Improvements in the Ventilation of Railway Carriages.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec.. 1894
Complete Specification Left, 8th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Ventilation of Railway Carriages.
CHARLES ALBERT ERHART, Artist, residing in the City of Buenos Ayres,
Argentine Republic, Calle Billinghurst Number 1125, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
A system or means of ventilating railway carriages without letting dust or smoke
penetrate into them also for raising or lowering the temperature in same and perfume
the air if necessary.
The various component parts of said ventilating system are briefly described as
follows:-
Fig. 1. illustrates the position of the ventilating contrivance and the letters indicate
the following parts :-
e tundish arrangement for the purpose of catching the fresh air from the front
part of the train.
d. d. pipes or tubes for taking in and carrying the air.
exhaust blower.
jice chest for cooling the air when necessary.
Fig. 2. shows the manner in which the air pipes are connected and also their
position, the letters indicating the following parts:
m.
indicates the direction in which the train is travelling.
:
c flexible communication conduit connecting the air pipe of one carriage with
that of the next carriage.
fand. f. position of joints of flexible communication conduit. (See enlarged
drawing. Fig. 6.).
Fig. 3. is a section of a carriage showing the position of the air pipes or conduits
which are lettered a and b.
Fig. 4. is an illustration of one of the openings, doors or flaps in the ventilating
conduits, and is marked ģ.
Fig. 5. is a plan of a carriage showing the position of the air pipes or conduits
and the letters indicate the following:-
a aud b. air pipes or conduits.
I and l. direction of currents of air.
-
gg and g g openings, doors or flaps in the air conduits for admitting the fresh air
into the carriages.
m.
indicates the direction in which the train is travelling.
Fig. 6. is composed of two small drawings showing on an enlarged scale the
junction of the flexible connecting conduit, the following letters being used :-
f. being, so to speak, the male part of the joint, and
ff the female.
c denotes a section of the flexible conduit attached to the "male" part of the
joint, merely for the purpose of illustration.
This system of ventilation involves the following points:
1st. The collection of sufficient and necessary air from the fore part or parts of
the train, or from that part where generally little or no dust rises.
2nd. The passage and distribution of air so collected through the different
vehicles or carriages by means of one or more conduits (a and b.) be they in the

page_text: form of pipes, tubes, boxing in, or any other means of a similar nature of metal,
wood or any other composition which may answer the purpose of construction.
3rd. The windows large or small and all other apertures of any sort (except
what are absolutely necessary for going into and out of the carriages) should be
hermetically closed, so that no other air than that supplied by the ventilating
system 'may enter.
The passages or conduits (a and b.) for the air can be made or put above,
below, or in the sides of the carriages, the plans accompanied herewith being
merely to show the system and explain the way I wish to put my idea into
practice.
At the head of the train conveniently after the engine and tender or before the
carriages to be ventilated a van is placed containing an exhaust blower (h) or
apparatus for sucking the air from the front part of the train and forcing it through
the conduits or ventilating passages (a and b).
Warm air may be obtained by the tube that takes the air from the front part of
the train passing (entire or sub-divided into smaller pipes for better heating)
through or under the furnaces or through or under the boiler of the engine, and if
these means be inconvenient, by passing the air through highly heated tubes or over
metal plates heated. to a high temperature placed in the van itself.
Cold air may be obtained by means of an ice chest (j) of such sufficient size
and capacity that the necessary air for ventilation may pass through it and be
lowered in temperature.
Hot or cold air may be used or not according to convenience.
The conduits or passages (a and b.) of each carriage shall be connected to the
conduits or passages (a and b.) of the following carriage by means of a com-
munication pipe tube or conduit (c) made of indiarubber, canvass or other similar
material or composition that may permit freeness in the movement between the
carriages without suffering injury.
The communication pipes, tubes, or conduits will be joined or coupled between
the carriages by means of a junction similar to the one marked on the plan as Fig. 6
and by effecting the union of the conduits or passages (a and b.) of each carriage
with the conduit or passages (a and b.) of the next, make one or more complete
passages or conduits the full length of carriages to be ventilated.
The ventilation will be effected in the interior of the carriages by openings with
or without fixtures or covered by flaps (g. Fig. 4) one or more of these openings
being made in any convenient part or parts of the ventilating passages or
conduits (a and b.). The flaps or doors (9 g and 9 g.) if put can be arranged so
as to leave a free opening for the vitiated air to pass off into the exhaust
conduit (a or b.).
For the purpose of illustration, the train being in motion in the direction of the
arrow m
m.
7) shewn in Fig. 5, the air is blown by means of the exhaust
blower (h.) in the van along the conduit or passage represented in the same figure
by the letter 'a' and in the direction of the arrow indicated as 'l' or say in the
opposite direction to the motion of the train. The air finds its way into the
carriage or carriages through the opening or openings ‘9 9' and exhausts through
the opening or openings 9 g. but in conduit or passage 'b.'
,
When the carriages are turned around the conduit or passage 'b' becomes' a
and vice versa, or, in other words: '6' takes 'a's' position and does 'a's' work or
service.
The two conduits or passages 'a' and 'b' may be used for letting air into the
carriages, in which case an exhaust tube or cap to the open air must be put in a
convenient part of the carriage to carry off the vitiated air.
In the first case the air for ventilation goes along 'a,' from thence to the
carriages and is exhausted through 'b.' 'a' is closed at its extreme end but 'b'
is open to allow of the vitiated air to escape.
The fan or exhaust blower (h.) may be moved by a crank or strap from the

page_text: axle tree of a pair of wheels of the van or be made to run by means of a small
donkey-engine.
The air can be perfumed by forcing into any part of the ventilating conduits
or passages (a) (or into the part which corresponds to the van, it being the more
convenient) by means of a small injector a few drops or a continual succession of
drops of a scent or perfume.
When the temperature of the air does not require to be changed, the van, with
each, any or all of its accessories may or may not be used. In the latter case the
ventilating conduit or passage ('a') or conduits or passages ('a' and '.') could be
carried directly from the fore part or parts of the train and in an as unbroken
line as possible along the carriages to be ventilated. The doors or flaps (9. Fig. 4)
of the openings in each carriage to be left conveniently open. The advancing
train will form a ventilating current of air in the conduits or passages. On the
front end of conduit or passage (d. d.) where the air is taken in, a tundish
contrivance (e) can be applied as shewn in drawing to take the air in with greater
facility. This appliance could be used when no van or blower would be in use.
Also, if necessary, a blower or air pump could be placed on the engine to supply
the necessary amount of air to the carriages, and the brake-van and its appliances
suppressed, or the van used without any appliances as these would be replaced by
those on the engine.
Dated, in London, this 6th day of July 1895.
P.p. CHARLES ALBERT ERHART,
Thos. C. Wilson.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Ventilation of Railway Carriages.
CHARLES ALBERT ERHART, Artist, residing in the City of Buenos Ayres,
Argentine Republic, Calle Billinghurst Number 1125 does 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 :-
A system or means of ventilating railway carriages without letting dust or
smoke penetrate into them also for raising or lowering the temperature in same
and perfume the air if necessary.
The various component parts of said ventilating system are briefly described as
follows:-
Fig. 1. illustrates the position of the ventilating contrivance and the letters
indicate the following parts:
e tundish arrangement for the purpose of catching the fresh air from the front
part of the train.
d. d. pipes or tubes for taking in and carrying the air.
exhaust blower.
ice chest for cooling the air when necessary.
Fig. 2. shows the manner in which the air pipes are connected and also their
position, the letters indicating the following parts :-
m
indicates the direction in which the train is travelling.
e flexible communication conduit connecting the air pipe of one carriage with
that of the next carriage.
f. and ff position of joints of flexible communication conduit (see enlarged
drawing Fig. 6).
Fig. 3 is a section of a carriage showing the position of the air pipes or conduits
which are lettered a and b.
Fig. 4 is an illustration of one of the openings, doors or flaps in the ventilating
conduits, and is marked.g.

page_text: a and b. air pipes or conduits.
1 and 2. direction of currents of air.
9.9 and gg. openings, doors or flaps in the air conduits for admitting the fresh
air into the carriages.
m
indicates the direction in which the train is travelling.
Fig. 6 is composed of two small drawings showing on an enlarged scale the
junction of the flexible connecting conduit, the following letters being used :-
fbeing so to speak, the male part of the joint and
ff the female.
c denotes a section of the flexible conduit attached to the male part of the joint
merely for the purpose of illustration.
This system of ventilation involves the following points:-
1st. The collection of sufficient and necessary air from the fore part or parts of
the train, or from that part where generally little or no dust rises.
2nd. The passage and distribution of air so collected through the different
vehicles or carriages by means of one or more conduits (a and b) be they in the
form of pipes, tubes, boxing in, or any other means of a similar nature of metal,
wood or any other composition which may answer the purpose of construction.1
3rd. The windows large or small and all other apertures of any sort (except
what are absolutely necessary for going into and out of the carriages) should be
hermetically closed, so that no other air than that supplied by the ventilating
system may enter.
The passages or conduits (a and b) for the air can be made or put above, below,
or in the sides of the carriages, the plans (lfet with the Provisional Specification)
being merely to show the system and explain the way I wish to put my idea into
practice.
At the head of the train conveniently after the engine and tender or before the
carriages to be ventilated a van placed containing an exhaust blower (h) or
apparatus for sucking the air from the front part of the train and forcing it
through the conduits or ventilating passages (a and b).
Warm air may be obtained by the tube that takes the air from the front part
of the train passing (entire or sub-divided into smaller pipes for better heating)
through or under the furnaces or through or under the boiler of the engine, and if
these means be inconvenient by passing the air through highly heated tubes or
over metal plates heated to a high temperature placed in the van itself.
Cold air may be obtained by means of an ice chest (j) of such sufficient size and
capacity that the necessary air for ventilation may pass through it and be lowered
in temperature.
Hot or cold air may be used or not according to convenience.
The conduits or passages (a and b) of each carriage shall be connected to the
conduits or passages (a and b) of the following carriage by meaus of a communi-
cation pipe tube or conduit (c) made of indiarubber canvas or other similar material
or composition that may permit freeness in the movement between the carriages
without suffering injury.
The communication pipes, tubes, or conduits will be joined or coupled, between
the carriages by means of a junction similar to the one marked on the plan
as Fig. 6 and by effecting the union of the conduits or passages (a and b) of each
carriage, with the conduits or passages (a and b) of the next, make one or more
complete passages or conduits the full length of carriages to be ventilated.
The ventilation will be effected in the interior of the carriages by openings with
or without fixtures or covered by flaps (g Fig. 4) one or more of these openings
being made in any convenient part or parts of the ventilating passages or conduits
(a and b). The flaps or doors (gg and g g) if put can be arranged so as to leave a
free opening for the vitiated air to pass off into the exhaust conduit (a or b).

page_text: For the purpose of illustration the train being in motion in the direction of the
arrow m
m
1) shown in Fig. 5 the air is blown by means of the exhaust
blower (h) in the van along the conduit or passage represented in the same figure
by the letter 'a' and in the direction of the arrow indicated as 'l'or say in the
opposite direction to the motion of the train. The air finds its way into the
carriage or carriages through the opening or openings g.g.' and exhaust through
the opening or openings 9 g but in conduit or passage 'b.'
·
When the carriages are turned around the conduit or passage 'b' becomes 'a'
and vice versa or in other words 'b'takes a's position and does a's work or service.
The two conduits or passages 'a' and ''may be used for letting air into the
carriages in which case an exhaust tube or cap to the open air must be put in a
convenient part of the carriage to carry off the vitiated air.
In the first case the air for ventilation goes along 'a' from thence to the
carriages and exhausted through 'b.' 'a' is closed at its extreme end but 'b' is
open to allow of the vitiated air to escape.
The fan or exhaust blower (h) may be moved by a crank or strap from the axle
tree of a pair of wheels of the van or be made to run by means of a small
donkey engine.
The air can be perfumed by forcing into any part of the ventilating conduits or
passages (a) (or into the part which corresponds to the van, it being the more
convenient) by means of a small injector a few drops or a continual succession of
drops of a scent or perfume.
When the temperature of the air does not require to be changed, the van, with
In the latter case the
each any or all of its accessories may or may not be used.
ventilating conduit or passage (a) or conduits or passages (a and b) could be carried
directly from the fore part or parts of the train and in an as unbroken line as
possible along the carriages to be ventilated.
The doors or flaps (g Fig. 4) of the openings in each carriage to be left
conveniently open. The advancing train will form a ventilating current of air in
the conduits or passages.
On the front end of conduit or passage (d. d.) where the
air is taken in, a tundish contrivance (e) can be applied as shown in drawing to
take the air in with greater facility. This appliance could be used when no van or
blower would be in use. Also, if necessary, a blower or air pump could be placed
on the engine to supply the necessary amount of air to the carriages and the brake-
van and its appliances suppressed, or the van used without any appliances as these
would be replaced by those on the engine.
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 :-
The following combination :
1st. The taking in of the air for ventilation from the front part of the train, or
that part where generally little or no dust rises. This air will be taken in by one or
more tubes, pipes, conduits or similar contrivances or means.
2nd. The distribution of the air so collected to each, all, or any of the carriages
to be ventilated, by means of tubes pipes, conduits, or any other similar contrivances
or means.
3rd. The complete shutting up of the carriage windows and all openings, so that
no air other than that supplied by the ventilator mentioned in this Specification
may enter.
The doors necessary for going in and out of the carriages are naturally excepted
from the foregoing clause.
Dated in London this 8th dox of August of 1895.