Year: 1891

page_text: 2. The combination, with a sand-box, of a movable chain or other flexible
conveyer extending through the body of sand, bearing a series of buckets or
projections, and tubular openings in the walls of the box for the passage of the
buckets, confining one or more intervals between the same, for the purpose
described.
3. The combination, with a sand-box, of a movable endless chain or other
flexible conveyer having a portion of its orbit included within the body of sand
and another portion exterior thereto and bearing a series of buckets or projections,
and sprocket-wheels conducting the said conveyer, substantially as described.
4. The combination, with a sand-box, of a movable chain or conveyer
extending through the body of sand and a rotary agitating-wheel within the box,
having tangential engagement therewith.
5. The combination, with a sand-box, of a movable endless chain or conveyer
extending through the body of sand, sprocket-wheels exterior to the box for
directing the chain or conveyer, and an agitating-wheel within the box engaging
with the said chain or conveyer.
6. The combination, with a railway-vehicle, of a sand-box, an endless chain or
conveyer extending through the body of sand twice in its circuit, sprocket-wheels
for directing the conveyer at opposite sides of the vehicle, and chutes beneath
the portions of the conveyer exterior to the box for conducting the sand to the
respective rails of the track.
"
7. The combination, with a railway-car, of a sand-box beneath the body of the
car, a lid thereof forming a section of the floor of the car, and a flexible conveyer
extending through the box for delivering the sand to the track.
8. The combination, with a railway-vehicle, of a sand-box, an endless flexible
conveyer extending through the body of sand and delivering the same to the
track, sprocket-wheels for the conveyer, and hand-operating mechanism,
substantially as described, for effecting and controlling the delivery of the sand
at will.
9. A sand-box provided with angular bottom, upon which the body of sand
chiefly or partially rests, and an endless chain or conveyer interposed thereon
bearing at intervals in its length a series of projections, and means, substantially
as described, for propelling the chain so as to enter the body of sand at a lower
level of the incline and pass out from said body at an upper level of said
incline.
10. The combination, with a sand-box and an angular bottom thereof, of an
endless chain or conveyer having one portion of its orbit included within the body
of sand parallel to and resting on said bottom and another portion exterior to the
body of sand, sprocket-wheels or equivalent for supporting the conveyer, and a
trough vertically beneath the said exterior portion of the chain for conducting the
released portions of sand to a common point of delivery.
Dated this 4th day of September-1891.
FREDERICK GLEASON CORNING.
Hughes, Eli & Hughes,
76, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: which direction the device is rotated. The sand is delivered substantially at the
same points, irrespective of the direction of rotation. A distinct apparatus
pertains to each end of the car, that in front of the car, according to its direction
of travel, being always used. Owing to the elongated dimensions of the box, a
large capacity is secured, seldom requiring the box to be refilled. The box being
shallow and the sand distributed over a considerable length of chain affords a
large plowing or cutting surface for the chain, giving it ample opportunity to
become filled with sand before its exit from the box when the mass is caked or in a
partly-frozen condition.
The foregoing description applies in all substantial respects to Figs. 4 and 5.
The hoppers J in this instance are boxed in, so as to cover the working parts.
The propelling mechanism indicated consists of worm-gears m n and a shaft o,
extending to the cab of the locomotive for convenient access by the engineer.
In the application of the apparatus to street-cars it will be obvious that
independent chains may be used in conjunction with separate sand-boxes on either
side of the car, or that an elongated box may be located longitudinally with
reference to the car upon each side thereof adjacent to the track-wheels, being
operated to deposit the sand at either end of the car in advance of the truck. In
such instances a single side of the orbit of the chain should pass through the body
illustrated
of sand, whereby to deliver at a single point. One such modification
by Figs. 6, 7, and 8, in which I also show the features of rotating the chain in a
vertical plane and, moreover, conveying the sand in actual opposition to gravity.
The box H in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 is inclined for convenience of position with
reference to the chain. The box or hopper is placed beneath the seats D, Fig. 3,
at each side of the car, so that the chute J will be located vertically above the
track-rail. Motion is imparted to either of the sprocket-wheels to drive the
chain K by means of suitable mechanism, such as that of the character herein-
H' is
before described, and the chain is rotated in direction indicated by arrows.
the bottom of the box, on which the chain rests beneath the body of sand. H³ is
a trough through which the chain returns and discharges the sand into the chute J.
The chain or conveyer K enters at the lowest point a in the body of sand, moving
upward and tending to agitate and release any solidified portions or hard substances
that naturally settle to the bottom, the delivery being effected at the point a³
through the unconfined surface of the mass.
It will be evident that the flexible conveyers K may be devised in a variety of
forms for the purpose of carrying out my invention.
In addition to the form shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 9 indicates an oblong link-chain
having disks integral with each link, so as to render the cutting or plowing edges
thereof rigid with reference to the axis of the chain.
The modification in Fig. 10 represents a wire cable, having the disks k firmly
attached thereto. That in Fig. 11 represents double chains K K, supporting
transversely-elongated buckets between them. In a chain of the character shown
in Fig. 11 a flexible belt may be substituted for the chains K K.
1 consider it of advantage to operate the chain in contact with the bottom of
the box or upon a side thereof receiving the pressure of the sand, whereby the
conveyer may be rigidly supported to form a plowing or cutting surface for
breaking up and removing any caked portions. The chains or flexible conveyer
may, moreover, be passed through any desired course of rotation within the body
of sand irrespective of the walls of the box.
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. A sand-box provided with a movable chain or other flexible conveyer
bearing at intervals in its length a series of projections and occupying an orbit
having one portion included within the body of sand and another portion exterior

page_text: chutes leading therefrom to the respective rails of the track, and said Fig. 5
representing a horizontal section of Fig. 4, taken on the line ¹¹. Figs. 6, 7,
and 8 illustrate a modification of my invention, said Fig. 6 representing a vertical
sectional elevation, said Fig. 7 a vertical section of Fig. 6, taken on the line y¹ y',
and said Fig. 8 an oblique section of a portion of Fig. 6, taken on the line 2¹¹.
Figs. 9, 10, and 11 illustrate a few of the various forms of the chain or flexible
conveyer that may be used in the practice of my invention.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, A. represents the floor of the car; B, the
platform; CC, the bed-sill of the car, and D the longitudinal seats within
the car.
E represents the track, and F the truck-wheels, to which either motive power or
brakes, or both, are applied.
H is the sand-box attached beneath the floor of the car, extending transversely
thereto at any desired length.
I is the lid of the box comprising a removable section of the floor A, which
when removed permits the sand to be introduced from the interior of the car.
J J represent chutes, through which the loose sand gravitates in small
quantities after being delivered by the conveyer.
K is the flexible conveyer, consisting of a chain or equivalent. The form of
conveyer shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 is of a character similar to an ordinary
bucket-pump chain, being provided with disks k at suitable intervals in its length
a a are tubes through which the chain passes into and out from the box. The
said tubes are of a length sufficient to confine at least one space between the
disks kk, whereby to prevent the sand from being shaken out when the chain is
stationary. The openings of these tubes a a are slightly diverged to prevent the
disks & catching thereon. I also provide elongations a' of the tubes a, extending
within the box. These elongations have tapered exterior surfaces that act as
wedges to divert the sand from the chain during its outward passage and prevent
clogging. 6b are sprocket-wheels for propelling the chain. I have shown the
sprocket-wheels and the chain in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, as occupying a horizontal
orbit of rotation.
Motion is imparted to the chain by means of one of the sprocket-wheels b
through any suitable hand or power appliance. That illustrated consists of a
worm-wheel g, engaging with the worm-gear h upon a shaft of one of the sprocket-
wheels b, which device is operated from the hand-crank c on the dash-board of the
car. The shaft e, bearing the worm g, and the crank-shaft d are geared together
by bevel-gears ff, as seen in Fig. 1.
As appears in the cross-sectional view of the box in Fig. 1, the bottom thereof
is furrowed. to provide ways or troughs for the chains, the converging sides of
these troughs tending to direct the sand against the links, and thereby permit the
chain to completely remove the sand when the box is nearly empty. The
sprocket-wheels 6 having solid teeth between the notches therein, pry out any
portions of sand adhering to the chain between the disks after its passage out
from the box, insuring a complete uisengagement of the material.
The axes of the sprocket-wheels are located vertically above the track-rails, so
that the discharged portions of sand may descend as directly as possible. The
hoppers J' of the chutes J are concentric with the sprocket-wheels and catch the
sand at whatever point it falls from the exposed part of the chain.
In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 I have illustrated a further feature of my invention,
consisting of one or more stirring-wheels sa s', having spurs that engage with the
chain to receive rotation. The wheels sagitate the body of sand and assist to
b:eak up any frozen or caked portions thereof, and also keep the mass in motion,
an. thereby prevent the forming of tunnels where the chain passes, especially in
damp sand. Any one of these wheels may, moreover, be utilized as a driving-
wheel for the chain, the power being applied, for instance, to the central wheel.
in lieu of the sprocket-wheel b. The chain K, passing twice through the body of
sand, permits the chief portion of its length to be utilized. It is immaterial in

page_text: United States of America),
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 4th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 4th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 10th Oct., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sand Distributers for Railways and Tramways.
I, FREDERICK GLEASON CORNING of No. 35 Wall Street New York,
County and State of New York, United States of America, Consulting Mining
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my 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 means for distributing sand upon street-railways or
other tracks or surfaces automatically for the purpose of promoting traction.
The invention applies either to motor-driven street-cars or to horse-cars
requiring a sanded track to render the brakes effectual. The invention also applies
to locomotives.
The object of my invention is to secure a positive delivery of the sand in a
measured quantity, whether in a dry condition or in a slightly-damp or partially-
frozen condition, as frequently incident to its use upon street-cars.
Heretofore gravity has been relied upon either as the sole means or as a
contributory means of delivering the sand from the box-that is to say, mechanical
delivery has been effected by devices partially dependent in their operation upon
gravity or acting in a common direction with the descent of the sand. The
objectionable feature thus arises of crowding the sand at the point of delivery and
obstructing the mechanism when any solidified portion of the material gravitates
into the movable parts.
By means of my invention I convey the sand from the main body thereof in the
box in any desired direction, angular to the vertical or in a substantially
horizontal plane to a suitable point or points of delivery, independent of the
action of gravity, this constituting the fundamental feature of my said invention.
My invention consists in a sand-box provided with a movable chain or other
flexible conveyer extending through the body of sand, bearing at intervals in its
length a series of suitable buckets, disks, plates, or other irregular_surfaces
adapted to engage frictionally with the body of sand and to catch and convey
portions thereof to the desired point of delivery.
My invention also consists in certain novel instrumentalities for practising my
invention, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a vertical
sectional elevation showing a portion of a street-car and my improved sand-box
applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1, the floor of the car being
removed, one portion of the sand apparatus-namely, that in the upper part of the
figure-appearing in the plane, Fig. 3, and that in the lower portion of the
figure appearing in section in the plane y y, of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a partial trans-
verse section of the lower portion of the car and a part of the sand-box, taken on
the line zz of Fig. 1. Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate my invention applied to a locomotive
sand-box, said Fig. 4 representing a cross-sectional elevation thereof and the