Improvements in connection with the Axles of Railway Carriages. and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1896-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in connection with the Axles of Railway Carriages.
and the like.
I, HERMANN BIERMANN of 54 Paradiesstrasse Breslau in the Kingdom of
Prussia, Merchant, 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 improved method of and means for giving an alarm
whenever the axles of railway carriages or the like become overheated, and the
result is arrived at by completing an electric circuit by the introduction into the
theretofore uncompleted circuit of a suitable substance having a melting point of
about 50 degrees.
In order that my invention may be the more readily understood I make reference
to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying sheet of drawings which indicate one
method of carrying my invention into effect. Similar letters refer to the same
parts where occurring in each figure. In the end of the axle bis inserted a piece d
of any suitable substance having a low melting point, and of such formation that it
projects well beyond the end of the axle. When in consequence of excessive
friction in the box, the axle becomes overheated, that portion of the substance
which is inserted in the end of the axle will become fluid, and consequently cause
the projecting part of d to fall off, and to be caught between the contact pieces f
conveniently arranged in the funnel shaped chamber g of the axle box a and
connected with opposite poles of any convenient source of electricity i. Contact
between the pieces f having thus been established the circuit ay will be completed
and the bell or other alarm h operated. Suitable switches may be provided for
dis- and re-connecting the electric current when it is required so to do. All the
axle boxes must of course be connected to the circuit x y in order that the alarm
may be given whenever any one of them becomes overheated.
Having now 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. The improved method of and means for giving notice of the overheating of
the axles of railway carriages and the like and consisting essentially of an easily
melted plug one extremity of which is inserted in the end of the axle and the other
projecting therefrom, the projecting part being caused to fall off when the axle
becomes sufficiently heated to melt the end of the plug which is inserted therein,
the falling portion completing an electric circuit and causing an alarm to be given
on a bell or otherwise, the whole provided for and operating substantially as
described in the above Specification and exemplified in the accompanying
drawings.
2. The combination of parts substantially as described in the above Specification.
and exemplified in the accompanying drawings and together forming and operating
as a means for giving notice of the overheating of the axles of railway carriages.
and the like.
Dated this 92nd day of Manal 1000
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23, Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.