HEATED SANDING NOZZLE

BUSE DE SABLAGE CHAUFFEE

English Abstract

I have invented a metal heated sand nozzle that keeps sand flowing from the
locomotive to the rail in all weather conditions.
In the railway industry, locomotives experience wheel slip problems when
pulling
heavy freight trains up steep hills in winter conditions when ice and snow
covers
the rail. The steel drive wheels of the locomotive slip or spin against the
steel rails
due to poor adhesion. It is common for locomotives to have sand dispensing
equipment that pours sand on the rail where the locomotive drive wheels meet
the rail. The sand between the drive wheel and rail produces a high friction
area
where the locomotive can gain traction. However, in winter conditions, rubber
sand nozzles that are presently used tend to plug up with ice and snow
stopping
the flow of sand to the rail. Heated sand nozzles eliminates ice and snow
plugging the sand nozzle tip.

Description

CA 02442441 2003-09-25
3
Description
My invention uses a metal sand nozzle with a 75 volt electric strip heat
element attached to the metal nozzle. Snow and ice cannot build up on the
sand nozzle tip due to the heat applied by the electric strip heater.
In the drawings which illustrate the metal heated sand nozzle, Figure 1 is a
side
view of the separate components in the assembly.
1 is the metal nozzle body.
2 is the bolt which fastens the sand nozzle to the locomotive main sand hose.
3 is the electric strip heater.
4 are the terminal posts on the strip heater where the electrical wire
connections
made.
is a circular hose clamp that is used to fasten the strip heater to the metal
body
of sand nozzle.
Figure 2 is a top view of the body of the sand nozzle only. T'he flat surface
6 on
top of the nozzle is where the strip sits and lies flush against the body of
the
3
nozzle allowing heat to transfer easily to the metal structure. This heat
transfer is
what will keep the sand nozzle body warm not allowing snow or ice to adhere to
the nozzle dispensing tip.


CA 02442441 2003-09-25
4
Figure 3 shows the sand nozzle in the fully assembled state. The strip heater
3 is
held securely against the nozzle body 1 by the hose clamp 5.
Figure 4 represents a typical set up of a locomotive sand dispensing assembly.
1 is the metal sand nozzle, 10 is the hose where sand flows from the
locomotive
sand box through to 1 sand nozzle. In Figure 4 you can see the sand particles
9
being dispensed out of the sand nozzle 1 onto the rail 8 where the locomotive
wheel 7 will proceed over the sand covered rail.
In Figure 1 the nozzle 1 is what I have designed and built along with
fastening
bolt 2. The strip heater 3 and hose clamp 5 are commercially built products
which
are procured and attached to the nozzle 1 to form a completed heated sand
nozzle
assembly.
The dimensions of the metal nozzle body will vary depending on what type
of locomotive the sand nozzle is applied to. Typical body size will be 21.Scm
long made out of schedule 40 steel tubing 4.2cm in diameter. The round steel
tubing is then fabricated and formed to have a flat surface on one side for
the
strip heater to sit against as shown in Figure 2, area 6. Sand is dispensed
out
of flattened nozzle area 11 in Figure l, Figure 2 and Figure 3.

Representative Drawing