, chiefly
designed for Railway-carriages and other Vehicles.
I, JAMES NEEDHAM, of No. 1 Lind Street, St. Johns, in the County of Kent,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
My invention relates to steam heating apparatus, chiefly designed for use in
warming or heating the interiors of railway-carriages and other vehicles, such, for
example, as tram-cars.
One object of my said invention is to provide simple and efficient means whereby,
when the steam is turned on, the heaters and the pipes connected there with will be
automatically relieved of the air contained therein, whilst the exit and loss of steam
will be prevented.
My said invention is also designed to provide more efficient means than have
heretofore been used, for shutting off the steam from the flexible pipes between the
carriages when the same are to be uncoupled, and for rapidly relieving such pipes
of the steam remaining therein; and also improved means for draining the water of
condensation from the heaters and the pipes connected therewith.
According to one part of my said invention, I provide for releasing the air
contained in the heaters and connecting pipes, by means of an automatic device
comprising a chamber or passage having a suitable inlet adapted to be connected
with the space from which the air is to be released, this connection being preferably
made at a point distant from the steam-inlet of the heating apparatus. This chamber
or passage is provided with an outlet for the air, which may be conducted to the
exterior of the vehicle in any suitable manner. Between the said inlet and outlet-
apertures is arranged a partition or diaphragm having an aperture adapted to be closed
at the proper times, as hereinafter mentioned, by means of a valve supported on and
working freely in a hollow cylinder or tube on the inner or steam side of the said
diaphragm, which cylinder is open at the top and has ports or apertures near the
inlet-aperture of the said chamber. When the valve is in its inoperative position, it
rests on and closes the upper end of the said cylinder.
When steam is admitted to the heating apparatus, the air enclosed therein is driven
along until it enters the said chamber or passage, from which it escapes through
the outlet-opening thereof, the valve meanwhile resting on the upper end of the
cylinder as above mentioned. As soon, however, as the steam under pressure enters
the ports in the said cylinder, it forces the valve forward against its seat in the
diaphragm, thus closing the passage through which the air has escaped, and preventing
egress of the steam. The said passage remains closed so long as the pressure is
sufficient to keep the valve upon its seat, but as soon as, by the condensation of
the steam or otherwise, the internal pressure becomes less than the external pressure
plus the weight of the valve, the said valve falls by gravity onto the open end of the
said cylinder and the device is ready to again operate, when required, as above
mentioned.
The said chamber or passage may be made in a single casting, the cylinder or tube
being formed on a plug adapted to be screwed into a screw-threaded aperture therein.
Or it may be constructed in any other suitable manner. In some cases a spring
may be used instead of gravity to open the automatic valve, in which case the cylinder
can be arranged horizontally or otherwise if desired.

page_text: To permit of isolating the heating apparatus of any carriage from, or connecting
it to that of another carriage without risk to the person uncoupling or coupling the
flexible connecting pipes, I provide a peculiar cock or valve which is so constructed
that, when the plug of the cock is turned to shut off the steam, it puts the interior
of the flexible pipe in communication with the atmosphere through a supplementary
way or passage in the plug and through a lateral opening in the casing; and at
the same time opens communication between the end of the steam-space of the
pipes or heaters and the atmosphere through one or more small holes in the lower
part of one side of the plug and through the lateral opening in the casing. In
this manner, on the one hand, the steam in the said flexible pipe can freely escape
through the supplementary way or passage, without the risk of its scalding the face
or hands of the person uncoupling the carriages, whilst any water of condensation
can escape, through the small holes above mentioned, from the end of the series of
heating apparatus in the remaining vehicles, thus obviating the liability to cooling
of the pipes at this end by condensation of the steam.
To provide for the automatic discharge of the water of condensation in the pipes
or heaters, I combine, with the drip-pocket or chamber usually employed, an automatic
discharge-valve constructed as follows:-A valve is mounted so as to move freely
in guides in a suitable casing which is provided with an outlet in communication
with the said pocket; the said valve, when resting on its seat, shuts off communication
between the interior of the said casing and an outlet-aperture, with the exception of
one or more small holes or narrow passages, which may be, for example, notches cut
either in the valve-seat or in the valve itself, whereby the water of condensation can
escape as it is formed during the operation of heating. The said valve is normally
held away from its seat by means of a pivoted weighted lever, which is preferably
provided with an adjustable weight, whereby the pressure for which the valve is
adapted may be varied as required. When steam is turned on to the pipes or
heaters, it forces down the valve against its seat, where it remains until the steam
is turned off and the pressure is sufficiently reduced, by condensation or otherwise,
to allow the weighted lever to lift the valve. This operation being completed, all the
water of condensation remaining in the drip-pocket and pipes is instantly drained
off, thereby preventing any chance of its freezing in the said pockets and pipes, and
the apparatus is ready to again operate as above mentioned when steam is again
turned on. By the opening of the outlet in this manner before the pressure of steam
in the pipe or heater has fallen below the atmospheric pressure, the retention of the
water in the passages, which would otherwise be caused by the vacuum produced by
condensation, is prevented.
Dated this 3rd day of October 1895.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to Steam Heating Apparatus, chiefly
designed for Railway-carriages and other Vehicles.
I, JAMES NEEDHAM, of No. 1 Lind Street, St. Johns, in the County of Kent,
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 :-
My invention relates to steam heating apparatus chiefly designed for use in warming
or heating the interiors of railway-carriages and other vehicles, such, for example, as
tramway-cars.
One object of my said invention is to provide a simple, efficient and automatic
device whereby, when the steam is turned on, the heaters and the pipes connected

page_text: therewith will be relieved of the air contained therein, whilst any escape and loss of
steam through the said device will be prevented.
My said invention is also designed to provide more efficient means than have
heretofore been used, for shutting off the steam from the flexible pipes between the
carriages when the same are to be uncoupled, and for rapidly relieving such pipes of
the steam remaining therein; and also improved means for draining the water of
condensation from the heaters and the pipes connected therewith.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation showing the general arrangement of the
heating apparatus.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of my improved automatic device for
permitting the escape of the air without egress of the steam.
Figure is a sectional elevation, and
Figure 4 a plan, partly in horizontal section, showing details of construction.
Figure 5 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, of my improved stop-cock for
shutting off the steam before uncoupling the flexible connecting pipes.
Figure 6 is a transverse section of the said cock on the line ., ., Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of the same, partly in longitudinal section on the
line,, Figures 5 and 6.
Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal section of a drip-pocket provided with an
automatic discharge-valve according to my invention.
Figure 9 is a vertical longitudinal section, and
Figure 10 a side elevation showing another form or modification of my automatic
discharge-valve.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A, A are the heaters, which, in the arrangement shown in Figure 1, are placed
in the several compartments of a railway-carriage. B, B are the pipes for the supply
of steam to the heaters. is one of the flexible pipes for connecting the steam-
pipes B of adjacent vehicles. D indicates one of the drip-pockets connected with
the steam-pipes B.
For releasing the air contained in the heaters A and pipes B, C, I provide each
heater with an automatic device which is shown in detail in Figures 2, 3 and 4, and
which comprises a chamber or casing a having a suitable inlet a adapted to be
connected with the space from which the air is to be released, this connection being
preferably made at a point distant from the steam-inlet of the heating apparatus ;
the said chamber or casing a is also provided with an outlet a² for the air, which may
be conducted to the exterior of the vehicle in any suitable manner, for example,
through a pipe b, Figure 1. Between the said inlet and outlet apertures a', a², is
arranged a partition or diaphraga a³ having an aperture adapted to be closed at the
proper times, as hereinafter described, by means of a valve c. This valve is supported
on and works freely in a hollow cylinder or tube d on the inner or steam side of the
said diaphragm, which cylinder is open at the top and has ports or apertures d' near
the inlet aperture a' of the said chamber a. In the form of my device shown in
Figures 2, 3 and 4, the said cylinder or tube d is formed on a plug e screwed into
the bottom of the casing a.
When the valve is in its inoperative position, it rests on and closes the upper end
of the said cylinder as shown.
When steam is admitted to the heating apparatus, the air enclosed therein is driven
along until it enters the chamber or casing a, from which it escapes through the
outlet a² thereof, the valve meanwhile resting on the upper end of the cylinder as
above mentioned. As soon, however, as the steam under pressure enters the ports d¹
in the said cylinder, it forces the valve forward or upward against its seat in the
diaphragm a, thus closing the passage through which the air has escaped, and
preventing egress of the steam. The said passage remains closed so long as the
pressure is sufficient to keep the valve against its seat, but as soon as, by the
condensation of the steam or otherwise, the internal pressure becomes less than

page_text: the external pressure plus the weight of the valve, the said valve falls by gravity onto
the open end of the said cylinder and the device is ready to again operate, when
required, in the manner above described. The lift of this valve will be varied
according to circumstances so as to obtain the best results.
The said chamber or casing a may be made in a single casting, the cylinder or
tube being formed on a plug e adapted to be screwed into a screw-threaded aperture
therein as shown, or it may be constructed in any other suitable manner.
In some
cases a spring is used instead of gravity to open the automatic valve, in which case
the cylinder or tube d can be arranged horizontally or otherwise if desired.
To permit of isolating the heating apparatus of any carriage from, or connecting
it to that of another carriage without risk to the person uncoupling or coupling the
flexible connecting pipes, I provide a peculiar cock or valve f which is shown in
detail in Figures 5, 6 and 7, and is constructed with a supplementary port or passage g
in the plug and with a lateral opening in the casing, and also with one or more
small holes or supplementary ports j in the lower part of one side of the plug, so
that, when the plug of the cock is turned into the position shown in Figure 7 to shut
off the steam, it puts the interior of the flexible pipe in communication with the
atmosphere through the said supplementary port or passage and opening h, and at
the same time opens communication between the end of the steam-space in the
pipes B or heaters A and the atmosphere through the hole or holes ; and through
the lateral opening in the casing. In this manner, on the one hand, the steam in
the said flexible pipe can freely escape through the supplementary way or passage g,
without the risk of its scalding the face or hands of the person uncoupling the
carriages, whilst, on the other hand, any water of condensation can escape through
the small hole or holes j from the end of the series of heating apparatus in the
remaining vehicles, thus obviating the liability to cooling of the pipes at this end by
condensation of the steam.
To provide for the automatic discharge of the water of condensation from the pipes
or heaters, I combine, with the drip-pocket or chamber usually employed, an automatic
discharge-valve constructed as hereinafter described.
In Figure 8, D is the drip-pocket and is the casing of the automatic discharge-
valve. In this valve, a ball 7 of metal or other suitable material is arranged to move
freely to and from its seat m in the casing k, which is in communication with the
said pocket and is provided with an outlet ; the said valve, when held against its
seat, shuts off communication between the interior of the said casing and the outlet
aperture ; the casing is, however, provided with one or more small holes or
narrow passages whereby the water of condensation can escape as it is formel during
the operation of heating. In the device shown in Figure 8, a plug n having
longitu linal grooves al is screwed into a tapped hole in the bottom of the easing i
and is provided with a taper or conical end a lapted to hear against a correspon ling
seat so that the draining of the water of condensation can be regulated as desiral.
The ball or valve 7, when the apparatus is not in use, remains away from its seat;
when, however, the steam is turned on to the pipes B and heaters A, the said valve
is forced against its seat, where it remains until the stem is turn off and the
pressure is sufficiently reduced, by condensation or otherwise, to allow the said ball
or valve to fall away from its seat. This operation being completed, all the water of
condensation remaining in the drip-pocket and pipes is instantly draine I off, thereby
preventing any chance of its freezing in the said pocket and pipes, and the apparatus
is ready to again operate as above mentioned when steam is again turned on. By
the opening of the outlet in this manner before the pressure of steam in the pipes
and heaters has fallen below the atmospheric pressure, the retention of the water in
the passages, which would otherwise be caused by the vacuum produced by condensation,
is prevented. The opening of the air-valve or vent herein before described also assists
in preventing the formation of a vacuum in the heaters and pipes and the consequent
retention of the water of condensation therein.
In the modification of my automatic discharge-valve shown in Figures 9 and 10,
the valve is held away from its seat by a weighted lever pivoted at p to lugs

page_text: on the casing, the weight p² being preferably made adjustable on the lever to
permit of varying the pressure under which the said valve will close.
It is obvious that the details of construction of my improved apparatus may be
somewhat varied without departing from the nature of my said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination, with the heater, of an automatic air-valve or vent which permits
the escape of air but prevents the egress of steam from the heater, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
2. The improved automatic air-valve or vent constructed substantially as described
with reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings and operating as and for the
purposes above specified.
3. The improved cock for connecting the steam-pipe with the flexible coupling
pipe, constructed with the supplementary ports or passages, substantially as described
with reference to Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings and operating as and for the
purposes above specified.
4. The combination, with the drip-pocket, of an automatic discharge-valve,
substantially as and for the purposes above specified.
5. The improved automatic discharge-valve constructed substantially as described
with reference to Figure 8 or to Figuros 9 and 10 of the drawings and operating
as and for the purposes above specified.
Dated the 3rd day of July 1896.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.