CAR-HEATING. Car-heating, in the genera] acceptance of the term, has come to mean the heating of railway-cars by the use of steam from the locomotive, It is also technically described as continuous heating.
Tire Commingle?. System of the Consolidated Car-Heating Co., of Albany, N. V., de pends upon the direct action of the steam upon the water of circulation, caused by the steam discharging within the body of the water it self. The contact of the steam and water takes place within the pear-shaped body of the commingler proper, a sectional view of which is shown in Fig. 1. The flow of steam is broken into hundreds of small jets within a body of quartz pebbles in such a man ner as to silently force the water through the coin mingler after imparting to it the entire heat of the steam. By giving the proper form and direction to the steam-jets within the commingler, a forced as well as a gravity circulation is readily obtained, and it is the addition of this feature of forced circula tion which enables the commingler to move the water through such large circuits. Any amount and distribution of piping that may be found dcsiralde can therefore be made in a car. the capacity of the eomHiHg1er being fully assured. With the coin mingler the heating system is kept constantly filled from the condensation which takes place within the commimigIer, and thus water in the expansion-drum is always level with t he top of the overilow-pipe. Five Ihs. steam-pressure in the train-pipe at the car is claimed to be sufficient to heat the largest car in the coldest weather. Experiments conducted under the supervision of the New York Central Railroad showed that circulation was rapidly established by the comming,ler with 1t lbs. of steam.
The Comorogl1or S'Ioraqe small el Immingler, as shown in the cut, is placed under the middle seats on each side of the ear, between the floor of the ear and the sheathing.
The outflow connection of this commingler is connected with one end of the side piping, end the other end, funning the return, is connected with a valve, and thence into the base of the comtningler. A complete circuit is thus established, through which a continuous flow of
water may take place. The overflow, through which surplus water is removed from the system, is connected with the fitting, which is placed at the highest point in the system. When the pipes are entirely filled. the surplus water flows from this fitting through the restricted opening in the trap-cock, and thence down through the channel-way, cast in the base of the commingler, and out at the drip-pipe. The connection of the overflow-pipe to the base of the commingler is made to prevent possibility of freezing of the drip-pipe in cold weather. This danger is provided against by connecting the steam-pipe into ports in the same casting, so that the base of the commingler is warmed even when steam is shut off of the apparatus within the car. The course of the steam can be traced from the nipple con necting into the base. When the pipes are filled with water of condensation. a complete cir culation automatically takes place every seven minutes, and all surplus is carried off through the overflow-pipe. When the car is laid off for the night or for more than three or four hours, the entire system is quickly emptied of water, and the car is then ready to stand out in any temperature, however cold, without danger of any part of the apparatus freezing, and it is also ready to be quickly heated by direct steam when again brought into lase.
Drum Sys/ems.—Sevcral forms of car-heating apparatus have been introduced more or Jess extensively, which, as a class, are known as drum systems. This method of heating employs a hot-water circulation within the ear, to which a " Baker" or other similar heater is attached. To provide a means for maintaining heat in the car when steam from the loco motive is used, a drum is employed to transfer the heat of the steam to the water of circulation.