Improvements in Sand Distributors for Tram and other like Vehicles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 15th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 15th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 3rd May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sand Distributors for Tram and other like
Vehicles.
I GUY LAURENCE TILL of Meredale Vicarage Road Handsworth (near Birmingham)
in the County of Stafford Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
:-
The object of this invention is to improve the method by which the sand is distributed
upon the metals of tram and other lines for the purpose of counteracting the slippyness
of the metals so as to enable the vehicle to stop in a short distance also to enable the
wheels to bite (without slipping) when starting or in motion.
This is accomplished by means of a sand-box for containing the sand, an outlet or
tube through which the sand passes on to the metals, a plug or valve for stopping the
sand from running out of the box of its own accord.
The sand-box is suitably inclined round the hole or outlet for the purpose of leading
the sand into it.
The plug or valve is connected by a rod to a lever at the top of the box or in any
other suitable position; the said lever being operated by a foot fever.
The plug or valve has preferably a projection at the end of it sufficiently long to
keep it in position while it is being worked, and this projection may be furnished
with suitable feathers to keep it central when lifted.
The method of operation is as follows:-
The plug or valve is first connected to the lever or levers after which the box is
filled with sand, upon pressing the foot lever the plug or valve is lifted sufficiently
from the hole to allow a stream of sand to pass on to the metals, and upon the removal
of the foot from the lever the plug drops of its own weight into the hole and acts as a
valve.
.
The box may be fixed on the platform or in any other suitable part of the
vehicle.
The sand pipe may either be a single one or it may have a branch on to the other
rail for the purpose of sanding both metals with one box.
There may be double outlets and valves to the sand box for the purpose of
directing the sand to the two metals thus having two complete pipes instead of the
branch.
There may be a lever suitable for operating by hand instead of by. foot, or in
addition to the foot lever.
Dated this 14th day of June 1889.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sand Distributors for Tram and other like
Vehicles.
I, GUY LAURENCE TILL, of Meredale Vicarage Road Handsworth (near Birmingham)
in the County of Stafford, Civil 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, and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings which are lettered for the purpose of referring to the various parts :—
The object of this invention is to improve the method by which the sand is distributed
upon the metals of tram and other lines for the purpose of counteracting the slippiness
[PS1

page_text: of the metals so as to enable the vehicle to stop in a short distance by making the
wheels to bite, and preventing slipping when starting or in motion.
This is accomplished by means of a sand box A for containing the sand, an outlet
or tube B through- which the sand passes on to the metals, a plug or valve C for
stopping the sand from running out of the box of its own accord.
The sand box may be suitably inclined at D round the hole or outlet for the purpose
of leading the sand into it..
"
The plug or valve is connected by a rod E to a lever F at the top of the box or in
any other suitable position, the said lever being operated by a foot plate G connected
to a suitable rod H.
The plug or valve has preferably a projection at the end of it. sufficiently long to
keep it in position while it is being worked, and this projection may be furnished with
suitable feathers to keep it central when lifted.
The method of operation is as follows:-
The plug or valve is first connected to the lever or levers after which the box iş
filled with sand upon pressing the foot lever, the plug or valve is lifted sufficiently
'from the hole to allow a stream of sand to pass on to the metals and upon the removal
of the foot from the foot plate the plug drops of its own weight into the hole and acts
as a valve.
The box may be fixed on the platform, or in any other suitable position on the
vehicle.
The sand pipe may either be a single one or it may have a branch on to the other
rail for the purpose of sanding both metals with one box, there may be double outlets
and valves to the sand box for the purpose of directing the sand to the two metals,
thus having two complete pipes instead of the branch.
There may be a lever suitable for operating by hand, instead of by foot, or in
addition to the foot lever.
Where the vehicle is attached to a bogy for the purpose of directing the sand on to
the metals while passing round curves a funnel may be used attached to the bogy
having a sufficiently wide mouth so that the sand pipe will run into it when the bogy
is at its extreme position, the said sand pipe being fixed with the sand box on to the
platform and the funnel moving with the bogy.
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 loaded plug or valve made to close of its own weight as hereinbefore described
and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
"
2. A loaded plug or valve made to close of its own weight, by rods and a lever as
herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
3. A sand distributor consisting of the parts arranged and combined as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
Dated thi 14th
ML 1000
GUY LAURENCE TILL.
Per J. J. Raggett,
Agent.