Improvements in and connected with Water Elevators.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 12th June, 1894-Accepted, 4th Aug.,
1804
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Water Elevators.
I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of London,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by The Automatic Water Tank Company, (a
corporation organized under the laws of the State of New Jersey) of 411 to
417 Market Street in the City and County of Camden, New Jersey, and of
143 Liberty Street in the City County and State of New York both in the United
States of America) and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide a water elevator for supplying the
water tanks of locomotives with water by using as the motive fluid steam,
compressed air or gas carried by the locomotive or train so that when a locomotive
stops at a water station the fluid pipe is coupled to the source of supply and the
water is forced by the said fluid either directly into the tank of the locomotive or
tender or indirectly through a storage reservoir. The invention also relates to
details of construction which will be fully described with reference to the
accompanying drawings :-
-
Figure 1 of which is a sectional elevation showing the improved water elevator,
storage reservoir and locomotive in position;
Figures 2 and 3 are views in sectional elevation illustrating other forms of
apparatus embodying the invention;
Figure 4 is a sectional view shewing a storage reservoir of a depth to prevent
freezing, the emergency valve being arranged above the bottom so as to leave
sufficient water for spray purposes;
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of another form of apparatus in which the outlet
is some distance above the bottom of the reservoir;
Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of another form of apparatus in which the spray
reservoir is mounted within the storage reservoir and Figures 7 and 8 are sectional
views of the device shown in Figure 6.
Referring to Figure 1, which illustrates a vacuum water elevator in which steam
is supplied from the locomotive, the pipes are so arranged within the storage
reservoir that when the tank is charged with steam water will flow into the tender
tank of the locomotive and into the storage tank; the parts being so proportioned
that the charge of water from the vacuuin tank will be more than enough to fill
the tender so that the storage reservoir always has sufficient water which can be
drawn off through the emergency valve when required.
A is the track, B is the tender of a locomotive having the water inlet b and steam
pipe which is provided with a suitable valve and with a coupling by which it can
be readily coupled to the fluid pressure pipe c of the water elevator.
D is the vacuum tauk mounted in the present instance within the well E and
this vacuum tank has an inlet pipe d extending below the water level of the well
and in the pipe is a valve d' to allow water to be drawn into the tank, but which
will close as soon as steam pressure is introduced.
D' is the discharge pipe from the vacuum tank, this pipe extends into the tank
to a point near the bottom thereof as shown by dotted lines and extends up into
the storage reservoir E in the present instance to a point above the overflow line of
the reservoir and returns to a point below the reservoir in the present instance
and is connected to the goose neck D³, which is pivotted at d³ so that it can be
lowered to align with the inlet opening in the tender B. When drawn up the

page_text: goose neck is clear of passing trains, d' is an outlet from the pipe Dto the storage
reservoir.
In the pipe D' is a valve d² which prevents the water discharged from the
vacuum tank from returning.
The fluid pressure pipe c is preferably attached to the goose neck or otherwise
arranged so that one will move with the other and extends over the reservoir then
down to a collar el coupled to the vacuum tauk D so that when steam is turned
into the said pipe c it will flow into the vacuum tank and force the water therein
out through the pipe D'. The pipe c is also connected to the discharge pipe D' by
a pipe having a check valve c³ which is so arranged as to prevent steam entering:
the discharge pipe, but which will allow water for spray purposes to flow from the
discharge pipe into the steam pipe e when steam is cut off and the pipe c uncoupled
from the pipe on the tender, so that as soon as the steam has forced the water out
of the vacuum tank D and the pipe c uncoupled water will flow into the lower
section of the pipe c and will fall onto the spray plate within the tank D and
become finely divided and thus quickly condense the steam in the vacuum tank
forming a partial vacuum, which will draw water from the well through the inlet
pipe d thereby recharging the tank D.
If the tank is not fully charged with water from this source it will be filled by
water from the storage reservoir through the pipes D' and c, thus completely water-
sealing the valve d¹ and as the water in the pipes D' and c will seek the level of the
water in the storage reservoir the valve will be water sealed as will also the
pipe c, thus preventing the access of air into the vacuum tank.
The pipe c may be coupled to the discharge pipe D' so that the spray water will
flow into the storage reservoir E through the opening into the discharge pipe D¹
and into the pipe e or the pipes c and (as shewn clearly in Figure 4).
e is an overflowing opening, which communicates with the downward leg of the
pipe D' so that when the water in the reservoir rises above a certain level it will
overflow through the opening e into the pipe D' and out through the goose neck D'
into the tender tank and as the openings are of sufficient size to allow the water
to overflow immediately before the engine leaves the water station, water is not
wasted.
F is an emergency valve which may be operated to charge the tender tank of a
locomotive with water when it is disabled or before it is fired. This valve is
connected by a chain or rope 2, within reach of the engineer or fireman, to a bell
rank leverf which in turn is connected to the valve by a rod or chain f. When
the valve is opened water will flow from the storage reservoir therethrough into
the goose neck and thence into the locomotive tank.
The operation of the device is as follows:-
When the locomotive is at the water station the fireman draws down the goose
neck and fluid pressure pipe so that the goose neck will align with the water inlet
opening of the tender, he then couples the fluid pressure pipe to the steam pipe bl
on the tender, opens the steam valve to allow steam to flow through the fluid'
pressure pipe into the vacuum tank D which steam will force the water out of the
tank through the discharge pipe D₁ part of the water flowing directly through the
pipe and goose neck into the tender tank and part flowing out of the opening d
into the storage reservoir.
It has been found that the flow of water into the storage reservoir will be
regulated to a great extent by the height of the water in the reservoir.
As soon as the water is discharged from the vacuum tank the steam within the
tank condenses, and when the steam is cut off from the locomotive, spray water
flows into the vacuum tank through the pipe c thereby quickly condensing the
8.eam and by forming a partial vacuum in the tank the said tank will be recharged
with water from the well; it will thus be seen that the apparatus is automatically
filled immediately after the locomotive tank has been charged with water, and all
stationary pumps and other appliances necessary at water stations as at present
arranged are dispensed with.

page_text: It will be understood that compressed air, or any compressible fluid may be
substituted for steam for instance, as shewn in Figure 2, the fluid pipe c is attached
to a pipe on the tender communicating with a compressed air chamber B' charged
with compressed air either by a pump of the compressed air system of the train or
by an independent pump. The pipe c extends into the well and is turned up into a
pipe D, which is the equivalent of the pipe D in Figure 1, and this pipe
communicates with both the storage tank E and the goose neck D2 so that when
the fluid pressure pipe is connected to the pipe on the tender water will be forced
from the well into the tender tank and into the storage reservoir at the same time.
In this instance the opening d in the pipe is at the top of the tank, instead of at
the bottom as shewn in Figure 1.
In Figure 3, is shewn a submerged tank apparatus, that is a receiving tank D'
submerged in the water of the well so that as soon as the tank is emptied by the
pressure of steam air or gas as the case may be passing through the fluid pressure.
pipe c the water in the well will enter the valved opening in the tank and
recharge the tank. This construction is especially applicable when the water in
the well is near the surface and where the water is abundant enough to keep the
tank always submerged.
In Figure 4, is illustrated a deep tank mounted preferably on the ground and
extending up to a point above the tender or water tank of the locomotive so that
water will flow by the gravity from the upper portion of the reservoir into the
tender tank, in this instance the trestle work shown in Figure 1, upon which the
reservoir is mounted is dispensed with.
The outlet pipe D' in this instance does not extend to the bottom of the tank as
shewn in Figure 1, so that should the emergency valve F be kept open it will be
impossible for the tank to drain as the water level will only fall to the lineæ,
Figure 4, and as the spray pipe c³ communicates with the reservoir at the bottom,
there will always be in the reservoir sufficient water for spray purposes.
The advantage of this deep reservoir over the device shown in Figure 1 is that it
will contain a greater quantity of water and the depth of the water renders it less
liable to freeze in cold climates.
In Figure 5, which shews a modification of the arrangement shewn in Figure 4,
the discharge pipe D' passes over the top of the storage reservoir E to the goose
neck D' and in this arrangement a pipe Do somewhat less in diameter than the
pipe D' extends from the pipe D' to a point near the bottom of the reservoir
so that water discharged from the elevator will flow partly through the goose
neck D' and partly into the pipe D' into the storage reservoir. The pipe is
coupled to the end of the pipe D³ so that the spray water will flow from the bottom
of the reservoir.
The discharge pipe for the reservoir E communicates with the reservoir some
distance above the bottom so that the water will not be lowered below the line .t.
The emergency valve F in this instance being arranged outside of the reservoir.
In figure 6, is shown a spray reservoir E' mounted within the storage reservoir E
and this spray reservoir communicates with the pipe D' through a pipe and this
pipe communicates with the steam or other pressure pipe c through a pipe
having a check valve .
08
The spray reservoir E' communicates with the storage reservoir through a small
opening el so that the level of the water in the storage reservoir will be the same as
the level of water in the spray reservoir and the spray reservoir will be charged
first with water from the vacuum tank. The opening e' is so formed that all the
water cannot escape from the spray reservoir into the storage reservoir, (if the
water in the said reservoir happens to be low), before a certain proportion of
the water in the spray reservoir returns to the vacuum tank in the form of spray.
Figure 7 shews drawn to a larger scale the collar and the upper portion of the
vacuum tank shown in Figure 1, and Figure 8 shews also drawn to a larger scale
the arrangement of the pipes by which the fluid pressure pipe c is coupled to the
spray reservoir.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with a locomotive water tank, of the water elevator, the storage
tank, the supply pipe for the locomotive tender, a pipe on the locomotive for fluid
under pressure, and a fluid pipe connected to the water elevating device, the storage
reservoir and discharge pipe being so connected to the water elevator that when
fluid under pressure is turned into the fluid pipe the water will be elevated an
simultaneously flow into both the discharge pipe and the reservoir.
2. The combination in an automatic water elevator, of the vacuum tank, the inlet
and outlet therefor, a reservoir above the tank, a pipe connecting the reservoir and
the tank so that after the tank has been partially filled by water drawn through the
inlet pipe it will be completely filled by water flowing from the reservoir by gravity,
substantially as herein before described.
3. The combination in an automatic water elevator, of the reservoir, a vacuum
tank, an inlet to the said tank, and an outlet therefrom communicating with the
reservoir, and a steam pipe communicating with the tank and with the reservoir,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. The combination in an automatic water clevator, of the reservoir, the vacuum
tank, an inlet therefor, a valve in the said inlet pipe, an outlet pipe from the tank
communicating with the reservoir, a valve in the said outlet pipe, a steam pipe
communicating with the tank and with the reservoir, and a valve between the said
pipe and the reservoir, the whole so constructed that when the vacuum tank is
partially filled by the water entering the inlet pipe it will be completely filled and
the valves water sealed by water from the reservoir, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
5. The combination in an automatic vacuum water elevator, of the vacuum tank,
suction pipe therefor and discharge pipe, a spray reservoir mounted above the tank,
a steam pipe connected to the vacuum tank, the said spray reservoir being connected
to the discharge pipe, and to the vacuum tank, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
6. The combination of a vacuum tank, suction pipe therefor, the discharge pipe,
the steam pipe connected to the tank, an elevated spray reservoir, the pipe
connecting the said spray reservoir with the discharge pipe of the vacuum tank,
and a pipe connecting the spray reservoir with the steam pipe, substantially as
herein before described.
.
7. The combination of the vacuum tank, a discharge pipe entering the tank at
the top, and extending to a point near the bottom of the tank, a collar around the
discharge pipe at the top of the vacuum tank forming a steam space communicating
with the tank and a steam pipe connected to the said collar, substantially as
herein before described.
8. The combination of the vacuum tank, the discharge pipe entering the tank at
the top, a collar around the said discharge pipe, situated at the top of the tank, a
spray device mounted on the discharge pipe below the collar, and a pipe
communicating with the steam supply and the spray reservoir so that the steam and
spray water will enter the tank through the collar, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
9. The combination with a vacuum water tank, of the suction pipe, its valve, the
discharge pipe, its valve, the steam inlet pipe, with an elevated spray water reservoir,
connected to the discharge pipe, and also connected to the steam pipe, the check
valve to prevent the steam from entering the spray reservoir but which will allow
the flow of water from the spray reservoir to the tank, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
10. The combination with a vacuum tank, of the suction pipe and discharge pipe
therefor, a steam pipe, a spray water reservoir connected to the steam pipe and to
the discharge pipe, the said steam pipe being enlarged at the point where it

page_text: connects with the spray reservoir to the vacuum tank, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
11: The combination of the vacuum tank, the suction pipe, the discharge pipe, steam.
inlet pipe, the storage tank mounted above the vacuum tank, a spray water reservoir
coupled to the discharge pipe and the steam pipe, and communicating with the
storage tank, substantially as hereinbefore described.
12. The combination of the vacuum tank, the suction pipe therefor and discharge
pipe, a storage tank, the said discharge pipe extending above the said storage.
tank, a steam pipe also extending above the storage tank and connected to the
vacuum tank, a spray reservoir connected to the discharge pipe and to the steam
pipe and communicating with the storage tank, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
13. The combination of the vacuum tank, its suction pipe, the discharge pipe-
therefor, and the steam pipe, a storage tank, a spray water reservoir mounted
within the storage tank and communicating therewith, a pipe connecting the spray
water reservoir with the discharge pipe of the vacuum tank and with the steam.
pipe, substantially as hereinbefore described.
14. The combination of the suspended vacuum tank, its discharge pipe, and
suction pipe, a storage tank, a spray reservoir mounted within the storage tank and
connected to the discharge pipe and with the storage tank, the said discharge pipe
extending above the storage tank, and terminating below the said tank, in the form.
of a goose neck, a valved outlet for the storage tank, communicating with the said
discharge pipe, a steam inlet pipe communicating with the vacuum tank, and
connected to the spray water reservoir, substantially as herein before described.
15. The combination of the storage reservoir, the vacuum tank, a discharge pipe.
for the vacuum tank extending to the storage reservoir, a discharge pipe from the
storage reservoir, an emergency valve in the said pipe, the said valve being situated
some distance above the bottom of the water reservoir so that a body of water will
be retained in the reservoir, and a spray pipe communicating with the reservoir
below the valve, substantially as herein before described.
16. The combination with a vacuum tank, the reservoir, the discharge pipe from.
the tank, the said reservoir being connected to the discharge pipe some distance-
above the bottom thereof, a valve in the said connection and a spray pipe.
communicating with the reservoir below the said connection and extending to the
vacuum tank, substantially as herein before described.
17. The combination of the storage reservoir, the discharge pipe, the vacuum.
tank, an overflow opening for the reservoir in the discharge pipe so that the
overflow water from the reservoir will pass through the discharge pipe to the tender
and not be wasted, substantially as herein before described.
18. The combination of the storage reservoir, the vacuum tank, the discharge
therefor, an overflow pipe for the reservoir, the said overflow pipe entering the said
discharge pipe of the storage reservoir and through which the overflow water will
pass to the tender, substantially as hereinbefore described.
19. The combination of the automatic water elevating apparatus, the vacuum
tank, the storage reservoir, discharge pipe from the vacuum tank extending to the
upper portion of the storage reservoir and out so as to discharge clear of the
storage reservoir, with an opening in said discharge pipe entering the reservoir
hear the bottom, substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
Dated this 12th day of June 1894.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
Agents.