US1902339A - Switch heater - Google Patents

Description

March 21, 1933.

E. L.. RUBY SWITCH HEATER Filed March 28, 1952 2A sheets-sheet 1 Invert/i011: Ernst llluy,

I IS

March 21, 1933. El RUBY 1,902,339

SWITCH HEATER Filed Mach 28, 1952. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lll/072175:

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Ernst Zll/u E Jwfgjwg Patented Mar. 21, 1933 i UNITED STATES ERNST L. RUBY, F JENKINTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA SWITCH HEATER Application mea Marches, .1932. serrai Nn 601,489.

This invention relates to improvements in gas burning switch hea-ters for the protection of switches and -other parts ofjrailroad structures against the interference 5 with the proper functioning thereof by the encroachment of snow and ice during cold and stormy weather.

An object of the invention is to providel a novel and radvantageous construction wherein the heating flame of burning gas is well protected against being accidentally extinguished bythe wind and by air currents and blasts created by rapidly moving trains passing over the heater. Another object of` the invention is to provide a heater construction which, while' providing ample heat for the purpose intended, will protect the wooden cross ties ofthe railroad from being burned or scorched by the flame of burning .20 gas during the operation of the heater.

Another object is to provide a construction and arrangement of parts wherein natural gas, manufactured gas or a combination of them may be eiciently burned therein underv the adverse conditions to which switch. heaters are subjected. A further object is to provide a novel means for connecting the heater to a railroad rail and forl holding it in proper working position with relation thereto. v

The invention resides in the elements and the combinations Yof them hereinafter described and claimed. Y

in the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, i

Figure 1 is a `transverse section, vpartly broken away, of a switch portion of a railroad structure showing my improved switch heater applied thereto.V

Figure 2 is a sideview, partly broken away, of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section of the heater, on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.`

Figure 4 is a vertical section of the heater, on line 4 4 of Fig. l.

Figure 5 is aV top view of one of the burner boxes of the heater.

A Figure 6 is a bottom view of the burner box shown in Fig. 5. Y

Figure 7 is a transverse section of arail road switch showing thelparts thereof iil-v .j lustrated=atthe-right hand side of Fig. 1,1 and `showing a Vmodified form of my.V img i proved heater, in'v section.

Figure 8 is a bottom view of the yparts 55. j

shown in Fig. 7.". I

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, of the drawings, 2 designates the stationary track rails,"L 5 the movable switchrails, 6 the tie plates supporting the rails', and 7 the cross 60 ties'supp'orting the tie plates.

My impro-vedv swtchheater is arranged beneath the rails 2 .and -5 and within the', spacebetween'two adjacent cross ties 7.

A burner lbox 8 is provided for each trackl 55 rail 2 and its adjacent switch rail 5 at each side of the switch, and the boxes 8 are con;- nected and supported by.V a fuelor gas pipe9 which extends transversely beneath the. rails and parallelto the cross ties..` f 70 Y `The fuelpipe' ismade in connected` sections, one of which is acentrally arranged insulated coupling .10 to` electricallyv insulate from eachother theparts on .the respective end portionsl of the pipe which arein contact with the .rails 2. v

One end portion ,ofv the fuel Vpipe 9 'is provided with a collar "11, having ajaw 12 adapted to extend over and engage thel outer `flange lof `the-base 13"of one/track rail 2, 80

and the other end portion ofthe pipe 9 has a collar 14 slidable thereon and provided with -a jaw 15 adapted to extend overA and engage the outer flangev ofthe basef13 of the other -vtrackrail `2. The collar 11 may 85 be xed to the pipe 9, tol prevent Voutward movement of the collar'on the pipe, or such movement may be prevented by the adjacent head 16 which is screwed on to the pipe'to 90 close the end thereof. The pipe 9 extends outwardly from the collar 14 and maybe connected in any desired manner to a suitable source kof fuel supply. Theoutwardly extending end ofthe pipe 9 carries a spring 95 17 adapted to have its outer end engaged with a collar on the pipe..y The inner end of thisspring 17 engages the. collar y14 and urges it toward the collar 11 and therebjT causes the jaws 12 and 15 to grip therail .109

vWithin the box 8 are twov parallel'wallsV 21 which extend between and are connected to the end walls 20. These walls 21` extend parallel to the side walls 19 in spaced relation thereto, the upper ends of thewalls 21 being below the upper endsof the endwalls 20,A and the-lowerends of the walls '21 being above the lower ends ofthe endwalls 20` and the side walls 19, as illustrated in. the

drawings. .-v

The upper and lower ends of-the inner walls 21 are connected by upper and lower Vhorizontal . walls 22 and 23, respectively,

which have their Vends spaced `from the'end walls 20 ofthe box; The lower wall 28 is provided with a centrally arranged air pas sage 24 which extends "vertically therethrough.

The side walls 19 have their'top surfaces below the upper ends of the end walls 2O to provide passages leading from the interior of the box and over the side walls 19 and between the end walls 20. Y 'Each box 8 is supported by a section 25 of the fuel pipe 9,*and the pipe'section 25 extends through the side walls 19` and the vertical inner walls-21 .of the box and between the upper and lower horizontal walls 22 and 28, respectively, and it is provided with fuel dischargingopenings 26 on the respective sides thereof, as shown in Figs. 3', and l1. These fuel discharging openings 26 are locatedfbetweenV thefinner'walls 21 of the box and they are directed toward the end walls 20 thereof, the axis ofthe openingsl 26 intersecting the .end walls 2O well below the upper ends thereof.

-One end of the pipe section 25 extends outwardly from one side of the box 8 and is threaded for the receptionof a coupling member 27 by means of which the section 25 is connected tothe adjacent section of the pipep9. The other end of the pipe section 25 extends outwardly from the other side of the box 8 and has a head 218 formed thereon and provided with a fiat lupper .surface adapted to engage` the flat'bottom surface of a lug 29 formed on andprojecting outvardly from the adjacent side wall 19 of the The space between the coupling member 27 and the head 28 is substantiallyequal to the space betweenthe outersurfaces of the side walls19 of thebox, and thus the member 27 and head 28 serveto hold the box in Vplace against displacement thereof longitudinally of the pipe; and the engagement of the fiat top of the head 28 with the lug 29 serves to prevent relative turning of the box and the pipe section, on the axis of the latter.

' The upper ends of the end walls 20 of the box 8 are flush with the bottom surface of the adjacent track rail 2 and the box is Vpositioned below the rail 2 so that the base thereof will extend part way over the box at all times, and so that the base of the adjacent switch rail 5 will occupy a posi- L,tion over the box when the switch rail is connected to a suitable source of gas sup ply under pressure. 'The gas discharged from the openings 26 is ignited and the burning flames projected from the openings, strike vagainst the opposing endY walls 20 of the-burner box and then extend upwardly through passages 30 provided between the end walls 20 and the ends of the upper horizontal wall 22,and'they'1nay then extend outwardlyA over some or all of the top surfaces of the vertical walls 19, 20 and 21 of the box. f When the switch rail. 5 is in the closed position, shown at the left hand side of Fig. 1, the flames rising through the passages 30 at the respective ends of the box 8, impinge against the bottom surfacesof therails'2 and 5 and heat the same, and the H'ames and air currents supporting combustion may pass out between the tops of the end walls 20 and the bottom of the switch rail Yand also out through the passages provided between the end walls 20 and over the side walls 19.` f I When the switch rail 5 is in the open position, shown at the right hand side of Fig. l, the major portions of the flames rising through the passages 30 will rise through the space between the track rail 2 and switch rail 5 and some parts thereofV will strike the bottom of the track rail vand pass out through the spaces between the track rail and the top of the side wall 19 beneath the same on the respective sides of the lug 29.

In any position of theswitchvrail 5 with respectto the track rail 2, suflicient air enters the open bottom ofthe box 8 and passes up through the same to support combustion for the production of hot flames, somevof the upwardly moving air passing through the passage 24 in the lower horizontal wall 23 to the space between the inrae ner vertical walls in the region of the gas discharging openings 26.

The arrangement of the fuel discharging openings 26 with relation to the end Walls 2O ofthe burner box 8 enables me to provide the desired hot flames for effectively preventing the detrimental accumulation of ice and snow Vbetween and about the rails of the switch, and, at the same time, prevents the iiames from reaching and burning or scorching or detrimentally heating the wooden cross ties 7.

I have discovered that va burner box provided with walls constructed and arranged relative to each other and to the fuel discharging openings 26 of the gas pipe, not only produces the desired hot flames with the use ofv either natural gas or manufactured gas or combination of the two, but also provides a construction which successfully resists the accidental extinguishment of the flames by the wind and other air currents to a greater extent than any gas'burning switch heater in use prior to my invention. y

In practice, a'number of pairs of burner boxes 8 like that shown in Fig. 1, are employed at a switch in the' successive spaces between adjacent cross ties, in order that the entire switch may be properly heated for the purpose intended, and the fuel pipes of the several pairs of boxes may be arranged and connected to be supplied with gas from a simple lead in pipe ina manner similar to the connections of the fuel pipes shown and described in LettersPatent No. 1,273,291, dated July 23, 1918.

In the modification of the invention` shown in Figs. 7 and 8 a fuel box 31 is provided and constructed just like the boxes 8 shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, excepting thatthe end walls of the box 31 are provided with upwardly projecting lugs 32 andthe side walls 33 of the box 31 beneath thevtrack rail 2 has its top surface flush with the top surfaces of the end walls 2O and the side wall 33 is provided with anoutwardly extending arm 34. f

Theupp'er surface ofthe arm 34 is fitted against thebottom of the rail 2 andthe outer end of the arm is provided with an upwardly projecting lug 35. The lugs 32 and 35 are located adjacent to the respective sides of the base of the rail 2 for the purpose of engaging the same and preventing displacement of the box 31 and its arm 34 transversely of the rail. j

The rail 2 and the arm 34 and box 31 are held firmly together by means of a spring clip 36 which embraces one side of the rail base 13 and the outer end portion of the arm 34 and clamps them together. Theclip 36 is provided with an arm 37 which engages the top of the rail base 13, and an arm 38 which engages the bottom of the arm 34,

andthe free end of the arm 38 is provided with an upwardly projecting lug` 39 which enters a slot 40 in the arm 34 and is'adapted to engage one side wallof the slot and hold theclip in place.

The fuel pipe section 41 of the box 31.` is

like the pipe section 25 of the box 8, shown in Fig. 1 and it forms a continuation Vof an outwardly extending-pipe 42 which may be connected to a suitable source of gas supply. rIhe end of the pipe section 41 opposite to the head 43 thereon is provided with a head or cap 44 -which closes the end of the pipe section. All parts of each burner box 8-shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, are formedy of a single casting supported by the fuel pipe 9, which extends through the same and which is supported by the rails 2; andall parts of the box 31 andthe arm 34 extending therefrom shown in Figs. 7 and 8 are formed of a single casting which is supported by the rail 2 and which supports its fuel pipe sections 41 and `L42.' I claim as my invention',

1; In a gas burning switch heater, a burner box adapted to be supported below railroad rail in close'proximity to the bot'- tom thereof and having an open top and an open bottom..` and comprising side walls adapted to extend substantially parallel'to the rail, end walls adapted to extend transf versely'of the rail, and a substantially horizontal wall supportedy ybetween said end walls in spaced relation thereto and below the upper ends thereof; and a fuel pipe extending through the side walls-of the box and having fuel discharging openings be-y open bottom Vand ,comprising side wallsv adapted to Aextend substantially parallel vto the rail, end walls adapted to extend trans.-

versely of the rail, saidn side walls havingy top k'surfaces below 'the upper ends ,of said end walls,` for the'escape-offlame between the end walls and over the side walls, and a substantially horizontal wall supported between said yend ywalls in; spaced-relation thereto and below the upper ends thereof; anda fuel pipe extending through the side walls of the box and having fuelV discharg-v ing openings beneath said horizontal wall. v3. In a gas burning switch heater, a

burner box adapted to be supported below a railroad rail in close proximity to the botrtom thereof .and having an open top and an open Vbotto-m and comprising side 'walls adapted to extend substantially parallel to the rail, end walls adapted toextend transversely of the rail, and a4 substantially hori# zontal wallA supported between said end walls below the upperendsthereof andbeing spaced from said end walls. and also from said side walls; and a fuel pipe extending through the side walls of the box and having fuel discharging openings beneath said horizontal wall.

.4. In a gas burning switch heater, a burner box adapted to be supported below a railroad rail in close proximity to thebottom thereof and having an open top andan open bottom and comprising side walls adapted to extend substantially parallel to the rail, end Walls adapted to extend transversely of the rail,`said side walls having top surfaces below the upper ends of said end walls for the escape of flame between the end walls and over the side walls, and a substantially horizontal wall supported between said end .walls below-'the upper ends thereof and being spaced from said end walls and also from said side walls; and a fuel pipe extending through the side walls of the box and havingfueldischarging openings beneath said horizontal wall. y

5. In a gas burning switch heater, a burner box adapted to be supported below a railroad rail in close proximity to the'bottom thereof and having' an open top and an open bottom and comprising side walls adapted to extend substantially parallel to the rail, and end walls adaptedto extend transversely ofthe rail, said side walls having top surfaces below the upper ends of said end walls for the escape of'iiame between the end walls and over the side walls; and a fuel pipe extending-through the side walls of the box and having fuel discharging openings directed toward said end walls.

6. In a gas burning switch heater la burner box adapted to be supported below a railroad rail in close proximity to the bottomy thereof and having an open top and an open bottom and comprising sidewalls adapted to extend substantially parallel to the rail', end walls adapted to extend transversely of the rail, vertical inner walls spacedfrom the side walls and connecting the end walls, a substantially horizontal wall spaced from said end walls and connecting the upper portionsof said inner walls; and a-fuel pipe extending through said side walls and said inner walls and having fuel discharging openings therein between said inner walls and beneath said horizontal wall.

7. In a gas burning switch heater, a burner box adapted to be supported below a railroad rail in close proximity to the bottom thereof and having an open top and an open bottom and comprising sidewalls adapted to extend substantially parallel to the rail, end walls adapted to extend transversely of the rail, said side walls having top surfaces below the upper ends of said end walls for the escape of flame between the end walls and over the side walls, vertical inner walls bottom and comprising side walls adapted toV extend substantially parallel to the rail, end walls adapted lto extend transversely of the rail, vertical inner walls spaced vfrom the sideV walls and connecting the end walls, a substantially horizontal wall spaced from said end walls and connecting the upper portions of said inner walls, a substantially horizonytal wall spaced below the first named horizontal wall and spaced from said end walls and connecting the lower portionsof said inner walls and havingan air passage extending vertically therethrough; and a fuel pipe-extending through saidsidewalls andsaid inner walls and between said horizontal walls andhaving fuel discharging openings therein between said inner walls and between said horizontal walls.

9. lIn a gas burning switch heater, a burner box adapted to be supported below al railroad rail in close proximity to the bottom thereof and having an open top and an Open bottom and comprising side walls adapted to extend substantially parallel to the rail, end walls adapted to extend transversely of the rail,said side walls having top surfaces below theupper endsvof said end wallsfor the escape-ofrflamebetween the end walls and over the side walls, vertical inner walls spaced from the side walls andr connecting the end walls, a substantially horizontal wall connecting the upper portions of said inner walls in spaced relation to said end walls and below the upper ends thereof; a substantially horizontal wall spaced from said end walls and connecting the upper portions of said inner walls, a substantially horizontal wall spaced below the first named horizontal wall and spaced from said end walls and connecting the lower portions of said inner walls and having an air passage extending vertically therethrough; and a fuel pipe extending through said side walls and said inner'walls and between said horizontal walls and having fuel discharging openings therein between said inner walls and between said horizontal walls.

l0. In a gas burning switch heater, a burner box adapted to be supportedbelow a railroad rail in close proximity to the bottom thereof and having an open top and an open bottom and comprising sidewalls adapted to extend substantially parallel to the rail, end walls adapted to extend transversely of the rail, and an arm extending outwardly from one of said side walls and having a top surface adapted to engage the bottom of the rail, said box and said arm having upwardly projecting lugs adapted to engage the respective sides of the base of the rail; a fuel pipe extending through said side walls and having fuel discharging openings Within the box, and a spring clip adapted toveinbrace said arm and the base of the rail.

11. A switch heater burner box adapted to be supported below a railroad rail in close proximity to the bottom thereof and being formed of a casting comprising side walls adapted to extend substantially parallel to the rail, end walls adapted to extend transversely of the rail, an arm extending outwardly from one of said-side walls and having a top surface adapted to engage the bottom of the rail, and spaced lugs projecting above the plane of said surface and adapted to engage the respective sides'of the base of the rail.

12. A switch heater burner box adapted to be supported below a railroad rail in close proximity to the bottom thereof and being formed of a casting comprising side walls adapted to extend substantially parallel to the rail, end walls adapted to extend transversely of the rail, an arm extending outwardly from one of said side walls and having a top surface adapted to engage the bottom of the rail, the side Wall remote ends thereof, an armexte'nding outwardly from one of said side walls and having a top surface adapted to engage the bottom of the rail, and spaced lugs projecting above l the plane of said surface and adapted to engageJ the respective sides of the base of j adapted to extend substantially parallel to the rail, end .walls adapted to extend transversely of the rail, a substantially horizontal Wall supported between said end walls in spaced relation thereto and below the upper ends thereof, an arm extending outwardly from one of said side walls and having a4 top surface adapted to engage the bottom of the rail, the side wall remote from the side wall from which the arm extends having a soY top surface below the plane of the top sur' lface of the arm for the passage of flame thereover, vand spaced lugsv projecting above the plane of said surface and adaptedto engage the respective sides of the base of the rail. Y v

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

ERNST L. RUBY.

from the side wall from which the arm extends having a top surface below the plane of the top surface of the arm for the passage of flame thereover, and spaced lugs,

projecting above the plane of said surfaceA and adapted to engage the respective sides j of the base of the rail.

13. A switch heater burner box adapted to be supported below a railroad rail in close proximity to the bottom thereof and being formed of a casting comprising side walls adapted to extend substantially parallel to the rail, end walls adapted to extend transversely of the rail, an arm extending outwardly from one of said side walls and having a top surface adapted to engage the bottom of the rail, and spaced Vlugs projecting upwardly from said end walls and said arm above the plane ofthe top surface of the arm and adapted to engage the respec y tive sides of the base of the'rail.

14. A switch heater burner box adapted to be supported below a railroad rail in close proximity to the bottom thereof and being formed of a casting comprising side walls adapted to extend substantially parallel to the rail, end walls adapted to extend transversely of the rail, a substantially horizontal wall supported between said end walls in spaced relation thereto and below the Yupper

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