DE52613C - Automatic slope indicator for locomotives - Google Patents

Description

IMPERIAL

PATENT OFFICE.

In extraordinary operations, especially in the case of mass traffic, some will Machine operators ordered to serve on routes unknown to them.

The lack of local knowledge on the part of the machine operator can result in operational hazards Follow be accompanied.

Although to prevent accidents as much as possible at night, the slope indicator is illuminated can be used, such are not suitable to offer full guarantee, as they are in fog and heavy rainfall could easily be overlooked.

According to the present invention is now through a simple apparatus, which next the driver's cab on the machine and the same when entering a slope automatically indicates the abuses mentioned can be remedied.

The apparatus consists essentially of one at the driver's cab fitted with a scale tube, which through a locomotive The pipe running along the front end of the machine is connected to an adjustable container, for example near the chimney stands and by rising or falling of the level of one in this tube Liquid indicates an upward or downward slope in the path. The degree of this slope or the slope is read on the scale. Floats, sieves or valves prevent this Fluctuations in the fluid when driving and cause a slow and calm down and Inflow of the same when entering a downhill slope.

A second device could be associated with the aforementioned indicator which at the transition to a certain gradient, on which a braking of the In addition, an electrical contact is established and a bell is activated. .

Fig. Ι shows a schematic length view of a locomotive with the slope break indicator: Fig. 2 is the end view of the locomotive with the mi't scala attached to the cab provided scoreboard. Figures 3 through 8 are various details on an enlarged scale.

The basis of the invention is illustrated by FIG. A horizontally placed tube α provided with bent ends a ¹ a ² is filled with a liquid to such an extent that this partially fills the two bent ends a ^l d ¹ , approximately up to the horizontal xx. If α is the pipe attached along the locomotive, α ^{1 is} the end placed backwards by the machinist and a ^{2 is} the end attached to the front by the chimney, the mirror in both ends remains the same as long as the locomotive travels a horizontal distance; but if the locomotive comes on a slope, the pipe inclines according to the inclination given by the slope of the railway of the locomotive and assumes the inclined position shown in Fig. 4, thereby (apparently) the liquid rises at <z ² and falls at α ^1st From the degree to which the level in a ¹ has fallen, the machine operator will recognize the path gradient that he is on a

at a ¹ attached scale can be read. Conversely, when driving on an incline, the liquid will rise in a ^1. Of course it is not necessary that the tube α be straight and horizontal, but it can have any shape and position, since it serves merely to establish communication between the tube parts a ² and a ¹ .

Since the greatest slope of the track of the locomotive gives a relatively small gradient and as a result the liquid level at a ¹ would show only minor differences, which can only be read incompletely on the scale, it is advisable to place this end a ¹ at an angle or to give the same the wave-like or bucke-shaped shape shown in FIG. 5, in which latter case a second tube a ^{1 of the} same shape could be added for the sake of symmetry. As a result of this inclined position of the pipe ends, the liquid must travel a longer path in order to indicate a certain gradient, as a result of which the graduation marks on the scale are larger. The dividing lines can be applied horizontally, as shown on the right in Fig. 5, or normal to the pipe, as shown on the left in the same figure.

A longer column without the left hand side of the cab end of the tube to provide wrong or to curve, can also be achieved by, as shown in Fig. 6, α the tube and in part also the upwardly directed ends of a α ^'2 to about the line 11 fills with mercury and provides the rear end α ^λ , which runs out into a narrower tube u above the mercury, with a specifically lighter liquid, which reaches the zero mark ο when the locomotive is in the horizontal position. If the cross-section of the pipe is u rc times smaller than that of a ^l (or a ² ), the liquid in the pipe will rise and fall u η times more than the mercury column in the enlarged pipe ends α ^Λ α ² .

The front end of the pipe α ² , located by the chimney, serves merely as a container and is made wider than the pipe α in order to be able to accommodate a larger amount of liquid.

The two pipe ends are closed and each provided with a small opening a ³ a ⁱ . The openings α ³ α ⁴ only allow the air to flow in and out slowly.

By this arrangement it is achieved that, when passing over a slope, those in the one end of the rising liquid only slowly expels the air and as a result only can climb slowly and calmly without bumps.

In this way a kind of air cushion has been created, which causes a strong surge of the Liquid prevents.

The steady outflow and inflow of the liquid could also be achieved by inserting a perforated (sieve-like) partition a ⁹ , FIG. 6, at any point, preferably in the front container a ² , or at this Place a valve α ¹⁰ , Fig. 7, which is pressed against the valve seat a ″ when the liquid rushes suddenly and closes the inflow, and only when the substance produced by this sudden rush ceases, it returns to its original position ( as it is specifically heavier than the liquid) falls back and the liquid flows through.

In order to keep the fluid level at rest while driving, swimming balls a ^s or other floats are attached, which prevent splashing in a known manner.

The pipe ends are provided with protective caps α ⁶ in order to prevent impurities from penetrating into them, which, however, protrude a little from the pipe end in order to allow air to pass through.

^{The container α 2 is} protected against frost and frost by covering it with a jacket. The heat radiating from the boiler then provides adequate protection from the liquid from freezing.

In order to be able to set the indicator to zero when the locomotive is on a horizontal line, one end, preferably the front a ² , is articulated at a ¹ to the rest of the pipe and can be adjusted by a screw a ^s when the liquid level at a ^{1 is} below the zero line of the scale when the locomotive is ^{in a horizontal position, the container α 2} is slightly raised by the adjusting screw a ^s , but lowered in the opposite case. It is noted that this correction must be made before the journey, i.e. in the boiler room.

In order to make the liquid in the tube visible, it is advisable to color the same. In addition, it is said to have the quality that it does not have at our degrees of coldness freezes.

A liquid with both properties is obtained if you use water Mix glycerin (which lowers the freezing point) and aniline (which colors this mixture).

A further completion of the indicator could be achieved if it were connected to a second tube b , also provided with bent ends, Fig. 1 and 8, which, similar to the one described, is constructed and adjustable, but filled with mercury, with a certain gradient would close the circuit of an electric bell through the mercury column

which the machine operator is made aware that the train has traveled a distance of has entered the slope, for which some precautionary measures, namely braking are necessary and prescribed.

In Fig. 6 and 8 the device for establishing the contact is indicated by the mercury. The rear end of the tube, approximately at s, is in connection with one wire line, while the front, upwardly directed end above the mercury column is provided in a lateral attachment s ¹ with a contact plate or pin s ² , FIG. 6, which is provided with the other wire line is in communication.

If the rising mercury column reaches the contact s ² at a certain gradient, the electrical circuit is closed, which contains the mercury mass, a battery and a bell.

Of course, the details of the construction can be changed in many ways, without departing from the essence of the invention.

Of course, in the device in FIG. 6, the shorter tube b shown in FIG. 8 is omitted, since the mercury and the specifically lighter liquid are connected in one and the same tube. The tube u can be passed on in any way, so that the tube α in FIG. 6 can be made as short as desired.

For the purpose of convenient filling and emptying of the tube α , the same is provided with filling and drainage taps.

Claims (2)

Patent Claims: 1. A device which is intended for use on locomotives and which automatically displays the railway gradient, in which a tube a ^l located in the driver's cab, which is provided with a scale indicating the gradient, and through a tube a arranged along the locomotive with an adjustable container a ¹ is connected, by rising or falling of the level of a liquid in the pipeline, the slope or the 'slope of the path is displayed, while air cushions and floats α ⁵ , if necessary also sieves α ² or a valve a ¹⁰ , an excessively rapid movement of the Prevent liquids and protective caps attached to the ends prevent dirt from penetrating the pipes and the container. 2. In connection with the in claim i. marked gradient indicator a tube b, which is provided with upwardly directed ends and is filled with mercury, in order to produce an electrical contact through the mercury column at a certain gradient of the railway and thereby to set an electrical bell in action. For this purpose ι sheet of drawings.