US870590A - Dust-preventer. - Google Patents

Description

No. 870,590. v PATENTED NOV. 12, 1907. B. F. SGHIRMER.

DUST PREVENTER. APPLICATION nun NOV. 4. 1905.

immnmmmmfmmmmm BALDWIN F. SCHIRMER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

DUST-PREVENTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1907.

Application filed November 4. 1905. Serial No. 285,919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BALDWIN F. SCHIRMER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Indianapolis, county of Marion, State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dust-Pre venters, of which I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The objects of the invention are to provide a dust preventer to be placed under any sort of a traveling vehicle, which will serve to prevent the 'dust raised by the rapidly revolving wheels and passage of a heavy body near the surface of the road from rising into the vehicle and annoying the passengers.

Further objects are to provide means for making the device horizontally adjustable, so that the vehicle can readily turn, without permitting openings through which the dust can arise.

The dust preventer is designed to lie underneath the body of the vehicle and pass the dust out from under the vehicle at the rear where it will be rapidly left behind, and is adapted to any and all kinds of vehicles.

The invention comprises an apron of greater breadth than the width of the running gear of the vehicle, and having downwardly turned sides to prevent the escape of the dust in that direction, pivoted extremities whereby the draft or current of air passing under the vehicle and caused by its rapid movement can be regulated and directed, in a pivoted portion or portions designed to move with the trucks or pivoted axles of the vehicle and in the details of construction and combination and arrangement of the various parts, as hereinafter described, shown in the accompanying drawings and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an automobile, showing a dust preventer attached, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a railway passenger car having a dust preventer or apron attached; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the form of dust preventer suited to the railway car; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the vertically swinging extremity thereof; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a dust preventer suited to an automobile or other vehicle in which the wheel hubs turn at an angle to the axles, and Fig. 6 is an elevation of the device for supporting one end of the apron.

In these drawings 1 represents the vehicle body, 2 the dust preventer apron, 3 the downwardly turned edges of the apron, 4 are hinged extremities to the apron the ends of which may be turned upward at an angle to give free passage to the draft which removes the dust, and also to give free passage to the dust. These extremities are shown in Figs. 2 and 4 and 6 to be supported by means of arcs 5 which are secured by means of spring actuated dogs 6 to the truck 7 of the car. They could be secured to any suitable portion of any vehicle to which they were attached.

In Figs. 2 and 3 the two ends E of the apron are attached to the trucks and the central portion is attached to the underside of the car by means of braced rods 8, and 8. The truck portions are therefore movable on curves with the trucks, and their edges are overlapped at 9 by the central portion so as to prevent an opening as the trucks swing on their centers. This construction is also applicable to vehicles having fifth wheels or pivoted running gear of any sort. Openings 10 are left for the wheels to pass through.

In the form shown in Fig. 5 the openings 10 are made of an hour glass shape and hence permit of an angular change in the position of the wheel hubs and wheels. In this form no division or pivoting of any portion of the apron is necessary but it can be formed in one sheet. The downwardly extending sides and hinged front and rear can be attached to this form of apron if desired.

The dust preventer can be made of any sort of material, such as wood, cloth, or iron, and can be placed at any convenient angle thereto as well as horizontally. Also any other forms of openings may be made in the apron to accommodate the movements of the wheels, which may appear to be of greatest service.

It is advantageous to lessen the volume of dust raised by automobiles, in every way possible, and the mere application of an apron'providing a flat smooth bottom, covering the chassis and irregularities of the lower surface of the car will greatly prevent the resistance to and disturbance of the air caused by its rapid movement. It is also sometimes desirable that the front of the apron should be higher than the rear, for this rea son, the links connecting the apron with the car in front can be longer than the links at the rear, or the links can be made adjustable as shown at 20, Fig. l to obtain any angle desired. (See dotted lines.)

Having described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a vehicle having wheels and axles, of a dust preventer interposed between said axles and the ground, hinged extremities to said dust preventer, and downwardly turned edges to said dust preventer, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a vehicle having wheels and axles, of a dust preventer interposed between said axles and the ground, hinged extremities to said dust preventer, and means for raising and lowering said extremities, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a vehicle having wheels and axles, and bearings therefor, of a dust preventer, interposed between said axles and. the ground, the said dust preventer having a plane body portion and downwardly turned sides, and hinged terminal portions, said hinged portions having also downwardly turned sides and ends, an are upon each hinged terminal, and a dog or keeper upon the vehicle, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a vehicle having trucks, of a said apron, and means for raising and lowering the outer ends of said hinged portions, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this 24 day of August 1905.

Witnesses BENJAMIN TAYLOR, MABEL U. KINYON.

BALDWIN F. SCHIRMER.

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