IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED VACUUM AND STEAM-BRAKE APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY TRAINS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Carlton of Swindon in the County of Wilts
Engineer for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED
VACUUM AND STEAM-BRAKE APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY TRAINS.
WITH
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Carlton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th August 1882.
SAMUEL CARLTON, of Swindon in the County of Wilts, Engineer, "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH VACUUM AND STEAM BRAKE APPARATUS FOR
RAILWAY TRAINS
"
My invention has for object improvements in or connected with vacuum and
steam brake apparatus for railway trains and comprises (1) the application of a
particular form of ejector with a single cone in vacuum brake apparatus, (2) an
arrangement and combination of parts for supplying steam both to the ejector of
vacuum brakes, and to the cylinder of steam brakes; (3) valve operating
mechanism whereby one motion of the hand will admit air to the train pipe and
steam to the steam brake or will exhaust the steam brake and admit steam to the
ejector. (4) a blower actuated by the exhaust steam from the ejector and steam
brakes, and (5) the placing of the whole of the apparatus for actuating steam and
vacuum brakes together with the blower of the engine in one simple and effective
combination on the front of the fire box above the foot plate.
I construct an ejector for vacuum brake apparatus with an air inlet pipe guarded
by a check or non return valve and an outlet pipe which constitutes the mixing
cone of the ejector.
In the same axial line as the outlet pipe is the steam cone which is screwed into
a partition or diaphragm on the ejector and consists of a nozzle tapering outwards,
and protruding into the air space of the ejector. Over the steam cone there is
applied a box or chamber which encloses the distributing valve and valve face
and comprises an inlet for steam from the boiler, an outlet for steam to the steam
brakes, and a port or passage communicating with the steam cone of the ejector.

page_text: When the train is not fitted with steam brakes the outlet may be closed with a
blank cap.
The valve for admitting steam to the ejector and steam brake cylinder is a slide
valve, having a cavity on the under face for the exhaustion of the steam brake
cylinder, and working on a face formed by a partition in the valve box. This
face has two ports in it; one communicates by a passage with the outlet, which is
to be connected to the steam brake cylinder and the other opens to the steam cone.
In one position of the slide valve steam is admitted to the steam brake only, in
a second to the ejector only and in a third live steam is cut off from both, and
the steam from the steam brake exhausts through the valve cavity into the
ejector.
There is a check or non-return valve near-the foot of the air inlet pipe of the
ejector, and between this and the train pipe there is an air inlet valve which is
opened when it is desired to destroy or reduce the vacuum in the said train pipe.
The check valve opens and closes the communication between the ejector and the
train pipe and is retained in position by a vertical spindle working through a hole
formed in the centre of a cross bar forming part of the air inlet pipe.
Sometimes it is more convenient to place the check or non-return valve and
air inlet valve at a little distance from the ejector and connect them to it by
a pipe.
The air inlet valve to the train pipe is arranged to be actuated by the same
handle that moves the steam distributing valve, though it does not in every case
commence its motion simultaneously with the said valve, the object of the arrange-
ment being that the two sets of brakes may be applied simultaneously or one after
the other as may be desired. As the slide valve has to make a comparatively
long stroke as compared with the air inlet valve it is necessary that it should be
put in motion first if air and steam are to be admitted at the same time, One
convenient arrangement for effecting this is to place the rods of the two valves in
the same axial line and join them by a slotted connection that will allow the valve
to make a considerable movement before the other. When the two valve rods are
not in the same line their movements may be effected in the desired order by an
arrangement of levers.
The ejector is applied to the front plate of the fire box of the locomotive and the
mixture of air and steam is led by a pipe through the boiler to the smoke box,
where it enters a vessel fitted to the top of the blast pipe from which it escapes
through an annular orifice situate at its upper part. The escaping steam is made
to perform the functions of a blower, while at the same time if the port to the
ejector be kept slightly open any air entering from leakage into the air pipes of
the train will be withdrawn. The ejector may also be used to exhaust the vacuum
sacks or brake cylinders on the engine if so fitted.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Samuel Carlton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th February 1883.
SAMUEL CARLTON of Swindon in the County of Wilts, Engineer,
"IMPROVE.
MENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH VACUUM AND STEAM BRAKE APPARATUS FOR
RAILWAY TRAINS
"
My invention has for object improvements in or connected with Vacuum and
Steam Brake apparatus for Railway Trains,
I construct an Ejector for Vacuum Brake apparatus, with an air inlet pipe
guarded by a check or non return valve, and an outlet pipe which constitutes the
mixing cone of the Ejector.
In the same axial line as the outlet pipe is the steam cone which is screwed
into a partition or diaphragm on the Ejector, and consists of a nozzle tapering
outwards and protruding into the air space of the Ejector.
Over the steam cone there is applied a box or chamber, into which is screwed
the discharging cone of the Ejector, which also encloses the distributing valve and
valve face, and comprises an inlet for steam from the boiler, and outlet for steam
to the Steam Brake, and a port or passage communicating with the steam cone of
the Ejector. When the train is not fitted with steam brakes, the outlet may be
closed with a blank cap.
The valve for admitting steam to the Ejector and Steam Brake Cylinder, is a
slide valve having a cavity on the under face for the exhaustion of the Steam
Brake Cylinder, and working on a face formed by a partition in the valve box.
This face has two ports in it, one communicates by a passage with the outlet,
which is to be thereby connected to the Steam Brake Cylinder, and the other
opens to the steam cone.
In one position of the slide valve, steam is admitted to the Steam Brake only,
in a second to the Ejector only, and in a third live steam is cut off from both,
and the steam from the Steam Brake exhausts through the valve cavity into the
Ejector.
There is a check or non return valve near the foot of the air inlet pipe of the
Ejector and between this and the train pipe there is an air inlet valve, which is
opened when it is desired to destroy or reduce the vacuum in the train pipe.
The check valve opens and closes the communication between the Ejector and
the train pipe, and is retained in position by a vertical spindle, working through a
hole formed in the centre of a cross bar, retained in a suitable position by a recess
formed on the side of the air inlet pipe, and a hole bored in the centre of a cover
screwed into the air pipe, in which the other end of the cross bar rests. The cover
with the valve and cross bar can be removed at pleasure, for examination or repairs.
Sometimes it is more convenient to place the check or non return valve and air
inlet valve at a little distance from the Ejector, and connect them to it by a pipe.
Occasionally condensed steam will find its way into the check valve chamber,
from using the Blower or owing to a slight leakage of the slide valve admitting
steam to the Ejector. To obviate any inconvenience from this, communicating
with the check valve chamber is a passage opening outwards to the atmosphere, by
means of which the condensed steam can escape. The passage is constantly in
communication with the atmosphere when the ejector is not in action, and when
in action a ball or other suitable valve is by atmospheric pressure pressed on to a
seat formed at the external opening of the orifice or passage, such valve having a

page_text: free motion in a perforated or slotted cage, the ball or valve is retained in position
by a cap screwed into its end thus permitting of examination and repairs.
The air inlet valve to the train pipe is arranged to be actuated by the same
handle that moves the steam distributing valve, though it does not in every case
commence its motion simultaneously with the said valve, the object of the arrange-
ment being that the two sets of brakes may be applied simultaneously, or one after
the other as may be desired.
As the slide valve has to make a comparatively long stroke as compared with
the air inlet valve, it is necessary that it should be put in motion first if air and
steam are to be admitted at the same time.
One convenient arrangement for effecting this, is to place the two valves in the
same axial line and join them by a slotted connection that will allow the slide
valve to make a considerable movement before the other; when there are two
valve rods and they are not in the same axial line, their movements may be effected
in the desired order by an arrangement of levers.
The Ejector is fixed to the front plate of the Firebox of the Locomotive, and
the mixture of air and steam is led by a pipe through the boiler to the Smoke Box.
The Blower is actuated by a suitable valve admitting steam from the boiler
through a port or passage at the upper part of the box containing the slide or
distributing valve of the Ejector, and the steam from thence escapes by way of the
mixing cone of the Ejector to a chamber fitted to the top of the blast pipe, from
which it escapes through an annular orifice situate at its upper part. The
escaping steam is made to perform the function of a blower, while at the same
time if the port to the Ejector be kept slightly open, any air entering from
leakage into the air pipe of the train will be withdrawn, or the Blower can be
used separately and independently of the Ejector when necessary.
The Ejector may also be used to exhaust vacuum sacks, reservoirs or brako
cylinders on the engine, if so fitted.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section shewing the Ejector, valve casing and
other parts.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section at right angles to Fig. 1 through the casing of the
distributing or slide valve.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section in the centre line of the Ejector.
Fig. 4 is an elevation and Fig. 5 a longitudinal section through tho perforated
chamber of the escape valve.
Fig. 6 is a plan and Fig. 7 a transverse section of the same.
Fig. 8 is a cross section through the chamber of the check valve.
In all the figures the same letters are used to denote like parts, A is the train
pipe B a passage making communication with the train pipe A and check valve
chamber C. (a¹) is the check or non return valve with its cross-bar (b') and
secured in position by the cover E. D is the casing of the escape valve with its
ball valve (c') placing the check valve chamber in communication with the
atmosphere. F is the mixing cone and G the discharging cone of the Ejector.
His the steam cone protruding into the air space of the Ejector. K is the valve
box or chamber with the slide or distributing valve (d) L is the inlet for steam
from the boiler to the valve chamber K. M is the outlet for steam to the steam
brake cylinder from the port or passage (e¹) communicating with the valve box K.
(f) is a port communicating with the steam cone of the Ejector.
Steam is admitted to the Ejector and steam brake cylinder by means of the
slide or distributing valve (d) fitted with an exhaust port or cavity (g¹) by way
of which port the exhaust steam from the steam brake passes away to the ejector
and thence to the chimney of the engine.
N is the air inlet valve to train pipe with its chamber (o¹).
P is the lever for actuating the slide and air inlet valves by means of the valve
spindle (h¹)
Q is the cover admitting to the slide valve for examination and repairs. (P) is
the valve for admitting steam to the Blower by way of the port or passage (m³ m.)

page_text: When a reservoir is used to assist in taking off the brake a threeway cock
should be applied to connect the reservoir with the train pipe when the brake is
off and to shut off the reservoir when the air is admitted to the train pipe to put on
the brake.
Having described the nature of the said invention and the manner of performing
it what I claim as secured to me under the Letters Patent first herein before in part
recited is :-
1. In brake apparatus for railway trains the use of an Ejector with a single
steam cone the construction, arrangement and operation being substantially such
as hereinabove described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
2. The improved combined steam and vacuum brake apparatus constructed
arranged and operating as hereinabove described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Samuel Carlton have hereunto set my hand
and seal this eighth day of February in the year of our Lord, one thousand
eight hundred and eighty-three.