Improvements in or relating to the Electric Illumination of Railway Trains.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Jan., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 3rd Dec., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Electric Illumination of Railway
Trains.
1, BRONISLAW DE SZWANTOWSKI, of Niedzwiada bei Ropezyce, Galicia, Land
Proprietor, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an arrangement whereby the force of the air currents
caused by the motion of the train is utilised for electrically illuminating the train.
The speed of the train is so considerable, that even without a head or adverse
wind, the train experiences an air pressure, which actually represents in strength a
strong wind. This properly utilised can be applied to illuminate the train.
The arrangement is fitted to a particular waggon, which carries at each end a
complete driving device in order to utilise the motion of the waggon in either
direction. The remaining space can be utilised for setting up the dynamo and
accumulator. To each driving device a dynamo is arranged which is connected
with the lighting conductors, as also with the accumulator in the usual manner,
which is fitted close to the illuminating coil. In consequence of this arrangement,
the electrical power can be stored in the accumulator in order to be of use for
illuminating the train, when in consequence of stoppages at stations, and for other
reasons the driving arrangement for the dynamo is not in motion.
The driving arrangement or device consists essentially of a perpendicular wind
wheel, which according to requirements carries five or six or more or less, wings or
blades. Each wing or blade is formed of a number of perpendicular laths, which
are revolvably secured at top and bottom in the frame; pivoted not in a central
line, but in such a manner that they revolve round the turning point under the
influence of the incoming air current, and open the wings or blades.
In consequence of the opening or extending of the wings or blades exceeding
the previously determined revolving velocity, the following arrangement is adapted.
Against the extended ends of both dissimilar parts of the laths, a ring or hoop
presses, which is revolvably suspended in a suitable manner to a rod in the wing
frame. This ring or hoop serves as a support for the laths, in order that the latter
may not become slackened by the pressure of wind.
To the short end of the ring or hoop, a point or peg is fastened, upon which the
one end of a weight balanced lever presses thereby holding the ring or hoop
horizontally, which in this position prevents the opening of the wings or blades, i.e.
the swinging round of the laths. The completed arrangement being revolved, the
lower heavier end of the angle lever is raised under the influence of the wind
power, and the pin or peg released so that the ring or hoop can revolve. The
longer end being no longer pressed against the laths which can likewise revolve
under the influence of the air current whereby the wings or blades are extended or
opened and the revolving velocity is reduced. By diminishing the velocity, the
lever returns to its original position, and presses down the pin or peg of the ring
or hoop, the heavier end of which leads the laths back into their original position.

page_text: In a modification differing from the construction hereinbefore described the
laths are placed level in the frame work in order that the pins or pegs on its upper
edge may revolve.
The two pins or pegs revolve in corresponding holes or recesses in the side
portion of the frame. In consequence of the air current and wind pressure the
laths are revolved round the pins or pegs by turning the arrangement, and move
out of their vertical position, whereby the arrangement becomes unworkable. In
order to prevent this, a rod is arranged on each side (sometimes only on one side)
which works on a pin or peg lying against the lower end of the laths and which can
slide upwards in a slanting slot in the side of the frame in order to give the laths
more room in case of too great a revolving velocity, thereby opening same.
this object a weighted lever is arranged to a rod, which swings outwards under the
influence of the wind current and thereby revolves a bevel wheel connected with
the same.
For
The bevel wheel actuates a second bevel wheel to the spindle of which a lever is
fitted connected with the wings or blades, which, actuates the rod attatched to the
pin or peg.
The bevel wheels actuate the levers and with them the rod of which the pin or
peg glides upwards in slots in the frame so that the laths are opened under the
influence of the air current and wind pressure whereupon the revolving velocity is
immediately decreased. By reducing the velocity all the parts return to their
original position in consequence of their weight. By means of this arrangement a
disadvantageous velocity is prevented.
1000
GEORGE DOWNING & SONS,
8. Quality Court, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in or relating to the Electric Illumination of Railway
Traius.
I BRONISLAW DE SZWANTOWSKI, of Niedzwiada, near Ropczyce, Galicia, Landed
Proprietor, 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;-
This invention relates to an apparatus which has for object to utilise the
current of air produced by the motion of railway trains for the electric illumination
of the train. The speed of railway trains is so great that even when there is no
opposing wind, a railway, train is subjected to a pressure of air which is equal in
its action and strength to a powerful wind. This wind which is produced by the
motion of the train is intended now to be utilised for illuminating the train.
In the accompanying drawings an apparatus designed for this purpose is illus-
trated in Figure 1 in side elevation and in Figure 2 in plan. Figures 3 and 4
shew the driving gear in side elevation and in plan. Figure 5 illustrates a detail.
Figures 6, 7 and 8 are respectively a plan, front elevation and side elevation of a
modified form of construction of the apparatus.
The apparatus is mounted on a separate or special railway car which is provided
with a complete driving gear A at both ends in order to enable the car to he
employed in either direction. The remainder of the space may be employed to

page_text: receive the dynamos and accumulators. To each driving gear A there is provided
a corresponding dynamo machine B3 which is connected in the usual way with the
lighting leads and also with a storage battery which is then in turn connected to
the lighting system. By means of this arrangement the electrical energy produced
can be stored in the storage battery for use in lighting the train when in conse-
quence of stoppages at stations or for other reasons the driving gear of the dynamo
machine is not working. The driving gear consists substantially of a vertically
arranged wind-wheel which is made with five, or six, or any desired number of
vanes as required. Each vane a is composed of a number of vertical laths or slats b
which are pivotally fixed at top and bottom in the frame bar c.
Their pivots are
situated as shewn in Figure 5, not in their centre line, but in such a manner that they
shall be rotated about their pivots by the action of centrifugal force and thus open
the vanes (Figure 3 left hand side).
In order that the opening of the vanes shall only take place when a certain pre-
determined speed of rotation is exceeded, the following device is provided:-
Against the longer of the two unequal parts of the laths & there presses a strap d
which is pivotally suspended from a bar e that is fixed in any desired manner to
the frame of the vanes, and the arrangement is such that its end which presses
against the laths is longer or heavier than the other, and consequently would fall
down if its shorter end were not firmly held. This strap serves as a support for
the slats in order that they shall not yield to the pressure of the wind. On the
shorter end of the strap & there is fixed a pin f upon which one end of a weighted
bent lever g (pivotted at g) presses, and thus keeps the strap horizontal which in
this position prevents the opening of the vanes, that is to say the swinging round of
the slats b. When the whole apparatus rotates, the lower heavier end of the bent
lever will be caused by the action of centrifugal force to rise and release the
pin f so that the strap can rotate. Its longer end will then no longer press against
the slats which can then also rotate under the action of the centrifugal force,
whereby the vane opens and the speed of rotation is reduced. As the speed is
diminished, the lever greturns into its initial position and presses down the pin f
of the strap d, the heavier end of which then moves the slats back again into
their initial position.
rotate
The modified arrangement illustrated in Figure 6-8, differs from that just
described in that the slats are mounted and pivotted horizontally in the framing c
about the pins that are arranged on their upper edge. The two pins
in suitable holes in the side parts of the frame e. In consequence of the centri-
fugal force and of the pressure of the wind, the slats would, when the apparatus
rotates, turn on their pivots b and thus move out of their vertical position whereby
the apparatus would become inoperative. In order to prevent this there is pro-
vided on each side (or it may be, on one side only), a bar g which is provided with
pins g that bear against the lower end of the slats 6 and are capable of sliding
upwards in the inclined slots of of the side parts of the frame in order to give to
the slats b when the speed of rotation is too great, a certain amount of play, so
that they can open.
For this purpose there is arranged on the fixed bar e a
weiglited lever 'which swings outwardly under the action of the centrifugal force
and thereby rotates the bevel tooth wheel that is connected to it. This bevel
tooth wheel acts upon a second bevel wheel to the shaft of which on each side
of the vane there is fixed a lever k which engages by means of its slot A¹ with a
pin on the bar g. When now the bevel wheel, being driven by the wheel i.
rotates, the two levers k rise and with them the bar g, whose pins gi slide upward
in the incline slots of the frame and move away from the slats b, so that
these open under the influence of the centrifugal force and of the pressure of the
wind, whereupon the speed of rotation will at once diminish.
On the reduction of the speed, all the parts will, return into their initial
position by the action of their own weight.
By means of this device as also by that first described, an injurious speed is
automatically prevented.
'

page_text: 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) An apparatus for the electrical illumination of railway trains, consisting
of a wind-wheel which serves to drive a dynamo and which is driven by means
of a current of air produced by the movement of the train.
(2) A form of construction of the apparatus specified in Claim 1, characterised
by the fact that the vane a of the wind-wheel are composed of a number of vertical
slats which are all pivotally arranged unsymmetrically to their longitudinal
axis in such a manner that they will open by the action of centrifugal force as
soon as, when a certain predetermined speed is exceeded, a weighted bent lever g¹
rotates in consequence of the centrifugal force and thereby allows a strap d (that
prevents the rotation of the slats) to move away from the slats in consequence of
its unequal weighting, as set forth.
(3) A modification of the apparatus described in Claim 2, characterised by the
fact that the slats b are arranged to rock horizontally in the frame c on pins b
provided on their upper edge, in which motion they are limited by pins g¹ which
are fixed on rods g and move in inclined slots of the frame away from the
slats b when the bars g in consequence of too great a speed are lifted by reason of
the oscillation of the weighted lever 4 by means of the bevel wheel and ¹ and
of the levers k, as set forth.
(4) Apparatus for the electrical illumination of railway trains, constructed
arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein before described and shown.
Dated this 7th day of Sentember 1898.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M.Inst. C.E., M.I.Mech. E.,
Chartered Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.