Home  

Novel Device for Heating and Ventilating Railroad Cars.
Scientific American—October 28, 1868

The object of the device seen in the accompanying engraving is to utilize the heat of the boiler and fire box of a railroad locomotive to warm a train of cars in cold weather, and to ventilate the cars with pure air free from dust or cinders in summer. The arrangement is quite simple. The front of the locomotive is provided with a funnel-shaped mouth, from which a pipe leads down under the boiler, and in close contact therewith. At the forward end of the fire bog it divides into two branches; one passing along each side and through the tender, at the rear of which they again unite. Each car is furnished with similar pipes passing along under the seats, and fitted with registers that may be opened and closed at will. The union between the pipes of the different cars is plainly seen in the engraving, a bell mouth containing a packing for the end of the pipe, but sufficiently yielding to allow of lateral motion in rounding curves, etc. The front end of the pipe has a hood inside the funnel mouth, to prevent rain or snow from entering.

It is evident that if the pipes were left exposed to the atmosphere, but little heat could be realized; but to overcome this difficulty the inventor, for winter service, proposes to put a heavy non-conducting jacket entirely around the boiler and fire box, or sufficient to inclose the larger portion of the heating surface and the pipes. The other exposed portions of the pipe are also similarly protected. In the summer the jacketing of the locomotive is removed, and the pipe exposed to the external air.

Patented April 28, 1868, by Dr. Samuel W. Francis, who may be addressed at P. O. Box 240, Newport, R. I. The entire right is for sale.


Stories Page | Contents Page

Home
Do you have any information you'd like to share on this subject? Please email me!
The Catskill Archive website and all contents, unless otherwise specified,
are ©1996-2010 Timothy J. Mallery